davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-10-17

Very few have seen the pileated woodpecker
in all his wild glory. In years gone by they
we're not uncommon at the capital. but at pres
ent they are, and for some years have been ex-
trsmely scarce. In the early spring Of 1899
heard one in the woods near Potomac landing,
and this Is the only instance OF its occurrence
that has come under my notice in four years
observation Some years ago O dealer at
Center Market with more Of eye for bust
ness than regard for popular sentiment exposed
two barrels Of these birds for sale as articles of
food. They we're killed in eastern Virginia
near the coast and u 10 no. surprising that the
birds are not numerous In the surrounding
country.
WHERE TEE PrLEArRD Is MOST FOUND.
In all Of our eastern states and in fact in all the
may be found in greater OF less numbers. but
the places in which they are mos, at home and
where they may be found In greatest abundance
are the Dense swampy forests so numerous in
the gulf states and in the Mississippi valley. In
the almost impenetrable swamps Of Florida
they are particularly abundant and one seldom
fails 10 see q score or more in q days outing.
The traveller walking through cypress
swamp will suddenly find the stiffness broken
by loud rafting call, somewhat resembling o
hearty laugh, but 20 Wild and so uncouth that
We know almost instinctively that it proceeds
from no human throat An instant later this
woodpecksr comes bounding through the air
and alights on the dead trunk Of one Of the
largest trees in the forest; moment later his
mate appears and both begin hammering away
for dear life. The chips fly in every direction
big ones too-and 10 takes but a few moments
to make quite . considerable hole and to ex-
pose 10 hungry eyes the rich store Of food con-
cealed within.
fHE MALE AND HIS NATE.
The male ID large. perfect giant. being over
foot In length and nearly twice that in spread
Of wing. jet black in color, with white stripe
down each side Of the neck. and the whole sur
mounted by q magnificent scarlet crest on the
bead perfect beauty. His mate il much the
saus but the scarlet crest is marked across the
forehesd with patch Of tiingy yellowish brown
How Wild he looks and how he pounds. IL
essms incredible that they can hammer with
such force At Q little distance one might
readily imagine wood chopper at his work.
and on more than one occasion I have been
nisled INTO thinking myself near the cabin Of
soms settler when In reality il was one Of the
giant woodchoppers pounding away on some
Sourh and weather. seasoned stump.
II one wishes evidence of aieir powers we
have but TO examine the various trees and sec
me immense excavations chopped in some Of
them By these birds l well remember one in
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-10-17

every Iocallty that he
inhabits that he has ac-
CURED more names than
almost any bird known
to the writer. Thirteen
are before me at pres
ent, while the number
OF urrecorded local
names are probably as
many again. or those
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-10-17

which are often blamed for predicting rain
when in reality they haven't opened their
mouths. 1t is interesting of an evening to
some tree and endeavor to seize passing in.
sects They are quite fond Of this sort of
sport, and are really quite expert ny catchers.
Taken as whole they are becoming rare. The
immense demands made by tho millinery trade
and the thousands slaughtered annually for
this purpose are beginning to tell, and like
many others Of our handsomer birds Q few
years hence one will seek for them in vain.
THE RED-BELLIED VARIETY.
Another handsome member Of the family is
the red-bellied, and, a. before stated. next In
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-10-17

while farmers complain that they are great de-
stroyers Of corn, which last however, I do not
credit
THE LITTLE DowEY.
Quite contrast to the foregoing 10 the little
downy, smallest Of all of our American spe-
ciss, and common everywhere. What Q cum
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-10-17

rare, neither is he what
we might call common.
being found in many Of
the groves surrounding
Washington, and always
where the tops of the
trees are dead. At
Mount Pleasant. in the
woods to the right Of
the entrance 10 the Ma
tional Park, at Airing
ton cemetery and in
various other localities
they regularly rear their
young. while o number
remain with us all win
ter, frequenting these
same localities. Their
note is peculiar, and
at times bears close
resemblance to the
piping of tree froQs-
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-10-17
fHE MALI AND Hrs NATE.

particular on the Oek-
lawahs river in Florida.
IL was Q hard, dead cy-
press, and at the place
where the birds had
been at work was nearly
two feet and Q half In
diameter and yet 90
nearly severed was it
l had some apprehen-
mons for personal safety
while examining the
ground beneath. Saw
dust and chips enough
70 All . bushel basket
wore strswn about in
profusion, many Of the
chips as large as a mans
hand, and when I say
that the wood was not
rottsu but dry seasonad
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-10-17

From the Boston 0lobs City Gossip.
1t is told Of great author that he was wont
to amuss himself by jumping over . chair.
But have q correspondent who, as the follow
ing shows, amuses himself by Weighing mos
quitoes:
s.DEAR BUD BRIxR-I have recently weighed
some mosquitoes of this locality on sentative
balance. The average weight OF one mosquito
was LAT milligrammes; that 10, 10 would take
three hundred and sixty thousand (S60, 900 10
weigh pound.
Mosquitoes which had filed themsslvss With
human blood were found to weigh about three
times ~ much as others, showing that they hsd
swallowed twice their weight In blood"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-10-17

Of North America met at Buffalo. n. T.. on
Monday, with 40 delegates present
The Vanderbilt Benevolent Association a
CHARLESTON, 3. O., has ssnS hsndsonne rod
badge 70 little Ruth Cleveland.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-10-17

the pilsated in point Of
scarcity. Two or TIRED
have been seen at Col
lege Park, while at
Laurel they are not
uncommon. In the
southern states they
are extremely common,
becoming nuisances in
some localities, drilling
the telegraph poles In
their search for grubs
and causing no little
damage and expense,
and in certain parts Of
Florida this is particu-
larry the case. A bird
Of wide distribution,
they are found in CEN
trail and northern New
York, while I have
taken them in western
Texas, and they are
found abundant to the
base Of the Rocky
mountains,
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-10-17
TIE YELLow-nElLIEp wooppxcxxn.

THE rELLow-BKILIEp woopPKcxxa.
Next comes the little sapsucker or yellow
bellied woodpeckcr. He 10 familiar little fell
Low, frequenting the groves and parks for Q
few days during his spring and fall visits, al
though more shy than the little downy. I
know Of no bird whose note or cry il more dis
tinctively characteristic. II one owns a pet
cat and some day in early spring fan les that
he hears II uttering cries Of distress the chances
are he will find a sapsucker clinging to the treo
in front Of his door and calling tenderiy to his
mate in an adjoining one. They are extremely
handsome with their sulphur bellies, crimson
throats and checkered backs, and one readily
forgives their diseordsut cries in admiring
their beauty. The woods about Piney branch
are particularly productive Of them in March
and April, and one can find them ut most an v
hour Of the day. They are fully 20 fond as the
downy Of hide and ssek, and one must be eau
tious to obtain close acquaintance.
TEE nAraY vARrrrY.
Last Of all we have the hairy next to the nj
leated and red-bellied in variety, and very much
resembling the dowuy in general appearance, in
fact il he were just half the size he might pas
for a very good one indeed. Arlington ceme-
terry il the only place have seen them for
long time, and the last one observed was in
March Of the present year.
These are the representatives in the District Of
Columbia of the great family Of voodpeckers
and IN concluding one feature characteristic Of
our American tribe is worthy Of mention. In
every species from the big ivory bill larger
than the pileated and found along the gulf
the head 10 present in some shape or other. So
prominent 10 this feature that one well-khown
writer has spoken Of the whoie n the .sred-
headed family" IN.H.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-10-17
ROADSIDE SKETCHES.
A Pleasant Ramble About Brookland
and Edgewood.
THE HOME OF THE CHAsEs.

The Halfway House and Its Memories Of
Famous Men-The Old Quceu's Chapel.
Once the Grstha Green OF the District-Thc
Remains of Fort Saratoga.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-10-17
THE W00DPECKER.
Seven Varieties of Him to Be Found
in the District.
FEATHERED CARPENTERS.

rhey work Industriously and the Results
They Accomplish Seem Almost Incrcd-
isle-Big Trees Cut in Two-Dsscripsson Of
These Interesting woodchopperA
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-10-17
TEE HAIRY vAHIIrY.

Lieut. starboard Of the navy, making . lats
can-"I notice the sea il going out"
Miss Rocks, with Q yawn-.Yes: I thoushS
You followed the -. lieutenans7''-Y omisrs
iS0tesm0R.
One DISSIPATION stil Lsft-Fair visitoe--sT
An eollecting sabsoriptions for poor boy vho
cannot work. He has both limbs paralySsd."
NJ. 0r0ueh-'why doesn't b become a.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-10-17

A fhAon HI urxcr Plan.
Fer by snd siT;s soH ssyca % ten ysais v b
ouceed ~ 49, II - AAHx. - on qpSaEslnqn4 Of
Open oct q fss1pLlml iSg7 Il ~
q. JOHNS colLE0E vkkNOAT 1VE-
phqnoxFaphv. comnnsrce. mathssnas1cl HSs pF5nSTy
md grammar cassssA ksopsas Aonday. s6sSlsmSSr
fsOLUNBIA C0NsEkNA1URx on HC0IC VIZ n
~ ~ nv. Piano, votee. ytotns -. EOW1N HxHT
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-10-17
GERMS OF MALARIA.
Why 1t 10 the Washington People Suffer
From the Diseaxa

Why 1t 10 the Washington People Suffer
From the Disease.
MALARIA Is EPIDEMIC IN WASHING
A'A ton. Physicians say that ii has not been
so bad here for many years as at present. The
effective clerical force in all of the departments
has been reduced by the disease.
Perchance some day method of incubation
for the prevention of malaria may be devised.
Science has got hold of the germ recently and
identified 1t beyond question. 1t is not bacil-
lus or any kind Of bacterium, as has been i'm
sgined, but an animal parasite. The name
given to it is plasmodium malaria. 1t belongs
to the lowest grade of animal life. being pro
tozoon."
This little parasite which is Of microscopic
dimensions, appears to make its home ordi-
narily in the soil 1t is plentiful in swamps,
but wherever virgin ground is turned up for
the first time the plasmodium is apt to be very
numerously present. 1t has been noticed in
towns that when much digging and turning
over OF earth has been going on malaria ex-
hibits tendency to prevail There has been
good deal OF digging in Washington lately.
Entering the human body through the lungs
the plssmodium seeks q roosting place in one of
the red corpuscles OF tine blood. These corpus
Giles are in shape fiat, round disks, bearing
pieces Of money. How essential their weil-be-
ing is to health everybody knows. The para
site having taken up its residence in one Of the
corpuscles proceeds to multiply, forming o
little colony. The colony feeds upon the ma
terial Of the corpuscle, which thus becomes dis
organized and is finally destroyed, so that the
hostile germs are set afoat in the blood. At
the beginning they were merely bits of proto-
plasmic jelly, without any particular shape, but
now they become free swimmers and have de-
veloped long hair-like oars to paddle about
with. Each one has three such oars radiating
from its body. Thus they make their way
through the veins and arteries, following the
tide Of the circulation.
or course, 1t is not possible that this sort of
thing should 60 on to any considerable extent
without seriously affecting the health Of the in
dividual The latter is attacked by chills, al
ternating with fever. Qunine and other REM
edies destructive to the parasites relieve these
symptoms. However. ii the patient continues
to be exposed to the absorption Of the germs in
effect. The blood. invaded by hordes OF plns-
modia, becomes filled with disorganized red
corpuscles and nature gives up the fight, death
ensuing.
Now that medical science knows precisely
what 1t has to contend against in the treatment
OF this hitherto mysterious disease it may be
able to find more effective remedies. Already
the discovery has enabled physicians to cor
rectly diagnose many malarial cases which have
way Of cOunterfeiting typhoid fever and
other troubles. In such instances the presence
OF the plasmodia in the blood, readily ascer-
tanned by the microscope, settles the question.
Besides. If one must suffer, it is q great COM
fort to know what is gobbling one up.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-10-17

c. STARIN's BUSINESS COLLEGE. Ia AND ~
a. a. nsw.oniy .ch"ol in The city where RAPID
coiieses and practical shorthand wr1fers come
here to increase their speed Shorthand ~, ewritnx
dctatioa each week and practise Cseraph or Rem.
tngton. or both three months el0. Businesa course
oslsSsatsd book enast' psnm.nslip. commercial
msrcial paper. knRi,sh and spelling three month";
$40. Prot. btnrin has thr busines. snos,i
at the Prep. Dept. Qf the Cosunban Uu.yers nv Tor
the past two year,. He aso had chsrss Il shs bus.
mess school st the T. - G. a; durinx the past year
women for liyss u usssa nsss and honor. b s pre-
tsrs and Will. IN the shortens possible te n fnem
% the ct ths busness world ana conouer
I'll summer. One hundred studsnts now - rsrular
attendance. Diplomas. sXlv
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-10-17

CCHOOL OF ORATORY.
. 6l3 Iouisians ave A two yssrs' course. T.ru.
moderate. Opens THURSDAY. October s. 8 pm.
oc1-lm n. q. IRFsSEI NJ
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-10-17

LMERSON INSTITUTE.
Il 914 14th st.. bet. I and sts.
Select classical and nathbsnatica. hool yov voynv
men and boys: FORTrETH YEAR begins WEDNES
DAY. September II
Prepares for Harvard. Yale. Pr1ncston, Johns Hon.
iins Lehigh and other coeees and universities, for
Naval Aca deniies and for business. Special eparf
ment for boys eight and twelve years Of are
tnli course In modern languages. CHAS. b.
YOUNG. Principal. ock
no NOT SPEND AN AGE LEARNING PHONO9-
~ raphy by the old methods when ron can eca ure
proficiency in the Acme in three lnoptua &
the iegible ystem invented.
Call or send for circular.
ACME PHONO6RAPHY AND
BUSINESS SCHOOL.
seS-3m DID and 82l ss. NV
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-10-17
EDUCATIONAL
CoLUMBIA COIL.EGF az coNNrncr.
" g. AA-gve.. Ciposs.s CITY to>a offics

sixth ye,r "a a bus ness urator in tit- sfty IN.
ton soafr hc Ter ul G tasuty - i,afs.iian fl.
don't aufiur 81 Tie Eastman SNst@f 80 ran NJ .,
rsslNs,. ft.e "nl sod inrss AVENGED Tor ii-.Iess
'1n SION ~ - No a isE hsla IN fsrss 49,
sia fsscr--- hn-nc-s lnu4lsh. Ar,1unfanr-s- f,fxu
SsfNite. ShorthaAd END aIsNrli "a. Sutsri,- md
eltL nsiastr t--sA4iiS- lhufuush ana ffarfiT.I
cuurs-s- Graduates % rar. ss11s.e,~r sfl 'l,.r5o
guasted sures>. Situations wnet, sDtntu-t.n. -ena
for ratausue cuntstulIir ltititn ,lf IN. -~..
ana last yeai = cnrOilInent lnors thaa ssa 49,
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-10-17

Will De a hundred patterns on the market as
soon as the new arrangement has gone into
effect, and he can suit himself as to price, from
Is cents upward. No prize was offered in that
department. which would necessarily be o big
advertisement. Manufacturers will presume
bly, do the repairing at q cheap rate. One re-
suit of the novel departure Is likely to be q
cutting down OF the force of letter carriers in
every city, it being estimated that one-half the
present number could do the work il everybody
adopted the system.
CRANKs BORE THE DEPARTMENT.
Speaking Of cranks, tho Post Office Depart
ment is necessarily besieged by lunatics of all
sorts. Some Of them want letters hunted mp
that were missed as far back as the beginning
OF the century. Heirs to imaginary property
are continually applying for supposititious mis-
sives from relatives abroad and elsewhere.
Wives write to ask that clandestino correspon-
dence between their husbands and other women
be intercepted and husbands similarly with
regard to their wives Many persons address
frantic abuse to the Postmaster General be-
cause their love letters have gone astray
II an epistle miscarries accident il
never supposed TO be at fault, but
always the rascality of postal clerks and wicked
officials: The gruesome things which reach
the dead letter office in packages are enough to
make ones flesh creep. Perhaps the most re-
other day in box that had lost its wrapper.
1t was female hand, cut OF above the wrist,
evidently that Of Q lady. The desh was plump
as in life and the fingers long and tspering.
The superintendent placed it In the post Office
museum, but 1t SO disturbed his rest the fol-
lowing night with bad dreams that on the next
morning he ordered it disposed of.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-10-17
ACNE PHosooRsgHy AND Business

ACNE EoSoGRAPHY AND business
- SCHOOL
ESTABLIShED SIX YEARS.
Course OF studIts: Penmanshlp. bookkeeping.
arithmetic. spelling. te.egraphy. typewrIIns and
s;enograpay.
IN our Acme method Of Shorthand the principles Of
the system impaired in sixteen and
proficiency If acquired an three months Hundreds OF
students have been turned Proficient StenoTaphers
from tins Institute. and nune- have been placed IN
position py tile I,rlnCipal OF the srhool.
Stss.Ons Gay ana evening Cal send for pamphlet
oly and gel 3 nv.
au.el.Sfn T.. J. MIANEX prfncipal
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-10-17
IN WASHINGTON.

FNHE COLUMBIAN UNIVERSITY.
Circu.ar describing the syening classes in ALGE-
BkA, 9EOMEIRi. IRI9ONOMETRY, ANALYTIC
GEOMETRY and CALCULUS may be obtained BY
writing to H L. HODGkINs. Prof.. OF Math. se1y-lln
DROP. p. r. DUMAINE WILL OPEN THE NINTH
annual session of his evening classes for instruc-
ton in French on the LIST OF o. toDer Special attention
IRIS. c. H. THOMPSON OF LONDON. ENGLAND
AVA certlhcated at Cambridge, College Preceptors
South kensngton school Of Art and Stuttgart Con.
servaoiye. has opened her class for rls III ST.
ocl1-2vs
The advocate., 1891-04-15

The Board Of Directors Of the Exchange send greeting
70 all the Alliance people In the state, wishing them
haDpy and prosperous new year. We congratulate our
patrons On the fact that the volume OF our busine9g up TO
the Rrst OF this year amounted 10 more than One Million
Dolara On our live stock business our members who
shipped through agency received dividend amount
ing 10 80 per cent OF the commission paid.
Our buainess during this year will be greatly enlarged
and extended 70 all alliance people on the cooperative
plan as follows The Board OF Directors will undertake
10 do this and do business with oil Alliance members
with distinct understanding that the per cent accumu
lsng on the business will go to the stockholders and pur
chasss in the ratio Of 40 cents TO stockholders and 90 cents
10 purchasers on each net dollar OF earnings thereby CIV
ing the stockholders benefit SUCH and also rebate as
a purchaser while non.sOckhoder will only receive the
rebate In order that every member OF the Alliance may
receive the benefits Of the business OF the Exchange the
directors have resolved TO honor orders from oil members
whether stockholders nOt nonsOckhodeTs receiving
one dollar less rebate given volume OF business than
stochodeE and In lieu Of his dollar the nonstock
holder will receive receipt for Oneith share OF stock In
the Kansas Alliance Exchange Company
We have general catalogue and price list now In the
hands OF the printer and will be ready To mail out about
the 2Oh OF January One copy Of this catalogue will be
sent TO each Of the secretaries OF Bubaanoes and 10 buB
ness agents 30 iRr as we have their addresses Other
members desiring catalogue will please send 10 cents In
postage stamps to pay expense Of mailing the same
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-09-11

The southern newspapers are giving seriou
consideration, as well they may, to the propo-
sition Of the colored alliance, heretofore no.
ticed in The STAB, relative to the prices of
cotton picking. The editor Of the Macon TEL
egroph, paper published in the heart Of the
cotton belt. claims to have special knowledge
Of the subject. That journal says that if the
movement Of the colored alliance is a success
either in exacting the price or in preventing
the gathering Of the crop it will bankrupt the
farmers Of the south. Here are the reasons in
brief TO sustain this apprehension: At 81 per
hundred pounds, picking would cost nearly so
per cent Of the value of the clean cotton, when
the value Of the ration and the expense of get
ting the cotton to the gin house we're added.
In this region probably l,600 pounds of seed
cotton are required. on an average, to produce
a Compound bale The cost of ration and the
incidental expense can hardly be less than 81.
The cost o. gathering. therefore, would be SIT
a bale, and at present prices the bale is worth
considerably less than $40. il Of the average
grade Of cotton. in the markets where the
farmer is obliged 20 sell
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-09-11

Twes;y-nine states have adopted the secret
or Australian ballot in some form Massachu-
sets led the way in 1883. During the present
year fourteen states have pas. ID laws to estab-
lish the reform Most of the legislation on the
subject in this country is either excellent or
pretty good. affording hope fo- electoral i'm
proyement in many states. But III four or five
states the friends Of the reform ballot were
forced by its enemies to accept bills that were
little better than the old election laws. An ed
itorial in the current Century carefully reviews
the changes in the ballot laws and comes to
the conclusion that New Jersey and Connecti-
cut have poor laws, the latter having caused
the contest over the Governorship now going
On in the courts The New York, Pennsylvania
and California laws are noted as
bad" the former by reason of amend
ments adopted by the last legislature
for the purpose Of multiplying the good effects
of the measure as originally passed In most
cases where the law is defective it Is so because
either it is made hard for the independent
ticket to secure a place on the ballot or the
principle Of secrecy is violated in some way.
This Is done sometimes, as in Maryland, by
allowing the uneducated voter to take friend
into the booth to assist in marking the ballot,
OF in permitting an unofficial ballot Much re-
mains TO be accomplished, but the fact that
twenty-nine out of forty-four states have in
three years. adopted some modification of the
reform. and tina. twenty-four or twenty-five of
these states have framed pretty good laws on
the subject, is matter for rejoicing and hope.