davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-09-08
THE DELINQUENClES OF THE W.,
Il O., Il W. h. II.
What the Matter IL.
To the Editor of Tfz EVENING STAR:
FALLSiCHURCH, VA, Sent LIST. 1873

To the Editor OF I'm Evra1se star:
,FALLsiCHUacH, VA, Sept LIST, 1888.
Referring to ~. s. AS" communication In
last evenings issue Of THE STAR. relating to the
failure OF the W., o. 4 W. r. R. to run on time.
wish 10 state that 'L- 8. A." does the en-
ployes of said company an injustice when he as
cribes the deffnquencies aforementioned to
them. The fact is the track of the railroad is in
such an unsafe condition that it is not possible
to run at greater rate of speed than is now
employed, and the engines are worn out and
unit for use. With the present track new loco
motives of sufficient weight cannot be used
The railroad company has, am informed, pur-
chased 100 tons of new steel rails, but this will
make only about one mile Of track. Under ex-
listing circumstances, the regular passengers on
the road view the approach Of winter with appre-
hension. THERE'S no possibility of q permanent
improvement of the road this year, and II some
enterprising person would run good stage line
between Falls Church and Washington am con-
fdent that he would secure the custom of the
90 or more regular passengers who now make
the trip by railrOad-when it runs. Possessing
very many advantages as place Of residence,
the railroad ia the greatest detriment to the
growth and prosperity Of Falls Church. But
for it the highway would be improved and q
surer, II less speedy. means Of communication
would be open to US. Tho high tariff of the
Aqueduct bridge company renders driving ex-
pensive; and the road in winter il not commend
able. hence we tamely submit to the present
uncertain trains Of the W. o. and W. RI
H0TsRUl
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-09-08

The widow OF the late Elisha Riggs, OF Wa.
ington. who has lived most OF the time sinoo
tne war In Paris, has been spending the summer
at the United Statee hotel q SarHtora
Mrs. Lily MsAlester Lanshton has beep 4.
Maine visiting Mrs. Sweet, the vice regent for
Mount Vernon. from that state but erpecfs -
go soon to her country place, Torresdale neaf
Philadelphia, to remain until she returns TO her
Washington residence.
''CRAxY PATCHWORK"
Fancy work seems 10 be a. much In vogue q
usual this summer. and have seen some very
pretty styles, but nothing quite so elaborate and
80 perfect In every detail as the .'crazy patch
work" quilt begun at Lake George last summer
and completed In Washington In the spring by
Mrs. milford, wife Of the clerk at the Arlington
and Fort VIM. Henry hotel. I saw that at the
latter resort and felt when the names Of those
whose dresses had furnished the materials for it
were given me, as If some one were reading to
me the society column OF The STAR at the
height OF the Washington season. with a COM
plete list OF the names and toilets OF the best
known ladies at daylight and evening entertain
ments. Ii is Washington social gossip perpetu-
ated i'm patchwork in brighter colors, and moro
elegantly embroidered and put together than
the most facile pen could succeed In doing H. A
full description OF this quilt. which was printed
in Washington paper in the spring. has been
so much copied that Mrs. Milford has received
numerous letters from strangers one from the
Iar west, asking lurtner Information ABOUT u
and instructions for the benefit OF others work
ing on similar quilts. Mrs. Page. wife OF the
misrepresentation from California, Is making q
handsome quilt of this kind.
QUEER DOG.
The greatest curiosity In the way OF . dog I
have ever seen is owned by a lady now at the
West End hotel here. 1t Is a York shire terrier.
with very long body and short legs. and long.
silky, white hair, much like that of long
goat OF the finest breed, whose hair Is used for
dress fabrics or shaws and cloaks This dog's
hair is eight inches long at its shoulders. and
parts naturally and evenly down the middle OF
the back from head to tail. IL cost $3.50 In
England. Ii is a very gentle little creature and
has received many presents. One was given It
at leading hotel i'm Chicago and is the dainti-
est of little beds, with ruffled pillow cases and
ribbon run in the afghan and Counterpart.
Miss GRUMPY.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-09-08


1 find the following authentic story in recent
paper on "Cnina in some of its Physical and
Social Aspects" In very early times the city of
Wu-ming-hsien, In the department of Me-yu-
fu, in Central China, was administered by a pre-
feet OF more than usual energy and discrimina-
ton. Being directed by the governor OF the
province to institute census Of the popula-
ton, he appointed two deputies to make the
necessary returns. taking. at the same time
every precautiOn to prevent communication
and consequent COLLISION between them. When
the two independent reports were sent in they
exhibited such an enormous discrepancy that
they were Cancelled, and the deputies were re-
ported to the governor for punishment. The
project then appointed two other officers to
number the people, but this pair, more fOrtu-
nate than their predecessors. managed to com
municate with one another. and returned ex-
actly the same total, viz: 20.4Ol. But
the project: clever man, suspicious OF 90 pre-
else coincidence, put the two officers apart and
separately asked them 30 401; was thar odd
one male or q female2" To this the ofYIcers
were unlucky enough to make some conflicting
replies, and they were reported to the governor
Tor punishment. The project then determined
70 take the census In person, and set out for the
city: but In the meantime the population,
alarmed at the pertinacity Of the preIect. and
apprehending that he was coming to levy some
oppressive tax, fed from the city and hid them
selves in the fields. The astonished project,
finding the city deserted and fearing TO be re.
ported to the governor for punishment, banged
himself In the gate. Firmly clenched In the
grasp OF the suicide was found paper with the
following words:
Return OF census for the CITY OF Wu-ming -hsien,
In Mei-yu-fu
Men mono
Women . none
Grand total. ...............-.........n mono
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-09-08

C. p. HUNTINGTON, the great railroad mag
nate, was poor boy and q Woodworking young
man. Indeed, he did not begin to accumulate
his immense fortune until he was past 40. when
he staked all his savings on the scheme of tho
Pacific railroad. And this ID what he says Of
work and wages
I'm my early days men had q chance to rise,
ana every man was paid what he was worth. n
. man could do three days work in one, he did
it, and was paid for it. But now the best work.
men Ia the mechanical trades are kept practi-
cally on level with the poorest. II q man can
get his head above the common level, the trades
unions beat it down. This feature was illus
trated In the demand of the strikers for . uni
torn increase of Is per cent. No doubt there
were some telegraphers who did not receive ell
they were worth, but there also were many who
were paid more than they were worth. Trades
unions also are working injury I'm the Limitation
OF apprentices to large numbers OF boys who
ought to learn trades"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-09-08

Mr. Mitchell. Of saco, Me-, bought. several
packages Of unclaimed freight ct auction In
Boston When ne received the goods there IVES
an extra package In the lot, and In Il he found
1000 sermons in manuscript.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-09-08

Loss OF TIE STEAMSHIP CANIAA-The steamer
Gamma, Capt. Fdrquhsr. from New York, Oct 80,
Iol halifax, became a total wreck Thursday
morning She struck or Gull Island, at the mouth
OF st. Mary's Bay N F., and sank almost immedt
as eSy lne passengers and Crew, sixty in all got
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-09-08

A special from 0reensborough, Ala, says that
Frank Shelton (colored) was hanged at that place
for the murder Of his wife yester0ANb
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-09-08
THE WASHINGTON ANS In SAN
ERANClSCO.

How They Were Treated And What
They SaW-A Grand OvatiOu-EBrtk
liant CeremOmies-A Pleasant Ttms
All Around.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-09-08
A Groxl About the v. M. h: H.

To the Editor Of THE vENINe STAR:
desire to record protest against the man
agement of the Virginia Midland railroad in this:
They advertised an excursion to Manassas and
return, reaching Washington at 7:25 D. m.
About twenty persons went from here at S35 a.
m; returning, left Manassas at 5:5S D. M; ar.
irving at Alexandria at ESQ, were told by the
conductor: Passengers for Washington tale
the rear car" which we did. The car was run
on side track and kept there until the : D. m.
local went without US, and we were left on the
rails without any danger lights until the arrival
up our car and brought us to Washington. :
The Indifference shown to our comfort WA of
such nature as to warrant calling the atten-
tion OF our citizens thereto that they may carry
extra rGtions when compelled to 60 over that
road. Very truly,
A WASnIyGTONIAE
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-09-08

To the Editor of The EvESINu Stan:
WASHINGTON, D. c., Sept. 6, 1888.
Knowing you as champion of justice and of
the preservation Of the beauty of our city, 1
come to you with complaint. The telephone
company Tuesday afternoon dug large hole in
the alley by the side ofour house, and while we
were wondering what it was for they brought an
immense pole. sixty feet long, and planted it
right Oy our door QrOm which we can touch it,
AS far as can understand permission will not
be granted for the erection Of telegraph poles in
the streets; but can it be that they are allowed in
the alleys. which are public thoroughfares as
we'll as streets. and that the distinction by name
gives the right of further imposition
At the other end of the alley isanother pole of
same dimension, and passers-by universally de-
nounce them as nuisances, and more than one
has remarked to me that they would not have
such an object by their doors, and that the pre-
sence of one would deter them from purchasing
property 80 encumbered.
Furthermore, the pole leans over the house,
and don't believe any one has right to in
fringe on property in that manner.
Let the Commissioners order these obnoxious
poles to be removed before the wires are strung.
G. E. HALL, 736 Sd street northwest
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-09-08

sHR RELATION OF THE POSTAL NOTE TO THE MONEY
oRDEB-How THEY CAN BE USED IN TRADR-THRIR
USE As CURRENCY-THB UGLY COLOR ACCOUNTED
FOR, AND SOME REASONS WHY THEY WILL NOT BE
CoUNTERFEIrED.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-09-08

ME 0uO 1IS hlCuotu mcTT1Ck ana MS partner.
Mr.. Norris, and his two sisters, after spendiu9
. week at the West End hotel, went to New
York this week, whence all will return to WASH
ington in a few days. except Mrs. Merrick, who
will 60 to visit friends on the Hudson river.
Mr.. and Mrs. Copeland and their children
who have been here since July are still at the
West End hotel. She is one of the brightest
little ladies have met here.
Mr.. and Mrs. Horace White who have spent
the summer in Europe, returned here this week,
and as their cottage ID rented are 1t the Elberon
hotel.
Mr.. Charles Knapp, formerly of Washington,
has lately been Gen. Van Vlet's guest at bis
cottage at Shrewsbury.
Ex-senator Kernan's wife and son have been
ct q cottage at Long Branch lately.
Major and Mrs. Slack and Mr.. and Mrs. VIM.
Slack have been at . cottage at Spring Lake
for several weeks.
Admiral Porter and family have been It the
Monmouth hotel at Spring Lake recently.
Rev. Alex. Mackay Smith, Of st. Thomas'
church, Fifth avenue, New York, preached st
the Episcopal church ct Elberon on Sunday q
most excellent sermon. His wife "a pleas
antly remembered In Warrington @ Mics
Stuart, the stepdaughter Of the late General
Elijah Ward, who was o member of Congress
before the war, and also from 1875 to 1877. NJ.
and Mrs. 1ackay Smith and their infant and
Mrs. Ward were at Richfeld when left there
and were all here the nrst OF this week.
Senator and Mrs. Mcpherson, Of New jersey.
and their children are expected to arrive from
Europe this week, and will be ct their cottage
1t Seabright most Of the autumn.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-09-08

tanC noe miles ana the nearest town ten miles
With few exceptions the bird-boxes which had
been put up about the farm houses for blue
birds and martins were occupied by house SPAR
rows, and in all probability this would have
been the case In every instance had not q few
farmers recognized the true character of the
Intruder and kept them of the premises. It is
but justice to those farmers who permitted the
sparrow to establish itself to say that its pres
ence was allowed on account of the bird being
more or less OF novelty. and also on account
OF its fame % as an insect destroyer. In that
neighbOrhood. and also in portions Of southern
Indiana, have repeatedly found the imported
sparrow abundant throughout the rural dis
tricts. and may further say that already thew are
very generally considered a nuisance In order
to demonstrate the astonishing alacritv with
which this species colonies distant localities
Will state that town distant forty miles from
Evansville, Indiana 0he nearest place to which
they had been directly importej). had not
known the presence Of q bird Of this species nm
to October, 1876. In June of the following
year had occasion to revisit the same town.
and found the sparrows there in force. noislly
engaged In their domestic affairs in the shade
trees along the main street, and. in fact. in
many portions Of the town. No one knew
from whence they came, but they were not
molested. and remain in full possession to this
day. They had unquestiOnably come either
direct from Evansville or the nearest inter
mediate town. ten miles distant, from which
center they have dispersed and become q fear)
ineradicably established throughout the coun-
try, including the rural districts as well as
the towns and villages. l very much
doubt whether . single town or
village exists in the states of Illinois
or Indiana, which has not been Invaded by the
sparrOws; and, considering the almost marvel
GUS rate at which they have increased in this
grain and fruit-pf0ducng country, firmly be-
lieve that in comparatively few years string
ent measures will have to be taken to keen
them In check There 10 probably no parallel.
even In the case Of introduced weeds or insect
pests, to the astonishing ease with which this
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-09-08

continues the historian, "the national library
was destroyed: Cockburn attended, in person,
to the destruction Of the printing materials in
the Office Of the National Esteui9encer. few
private buildings were burned. The navy ward.
with all it's shipping and stores including q new
frtgate anc slOOp OF wsr, were destroyed pre-
yious to ito occupation by the enemy: The
British army retired on tie night Of the 25th in
prudent hurry, and with studied silence. leav-
ing some Of their wounded behind and some of
their dead unburied. The American loss was
stated by Gen. WindeF to be between thirty and
forty killed, from nifty to sixty wounded, and
about one hundred and twenty taken prisoners.
From the best intelligence says the general.
there remains but little doubt that the enemy
lost, at least, four hundred killed and wounded
and OF these very unusual portion killed."
At glance 1t can be seen, Messrs. Editors.
that this account by the historian was colored,
no doubt. by the ''prejudices of the hour" 1t
being too early when he wrote, after the close of
the war. for passion even to have begun to die
away; yet it is no doubt q truer historical &C
count than We are likely to get without consult
If it be not trespassing too far on your space
and the time ofyour readers, I will quote in afew
short sentences what the historian says further
about the transactions at Alexandra and
Georgetown, after which the British bet0ok
themselves towards Baltimore with the purpose
Of pillaging and. perhaps, burning that city.
The historian says: Fort Warburton having
been deserted by the q. s. troops, commanded
by Capt. Dyxon. and consequently destroyed by
the enemy, the latter advanced towards Alex
andria, the civil authority Of which submitted
to the most disgraceful terms Of capitulation,
by which the city was given up to plumber.
The enemy carried of fourteen vessels, laden
with -four, tobacco, cotton, groceries, and .
variety Of goods taken from the private stores.
A series Of the most daring exertions were
made BY Commodores Rodgers, Porter and
Perry. with their seamen, and some Of the Viz
ginia militia, to prevent the escape Of the
enemy with his booty, but he got OF, with
some loss, taking the plumber with him. Terms,
similar to those accepted by Alexandra, were
offered to Georgetown, which the latter indig-
nantly rejected and escaped being plundered."
WASHINGTON. August 81, 1888. 1T.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-09-08

COlOreo
1.-THE object OF that color" was the reply ala To
make the note anti-photOyraphic. Brown and
canary color, with green on the back, forms a COM
bnation OF coors that defies the camera. They will
look better. however, after q while. when the rsr
rush Is over aud the printers have a chance to m-
prove the press work"
THR DANGER OF COUNrKRPEIrIN0
"But the color does not guard against the skill OF
the counterfeiter?" asked the listener
mo IL does not" replied the doctor. "but every
precauton has been adopted TO prevent counter
feiting. The note Is printed on thin bank note
paper AM has very intricate designs Of geometr1-
Cal Lathe work. 1t pOsSb BILE, or course, for human
Ingenuity TO counterfeit IT, as IL has counterfeited
everything elSe but the chances are so greatly
against IL that they may be safely left out OF the
Calculation"
"A counterfeit would besides continued the
doctor 'be very soon discovered, as the notes and
the STUBS are kept and compared wnen the ac-
counts or the postInasters are made out. The
notes, after they have been paid, are kept In the
AUDITORS Office, just as the money orders are as
vouchers for the money paid OUT
As COMPARED WITH THE ENGLISH
The Introduction OF the pOScat. note system Is
really novelty in the postal world, although DR..
Macdonald modestly terms 10 a modification OF the
English system oy the adoption OF The American
system OF punching. The dates and amounts IN
the note are punched out. Just as the tickets ON a
Pulman car or q slip On a street car are punch, d
But there Is a more material difference which n
Is believed wiz demonstrate the superiority of our
system. WI
sgnated amounts. such two shillings &c and
when an odd sum is sent, postage stamps are uSesj
70 supplement the amount In the note The
American system, which W as perfected iy DR. Mac.
Donald. was suggested only three years ago. THE
bill was introduced I'm the House by Mr. Bingham
and In the Senate by Mr.. Hill, OF Colorado in the
law in the last session, under date OF March Sd
1883
The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1883-07-27
FORTY YEARS IN WRITING THE
HISTORY OF ONE N4W

Lyman G. Draper, Secretary of the
State Historical Society at Madison.
Wis, writes friend that he has been
engaged for forty years in writing the
history of Daniel Boone, of Kentucky.
the famous western pioneer. Mr..
Draper is one of the most interchangeable
hi storians in the western states. Over
thirty years ago we were invited by
him to examine his collection of books
and pamphlets; he had then in manu-
script, in readiness for the press, his
torical matter sufficient for large
number of volumes. Among other his
tories, finished and unfinished, he had
in manuscript enough completed of the
life of Daniel Boone to make, as he said
several volumes. He had been twice
to Kentucky to collect facts relating to
the life of Daniel Boone. Since that
time he is understood to have added
very largely to the history of the re-
nowned Kentucky pioneer. Mr.. Drap-
er has been Secretary of the State
Historical Society since its first organ
ization; he has his peculiarities, but is
unquestionably better fitted for the
position he occupies than any other
man holding like Office in any state
in the Union.
The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1883-07-27
SELF-GOVERNED, OR TO BE COY
ERNED.

The District of Columbia, a territory
less than ten miles square, and in
which the city of Washington is locat-
ed, does not have the right of self-goy-
eminent. Consequently there are no
caucuses, no conventions held, no bal
lot boxes, no elections, no political To-
cal excitements. Over dozen years
ago the district elected a governor
legislature and full complement of
other officers, the same as in other ter
ritories. Since the adjustment of the
peoples government, a movement has
been made, if not every year, at least as
often as every other year, to procure
the establishment of self-government,
but, strange as it may appear to out
siders, the people prefer to be governed
by law-making power in which they
have no voice, rather than to enact
their own laws and govern themselves.
just now another movement Is making
for the establishment Of self-govern-
ment. As heretofore, those active In
The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1883-07-27
THE TELEGRAPHIC OPERA
TORS STRIKE.

The Geographic operators strike,
which was made on Thursday Of last
week, was probably the most extensive
strike of working men and women
which ever occurred in this country.
1t extended over an area from the
Atlantic to the Pacific, and from the
southern limits of the Union north
ward, including Canada. 1t was not
sudden uprising, but had been the sub
iect of deliberation for months. Judg-
ing from the tone of the public and
press, the strikers have largely the
sympathy of the people. The tele-
graph companies, the chief of which is
the Western Union, are among the
most powerful organizations in this
country; according to their official re-
ceipts and expenditures, their profits
are enormous. 1t would seem that
corporations doing business at such
paying profits could afford to deal with
reasonable fairness with the thous-
ands of their employees. The main
criticism heard on the action of the
operators is their making too large de-
mand on the Company for increased
wages and shortening the hours of
labor
In all great contests between capital
and labor, capital. whether right or
wrong, is generally the winner. Capt.
tai can usually protract a strike long
enough to- starve out the strikers.
There must ultimately be some regula-
tions prescribed by Congress to adjust
the increasing controversies between
capital and labor. This subject has
been much agitated and will ere long
take shape in legal enactments. The
time cannot be far distant when the
government will take charge of the
telegraph business and control it. as it
now does the carrying of the mails.
This will put an effectual stop to
strikes by Geographic operators; it
will also reduce the charge of messages
far below the present rates. Suppose
the carrying of the mails were in the
hands of corporations 1t is not ex
travagant to believe the price of a
single letter postage would still be re-
tanned at twenty cents, as it once was,
instead of its being reduced to three
cents and soon to two cents by the
government. It has been the policy
of the government from the first to re-
duce letter postage as fast as the reven-
ues would pay the expenses of the
Department. The same governmental
policy in respect to telegraph commu-
nication would work like results for
the benefit of the people. If the
government should take the telegraph
into it's own hands it would not in
volve the necessity of purchase Of the
present lines; it would require no ex-
appropriation to build new
lines on the best modern plan.