davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Irish standard., 1894-01-20
CUNNING or cROCODiLES.
Burrowin2 Ds<p in the Mud in Order to
Escape Dragnet.


Escape a Dragnrt.
The following is fair sample Of
how cunningly crocodiles, in common
with all other wild animals, can CON"
ceal themselves in moments OF danger,
says a writer in the Westminster
Gazette. After happy week spent I'M
the Jungle with friend of mine, we
halted for breakfast, before making
the last stage for headquarters and
home, at a place called Poonarhun--
Anglice. garden of flowers--and while
at breakfast were amused by watch
ing number of crocodiles, about
eight or ten, summing themselves on
the surface of small lake. or tank, as
it is there called, of about an acre in
extent. sudden thought struck n.e.
Il say, Murray, what fun it would
be to try and catch some of these beg
gars in a net" ''Bravor' said he.
''Let's try it presently. Appu, send
the horsekeeper to the village and tell
him to bring up all the men he can
find and some long fishing nets. We
will give a good santosun' ipresent}.
The villagers scented some fun, and
with the further stimulus of a santo-
sum very soon turned up to the num-
ber of thirty 1t was now eleven
o'clock and scorching hot, the air quiz
ering over the bare, sandy plain in
which the pond was situated. It YVES
breast deep, as we knew. Including
about one foot or eighteen inches OF
heavy mud. We tied two nets together
SO as to make one long enough to
reach across the tank, aoout thirty
yards, and this was heavily weighted
along the bottom and arranged to be-
drawn with long ropes from each
shore. Immediately behind the net
came line, and men about yard
apart. with long pointed poles
with which TO prod the III III along the
bottom OF the net, and SO drive the
malingeTin,5 : gent en1en into proper POI
sition in front OF the net. My friend
and his servant (io1' all eEte.ed into
the SPORT followed Close up to the sec
ond line At it we all now went,
splashing, shouting, stamping and
hauling, ;out-a big bnt-noG a sign did
we find of single one OF the brntes
that we had seen before us when we
e1me to the edge of the water. We
dragged that water backward and for
ward more than once, but our only re-
ward was deadly thirst that lasted us
till late that night. They had bur-
rowed deeper into the mud than we
could reach them, Tor nothing-I doubt
if even rat-could have escaped un-
seen out of the water.
The Irish standard., 1894-01-20
lTALY'S POVERTY.
The People So Codd!ed That They Lost
Their Sinew.

The People So Codd!ed That They Lost
/ Their Sinew.
Italy's poverty is attributable in a
great measure to the lack of private
initiative on the part of the Italian
people. Italy was in the past too
much governed, either for good Or ill,
says the Spectator. In Naples and Sic
lily the tyranny of Bomba and his pred
ecessors utterly destroyed the power
of initiative. If to lift your hand to
help yourself, and to be busy, self
reliant and independent, is to be per Sc
suspect, ana probably leads to your
ruin, you very soon lose the desire or
power to initiate, and, instead, wait to
see what the government will do.
1t was the same in the well-governed
Grand Duchies. People in Tuscany
were so we'll looked after, ''patted
down" and coddled, that they lost the
use of their mental sinews. There has,
of course, been a great reaction from
this timidity and lack of push since
the uniication of Italy, and large
section of the community now seem as
energetic as if they were F'renchmen
or Germans.
But, though the visible population
may seem energetic and capable of
working out their own salvation, the
invisible population, which is twenty
times more numerous, is still utterly
incapable of making strong or decided
movements of its own account 1t is
capable of working, and does work
hard at its appointed toll, but it has
not yet felt that touch of hopeful en-
ergy which is the true philosophers
stone, and turns all things to gold.
The great mass of the Italian popu-
lation goes on it's way, not sad-the
people are naturally joyous-but with
the belief that nothing much be-
yond daily sustenance is to be got
out of work. Their delight is in fire.
works and the sunshine and the fiesta,
not in getting on, and making things
hum" in business.
In word, Italy is like a man who
has been paralyzed and has partially
recovered. The brain is active, and
the arms have their full vigor, but the
lower limbs move with difficulty and
uncertainty. Ultimately, no doubt, the
legs and the rest of the body will re-
cover as completely as the arms; but
till they do the man is weak.
The Irish standard., 1894-01-20
ALAskalss. FISHERIES.
Salmon Furnish the Chief Wealth Of the
Far.O6 Territory.

Far.On Territory.
In this modern day Of government
schools, &ready-mad clothing and two
dollars-a-day wages, almost the only
picturesq queness left to native life is
during the salmon runs, says a writer
on Alaska in Harper's Weekly. Fam
lilies and tribes betake themselves to
their hereditary fishing grounds to
catch and dry their salmon for winter
use, and isolated summer camps break
the forested shore line with fine effect.
A row of black canoes on the beach, a
cluster of bark or matted tents. with
frames of drying salmon overhanging
the camp fires, are set between some
clear still green water foreground and
an abrupt screen of green est menzie
or merton spruces. The racks of fish
give touches of nigh color to the scene.
as the further north they are caught
the redder the Pacific salmon are: and
in Lynn canal some of these camps
look as if decorated with red bunting.
All is salmon that comes to the Tin
git, and he makes no distinction be-
tween king. red. silver, humpback or
dog salmon, rather preferring, on the
whole, the coarse, rank flesh of the
last, which no white man wants; hence
he RACES at the cannery:s waste and
the destruction of his chief food sup
ply. Since the corrupting touch OF
trade has even reached their salmon
streams. the natives now make perma-
nent summer villages beside the can
neries. The men work for the conpa-
ny, and the women and children do a
little Independent fishing, but more
regularly follow the cannery scows
and fill their canoes with rejected salm~
on, as Gamers use only about third
of all fish seined. Thus. in midsum-
mer, Alaska villages are as empty OF
their first families as any eastern city.
and the tourists see closed houses, and
not third of the regular inhabitants.
Census enu,nerators work zealously,
but vainly, in attempting to count the
natives when they are scattered in re-
1notest hooks all over the archipelago,
half of them padding their canoes
from one place to another, and as like
lv to be counted twice as not at all dur
ing the summer,
The white mans fisheries are more
prosaic, less fragrant, and never pictur~
esque in themselves. One finds the
canneries in the furthest hooks and
inches of the archipelago, each with a
finer landscape setting than the last.
There is always mountain background
and clear brawling stream coming
from the dense forest.
The Irish standard., 1894-01-20
DANGER IN DECORATIONS.

Empty Bnttonholes the Rule In Paris Be-
cause of an Anarchists Threat.
Every foreigner who has visited
Paris has been struck by the enormous
number of men wearing the rosette
either of the Legion of Honor or else
OF some foreign decora zion in the but
tonhole of the lapel of their coats. In
deed it seems to be the sole aim of the
Frenchman of every class of society to
become decore, and once they have at
tanned that distinction they never
dream of moving out of the house with
out the rosette in their buttonhole.
You may imagine, therefore, the sem
sation created during the past few days
by the almost complete disappearance
of these bits of ribbons. The cause is
related by Vogue's Paris correspondent.
The young anarchist who committed
the murderous onslaught on the Ser
Wan envoy while the latter was dining
at the Bouillon Duval restaurant in
the Avenue de ]'Opera the other day
explained that he had selected the
diplomat as his victim simply because
he happened to be the only person in
the place who was wearing the red
ribbon of the Legion of Honor in his
buttonhole. He informed the police au-
thorities that on the evening before the
tragedy he had visited another restaur-
ant hoping to find there an aristocrat
of whom ''to make an example," and
that while he saw great many we'll
dressed men," none of them happened
to wear a decoration; hence he post
poned his design. The unfortunate
minister is at deaf door, his wounds
being regarded rs mortal, and, mean
while, the idea that decora ton worn
in the buttonhole is sufficient to mark
one out as suitable victim for an an
archist's sentiments of hatred and hos
tility toward society has got the better
of the mems vanity, and empty but
tonholes are until further notice de
rigueur.
The Irish standard., 1894-01-20
The IRISH Standard "a ATURDAY, JANUARY 2ozRzzz
IN a DIVING HELMET.
A Mans First Experience. and tho sense
tions it Caused Him.

FEs
tions 1t Caused Him.
The great brass breastplate was put
on my shoulders and the upper folds OF
the India rubber collar were drawn
through it and screwed up with small
screws to make water-tight joint.
saws a writer in Chnms. The helmet,
with the bull's-eye glass in front un-
screwed, was then put upon the breast
plate, given an eighth of a turn and
secured. stock up in full divers
dress, lacking only, the bull's-eye to
shut me off completely from the air,
which is life. He who held the glass
then put it in its place and gave it q
turn, screwing it tight.
WAS completely boxed up, and, as
we'll as my heavy boots would allow
me, stepped on the ladder and the
heavy weights on my chest and back
were adjusted. The lifeline, looped
around my waist, was brought up in
front of my body and caught again at
my helmet, and had also my waist
belt with knife at my left-hand side.
The moment had come for me to
descend the short ladder, and then the
single rope which led to the sand
down below the North sea,
Now. you wonder what felt like as
I descended the ladder gradually. l
will try to tell you. / felt like q. man
who. having started on rash and
hazardous exploit, must carry it out to
the bitter end, l also felt a great diff
fculty in breathing, and remembering
the advice given to me, | stopped
when had descended few feet and
came up a step, coughing freely to
clear my lungs. The result was good,
for could breathe more freely, and,
thus encouraged, l descended again,
and clutching the rope at the end OF
ladder, slid down it and was on the
sand at the very bottom.
Then an overwhelming sense OF ina
bility to help myself and Of fear came
on me, and stood for some moments
as helpless as child. This silly fear
soon passed and attempted to walk
but with the most ridiculous results,
for rolled about like an intoxicated
man and could not keep my balance,
do what would. This was so marked
and I found all progress SO difficult
that J. spoke up the tube and asked
what should do. They told me to
turn the cock a5 nay right hand and to
let some of the air in the helmet es-
cape. did so, and with immediate
and happy results, Tor regained my
balance, and, despite the eighty
pounds of lead on my shoulders and
the thirtytwo pounds on my boots, /
could walk freely and easily.
The Irish standard., 1894-01-20
AN ADMlRER or COURAGE.
Anectlote of Hadshi Achme Izxot, Fa.
s-I1l. nous Turkish Governor.


a NOUS Turkish Governor.
A few weeks ago there died in Adri-
lnople one Of the most famous and
original of the subjects of the sultan
Of Turkey. He was Hadshi Achnned
[zzet, pasha governor general of the
velayet, ~or province, bordering on the
Black sea- Hadshi Izzet was an ideal
Turk of the old school, says the San
Francisco Chro nicle-a strange mix
ture of So]omon-like wisdom and child
ish foolishness, energy and apathy,
cruelty and mercy, truth and deceit,
generosity and avarice. In the eyes Of
his ruler and contemporaries he was
hero, and it was with purpose clear
to many that his majesty appointed
him governor general of Adrianople
and kept him for SO many years at the
head of that important province-the
gateway to the Ottoman empire. The
pasha was born more than ninety
years ago, and rapidly climbed to
places commensurate with his name
and the influence of his fam lily. At the
time of his death he was the dean OF
the Turkish viziero. Almost count
less are the anecdotes told of the pasha,
who was known and respected from
the Turkish Dan to the Turkish Beer
sheba. His hatred of the "Christian
dogs,'' as he always called the people
of the west, was boundless. 1t was in
variably his custom, when force
of circumstances obliged him to
give his hand to dog" to
wash it, upon withdrawal, while in the
presence of his guest. 1t is said that
Hadshi Izzet laid aside his habit once.
One day consul Of one of the great
est European countries was obliged to
seek an audience with the sultan's
lieutenant in govern mental affairs.
He had already been insulted once by
the pasha washing his hands after the
greeting, and determined that he
should not be SO treated a second time
If he could possibly prevent it. The
consul was thorough master of the
Turkish tongue, and for this reason
had great advantage over many of
his colleagues When the servants of
Hadshi Izzet received him at the pal
ace threshold he spoke as follows in a
voice which he knew would reach the
ears of the governor in his Office
near by:
.'Go and tell thy master that I wish
to speak to him. Say to him that !
shall also do him the honor to give him
my hand, but shall crack my hat over
his ears in case he attempts to wash
his hands after shaking NINE
The servant started away to an
nounce the visitor to his master. But
the governor had already heard the
message and came smiling toward the
daring consul. While he placed his
right hand in that of the foreign repre-
sentative, he said: THAT was right.
You please me, effendi. You, at least,
have courage"
The hands were not washed until the
consul had left the palace. The Incl
dent gave him notoriety in the con-
sular corps at Adrianople.
The Irish standard., 1894-01-20
AN OLD swE DISH LEGEND.
TIE Devil anu the WearE1G Count
A1yst nrious Gold Chain.

Ire DSvu anu Cne "cafRsH SCunC-<a
Mysterious Gold Chain.
will repeat one OF many legends
told me by a charming Swedish lady
about the family of Count Piper, the
well-knovn minister of her country to
the court OF St. James, says the Ma
tional Review. Once upon q time the
head of this house was bored to death
in his splendid castle, an d he yawned
his thousandth yawn and said: 81
would I had even the devil to play
cards with me-" and at the word Satan
himself appeared in that guise Of a
gentleman in which Shelley also knew
him. Oddly enough, the devil lost his
money and, having none in his pock-
cts, for reasons best known to himself,
he offered the count, in full quittance
of all claims, an apparently golden
chain, remarking incidentally that
whenever that chain was lost or in
jured the castle OF the Pipers would in
fallibly be burned.
This unusual announcement aroused
the winners suspicion and, happening
to look under the card table, he beheld
the cloven hoof. Instantly he sprang
to the wall to reSch down his sword,
for swords in those days, the date of
which cannot exactly give, were al
ways ready to the hand. But the devil
was gone and the chain alone re.
NAMED. On examination it proved to
be long and thin. with innumerable
little links, such chain as old gentle
men used to wear around their necks
for watch chains not SO long ago. An
assay discovered the metal to be some
thing other than gold. but could by no
means determine what it actually was.
An accidental injury to one of the
links, however, caused by the hammer
of the goldsmith, cost the count a
wing of his castle, and second injury
and temporary loss CT the chain hav-
ing resulted in a second and in third
fire, it at once became apparent that
the devil would keep his word Each
successive mead of the Piper family
has worn that chain around his neck
from the day of his accession to the
day of his deaCll, and on the decease OF
the late count, not long ago. it was
carefully and reverently removed from
his body to be passed on to his heir.
I hope this is all true. / believe it is.
seeing the source whence / got it. and
as it is but credit to any family to
get the better of the devil, have no
hesitation in repeating the story.
The Irish standard., 1894-01-20
Ono Costume for 1872 Years.

Several European sovereigns are re-
nowned for the length of time which
they wear their clothes. The record
in this respect, however, is broken by
the rector of Berlin university, who
has just been compelled to order a
new official mantle at a cost of 2, 4Oe
marks. The one which he has worn
until now was made exactly 1872 years
ago. and it is stated that constant
wear and tear have rendered it unfit
for court ceremonies, q fact which viii
scarcely arouse surprise.
The Irish standard., 1894-01-20
A Curious Superstition.

The ancients believed that che mar.
row Of the human backbone often
transformed itself into serpent.
Pliny (Natural History, vol. <, page 66)
says that the marrowof a man S back
bone will breed to snake. The
Chinese, Worde's Eastern Travels =
burned the backbone to destroy ser-
pents that mig bit hatch there from. g 81
The Irish standard., 1894-01-20
Famous Women OF Lowly origin.

Sarah Bernhardt was q dressmaker's s
apprentice. Adelaide Nelson began
life as a child's nurse. Miss Braddon,
the novelist, was a utility actress in
the provinces, Charlotte Cushman was
the daughter Of poor people. Mrs.
Langtry is the daughter Of country
parson of small means, but the old
story Of 4 face being = fortune proved
The Irish standard., 1894-01-20
Moh.mmedan. 1t M,c,a.

More than ffty-eight thousand Mo-
ha1nmedans made the pilgrimage to
Mecca last year. The performance Of
this religious duty entities every one
of the faithful accomplishing it to be
dignified ever after by the title of
''hadji," and this title makes it's bearer
man Of consequence in his neighbor-
hOnd -
The Irish standard., 1894-01-20
A AIatabele Custom,

One of the matrimonial customs OF
the Matabele tribes is that when chill
dren are born to couple the father
must buy them Of his father-in-..syv, or,
If he fails to do so, the children be-
come the property, SO to speak, Of the
mother,s family.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-08-24
EXCURSIONS.

The children will have a royal good time
tomorrow at River View. Everybody goes
for 10 cents on the 9:45 am. and 40 pm.
boats. The Morris pony show will be the
little ones delight. The little equine actors
are wonderfully clever and are the best at
traction Capt. Randall has had this season
at his beautiful resort.
The steamer Sue will leave her wharf to-
morrow evening at o'clock for delightful
trip to Piney Point This excursion has
been arranged by the clerks Of the various
government departments. and the trip in all
events Will prove to be very enjoyable
one. There will be boating, fishing, crab
bling and excellent salt water ba hing. A
concert will be given at the hotel On Sum-
day afternoon and the tickets for the round
trip, including hotel accommoda tons, are
$2l5. The boat will arrive IN Washington
at o'clock Monday morning.
For a delightful ride down the river take
ing at $3.50 o'clock for Marshall Hall and
Indian Head. The beautiful scenery along
tkis route, together with Prof. Schroeder 8
fine band, makes the trip very pleasant for
every one. Those at the hall can take the
evening boat and continue on to Indian
Head, thus giving every one the benefit of
an evenings sunset ON the Potomac. As a
place of beauty Marshall Hall has no COM
petitor, and this Is proved by the well-filed
boats that go down during the day. The
last boat leaves Marshall Hall at $50 D. m,
bringing every one home In good season.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-08-24
A Liquor Case.

An Interesting liquor case will be tried
In the Police Court In few days, and even
some Of the persons connected with the
prosecution think 1t will prove to be one of
persecution rather than a prosecution in
the interests of justice. Charles c. Bradley,
who conducts a saloon at 943 B street. will
appear as the defendant, and it will be
charged that he permitted female to
serve drinks In the place in violation of the
liquor law. Mrs. Rudd, who is said to have
share in the business, is the female
charged, but her name does not appear in
the license as one of the owners. MIR. Pugh
at first refused to issue the warrant in the
case. The law. he thought, was intended to
prevent what is known in England as the
barmaid system. girls serving drinks, and
he doubted whether this was even q tech
nical violation of the law such as the court
should rebuke.
But there was influence brought to bear
on the case, and yesterday the warrant
was issued. Complaint had been made by
counsel for an adjoining saloon keeper. the
case was given hearing before the Com
missioners, SO 1t was stated, yesterday
afternoon, and the decision favored Mrs
Rudd. Now, however, the case will be
heard in court, and Lawyer Shillington Will
look after the interests of Bradley and Mrs
Rudd.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-08-24
Burning Of the Capitol,

To the Editor Of The Evening Star:
Just eighty years today the invasion
Of Washington by the British took place.
The American forces, consisting of raw
militia, who had made a stand at PENIS
farm. near Bladensburg, were driven from
their breastworks on the 23d of August.
leaving Con- modore Barney, with his small
band Of sailors, as the only prisoners for
the British In their triumphal march.
Entering Washington without further re-
sistance. they found the city deserted, with
the exception of some old men, women and
children, and at once commenced to sack
the city and enter upon a reckless course
Of destruction. The British soldiers were
under the command Of Gen. Ross, while
Admiral Cockburn had charge Of the naval
portion Of the army, which he had brought
from Benedict, on the Parliament river
where they had landed.
On the morning of the oath of August
1914. the depredations Of the invaders com
menced. Their first move was to burn the
Capitol. A squad Of soldiers went to the
store Of Mr.. Young. the father of the late
DR.. Noble Young. knocked in the heads OF
several barrels Of tar, setting 1t on fire
with their flint and steel, and applied the
torch to the structure. The store Of Noble
Young was then on the site where the Con-
gressional Hotel now stands. w. J. d.
August q. 1894.