davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-11-28
Give the Old Soldiers a Show.

II IT, Editor al IKE EvESING STAB:
Ii las been and is now the custom in the sur.
gsoA generals Office, when pension case is re-
feTfcd to 1t for tue medical history Of soldier.
t. give the medical History for the exact tine
AID Hospital! that Is GAINED by the soldier.
whether 1t be Right or wrong. 1t has been a
long the. some twenty years since the war.
and soldiers have forgotten the exact dates
when they were in hospitals and Just where
they were If1ey Gre BE urong dats ttey are
ctettd. "a they might have been in the hospital
Couple OF months before or two or threa
months after They cannot tell. or have
forgotten whether it was field. reri,nen.
tal, post, division, brigade or corps hos
Ifa!, Gs Uey tcare all Of The same
1t'd and acre IN tYts 0rd 1rere .,.l,r tse Same
surgeons cg doctors. How in the world j. q SOL
dier tc know what It was? The surgeon gen
e,dis office can give the full medical history of
II solder from the time he enlisted until he was
discharged. aad with only a little more trouble.
Why j. il not done? Does the office want to
G at the soldier out fit? What las he done
that he should not have his full history? Why
not give it: Where the soldier was In hos
Ita. expecting 10 die or had hand or leg shot
81 he had something more TO do than find out
Tie exact name OF the hospital and whether 1t
was re=ilnental or field. Many deserving and
poor. crippled solder has been cheated out of
Ll> pension because the surgeon generals 0 flee
Ill! not give his iulI medical history
4 Cay -rr,
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-11-28
An Emergency.

From the Detroit Free Press.
A few days ago man with meek and hum
bic expression. and wearing summer suit Of
clothes, applied to one of the railroad passenger
agents for dead-head pass TO Toledo.
''Why do you want to go to Toledo.'
$50 git married"
"And you haven't any money!"
Not above p cents"
Hadn't you better be worth your fare %
Toledo before taking wife On your hands ID
support"
You don't understand the case" protested
the man. Il m going to marry widow worth
at least 5000, and the first thing shall do VIII
be to remit you the price of ticket. I'm poor
and the widow knows 1t, but she married me
for love"
He protested so long and earnestly that he
was finally passed down the road Two days
elapsed and then a letter was received nom
him. saying:
Heaven bless you for your kindness.
Reached here all right, and married the widow
according to program. Ii turns out that she
isn't worth copper. In this emergency may
ask you to pass Us botht TO Detroit, where l have
hopes of striking lob"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-11-28
A EEiCKTAN'S CGHipLAINT.
HE Dnn:.S, Minister and the s'yibe OF
schHs--'Ssac Abolition OF Hack Stands
why E1oEei E'roprictors Work Against
the EEack2nen, DC

4 STAR reporter was hailed by an old hack
man the other day with the remark: II see THE
STAR has 4 letter from the Danish minister in
relation to hack stands. We all feel grateful to
him for his letter in our interest. He has shown
himself the lackmen's friend. We ought to do
his hacking for him without charge, for although
he is the representative of foreign govern
ment. he has shown more interest in the poor
hackmen than many of our own citiZens--oul
own flesh and blood"
why are there so few stands for hac.s.
asked the reporter.
THE principal cause" said the iehu sis that
hotel proprietors have used their influence in
securing the adjustment of hack stands. The
rights Of hacking from the hotels have been
sold--some on percentage of the receipts. To
make this business pay the hacks have been
banshed from the neighborhoods Of such hotels
by the abolition OF the stands The guests OF
the hotels, of course not securing hacks conve-
nient when they desire them, naturally inquire
at the office, and carriage is at once sent for
from the stable. II the guests could find car
riages conveniently they would save money! the
same as a merchant does when he buys from
first hands and does not treat with middle
man The hotel proprietor is the middLeman in
this case, and the clerk is his agent, and, of
course. the percentage is looked after. This is
the principal cause"
How many public stands have there been Of
late:' was asked.
only three, said the hickman 9th street.
above Pennsylvania avenues 9th street, be-
tween street and Louisiana avenue. and 18th
street. below the avenue besides the depots"
"Were there many more in former times:''
asked the reporter.
Yes. before the war;" answered the hack
man, there were double the number-the Ma
tional. Metropolitan, Wizards. the old Kirk
wood and others. There was much less nrces-
slty for stands then than nOw--the city was not
near SO pOpulous and nothing like the mum
Der OF strangers came here then as nOw.''
The reporter suggested that the Commits
sioners had established more stands.
''Yes. see, said the jehu, but what are they?
A man will starye to death on them for they are
Isolated. and men will not ordinarily get
enough business on them to pay dollar day.
and they may as we'll put up their teams. II
they were going to give Us stands they should
have selected places near the Arlington, the
National and Metropolitan. The poor man has
right to live as we'll as the hotel proprietor
and livery man. and should have chance to
make living. There seems to be a disposition
on the part Of some hotel propretors to take
entire charge of their guests and to allow them
to spend no money unless through them. 1t Is
time that the poor hackmen should have some
show. The Danish minister Mr.. De Billie, is
entitled to the thanks Of all the hackmen,
especially those who run their own teams, and
!, for one, would like you to tell him so in
priUf -
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-11-28
Give the Public a Chance.

t. tie EEtor Of TIE EvEAISG STAR:
Would it not be graceful act On tie part OF
The Washington Monument authorities to place
The hosting apparatus at the service Of the pub
TIC, Tor couple OF weeks, as soon as work is
suspended FOR the season. There are many
siS.'ofs IN The CITY continually who contributed
4-eE':-iJ towards Its erection quarter OF GEN.
thfF aEo Who. probably. will never see it
completed or have another oppor+rnitv or yjsw-
M their beautiful capital from its lofty sum
MT x is hard to see any good grounds for
refusing 20 small q privile.,e-ccftainly not on
the Plea Of expense. when we keep in View what
the people OF this broad lend have already done
fsT I1c.r fair capital aud are constantly. from
u i3-tcIy. tue larm. the forge and the forc.:
pouring Into the lay oftEe benign goddess. Who
pc ..es over CUR Institutions more money than
ta.-f eihpiGyes know how 10 uae VIII you not
iGt The question: 'E. c.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-11-28
A lOEiflw Nam in Peril.

There is young man in the County Of Wayne
state Of Michigan. ss.. who is going to be ter
ribly astOnished before the year 1853 is much
older. The law will reach out and clasp his
throat Just above the Adam's-appe. and he will
get such a shaking up and mopping around
that he Will seem to feel his heels beating a
tattoo OH the back OF his neck.
They were in to see a lawyer OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
Ann and her mother. Mary Ann was little
embarrassed but. the old woman was cal.nness
itself. When they spoke about a breach-ot-
promise case the lawyer said:
what evidence have You got:"
"Mary Ann produce the letters" commanded
the mother. and the girl took the cover of a
willow basket and remarked that she thought
OF letters would do to BEGIN on. The other 85I
would be produced as soon as the case was fairly
before the court.
And outside Of these letters:" querled the
lawyer
MARY Ann, produce your dairy" said the
mother. Now turn to the heading of Promises
and tell him how many times this marriage bust
ness was talked over
The footing is PA times" answered the
girl.
Now turn to the heading Of Darling and
give us the number of times lie has applied the
term to YOU"
'If | have figured right the total is 9.a54
times"
Il guess you counted pretty straight. for YOU
are good in arithmetic. Now turn to the head
inc Of WOodbine Cottage and tell US how many
times he has talked of such home for you after
marriage"
The footing is 1895 times"
"Nery well. This lawyer wants to be sure that
we've got case. How many times has Charles
Henry said he would die for you:'
Three hundred and fifty" answered the girl
as she turned over a leaf
How many times has he called you an
angelo
lover II 600 mamma
"How about squeezing hands:"
Over 3S4, 600 squeeZes"
''And kisses!'
"Nearly 417,0oO."
There's our case." said the mother as she
deposited basket and diary on the lawyers
table. Look over the documents. and if YOU
want anything further can bring in a dozen
neighbor' to swear to facts. We sue for SO 900
damages, and we don't settle for less than an
eightyacre farm, with buildings in good repair.
Wen cali again next week. Good day, sir"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-11-28
Causes OF Felicity.

DR. d. ". Richardson, in the North American Review
Cold and heat play different parts In the pro-
ductIOn and reduction Of felicity. dry and
sharp cold wave eNerts gentle pressure on the
surface Of the body. which fills the nervous Cen
tiers with blood and helps to felicity OF mind 4
long and piercing. eastcriy. chilling wind checks
circulation. robs heat, and produces even melan-
cholic sadness. A dry, genial warmth acts like
bracing cold. long warmth, with moisture,
checks the vital action and produces a degree
of depression which may be as intense as that
which is induced by prolonged exposure to
cold. The seasons OF the year which are
attended with least exhaustion of the BODY
are those which favor felicity. When the eX-
haustion of tine winter and depressing spring
months has been removed by the warmth of a
genial summer and autumn. the time is most
favorable for serenity of mind. On the other
hand the exhaustion OF winter and spring induces
depression, and is no doubt the cause of that
melancholy which renders the months OF spring
the maximum periods of deaths by suicide
Purity of the atmosphere is an unquestionable
aid to felicity. The comparison of children living
under differing circumstances Is sufficient proof
of this fact. The children of an open, well-yen-
tilated school-room, how different are they from
those who are immured in some of the close over
packed dens which are called school-rooms
Compare the felicity of the children OF the well
to do who live out of DOORS and even of the
children of the fields and open streets. with
that of the children of the small trader. whose
back parlOr is liying-roOm and playground, or
the felicity of the man or woman who leads an
outdoor life with that Of those who live in the
close office or wOrk-rOOm. There are still other
agencies which bring, or which check, human
felicity, and which are as purely physical In
character as those above recorded. There
are substances which, taken into the body
produce strange contrasts In respect to
felicity and depression. Foods we'll cooked,
foods carefully selected, foods supplied in
sufficient quantity to sustain the body
equally In all its parts, and moderate as never
to Cypress the nervous digestive powers, all
conduce to felicity in the most telling manner
Many common foods and drinks affect the sys-
tenn specially. AS a rule. all agents which stim-
ulate, that is to say relax the arterial tension,
and SO allow the blood a freer course through
the organs, for time promote felicity, but in
the reaction leave depression. The alkaloid In
tea, theme, has this effect. It causes a short
and slight felicity. 1t causes, in a large number
of persons, a long and severe and even painful
sadness. There are many who never know a
day OF felicity owing to this one DESTROYING
cause. In our poorest districts, among the poor
women Of our Industrial populations. our spin.
ming, our stocking-weaving women. the misery
ncid ent to their lot is doubled by this one
gene
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-11-28
Not Creditable to Mr. Menocal.


In the National Republican of the oath inst.
there appeared the report Of an interview with
Mr.. Menocal, civil engineer Of the navy yard at
Washington, in regard to the dredging of the
Eastern Branch Of the Potomac, in front of the
yard In that reported interview Mr. Menocal
is made to say that the average cost of the above
work last month was only nine CO. cents per
cubic yard, while that Of the Potomac flats
amounted to twenty-four CD cents" If Mr..
Menocal Is correctly reported, he has been guilty
OF contemplate attempt, not only to mislead
the public, but to reflect untruthfully upon all
the officials connected with the contracts and
works Of dredging the Potomac river between
Georgetown and Giesboro Point, and the filing
in the flats above and below the Long bridge.
The small and insignificant operations carried
on under Mr.. MenOCals supervision and drec-
ton cannot be properly compared in any way
with the great work of dredging for CONNER
cial purposes, the ship or main channel. from
the Georgetown wharves to the deep water off
GiesbOro Point, and depOsiting and spreading
the dredgings over many hundreds Of acres of
swamp land on the left bank of the river. One
might. with equal truth and propriety. compare
the expense Of the driving Of the Sutro tunnel
with the sinking Of an ordinary we'll in an ordi-
nary locality for obtaining water for domestic
use. Mr. MenOcal doubtless wishes to obtain a
very large appropriation from the next Con-
gress for carrying out 'his scheme" for imprOv-
,iiS .i1 M"'oi iioit VI tHe washington yaru, out
it would be wiser and more judcious tor him to
let 'hts science like any other tub, stand
upon Its own bottom. Tubs may amuse
whales for time, but they the whales)
very soon find out that tubs are harmless. Per-
haps some inQuisitive persons might like to learn
from Mr.. Menocal ho,o he dr7ires at the figures he
is reported to have given as to the cost of his
own dredging. The cost Of dredging the POtO-
mac river and depositng and spreading it out
over the many acres OF the flats, was determined
by the approval OF the Secretary of War to the
lowest responsible bidder, after public adver-
tisement, not twenty-four (2D cents, as Mr.
one and two-tenths (21 2-10) cents per cubic
yard. The contracts for the Potomac river
dredging and the filing up the flats were made
In strict conformity to law. How is the work
done under Mr.. Menocal? OBSERVER
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-11-28
= Picture of the French Legislature.

! Cores ron Geiice {: the London Globe
! Though less Premed.tatel than at W,ztm.n-
ster the art Of interruption al the PA,ais B.l~.
! bon has reached a decree OF perfection vlHca
no study on the part Of cur members VIII es..sl.
Besides the unearthly Noises. there are sgt
! phrases Wbic. rccur as regularly - Tire re-laa
/ Of comic song The four best known arr.
I'VE demand an explanations" ''What a Il
the mixed commissions" Down with tl.r AL
Resty,' etc. The greatest artist in Iiurinrt. ,
changes on these mtericctieuS was y l'rtla
As ventriloquist he would haze made his 10y
tune. Al at once was heard sAll tl8r,
Looking up one beleid an immense b.aaara
handkerchief iTautiCally ae.EinI tie l.Eg Lrr..r
The next moment dozen OF 20 % member.
We're taken with a violent lit OF sLeelil-. In
his excitement VI. IItrale had lrul ped Tire c.l-
tents Of his snuii-boX. 1t required q quarter "
an hour TO restore silence. latlaGp Is gl.e
over to the Ma GRITTY, but he beGuoafhel his
system TO the present minority. But il Iatrslie
was an artist who trusted TO the inspiration #
the moment VI. BaudTy dAss0n. the leuitimfst
member, produces still greater effect bv a care
full rehearsal OF his points. While the chamber
was still sitting at Versailles some members
heard violent alteration going on In one ..
the deserted Offices. They listened and made
sure that there We're at least two, IL not three
interlocutors. One seemed altogether BESIDE
himself with anger, while the others endeayored
to pacify him. do You maintain tie eAlres-
sionf" Il not only maintain, but repeat it,"
came the answer. followed by stanjing ol feet
and throwing about OF chairs
Apprehensiye OF personal encounter be-
tween the disputants, the listeners opened the
door, They found NJ. Baudry dAsson by him
self. He had been apostrophiZlng two imagi-
nary personages. The first Of those fictitious
beings was an absent orator, whom ". BaudTy
d'Asson interrupted: the second was n. Grevy,
then president Of the chamber. who was sup
posed to have called III. Baudry d'A~s0n II
order. As a set-off to this il should be said In
justice that the legtimist deputy never shlrks
the tribune. where from French point OfView.
he acquits himself fairly well. Not so Dr.
Nernhes, and half dozen others. Who dec /
eddy belong to tie category aimed az Is
Michel de Bourges. They stampand shout il re-
qures two OF three of their colleagues 10 hold
them down. IL ask to be heard. 1 al. 10 be
heard" they yell at the topoftheir voices Inc
only way to bring them to their senses il Al in
vi!ation TO the tribune. They Invariably decline
the honor. The chamber knows II. aid aCts 49,
cordingly.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-11-28
Defects ia the District System Of Book.
keeping.

To the Editor Of THE EvENING STAR:
Your notices of the recent improvements in
the manner of keeping the District accounts
lead Iae to ask you to call public attention to
some of the radical defects in the District system
of bookkeeping which still remain. Few per-
Sons outside the District offices know that q
complete new set of textbooks Is made up for
each year. at great expense. The employees say
that it would be impossible to keep the accounts
in any other way. This is probably true as to
themselves, and seems to furnish an exccl,e Mt
reason why they should give place to more COM
petcnt men. The register Of the U. S. Treasury
Is required to keep set Of books showing the
names Of the holders of registered bonds, the
numbers and value of such bonds, the pay ments
OF interest made thereon, and all transfers
The tax-clerk Of the District of Columbia is
required to keep set OF books showing the
names OF the owners Of lots, the numbers and
values OF such lots, the transfers thereof. and
the payments of general taxes made thereon.
In the Treasury department one set Of books is
made to last for an indefinite time, and the regis
ter is always ready at a few minutes notice
to tell the amount of bonds with which
any holder Is credited, the name of the owner of
any particular bond and the amount of interest
due on any bond or to any bondholder In the
District Office complete new set of books ia
made out for each year. To ascertain whether
the tax for any particular year has been paid, 1t
is necessary to look at the book for that year.
To ascertain whether all taxes on a particular
lot have been paid it is necessary to look at all
the books for all the years. ANY one desiring
such information is kept waiting for days. some
times for o week, and is obliged to pay fee of
fifty cents.
That such state Of things should have con-
tinued so long is not very eredltable to the gem
ternen in charge of our affairs. They, OF course.
are the proper persons TO redress it, and to
them. if would seem, this Communication ought
to have been sent. But II Is well known that a
criticism or complaint Ia far lees Mely to re-
ceiYe official attention when II .c0lnes directly
from az unknown iRd1qidno14 hwhen it comes
with the quasi endorsement Which it receives
from publication in an Influential Journal
Respectfully. A TAXPAYER.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-11-28

FROM the pall Mail Gazette.
An Englishman who recently returned from
Paris, where he met several of the leaders of
French social democrats said that he found very
general, among the working classes especially. a
vague feeling that France was within a short
distance of revolution. The united efforts of
the BOnapartists monarchists. and anarchists. it
was believed, would result before long in a gen.
eral upset. AS for the working men themselves,
there was singular Indifference to the
form of government. Another widespread
feeling among the Partisan ouvriers was
that war with Germany was imminent:
they did not exactly know how, but
they believed that France would attack her
| former conqueror and be soundy beaten.
curlously fatastic feeling prevailed among them,
which could neither be accounted Tor nor eX-
planned away. Some alarming articles are Just
now appearing in the German press with regard
to the prospect of war with France; and no one
who reflects on the relations between the Ger
man press and the government will fail to recOg-
nize their Importance. The worst is that which
the Cologne Gazette one OF the most influential
papers in Germany, published on the 9th inst,
in reply to the welI-knOwn writer, "IgnOtus,"
of the Paris Figaro. "Ignotus" had been Civ
ing his impressions of a visit to Germany and
his conclusions were that the irritation against
France was bitter and general; that the gov
eminent, and especially Prince Bismarck,
press was deliberately accentuating it, The
Cologne Gazette answers as follows: eyes,
after incessant insults and provocatiOns. the
German nation has become possessed with
feeling Of profound evaporation. 1t is per-
suaded that France does not wish that it should
attain state OF tranquility. The hope that the
ansagonism of the two races would peacefully
subside, that the wounds of the late war would
gradually heal, is almost totally vanished Con-
sequently. our people are penetrated with the
idea that. since the bloody struggle is newt
able, it were better that it came as soon as pos
sible, especially as the present condition of Ger
many is as favorable as could be wished" 1t is
no wonder that such plain speaking is causing
alarm in Paris. VIII it have an effect we WON
der, on the Tonquin votes? 1t may be interest
ing to note. as an instance of the costliness of
modern war. that the total ascertained expendi-
ture of France upon the war on which she en-
tered with light heart in August. 1870 is now
declared to be f34l. 40, coo. AS the war began
in August and ended in January, this makes the
cost to France Of her march to Berlin almost
exactly two millions day, without counting
the permanent loss Of two Of her wealthiest
provinces.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-11-28
A Baron With n Dancing Anaconda.
From the Corpus Christi Critic.

Baron Won schoeler, Of Corpus Christi has a
strange pet. 1t is an immense snake of the ana
conda species. The Baron's strange influence
upon his horrid prisoner has been such as to re-
duce 1t to fawning docility. At the merest
sound OF the Baron's voice the reptile immedi.
ately manifests sense OF perfect delight by de.
scriping such variety OF evolutions as TO amaze
one. 1t will actually assume a perpendjculal
position. resting upon its head. and. i'm twinkle
assume the reverse by resting upon its tail-and
all this and much more while the Baron stand,
fastened In the den OF the writing, squirmlng
acr0batic monster
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-11-28

Last Sunday afternoon Chas Forum. while
standing at the open grave Of his betrothed. in
Pittsburg. and just as the first shovelful of earth
was thrown on the coffin, placed q revolver to
his head and discharged it twice. His recovery
is doubtful
A large Indian mound has been discovered in
kanawha county, W. Va, containing several
skeletons and Indian relics.