davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1896-08-22
inquiringlY at Paine.

lnqulrlngiy at Paine.
.., 81 did. / knew old John Navy himself"
"Where?" Perkins asked, eagerly-"beg-
ging your pardon! didn't mem"
''Oh, it is no secret. He was a convict
In the Bolton prison. I used to visit him
therein the course of some charitable
work which did"
With some reluctance Paine added this
tall OF no possible interest to a stranger.
Yet his words made q marked impression
upon Perkins.
ed respectfully.
II liked the man; couldn't help liking him. :"
NO wonder! John Navy-accordng to
your story-was square, open-hearted
man. 1t didn't harm you any to befriend
hlm You had rare chance, young man!
1 suppose he talked pretty freely?"
He told me a great deal about his life"
Paine admitted, trifie mystified by these
questions. Il wrote it all down." he added
at length.
Again an eager light flashed in the vfsi-
Desks full of it, suppose" he observed
casually.
MY head is full of it," Paine reioined.
Yes, of course / have my notes."
Silence ensued for a few MON ants.
was amused at some parts of that
story" Perkins went Oh, still dallying with
his GRAND. THE old man said some queer
tbings.''
He used other expressions quite as Pc
cuiiar as those in my story"
And you remember them alp asked
Perkins. coming sharply to business.
What's your price for the rest of it?''
Paine was taken unaware. 80 you are
publisher he exclaimed.
"A publisher?-Yes, of course; you've hit
IT." Perkins laughed lightly.
III You want my work make me IN Of
Evening star., 1896-08-22

IN the town during my stay was a couple
of men discussing the question of saddles
1t Is rather tough on visitors, though. to
put up signs warning them to keep their
wheels off the sidewalks, without putting
up signs to indicate where the walks are.
One would need the eyes of an Argus to dis
tirguish between street and walk a good
part of the way. even the natives them
selves admit.
i DID not find any sweeping changes In the
old town itself. however. No electric rail-
roads have been built, nor have any sky
scrapers been erected. 1t is the same old
place-only a little older. Bladensburg Is
mostly built up along two streets. Its chief
thoroughfare-that Is to say. at least. the
Gne where all the saloons are-is known
somewhat indifferently as Main. Front or
Water street The inhabitants, 1 under
stand. do not favor its being called Water
street, because that leads to the inference
that 1T Ia frequently overf1owed, which, as
one of them stated Is rot the case, or. at
ary rate. he added, qualifyingly. mot more
than once a year." This street, whatever
its name may be- contains some of the old
est and most interesting buildings in the
town. The more modern tumble-down
sLanties of the colored people are inter
spersed with the older dwellings, whose
wide brick chimneys. cracked and worn
Evening star., 1896-08-22

teanns indicated that he was conscious
OF bringing his welcome in MS pocket:
sporting man. thought Paine. What
does he want Of me?'
Are you Mr.. kepler Paine?" asked the
newcomer, with much suavity
Il am"
hen You wrote John Navy's Confess
SION, which has just appeared in the Max
,. II did," Paine answered, with a smile.
:. La lake chair, Mr.. -. Have you read
i. rye we. read it," said the man. empha teal
~. Best thing ever read. L got cnto it
from that name Excuse mel forgot to
;nentlon my own. It's Perkins Of Chi.ayo.
l should have been sorry to miss that story
OF yours Now, when are you going to give
US the rest Of it?" ~ e''e
Ihe rest of it?" Paine repeated. in he
W1lderment. THE story is complete in this
number of the Maxima." Then he realized
mat In the public was thirsting for his work.
80 can Write more tales of the same sort
II that Is what you mean"
about this same John Navy?"
Certainly"
mats just what I mean, That story
reads like the TRUTH said Perkins, weigh
irs his words carefully. You must have
known somebody just like him. He locked
Evening star., 1896-08-22

the Eastern branch. at the head of naviga-
ton. as 1t were. Then there is the old mill.
situated on the Bunker Hill road, just a
few rods from the bridge, and hard by the
dueling ground. 1t is old and dingy without
and its rusty machinery inside Is covered
with dust and cobwebs. One Of the wheels
has already rotted away. and the days OF
the other are numbered. "Your mills
haven't been running for some time re-
marked to one of the townspeople. NO
he said, mot hing but the ginmills-they re
always runnin'."
Kindly Warning.
When you go to Bladensburg, take your
lunch; didn't Up the street is bakery
and confectionery." which looks very in
viting from without, because the curtain
is usually drawn. but appears somewhat
empty when you get inside. What have
You got for a lunch?' I inquired of the
girl in charge, eyefng the counter suspi-
ciously. "Oh, doughnuts, cookies and
chewing gum" she answered Cheerily, and
unless you are prepared to make a meal off
assorted 1avors of chewing gum 1t is well
to he provided in advance.
Bladensburg is not without it's churches
either. The principal trouble seems to be.
as one old lady put it. that we've got
churches, but no congregations" On ask
ing her what denominations were repre-
sented in the town she replied, "Oh, mostly
Methodists. Episccpalians and Protestants."
Down the Bladensburg pike, about mile
and half below the village. is the ground
where the battle of Bladensburg was
fought. followed by the sack Of Washing
ton in 1914. Near at hand is the other OF
the famous duetng grounds.
The Spa spring, just to the right of the
bridge over the northwest branch on the
way to Hyattsville, is the rendezvous for
the people of Biadensburg warm sum
mer evenings. It's waters are at least
abundant and refreshingly cold, whether Or
not they have the great medicinal proper
ties for which the folks of the surrounding
region give them credit. Hardly anything
else is used for drinking water in Bladcns-
burg, ard the spring at all events contains
large quantities of iron and sulphur.
just about twilight of pleasant evening
the bellies and beaus of the village may he
seen gathering at the spring. Awkward
young colored blades lounge about while
colored damsels, healthy and picturesque,
If not absolutely pretty, may be seen de-
parting swinging their de,nijohns or bal
ancing their pals on their heads The
Spa spring is famous trysttng place Here
come the country swsiins to meet their lady
loves, and here 1 bade good night to the
village without disturbing them A. II. w.
Evening star., 1896-08-22
THE JOHN NAv,MANUSCR|PTS
BY CHARLES VI. HARDWOOD.
Copyright. 1895. byts. s. Mcclure Co.,

Nopyrieht' 1895, by 8 s. Mcclure Coz
kepler Paine had swgng his chair around
facing his guests, but his hand still rest
ed affectionately on asdopy of the Maxima,
which lay open upon rHs desk. There was
an air OF entire Satisfaction on Paine's
race. The Maxima waa just out that day.
ana 1t contained asstory which he had
written a year tef6fe--the first Of his
stories which that Rakazine had deigned
to accept. - g
JACK Hail was lying upon the lounge
with a pipe in his mouth, and Frarie lad
Just entered the room. A thin-faced,
oark-complexioaed man was Frar.e al
ways cool, self-possessed and critical.
with quiet but friendly greeting he sat
down and helped himself to a cigarette
from Palnes box. Frarie wrote the book
reviews for the Polygon. 49,
looked over your story in the ad-
vance sheets, he remarked, blowing out
q cioud OF smoke. Il gave you three lines.
mere are good points about that sto-y.
Falhe your burglar is undeniably strong"
shouid say so!' exclaimed Jack Hall.
Il call John Navys Confession the best
thing out this yearr'
Hall was an artist-not a literary man
1es' tnere are some things in it which
are reaiiy bright" Frarie admitted. "They
nave character. Ten to one you picked
tnem @ up somewhere, Paine"
mere Is a story about that, Frarie.
Ioi.il navy was an actual burglar whom
l used to Know when lived in Bolton"
thousht AS much," said Frarie, with
satisfaction.
nan sprang up and went to the table
to shake out his pipe and refill it.
Rep I've heard just enough about that
oio burglar to make ME curious" he said,
abruptly. How did you get acquainted
win your interesting friend?"
Iell us about it If you don't mind" add
ed Frarie.
You may have heard of the Penniwell
BANK robbery which occurred about seven
years ago." Paine began. "The Navy gang
made that break. Its leader, old John
navy, was the most audacious burglar of
MS day His skill and boldness had drawn
around him a picked lot of clever crfm-
H'als, stanch men, all of them and adepts
at their calling.
we, In Maine, had heard little about
thelr operations until they visited the
town OF Penniwel. a dozen miles from
bolton' ana broke into the vaults of its
bank. They had secured most of the
money when an alarm was raised and
they were compelled to fly. All of them
escaped except Navy. Laden, as he was.
with the bulk Of the spoils, he nearly elud-
ed his pursuers by running to cover in the
raVlnes or Colquftt mountain. There. be-
fore ne was brought to bay, he safely con-
ceaied MS plunder: and, to this day, it has
never been found"
F'rafie '"'"
Certainly. The Penriwell money fs as
seductive TO the people of that vicinity as
capt Kidd gold, and even now they will
not ailo" stranger to get upon the noun
Evening star., 1896-08-22
The Beech.
From the Buffalo Express.

From the Buffalo Express.
There are some Of our best native trees
which seem to be systematically ignored
in park and lawn planting. One il the
beech, than which there is no better or
more beautiful lawn tree. The branches
are long and graceful; the leaves have a
peculiarly bright color; the buds are long.
pointed and polished. and the bark of the
trunk and larger limbs lights up the shade
Of the thick foliage in dark days, and
shines in the winter with a pinkish light
under clear skies. 1t requires a good deal
Of room to develop its greatest beauty.
but thrives on most soil, and Is not sun
tect to attacks of insects. We plant its
foreign relative, the copper beech, solely
for the color Of its leaves and our native.
handsomer tree is utterly neglected. Fof
a small lawn tree there is no better than
the near relative Of our common beech
1t is generally called "blue beech, or ''iron
wood" and makes a nice-shaped tree ten
or fifteen feet high. It is far better than
the mountain ash or horse chestnut both
foreign trees. and very liable to attacks Of
insects. As far as ordinary observation
blue beech. The leaves are smaller and
darker in color than those of the common
beech. but in shape and veining are sim
liar
Evening star., 1896-08-22

days. 1t consists of two parts-the hotel
proper, which is closed, and the bar room
adjoining the south side. which is not
closed A large sign extends out into the
father OF his country, with the lettering
below 1t, George Washington House. -
Tradition has it that Washington stopped
there one night on his way over to Balti-
more to meet Lafayette. One would nat
urally expect that such house would be
kept on the Am erican plan, but, strange to
say, the proprietor, unmindful of the die
tates CT patriotism, hung out a sign an
nouneing that 1t was kept on the Euro
pean plan Even such novel plan seems
10 nave failed to draw guests, however for
that sign has now disappeared, and a
board hangs upon the door, mournfully
stating that the building is for rent"
The Palo Alto House bears two large
signs OIL either side. On the side met with
coming into town its patrons see the words
First chance" and on the other sign is
the warning, Last chance" This how
ever, is not strictly accurate for as long
as man has money in his pockets he need
not thirst in this vicinity There are 9TH
ers. The Palo Alto has the date upon IT.
1874. but the present building is not that
old.
"Meals at All Hours"
Just below the Palo Alto is an old white
structure. upon whose south side is painted
In large black letters, prince George
House, meals at all hours" Alas, 1t is a
gay deceiver. and the weary traveller who
there seeks the comfort of meals at all
hours will turn away sadder and hungrier.
The Pan-Electric House is the most up-to-
GATE OF them all. 1t now rejoices in a new
coat OF paint. and stands in the heart of
tne place, the very business center in fact
opposite the blacksmith shop, and within
stones throw from the post office. They
say, too, that 1t was struck by a shell from
the american lines at the battle of Bla-
densburg.
Older than any of the others, however
was the Spa Hotel, condemned and taken
oown some years ago by the town officials
a1ter 1t had already mostly fallen down
ana saved them the trouble. 1t was at the
ime the Oldest building in the village.
truly, the tavern with its swinging
sign Is much in evidence in this quaint
Ola hamlet. AS stood opposite the George
Washington House an elderly man
emerged from door suspiciously near the
word Bar" and came careening across in
my direction. Hotel, did you say?' he
asked huskily, in response to my question.
ihat amt no hotel. Why, sink me. il |
mad all my money that's gone into that
place I'd be rich man." And he looked 1t.
Bladensburg is one Of those queer old
towns in which any one who has a leaning
Evening star., 1896-08-22
A Dressy Cow.
From the Philadelphia Bulletin.

tIoH fHllaCeipnia Bulletin.
There is a man in Germantown who has
a great affection for animals. He believes
in making life just as easy for them as
possible.
This gentleman has a cow which gives
a generous quantity of rich milk and has
done the same for several years. Every
day she is turned out on the lawn OF his
place to feed on the succulent grass there.
The recent hot weather has brought a
great many flies with it, and these n.es.
as is the habit with such pests took par
ticClar delight in settling on the cow in
clouds.
The owner Of the COW, a few days ago.
observed the trouble in which il was. and
decided something must be done TO re-
lieve the animal of the pests. All at once
bright Idea came TO him, and he went
into consultation with his wife. The re-
suit was strange animal appeared on the
lawn the following morning.
The legs were as big those of an ele-
phant, and were striped red and white IN
color. The rest of its body was a dark
hrCwn!sh red. Its head bore horns and
ii chewed the cud. Those were The only
points of resemblance it bore 10 a cow
The flies missed their one-time victim
and at first they didn't know what to DO
Then they made common descent on the
legs of this strange new beast. They bit
Tor all they were worth, but the object Of
their attack didn't seem to mind this 1t
went on complaceatly browsing upon the
grass. 1t didn't even take the trouble to
wh!sk its tail about.
And the new animal? Well, II has been
laughing to Itself so constantly since then
that 1t is growing fat at the rate of ten
pounds day. for it is a COW. In fact the
very COW which the flies enjoyed feasting
rron so much a short time ago. Her
transformation is all the result of two
pairs Of pajamas or pantaloons, which its
owrer's wife made out of Calico and which
are put on her fore and hind legs each day.
and fastened in place by bands passed over
her back
Evening star., 1896-08-22
Tsetse Fly Disease.
From the New York World.


Surgeon General David Bruce of the En-.
ish army has recently made a renort ~,
the tsetse fly disease, called "nangna., h,,
the natives of Zululand The disease .,
tacks horses, dogs. monkeys and CATTLE 7.
is always fatal, except to cattle and few of
.nem recover from the attack. The disease
is characterized by a fever, a rapid de-
struction Of the red blood corpuscIes ex-
treme emaciat!on. and a swelling of the
neck, abdomen and extremities.
Dr. Bruce spent some time in Africa and
MADE many experiments with the tsetse nv
he found that the disease did not neees.
sarfiy follow the bite of the fly, and never
a.o result from scch bites unless the fiv
nad previously bitten a diseased animal
he concluded that the fly serves merely as
q means whereby the virus from an in
rected animal could be communicated 10
one that was healthy.
Microscopical examinations Of the blood
OF diseased animals show the presence OF
minute animalculae, which, when injected
into the blood of a healthy animal caused
the disease. Having arrived at this pon,
In studying the disease, 1t is possible that
science Will soon discover a remedy thar
will prove eficacious.
Evening star., 1896-08-22

The Ross House.
with age, rise from the ground alongside
the walls, and whose broken hacked roofs
are green with moss or blackened and
warped by many rains.
A Plethora of HOstelrics.
Main street revels IN hotels" The word
must be taken IN a somewhat igurative
sense. however. 1t Is refreshing to hear the
townapeople still refer to them as public
houses" while practical everyday Wash
tngtonians would probably call them by the
hard name Of saloons. They were hotels
once. though, all of them, with an excellent
reputation for hospitality ard good cheer
and perhaps their proprietors are not to
be too severely scored. since Bladensburg
has lost its commercial glory, in concen-
trating their energies in the only depart
mert OF the hotel which still pays them
Chance visitors might think themselves well
provided for in hearing that the town
toasted of such hostelries the Pan-E!ec-
trfc the George Washington House, the
Palo Alto and the Prince George House
Some slight inquiries. however would re-
veal the fact that these establishments had
long since dispensed with such trifiing for
malities as providing their guests with
rooms or meals.
The George Washington House Is one OF
the most notable Of these hotels Of Other
Evening star., 1896-08-22

their porches growing a little more shaky
and their roofs adding a little more moss
each year, but still defying wind and
weather, and bidding fair to keep right on
there. standing and withstanding. for no
body knows how much longer.
Curious to see what changes might have
been made lately by time, or what sacrilege
might have been wrought there by the great
American juggernaut, progress. 1 rode out
one day last week to reconnoiter. What
was my surprise at crossing the bridge at
the south end of the village to espy a sign,
the very first thing. which read: "s5. 90 Fine
for Riding Your Bicycle on the Sidewalks"
Could 1t be that the ever-hurrying bicyclist
had invaded Bladensburg? Yes, so it proved.
In fact, the most animated scene espied
Evening star., 1896-08-22
Bullets Wear Out Rifles,
From the New York Sun.

There is one thing which users Of tho
new high velocity of 30-caliber have to
consider, and that is the effect of the cop
per or nickel jacket on the grooves OF the
rifle. A bullet that leaves the muzzle of a
rifle at a velocity of 1000 feet a second is
so wearing on the rifing, especially near
the muzzle, that the accuracy of even the
hardest-pored rifles is seriously impaired
inside of 1900 shots at the most. Tho
lead bullets, or those but slightly hardened
with mixture of tin, do not wear the bar
rels TO the same extent, and the barrels last
far longer.
Evening star., 1896-08-22

ton with the Navy gang has been CLEARLY,
established. and it appears that he discov-
cred the long-hdden booty by means of ;.
clpher message from his old chief. Part of
scure phrases of a story entitled .Iohn
Navy's Confession which was racenti,,
published in the MaX.raa.'
CHARLES w. HARwOOn
Evening star., 1896-08-22
Picturesque and Quaint, It Defes
Progress.
4 SFAUNCH RELIC OF THE PAST
Hotels in Plenty, but a Dearth Of
Good Cheer.
10y A L IN III A B I 7 A n T S

ONE FOUR MILES
northeast of Wash
ing on, along the
tangled banks of the
E a s I ern branch,
sleeps the old, historic
and picturesque viii
lage of Bladensburg.
There, between the
hills. it's old dilapi-
dated h o u 8 e 9 still
stand, as some of
them have already
been standing for
more than a century,
Decorah-posten., 1896-11-03
SIofcret al Sne.
5orIinielier paa 5erubanernt Jon
5tIet at SntiaIb.

omaha, geb., 30ts DIT. Den
Sn,form, Der / Snsoaes b.9pnbt,
9Iipp,bi,rasn,, bar rditt belle Tdttsr
/ BET p,itIise Hebrdftd % Wpomir9,
9Ioci 6ils Gsn.n % / COLORADO, o9
laeOe fg lille fer peo Mioodgstioer
ioaq, bu SneFaIost afIsites al Storm.
Orr fdIot Sne ! 5rtmont; | Gin
Gr,ct laa Sn,oriitt 10 3cmmsr opbt,
/ C1dIaua fsmtcn gommsr, / Sibnen
to, / 6oIbrebge Ter, / 9roten BON lem,
% femten / Gentleman. sra andre
St,ocr / Staten tommer MIeoosIsller
ON Rtgn imorgeg.
Strnburetog cr foriinteoe al Snes
fdnsr og itGrt Storm / bet neftligs
RsbraFd. sog, iom ufgit herfra
igaar til 9sroer og Gbe1erne, er ions
ne Iersott. sinner f%orfent iii fine Be
ft,mmeIfesFcbtr. Train fra Giten
forTrtes al 3~sgritorms og uIitter
9an,fpor poa 8runb al ben msgen
Babe. Wange SsIegrafitoIper Iis'
GER n,be mto fine 2ebninger. oe Off
itro,II,n AZ 0epeftsr gaur tr1gt.
Snten | andre Stnter.
6uron, g. O., 30ts Oft. Si0sn
1880 bar man life berItebs erfaret en-
faa poIbIom Sneitorm i OCTOBER ipm
ben, Der ioas sr gaoet oOer Spos0us
Saftcn Iigger Der 10 Eommsr
Sre. SeIbigois er bet life iprrt
tolot; men i,ulbe iaa he, pil bet ie
itpgt uo for 9pugst puu be forfjsuige
Ransss. Rans: Sinbringer er inbs
/ SsrnbansfGroieIen og 9sIss
Sefferion, Soma, Dob. Ott. Gn
5DIsnoe 9Ii53aro bar ibas bsfaret benz
ne Ggn al Statsn meo itubig sgenbe
9cIbiomhso. Saften er bet tsmmelio
'olot.
Sberlir. aan., 30te Oft. Sba9
Der Sns for fsrite Sang ibsft,
bet ferit bapOe regnst itGrft.
5probunoen bar berpeb fact rigelig
8Goe % sr blepen bel 9iennembIpbet,
Seitbpeoen er blspen edpnet.
Decorah-posten., 1896-11-03
23oc Marsaua.

hi sanife ristis, us bsnr.
Sttsuoebels Wauo fulbe netop lea ioo
Gag /. Sapoe jes fact ct belt @ons.
folf, bapbe bet paret en- anben Sag.
gil Gisnsialo bar ies fact Il
apinbiOlt. os berfOr ratter Susbulo.
ninas penssne aloris til".
~Ge piloe moi refte til, bois life bp
par en- uOuelis aontOriit ps en- Gum.
rian".
"uubfplb, paa 81 bnnme 0ano
tommer Der 13a bumme apinoer. Guo.
itelop, OF pi bar Statitifen".
"Sa Cub itelop, at Der enbnu finbss
gsHerl" raabte Sru Nssiel ruieuoe o.
trat fine Sfo af.
9ereftsr bsrte 5amil,en en- imelbcnb.
apb fra Samilien Ibsiels 8olis; Der
tlirreoe @lusfaar os bsrtes Sarne.
Hrig. Ss be funoe f%onltatere, at paa
lo4 lpttelise @steitaber fummer Der
$50 ulptteIiSe.
Men meoens Sru Nbsiel nQereOe
ilumrsr be 8~etiaroises Ssun, ousger
Sr. 06siel fine AZ gern os tanter
meb fig ielu:
"9et er altiaa ristis, at Der poa
III 8iobere 8laFies tommer 63b
9sffelbelte. @ublfelpp, at ri bar en-
StatiStit".
Decorah-posten., 1896-11-03
Ten ipGrc Storn,

rai.es / Sirsoags og Gnsbag ben Ste
os The DIT. bdoos / ariitianiafiorben
os paa Spbs Og 9ettpRen. Era
Mris msIbss ON 9slegraFs "a seIe=
fonbrub, fra SreOrititab og arasers
ON orloig oprsrt Gar, manae Stibe
saat ! Drift, Gag rtost at entelte Sus,
Smaataarner bI1it r,b at 5rsbritss
TAB atrts, S.I.gyaisbeIaggelfer oIp.
Sra Bergen t.l.erafer,s um ifnooe
llbfist.r til 9ampTibss % Stibss
ul9ttsr.
9amPI,ibst "Ganssr Rolf" ION
pnS.r ben Dayits Storm igaur opupsr
Stugsro, fra 9uDrs, Og fsr man
Otbfts Crost At, tog Srtansn Gfibet
% iatt. BET op paa gtsreeu, en- liben
ubs5ost 2 ipb for @sTtsrs paa Spo.
lRr. Gls omborb blep rebSet noo
ben WaaSs, at Ct Oar Munb "a en-
ioinosIig qasiugsr lob fg bribs ilant
! Gipbaaosn gjsnuem granbinoerne
% ina fr'tso. be en- Cine, bborefter n,
andre ,ntrsos iIano, De afbentebes
al, 3 ON Gftsrmibougen ulbtter
feb. sl. II. "9anssr Rolf Ionf
bar. Storit.n.n .r oosr ganbst.