davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The critic. (Washington, D.C.) 1890-1891, 1891-02-06
BLuNDER OF THE WIRES.
The Wrong Message Was Sent to MI

The Wrong Message Was Sent to Mrs.
Fitch.
NEW YoRK, Feb. 0.-Ex- Congressman
Joseph Fitch of Queens County will in
stitute n suit for s25000 damages against
the Western Union Telegraph Company
for one of the most extraordinary and
unhappy blunders ever made by that
corporation. BY reason of this error
Mrs. Fitch has been thrown into state
of nervous prostration bordering upon
insanity, and her husband is now de-
tanned almost constantly at her bedside.
Mr.. Fitch resides In pretty cottage at
Flushing, l.. I.
on Tuesday afternoon last Mt 3:i5
o'clock Mr.. Fitch went to the Western
Union Telegraph office, No 1876 Broadway,
and sent the following message:
Mrs. Joseph Fitch, No. 230 Lincoln street,
Flnshing, Il. L..
Wont be home until So'clock; am de-
tained by Getty Square business.
JOSEPH FrrcH."
About o'clock Mrs. Fitch drew her
easy.chair to the window where she might
look down the long street toward the rail-
road station. II Is her custom to watch
there for her husbands arrival. Mrs.
Fitch is in very delicate health and is an
extremely nervous woman.
At 4:40 o'clock O Western Union tele.
graph messenger rang the door-bcll and
handed her the following telegram:
Mrs. Joseph Fitch, No. 236 Lincoln Street,
Flushing, l.. L.;
"Your sister lies dead at the morgue.
What shall do?
"MRs. GARRIrry."
For q few moments Mrs. Fitch stood as
If turned to stone. Then she closed the
door, staggered into the parlor and fell on
tho floor In n gwnpn Tho m pQqpnppr hDv
went away whistling. 1t so happened
that Mrs. Fitch's unmarried sister, Miss
Rose, was in Baltimore on visit to some
friends and was expected in New York
within few days. This coincidence gave
double force to the terrible shock.
Mrs. Fitch was found lying senseless
on the floor with the telegram clutched
tightly In her hand, and consciousness
was restored with difficulty. At $40
o'clock the whistling messenger boy again
rang the door-bell.
"Dey sent me fer dat ar message" he
said at faint fer youse at all; here's
yourn"--at the same time handing her
Mr.. Fitch's telegram.
Then Mrs. Fitch went into the dark
parlor and cried and sobbed until her
husband came home at 8 o'clock and
found her.
Mrs. Fitch did not sleep all night and
her condition yesterday was very serious.
The operator at Flushing said the New
York Office sent him the dispatch.
Mr. Fitch declared that the conduct OF
some of the Western Union officials was
such that he had decided to sue the COM
pany for S25, 900 damages.
The critic. (Washington, D.C.) 1890-1891, 1891-02-06
LITTLE LIZETTE.

Ar little Lizette was out walking one day,
Attired with great splendor In festal array,
She met little Gretchen, In sober-hued gown,
With basket OF eggs trndging on to the town.
"Good mornlngl Good mornlngl" cried little
Lizcttc,
''You haven't been over to visit me yet
Come over and live with me always; pray do.
For have no sisters; how many have your"
"Nein," anewered wee Gretchen. Llzette cried,
"Ah, mel
have to pretend have sisters, you sec,
But try as will, | can't make II seem true.
And have no brothers. How many have your"
'Nein,n answered wee Gretchen, "Ninel"
echoed Lizette,
"Why you're the luckiest girl have metl
And have you baby at home, tell me nowi"
MEN, answered wee Gretchen and made u
droll bow.
Then fingered Lizette by the roadside that day,
10 watch tie wee maiden go trudging away.
"gine brothers, nine sieters, nine babies TO petl
Oh, wish l was Gretchenl" sighed little
Llzette.
--KathTine s. Acorn IN 81 Nicholas.
The critic. (Washington, D.C.) 1890-1891, 1891-02-06
THE CHESAPEAKE OYSTER.

No alarm need be felt about the supply
of oysters from the Chesapeake Bay. The
worst that will happen in all probability
is a short supply and high prices for
year or two. The reason Of the threat
ened exhaustion of the beds is the lack of
intelligent action by the Maryland Lcgis-
lature.
IL has been demonstrated in France and
other countries, and in Long Island Sound
in this country, that the cultivation of the
oyster is an enormously profitable business.
II the State of Maryland had taken posses
sion of the beds of the Chesapeake and its
tributaries lying within her borders, she
might have obtained, by leasing to culti-
vators, sufficient revenue to have rendered
all State taxation upon property unneces-
sary. And more than this, the protected
industry would give profitable employ
ment to many more people than now gain
livelihood from it. But the fatal fascination
of the present has been too strong. Large
numbers of people in half the counties OF
the State earn their living by longing
for oyesters. Any proposition to fence OFF
the oyster beds, which have always been
as free as the air, from them infuriated
these people and the members of the
Legislature would not incur the personal
hostility of SO large and iniluentiala body
Of voters.
But the time is now coming, and in
many places has already come, when the
natural beds will no longer afford liyeli-
hood to oystermen. They will therefore
he only too anxious now to undo the mis-
chief their short sight has occasioncd. A
few years ago Professor Brooks of Johns
Hopkins University, the chairman of n
commission appointed by the State Gov
eminent, made report upon the oyster
beds of the Chesapeake and the methods
of artificial propagation, which is re-
garded by scientific and practical men as
the ablest exposition of the whole ques-
ton which has ever been written. The
sentiment already referred to secured the
prompt pigeon-holing of this splendid
document. Now we may expect that at
the next session of the General Assembly
this report will be brought to light and its
suggestions adopted. Results will soon
follow intelligent action. All that the
festive bivalve needs is a chance. Its in
crease and reproduction are marvellous.
Hundreds of thousands come from q
single oyster in a season. To provide the
young oyster after 1t leaves the parent,
a place to attach itself and then leave II
undisturbed is all that is necessary. In
the waters of the glorious Chesapeake is
its native hcme. Here it has no enemies
no star fish, nothing to destroy II.
The critic. (Washington, D.C.) 1890-1891, 1891-02-06
Marital Trouble. in Reading.

READING, Feb. 6.-The application for
divorces in this city continue. Twenty
seven applications for divorce had been
filed up to Wednesday night. Yesterday
thirteen more were entered, making forty
in all, an unprecedented number. The
divorce lawyers are doing big business.
many should be seeking severance of
their marital ties at one time. OF the
forty divorces applied for most of them
were brought by women on the ground OF
desertion by their husbands or ill-treat-
ment.
The critic. (Washington, D.C.) 1890-1891, 1891-02-06
1T WAS MIND. READER EVANS.
Tho Man Who Committed Suicide at the
Astor House Was Not Missing Edgar.


Astor House Was Not Missing Edgar.
NEW YoRK, Feb. 6.-Yesterday the body
of the suicide at the Astor House was
identified, and thereby the Edgar mystery
is still mystery. Wednesday when the
suicide was identified by w. ii. Powell, of
co Decatur street, Brooklyn. as George III.
Edgar, nephew of James ii. Edgar, who
was mistakenly supposed to have commit
ted suicide at Yonkers last fall, II was
thought that the old mystery might at
last be solved This has not proved to be
the case, however The body of the sui
eide was again identified yesterday. He
had registered at the hotel as Erred Evans
of England" Yesterday morning
stranger. who declined to give his name,
called at Undertaken Duffy's to see the re-
mains, and ut once identified them as those
of Fred Evans, a well-known mind-reader,
whose operations were confined to the Pa
cifc Slope and who formerly lived In San
Francisco.
In support of this statement the stranger
produced photograph of the dead man
and letter written by him, with his sig
nature. Both corresponded exactly to
those of the suicide. The stranger said
further that Evans had left young wife
in San Francisco. When Powell's house,
GO Decatur street, Brooklyn, was visited,
no one could be found who had known of
the existence of any George II. Edgar at
any time. Perrin II. Sumner says he has
no interest In the present Identification
other than his friendship for Mr.. Powell.
The critic. (Washington, D.C.) 1890-1891, 1891-02-06

ROCKFORD, ILL, Feb. GA mortgage Of
$4,000 has been placed on the Weldon
farm, on which live George ]. Schwein-
furth and his disciples. The mortgagers
are Spencer l.. Weldon, Agnes Weldon,
William G. Weldon and Lincoln s. We'll
don, and the mortgage Is Edward O..
Portman of Chicago. The name of
Schweinfurth does not appear upon the
instrument, and it is the general opinion
that the leader of the new Zion is in re-
ceipt of about 800 day IN the way of
tithes. There is much speculation as to
the reason the 500 heavenly acres, worth
at least $50, 900, have been mortgaged.
The critic. (Washington, D.C.) 1890-1891, 1891-02-06
PEOPLE SIGN ANYTHING.
A Petition Handed to Court to Hang
Farmer Carroll.

WHEELING, W. VA, Feb. Ga prom
inent though illiterate farmer, James Car
roll, Of Preston County, astonished the
Judge Of the county court by presenting
petition that he be hanged and that the
Court set the date. The paper was signed
by $50 of his acquaintances. II turned out
that Carroll was road surveyor and de-
sired to resign. He asked DR.. James A.
Cox to draw up paper to that effect. Cox
ysaS as dreW en1Wng ggeoa st oasIS asfns eGS S
he be hanged, and awaited curiously to
see how many people would sign it with
ont knowing what they were doing.
About $50 signed the paper without read
ing it. The remainder Caught on" and
allowed the paper to 60 its rounds.
The critic. (Washington, D.C.) 1890-1891, 1891-02-06
An Appreciative Woman.
Erc M fhn Roekoll H,i.Ia1a

There are many jokes afloat as to the
unappreciativcness Of women to whom
gentlemen give their seats in the street.
cars. Even cold 'Thank youl" is often
not forthcoming, tits said. Here, how
ever, is case where actions spoke much
louder than words, and the incident is
his seat to lady with small handbag.
After seating herself she opened the bag
and gracefully gave to the gentleman
whose seat she occupied cigar.
Query-Is that her custom? And is it
not one that might be initiated to soothe
the aches Of those who gallantly cling to
the straps?
The critic. (Washington, D.C.) 1890-1891, 1891-02-06

A CONVENTION COMPOSED exclusively Of
Republican leaders, and known as the
Negro Advancement Convention" has
been sitting for some days past at Mont
gomery, Ala. Yesterday an attempt was
made to have adopted resolution calling
upon Congress to pass the Force bill.
After an hours discussion, however, the
effort was abandoned and the body
agreed upon resolution to the effect that
the less the negroes of Alabama had to
do with the Force bill, the better for the
material prosperity of the race. The
truth is that outside of few noisy polit-
ical darkies, here in Washington, the
colored people at large take very little in
forest i'm Mr.. HoAR's nnrsling.
The critic. (Washington, D.C.) 1890-1891, 1891-02-06

The NEW YORK San to-day contains a
bit of Washington political gossip about
CLEVELAND and GoRMAN as given by a
prominent Tammany sachem to one of
THE CRiTIc's reporters about week ago. 1t
appeared first in THE Critic of Monday last
and was reproduced next day in some of
the New York papers with due credit.
The Sun, however, waits until the matter
reaches it through the medium of the At
lanta Constitution, it having been cribbed
by that enterprising journal and pub
lished as original. Thus the SIN waits
five days to become receiver Of stolen
goods rather than use the article next day
with credit where credit is honestly due.
But the San is great great newspaper.
The critic. (Washington, D.C.) 1890-1891, 1891-02-06

Mrs. Gotham-Dr. Brownston says he
has patient whose heart is on the right
side, and all the digestive organs are
wrong side, too, and, in fact, his whole
internal organism is topsy.turvy.
Mr.. Gotham--Is it Mr.. Bullion?
ton ma any names. Why S DO to You 'Hs think Il
is Mr.. Bullion?
Mr.. Gotham-He always rides in cab.
Street d Smiths Good Ne,cs.
The critic. (Washington, D.C.) 1890-1891, 1891-02-06

The elders Of theIchurch have bounced
him from the bishoprc Cause: "lndis-
Greet linanciering." Had he made S5o,
Geo that would, we suppose, have been
discreet financiering and all right.
The critic. (Washington, D.C.) 1890-1891, 1891-02-06
Placed His Family in the Almshouse.

NAYS LANDING, N. j., Feb. 6.--Isaac
Goldstein, the supposed converted Jew,
who recently came to this county and
swindled many clergymen and his fellow
pS pSsSple and fed has , Ct last turned Up IN
at Jewtown, and who were kept by the
residents Of that place. received letter
Tuesday for them to come to Wilmington.
The wife packed up what few household
effects they had and started for Whining
ton, the citizens paying her fare. On ar
irving there the swindling Jew met them
and took them to the almshouse to live as
manners.
The critic. (Washington, D.C.) 1890-1891, 1891-02-06
CURRENT PRESS OPINION.


From he Courie,-,Tourndi
The advocates of the Force bill are
dying hard, and with lack of dignity
not becoming to men that have played
for such high stakes and LOST. The duty
Of admitting that one is dead, when ma
turo's great debt has been paid, is not to
be ignored without more or less loss of
reputation.
''Thc Handy Revolver"
From me chicago Inter ocean,
Even some of the people South are get
ting tired of "the handy revolver" A
Tennessee journal says: "Thc good name
Of Tennessee demands the passage of
law that will remove the six-shooter from
the side pockets of her citizens. Let the
carrying Of side arms be made penlten-
tiary otfonse and the six.shooter will go.'
No custom Is more foolish than that of
carrying loaded revolver. II seldom
hurts the right man. As weapon of de-
fonse IL is not half as certain as walking
canc-or a convenient bowlder.
"a New England Brahmin."
From ne ST. Louis RepU6iic.
Several years ago 1t was suggested by
some no doubt untruthful biographcr that
in his youth Hon. James Ingalls, had fol-
lowed the humble but useful occupation
of q pedler. Mr.. ingalls, denied it--in o
Senate speech, we believe-but at any rate
he denied IL emphatically, and i'll the
course of the denial put on record the in
terestng and far-reaching fact that he was
born and bred New England Brahmin
Of the highest caste.
Now the New England Brahmins of the
highest caste have their headquarters on
Beacon Hill, Boston, and after they have
attended to their caste business they de-
vote the rest of their lives TO drawing
usury on mortgages on farms and other
property In the West. II is estimated by
some who have studied the matter that
the personal property of the Brahmin
caste in Boston alone is greater than the
entire wealth, real and personal, owned
in the much more populous City of
Chicago. AS very large part of Chicago
and Of the now greatly diminished part
of Illinois outside of the Chicago city
limits is owned in Boston, this is very
credible indeed.
Died in the Harness.
From NE omaha Dee
The late Secretary Window, on being
congratulated by personal friend upon
resuming the duties of Secretary of the
Treasury, is said to have remarked:
while there is great deal Of glory in it,
IL means death to me; | should not 20 out
of Office this term alive" At a meeting
Of the Board of Trade and Transportation
ut New York, member, in the course of
an eulogy Of Mr. Window, referring to the
fact that he was the third Secretary of
the Treasury in three successive Admins
trations TO suocumb to the active duties of
of the Treasury Department and asked:
us II not about time that these duties
were so divided and regulated that further
sacrifices of like nature may be avoided?''
Secretaries Folger and Manning were the
two predecessors of Mr.. Window who
virtually died in the harness, worn out by
the arduous laboIs of one of the most
exaCting positions under the Government
The critic. (Washington, D.C.) 1890-1891, 1891-02-06

That tired feeling, so subtle and yet so
overpowering, is entirely overcome by
Hoods Sarsaparilla, which tones and
strengthens the system and gives a good
appetite. Be sure to get Hoods Sars-
aparilla. 100 Doses One Dollar is true
only of this peculiar medicine.
The critic. (Washington, D.C.) 1890-1891, 1891-02-06

HIsHop ENeLE of the Church of the
United Brethren Of Kansas took few
flyers in real estate. Things flew so vigor-
onsly that the good Bishop has failed
With 10000 more liabilities than assets.
The critic. (Washington, D.C.) 1890-1891, 1891-02-06

BROTHER JoE CASsoN is one of the OBJ
l.cis of interest which the people OF, this
the balance of the country, enjoy looking
at, but that is no reason why the District
should pay half the salary Of the distin-
guished member from lllinois.-1he Post.
The District will cheerfully pay half OF
CANSoN's Congressional salary after the
4th of March next, after which date his
salary will be based on his real worth.
The critic. (Washington, D.C.) 1890-1891, 1891-02-06

SENATOR INGALLS, in his personal expla-
nation yesterday showed very plainly that
he doesn't approve of any one, Senator or
ether, puddering in his affairs or with his
opinions.
The critic. (Washington, D.C.) 1890-1891, 1891-02-06

INSTEAD OF SURPLUS there is vacuum
in the treasury of Arkansas. There is no
money to pay the members Of the Legis-
lature. No lucre, no laws.
The critic. (Washington, D.C.) 1890-1891, 1891-02-06

ONCE MORE THE Largest and richest"
vein Of tin ore in the world has been dis
covered. This time in Mexico.
The critic. (Washington, D.C.) 1890-1891, 1891-02-06

SonE ABLE STATESMAN have of late in
dulged In ''indiscreet financiering."
The critic. (Washington, D.C.) 1890-1891, 1891-02-06

A CADRMY OF THE HOLY GROSS,
IA 1912 Massachusetts Avenue,
Affords every facility for acquiring thorough
education In Literature, Music and Art The
Instruments taught arc Piano, Harp, Violin,
Guitar, Mandolin and banjo. Languages, gem
cral vocal, drawing and fancy work free.
se12-1y
The critic. (Washington, D.C.) 1890-1891, 1891-02-06
Personal.

AND NOW THE DEMOCRATS have carried
Oklahoma.
The critic. (Washington, D.C.) 1890-1891, 1891-02-06

Our ESTEEMED CONTEMPORARY, the Co..
s,nmem Official, is lively and energetic
weekly, devoted to the news of the Depart
ments. 1t also stands up for Washington
generally, and, in its capacity as local
champion, has some particularly .caustic
criticisms on the Star and Post for their
course in the matter of the advertisement
of one PosSER, Baltimore merchant.
The Government OFFICIAL thinks that injus-
tice to Washington merchants was done
in this matter, and that the two papers
which live OH local patronage have been
guilty Of base ingratitude. 1t says:
The Government Official has never made
wager, 1t never will, but it will en-
deavor TO have $1,000 donated to a good
cause. There will be deposited by us in q
bank OF this city that Washington City
has not got merchant land we have got
~ me good ones, too) that can go to Balti-
more and hire the. Baltimore San and
An,0icd, to insert the same character of
advertising (PosNER had in those two
Yapers and make the same arrangement
witbuihe b. Il o. Il. X. that PosNER did,
= N@.ss = dreams 10 come over to
f0Aeir goods cheaper, etc.
d q. M x<s;ht mean to see the
The critic. (Washington, D.C.) 1890-1891, 1891-02-06
The PeriIs of After-Dinner oratory.


For several hours the feasting goes ON;
thespeaker eats nervously talks nervously
and then, ON a full stomach, when the
body needs its energies for DIGESTION he Is
obliged to stand upon his feet and use all
his mental resources and considerable
physical strength in order to make the
impression that he desires. II is the hard
est kind of speaking, the most exhausting
kind Of work, and the wonder Is that it
has not done more damage than has been
credited to II. Certainly, the guests at
these banquets seldom appreciate the
amount of labor and pains 1t costs a
speaker to amuse and instruct them.
Secretary Window had taken little food
and less wine, but he had the nervous
strain of waiting for his time to speak--a
strain that Is often more telling on the
body than the work of speaking itself.
"What has happened TO the English
tongue?" asked the Detroit Free Press.
us not its simple yigor good enough to
serve the needs of the present generation?
What have become of all the undertakers,
that they should be supplanted by 'fune-
raj directors?' Are the BARRIERS extinct,
that their business should be usurped by
tonsorial artists, and is there no occupa-
tion left in the world for the useful and
respectable night shirt, that the 'slumbei
robe should be marked down TO cost in
every shop window?' Has Detroit got no
professor Jones' with his "bootblack
emporium that II should leave out SO
obyions an example?
The critic. (Washington, D.C.) 1890-1891, 1891-02-06

Uniformed me as we parted, both of us quite
heavy-hearted,
That In Boston she should pass the coming
winter with a friend,
Then glance at mo she darted, l caught on,
the engine started,
And already foresaw what would doubtless
lie the end.
For knew the ways OF Boston her sweet smile
would drop frost on,
COngenling all her summer warmth to au-
tumn-atic chill;
Browning fires she d there he tossed on, Cupid's
darts would then be lost on
Such q tender-hearted maiden, after such
Athenian drill.
When We met sgs'n found her most virulent
OF all supermundtne theories and ochlocratic
While sAe stroye TO draw around her men OF
intellect nrofounder
Than the stud,nta Of the occult or the tran
substantiatc school.
She profeesed to he a censor OF the works OF
Herbert Spencer;
Her thoughts seemed all indigenous, ana not
OF social lifc
And must have been much denser than am,
TO give ofTense or
Even think OF asking would she be my wife.
Ntio York Sun.
The critic. (Washington, D.C.) 1890-1891, 1891-02-06
SEASIDE RESORTS.

TINTED STATES HOTEL,
u ATLANTIC CITY, N. j.,
Win open FEBRUARY II and continue 10
OCTOBER l, 1881 New management; elegant
in all its appointments; 800 rooms, large aud
spacious; sun parlors steam heat In every
room; elevators, electric bels, etc; .;unobstrncted
location on the leland. NEAL n HAMILTON,
PropIiotors. lass-u
Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1891-08-17
IL Might BE So

Suppose that when the people of
Maryland come to attend the real
opening of the Columbian Fair at
Ohicag) in 1898 they should find
in Machinery Hall, in the presence
of assembled thousands. neat lit
tie man from Maryland, calm in
demeanor and with the eye of an
eagle, standing at the throttle valve
OF the great $4,000 horse power en-
CINE about to give start to the
p)nderous machinery in all the fair
buildings, they would naturally
conclude that he was the President
of the United States. Ii it didn't
happen to be a large gentleman
from New York, it possibly might
be the "man of destiny" from
Maryland, Stranger things than
this has happened. The people of
Maryland need not be surprised if
they witness such a thing. Mary
land Journal.
Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1891-08-17
MONDAY, August II, 1891
Treatment of vagrancy

The treatment Of vagrancy is a
matter which touches the taxpayer
very closely, and every new scheme
for the disposal and correct treat
ment of the army of unfortunate
travellers which infest the public
roads is regarded with attention by
every one to whom the payment of
taxes, if not questions of county
government, is a subject of interest.
The highways are full of men who
have no visible means of support.
What to do with them is a question
Of considerable Importance. Ger
tainly some plan should be adopted
that would compel these idlers to
earn their owe living. 1t is not
right that the industrious portion
of the people should be made to sup.
port those who will cot work.