davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-12-24
At ChriStmaSfi


The merry, merry bells rang out upon the frosty
morn,
They chmed The song that angels sung whe n
Christ the Lerd was born.
70, peace on earth, good will to men, the chorus
rolled and died
In far revorbrations ON this blessed Christmas
tide
OF bring the holly branches and the boughs of
miStletOe
And Irvine them both together here within the fire.
light glow.
Forgetting all of bitterness. of rankings and of
pride,
Let each be reconciled to each this gladstone
Christmastide.
Let all the sweet old songs be sung, the dear old
stories told;
The dross of life all OVERLAND with what is life's
pure god
Let pain and disappointmentsb be but chastenings
sanctined,
And heart shall answer unto heart this Joyous
Christmastide.
Long, long silver throated bells shall echo out
their chime,
Far-reaching waves Of promise unto every race
and cline.
And year shall follow after year until the One who
died
On Calvary shall come to claim his own at Christ.
mastide
Good HOusekeepinQ.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-12-24
A STARTLING YARN.


new theory has been set on foot in the
Gowen case and like q great many OF its
predecessors that had their origin in Penn
sylvania is weirdly untrue. The most recent
idea comes from wilkesbarre and in a special
dispatch to the Philadelphia Inquirer it is en-
larged upon considerably.
An ex-lodge master Of the Molly Mcguire or
ganization is quoted as furnishing an unex-
pected clue to the author Of the tragedy. This
mythical parsonage says that Mr.. Gowen did
not commit suicide, but was murdered by o
man who personated the lawyer and
who resembled him very much. The
romance goes on to state in q decidedly
picturesque manner that this "double" had
been following Mr.. Gowen for several years.
The unknown" dressed exactly like Gowen
and was staying at the same hotel at the same
time as his victim. This same mysterious char
acter is alleged to have purchased the revolver
which the dealer says he sold to Gowen. The
murderer concealed himself in Gowens room
while the railroad ex-president was out and
when he returned threw an overcoat over his
head and shot him.
At Wormley's there is decided inclination
to laugh at all theories other than that OF
suicide. and there is also a more than decided
disinclination to say anything more about the
matter. A STAR reporter who called there this
morning was informed, however, that there
was no person who could be regarded as Mr..
Governs double stopping at the house while he
was there. They have never seen any such
person there at any time.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-12-24
THE AUTHOR OF McGINTY.
Joe Flynn OF Rochester Tells How He
Wrote 1t.

From the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
The man who evolved from his teemiDg brain
the ballad which narrates the tumbles taken by
Dan McGinty is probably at the present mo-
ment the most talked about of the minor poets
Of America. "Down Went McGinty' has ar
rived at the dignity Of being '.the" gag Of the
day. So when the reporter was informed that
Joe Flynn, the undoubted author of the most
popular song Of the season, was singing 1t daily
and nightly at local theater, down went the
writer to the bottom Ut the hall that connects
the upper tier Of dressing rooms at the Opera
house and found himself in the awful presence
Of the original McGintyS who was engaged in
e1tricating himself from his grease paint pre-
paratory to doning "his best shoot Of clothes.
Mr.. Flynn is q good-looking, black-haired
and black-eyed young fellow, who takes the
success Of his muse in the most philosophic
and modest manner. OF the origin Of the
famous song he said: 'If you ever heard the
story Of the Irshman who was successfully
carried in hod to the top Of a seven-story
building by friend, as the result Of a bet that
the feat could not be successfully accom-
plished. and who remarked on paying over the
money, Well, Pat, we've won fairly; but when
yer foot slipped at the sixth story, be jabers
had hopes! you know what suggested the
first verse Of the song II you ever heard
the air Of the old song about the old man
who had a wooden leg. and who had no
tobaccy in his old tobaccy box you can guess
where the suggestion for the tune came FROM
I wrote the song some time last April, and
didn't think very much of it, while my partner,
Mr.. Sheridan here, thought nothing of it at all
We tried it on for the first time at the Provi-
dence opera house. That important event
took place on the evening of May 6 last The
song caught on at once, and we, and, as far as
can see, every other song and dance man have
been /
me about half an hour to write the song after
had got the chorus in my head"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-12-24
Transfers of Real Estate.

Deeds in fee have been filed as follows:
Harriet Ordway to ]. H. Soule, sub A. 50. III;
g. John c. Baxter to w. Mayse, lot Is, 50.
1910; Sl,046. s. Bensinger to P. Joseph. q in
terest in lots 10 and IL, SO. AL: $. Z. c.
Cutter to ]. T. Masters, pit Z. SO. 2O9; So, 500.
W. o. Denison ct al to Mary J. Marten, lot IL,
ID. Van Week lot H. do, do; $3.50. F. l. Greg
DRY to C. 5. Bradley ct al in trust, So. 1908; $.
Oliver Cox to John McGrath, sub u, So. 1875;
$3.50. Sarah I. Doyle to Mary E. Sherwood, pit
10. 50. $40; g. John Z. Lyons to A. Holmead,
sub 80, 50. 1873; 8. F. E. Alexander to H. b.
to j. b. Winner, same property; g. ]. C.Mc-
Gun to May Blanche Stay, pit. 139, So. 237;
$4,000. Oliver Cox to Jennie G. Brewster, sub
126, So. $50; ~, 800. B. F. Leighton to Z. Brit
l.. Willis to ]. Van Ness Philip. SO. go; $. j.
V. n. Phillips to E. NJ. Willis same property
$. s. r. Bond to A. G. Clark, SO. $50; 3.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-12-24
A TAX ON THE POLES.
What the District Commissioners Say
About the Proposed Law.

1t will be seen by the abstract of the District
appropriation bill published in Saturdays STAR
that the House appropriation committee in
corporated on that bill the recommendation of
the District Commissioners in their annual re-
port that every telegraph and telephone COM
pany in the city be taxed annually S25 for each
and every pole found standing after one year.
In conversation with Commissioner Douglass
upon the subject today he said to STAR re-
porter: 81 think our recommendation wise
one, for aside from the fact that it WILL if it be-
comes a law, compel the various companies to
put their wires under ground, it will also re-
move the unsightly and dangerous poles. 1t is
my wish that the law be passed"
Speaking with STAR reporter Commissioner
Hlne said: Il would rather not be quoted as
saying anything about the bill until after Con-
gress calls upon us for a report. will say
however. it is good measure and should be
adopted"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-12-24
WORMS THAT EAT STEEL.
Nothing Else Will Satisfy the Cravings
of Their Remarkable Appetite.

From the st. Louis Republican.
For the past two years the German govern
ment has been making inquiries into the life,
history and ravages Of one of the most remark
able worms known to exist. This wonderful
creature, whose gluttonous appetite is only sat-
isfied after feed on common STEEL was first
brought into general notice by an article in the
Cologne Gazette in June, 1887.
For some time preceding the publication Of
the account mentioned, the greatest consterna-
ton existed among the engineers employed on
the railway at Hagen, by accidents, which
always occurred at the same place, proving
that some terrible defect must exist either in
the material or the construction Of the rails.
The government became interested and sent
commission to the spot for the purpose Of
maintaining constant watch at the spot where
the accidents-one of them attended with loss
of life-had occurred. 1t was not, however,
until after six months had elapsed that the sur
face Of the rails appeared to be corroded, as if
by acid, to the extent Of over 100 yards.
The rail was taken up and broken. where
upon 1t was found to be literally honey combed
by thin, thread-like gray worm. The worm
Is said to be two centimetres in length and
about the bigness of a common knitting needle.
1T is Of light gray color, and on the head it
carries two little sacs or glands filled with a
most powerful corrosive secretion, which is
elected every ten minutes when the little de-
mon is lying undisturbed. This liquid when
squirted upon iron renders that metal soft and
spOngy, and Of the color of rust, when it is
easily and greedily devoured by the little in
sect. There is no exaggeration," says the
official report, lin the assertion that this crea-
ture is one OF the most voracious, for it has de-
voured thirty-six kilogrammes Of rails in q
fortnight"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-12-24
WILLIAM IN TURKEY.
How the German Emperor Astonished
the MOslems.

From the London Graphic
The German emperor decidedly astonished
the stolid Turk during his visit to CONSTANT
nople. They expected to see q sedate, grave
parsonage, always moving in solemn state, as
beftted SO great a monarch, but instead they
found brisk young man who preferred to ride
on horseback with few attendants and rushed
about from morning to night with his wife like
the most curious tourist.
Emperor William often vexed his escort by
turning suddenly into bystreets which had not
been done up for imperial eye, and would ride
down steep descents at breakneck speed, with
the calvary jolting after him in mortal terror
His majesty missed two of the most character
istic features of Constantinople streets, for the
dogs and the beggars were closely shut up dur
ing his stay. The dogs were housed in two
large buildings in the suburbs, and the beggars
inhabited wing of the STEAMBOAT prison. being
well fed at the government expense till the
German sovereign departed.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-12-24
Alleged Forger Arrested In Baltimore.

Shortly after banking hours October last a
man hastily entered the store of Lansburgh
Brothers on It'll street. He was bareheaded
and in his shirt sleeves and had a pen behind
his ear. He asked if a check of MIR. George
Ryneal, jr., for $50 could be cashed there. He
was answered in the affirmative and left the
store, and stopping in Mr.. Ryneal's store for a
minute or two looked at q directory and then
returned to Lansburgh's and got the money.
at Mr.. Charles Baum's. Detectives Block,
Mahon and Horne have been working up the
case and yesterday secured the arrest Of the
alleged forger, Daniel 5. Hill, Baltimore
drummer, through the aid of the detectives of
the Monumental city. He was yesterday be-
fore United States Commissioner Rodgers in
that city and the hearing was fixed for jan
uary
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-12-24
NEW Works. PILGRIM DINNER.


The New Eegland society of New York cele-
brated last night its S4th anniversary and the
269th of the landing of the pilgrim fathers.
Over 800 members sat down to the dinner and
the POSTMASTER was the retiring president Of
the society, Cornelius N. Bliss. Among those
who participated were Mayor Grant, Gen.
Sherman, G. N. Depew, Gen. Howard, Admiral
Braine, the. presidents Of sister societies,
Clinton B. Fisk, G. P. Huntington, Horace
Russell, 8. B. Elkins. ]. Pierpont Morgan, Vim.
Rockefeller and Charles R. Flint
Toasts were responded to by Chauncey M.
Depew, DR.. Guzman, the delegate to the PAN
American congress from Nicaragua; Gen. How
ard, Admiral Braine Gen. Sherman, John w.
Noble and Rev. DR.. Wayland
MI Depew spoke to the toast Of "Unevolved
Problems" and in the course of his remarks he
referred eloquently and feelingly to the death
OF Henry w. Grady (who was the orator at the
society's dinner three years ago. as a national
Calamity. Continuing Mr.. Depew said: Thirty
years ago Robert Tombs Of Georgia, one Of the
ablest and most brilliant defenders of slavery,
said in his place in the United States Senate
that he would yet call the roll of his bondsmen
at the foot Of Bunker Hill monument. Today
his slaves are citizens and voters. [Cheers.
Within a few days younger Georgian, pos
sessed OF equal genius, but imbued with the
sentiments 80 liberal that the great Senator
would have held him as an enemy to the state,
was the guest OF Boston. With powers of pre-
sentation and fervor of declaration worthy the
best days and noblest efforts of eloquence, he
stood beneath the shadow Of Bunker Hill and
uttered opinions justifying the suppression of
the negro vote. which were hostile to
the views of every man in his audience.
And yet they gave to his argument
an eager and candid hearing, and to his ora
tory unstinted and generous applause. 1t was
the triumph Of Puritan principles and Puritan
pluck. lCheers.l They knew, as we know,
that no system of suffrage can survive the in
timidation of the voter or Justification of the
count. [Cheers.] The public conscience,
scared by the approval Of fraud upon the bal
lot by the virtue and intelligence of the COM
munity will soon be Indifferent to the extern
sion Of these methods by the present office
holders to continue in power, and arbitrary
reversals of the will Of the majority will end in
anarchy and despotism. This is burning
question, not only in Georgia but in New York.
1t is that government for the people shall be
by the people. [Cheers.] No matter how
grave the question which absorbs the Puritans'
attention or engross their time the permanence
of their solution rests upon pure ballot Jap
plause.1
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-12-24
AN OLD-TIME CHRISTMAS.
The Days When the Government Clerk
Took Little Holiday.

FIFTY years ago, when I was q clerk in the
Treasury" said q veteran department clerk TO
. STAR reporter, there we're no such prepare
tions for Christmas as now. We worked right
on, not even having a halliday Christmas eve
or during the holidays. With such experience
In the Office what is there to suggest a Christ
mas story? We did not have even New Year
day, but usually left the building to pay our
respects to the President and then forgot to
come back. Instead We would go to each
others houses and drink egg-nogg. Nearly
every one kept liquors at their homes. In those
days members of Congress worked by the day
es per day-and when the houses were not in
session there was no pay. Consequently the
legislators took but little holiday. They would
usually adjourn over Christmas day and New
Year. There were but few presents made in
the departments. Even the present of a turkey
to some messenger or laborer was scarcely
heard of.
Christmas morning, before day, the old-fash-
toned template stoves had the kettle boiling,
while the inmates would busy themselves in
preparing the drink of the day, egg-nogg, and
then from house to house would the male por-
ton travel and wishing all merry Christmas"
sample the egg-nogg. If there was good sleigh
ing the clerks were not slow in taking advan-
tage of it.
The hours for work were from 9 to 8, but an
attempt was made to establish the ten-hour
rule. This came about by Hon. Rice Garland
calling for some information one afternoon
sitter 8 o'clock and finding no one to give 1t.
He introduced q bill fixing the closing hours in
the department at O'Clock pm. We, how
ever, got around this requirement. The names
Of clerks were arranged alphabetically, and
each in turn was directed to go home at and
return at 3 and remain till o'clock. carefully
noting all calls and the object, and promising
to furnish the information asked in the morn
ing. This was kept up for two or
three years, till we moved back in the
old T-building on the site of the old
building. There were not many clerks in the
building then, probably not over fifty. Levi
Woodbury. was the Secretary, McClintock
Young the chief clerk, and / well remember
Gilbert Rodman, John McGinness, G. l.. Jacobs,
James L. Anthony. Thos. DUNCAN. 81. Patton,
Francis A. Dickens, .Wm. ('Pop'') Emmons and
John n Lovejoy. The latter was the first ap-
pointment clerk. John Campbell was the
treasurer and Peter G. Washington his chief
clerk, q. W. Dashiell and Andrew Smith his
clerks and James Moore, who lived to be over
ninety years, was the messenger. We would
do the work, read the papers and at pleasure
walk out, not having to ask permission to leave.
As long as the work was kept up there was
nothing said ~
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-12-24
A Woman Killed by Burglars.

At Tarentum, Pa. "a village fifteen miles north
Of Pittsburg, Sunday night, three men broke
into the jewelry store of Paul Ruttret and were
in the act Of carrying of all the valuable stock
in the place when surprised by Mrs. Ruttret,
who pluckily grappled with one of the robbers
She was getting the best of him when one of
the other men drew his revolver and blew the
top of her head off. The noise attracted Mr..
Ruttret, who was upstairs, but before he
reached his wife she was dead and the thieves
had fed with their booty. Ruttret gave chase,
firing as he ran. The thieves returned the fire,
but no one was hurt, and they were soon lost
In the darkness. Mrs. Ruttret was thirty years
of age aud the mother of three children. The
murder has created intense excitement
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-12-24
CITY AND DISTRICT

- wealthy London merchant gives the
secret Of his business success as follows: 81
always feel happy when am advertising, for
then know that, waking or sleeping, have Q
strong though silent orator working for me;
one who never tires, never makes mistakes, and
who Is certain to enter the households from
secure the services Of such an agent as this
shrewd merchant referred to. advertise in The
EVENING STAR 1t is read by everybody IN
Washington.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-12-24
Cremated With His Throat Cut.

VIM. Freamayer, who keeps cigar stand on
Church street, New York, attempted to Gre
mate himself and his stand yesterday morning.
Two policemen who saw smoke and flame
issuing from the cracks in the shanty tried to
get in, but found the door locked. They then
summoned the firemen. As the door gave way
a man holding an iron bar came out and
viciously attacked the men. 1t took six police
men to finally subdue him and then it was seen
that the madman's throat was cut, as well as
both wrists. On his person were found 1920
in money and gold watch. The fire was
easily extinpuished
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-12-24
Down on Jem Smiths Friends.

London dispatches say the rufianly conduct
of Jem Smiths friends at the ring side has dis
gusted every lover of fair play in the king dom,
and the unjust and cowardly decision of the
referee declaring the fight draw. instead Of
giving the stakes to Slavin, who had his man
whipped from the start, has added to the ex-
ASPIRATION of sporting men. All accounts OF
the mill agree that Smith was not in it, and
this fact, together with the action of the thugs
who went to the ring side in his behalf to pre-
vent his being whipped, will render it impossi-
BILE for him TO ever again obtain reputable
backing
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-12-24
THE COURTS.
couar IN GENERAL TERM-Judges Hd9ner an

CouRT IN GENERAL TERM-Judges Haqner and
James
Yesterday-Sypher VS.. Wilson; decree signed
and judgment ordered to be entered against
sureties. Miller VS.. Raum; motion for mands-
mus overruled. McGill VS.. Wheeler; opinion
by Judge Hagner reversing decree below.
United States VS.. Cole; opinion by Judge
James ordering demolition of bay window
CIRcUrr COURT-JucLge Montgomery
Yesterday-Nevmanv VS.. Baltimore and Ohio
railroad company, yerdic: for plaintiff for
u, 500. Gore ct al. VS.. Harrison; motion to re-
lease property oyerruled. Ransom vs.. Paine
ct al; motion to withdraw publication over
ruled Willis vs.. Jones; motion to intervene.
Westcott Wilcox vs.. Leuerson; motion to ap-
prove bond overruled. Wolcott Vs. Inland and
seaboard coasting company; on trial Moore
Sinnott Va. Bartholomew; motion for q new
trial fled.
EQU1rY CoURr-J,idqe Coz.
acknowledgement agt District; commits
sion to get testimony ordered Mister agt Mis-
ter; testimony before John Cruikshank ordered
Mercer sgt. Brooke; bill dismissed. Walker
sgt- Clarke; decree for complainant
CRIMINAL COURT Chief Justice Binqha,n.
festerday-Hattie Green, violating internal
revenue law; brought in on a bench warrant.
arraigned and plead not guilty, and Committed
to jail Leonard c. Brown, receiving stolen
property; brought in on bench warrept. ar
raigned, plead not guilty. Charles Yates alias
Smith, grand larceny and housebreaking: a
nolle pros. entered Henry Brown and Joseph
alias BARLEY Holmes. assault to kill; guilty OF
assault; Brown sent to jail for ten months and
Holmes for six months. Theo. vsnderlip, false
pretenses; not guilty. as to the charge Of lar.
ceny his personal recognizance was taken.
PRosATE CoURr-yud9e Goa.
Yesterday-Estate OF Daniel Hickman, de-
ceased; decree appointing Essex Banks guar
dian of Rosa A. Hickman and Mary !. Hickman
Estate of Francis A. Godfrey; petition Of MARY
Francis Godfrey, widow, for the appointment
Of Campbell Darlington a. administrator
Estate of John l. Miller; receipt and release Of
Lola Miller, sole legatee, fled Estate Of
Michael Joachim; franklin II. Mackey ap
pointed administrator; bond 500 VIII o.
kss W. Payne Of Fsuquisr county, Va alsd
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-12-24
Christmas Weather Proverbs.

From the Boston Transcript.
warm Christmas, q cold Easter.
A light Christmas, heavy sheaf.
A green Christmas, a white Easter.
A green Christmas makes fat graveyard.
A wind on Christmas Day, trees will bring
much fruit.
II Christmas finds bridge he'll break it; if
he finds none he'll make one.
II ice will bear a man before Christmas, it
Will not bear man afterward
The shepherd would rather see his wife
enter the stable on Christmas Day than the
sun.
If the sun shines through the apple tree on
Christmas Day there will be an abundant crop
the following year.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-12-24
Painted a Horse Yellow.

Two Dickinson seminary students are in dis
grace and have been suspended from the priv
ileges Of the school, the result Of little fun in
dulged in by them few nights ago. The boys
secured can Of yellow ochre and in the still
ness Of the night went to the seminary stable,
where they lost no time in changing the color
Of the school cart horse from dark bay to q
stable he vas sston,shed At the sn ~ s.s
ance Of the faithful old animal, and
forthwith reported his discovery to Or.
Gray, the president An investigation fol-
lowed and the guilty students were found ont.
The hostler has been busy ever since endeavor-
ing by frequent curryings TO bring the horse
back TO his natural color, but with only partial
success.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-12-24
Poor Charley.

From the Kearney (Neb. Enterprise.
May-"Charley, you must be careful and not
expose yourself You were out in all that rain
last night"
Charley-"No, wasn't What made you
think so?"
May-"Why, papa came home and said he
met you coming from the lodge, and that you
were thoroughly soaked"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-12-24
A Verdict of Not Guilty.

Yesterday in the Criminal Court, Chief JUS
tice Bingham, in the case Of Thos. Vanderbilt.
charged with obtaining rife and accouter-
ments by false pretenses, a verdict of not guilty
was rendered. The story of defendant was
and the government abandoned
the case. In charge Of larceny growing out
Of the same transaction the prisoner was re-
leased on his personal bonds
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-12-24
Large Sale of Real Estate

he Washington real estate company has
b. -ght for $500, 900 of Leo Simmons. to whom
it was transferred by Stephen Flanagan, the
following property: Part IL, square 96s; sub
lots to Z and 10 to As, square 9s3; SO to 49,
square 9s9; 10 to 16, square 800; all of square
1913; / to 10. square 1914; to 80, square 1918;
3. and 10. square 1884; IS to 80. square 1885;
IS to 80, square 1885, to 10, square 1887; to
IL and IA, square 1898; 5, square 1858; 5, 8,
and II, square 1861. and D. square 1915