s
EVENING LEDGER PHILADELPHIA, TUESDAY, MAY 25, 1915.
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Itlit5i!lei0cr
PUBLIC LEtiGER COMPANY
crnrfj if. k. ctmtie. rrtott.
CHatlMir- Ludlnetofl. Vie President. John C Martin,
Peeretarr stM Trfiaurer j rhlllp B. Collin,, John B.
William, Director.
EDITORIAL BOARD:
Cftcs II. K. Ccsria, Chairman.
P. H. WItALET ....Eieeutrrs Editor
JOH.VC MAIfflK. ...... .General Butlnete Manetr
rufcllihtd dally at Pceuo LtMts Building,
Independence 8jurt, Philadelphia
Ltnn CtiniL Broad and Cnertnut streets
ATMAilc Iiti Preis-linlon Building
...ITO-A, Metropolitan Tower
B17 Horn Infitiranrft TtulMIrr
f Cnrciiut
YM(,Wk A TC-ua ITIsoa ll t1l B ft
NEWS BUREAUS t
Wmaror ncieic The Totl nulMIn
Nsir To Beaut... .The Timet Building
piiLi.t nnntr no Frledfiehttramie
Loano nciUD 2 Pall Mall Baat, B W
.Talis Bceuo 3 Bus Louie I Grand
SUBSCRIPTION TERMS
Br carrier. Dn.r OttT, ilx cents. By mall. poatpald
enUld, of Philadelphia, except wher foreign r"tar
If required. Diilt OXLT. one month. tirentr-IWe cent.
'IMitr Oxi.i, en rear, thr dollara All mall ub
crtpUont rarabl In advance.
Nortcs Bubecrlbera wishing addrcea changed mutt
Ira eld at well a new addrees
BnX. J0O0 TALM.T
KEYSTONE, MAIN 100
W" Aidrtf off eofnmunfcaf.ona to F.:tnlng
Ztifftr, Independence Square, Philadelphia
x.WTtito ax tiii rattiDcrnu rosrorricE At stcoiD
cun hail Hints.
THE AVERAOE NET PAID DAILY CIRCULA
TION Or THE EVEN1NO LEDGER
FOR APRIL, WAS 82,101.
rnltABELrillA, TUESDAY, MAY 23, 191 J.
Ik Envv l o absorbing a paction that those
without it mount rapidly above those
who cxhautt their energies
cultivating it.
A Big Thing to Be Done in a Blfr Way
ON ONE fact, anyhow, alt American)! agree:
we need and must have steamship lines
to Latin America.
The President pictures a condition that
does not exist. Unless private capital will
straightway no Into this business the Gov
ernment must, he nsierts. How did Eng
land get tho Lusltanla? ny liberal nld from
the Government. So the United States, by
liberal mall contracts or other means, must
encourage private capital to undertake this
venture. It Is the function of the Govern
ment to assist, not to do wholly, and assist
ance only Is asked of It. It is lmo for Con
gress to quit viewing an American ship with
the emersion usually accorded a rattlesnake.
jur poucy is fundamentally wrong in
Ftnany ways; In none more so than in the
outlawing of railways as shipowners. It
would be a desirable, not an undesirable.
thing for a great road to be able to trans
port goods over Its own lines from St. Louis
to Buenos Aires. It Is tlmo to get away
from the antiquated Idea that big things
can be done In a little way.
Secondly, since the nation Is certainly to
embark on a broader naval policy, there
should bo an Increase of training facilities
for naval officers. There are naval plants at
Portsmouth and Pensacola which could bo
adapted to this purpose, and a school should
be established on the Pacific Coast. In this
manner an ample supply of officers for mer
chantmen, Instantly available In time of
war to officer the naval reserve, would bo
obtained.
One of two alternatives must be accepted
"-iiy tho Government. It must cither liberalize
the "navigation laws and put our ships on
an equality with those of our competitors
or it must equalize conditions by subsidies,
direct or Indirect. The former course the
unions will never permit, nor would public
sentiment generally Indorse It. The second
course is feasible, has been proved practical
by other nations, would bo certain of suc
cess and is Inevitable.
The trado of Latin America Is the per
manent prize wo aro after. We cannot get
It without ships. Let us, then, get the ves
sels by nil means, without further mouth
ing about It, Wo have the shipyards, wo
have the money, we have the men. Private
Investors want a fighting chance. It Is the
duty of the Government to glvo It to them.
German Merchant Ships Arc Free to Go
THE assumption that the Government must
prevent the German merchant Hhips, Prlnz
Oskar and Tlhnetia. tied up nt Pier 40, from
putting out to sea Is unfounded. The ships are
remaining In port, not through any compul
sion from Wnshlngton, but because of tho
discretion of their owners. They are not "In
terned" in the meaning that word has In In-
g ternatjonal law. They are Blmpty remaining
here as a safe refuge. If they should put
out to sea they would expose themselves to
I, capture. The Government does not care
whether they stay or go. They are as free
w iunu un n lursu ui munitions or war as
R5 anv British shin Rn Tnnt n Mm., amain
unarmed they are merchant craft to which
every neutral port In the world i open.
The crowds on the water front, which were
excited when the ships moved out into tho
stream and turned around, were dilating with
P the wrong emotion, Just as they appealed to
the wrong authority when some individuals
called on the fire department to send out
engines to prevent the violation of our neu
trallty. The Knights Templar Conclave
THEItE are about 226,000 Knights Templar
in the United States. It Is estimated that
more than one-quarter of them are in this
city today attending the 62d annual conclave
Of the Grand Commandery of this State. Hut
as one sees them in the streets one gets the
Impression that they ore all here.
It may bo Interesting to those not familiar
With the order to know that a man cannot be
a Knight Templar unless ho Is a Master
jnloson and a Royal Arch Mason In good
ptandlng. The order dates back to the 12th
century and the period of the Crusaders. It
has had an interesting and picturesque his
tory. The uniform worn at present Is a sur
vival from the time of its ejarly origins, modi
fled, of course, by modern conditions.
Th" men who wear that uniform In the
parade today are among the worthiest citizens
pf the Commonwealth, and constitute an
army united for the preservation of high
standards and moral efficiency. They are
most welcome, and every Phlladelphlan
hopes that they may find their stay hero
both pleasant and profitable.
, Scoundrel and Fool
ONE of the largest manufacturers of socks
In the United States, so th story goes,
was ake4 to submit samples and bids for
m Allies- "Splendid," said the buyers when
Biey wsmlned the samples, but they threw
their hands when the looked at ths
much lower quotations have- been
ubitiitl4d by some other manufacturers,"
r t Hey sJ4- "fOMlbJy so." answered the bidder.
i they will go Into bankruptcy if (hey
lb quaJliy you expect It costs mr
ImMwc th good. You know as well as
I do that at the price they will glvo you col
ton socks. Rather than do that, I will not
take the order" And he did not
Borne of the cheap socks, which were to be
70 per cent, wool and turned out to be "0
per cent, cotton, have been delivered in
France, and a storm of criticism has arisen.
The American manufacturers ought never to
have taken the contracts Unless they In
tended to live up to them. On the other
hand, lhoe who pay ah'oddy prices may ex
pect to get shoddy goods. The man who
sells what purports to be a thousand-dollar
gold brick for 120 Is a Bcoundrel, but the
man who buys it Is none the less a fool.
We Shall Not Barter for Our Mghus
"PUBLIC opinion will support the Govern-
ment In Its decision to tnko no further
action relative to English Interruption of our
neutral trade until Berlin has replied to tho
Lusltanla note. We have no desire to vindi
cate our rights by barter. That Germany
shall respect our privileges on the high seas
Is a matter between Germany and us alone.
The same Is trua of any situation which has
arisen or may arise In our relations with
Great Britain.
Nevertheless, it has been apparent for
weeks that a firm protest was Imminent
against the aggression of England Un
doubtedly public sentiment in thl country
Is overwhelmingly In favor of the Allies. For
the Government, however, there can be no
wise policy except a course of absolute neu
trality, to be maintained as rigidly now as
it was in Washington's time, when that
great President refused to bo coerced and
stood flat-footed In tho middle of the road.
The Government must protest against In
vasion of our rights, no matter what na
tion Is the aggressor. This It did In Napo
leonic times, when tho United States went
to war first with France and then with
England, In each caso in defense of our
marine and In vindication of tho rights of
neutrals on the high seas.
It Is true that thcro is no International
law left. It hai bucn torn to shreds. That
may be all right ns between belligerents,
but we can recognize no new system of law,
unapproved by ourselves and brought Into
being by tho contesting nations for their
own selflBh purposes. So far as wo arc con
cerned, our rights are what they were be
fore the war began. We shall bo bound by
all the restraints then recognized to be Jus
tifiable, by all the precedents long estab
lished, but we refuse utterly to be driven
Into a holo by the necessities of European
belligerents and( made the victim of their
quarrels.
The Allies, like the Germans, are In open
defiance of International law on tho high
seas. They are maintaining a long-dlstnnco
blockade, Itself an unprecedented expedient,
not only of Germany but also of neutral
ports. They Interrupt our trado with Scandi
navian countries. They have put all Europe,
except their own ports, under a veto, and
assume to dictate to us with whom we shall
and with whom we shall not deal. Thoy
prevent trade In foodstuffs Intended for non
combatants. In a word, they claim the
oceans as their private highways, to bo
governed by them as they sco fit.
It Is no answer to say that our trade Is
greater than It was beforo tho war. Of
course it is, and it would bo much greater
still wero It not lawlessly Interfered with.
But the volume of trade has nothing to do
with the case. It Is the principle which Is
Involved, a principle of such vital moment
to the United States that It cannot be
Ignored. ,
The Government will not let Its hand bo
forced by meat packers or cotton growers.
Their Interests aro but Incidental to tho
main Issue. It Is highly Important, how
ever, that when the clear eyes of posterity
examine this era they shall find that we
took a stand with neither Bide, that we pro
tested against tho invasion of our rights by
either, without regard to tho exigencies of
their national peril, that we wero truly neu
tral according to the letter and tho spirit
of tho law.
We must stand for the safety of our citi
zens and tho freedom of our trade. To both
we aro committed by nil law, written or un
written, and in neither can we be negligent
without betrayal of our prestige and our
standing In tho world.
Passions That Brook No Triflinf?
THERE Is no law which Justifies a wronged
girl in shooting her betrayer when he re
fuses to marry her. The crime Is murder with
extenuating circumstances.
There Is no law, either, which prevents
worthy men and women from sympathizing
with Ida Rlehl in her grievous predicament.
No girl can be overtaken by a more terrible
tragedy than that in which she found herself
enveloped beforo she used her father's re
volver. Tho most happily married woman
needs care and consideration when she Is In
the condition of this girl. The married woman
looks forward to the outcome with prldo and
delight. She Is honored and Boclety honors
her. But this poor unwed girl saw future dis
grace staring her In the face, and understood
the questions which the child would ask and
her Inability to answer them as they should
be answered. Her reason deserted her, and
murder followed. The double tragedy must
make every mother heart bleed,
It ought to teach the thoughtless something
of tho consequences of trifling with the great
fundamental passions. We may reason about
it as we will; the fact remains that outraged
human instincts are more powerful than rea
son and sometimes make our logical formulae
seem petty and inconsequential.
Those Improvements on Independence
Square ought to be completed before Inde
pendence Day.
And now the Germans are sharglng the
Belgians with atroalous treatment of the
Kaiser's troops!
The Anti-Saloon League shows iti fond
ness for water by arranging to hold Its an
nual convention at Atlantic City In July.
i.i. i
Senator William A. Smith's Grand Rapids
newspaper nominate lm for the Presi
dency We are listening for soma one to
cecond the nomination l
ITALY'S LEADERS
ON LAND AND SEA
General Cadoma Began His Military
Cnreer at the Age of 15 Ac
cepted the Post of Chief of Staff
After Naming Conditions.
By ADALBERTO GAPORALE
GENERAL LUIOt CADORNA, Chief of tho
General Staff, who has Just been given
the supreme command of tho Italian military
forces, belongs to a family of Boldlers and
statesmen. Ho was born In Pallanzo, a little
town of the beautiful coast of the Logo
Magglore, the son of General Raffaete Ca
dorno, who hod fought valiantly In tho war
of Independence and finally was Intrusted
with the command of the army sent In 1870
to take possession of Rome, and the nephew
of Carlo Cadoma, who waa a member of
several Cabinets during tho reign of King
Carlo Alberto.
Born September 4, 1850, Lulgl Cadorna be
gan early In life his military career, entering
tho Academy of Turin In 1865, when he was
barely IS years old. Three years later he re
ceived from tho academy tho rank of second
lieutenant of tho General Staff and was at
tached to tho 6th regiment of artillery, leav
ing it two years later to bo attached to the
offlco of the General Staff of the army.
When General Polllo, tho Chief of tho Gen
eral Staff, who had been In charge for sev
eral years of tho reorganization of tho army
and had prepared the country for tho war
with Turkey, died after a short Illness, the
commanders of army corps unanimously sug
gested to tho King tho appointment of Gen
eral Cadorna on tho man best fitted and best
prepared to take chargo of tho General Staff,
to which the task of a new reorganization
of tho army, after tho war with Turkey, had
fallen. Ho accepted willingly, but Imposed
pome conditions: the Minister of War should
not block his plans, which, of course, called
for now heavy expenditure, nor should his
plans bo blocked by tho Premier or tho Minis
ter of tho Treasury, Signer Salandra accept
ed; tho Minister of tho Treasury of tho tlmo,
Slgnor Rublnl, resigned, and later on tho
Minister of War, General Grandl, who had
listened to tho economy speeches of Slgnor
Rublnl, resigned, too, and was replaced by
General Zupolll. who enjoyed the full con
fidence of tho Chief of the Btaff,
Tho appointment of General Cadorna was
commented upon very favorably by tho Ital
ian press, nnd it was predicted then that ho
would bring tho army soon to a condition
which rendered It possible to declaro war
upon Austria, should tho events of tho Euro
pean war make such a move Imperatlvo.
Such Is the man who has been put at the
head of tho Italian army against Austria, a
man of strong will and of more than suffi
cient preparation, acquired In tho closo study
of military history from a point of vlow of a
technical man and a critic nnd completed In
these last few months by the closo observa
tion of the developments of the war west and
east of Germany.
ADMIRAL OF ITALY'S FLEET
Upon the Duke of the Abruzzi, the King's
Cousin, Rest Heavy Responsibilities
By ELLIS RANDALL
PRINCE LOUIS of Savoy, Duke of tho
Abruzzi, Admiral of tho fleet of Italy, la
known to Americans largely through tho
American associations of his Interesting
career. Ho hns made several vlBlts to this
country, one of them resulting In a love af
fair which, after world-wide publicity, left
the Duke still a bachelor. Ho Is distinguished
as an explorer and mountain climber, and
at the time of the carthquako which destroy
ed Messina, ns well as last January, when
Avezzano and its vicinity were roughly
shaken, he was a leader in relief work.
Born In tho royal palace at Madrid 42
years ogo, when his father. Prince Amcdeo,
Duko d'AoBta, was already packing up his
belongings to abdicate as King of Spain,
after nn Inglorious reign of three years,
Abruzzi seems to havo Inherited nn Incurable
distaste for thrones and royal duties. When
he was 18 his father mado one of tho most
sensational marriages of European royalty,
his brido being Princess Letltla Bonaparte,
his own niece, the daughter of his sister.
Abruzzi left his father's palace In Turin a
few months after tho entrance of the young
stepmother, his frank, open nature wounded
by tho evil comment loveled against his fam
ily after this tangle of relationship.
A fow months afterward tho Guild of Al
plno Climbers scattered In different parts of
the globe heard of the record this Prince had
made as an Alpine novice In ascending two
passes and seven peaks, a record ho em
bellished by feats on the Matterhorn which
placed him at 21 among the world's most
famous climbers. His Intrepidity and cool
ness were astonishing.
Tho same year, wearing his uniform ns
lieutenant In tho Italian navy, he started on
board a warship for a cruise which brought
him to tho United States for the first of his
memorable visits. Ho was 24 when he camo
again, going out to Alaska, with a carefully
prepared plan of exploration and making the
first ascent of Mount Ellas, on the borders
of Canada nnd Alaska, 18,000 feet high, tho
loftiest peak excepting one on the American
continent. Two years later he waa in the
Polar Star headed for the North Pole, his
party attaining 88.33 N the nearest point
reached up to that period.
Ten years ago, when he was 32, he made
explorations In Central Africa In land never
before known to history, and ascended moun.
tains on the border between Uganda and
the Congo Free State never before scaled.
The loftiest peak of the four was 18,080 feet.
In one day Abruzzi and his companions
climbed a distance of 15 miles around a
small range of mountains consisting of five
peaks from 11,000 to 12,000 feet high, a part
of the Mountains of the Moon, which the
Romans named but did not explore. Six years
ago his last exploration expedition took him
to India, where he and his party of six
guides ascended the Himalayas up to 24,000
feet, the highest point ever reached.
Abruzzi shares with his two brothers the
Turin palace which belonged to their father,
and here he has arranged the priceless col
lection, scientific and geographical, which Is
the fruit of his explorations. Ho has lectured
often before the geographical societies of the
capitals of Europe.
He Is a man Imbued with lofty patriotism,
and It Is said In the Italian court that after
the war his country Is likely to demand of
him a gTeat sacrifice that of becoming King
of Albania.
THE DIRTY THING!
I know a little doodlebug
Who loathes a waterfall;
Whan rden hoata prsy and squirt
He burrow deeper In the dirt
And never batht at all
Pi MarauU. la th Ntw Tork Evanliur Bus,
FICTION OF "FREEDOM OF THE SEAS"
America Waking Up to the Mockery of the Phrase, While England
Ignores the Conditions on Which the United States Is
Likely to Insist After Present War.
THOUGH tho question of "tho freedom of
tho seas" was raised In President Wil
son's note to the Kaiser relativo to Americnn
rights violated In acts "which culminated In
tho torpedoing and sinking of tho British
steamship Lusltanla," the Issuo lies, moro dis
tinctly and Importantly, betweon neutral na
tionsespecially tho United States and Great
Britain. Sea law, as It stands today, Is na
tional rather than International, for sea
power Is In reality tho court of laet resort
Tho spectacle of American shippers compelled
to flght In British prize courts for what they
consider their rights is a consequence of the
fact that sea law has never been neutralized
or internationalized, a condition which It may
bo impossible to lectlfy until after the close
of tho present war.
Norman Angell, writing In the North
American Review on "America nnd -tho Neu
tralization of tho Sen," prefaces his article
with the remark: "This is written by a man
of English descent whoso youth and early
manhood were passed In America, who thero
acquired a deep sympathy nnd admiration
for most that America represents, who be
lieves, further, that America might. If sho
seized her opportunities, play a leading rolo
In giving a now development to organized
society by becoming tho pivot of Its world
wide organization en more civilized lines, and
who sees all this placed In Jcopnrdy by pos
sibility of a very seriouB cleavage of policy
as between herself and England."
The Anglo-American Conflict
Of tho existence of this divergence of policy,
Mr. Angell asserts, there Is no recognition
In England, and of Its causes and conse
quences, likewise, England remains Ignorant.
"Thero Is In England," he says, "not tho
faintest realization I havo Been not a line
of discussion concerning It In the press that
the inevitable outcome of the present contra
band nnd blockade difllculties will bo nn Ir
resistible movement in America for tho neu
tralization of tho high seas, or, falling that,
their domination by the American navy."
Mr. Angell quotes from an article contrib
uted by Admiral Mahan to the Review In
aSOC, expressing an opinion on Anglo-American
reunton, tho beginning of which, It had
Just then been suggested, should rest on a
naval union or alliance.
Mr. Angell comments on the quoted passage
as follows: "Admiral Mahan reveals clearly
enough the alternatives with which England
will bo faced at the close of the war. She
will be compelled either to Internationalize
her sea power so as to secure the interest of
neutrals by their formal representation, or
sho will And herself confronted by a greater
Power, like that of America, who may act
either for herself, ns Mahan would aeem to
wish, or on behalf of neutrals as well."
What is tho situation that gives rise to Mr.
Angell's belief that there Is one thing in In
ternational politics concerning which there is
certainty? "America's situation under the ex
isting condition of sea law will not be left by
the Americans where the present Incidents
leave It," says Mr. Angell, and "the present
condition of sea law" Is reflected In the nd
mlseton of a famous English writer, who, "al
though he takes the ground that Britain's
authority at sea Is already too curtailed, ad
mits that the present law leaves the prize
courts the right to administer not the law of
England, but the law of nations, and to de
cide every material question affecting the
rights of neutrals."
America's Regretted Assent
Mr, Angell asks: "Has even the American
realized what the effect of public discussion
of this situation In the heated atmosphere of
wartime Is likely to be?" and adds, "Of course
the American will discuss It more and moro
during the next few months, and that dis
cussion will bring out with growing clearness
the fact that he has not the slightest right of
protest, since all this takes place as part of a
condition of things to which he has agreed)
He will realize Increasingly that In the pres
ent condition of International law It 1 an
Inevitable concomitant of sea power; that as
the sea, unlike the land, Is 'one,' supremacy
cannot be divided; that the dominant navy
of the world dominates not merely the terri
tory of the nation to which it belongs, but
the approaches to and the highways between
all territories and all nations; that It con
trols and dominates the traffic of mankind;
that tho executive power In tho administra
tion of this law which stretches over the
whole planet and affects tho commerce of
every country In It U simply nd purely a.
"DELIVER US FROM OUR FRIENDS!"
matter of might. For If wo could imaglno
tho German navy destroying tho British, It
Is Germany that would exercise this power
over tho world's movements at sea; In other
circumstances It might bo Japan or Russia.
Tho American always sentimental In the
mass may find nlso that such things ns con
traband, nbsolutc and conditional, can bo In
terpreted by tho nation which thus happens
to be momentarily triumphant at sea In so
wide a fashion as to touch tho deeper human
Intentions of all International conventions and
the attempt to humanize the waging of war.
After all, blockndo means treating a country
IlkO'a beleaguered fortress. You might con
ceivably get a condition In which a whole na
tion was reduced to absolute starvation, In
cluding the women nnd children, by tho di
rect action of soma foreign Government pre
venting tho dispatch of American food there
to. Thus America, having subscribed to tho
general rulo that war shall not be carried on
by means of prcssuro on tho non-combatant
population, might find tho law to which sho
had assented sanctioning that very thing."
The American attitude and temper which
England has as yet failed to understand aro
thoso of "the ordinary American."
"This ordinary American has had no knowl
edge of tho details of sea law, of conditional
nnd absolute contraband, and so forth, but
has lived in the absolute conviction that tho
United States, by her past wars, by the re
spect which sho Is able to Impose for her
flag, by the power of her navy and army,
had acquired tho right to go about her law
ful business on tho high seas, without let or
hindrance from nny earthly power; that an
American ship, flying tho American flag, car
rying goods to a country with which America
and all the rest of the world was at peace,
could go secure and unmolested; that an
American merchant had at least won tho
right, backed by the power of his country
to trade with the four corners of tho world.
And now ho learns to put It briefly and with
out legnl refinement that It Is all a Action.
And that realization Is bound to give Im
petus to a demand not for small concessions
of detail In tho administration of contraband
law, but for fundamental and radical changes
In the matter of tho complete control of the
sea as a whole."
Correcting England'3 View
in conclusion tho author says:
"Now It is very much in tho Interest of
civilization that the real nature of the con
flict should be made plain by Americans to
the British public as soon as possible. It Is
Important to disabuse the English mind of
the belief that the discussion Is about small
points of contraband or the purchase of
ships. It will help to a better understanding
of some of the Issues which must be settled
at the peace and to know what it is flghtlng
for Is one of Europe's great needs Just now
If America makes It plain that sho must
in the end stand for the neutralization of the
sea and the moro thorough internationaliza
tion of sea law; that that is ono of tho stones
which sho Is to contribute to the foundations
of a real society of nations. That will mean
for England In some measure the recasting
of her whole, national policy, a relaying In
some measure of the foundations of her na
tional security. This only makes It the moro
Important that she should not como to the
task unprepared by any real understanding
of America's position, America should make
It very plain that In this effort she wants
England's co-operatlon; that If such co-opera,
tlon Is freely apd cordially given England
may still perhaps be able to hold her sea
power as a great International trust.-
"If this is not done, If America's position
Js not made clear, we may towaTd the end of
tho war be confronted by a conflict which
certainly no ono who wishes well to the'two
countries and to post-bellum civilization
generally would care to contemplate."
STRAWBERRIES OR WAR
From tht 8t- Loult Fott-DIapatch.
Nowadays when a bawling cry break the
dead calm of neighborhood you peer down the
itreet uncertain whether the coming stentor
li a war extra, or a strawberry wagon.
"Strawr-r-r" and "extrawr-r-r" and "war-r-r-r"
in the mouths of nw-brry venden are
musically delightful, tantalizing Indistin
guishable. But the fact that a sweet singer on a load
of luscious strawberries may precipitate mpr,
tat terror into peaceful environs and summon
visions of carnage; likewise that a raucous
herald of bloody horrors can tempt, deoelvo
and keenly disappoint our palatta are sorry
consequence of consonance. Either eventual
ity !s Insupportably tragic but which Is ths
more so? Wo feel that something ought to be
done about It but what? Shall wo permit the
war to ruin our strawberry season, mock our
Joys and turn sweet fruits of peace to gall
and bitterness In our mouths or shall we soft
pedal tho Innocent howling hyena who huck
Nature's succulent wares In tho manner of a
call to arms that brings women to tears and
makes every mollycoddlo tremble?
ITALY IN THE GREAT WAR
To the Kdilor 0 the Evening Ledger:
Sir "What Can Italy Do In Europe's Big
War'" was a heading that greatly surprlied
us In last Friday's Evening Ledger. Being
dully readers of your valuable paper, and hav
ing studied tho Italian situation very closely
up to date, we have come to the conclusion that
Mr. Frank H. Slir.onds, the author of the article
bearing the abovo heading, waa wrong and we
thought we would point out a fow of his mis
takes. First of all, Mr. Slmonds does not know Italy's
plans In caso of war. And, therefore, he should
not havo Ftated that Italy would not be ablo to
take up tho road to Vienna or Budapest with
the opening of hostilities.
It Is clear that reinforcements are badly need
ed by the Italians. Conceivably an army sent
bv tho Allies will bo sent ngalnut tho Austrian
Tyrol In an effort to oUBt the Austrlans
Tho Germans will not easily cross a corner
of Switzerland when the latter Is neutral Italy
will approximately put l.SOO.OOO men In the field,
and they should not be well equipped and
trained, as Mr. Slmondi snys, but they already
arc. The Italian fleet, which Is strong In dread
noughts, will bring much help actually needed
by the Allies. The Italian army nlso enters the.
conflict with a reputation already made In
Aby.slnla and Tripoli. It did much to win the
rtopect of the soldiers of the world on account
of Its gentlemanly nets, which may not be said
of Germany.
Tho following are Italy's probable reasons for
entering the war zone: How waa It possible for
Italy to bcllevo promises m?de by Germany,
when tho latter has gaily and without hesi
tancy, without even thinking twice, violated the
treaties that obliged her to respect the neu
trality of Belgium and Luxemberg? How could
Italy have faith In a Government that was
guilty of the Lusltanla disaster and which did
not hesitate to murder women and children for
the sake of slnKlng war material destined to
England?
F. CAPANO and A. MUCCHETTI.
Philadelphia, May 2-'.
RECOMMENDING A BOOK
To the Editor of the Evening Ledger:
Sir I read with much Interest the article on
"Discoveries In Democratic Poetry" In your Is
Bue of last Tuesday, by Mr. Luclen Bluphocks,
Near tho closo ho says: "Tho gallery of these
portraits If, perhaps, tho finest composite pic
ture of life In a country town of the United
States that wan over made."
I would like to ask Mr, Bluphccka If he has 1
read "The Damnation of Theron Waro." by
Harold Frederic? If not, ho should do so with
out dday. EDWARD McAHDLE.
MUlvllle, N. J., May 22.
AN ANCIENT RIGHT
Ancient right unnoticed, as the breath wt
draw;
Leave to live, by no man's leave, underneath
the law.
Klpllnr.
AMUSEMENTS
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THE BROKEN MIRKOR": BON1TA 4 LEW
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