davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Portland daily press., 1896-11-28
while the observatory is seldom thought

while the observatory is seldom thought
of.
The observatory is the manufacturer,
or creator, of time for the whole civilized
word. Pretty neary every one has heard
OF Greenwich time. although few may
have taken the painsTto find out what it
means. But Greenwich time, as it is de-
sermined in this observatory, dominates
the earth. The flnancier of Wall street
Is It's slave: the school boy OF San Fran
cisco must hasten at it's bidding; the
army officer Of Berlin is governed by 1t;
the bells OF the great ocean liner in the
middle of the Atlantic ring at ita bid
ding; the factory whistles of the world
blow at its call; gevery single line of
human endeavor is under its domination.
That questionable MONARCH Charles
H., established the observatory in 1876
and while he did not know much about
astronomy, he had sense enough TO ap-
preoiate the value to commerce of cor
rect standard of time, SO he gave these
Instructions for Flamsteed, the first as
tfonomer Forthwith TO apply himself
WIN the utmost Care and diligence to
the reotifying of the tables of the
moulons OF the heavens, and the places
OF the liked stars, so as to find out the
SO much desired longitude of places. for
the perfecting of the art of n navigation. "
Ana 20 do all these things the generous
Cnarlas ii. gave Mr.. Flamsteed 100.
pounds sterling, or $500, and doubtless
considered the donation tremendous
one.
MI. rlamsteed seems to have managed
sho TASK with fair success. however, con-
slder1Dg that he started without scientific
instruments of.any kind and without an
observatory, assistants. charts, or any OF
me paraphernalia OF the modern astron
The Portland daily press., 1896-11-28

dent the pilot was standing up forward
talking to the lookout and shouting his
orders aft to the quarterm aster, who
was at the wheel.
For some min ntes there had come no
orders. Most of US were down in the
cabin at lunch. The Comm odore was
lying down on deck reading, and Cap
tain Evans was taking his watch below.
Then came CRY from the pilot to the
steersman to port his wheel.
"She won port, Sir, said the quarter
master.
whats thatp" shouted the Commo-
dore.
IT think she's aground, Sir" replied
the wheelman.
Then there was trouble. We were
stan ding dead still, and there was a
very peroeptible list of the ship. We
who had been below rushed on deck,
and there were questions and cries OF
danger from all of us who were not init
mately acquainted with the bottom OF
Tired Avon river.
The Portland daily press., 1896-11-28

be gathered from the Sits covered hy
shutters, which In two places intersect
them, and the domes that flank them at
their eastern and southwestern sxtremi-
ties.
Indeed, the whole place has domestic
rather than scientific look, and this air
of domasticity is not greatly-if at all
detracted from by the Business LOOK of
the time ball turret in the corner of the
inclosure to the left, adjoining the
Astronomer Royals residence, with its
rooms all on the ground floor.
While much time is given to the study
of the moon and the other planets. the
main business of the observatory ia to
seours5th correct time. TO detail all of
the labors regarding the latter would be
an endless task, and dry one to the
reader, so merely an outline will be
given. The mean time standard clock.
which gives the time of day to the world,
is connected by electric action with the
mean solar clock, and Is further kept
with the standard sideresl clock, whose
error Is determined by observations of
tine stars.
The sidoreal clock is considered Il Q
most wonderful instrument In the obsei-
vatory. This marvellous Instrument is
in an underground room called the mag
netic basement, where it stands like
sentinel with its back against the wall,
ticking its seconds as prescribed by the
O'clock" stars.
This reference to the o'clock stars''-
fixed stars, slightly over two hundred in
number, which are used for determining
sidereal time brings us to the transit
circle. the most important instrument In
the observatory, and one of tho most in
terestiug.
The Portland daily press., 1896-11-28

Under o.oudless skies, and with wind
that hardly carried into the topsails, we
left the harbor Of Baltimore late in an
afternoon. Down PAST Fort McHenry
and past Fort Carroll, Norma slid over
the water. She did not SAIL she simply
moved. Her sails were not swollen with
the winds, but though we could see
nothing of the moving spirit. it did it's
work and we went out under the sunset
to the bay of the Chesapeake.
Those of US who had been goeu chill
dren at school told the rest how in the
days when Benjamin Butler. the war
Flor who lived up in Massachusetts in
she war time. came one day up the Ches-
apeake and landed low down the bay.
Then how he marched his soldiers I'D
the hills and down again till he came
to Federal Hill, which is in the Balti-
more Harbor, and then by force of his
guns, told the people who would have
seeded to think again. They thought
again, and that was how Benjamin But-
Ter helped to save the Union down IN the
Maryland country.
Once outside the line of vision that
could control Baltimore, Norma went On
down the Bay. All night she sailed in
the gentlest of winds, and those who
were on board and who had never seen
anything of the storms, thought that
yachting y as very delightful and that
the whole season was to be made up of
moonlight nights and summer weather.
There was no rolling of the yacht. She
lay on an even keel and all through
the night there was no motion of the sea
to be felt down IN the cabin and in the
statsrooms where We were sleeping We
could hear no noise ofswaves dashing, we
could hear nothing but the cries of the
sailors as they answered the orders of the
Commodore. The Commodore stayed on
deck all light, for the channel of the
lower bay is treacherous, aud he knew
the way as one knows tho m amer of ap-
proaoh to one's own doorway. So we
came to the mouth of the Choptank river
on one of the most perfect mornings that
ever lay out of doors.
The mem bers Of the Chesapeake Vac hit
CLUB had ssnt a pilot down the river to
meet us, and at the Sharp's Island light
house he came on board. He had come
down from Oxford in one of the oyster
boats during the night, and as we came
In sight his little sloop shot out from
among the hundreds of others, and he
hailed the Captain to tell what he was
there for. Under his direction Norma
started up the river. Through the morn
ing all was we'll and we sat on the deck
and one of thu men played on Guitar
and sang sentimental songs to the pleas
ing of his lutte and to the CONSERVATION
of those who went by in other ships to
the harbors. This was all very beautiful
till we came to Oxford.
just aboye Oxford, where the river
narrows somewhat, and where there is 8
place called Double Mills, probably be-
case there is only one mill there, the pi-
lot missed his calculation by about four
feet. Now four feet is not a great dis
lance, but when the government at
Washington, viii CHI is all wise and all
good and all powerful and all everything
The Portland daily press., 1896-11-28

The people who in their early youth
studied their geography books with due
diligence may know the place from
which this letter is written. l had not
known about 1t, nor do believe that
many of the readers of new spapers know
where the Choptank River is. Yet the
Ohoptank is very great and very ter
rible river. 1t has bars running out in
it-not the bars that the people living
down In Kentucky recognize-but bars
that have sand on them and oysters.
Running down into the Choptank sand
from there into the Chesapeake and on
to the sea, is the Tired Avon (Third
Haven, the old settlers call it, and on
an oyster bar in the middle of this river
Norma lies, hard aground, with her white
bow sticking up into the air and her
stern settled deep In the mud of the
places where between sunrise and sunset
the mariners of the Eastern Shore, that
blessed spot where all Is well, cruise
about In very limited sea room and
get the most delicious oysters that 1t was
ever the fortune of man to taste. shall
speak moro feslingly upon this point at
another time. Mr. Kipling would say
that it would be another story but l
dislike plagiarism, SO will simply tell
the story of the snip Norma and how she
fell afoul of looked bar in Tired Avon
III November day. which was no
November day, but only day Of the
In dian summer time on the Eastern
Shore where it is all peace and rest.
Some day-when shall lind Her-I
shall bring her down into this Eastern
Shore. and there, out of the sight of the
people of the earth will we live, and
during all the days which will come to
us-please God-we will see the sunrise
and the sunset, and afterward we will
see the moon, when the tide is full, rise
over the river of the Third Haven. in the
days which came aforetime, in the days
when Calvert and Talbot and TiJghman
sailed through these waters and up over
| these bars, there was the same moon,
| but never, in all the days while the lords
of the country about the Chesapeake
held their lands from invaders, was
there such night as that which fell over
thu river after Norma struck the bar
| there was never such a night beoau Z
we had never seen 1t, and if we had
| never seen it there was never sNch a
night. That is good philosophy, thong b
it may not be fact, and, after all, here
| is little difference.
| HARRY P. TABER.
The Portland daily press., 1896-11-28

A dog who has eaten up a farm and
set of buildings has been found in
eastern Maine. This dog killed neigh
boris sheep. The neighbor offered to
sail it square if the dog was killed. The
dogs master refused to agree to this,
and lawsuit came next. To pay the
costs and damages assessed by the court
the owner Of the dog had to mortgage
his farm for 800. The mortgage had
bigger appetite than the dog, and soon
his farm was gone and the owner had
TO move away. The dog is now dead.
The Portland daily press., 1896-11-28
Determined For the World by the
Scientists at Greenwich.
THE OBSERVATORY AND SOME OF
ITS CONTENTS.
One of Many Points of Interest In the
Tight Little Isle-The photographic
EquatoriaI-Where Chronometers Are
Tested.

London, Nov. IT. Twenty-Five miles
from here, in the county of Kent, is the
parliamentary borough of Greenwich.
The census folk give it population OF
about 40, 900, but it has none of the
bustling activity of an American city of
the same size. Yet it has it's share of
tame, but not as great q portion as it
should have. considering that 1t enters
into the minute Faffairs of every man,
woman and child in the civilized world.
This Is a pretty broad statement, but it
is the truth, as will speedily be shown.
Ask aly resident of Greenwich to
point out the most prominent feature Of
the town, and it is ten to one that he
will indicate the historic Greenwich
Hospital. Ask him about the second
most important feature, and if he lie
particularly shrewd, he may say the
Royal Obser vatory. Locally, the hospi-
tai is thing of tremendous Importance,
The Portland daily press., 1896-11-28

Eastern Shore was quiet and peaceful
with great peace which has endured
until this cay. and will endure so long
as4there shall be an Eastern Shore. 1t
was made for peace in the begi n min g.
and what was meant to be, is, and will
be.
The Portland daily press., 1896-11-28

law of the Bay that the oysters shall be
sorted where they are caught, and that
the shells shall be thrown directly back
into the water 40 that they may make a
place for the new oysters to grow. The
dredgers tell me that dollar day is
good days wage, and that the bivalves
which are in such demand are growing
scarcer year by year. Here in the river
the very best of oysters may be bought
from the boatmen for 20 cents a bushsl.
And il is hard to believe that these are
the same things we pay 30 cents dozen
for up In the restaurants in New York.
In the evening we went up to Easton.
If in all the trip of Norma around the
world there shall ever be moro beauti-
full night there are possibilities hitherto
unheard of in the making of nights A
great moon rose. There was some wa
ter, but do not remember just how
1t looked.- I only remember that there
were no ripples upon it. and that the re-
Election of the trees which line the bank
was such as I never saw. This retiec-
ton was clearer in outline than the OBJ
jects themselves. The launch as it
steamed up the river made no noise
The people in the boat spoke no word.
There was only the silenoe-nor was there
need OF anything else.
We landed at Easton point, and walked
the mile up to the town Of Easton-nine
OF US In our yacht suits and white caps
The me In bers of the club had been to
meet US, but had missed our signal
SO we took on an other pilot In the shape
OF small boy, very dark as to his COM
plexion and very loud as to his voice.
He told all his friends that we were
minHtrels and that there was to be a
parable up town, SO By the time we
reached the club house there was a train
Of pickanninies behind us. This amused
the Kid, and he told them marvellous
stories OF the tricks he meant to perform
on the stage. He promised them all
free seats, and they went away satisfied.
Tbs Chesapeake Yacht Club nen
finally found US in drug stors-we were
waiting to be found-and took us 10 their
rooms. There were NJ any things there
which are found in other clubs, but
chiefly there were lot of men who are
represe native of the spirit of Che South
and OF Maryland. Hospital BILE, generous,
kindly-just plain good fellows, and
they did for us all that couln be done for
lot of hungry sailors who were wrecked
on an oyster bar down In a river at their
very doors.
Then they told us what the bar was.
1t appears that in the river two bars
make out from ehch shore and these, in
terlocking, make adange7ous passage for
the most experienced pilot. An error of
few feet brings disaster, and many and
many boat has met an untimely ind
on this very place. In the war of 1912,
Admiral Sir James Cockburn sot out to
devastate the Eastern Shore, He got up
Tired Avon TO the very place where we
are now lying. and his boats fell upon
the reefs. So he went away, and the
The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-08-17

spirits In German manufactures was i'm
possible, were greatly mistaken.
Whatever seIni-ofncial statements may
be made upon the subject, it Will be a very
difficult matter 10 persuade the public
that the retirement OF Gen Bronart Won
Schelleadorf from the ministry Of war is
not connected with the differences which
have arisen between him and Gen. Won
Hahnke, the chief of the emperor milf
tary cabinet over the proposed changes
in the military code OF procedure. which
have already been explained In these dis
patches. II the statement made yesterday
that Gen. Schellend0rf' s signation IS not
due to the army-reform question be ac-
cepted as true. u viii not make a particle
Of difference so Tar as the better informed
circles are concerned The Won Hahnke
military cabinet embodied the entire oppo-
siton to the war ministry. and stHl con-
trolls the lCaiser's action, consequently
Won Hahnke's military views are likely
to prevail.
from the ministry Strengthens the expec-
tations that Prince HohenlOhe's with
drawal from the chancellorship will not be
long delayed after the czar has concluded
his visit to Germany. as Prince Hohenlohe
equally with Gen. Schellendorn, is pledged
to the Reichstag in both Of the reforms Of
the military courts. II may be, however,
that the reforms will be temporarily
shelved should an eastern crisis develop
Prince Hohenlohe retaining HIS post un-
til the interna tional situation clears
up. 1t was fhe eastern complications
that caused Prince Hohenlohe to go to
Wilhelmshohe to see the kaiser, and upon
his return here he called the members
of the cabinet to Berlin. Herr Thielen
minister Of public works was the only
member of the ministry at Berlin, the
others being absent on their vacations
but DR.. Won Boetticher, vice president
of the council of ministers. and Frelherr
Marchall Won Blebeo, minister OF foreign
affairs, were Immediately summoned to
take part I'm a conference OF minister's
These members OF the cabinet will re-
main in Berlin for the present, while
Prince Hohenlohe, pending the arrival OF
the czar, has gone to Werk, Russia, with
his wife and daughter on private bust
ness.
The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-08-17
NEW FIVE DOLLAR CERTIFICATES
A Description of the New Notes to
ne Issued.

Washington, Aug 12.-The new ive-dol-
lar silver certificate viii probably pre-
cede the two-dollar certificates In general
circulation. A small quantity OF the fives
have been received at the treasury and
some of them will be paid out within
few days. A good supply of the two-dol-
lar certificates are ready for issue. but the
old ones will be worked of first. The new
hves are in some respects more striking
than either the ones or the twos, but
they lack something OF the unity and ar
tisHc simplicity Of the twos.
Tho central feature Of the face OF the
note, and indeed the feature which covers
nearly the entire note, is a representation
Of the genius Of modern civilization, with
her feet planted upon the United states
upon the man OF the globe, and holding
aloft an electric light drawing its power
his three-horse chariot, advancing on the
right OF the central figure and holding in
one hand the forked lightning. The god
dess OF peace, with the dove lowering
about her head, is at the left OF the cen
tral figure, or at the right Of the note as
Il meets the eye. Fame, also with her
trumpet, sits on the right Of the picture,
between Jupiter and the central tiugure.
The American eagle crouches on the left
with his wings In repose.
The whole effect Is striking and the fig
uIeS arc Wen uTdNn anu 4dIkey huue.
The lettering, declaring that the certih-
cate represents five silver dollars, is
crowded into the edges Of the note like a
mere fringe around the drawing. The
figure five appears conspicuously, how
ever on both halves of the note. meeting
tho criticism against the two dollar note
that when cut lengthwlse the separate
halves did not each contain a large fig
ure. The back of the new certificate bears
portraits OF Grant and Sheridan, with
some elaborate scroll and lathe work in
the central. A winged head OF artistic
drawing is at the top of the note. The
distribution Of the dark and light portions
of the back of the note Is different from
that OF any other American money and
makes the new not easy to distinguish
among other denominations
The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-08-17
BRYAN's QUIET SUNDAY.
A Distinguished Dinner Party and a
Visit TO Historic Places.

Tarrytown, n. Y, Aug 1.-THE bright
er side of a candidates life was expe-
rienced by Hon. William J. Bryan to-
day. He had perhaps the pleasantest
Sunday since his nomination In COM
pany with Gen. Samuel Thomas, the New
York capitalist, and a prominent repub-
lican, Mr.. and Mrs. Bryan attended di-
vine services this morning at the First
Presbyterian church in Irvington.
o. J. Smith took the nominee driving
in the afternoon. Mrs. Smith and Mr..
Sewal were in the party. They visited
scenes Of historic and legendary interest
in Tarrytown and vicinity. At Sleepy
Hollow cemetery they visited the grave of
Washington Irving.
In addition to Mr.. and Mrs. Bryan and
Mr.. Sewall, Mr.. John Brisban Walker
had as guests at dinner this evening Mr..
Albert Shaw, editor of the Review of Re
views, whose summer residence is at
Irvington, and Mr.. w. r. Hearst.
Several friends and neighbors of Mr..
Walker called on Mr.. BIS n and Mr.. Sew
all to-day.
Part of the journey to Upper Red Hook
the place where Mr.. Bryan will write his
letter Of acceptance, will be made by boat
up the Hudson. IL II can be so arranged
ington for Mr.. Bryan and his party and
the trip, as far as Poughkeepsie, will be
made by that means. Otherwise, the par
ty will board II at Yonkers. The boat is
due at Irvington about $3.50 a. m.
Mr.. Bryan confirmed to-day the dis
patch from st. Louis and Baltimore that
he had promised to speak al these places
but said the dates had not been fixed
Mr.. Bryan stated that he is not yet ready
10 give out his itinerary for the campaign
The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-08-17
A STRANGER ON THE COAST.
BHUNsWICK'S HARBOR PATROLED
by A MAN-OF-WAR.

Great Excitement on st. sImon's
IsIand-Fears Entertained for the
safety of the Tug DnuntIess-The
Stranger L. Believed to BE the
Spanish Cruiser Alfonso.
Brunswick Ga. Aug. 16.-Either a Span
ish gunboat or American man-of-war Is
patrolling tho coast of the Brunswick
customs district
Smoke from a large steamer was seen
about noon by visitors TO ST. Simons
Island. and later the shape Of a large
vessel, generally supposed to be the Span
ish cruiser Alfonso. was discerned. Since
that hour throngs Of anxious and excited
people have walked St. Simon's beach.
climbed into the hotel cupola, tree tops
and every conceivable place available TO
get a better view Of the vessel, which,
IN the meantime. has steadily patrolled
just outside the sea buoy at the entrance
to Brunswick harbor. up to the north OF
st. Simons Island and back to Doboy
sound.
In view OF the fact that the present
whereabouts Of the flibustering steamer
is unknown, and she is supposed ia be in
hiding near these waters, and the further
fact that 1t is not positively known wheth-
or the Brunswick tug Dauntless has made
her escape to sea with the expedition
which left the satilla river bridge Thurs
day morning last, tho interest created by
the appearance OF this warship is thrill
ing, and much excitement Is felt locally.
The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-08-17
THE EXPRESS MEMS STRIKE.
THE COMPANY SAYS 1T IS OVER,
THE MEN SAY NO.

New Men Have Been Brought I'm to
Take the Place OF the strikers
and the Company Says That Ev-
dIed-The strikers VIII Go 20
Other cities 60 Persuade the En-
pIOyes There Not 10 Help the Jer-
sey once.
New York. Aug. 1.-THE strike OF the
employees OF the Adams Express Company
continues in this city and Jersey City,
but everything was quiet about the yards
and Offices OF the concern to-day.
The strikers held no meetings at their
headquarters in this city, and none Of
them gathered there in the course Of the
day.
At the offices of the company Supt
Miller was early on hand and gave out
a statement IN which he said that the
company had engaged 1870 bright and in
teIigent young men to take the places OF
the strikers. Mr. Miller said that the
strike was practically over as far as the
company was concerned. He added that
the company will be able TO handle 30
per cent. Of Its business tomorrow.
The company's pier al Jersey city was
covered with freight to-day. The agent
Mr.. Temple, said that while work had
been slower than usual. they had sue
ceeded in getting Il finished. All the
cars had been unloaded, two were sent
out yes terday for the west and two were
then being filled with merchandise for
New England. number of experienced
men came from Philadelphia and worked
all Saturday night.
I'VE have no trouble in getting men,"
said Mr.. Femple. "Of course they are
new, and have TO be taught, but in a
short time will be as competent as the
old men. We are now doing well, and
have all our work up"
One of the strikers said to-day that, de-
spite the reports Of Mr. Temple, the COM
pany was in bad shape, and by morning
they would have five thousand packers
on the Jersey City pier, and will be unable
to move them. he declared that the COM
pany had sent dnt agents to try to induce
the strikers TO return to work.
II was decided I'm Jersey City to-day, to
send a committee TO Philadelphia, Balti-
more and Washington, to pursuade the
employees Of the company not TO go TO Jer-
sey City to take the places OF the strlk-
ers.