davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The St. Johns herald., 1893-01-26
FRANCES FORTS.
Defenses of tho Republic Against
 Her Elemios.
The Line of Great Eo-tresses and In- trenchea Camps, on the Eastern Frontier Enormous Arm
 aments.

feature of Frances preparation for the next war with Germany that has not attracted much attention thus far is the line of forts and intrenchcd camps guarding her eastern frontier. says Q writer in the Illustrated American. If little has been said about these fOrtifi- cations, it is only because little is known. The government has endeav- ored to preserve secrecy in regard to them even more strenuously than. it has denied information about nelinite and the Lebel rife. In the modern system of fertilization much stress is laid upon the importance of keeping the enemy in the dark.
 No longer drowning parapets an nounce to him the quarter whence he may expect resistance. The present ain is to lure him into trap and then mow down his regiments by 9 hail-like fire from hidden guns. For this purpose rapid-fre guns will be largely used. The Maxim gun can deliver about seven hundred bullets per minute. It can be di- rected by one man, who will show only his head above his screen and will be tended by one other man completely covered. Smol1eless powder being used, a regiment would be decimated and panic-striclEen in moment by such q fire and would be in full rout before the location of the gun could be discov- cred. To carry out such defense sue cessfully it is important, of course, to preserve the most complete secrecy about the plans of the Qualifications. Therefore only general facts are known about the line of forts on the eastern frontier of France.
 The Qualifications consist of great in- trenched camps and huge fortresses. The largest forts - Frouard, Pont St. Vincent, Lucey, Wiley le Sec, dArches, Remiremont and Girornaguy = have added to their otherwise enormous armaments armored towers with the heaviest cannon. Every frontier fort or intrenched camp is within gun-shot of the next one, is connected with the others by telegraph and is linked to the other members of the chain by a double-track railway. The only break in the railway connection is between Fort Giromaguy and Fort de Servance. Batteries occupy between the forts all the positions commanding approaches. The guns of the forts vary in number for each between twenty and fifty. Some, however, have as many as eighty. In several forts there is room for two thousand head of cattle, and in all for enormous quantities of provisions. The quarters of the men and officers are airy and ample. The cannons command completely the slopes, which are, moreover, so woven over with wires and so mined with tor pedoes that the stand of an enemy there and the undermining of the walls are impossible.
The St. Johns herald., 1893-01-26
THE CHINESE CAPITAL.
Interesting Information About tho
 City Of Poking.
It Comprises Tour Cities with q Popula tion of Million and q TIalf-Its PoorIy-Buii5 Struc.ures-The
 Croz. Walls.

Pelling, the capital of the Chinese empire and Of the province of Chilli on the Tu1ghui river, has a population estimated at ono million five hundred thousand. says the New York Recorder. It stands on an extensive sandy plain, and consists of Kin-Chi1g, the prohib- tied city, contain:ng only tho palaces Cf the emperor and the dwellings of his immediate retainers; Uwang Ching, the imperial city, with a large number of court officials; Nui-Ching, the Tartar city, con 2prising twelve square miles. and Wai-Chinr, the Chinese city, with fifteen square miles of area. The Tar ! tar city is surrounded by wall sixty feet high and fifty feet thick, the Chi nesc city by one thirty feet high and twenty-five feet thick. They are built of stone and brick and filled with earth. The suburbs include an area of twenty five miles.
 The prohibited city, two miles in cir conference. is entered by four gates, each surmounted by a tower. The buildings are superior to any others in the empire. The meridian gate leads to the imperial buildings, and is re- served for the emperor solely. Five marble bridges spanning a little stream lead to a marble paved court and the gate of extensive peace, at which the emperor receives the homage of the courtiers on great state days. Ascend ing the stairway, the tranquil palace of heaven is reached, into which none can enter without special royal per mission. The number of people within the prohibited city is small, most being Maatchoos.
 The imperial city, surrounding the prohibited city, has wall twenty feet high, pierced by four gates, through which no one can enter save by special permission. It contains the tablets of the deceased emperors and expresses and the altars of the gods. There are also the Russian college, military stores, and King-shan, the artificial mountain, with each of it's five sumrlits crowned by pavilion.
 The Tartar city surrounds the inpe- rial city and contains the principal gov ernmont offices and the hall of science erected in 1080. Near by are the Rus sian Church Of the Assumption and the temple where his majesty and princess worship their ancestors on the first day of every month. The city is in control of the general of the nine gates, near whose headquarters is the high tower in which are the i'm mense drum and bell that proclaim the hour of midnight. Not far away is the white paroda with it's o6elisll erected by Kublai Khan in the thirteenth cen tury, about which upon one hundred and eight pillars lamps burn continu- ously in Buddha's honor.
 The Chinese city is the most popu- lous, but its structures are poorly built. The houses are of brick, one story high, with roofs of tiles. It con- tains the altars to Heaven, to winter, to agriculture, and the pool dedicated to the spirits of the waters, where his majesty performs special supplications whenever the country suffers from dr0l1rbt
The St. Johns herald., 1893-01-26
CHINESE MAFIAS.
An Organization of Assassins That the
 Law IS Power!ess to Suppress.

An Organization or ASSasSinS That the
 Law Is Power!ess to Suppress.
 There is quite a striking analogy be- tween the Italian Mafia, as it is com monly understood, and the Chinese Tong, or organization of cutthroats, murderers and highbindcrs in this city, says the San Francisco Chronicle. The chief point of difference is that the sub divisions of the Mafa are not at con stant war with each other, while the Tongs have deadly feuds continually on foot, and generally select their victims from among tier rivals.
 The question of these organizations of assassins in the heart of civilized community like ours has grown to be a serious one. We know, in general way that each Tong is bound together by oaths which its members dare not break; that its purpose is crime of the deepest dye; that it shelters it's mem- bers by every artifce which Chinese cunning can devise, and that it sets at defiance the laws of the land; but here our knowledge on the subject ends. We do not know the motives which under lie the frequent murders, nor do we seem to know how to break up these Tongs or put an end to their career of crime.
 The suggestion has been made, and it is worth considering, that an indictment for criminal conspiracy would lie against an entire Tong or society whose members were known or believed to be guilty of murder. So far as we can know anything about the secret work ings of these organizations there is ample reason to believe that the mur- ders are committed after full discussion and the murderer selected by his so- ciety and instructed as to how and when he shall do his deadly work. If this be true there is certainly a crim- inal conspiracy preceding every one of these highbiIder murders, and the whole society is liable to indictment.
 Such a wholesale attack upon these secret societies would do much to break them up. As it i5 now they care very little if one of their number happens to fall into the clutches of the law. They have plenty of assasSins left, and one more or less makes DO difference to the Tong. If, however, the whole Tong were indicted the Chinese would be- ieve that the officers of the law were in earnest and it would work a change in their system of getting rid of those who were inimical to them.
The St. Johns herald., 1893-01-26
TENnY5oN'3 APPEARANCE.
He Has Beautiful Taco and a Noble,
 CO,nrrlHn .iin-r hsnacf


 Commanding Aspect.
 Everybody knows by photograph the manner Of man Lord Tennyson is-sure- ly beautiful face, if ever the adicc- tive could be applied to masculine features, and never more beautiful in any stage of life than now, when age has fixed all the finer features, and lent them new dignity and majesty, says Sir Edwin AC1OlJ in the Forum Everybody is familiar with the broad forehead, the clear, deep eyes, the strongly cut nose anafnoly chiscled lips, the long hair ringing those temples shrincs Of high tlougAt-and the genial, massive and commanding aspect of the poet.
 Albeit past his cighty-second birth day, Lord Tenpyson's figure is only weakened, not broken, by age. His hair preserves much Of it's old, dark color, and, excepting in places, is hard ly more than ''s2bIe-sllyered." His spirit is as alert, his glance is as keen and alight as ever. Though he does not rise upon our entrance, making no ceremony with friends, he leads at once al animated conversation. It is sum mer day, CT rather, early autumn; but the weather has been chilly and the winds are blowing from that dismal quarter, the cast, so that the poet is wearing Q loose wrapper, and around his neck a white silk handkerchief loosely lznotted
 Bv the way, on the left side of his neck there lodges a small brown birth mark, very characteristic, as if drop of dark wine had dropped there and had stained the skin. His hands are manly and powerful in outline, but del icato and finely formed, as those of poet should be. On his head, as an ad- ditio1al protection from the caprices of tho English weather, hc wears small black velvet cap. These precau- tion5 are the more necessary, because not long ago he was suffering sadly from rheumatism and bronchitis. which at one time, indeed, filled all his friends. with anxiety, and became for weeks to- gether a national concern.
The St. Johns herald., 1893-01-26
Longest Human uai-.

Mercedes Lopez, a Mexican woman living just across the river from this place, has an extraordinary suit of hair, probably the longest in the world, says the Leadvllle Democrat. She is about five feet in heirht, and when she stands erect her hair trails on the ground four feet and eight inches. When she sits down and draws her locks about her they hide her entire person so heavily that it is like thick clothing. The pres ent growth on her head is only little over five years old, for 1t gives her such headaches that she is compelled to cut it frequently. Every month she sells large quantities of it to hair dealer. She is the wife of o common sheep herder, and is herself ignorant. but her tresses are the beautiful black hair of the old CaStiiia7 women.
The St. Johns herald., 1893-01-26
4 Lasting Superstition.

The horseshoe superstition still sticks, and junk dealers find 1t profitable to keep horseshoes in stock for sale to dwellers in the tenement-housc region, where q horseshoe over the door is still not uncommon, says Q correspondent
 If all tho money drawers of small shops could be rumnaged enough horseshoes could be found to supply half the equines in town. The superstition is that the shop will do a good business SC long Gs the presence of the horseshoe is known only to the shopkecper On 8 recent rainy afternoon g neatly-dressed girl, daintily picking her way across Fifth avenue at Twcnty-eighth street. suddenly stopped, stopped, picked up 9 wet and dirty horseshoe, tucked it away under her waterproof, and went on in smiling anticipation of good luck.
The St. Johns herald., 1893-01-26
WEEKLY TRIPS TO HEAVEN.
The Remarkable IRapostu-o of "Tae Dy-
 ing Prophet or Russia.

The Remarkable TnapostuTe of "The Dy-
 ing Erophct'' of Russia.
 "The Dying Prophet is inst now the sensation ia Russia. Certainly he is q most extraordinary being, If he be what is claimed, 9 more wonderful per sonage does not exist. If he be an i'm poster, then he is the most marvellous inposter of the age. The audacity of his prctensi0ns, the skill with which they arc maintained, and. above all. the profound effect produced upon all who come in contact with him have no par allcl in modern history. So strong in deed is the impression created by his dOings that the procura5or of the holy synod and other high ecclesiastical of Gcers of the empire dare not interfere.
 This strange person, says the Chicago News, is named Tagarelli, and is Cf French or Italian extraction. lie was, however. born at Tiais, in the Caucasus, where he has lived since childhood. He has been bedriddcn and utterly help less. 1 few months ago a curious change was observed. h brief, be died to all appearances. According to all ordinary tests he was certainly dead. That was on Saturday. They prepared his body for burial. The corpse lay in it's coffin until Monday, when the fl1- neral was to take place. At the very hour set for the obsequies the young man suddenly returned to life Ever since the same event has occurred every week.
 He declares that he really dies and that his spirit. departing from his body, passes into the other world. What manner of world 1t is he will net di- valge, nor will he tell anything of his doinGs there save one. That is that he has access to the book kept by the re- cording angel in which are set down all the sins of humanity. There is scarcely q person in Tiflis who has not visited him. They all plead guilty to the charges he reports against them and tearfully bescech him to intercede with the powers Of the other world in their behalf. Thousands of people from all parts of tho empire daily throng about his cottage, seeking to know from him the story Of their own i'll deeds. Many Of them SC. in idle curiosity or in slceptical spirit, but all who are admit ted to his presence come away con- vinced of his supernatural knowledge.
The St. Johns herald., 1893-01-26
TALL GlaLJ TO BLAME.
They Arc Eesnon ;i3lo foc Snort Mons
 High Ice < and I.Gta.

They Arc Eesnon ao2e foc saort Mons High Ice and I:Gta.
 "Put two extra lifts on the heel" ac- compauiad a order to a shoemaker.
 '.TaIIy another victim O. the tall girl, the shoemaker remarked.
 ''How is that?' asked the reporter for the New York Sun.
 ''Why. there are so many tall girls nowadays that tho average height of men must l3e raised. Up to Q few years ago the lowest heel was the rage, but now the heel is decidedly higher-I fig ura it between half and threc-quarters of an inch. It is all the growth Of re- cent years. It isn't fashion. either, for you'u not find the high heel among tall men. It's only among the little fellows who try to add to their height but ever so little. But even half an inch counts in a mans height. A few years ago a man of five feet six was seldom over topped by a lady. Now the man of five feet eight is not infrequontly looked down on. don't suppose any city in the world can show so many tall girls as are to be seen in Broadway, Four teenth and Twenty-third streets these days. They are not thin girls, either, but well-proportioned and sOlidly built, which makes their height all the more exasperating to an undersized man. You sec, by adding Q little to his heels and to his hct man just under the av- craze can lift himself up to it."
 ''I wouldn't be surprised # the tall girl has great deal to do with boom ing our high-hat trade" a Broadway natter said. Ut must be, for mono Of my tall customers has asked for higher hat. Those who have worn felts and der by crowns still wear them, but have observed a steady change from low to high tops for my short customers. l think sometimes that the tall girl is re- sponsible for this change. because a five foot six inch customer came in here not long ago and asked for my highest hat. He had good pair of shoulders and could carry it well, but he had al ways worn 9 low hat. I asked him why he changed. ''Oh, I've changed girls and the new one is about half an inch taller than I. If get high hat it will CFCA CS u U HltS4 NC StlpCStA O1 CA4C street"
 A Twenty-third street dealer in wom- en's shoes has felt the influence of the tall girl. We have customers now to whom VIC eater with low heels," he said 'The tall girl differs from man in not being proud of her height. She knows little girl is more likely to be esteemed affcctionate and loving by the men than is q tall girl So she tries to get down to the loving level. Then, again, she knows that the little girls have more chance of securing beauX for the tall girl must restrict her hopes to the average-sized or tall men. Short men do not like to go out with girls several inches taller, and 50 fall back on the petite. So, where men are hay ing their heels made extra high, girls and women are having theirs lowered. What is true of tall girls shoes is equal ly true in regard to their hats. They are lowering them. too, and the flat hat is as sure to come in again as it is tkGt tk.ct the tall girl is here today"
The St. Johns herald., 1893-01-26
Sir Arnoid's supply Of Stamps.

Apropos of the recent visit of Sir Ed win Arnold in Chicago. the following may be il,rrosting to his scores of ad- nirers: Io friend callingOn Sir Edwin the latter remarked in course of the conversation that he had had 10 oeca- sion while in America to purchase a postage stamp. Being interrogated on this point, the famous poet said that he received nUmoroUs letters from people asking his adviee. etc. He made it a rule to answer the ladies only, and as all letters contained return postage he was kept constantly supplied.
The St. Johns herald., 1893-01-26
CHINA'S RICHEST MlNES.
The Most Valuable Mineral Deposits Are
 at 5aho-yTorI.ed by CooIie5.

The Most Valua5le Mineral DepO5ita Are
 at Jaho-VTorEed by Coolies.
 John Gndea returned to this city re- gently from China, where for the past year he has been in the employ of the Chinese government at the mines of Jaho, says the San Francisco Call.
 ''Jaho is the ancient capital of Mon golia," says Mr. Gildea, and is about three hundred miles inland. On the way to the mines WIG rode horse back all the distance and passed through many villages, the inhabitants of which had never seen white man. In some places the women and children would double lock the doors and hide, while the men would follow us wherever we went out Of curiosity. They didn't un- derstand how we came to be without queues and were mysti{ied at our ap- pearancc and style of dress, but no at tempt was made to molest us.
 ''The Jaho mines arc extensive and consist of 9 lode sixty miles long and one hundred feet wide. The orc is silver bearing, but will not average more than twelve dollars a ton. About one thsu- StHG cOOilSS arc OH I4lc pay roll tLlu each gets about five dollars and a half month in Mexican money. They are the greatest thieves l ever saw, and many of them, just for the love of steal ing, would steal Q piece of ore perhaps worth not moro than five cents, though if the pilferer were caught Ee would lose his pay and be bambooed besides. This punishment is given by striking the man on tho muscles of his bare legs, and often so severely that the flesh is cut through to the bone.
 Much of the mining machinery is frst-class and was sent from this state. and l doubt if any mine in the United States is better equipped with modern machinery than the mines of Jaho.''
The St. Johns herald., 1893-01-26
Royal EaD Does.

Mary Queen of Scots had favorito lap dog, which is said to have been present at the execution of it's poor mistress in Fotheriagay castle. Alter the royal lady had been bcheaded this faithful creature refused to leave her dead body and had to be carried out of the hall by force. 1t that period lap dogs were the pets of men as well as of women. Dr. Bolcyn, a relative of the unhappy Queen Anne Boleyn, owned one which" as it is written, he dotted on" Anne once asked him to grant her ono wish, and il roturn he should have whatever he might desire. Knowing his affection for the Gc-. she begged it of hin, and, of course. the doctor had nothing to do but to give t to her. And, nov, madame, hc said, you promised to grant Iay request. 2 T will, {" GV0th J.e Cu0 Then, pray you. Glve Ee rly co5 aaiia."
The St. Johns herald., 1893-01-26
Eauntel Tonsos

Every real-estate agent in New York has had more or less experience with what arc known as unrcntable build ings. They are apparently just as de- sirable as other buildings. but are occu- pied only for short. periods. The own CTS arc usually more than liberal to tenants, but tho latter do not remain. Such buildings soon have unenviable rcputatiols and not rnfreQuently are associated with III luck. Sometimes they are believed to be haunted. < building at the upper end of Second avenue is an example. It apparently has many ad- vGEtacoa over tke adjoining buildings. It is on the corner Of . very wide cross street and is cheerful and bright within. It is solidly built of brick. is always kept well painted and in good condition. For six months 1t has been vacant. and prior to that tenants moved out almost as fast 2s they moved in. The rent is low. but the other buildings. that look old and battered beside t, are occupied all the time.
The St. Johns herald., 1893-01-26
Renewing Youth.

A Central American newspaper tells of a man living in Sau Paulo, Brazil, who is considerably over Q hundred years old and who is growing young again. He has recently grown new set of teeth, and his hair, which had turned gray, is now almost black again. He is in active business as horse trader, and occasionally he rides over ten leagues in day. He has been married three times, is now a wiGower, and is quite wealthy. The pa2er cas- ually remarks in the course of its story that the old man suffered greatly at one time with tumor. but this was cured by being go-ed by an cx."
The St. Johns herald., 1893-01-26
SHE QUIT SUDDENLY.
The Mortified You IT ,u and the Elas-
 tic with a Iotto.

The Mortified You z IT ,n md the Elas-
 tic with a Motto.
 Tragedy and comedy are very close together some times, says the New York World, and the same swell which near ly ended the life of one person upset Q group of a dozen merry bathers and tossed them topsy tUrvy toward the beach. Che cf the number, New Yorker, was thrown headlong into 9 bevy of girls, and he has distinct i'm pression of a shapely limb grazing his waist just as the breaker rolled over.
 That occurs scores of times daily, and the young fellow recovered himself and went on bathing. A quarterof an hour later he met Q lady he knew and the pair went upon the beach. Suddenly his companion started. and murmuring some sort of Gn excuse left him.
 The bather was very much discon- certed, and, casting his eyes around. to discover the cansc, his gaze fell upon something dangling from his belt. He grsEped it, and was astonished to find in his hand Q wide yellow garter of generous length, one of those senti- mental sccl;-a-beau girdles so popular Q few months since, bearing the legend. Hope on, hope ever" The New Yorker still has the elastic, and he says the owner may secure it by calling at the Stockton and proving property, al- though he fears tho inscription is not applicable in this ease.
The St. Johns herald., 1893-01-26
Indian orarrnss to the President.

On several occasions pipes of peace and other symbolic nissiycs have been recoived by the president of the United States from various tribes of Indians. The 1Ioquis Of New Mexico once sent him 2 small quantity of wild honey wrapped n the inner hcs,1 of an ear of corn. Isc was requested to take a piece of Che i.usl-, chew ita2d spit t out upon tee Eu-1 in order that the country nj,..t have raiu.