davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-06-04
COMPULSORY PHOTOGRAPHY,
Detective Evolves a Scheme to Have
Every Mans Picture Taken.

Detective Evolves a Scheme to Have
Every Mans Picture Taken.
"Years ago." said Charles Thorough, Of st.
Louis, II did quantity OF detective work in
the East and was once sent on chase after
defaulter, which took me right round the world.
Before quitting the business for something less
sensational, but more profitable. I elaborated
scheme for the prevention of crime and the
detection of crime by means of photography.
and the only objection to it was the crude con-
dition of the art at that time, and the absence
of portable cameras The scheme involved a
law for compulsory photography. Every man
on arriving at, say, 20 years of age, should be
compelled to have his picture taken by Gov
ernment photographer, who should retain a
picture and give another to the subject On
the back the name, age, height, weight. and
any peculiarities should be written.
Now see how this would work. A man who
offered stolen horse or team for sale could be
challenged to produce his official photograph,
and there could be no more of the old-fash-
Toned defenses alleging purchase from some
person who could not be found. Or if man
wanted to cash a check and was not known, he
could produce his picture and the teller could
satisfy himself from the description and like
would make the commission Of crime difficult,
and no man could long escape detection. As to
the expense, it would be quite nominal, and
would be more than met by money saved which
would have been spent by detectives on useless
trips or false scents. / know this idea will be
ridiculed, but am convinced something Of the
kind will be finally adopted"
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-06-04
DEVOTION AND GENEROSITY.

It is encouraging to observe that exam
Piles of heroism and self-sacrifce in the pres
ent day do not fail to stimulate the emula-
tion of noble deeds. The devotion of Father
Damien in sacrificing his life for the care OF
the lepers in the Hawaiian Islands has in
spired others. Father Moellers, Belgian
priest, and Miss Ellen Flavin, young
Irish girl, have taken his place, thus ac-
cepting practical and certain martyrdom
for the sake of caring for the stricken out
casts suffering the slow death of that dread
full disease.
Although wholly different in character
and degree, similarly encouraging proof
of the motives of humanity and OF readi-
ness to succor the suffering is furnished by
the universal outburst of sympathy and aid
for the stricken in the terrible Johnstown
calamity. Hardly any better proof of the
generosity and loyalty to the duties of hu-
man brotherhood is to be afforded than the
fact that within twenty-four hours after the
nature Of that terrible calamity was known
every railroad station in Western Pennsyl-
vania was prepared to ship supplies and
money to the sufferers. 1t was a sponta-
neous and unstinted outpouring of assist
ance and comfort from the entire people.
The ready and free-handed generosity thus
displayed stands out in clear relief against
the exceptional examples of depravity af-
forded by the few wretches who took occa-
sion of the calamity for plunder.
The world has still plenty of generosity,
beroisun and se1f-sa oriiio aIthouoh in times
Of general prosperity the absence of occa-
sion for the exhibition of those qualities
creates some doubt as to their existence.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-06-04
BRITISH SHIP BUILDING.
An English Editor Tells Something About
the Trade and Customers.

An English Editor Tells Something About
the Trade and Customers.
1tis pleasant to learn, says the London Globe,
that there is one great British industry which
holds its own and something more in competi-
tion with the outside world English, Scottish
and Irish built ships are still in request among
foreigners;for quality and cheapness combined
they have no equals
Some trade statistics lately published show
that at the present moment the private yards
of the United Kingdom have between 15O, 600
and 200, 200 tons of shipping in course of con-
struction for foreign owners. Our largest GUS
tomer-Prince Bismarck will hear it with re-
gret-is Germany, which has ordered $4,000
tons. Portugal ranks next with 10000 tons.
while France, Norway and the Colonies have to
pay for about 10000 tons each. Brother Jona-
than is only small customer his order being
for no more than 5000 tons. But it has to be
remembered that his mercantile navy is also
limited. This latter consideration applies to q
greater or less extent in the other cases. While
the United Kingdom owes 9, 500, 900 tons of COM
mercial shipping, excluding vessels under 100
tons burden, all the other maritime nations
combined can only lay claim to about s, 800, 900
So, therefore. whether the ocean carrying trade
or the ship building trade comes under observa-
tion, this country can congratulate herself on
being immeasurably ahead of all her rivals
Which is an excellent thing to think of in these
days, when the pessimist croaks from the house
tops that John Bull is played out.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-06-04
DISCIPLINE VERSUS HUMANITY.

The action of Adjutant General Hastings
in sending back the members of Battery B
who had gone to Johnstown and commenced
the work of relief, may be in accordance
with the red tape of discipline; but it is
very poor humanity when the suffering are
to be rescued and property is to be pro-
tected.
The assertion of the Adjutant General
that it is an insult to the people of Johns
town to bring in the troops is certainly re-
markable one. 1t is not an insult to desti-
tute and suffering people either to relieve
their wants or to protect them against
thieves and marauders. Whether it is not
an insult to humanity when martial ideas
of discipline check the work of relief, is a
question it might be well for the Adjutant
General to consider.
Between Governor who has not yet been
able to do anything in the relief work and
an Adjutant General who will not let others
do anything that clashes with his ideas
of red tape, the State administration has
not managed to make very shining record
for itself in connection with the disaster.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-06-04
Anew Story About Greeley.

No mention of remarkable penmen would be
complete which did not include the name of
Horace Greeley, whose chirography was once
tersely described by new compositor in the
Tribune Office in the savage remark. literally
interspersed with profanity: IF Belshazzar had
seen this handwriting on the wall he would have
been more terrified than he was" Mr. Gree
ley, becoming disguised with the blunders of
one of his typesetters, sent note up to the
foreman requesting him to discharge the man
at once, as he was too inefficient workman to
be any longer employed on the Tribune. The
foreman obeyed fnstJ Sections, but before leav.
ing the typo" managed to get possession of
rival Office and applied for work, showing the
note as recommendation. The foreman to
whom he applied scanned the note, and said
"Oh, l see-'good and efficient compositor'-
employed long time on the Ifibune-Horace
Greeley" and Immediately set him to work on
the space of about Is minutes,
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-06-04
Illerihla SIGNATURES.

The most celebrated exponent of bad pen
manship in America was Rufus Choate, whose
signature has been aptly compared to "a grid.
iron struck by lightning" and whose haud-
writing was, in many cases, absolutely unde-
cipherable, even by the writer himself One
one occasion Mr.. Choate was having his house
repaired, and made arrangements to have
carved mantelpiece putup, promising. to send
the model. Failing to obtain one to suit him,
he wrote to his workman to that effect The
carpenter, after studying the missive-which
looked as If spider wading in ink had crawled
across the paper-at length concluded that it
must be the'desired plan, and forthwith began
fashloning probably the most original mantel-
piece that ever ornamented room. This story
is almost equal to that told of the great Napol-
con, who was such wretched writer that it is
said his letters from Germany to Josephine
were at first taken for rough maps of the seat
of war.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-06-04
Exceedingly Fine Writing.

The number of writers who have attained
this useless art of minute penmanship. so per
picking to editors and printers, is really re.
markable. As is well known, Charles Dickens
was one Of the chief offenders in this direction,
his hand writing being very dimInutive, while
every inch of his manuscript was usually Gov
cred as though paper were both scarce and ex-
pensive. His habit of writing with blue ink
upon blue paper, with frequent interlinations
wearied proofreader and compositor. OF a
like nature was the chirography of Douglas
Jerrold, who dotted down his jokes upon little
slips of blue paper in letters smaller than the
type in which they were presently to be set.
Charlotte Bronte's handwriting was SO exceed
ingly delicate that it appeared to have been
traced with a needle, while Thackeray wrote a
fine feminine hand, and delighted in ornament
ing his manuscript with pen and ink sketches
and caricatures of his famous characters.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-06-04
AGLoNG-FELT WANT.

1t is satisfactory to learn that indictments
have at last been found against railroad Off
cials for violations of the interstate CON-
merce law. 1t is not creditsble to this
nation that since this law was enacted viola
tIons have been notoriously general, but that
not even an attempt has been heretofore
made to punish them. This is unjust alike
to the public for whose protection the law
was passed and to the railroad men who
made decent effort to obey it. That some
thing is being done to check the idea that
the law can be over-ridden with impunity
by the corporations, is something's then il
remains to be seen if Chicago will demon
strste its ability to punish railroad men
who break laws, with fine and imprison-
ment, as ordinary people would be punished.
1t is long-felt want Of this country to see
some of the corporate managers, who syste-
, ,matically defy law, in the penitentiary.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-06-04
BE CAREFUL oF THE WEfEB

People cannot hearken too earnestly to
the warnings already sounded by ma1ical
men against the iindiscriminate use oNthe
/. allegheny water at this time. 1t is a case
Where The care that can avoid danger should
be exercised, no matter what latitude con-
Secture assumes as to the actual risk from
the confusion of unhealthy elements into
the river.
Filtering and boiling are simple and in
expensive processes. They are cheaper than
doctors bills. Bad though the recent repu-
tation was of well-water in some parts of
the city, it is safer to trust even to such for
a while than to use the quality of liquid
which for couple of days past has been,
and for some time yet will continue to be,
dispensed through the pipes of the two
cities
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-06-04
LEGENDARY LORE.
A Few Stories of Animal Mythology Re-
hitting TO Birds uud Beasts.

Fcw Stories of Animal Mythology Re-
hitting 10 Birds and Bensts,
The bushman still holds the belief that the
jackal is black, because he once'carried the sur
on his back, when that great luminary was
mortal on earth, and was sitting by the wayside
weary and worn.
In Poland, says De Gubernalis, 1t was q CAPT
tai crime to kill a cuckoo, because the old Slav-
onic NEUROLOGICAL diety used to change himself
into the form of that bird in order to an.
nounce to mortals the number of years they
had to live.
THE Zulu believes that the reason the hyrax
has no tail is because. when tails were being
distributed each animal had to fetch his own,
and the hyrax was too lazy to perform the
journey. Hence the Zulu proverb, If one Zulu
asks another to fetch him something, simply
because he is too lazy to do it himself: 1.-THE
hyrax went without tail because he sent for
It."
The natives of Vancouver Island have a
mythical origin for the melancholy note of the
loon. One fisherman robbed another of his fish,
and then cut out his victims tongue, so that,
when asked what had become of his fish, he
could only make the plaintive cry which Is
made by the loon. They believe that that
creature is the luckless fisherman trying to
make himself understood.
LEGENDS about the cuckoo are exceedingly
numerous. There is a singular one from Bo-
hemia. SAT wedding among the birds, az
which the hoopoe was bridegroom. the cuckoo
lent her crown which she always wore and has
never been able to get it back. That is the
reason why the cuckoo is always crying out
kluku, which means You rascal to which the
other replies jdu, jdu, 4 come, come but
comes not"
BOHEMIA is fruitful source of myths here
is another story of the cuckoo, and more in
teresting one. to my mind than the last: Christ
one day passing bakers shop, sent one Of his
disciples in to ask for bread. The baker re-
fused to give it, but his wife and six daughters,
who were more compassionate, delivered some
secretly to the disciple. In reward they were
placed among the stars, as the Pleiades; but the
baker was turned into cuckoo and it confirms
this story that his cry is heard as long as those
seven stars are visible in the sky"
GRIMM, in his work, tells how it is COM
mon belief in Europe that the cuckoo is a
transformed girl seeking or calling her brother.
Instances are given which are quoted by the
writer in CornIsiu Magazine. "In Albania
there were once two brothers and sister. The
latter accidentally killed one of them by get
ting up suddenly from her needlework and
piercing him to the heartwith her scissors. She
and the surviving brother mourned SO much
that they were turned into birds; he cries out
to the lost brother by night gjou, gjou, and she
by day. ku. ku, ku, ku, which means, Where
are your"
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-06-04
A MADMAN RUNS AMUCK.
He Fatally Shoots One Man md Terrifles
Scores of Citizeus.

He Fatally Shoots One Man nnd Terrifies
Scores of Citizeus.
ESPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE DIsPArcH.l
TRENTON, N. J., June 3.-The people of the
lower section of the city were thrown into a
state of excitement at 3 o'clock this afternoon
by the appearance on the street of James Nc
Caren, a gray-haired old man called Jimmy,
the bum," who was running about with re-
volver in each hand, and threatening to kill
persons in his way. He had just shot and killed
John Shay, married man, aged 80.
According to eye witnesses Shay had made a
jocular remark to McCaren, and in a fash the
old man had a revolver out. His bullet entered
Shay's breast just about the heart. He fell on
the sidewalk and expired. A few women sit
ting on step nearby screamed Murder"
McCaren turned to them and fourished his re-
volver, and threatened to shoot If they made
any outcry They retreated through an open
door, but other persons, attracted by their
cries, came into the street. Then the murderer
drew another revolver and ran amuck among
the people, driving them from point to point.
The only person that escaped his notice was
stout lady carrying babe. Mr.. McCaren
held crowd that finally surrounded him at
bay until Frank Tyrell, a nephew of Police
Justice Tyrell, came along and disarmed him
of one of his revolvers. McCaren concealed
the other weapon on his person. Lieutenant
Cleary, of the the police, then appeared on the
scene and took him into custody.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-06-04
CURIOUS CHIROGRApHY.


Noted Authors Whose Handwriting Has
Been Almost IlleGible = Dickens Fine
Hand and Greeley's Hieroslyphics-sev.
eral Good Stories About Noted Jour-
nalists.
In letter written by Nathaniel Hawthorne
when youthful student at Bowdoin College
he remarks: "What do you think of my be-
coming an author and relying for support upon
my pen? Indeed, think the illegibility of my
handwriting is very authorlike." The truth of
this early assertion is attested by the fact that
at his death the famous romancer left several
manuscripts that remained long unpublished
because no one could be found to decipher
their intricacies. his remark also serves to
illustrate the proverbial reputation for poor
penmanship with which, in common with the
legal profession, literary people have been SO
long credited. This reputation is, at the pres
ent day, at least, almost wholly undeserved,
since, with very few exceptions. the chirogra-
ply Of our most prominent authors is quite IN
exceptionable in its legibility. 1t is no doubt
true that the handwriting of Joaquin Miller re-
sembles dilapidated hedge fence; that Nora
Perry's melts away into intricacies of illegibil-
ity; that Aldrichs characters are but half
formed, and that William Winters are SO
strange and crooked as to resemble Japanese
hieroglyphics but, on the other hand, the Chi
rography of Holmes, Howells, Harte and a
host of others are fair examples of the clerical
neatness Of most of our modern writer's manu-
scripts.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-06-04

IT is somewhat discomposing to learn
from the esteemed Atlanta Constitution that
the trouble with our American writers is
their tame imitation of foreign models. F"
To learn that Amelie Rives, Gertrude Ath-
erton, Ella Wheeler Wilcox and Edgar
Saltus are imitators of foreign models shat
ters all our preconceived ideas of European
literature. The Constitution should inform
us who the models are upon whom these
writers have shaped their literary efforts, in
order that the public may unite in subscrib-
ing a fund in order to get the models killed
off
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-06-04

1t is probably base invention of the en-
emy that Beverly Tucker was appointed on
that Haytian Commission because he was a
business connection of Mr.. Blaine's. The
true reason must be, as it is the only other
one apparent. that Beverly can assimilate
more spirituous liquors and paint the town
a deeper carmine than almost any other
statesman within easy reach of the admins
tration. But if this is a qualification for
diplomatic Office why should Riddleberger
be left in the cold consomme?
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-06-04
QUE MAIL POUCH.
Not nrIIk. Rnt ,Lemonnde.

NOt MAihs nut AemOnuuos
To the Editor Of The Dispatch:
In your issue of Tuesday, May 2s, in report
of a business meeting of the Constitutional
Amendment Committee, of Allegheny, there
are some errors which wish to correct
1t is stated that a member of the committee
'assailed the Law and Order League, charg-
ing it with working against the amendment by
its spy methods" and that u restaurant keeper
in his precinct had been fined for selling a
glass of milk. 1t is said, further, that rthe
Committeeman said he had worked specially
with that restaurant keeper, and he had prom
ised to vote for the amendment, hut that he
had changed his mind since the L. & o. l. had
arrested him for selling the milk. had not
spoken to the restaurant keeper, and did not
say l had worked specially with him. did not
say it was glass of milk, but that it was lem
onade. 1 have since seen the restaurant keeper
and he makes no complaint of his treatment by
the Law and Order League. The matter had
been misrepresented to me. ], N, SMITH
ALLEGHENY, June2
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-06-04
THE ELECTRICAL WORLD.

THE simplest way to moderate: the glare of
incandescent lamps without lessening the
lighting power Is to give the globe thin coat
ing Of collodion.
1T is proposed in England to extend the teIe-
phone system to pulpits occupied by eminent
divines, for the benefit of invalids and also of
patients in the hospitals
A FLEET Of small twin screw boats, propelled
by electricity, will run on the Thames river,
England, this summer. They will transport
passengers from place to place over short dis
tances. The electricity is to be generated
from accumulators, carried on the boats, and
recharged when necessary at any of the river
stations. The boats are IS feet long, 22inch
draught and carry so passengers.
A SYSTEM of machines has been devised for
facilitating the taking Of the census, in which
electricity is called into play. The machines
are much more reliable than the most accurate
human agency, and one machine will do the
work Of large number of clerks. The next
census of this country will be taken with these
machines, and two are shortly to be sent to
New York for the 1890 census taking.
THERE are now in use in the United States
more than $500 central electrical stations for
light and power. There are 100000 arc lights
and 25O0, 900 incandescent lamps. There were
81 electrical railways in operation in
March last, and 50 roads in process
of construction. The increase of capital in
electrical investments during 1888 was nearly
S70,0O0.000. These are very significant figures,
and they point unmistakably to the course Of
future inventions and discoveries.
The newest rival to the electric light is cir
coma, the oxide of chromium, metal found in
North Carolina. Over Bunsen burner is fitted
glass chimney, in which is suspended hollow
cotton wick saturated with zirconia in the form
of white powder. When the gas is turned on
and match is applied the wick is Immediately
consumed, but the zircoDia remains as thin,
delicate. snow-white hollow column, which
heats white hot and glows like an electric light.
and seems almostto last forever II it does not
get broken,
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-06-04
Curiouities of Penmnnship.

The little pleasantly of Hawthorne's, how
ever, had some foundation in fact; as many
amusing anecdotes are recorded Of veritable
curiosities of chirography among the most
noted writers of the past. Some years ago a
new form of annual was proposed In England,
which was to consist of story by eminent
authors, each of whom was to write q page, to
be produced in fac simile. After receiving a
few manuscripts the publishers were obliged to
abandon the undertaking, as it was found that
many Of the pages would be utterly illegible to
the ordinary reader, and because some Of them
would contain 20 words, while others would
comprise enough to fill a newspaper column.
This idea was, however, practically carried out
in an edition Of one of Hugh Conway's stories,
In which each alternate page was fac simile
of the authors manuscript; but it is safe to say
that few readers ever took the trouble to de-
cipher these pages as the penmanship was al
most microscopic, and was rendered still more
lllegible by being blurred in the process of
printing,