davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The sun., 1889-11-30
Even Money ON n SHARK.

About thirty miles of the port OF Honolulu,
a. headed for San Francisco big shark sud
denly appeared tho steamers port quarter and only
q biscuit throw away and for time he the OBJ.
served Of all observera He estimated bo nftee
feet long and the sailors agreed that they had
never seen larger ono. He kept bAletuI eye the
people crowdinR to the rail to him. and although
pork and other stun thrown he paid no at
tention 10 the food. It looked If he had lately
gorged himself bound to have of the paSsen-
gers lie appeared at 10 O'Clock In the forenoon and
had not moved an inch when night came. Daylight
found him still there, and whom noon came and that
wicked sarboard eye OF his continued stare at uB
word went round she ship that some one was doomed
ing tour OF the world and as the question turned
upon who would fall Victim one OF them drSwled OUT
make or lose ten pun's II ye dareS." ~
"OnA that asked the other.
ono Of us n 10 to 6e got hits you
. " Done Tommy" replied the other without looking up
Night came and the shark stin hung on DAYLIGHT
came again and he was still there Some of the passen.
gers pooh poohed but think all some hat
highed water logged vessel and ran CLOSE to her All
thelpRsSenRerR had crowded the port rail- some
movement precpitated both Cocfneys into the sea
They made great splash they fell and sappeared
for only three four secondA When they came TO the
surface the steamer was already checking speed aud as
or them
"Fustus old boy. I'm going to win that ten"
~, not NJ knows msssit Tommy replied the other.
We had forgotten the shark in the excitement All
Ssfv rooy sTS on hsn me two i've ms a HS matters
arms with scream. and disappeared. Next moment
the other was picked up by boat He came aboard,
promenade and a smoke he calmly remarked to usi
g yen gents hf took hanny hunfair hAdvanase to do
The sun., 1889-11-30
Co1oRED MATHEMATICAL PRODIGY.
An nliterate Negro who Can Solve Any
Arithmeticnl Problem.
H'onS TIE Loutsrtlie Commercial

SHELBYvILLE, Nov. 21.-Sam Summers,
the negro prodigy, was In town yesterday. and.
as usual. entertained o large crowd .swho were
testing him with all kinds OF mathematical
problems. Summers is a negro, "a years old,
without the slightest education. He cannot
read or write. and does not know one figure
from another. He 10 n common. everyday
farm hand. and to look at him and watch his
actions ho seems to bo about half witted. but
his quick and invariably correct answer to any
example In arithmetic, no matter how difficult,
10 simply wonderful With the hundreds OF
tests that he has submitted to- not a single
time has he failed to give the correct answer in
every instance.
Some example, given him on yesterday wore:
How much gold can be bought for S792 in
greenbacks II gold Is worth $l.65p Multiply
697,Sl2 BY 13H. II grain OF wheat produces
seven Rrains, and those be sown the second
year, each yielding the same increase. how
many bushels will be produced at this rate in
twelve years II 1000 Grains make . pint II
the velocity OF sound is l.142 feet per second,
the uulsation Of the heart seventy per minute,
after seeing flash Of lightning there are twen-
ty pulsations counted before you hear 1t thun-
der. what distance Is the cloud from the earth,
and what Ia the time after seeing the flash OF
lightning until you hear the thunder2 A COM
mission merchant received seventy bags OF
wheat each cont aiming three bushels. three
pecks. and three quarts: how many bushels
did he receiver And so on.
With Robinson's. Rays. and other higher
arithmetics before them, those who have tested
him as yet have been unable to find any exam
pie that with q few moments thought on his
part he is not able to correctly answer.
The sun., 1889-11-30
FasbIou"ble Christmas Presents.

To THE EDITOR OF THE SuN-Sir: Please
inform reader in the columns OF yOnr paper what
In the East are TO be the most popular Christmas pres
ents for gent to present TO lady friends the
ing season. aud greatly Ublige. K d.
sr. JosEPH. NO., Nov l8.
Tho shops here too full for discrimination They
have everything that man wants to give an and
the articles in fashion almost numerous to
ton The small bonnet pins are beautiful Little and
Inexpensive studs abound in extremely attractive
form. The variety OF pen holdeH paper weights
small toilet boxes shoe buckleS garter caspa glove
butonerA and the like is immense But why should
any ono try TO be In the fashion In tho way Of giving
presentst 1t 10 the popularity of its fashion, but the
spirit In which is given that makes the value of
GIFT SO let our friend and all his friends aud theirs
again give whatever is convenient and appropriate
without regard TO the fashion such gift will always
do the most good
The sun., 1889-11-30

rations as to committee appointments
After the first denial. yea. after the second
denial, from the Hon. ELIJAH, and particu-
larly after the denlals which he procured
from the candidates for Speaker, wethought
we knew that he didn't. Now We are not 90
sure Of It. "I never wrote any such iet-
ters," said Mr.. MORSE In his first denial.
Print the enclosed In refutation OF the
bogus letters which you copied from the
Kdnsds OTtp TSmee," said Mr.. MoRsE in his
second denial. "The letter purport-
ing to have been written by you to
me was q pure fabrication" said
Mr.. MCKINLEY In his certificate. There is
nothing in the whole story" said Mr.. REED
In his certificate. And now comes Mr..
MORSE in his third denial and practically
unsettles the whole question, besides par
TALLY contradicting his good natured fellow
states mon. by informing US that " there is a
smattering OF truth" about the alleged let
ters to REED and to MCKINLEY, but that he
never wrote to CANNON or to HENDERSON.
AS soon as the Hon. ELIJAH A. MORSE Is
sworn In, and the House is organized. he
will be entitled to all the privileges OF the
floor. His proper course, we think, is to
catch at the earliest opportunity the eye OF
the Speaker-whether 1t is REED or Mo
KNIEY-and to make q personal explana-
tion Of his mysterious denials, for the bene-
fit Of the House and OF the country.
The sun., 1889-11-30

Tho improperly Of parading convicted
criminals In the public streets and oonyeyances
would seem to be not omen to question, and
closed vans are employed ordinarily In taking
across town the Police Courts recruits to the
earnest band Of workers employed in the
duarries and brush factories Of Blackwell's
Island But when felon is to be taken from
the city prison to Sing Sing. the first part OF
his journey is on the Fourth avenue horse
cars, Mr.. GIBLN, whose sentence Of death
was commuted to life imprisonment the other
day. won't up to the Grand Central Station thus
yesterday handcuffed to fellow murderer
and burglar. This is not the sort OF fellow
passengers that persons OF respectability, In
nocence, and sensibility would choose to ride
with. nor is the spectacle OF manacled cut
throntH and housebreakers one that should be
presented to women and children in the oity's
horse cars. Where is the Black Maria1
The sun., 1889-11-30

The view Of a recent movement In foot
ball which we find in our esteemed contempo-
rary. the Christian Union, smacks Of orig
inality:
"The fact that the students Of Harvard University
have voluntarily. and withort any impulse or suEgeG
tion from the faculty Withdrawn from the 1ntercoe
Rate Football Association and that the students OF Yale
College considering the adviBabity Of doinR tho
same 1t evident that the students themselves
beginning perceive that athletic contests only
have been carried to oxoess but are endangered By
their own exoesssA"
More probably the real reason is that the
old rivalry between the two leading universi-
ties has become stronger as the competitors
for their athletic honors have increased. No
whore Is pride Of ancestry more intense than
In the universities OF Yale and Harvard. Each
IN Its own mind comes first the other second.
For ono to win over the other is tho greatest
glory; to be beaten by the other Is the next.
The results Of competition with other colleges
possess to them no interest that Ia CON-
parable. In accordance with this feeling. we
imagine that 1t will be found that Harvard or
Yale men. although ardent and often even
bitterly hostile 10 each other whom 1t came to
a contest between one OF them and some
outside organization. would prefer the VIC
tory OF their old antagonist. The motive suR-
Rested by the Christian Union for the with
drawal OF Harvard and Yale from the cham
pionship contests with other colleges is
highly philosophlc. but we hardly think 1t is
correct
The sun., 1889-11-30

fare against the flames that the town deems
their defeat impossible.
Yet New York IL city which bears the
reputation OF being III governed almost be-
yond precedent. It is the fashion to speak
Of 1t as lacking In whatever should dlstln-
guish we'll administered town, while Boston
has been llkened to the best ordered capitals
Of Europe, spending judioiously and econom-
ically the public money which In New York
is corruptly, iRnorantly. and inefFectively
employed Why, then, is 1t that Boston,
noted for the solldity Of it's architecture, has
come near burning down twice, and on q
third occasion has lost twenty Of Its grand
est business buildings by fire, while New
York has been free from great tconAagratlons
during the time :
The difference cannot be due to mare
chance, because the one town has happened
to be more lucky than the other. 1t must be
that the organization for contendlng against
fires is better in New York than In Boston,
and that In respect Of the protection Of prop
erty against the flames, high function Of
civilized and effective municipal govern
ment, the ancient Puritan capital must come
to us to learn lesson.
The sun., 1889-11-30
Fires in Boston and New York.

1t Is remarkable that for more thar gen.
GRAFTON New York has escaped from wide
spread fires, although often during that time
fires have started under conditions not un-
like those which led to the great confla-
Rrations Of Boston and Chicago.
In what is known as the dry goods dis
trict, for instance several considerable fires
have occurred OF recent years. but they have
always been confined, by the efforts OF the
Fire Department, to few buildings Yet
the streets In that part Of the town are not
wide, and the structures. with comparatively
few exceptions, are not Of the kind known as
fire proof. or OF the massive character OF those
destroyed in Boston on Thanksgiving Day
Alphabetically 1t Is not q region which
ranks high. though within Its limits are
contained by far tie largest and richest
stores Of merchandise gathered in an equal
space In any town Of The Union.
The great fire at the stables of the Fourth
Avenue Railroad, a few years ago. would
have burned up the most splendid residence
district Of the town II the fierce flames had
not been kept within a narrow space; and
yet the difficulties which our firemen sur
mounted were hardly less than those which
bAffied the energies Of the Boston tiremen on
Thursday. 1t seemed at one time as II 1t
would be impossible for them to pre-
vent conflagration far more extensive
and far more destructive than Boston's. But
they succeeded, although temporarily
embarrassed by a deficient water supply.
Murray Hill was saved from devastation,
and the premiums for insurance there con-
unue to be among the lowest obtainable.
Tho more recent and great fire along the
upper water front taxed all the resources
OF skill and energy in the Fire Department.
but 1t WAS kept within q small space.
So II has been with all the fires In New
York since the organization and perfection
OF our present Fire Department. which. with
out boasting, may be described as tho best
In the world. The evil day OF conhaRration
may come to New York, as 1t has come to
Boston; but there ls no dread Of 1t hero at
the present time. When q great fre oo-
ours property owners and the people gon.
orally rest secure In their confidence in the
e1pertness and vigor of the tlremen and
their leaders. They are an army which has
b." 20 uniformly VaStOEi0OS In their war
The sun., 1889-11-30
The Speakership.

II THOMAS BRACKET REED or WILLIAM
MCKINLEY, Is selected as the Republican
candidate for Speaker Of the Fifty-flrst Con-
Rress by the Republican caucus which meets
ut noon to-day, the House Of Representa-
tves will have a presiding of1cer equal in
point Of firmness Of character, Of intellectual
endowment, and In familiarity with the work
OF the House to the great demands Of his
post. 1t is post only second in Importance
to the Presidency. The lamentsble results
Of giving 1t into weak hands should have
sufficiently impressed themselves upon the
Republican party In the case Of KE1FER.
Nobody indeed, as weak as that malodorous
Buckeye specimen has appeared in the pres
ent canvass. In fact, all the candidates are
men Of respectable ability. But at least
thrpc Of them would never have been
thought Of as candidates for Speaker IL they
had not thought Of themselves. Mr.. JULIUS
CESAR BURROWS, whatever his actual abili-
ties, Is only known to the country at large
as Republican stump speaker Of unwearied
lung power and industrious excitement.
Mr.. HENDERSON Of Iowa Is even now con-
fused by many good Republicans with his
better known colleague, Gen. Tom HENDER-
SON OF Illinois, Uncle JOE CANNON never
omed up above the mark OF respectable
medlocrity until he worked upon the good
nature OF the Illinois delegation and set out
to get fat Craftsmanship or the grand prize.
The object OF SpeRkership canvasses Of
the minor sort Is always obvious, but the
gameis still played and is still worth play
ing. Sectional combinations, combinations In
the interest OF candidates. and the scramble
for good places OH tho committees are ele-
nents so complex and uncertain in the pres
ent contest for the Speakership that the
minor candidates feel encouraged to stay In.
Yet in viow Of the stormy times which
everybody predicts for the Fifty-flrst Con-
Gress. 1t would seem only common prudence
for the Republicans to take no experimental
and unknown man. Mr.. REED and Mr.. Nc
KINnEY are their first men, and their capacity
has been amply judged. Mr.. REED has been
often an intolerant and bitter leader OF the
minority but always forcible and ready. 1t
would not be showing him proper consider
alton for his past services to pass him by.
yet the West may succeed in beating him.
Intellectually he is probably the superior Of
any other man on the Republican side, but
Lie most men with great powers OF sarcasm,
he cannot always restrain himself from Civ
Ing lick with the rough side OF his tongue,
even to a friend. Mr.. MCKINLEY has re-
served himself for great occasions, and culti-
vated the amiable and politio policy Of long
silences. He has golden possibilities to
dream OF. while Mr. REED has always with
him the bitter reflection that Mr.. BLAINE is
the Man from Maine.
Er. MCKINLEY can afford to lose better
than Mr.. REED can. II both of them lose the |
Republican party will be heavy loser.
The sun., 1889-11-30
Our surmlse about tho real state of Chi.

Our surmlse about the real state Of Chi
caGo's so-called Fair fund may be regarded as
confirmed by what We have since found In our
esteemed contemporary. the Chicago Daily
NetCs From that sufficient source We learn
authoritAtively that the list OF subscribers
to the Exposition capital stock shows a grand
total OF 81 .146.500."
That is. OF course. q good deal OF money,
but the ability to collect money Is not to be
the determining chara cterlstic of any city
as the site of the Worlds Fair OF 1892 g.
Fitness natural practical. historical. sentl-
mental. and actual fitness. is what will settle
this most Interesting question.
The sun., 1889-11-30
THE PAN-AMBRIoAN CONGRESS.
Btin Discussing the Rules that arc to Gov
eFn the Body.

BtM Discussing the Rules that arc to Gov.
eFn the Body.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 29.-Dr. Min, the dele
gate from Uruguay. presided over the dellbera-
tons Of the International American Conference
to-day. After the minutes were read the Com
mittee on Rules presented report recon-
mendnR that daily journal OF the proceed
ings be published. in addition to which the per-
manent record, 10 be published at convenient
times, would give the debates in detail. This
report was adopted.
The conference then resumed tho considera-
tion OF the rules. beginning with rule IA, which
requires the presence OF two-thirds OF the dele
cations before business can be transacted In
view Of the fact that rule previously adopted
made majority O quorum. this rule was held
by some delegates to be unnecessary. The sub
ject was discussed at lonRth in Committee OF
the Whole and finally report was made rec
ommendinR a substitute, providing that the
conference shall only vote upon the matters
specifed in the law authorizing it's meetings
when two-thrds oil the delegations are repre-
sented. and that votes shall be taken by States.
The substitute was then adopted.
Over the next rule, requiring the delegates
ther discussion. Senior Quintana, Argentine
maintaining its necessity and citing .prece-
dents. and Messrs. Estee and Henderson.
United States, alleging that much work would
be uselessly Imposed on the delegates II they
were required to 20 through the records every
President and secretaries be accepted as
Without disposing OF the subject the Con-
ference adjourned to meet next Monday.
The sun., 1889-11-30
THE SUPREME BkNCH.
The Choice OF the New Justice Said to be
Narrowing Down to Woods or RUSSELL

From the DetrOit tribune
WASHINGTON, Nov. 25. - Vice President
Morton told a friend to-day that In his opinion
either Judge Woods, Of Indiana or Alfred Rus
sell Of Detroit would be the successor Of Stan
ley Matthews on the supreme bench. This Is
tho strongest inttnation that has yet come OF
the Presidents action. On taking up Mr. Rus
sells papers President Harrison must have
been SURPRISED at the extent, the weight and
the explicitness of Mr. Russells endorsements
gentleman who has seen brief OF the
Russell papers tells me that he doubts II the
President has IN his possession another set Of
endorSen ents that can equal those fled on be-
half OF the Michigan man. The Vice President
himself heads the list, with Secretary Proctor
TO back him up SO able u lawyer as benjamin.
+. Buter has expressed desire to sec Mr.
Kussell on the supreme bench. and George
Ticknor Curtis has not only written to tine
President in Mr.. Hussels behalf, but he has
York papers. Both, the faculty OF Dart
mouth College. where Mr.. Russell re-
Dean Of the Harvard law faculty are. also
on record for him.. Every Judge OF the
Michigan supreme Court. several ex-Judges.
and the Judge elect favor Mr. Russell. Mem
bers OF tho bar from over all Michigan and
other States add their words OF COMMENTATOR.
The sun., 1889-11-30
rnlUps on TEE nEEnnUE
Ths Unitea States Losine 81 10000 An-
uuaIIy by the smuggiing or Opiun.


nually by the smuggIing OF Opiuu.
OTTAWA, Nov. 2g-An officer Of the Cana
dian Customs. at present In the city. has been
investigating the extent OF the opium traffic in
British Columbia, and as the result Of his In
duiries It is shown that the United States
revenue is losing duty at the ratio OF from one
half to three-quarters OF million OF dollars
annually on opium smuRGled into the United
States from that province. There are. he says,
thirteen refining factories In operation in Vic
torla. each OF which pays municipal license
OF $500 annually. The fact that the quantity OF
crude opium imported for refining purposes
into British Columbia increased from 5000
pounds in 1880 to 100000 pounds last year,
shows how profitable the trade has been.
1t is estimated that the quantity Of
crude opium imported last year would pro-
duce $4,000 pounds OF the refined article
The officer says that 5000 pounds Of
the refined product would supply AL demands
for home consumption and the balance OF 45,-
S rpRS %SdG SSSe 20 Sossd
tSat this sc Eas disPosed i Of Is thc 6SleS STATES
Canadian customs oiiiciaIs clearly Indicates
@ United sStss s f@fb fetaTRs BE- G says shows tst only
~ pounds OF refined opium was imported into
hst SognT last bysaTb lr9% tbs S
surplus product OF the British Columbia refln-
cries was smuRgled ACROSS the border the
duty on which would have amounted to $780,
600. paying at the rate OF $40 per pound.
In making this calculation. he says that only
the quantity oil crude opium which actually
paid duty. and was reported to the Canadian
customs on being imported, was taken into
British Columbia, he believes, you'd reach
would increase the quantity Of refined opium,
for which foreign market had to be found. TO
about 100000 pounds. 1t ls safe, therefore. to
estimate that from 80 900 to 100000 pounds OF
refined opium was smuRRled from Canada into
the United States last year, which should have
contributed about S1000.000 to the United
States revenue. This organization for smug-
Cling opium across the border from British
Columbia 1t will therefore be seen. 10 a profit
sorted to have failed to suppress.
The Dominion Government, as q means OF
checking the rapid increase OF the opium habit.
which 10 reported to be going on In the coun.
try, and with q viaw to assisting tho United
Slater Government In putting down the snug
Cling traffic. 10 considering the advisability Of
imposing restrictions which the business can
not profitably bear. The idea Of imposing an
excise duty on all the opium refined In Canada,
OF say from sS to 81, per pound, has been suR-
Rested as the most likely remedy for the e1ist-
tilleries, would be under. the inspection Of
excise officers. and by this means, It Is held,
that II 1t did not succeed in ourtailing the man
ufacture. II would contribute In the way OF
excise duty nearly $500.000 to the Dominion
revenue annually. The question is to be thor
oughly Investigated during the coming session
OF Parliament. which meets here on JAN 16.
The sun., 1889-11-30
German and American Law.

The announcement comes from Berlin that
the German Government has instituted q
prosecution against the editor Of a newspa-
per in Potsdam for publishing a statement
to the effect that on O recent visit to that
town the Kaiser rode in second-class cab.
1t is little difficult to perceive what there
is libellous or otherwise injurious inithis pub
lication. 1t Is quite possible. we suppose,
that even an Emperor may have occasion at
times to avail himself OF q conveyance which
is inferior to the ordinary imperial equipage.
II he does 30. statement Of the truth can
not harm him or any one else; but even II
the cab was better than represented, the
Kaiser must be unduly sensitive to take UNI
bragg at such story and to invoke the ter
rors Of the law upon the publisher.
It would seem that the theory OF the pros
ecution is that even when the Emperor does
ride In o second-class cab the newspapers
should say that he rode in first-cass one.
Such view, however, is hardly moro alb
surd than one Of the provisions Of the cleo
trical execution law in this State.
No account Of the details Of any such exc
cution shall be published in any newspaper,
says the statute, beyond the statement Of
the fact that such convict was, on the day In
question, duly executed according to law at
the prison." But suppose the convict was
not duly executed according to law? Tho
statute seems to permit no other publication
on the subject than an announcement that
the criminal was duly and legally executed.
whether he was In fact put to death accord
ing to law or not.
With such a provision on our own statute
book, we can hardly ridicule any foreign law.
however absurd.