davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-10-22
Herbert Spencer at Billiards.

Apropos of Mr.. Herbert Spencer, a CORE
spondent of the Frankturter Zeitung recently
reported the following anecdote, says the Bal
timore Sun, which, though it may not be quite
new, seems worthy of being repeated Mr.
Herbert Spencer daily spends some of his after
noon leisure in the London Atheneum, the
famous club for scholars and literati. Here he
will regularly play his game of billiards. One
day young man who had been introduced to
him asked him for the pleasure of having a
game with him. The philosopher started the
ball, but when his young acquaintance seized
his cue he proved to be such an expert on the
green cloth that he finished the game BY one
run, so that Mr.. Spencer found no further oc-
casion for using his rod Darker and darker
grew the clouds that Ga thered on the scholar 8
forehead, while he was apparently following
the game with tho greatest interest. When,
finally, the young man, after the last shot,
smilingly turned to his opponent to receive the
philosophers compliments, the latter, in the
most serious manner, remarked: .''Sir, mod
crate proficiency in euch sport is a sign Of
good education; such mastership, however, as
You exhibit is the proof Of an ill-spent youth"
Thus speaking, MI. Spencer took his hat and
disappeared.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-10-22

less difference between a country town in the
north OF France and one in the United States
than might be imagined. except that place Of
5000 inhabitants in France will be as dead and
quiet American village of less than 900
Inhabitants. Tourists familiar with cheerful
German villages, with their laughter, their
songs and their musical beer gardens at night
will feel q lack in northern France. The
French here are not an over-cheerful people,
and above all Paris draws to itself al those
who wish for gsyety and noise. Germany has
no Paris One German town 10 as gay as
dull another. great proportion Of the
people. especially the women, are intensely re-
ligious. Those not religious are intensely athe-
istic- Both the athe:s;Ic and the religious are
intensely avaric:ous and saving Therefore, in
a town like Nantes public Amusement will not
distract the tourist from the monuments and
scenery. The great church and the river Seine
are its two beauties
TIE GREAT cHURcn OF NANTES.
A church Was standing on the spot in the
year 1857 when William the Conqueror took
the city. During the siege it was burned. On
his death bed William bequea:hed large sum
Of money to rebuild it. IN its present form
the church dates from the twelfth century. The
west facade has a fine rose window and the
triple portal is richly carved. The interior
consists of a nave, aisles and choir without
Transcripts. IL Is unusually bright. owing to
the absence Of stained glass windows. In the
nave round pillars alternate with clustered COL
umns, some of which rise as high as the lofe
vaulting. For many reasons Notre Dame de
Nantes 10 gothic church interesting to archi-
tects. 1t was built at the same time as Notre
Dame Of Paris ard the exterior retains what
was the original disposition of the latter
church Ii is supposed to have been built by
the architect of the Sainte Chapelle. Much has
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-10-22

Childish Innocence Always Melted His Old
Heart, but He Had His Failings.
From the New York Herald.
After she had seated herself in the ferry boat
little Willie broke away from her and began
rolling around in the dust and dirt before us all
"Ah, madam" whispered the old gentleman,
edo not try to stop little Willie! love to see
the child have fun
"Yes, indeed"
at does my old heart good" he vent on. as
Willie turned double somersault; sit carries
me back to the early DAYS. L tell you, ma am,
there is nothing like youth
"That is true, SIR she said. sweetIv.
ut recalls to me, madam, the old farm where
| once romped. csre-free mortal. all the live
long day."
willie is such good boy" she ventured as
William yelled Rats three times and threw up
his hat
The old gentleman suddenly let out a roar
that echoed over the river.
'Wo-w!' he gasped. bowling with pain.
Mercy, me! exclaimed the woman staring
Why don you teach your boy some man
ners? He has just stuck pin in my leg.''
But he is only a harmless child, sir"
"Wow-w."
"And his conduct carries you back to the
early days"
"Wow-w"
and youth fades so quickly, SIR
"Wow-w, ma am; wow-w l sayI'
And it reminds you of the days down on the
old farm
THAT will do. ma am, =" he gasped rising and
glaring at US ALL ~ see, ma am that am in
the presence of spoiled child. your sweet Will
lam. You expect we should all sing and dance,
but you are mistaken. ma am. mistaken to the
utmost. 1 predict, ma am. that your boy will
grow up burglar and horse thief. and il he
doesn't break his mothers heart before he is
twenty-one my name is mud, ma am, mud,
say"
And he flung himself ont the door, Then
mamma took little Willie to her arms and did
exactly what all mothers would under the cir
cumstances.
She called William her darling boy and kissed
him on the dirty nose
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-10-22
LIMBS FOR CRIPPLED VETERANS.
Half of Those Entitled to Them Get New
Ones Next Year.

GONE OF THE GRAND ARMY vETER-
their travelling expenses paid by the govern
ment. They were crippled old soldiers who
wanted to be measured for new artificial limbs
here. The law allows them car fare from any
part of the Union to whatever city they choose
to have their legs and arms made in and return
There are facto les engaged in that sort of
manufacture for the government in various
places all over the United States. Two of them
are at the capital. SO the wounded survivors
of the war were in some instances able to get
their passage hither from their homes and back
for nothing.
About 5000 of the crippled soldiers entitled
to arms andlegs at Uncle Sans cost will re-.
ceive new ones during the next fiscal year or
else cash equivalent. There are not far from
$4,000 such veterans on the roll, and each one
of them gets one or more substitute limbs or
the money value every three years. The law
formerly made the perioi five years On jan
uary 81 last there were 1851 men on the roll
who bad lost one leg. Thirty-three had lost
both legs, eightv-seven one foot and eighteen
both feet Each of s. j35 veterans had lost one
arm, twenty-four both arms and fifty-seven
one hand. One had lost both hands and one
had lost both arms and both legs. There never
were but two on the list who had lost both
arms and both legs. because such injuries are
almost invariably fatal.
FROM me above reckoning IT is apparent that
less than half of the Is 900 old soldiers on the
roll have lost limbs. majority of them have
merely lost the Use of arms or legs. However
that amounts to the came thing under the law
II hand Is merely disabled or foot cut off at
the ankle the claim for a whole arm or leg is
good. or course in such case veterans take the
money Communication instead of the limbs-S75
for leg and $50 for arm. So do nearly all
Of those who have lost their arms. because an
artificial arm is of scarcely any use except as an
ornament, though imitation leg of good
make serves almost as well as u real one to walk
with.
Most of those who need legs do not get them,
preferring TO accept the money instead. Some
of them are chronically hard up. and $50 or
SO in hand seems more desirable than the
finest artificial limb that was ever made. Be-
sides. life is short. and they have a reasonable
expectation of obtaining another leg or arm in
the next world. Furthermore, there are not
few crippled men who cannot wear the i'm
proved imitation legs, because their stumps are
tender and are rendered sore by the contriv-
ances of willow wood and rubber with machin-
cry inside of them. They can get along very
well with ordinary pegs, properly cushioned,
but these new-fangled jointed affairs do not
suit them. Owing to all these facts not more
than 900 arms and legs are drawn '.in kind" by
the $4,000 pensioners. The rest Of them prefer
to take the cash
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-10-22
HILLSIDE VINEYARD BELOW HERMITAGE.

HILLSIDE VINEYARD BELOW HERMITAGE.
been written about it. and even common NOR
tails who like to discern the various modifca-
tions OF gothic architecture can find them ex-
emplihed here in their most fourishing epochs
In the late twilight. when the country town is
already silent. this church stands gloomy and
alone In the midst of its public square. its back
TO the river and its front to the town
Now and then side door opens and
a man or woman passes in or out In
side few dim lights which throw
gigantic shadows serve for those who come
to pray and tell heir beads. Each step re-
sounds with a hollow echo the devotees move
from chapel to chapel In Paris one can zee an
ancient church bv night but there il not this
effect OF splendid somberness. They are refin-
ing, these great old churches of bygone age
The poorest and most ignorant old crone in
Nantes may make the church her nightly
baptised as baby. here she took
her first communion. was married
baptised her children and buried her husband.
She is quite at home. Around her are noble
columns and paintings and sculptured saints
Notre Dame de Nantes is worth whatever il
cost Of Williams money-if only for the sake
of the tottering old danes. who. for generation
after generation. for 200 years have come to
dream in the midst Of its solemn beauty.
ALONG THE SEINE.
Behind the church is the river Seine whose
banks offer pleasant promenades. small
island formed here is united with Nantes BY
modern bridge. At little distance is the an
Gent bridge of the twelfth century, which is
Tar more graceful In any of these French
country towns one can hire an open carriage of
the model common In Paris at the rate of two
OF three francs an hour. The horse will be
spirited and OF fine appearance. and the driver
usually n bow. will be communicative and good
natnred. He will know the favorite drives and
can be trusted as a local guide. The banks Of
the Seine opposite Nantes rise high to a bluff
overlooking the valley and a considerable
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-10-22
Rather Too Much to Expect,

From the Detroit Tribune.
The cracksman had ripped the blinds off their
hinges and was in the act of cutting through
the window glass when a chorus of feminine
shrieks was heard within the house. 1t sounded
as II there were at least thirty-five women in
side, but the burglar, basing his opinion upon
hi. experience, conjectured that there were
about three Of them.
go right away from there" shou ted shrill
voice.
Murder
"Helpr'
The clouds parted long enough to allow the
moon to battle the earth in silver glory and re-
veal cynical smile on the lips of the outlaw.
Amt you going sway?"
The shrill voice shook
We'll, guess not
The burglar spoke with the courage of his
convictions.
And you're c-c-coming in h-h-here?"
"Cert"
For moment the harsh. rasping noise of the
ME on the glass-the identical HARSH rasping
noise that is usually heard in stories Of adyen-
shrieks
Girls, he's c-c-comins in"
"Wo-o-o-ow."
There was rushing hither and thither and
Ine mingled commotion of sobs and groans.
Presently there was a sudden silence.
"Mr. B-b-burglar."
Inc shrill voice was timid and the harsh,
rasping noise overwhelmed il completelv.
Mr.. B-b-burglar"
The rasping ceased
"Hey."
Dear, good Mr.. B-burglar, won't you
Inc snriu voice was husky with excitement.
Wait until We get dressed?''
The clouds parted again and revealed the
craftsman looking thoughtfully at his watch.
Nine m. he unused. "AIust finish this Job
before daylight
his face grew set and determined
NO" he declared aloud, ~ have no time to
wait for woman to dress.''
logic Of his remarks.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-10-22
L II + OIL ID RIDG T.

the modern commercial traveller and stray
tourist snore in lofty, canopied beds. The
entrance TO the Grand Cert l. through The
Kitchen. where q brisnnd-looking cook in white
duck and with q fierce mustache welcomes the
guest and waves him to the landlady's Office at
the -ide. Rooms cost three francs the night;
the dinner Il good. and also costs three francs.
without wine. But the conversation Of the
regular boarders was something understandable
the only time l visited the Grand CERT. The
regular bosrdsrs were eight men. presumabl,
railway clerks and the Ike and the burden o:
the talk was borne by gray-headed old repro
bate with dirty yellow beard of parriarc hal
exsert They paid no regard to an English
man and his wife quietly seated at "A side table
hke ourselves. but continued their inappropriate
stories from the soup TO the middle OF the roast.
when the English left the room with flaming
faces heard the man asking for his bill and
the hndlAdy expostulAting with him in vain.
He took his wife TO the Rock of Cancale. En-
gilrh-speaking people are bound to support each
other in foreign lands. so nv frisnd and |
called for our bills A. well. And You 60 too?''
pleaded the pstronne. Yes. YOU have YOUR
own clients. Their conversation does not please
Us"
FAMILY RESORT.
The Hotel Of the Rock of Cancale 10 more OF
. family resort than the Grand CERT Its table
the next morning at lunch Was filled with q
quiet and rather mournful mixture Of men and
women. respectable country folk in town for
the market There no conversation at all
except that OF a fine stout little boy. whose
doting young mother was afraid to give him
too much Camembert cheese with his jelly.
His nneney In French aroused the enthusiasm
OF the kngishmsn's wife, who had mastered
the language herself and knew its difhcult,ss.
But her husband benevolently pointed out that
these French children acquire their accent
very young. For breakfast that morning there
we're little fried fish-tritures de Selne-mut-
ton rsgout. green beans, stuffed tomatoes
grspes and various chee-es and jellies. full
bottle Of fairiv good red country wine was in
eiaded-s good enough lunch for 80 cents even
In France.
Nantes 10 well though roughly paved With
eeevy blocks Of stone. Most of the houses are
bsck In their present form There 10 little life
IN We streets and more women are visible than
esn- The women are seldom pretty. They
neve ssvsrs fsess and quiet ways. Thsrs 4
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-10-22
APPALLING FIGURES.
Anot n>r Domestic Pow Wow in the McSwa,
Mansion.

, Aaot nsr Domestic Pow-wow in the Mcswat
Mansion.
From the Chicago Tribune
Mrs. McSwat-"Billiger, how often do YOU
get shavedy'
Mr.. McSwat-"About four times a week on
an average"
How much time does it usually require9'
"About half an hour"
Half an hour four times a week! That's two
hours q week. four and one-third davs a year
and nearly a month and a half in ten wears
Think Of it, Billiger. II Won should let your
beard grow you would save time enough in ten
years
But look here. Lobelia, Great scott, I
don't want to let i; grow Did YOU ever rec me
with a full set Of wlisGers?"
mo. but"
"Well. let il he the cause Of the most heart
felt ioy and gratitude Won ever experienced.
Iobeila, that YOU never did! With a full beard
madam, i look like a cocoanut in q tit of delirium
tremens. L tried II once. wears ago Dogs
barked at me on the street. children fed from
me in terror. footpads who caught a glimpse Of
me by moonlight or the pale Pickering rav- of
a street lamp dropped their sandbags and skunk
tremblingly up the aileys and I was offered 30
a week and all expenses by a dime MUSEUM
man for year engagement My portrait was
haNked al over the country the most
Lideous--"
Il don believe any of that stur Alllger,
and I'm sure"
Don't interrupt me. madam. nv beard
grows straight out, up. down. sideways every
brlstle for itself like the spines on the fre;ful
chestnut burr. and II grows In every shade
and color. from brindle to vermiion and back
again. If you could see me once with q hedge
fence all over my face YOU would"
But think of the time Won lose in"
The time | lose. Look here. How often
do YOU fix your hair?'
Every day of my life, of course. but that's
different"
That's different. is it, hey, How long does
it take YOU to fix it,
II think YOU re just as
'lou needn't answer 1 know how long 10
takes. I've seen you do it often enough. IL
takes YOU half an hour every blessed day q
your life 20 look after yonr frizzes, il that's
what You call them. Think Of H. Half an
hour day, three hours and a half a week
nearly eight DAYS in year. entire month in
four year,, whole year in forty-eight wears,
and over two years in a century. LobeliA,
you better go and look after the baby"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-10-22

which wa. built With Williams money. and i,
~. An. old h,iay. ,h. ,iv., s.,,. a,d cam
-. -.
Wy ms "i",' on'r ming 'na' can DC
- "
ou' W 'peHu
'O'''s Nv" nae VIE
- - -. ~ uuat.e y W suar' Ior
to Or 4, yo, .horId nj. ,ho No.
,,.in and Vii, snv otbsr AZ a br,5,ad -
to-. v,,hi, ,hir,x roiI.. % paris ,ba n,o6,
uonIJ n. ths ..rc TIey ~. ali ngIv in ,b.n,-
.,lv,.. N. ho,sIs are ali nrimi,ivs in confor,
h., 80 sxc.lIsn, 60 "a r. IN ,,s.a.. -
t,n.eIv in,.re.tinc bistor,c rnornmants ,r;,b .
,nagpi6r.n, sru,t and Vim. ,oI,ntry ro,,,,d a.,
A. ey.rv directior
Al the r,ilrav static, ~ Nantes the t,.vsIsr
e.n ..oDand IaoL ahon, b;,o n. ,,;r5 = -.
n. has Ief, the vbirI ~ psris tor Do IL
g. n .trayr.Iiny ,oWn witb notbing IN I, ,ba, bs
cnnno, &c ,s.iIv arJ v.Il xi,ben, ,s,;a,,a ~
49, m. $780, %. -, ~ e., - Ii,..
omribus,. vhirb ars harI.d M, ssai,s, ~
..aT,on al ,iaxls. 80, a.. ,Si,st,. - =, 81
49, Wei -, ,hsrs Iii y. -. -, " .t0
ss,-s,.ans -, III ,- 20
,ro,, p.-,. g. ..,r1a,.. -. -. .,,
oa x,Ila.,. roro.,, m - ,oss.-, e.. a.,
a., - - -, -, . -. n y -
-. - - -: ~; - IN
d. ba.Ls,. ~ L,,rdi"- 81 - III Ia 70 =
socially talking Together a. 80, as thav 90
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-10-22

stretch OF country. Crossing the modern stone
bridge. which al urds a fine view OF the ancient
one, the drive goes down along the right bank
OF the river The road, like ell French couu-
ny roads, !. hard and smooth. in perfect con-
dtion for the bicycle, of which one meets a
number. Other vehicles are those of country
people coming to the market. They are Of
every description, from donkey carts 10 heavy
vain. drawn by oxen Now and then a smart
villa will disclose handsome carriage houses and
perhaps styiish turnout. but these are not
characteristic Of the scene. The charm is of a
perfect countryside, with nothing ugly and
nothing new. Every inch of ground is under
cultivation, with sober and contented small
proprietors filling their own fields.
WOMEN WHO WORK IN THE FIELDS.
Sometimes il makes one sick to read unin-
formed aud hasty newspaper correspondence
about women working in the fields in Europe.
Certainly women do work in the fields over here.
and factory girls in America would be stronger
and happier il they were taught to do the same
thing instead Of gaining the pittance thew en-
Joy at work supposed TO be more genteel
French women Of every rank work side by side
with their husbands. IL the husband is . city
retail shopkeeper the wife is at the cashiers
desk and has a superintendent of the whole
establishment; il her husband il q literary man
she interests herself in his writings, and il he
Is . peasant with a truck farm she hoes the
beans and picks the potatoes in his company
IKE an equal partner. Two things are over
looked by American tourists when they SILVER at
such s,ghts-the smaliness Of peasant holdings
ana the nature Of peasant social life. From
the railway tram you see women working in the
helds- shocking. But they are working in
their own felds-small fields under minute cul-
nvstion. and all their female friends do Just the
same. They are all within calling distance Of
each other. At 10 O'Clock in the morning they
knock on work for an hour and eat their second
breakfast in cheerful companies; at / O'Clock,
noon. they knock OF for two hours for dinner.
and in the evening they march through the
nslds to the village in merry parties with their
implements on their shoulders and their
brothers. lovers and husbands by their sidss-a
life 30 near ideal that il 10 never-failing sub
jet for French painters, - in Millet's .An-
eslua Imagine what inspiration an artist
would ind in the daily. lonesome drudRery of
IN American small farmers wife She d often
without hslp. shs cooks three hot meals each
day, winter and summer. foe The msn folks, e.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-10-22
Aleut Canoes.

Two fremen who were.on the steamer Alice
Blanchard on trip to the Yukon river, says
the Seattle Post Intelligencer, brought back two
novel Aleut canoes. The boats were made of raw
hide, supported by horizontal ribs. The only
opening is q circular hole in the center, large
enough for . mans body so that he can sit
down. A flap of rawhide surrounds the hole,
and when the occupant plants himself in the
bottom Of the craft he draws this Zap up, fas-
tening it tightly around his body under the
arms This makes the boat practically water
tight, and he can paddle along in the toughest
kind Of weather without danger Of drowning.
II his craft rolls over all he has to do b to paw
the water until he gets his head to the surface
again, and the boat. having stationary ballast,
Immediately rights itself.
Some Of them are made with two holes to
accommodate two passengers. The two
brought down arc the single pattern. They are
about fourteen feet long, thirty inches across
and Of . like depth. They are very light and
can easily be carried about. The owners are
going to keep them ct Lake Washingtou. II d
said two men came down from Alaska in ons
some years ego and had been upset ON numsr-
Gus occasions on the way, but they nsver suf-
fered more serious injary than getting thsir
shouldsfs Wa
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-10-22
NEVER TOO LATE TO MEND.
WRITTEN EXPRESSLY FOB THE EVENING
STAR BY RODNEY CLARKE.

UNIT MERCY PER-
kins stood by the back
gate and gazed at the
sweet peas. Pansies,
sweet peas and gera-
NUNS constituted the
core Of what Aunt
Mercy was pleased to
call a garden, and every
day she tended her
little plants with great
care and no less pleas
ure. Her hair. parted
in the middle and
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-10-22

rs AN ILL WIND
that blows nobody any
good. And II must be
an exceptionally third
rate sort Of refuse
dump that does not
yield in its scrspings
the merest pittance, at
least, toward the liy-
ing of some one of the
scores of unfortunates
who generally frequent
those necessary adjuncts
Of a great city. Hun
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-10-22

PANS. Sept. 81, 1892.
ANTES Is A PIC
turesque wn with
s 800 inhabitants. thirty
miles from Paris In the
direction Of Rouen. Ii
h near TO Normandy;
and II was at the cap
ture - Nantes. in the
wear 1887. that William
the Conqueror had the
fall from his horse
which caused his death.
Nantes has now a mag
nificent Gothic church
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-10-22

Mr.. Oldboy-"I remember the frst Ash ever
caught"
Miss Psrt-"What-was II; an Ichthyossurusa"
L(fs.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-10-22
in THE SWEEPINGS.
Valusbles That Are Found After the
Sweepers Have Passed.
AT THE DUMPING GROUNDS.

Picking Over a City's Refuse-FamilIes That
Make Living at the Dump>-occasional
Valuable FINDS and Telltale Letters-A
Star Mans Visit TO a Dump.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-10-22
FRENCH RURAL LIFE.
Scenes in the Country Side Near
Paris.
A TYPICAL SEINE TOWN

~. Historic old Church and Ia. Sleepy Pop
uIssisn-The Thrit of the PeopIe-small
Farm. Wei Cultivated - Women who
Work IN the Fields
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-10-22

CO Of Ihs Evening star.