davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The morning call., 1891-03-22
Ab0lt Disappearing and OsCilatilgg
CII0las and RGl0lbtS.
M0UGTN AND BRIALMONT SYSTEMS.
Major Clak8S Scheme Of Fertilization The
Defense Gains More From Modern IIT4I-
tons Than The AttaGk-S0nG Of the Les
sons Of the American Civil WT-A Port
able ClD0Ia Armed with a Maxim Ma
chine Gun.

Does it pay for a country to trust to forth
ficatons in the defense of its frontier and
its towns? If it does, what sort Of works
ought to be built, and what sort of guns
mounted in them? Is Vauban out of date
in principle as well as practice? Is Brial-
mont the man to follow to-day? And what
of the arWored turrets and cupolas now
found in several European systems of de-
tense asks q writer for the New York Sun.
On these and many similar questions all
shades Of opinion prevail, even among those
who make the subject a study. The French
are now fortifying not only Paris but their
eastern frontier TO an extent never before
dreamed Of. But the Germans argue that
they are making letters for themselves;
that they will come to depend too much on
these works; that the desire to put TO use
aids so powerful and so costly will prevent
armies from being properly fOOtluoSe; that
such Notifications will dominate the cam
paigu. Many persons, again, looking at the
lesson of Sebastopol, Of Plevna, of Vicks-
burg, of Metz, of Paris, are inclined to hold
that forts. and especially fortified cities, de-
signed 10 hold scores or hundreds of thou
sands of men, are so many traps and holes,
entering which an army may never expect
TO come out.
What, then. is the truth in the matter?
Major 6. Sydenham Clarke of the British
ROYAL Engineers, in his new work entitled
Fertilization" holds that defensive works
are as important to-day as ever, but that a
great mistake is made in building very cost
" forts on traditional and theoretical plans,
instead Of adapting them to the particular
tactical requirements of the special point to
be defended. He insists that the modern
successes of the defense, as such, have been
"far more conspicuous than those won by
tie attack Kars, perhaps, excepted, there
The morning call., 1891-03-22

cargo and the number of her decks and
houses. She is supposed to have been
sheathed with lead, and accomplished at
least one successful trip.
A full des cription of her would read
somewhat like that of one of our Long Isl
and Sound or Hudson River steamboats,.
She had three entrances, the lowest leading
to the hold, the second to the eatng-roOms
ana the third was appropriated to the SOL
oilers. There were thirty rooms, each
having four couches for the soldiers
there were fifteen couches in the
sailors supper-room, and there were
three more cabins, each having three
ccouches. The floors in all these rooms were
lald In stone mosaic work. There was also
a temple of cypress inlaid with ivory and
dedicated to Venus. The manmast was
composed of single tree, and the vessel
Carried four wooden and eight iron anchors
As freight-carrier size would rival the
largest OF our ocean tramps. 1t is recorded
that one or two of the launches belonging to
her would carry about eighty tons. This
vessel is said to have carried 80, 900 meas
ures OF corn, 10000 jars of Sicilian salt fish,
10000 talents weight of wool and of other
cargo 90, 600 talents, all Of which was in ad-
dltiOn TO the provision required for the
crew." These are the notably big vessels of
ancient times, but the suppOsition is that as
rulers. whether king or people, we're rs
emulous in those days as these, other big
craft were also built. From the foregoing
description the thought Is suggested that the
first designers of our own river steamboats,
may have heard of the Egyptian and SYRIA
cuse vessels and taken a hint from them in
building floating palaces.
The morning call., 1891-03-22
VESSELS IN ANCIENT TIMES.
The style Of Naval Architecture That Prevailed
in The Years Long Ago,

We moderns are justly proud of the won-
derful and magnificent specimens of naval
architecture that crowd the great ports of
the world. If there is anything new under
the sun a first-class ocean steamer, it is be-
lieved, is that rarity. In our conceit we re-
call only the galleys and triremes of the an
clients, that scarce ever ventured beyond the
coast line, and the small barks in which
Columbus and those who followed him con-
quered the New World and gave commerce
its greatest field. But the ancients built
many goodly sized craft and made luxury a
study on some of them.
That much-controyerted craft the ark is
an example of bigness, says the Maritime
Register. Her tonnage is estimated at about
5000 tons-smaller, it Is true, than that of
the Great Eastern. No less an authority
than Lindsay thinks that she was simply
raft of stupendous size, having upon it
structure resembling huge warehouse.
As no means of propulsion were necessary
this description may be correct. The cargo,
however, was unique and probably the
largest and most valuable ever carried
The description of the ark, as given in the
Scriptures, makes the vessel about 450 feet
in length rs feet in breadth and 40 feet in
depth-pruportions similar TO those now in
use to-day for great vessels. But as the az
nostic is not sure that this e-bOat of the
human race ever existed, and as the mate
IldIISl Is sure SU6 HbN6E WAS Uuiit us
take for example of big ancient vessels some
other craft youched for upon the authority
of profane and not sacred writers. The
Egyptians, fond of large things and big di-
mansions, made the big tonnage vessels of
ancient times.
Ptolemy Philopator) would have appreci-
ated the Great Eastern. He was fond of
building big boats. One of these is said to
have been 420 feet long. 81 feet broad and
u feet deep from the highest point Of the
stern. This vessel had four Tudders, or
what some would call steering oars, as they
were not fastened, each 40 feet long. She
carried 1000 rowers, besides 5000 marines, a
large body of servants under her decks and
stores and provisions. Her oars were 81
feet long and the handles were weighted
with lead. There were 1000 rowers on a
side, and it is supposed that these were
divided into five banks. That this extra
ordinary vessel ever put to sea is doubtful
butthat she was launched and used at times,
if only for display, several historians are
agreed
Another ship, the Thalamogus, built for
one of the Ptoemies, is said to have been
800 feet long. 40 feet broad and 60 feet deep.
This was far more magnificent vessel
than any previous one. An Alexandrian
historian, Catlixenus, in describing her,
speaks of her having colonnades, mar
BILE stairs and gardens. Another great
vessel historical by reason Of its
size, is one built by Hero, King
of Syracuse. Her dimensions are estimated
to be large from the description of her
The morning call., 1891-03-22

four colossal piers, glowing with mosaics,
and extending like a armament, at the
prOdigiouS elevation of 400 feet. Around the
dome rise four cupOlaS, small when COM
pared with the vast concave they neighb0r,
and of great boldness when considered
separately. Three cupolas on the side of
the nave cover the divisions of the aisles,
and other six, of greater dimensions, canopy
as many chapels. The whole of these in
ferior domes are lined with mesaics. The
high altar stands under the great dome,
beneath a canopy supported by four twisted
pillars fifty feet in height. The entire
height of the canopy, including the massive
pedestal upon which the pillars rest, is 132
feet. Behind the high altar stands the
Cathedral, or chair of St. Peter, an enorm-
ous structure OF bronze. consisting OF a group
Of four figures Of so many fathers of the
Greek and Latin churches, supporting the
throne of the 'apOstolical primate. This
edifice is seventy feet in height and is oc-
cuDled on gala days by the Pope"
THE ancient Constantnian baslica of st.
Peters, or the Church of st. Peter, that
existed at the time of Constantine, in 326,
has fortunately been preserved to us by a
MARITIME di Month This ancient painting,
with the assistance OF some engravings by
Falda, now extremely rare, enables us to re-
produce this old basilica erected by Con-
stantlne In token of the wonderful appear
ance Of the angel and the cross to him. The
five aisles of the baslica we're separated
by COrlnthian columns, which were higher
by six steps than the main floor-an ar
rangement almost unprecedented in archi-
lecture. By the engravings of Falda we
are enabled to describe the exterior, and
thus, from the frescoes and the engravings,
we are enabled to see exactly how the early
Christian Church was built"
The morning call., 1891-03-22
AN ANCIENT CONOTANRINhN,
A Sketch That Shows How Magnificent Early
Christian Church Was Built.

The Ancient Constantinian basiica, OF st.
Peters, of which an illustration is given, is
best described by introducing the words of
Euslace in his description of the magnificent
ediice. He says: Five lofty portals open
into the portico and vestibule, gallery
equal in dimensions and decorations to the
most spacious cathedrals. 1t is 400 feet in
length, 20 in height and 30 in breadth,
paved with variegated marble, covered with
gilt vault, adorned with pillars, pilasters,
mosaics and basso-relievos, and terminated
by equestrian statues of Constantine and
Charlenagne A fountain at each extrem-
ity supplies stream sufficient to keep
reservoir always full, in order to carry off
every unseemly object, and perpetually re-
fresh and purify the air and pavement. OPP
pOste the five portals Of the vestibule are
the five doors of the church; three are
adorned with pillars of the finest marble;
the one in the middle has valves of bronze.
Advancing mp the nave, the spectators at
tention is directed to the variegated mar
bic pavement and the golden vault
that rises above his head. But how
great is his astonishment when he
reaches the altar and, standing in the
center of the church, contempa,es the su-
perb vistas that open around him, and then
raises his eyes to the dome resting ON its
The morning call., 1891-03-22

safety of the defenders has been allowed to
take precedence of ali other considerations.
He thinks that an attack in the gray dawn
upon delenses Of this nature would create
wild confusion, as there would be no COM
mand or unity Of purpose, and the cupolas
would raise themselves prematnrely and
disappear when most needed. War, he in
sists, cannot be carried on SO largely by ma
chinery. Instead of these devices he would
have strong field works, and in place of
few hundred men in iron boxes he would
have large field force. Major Lewis Of the
Royal Engineers estimates that for a perime-
ter OF 5000 yards, defended by nine forts,
there should be 49, 600 men, exclusive of the
garrison of the forts themselves. Besides,
the defense is aided now by the magazine
rife, by the use of high angle fire by the
howitzers or mortars, and by machine guns.
Thus the fire of the Maxim gun, delivering
about 700 bullets per min lite, can be directed
by one man, showing only his head, and
that shielded, above the parapet, the feed
being tended by another man completely
covered. The attack claims gain in the
use of high explosives but Major Clarke
holds that it is very little against earth
works, while the defense gains most from
smokeless powder.
He would make the basis of the defense of
position redoubts designed for infantry
and machine guns. These should be sup
ported by powerful artillery, kept alto
The morning call., 1891-03-22

is no modern instance of failure where the
conditions were moderately favorable The
Russians might have done bettert0 abandon
Sebastopol after the Alma, and the Turks
never to have cut shelter trench at Pleyna,
but from the fertilization standpoint the
defenses Of both places were brilliantly
successful. The former, for example,
as Hamley has also said, was eX-
uected to fall after a short cannon
ade; but the siege lasted $40 days, andth
great lesson was that of the surprising re-
suits obtained by simple earthworks as con-
tTasted with permanent forts of the mu h
loved types, - including vast bitches, mOnu-
mental rpvetments, clever draw-bridges,
fantastic traces and exaggerated flank de-
tense. The field works Of SebastOpOl full
filed the conditions of war, but not those
which had been prescribed by theory.
Largely extemporized in the very presence
of the besiegers. they illustrated the genius
Of TOdleben, aud proved the practical in
adequacy Of the maXims of the school men.
Our American Civil War was practically
the first in which the new era of ritied artil-
l-ry began, and Major Clarke finds the expe-
Tienee of this war to be full of interest
and instruction. Never before was
50 much originality displayed during
The morning call., 1891-03-22

supplied in Holland, for which country and
similar fiat sites it is designed. An import
ant part of the defense is that of concealed
batteries between the forts.
Iwo-gun cunOlas are also the reliance
proposed by General v0L Sauer of the Ba-
varian artillery, who would have line of
them at intervals of $50 yards, OF else two
parallel lines with double the intervals.
With hundred cupolas thus built a peri
meter of between thirty-seven and thirty
eight miles could be covered. and their gar
rsonS wonld amount only to 1000 men.
This would be his substitute for the de-
tached forts now much in vogue. and he
argues that it is much cheaper in construc-
ton and maintenance.
The late Lieutenant-Col Schumann Of
the PruSsian Engineers, who designed guns
for the GruSOn firm at Buckau favored dis
appearing cupOlas containing a five-inch
gun, the heaviest capable of being so
The morning call., 1891-03-22

fellow. The woman whom he loved would
not marry him.
You are the most reckless man in the
world, she said. about money affairs.
When you get 5000 in the bank may marry
you II you still want me.
He went away and saved $1,000. She
married him, and to-day he's rich man.
He learned economy while winning his
wife.
MY friend, Colonel H. enlisted at the
outbreak of the war;
joe he said to the girl he wanted to
marry, 1 am going down South to fight.
WIN you marry me now or wait till come
back?'
+" Right now, SAM and that afternoon he
marched away.
MY brother proposed in q cool way. He
nadht been able to make up his mind what
he was going to do in life. and one DAY the
woman who is his wife now said:
Charley (they were second COUSINS,
what In the world are you going to make
out OF yourselfp
just whatever you make out of me, he
said; you've got lots more sense than l
have. Name
HAS any one here any stories to tell
about proposals ?" continued the story
teller. VI don't know of single case where
a man went down on his knees. would
like to hear OF one. No one will tell one,
ehP Well, I'm sorry. | like to hear about
proposals. IN. Y. Tribune.
The morning call., 1891-03-22

gether outside of them. and supplemented
by a field force for outpost duties, and for
infantry alone in this view, should be able
TO prevent the position from being taken by
assault, assuming its artillery to have been
slenced by the besieger. Each redoubt
should be simple, manned by not more than
half battalion, and so laid out as TO be in-
visible OF indistingushable from its sur
roundings, while its approaches should be
covered by obstacles, such as an unclimb-
able sunk fence and strong entanglements,
combined with parapet Such work. in
GLIDING classmates built in concrete, WAS
built at Chatham in thirty-One days, and it
was found that its cost, if for 200 men, need
not reach SIS 900; and yet ''it would require
a prohibitory expenditure of ammunition to
cause any great damage to it from artillery
fire."
The morning call., 1891-03-22
DEPOT
TYPICAL DAGRAM AND SECTION OF FORT

mounted, although it could be supplemented
by pair of fve-ineh or siX-inch. or perhaps
even eight-inch mOrlars. The defense of
the cupolas from assault would be provided
for by quick-fire guns, also in disappearing
cupoas, and by travelling shield moultings,
which are sort of portable eupolas. The
cry TO raise the cupOla until the gun clears
the parapct, AMI to lower it into the pit
after being fired, so that it may be reloaded
The portable cupOla is a cylindrical iron box
with turtle-back armored roof, which can
be transported by horse draught and then
either partly buried or put behind a natural
OF artificial bank. The shield and gun ro-
The morning call., 1891-03-22
WOOD URY'S
FACIAL. SOAP
For the skin and Scalp.

The result of 20 years practical experience.
Highly Endorsed by the medical profession; IN
eQuaIed as a remedy for eczema, sead-head oily
skin, pimpleS, flesh worms, discolorations. ugly
plexion, etc. Indispensable toilet article, and
sure preventive of all diseases OF the skin and
scalp.
II removes dandruf and seurf and produces
healthy action OF the scalp, thereby promoting the
growth of the hair and preventing its falling ont.
1t is invaluable for in the nursery, in allayng
itching Inflammation and preventing milk crust .,
scald head. rashes; account OF its disinfectant
properties 1t prevents and destroys all unpleasant
odors prevents diseases etc, and may be used with
impunity on the most delicate skin.
For SHAvING-It prevents BARRIERS Itch, eczema
ringworm, and all infiammatory affections of the
face, and is healing. soothing and refreshing.
Theatrical people will find 1t excellent for wash
ing off paint and makeup.
At Druggists, or sent by mail, soc.
The morning call., 1891-03-22


that mo science is so delightfully."- empi rical
as that of fertilization. The test of expert
ment cannot be satisfactorily applied to it /;
that of practical experience is uniformly am
biguuus." Again he urges that "the old
faiths have been rudely shaken and certi-
tude can no longer be assumed; that mo
fad is so unimportant that an instance can
not be found which affects to illustrate its
utility"
The study of our Civil War has had a no.
ticeable influence upon Major Clarke's
views, and the lessons OF Forts Pulaski,
Bard. Henry, Donelson, Wagner and Fisher
are freely referred to by him, as well as
Vicksburg and Petersburg. He thinks that
San Francisco could be successfully attacked
only by small squadron of cruisers, al
though in that opinion attack by Great
Britain Is not taken into consideration,
since, apart from the extreme imprObablity
of war between the two kindred nations,
San Francisco would be the last conceivable
objective"
But the problem OF coast defense, which
is the one most largely concerning our cOun-
try, is in obvious respects different from that
of Notifications which are to be besieged by
armies Armies, even If a million strong,
cannot be marched out over four or five
miles of water to attack Il squadron of bat
tie ships. These must be repealed by heavy
guns mounted on ships or on shore, and in
either case protected from being dismounted
by the enemy's fire. with suitable cover also
for the gunners. Land fortifcatons often
need to be supplemented by floating de-
lenses, and these latter may in any given
case be adequate without the aid of shore
batteries. But on an enormous coast-line
like ours, to provide at each point enough
ships to Tepel the entire naval force
that could be concentrated against that
one point would be enormously costly. Be-
sides, the maintenance of fleets in time of
peace, with the renewal of ships, is very
expensive as compared with the mainten-
anee of forts. Finally, while there is limit
to the armor and armament which coast
defense vessel of given size can carry,
there is none for the fort.
But even here Major Clarke evidently in
clines much to earthworks instead of to
turrets, like the one which Italy has pro-
vided for the defense of SpeZzia. He fears
that the turret, being full of machinery.
might somehow become damaged from with
in or without, or would not be in repair at
the time when needed. The expense of
these armored deTenseS is also very great.
But while there are elements not yet agreed
upon in the matter of coast defense there
must be some infantry defense, even for
these forts, with ample provision for attack
ing the decks of ships with mOTtars and
hOWitZers,
The morning call., 1891-03-22

but machine guns would be put on light
carriages and run into position for the pro-
might have to be used, with low prckly
shrubs planted on the bottom, Classmates
should be provided. But "the artillery of
the defense should be entirely movable,
with the exception of a proportion of heavy
howiizerS or mOrtars III concealed positions
constituting the onlg permanently mounted
armament" Indeed, 'fn choosing sites Tor
the redOubtS all idea OF securing good artll-
ery positions should be abandoned, the OBJ
ject being merely to select points where
purely infantry keeps would be most ad-
vantageously posted. An eXtended field
of fire in front of the rednubt is
not essential" The intervals between
the redoubtS may be about $500
yards, but the conformation OF the ground
will somewhat determine that, and with
good artillery positions to aid, the intervals
may be larger. The heaviest ordnance for
direct fire would consist of 5-inch breech-
loading guns" the aim being to meet the
besieger by superior mobility, better range
finding and greater power of tactical sur
prise rather than by heavier shells. But
there would be few heavy mortars and
howitzers, and a light, quick-hring rifed
mortar to act against an assault and the APP
prOaches of a regular siege. The portable
cup0la, armed with a Maxim machine-gun,
could be used in advanced positions. Rail
way lines should be used where it is posi-
bic, and the road or railway should be sunk,
since the main security Of fortress artillery
must be sought in invisibility and change of
position. b Its of trees should be planted,
and, where it is required. cut down low and
entangled with wire.
Such in the main are the features which
Major Clarke would insist upon in fortifca-
ton. as contrasted with the old type of
works, and also with the new armored
cupOlas which it is proposed to substitute.
His idea is to transfer TO the besiegerS some
of the surprises. bewiIderments and ankle
ties that are endured by the defense when
the latter is not sufficiently mobile and Ia IT,
cally free AS 10 the old style of 10rtifica-
tons, these, he says, 'have no longer any
place in military science. Judged by the
test of war it is doubtful whether these
systems ever possessed any special value;
while it is certain that the homage blindly
accorded to them has cramped the views Of
many generations of engineers and induced
a certain disregard of real military require
ments. Geometry has its proper sphere, but
when it is permitted to dominate foTtltca-
tions, military science and military progress
necessarily suffer. In place of the rigid
formula which so greatly simplify the work
of the instructor, all thar can now be given
are broad general principles" This
language may sound strange from one
of the body of engineers themselves. But 1t
is the keynote Of Major Clarke's views, and
perhaps the novelty Of it, as coming from his
particular branch Of the military profession,
induces him to 90 almost to extravagant
lengths in its application. Thus he declares
The morning call., 1891-03-22
HOW SOME MEN PROPOSE.
One Person Who Is Interested in the I'm
Dortant Subject

One Person Who Is Interested in the I'M
portant Subject.
&C. am a crank" said the club man, ''on
the subject of proposals. l would rather
hear story of how man asked the woman
he loved to marry him than to take trip to
Europe. don't know why / take such an
interest in this, unless 1t is that had such
a hard time to get my wife to accept me. [
had been in love with her for years. had
proposed to her seven times and she refused
me every time. Finally | went to her in
despair and sad We'll, Mollie, I've asked
you to marry me seven times, and you have
declined my name. I'm going to ask you
once more, and if you don't marry me
shall 90 out West and stay there
"'Well, jack she said, if you feel that
way about it I'll marry you To this day
she cannot tell me why she refused me so
often to marry me after all.
There's my friend, Congressman x.
He was poor young man, and one day he
went to a young woman whom he had
known for long time.
Nell, he said, u have been waiting till
[ had enough money to get married. My
salary was raised yesterday. Will you
marry me next week?'
Wait until next month"; she said.
No, next week. and they were mar
ried next week.
Brown, the lawyer, was careless young