davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The evening times., 1896-04-09

There is a Patch of woods on the place, and
il is in this copSc that the hermit lives.
\ few store boxes have been placed there,
iDclosng a space on three sides. over
This have been put branches and hay.
large canvas sign III front OF the shack an
nounces that it is Camp Ben Harri>on.''
Near to this sign is hung framed copy
IF the dcclara tion of independence. This
queer old fellow has erected Il fifty-fCOt
flagstaff. on which the American fla = floats.
To the east side OF the h"vel has been fast
"ned an upright tree. On the tnpnost
branches an American eagle with golden
wings looks down on the humble abode.
Hermit Cameron sleeps in the Clump OF
woods near the camp winter aud summer.
And here is another OF his peCu.iarilies.
He sets up Two barrels about five feet
apart. nu these he places an old door.
For belCiothes be has an old carpet and
coat ro!led up. He sleeps on this
shelf III winter and summer. getting
under the scanty shelter during rain storms.
III cold weather he builds a fire near his
bed aud when one side OF his body gets cod
le turns over, and so on through she few
hours which lie spends in slumber.
The Ben Harrison Cabin will be IA head
quarters for The collection of statistics re-
.atiug 10 the descendants of the signerS OF
the Declaration of Independence. on the
outer wall of the cabin. towards The rail-
road, there Will he painted on Il huge CANVAS
the names Of the signers in letters large
enough to bc read from the trains that pass.
Mr.. Cameron was born Of Scotch parents
n New York State. Atcighteen lac studied
law in the office OF Salmon T. Chase. He
took au active plrt In the underground rail-
road" transactions during slave times.
In Kansas early days re was active in
politics. and when the war broke nut he en-
listed in the Third Kansas. Company F.
He was elected captain. ana at tie close Of
the struggle received the commission Of
lieut. manufactured.
Since the war he has lived in and near
Lawrence. He has never married, for lie
says the Bible favorS a Celibate state for
high intellectual development. Mr.. Cam
eron is a we!l-cducatcd man. well informed
in literature and on current events His
memory is remarkable. When Ben Harrison
was running for President Hermit Cameron
camein and caInped under the Massachusetts
street bridge. in Lawrence, erecting a pole
in honor Of the Indiauaian.
He is prominent in reform work especially
that of fighting the liquor traffic. He Eas
no vices and never niolests anyone.
The evening times., 1896-04-09

The important subject of pure air in
school rooms is again attracting the atten-
tiOn Of sanitarians, aud in a great many
cities Investigations are in progress with
a view to determining how far this essen
tial is observed or neglected. They find in
a great many instances that the only means
of ventilation are the doors. windows and
transoms. and that these are insufficient
every expert in hygiene will testify. Be
sides, the drafts caused by ytbeindiscriminate
opening of these appliances give rise ("
bad colds and often more serious afflic
tions. 1t is clear that other and better
means to secure better ventilation must
be provided.
How far the public school buildings of
of Washington are deficient in this respect
we are in no position 10 state with any
degree of accuracy. 1t is probable, how.
ever, that none other than these ordinary
means for admitting pure and expeliing
vitiated air from school rooms is emp.oyed,
and the Health Officer would do a good
The evening times., 1896-04-09
LONG-DISTANCE GUNNERY.
Long Range Guns That Do Marvellous
Things In Projection.


The Iohgest distance that shot has been
fired Is Il few yards over fifteen miles,
which was the range OF Krupp's well known
monster 13U-ton steel gun. Iirin. shot
weighing $500 pounds The Hilton Arm
strong gun has an extreme range or four
teen miles, firing a shot weighing 1SOO
pounds. and requiring $50 pounds OF
powder. These guns. however, proved too
expensive, being unable TO stand firing
a hundred times. AMI their II anufacture has
practically been abandoned
The 22-ton Armstrong gun hurls solid
shot for IL distance of twelve miles, and the
discharge of the gun cannot be heardat the
place where the ball strikes From twelve
TO thirteen miles is the con puted range OF
the most powerful guns now made, aud TO
obtain that range du elevation or nearly
forty-five degrees is found To be necessary.
Quick firing gunsarcmore dependedupona
the present day than extreme length OF
range. and in this respect what is con
sidered the most powerful guns, perhaps,
is one of the axins, which can fire as
many as $50 shots u minute, aud yet is
SO light that a soldier can c.lrryi strapped
to his back. Financially regarded, the
immense sum OF S19J, COO was expended in
constructing the monster Krupp gun, aud
each projectile cost S4,750.
The evening times., 1896-04-09
Where the Remedy Lies.

or all the supremely ridiculous state
ments made concerning the free library bill
by those who insisted that the District
should bear the whole expense of supporting
the institut ion the palm must be a awarded to
that one in which il was declared that a
tremendous lobby interest was at work
in behalf of the measure. 1t serves TO show
to what desperate straits these gentlemen
were driven to find reasons for iustifying
their opposition. How a lobby would find
its reckoning in pushing a bill that does
not Involve either an immediate or a pros
pective appropriation is somewhat diff
cult to figure out. The assertion, there
that was advanced by the opposition.
Asa matter of fact the whole argumen,a
tion of this and kindred subjects in Con-
gress; the ever recurring Squabbie over
District appropriations, furnish "A powerful
reason for changing the relations bet ween
the District and the general government.
Our people are fully as capable of admin
istering their own municipal affairs as is
any other community whom the me mhcrs
of the House, individually or collectively,
represent. They have done so n the past.
and there is no good reason why they could
not do the same thing again. All Con-
gress need do in that connection is 10 ap-
The evening times., 1896-04-09

adjectives OF their accustomed discOurscs
crept into what should have been more
logical statements. At any rate, five sue
cessive Congresses refused TO grant their
request for commission in which they
they wished 10 be represented.
Then came n cotcrie of university think
ers to Congress and asked for the govern
ment report Just begun. They got It.
They were actuated not so much by a
fcrvid wish to save the individual man as
an intellectual desire to know the status
of the collective man in his relation 10
the habit which is the most prominent in
our rational life.
Perhaps some good will come from the
figures Obtained. But why should Con-
gress wait ten years until some college
professors and theoretical sociologiSts come
along and ask for mental supplies at
national expense. Are not the men and
women who go out among the common pcO-
pie and lead many to lives in harmony
with law and right living entitled to the
consideration of Senate and House com
mittees: There is evidently just about
ten years difference between the status OF
the thinker and re- former in the estimation
of the gentlemen at the Capitol.
The evening times., 1896-04-09
SOME MODERN BIG THINGS.

redwood plank exhibited at the Kan
sas City Exposition was sixteen feet long.
seven feet nine inches wide, and five inches
thick.
The English Royal Naval architect says
that perfect modern man-of-war should
weigh not less than $4,000 tons and cost
at least &c ,OcO 900, or $4,000 900.
One of the largest checks ever drawn in
this country was OF $1O,00O,0OO, by Presi-
dent Roberts, of the Pennsylvania rail-
road, in payment of 100000 shares of F..
W. X b. railroad stock.
The pavement in front Of the William II.
Vanderbilt residence in New York city cost.
over $4,000. The siugle stone lying di-
rectly 10 front is the largest known paving
stone, and cost, transportation and all.
So 900.
The largest bronze casting ever made in
America is the buffalo's head which
hangs at the eastern entrance OF the
Union Pacific bridge between Omaha aud
Council Bluffs.
The largest statue in the United States
is Bartholdi's Liberty Enligbtening the
World" which stands on Bedloe Island.
New York harbor. The statue alone.
without base or pedestal, weighs 440, 900
pounds.
The highest building in the world, monu
The evening times., 1896-04-09
Ventilation of School Rooms.

work if he were to make an inspection
with a view TO determining just what Is
needed. He will undoubtedly conclude, as
have the investigators in other cities,
that the primitive method OF opening one
window at the bottom and another at the
top will not vcntilatc a room as it ought TO
he ventilated.
Something more radical and more scien-
tific is required. Every schoolhouse ought
to be prov ided with a ventilating appa-
ratus ample to supply pure air at the top
and draw off the foul air at the bottom
OF each room. The expense would be COM
parativcly insignificant, and the health of
thousands of children and hundreds OF
teachers promoted by the innovation. One
Of the most common complaints made by
pupils and teachers-''tbat splitting head
ache and beaviness-would be greatly
lessencd. The defective ventilation of
school rooms is an evil that can be abated
in no otter way.
The evening times., 1896-04-09

maudlin sentiment was let loose anent the
village postmaster, who. judging from the
remarks of his paneGyrists. has not only
the letters and new wspapcrS of he community
III his keeping, but also their hearts and
affections. So far as ut least . per cent or
;hc more than hundred thousand fourth
class postamastcrs in the country are con
crrHed, especially those upon whom all this
love and esteem and vCneration are poured
out, the proposed change would have LETT
these entirely undisturbcd. II would have
frcc-dciIvcry offices, and have e,ven jGcIcG-
pie of those localities Il more frequent and
more expeditions mail service. an Improve
mcnt which in all probability worid hayc-
compensated them even for so grievous a
loss rs n local postmaster.
The legislation in question had been
urged by the Postmaster General as giving
him the means and opportunity TO improve
The postal service. The refusal of 50 rca-
Sonabie a request 10y the Senate of the
United States shows that even in that
body there Is great need of missionary
work in behalf OF civil service REFORM
When such action can he taken 10y forty
eight out OF fifty-fiyc Senators ii shows
that there is something radically wrong
somewhere.
The evening times., 1896-04-09
QUEER HERMI1's HOUSES
Wonderful Character Who Owns
Property in This City.
HUGH CAMERON'S HOBBIES
One He Exhibited In Congress-HisP Pc
Legal Holiday ON April of Each
Hear-He Is AN Admirer nf the
HurrisOns.

The most wonderful hermit in the world,
city, has been discovered in the woods near
Lawrence, Kan.
With The blue sky OF heaven for a roof,
an old door for a bed, a box for his
writing desk, the Stars and Stripes float
ing over him, and the ensign OF Liberty
spreading her golden wings over him. lives
a man VINO has the distinction OF having
had a petition Of his read in full before
the Senate of the United states-a dis
tinC,iOn to which few can lay claim.
This queer hermit sleeps out in the woods
near Lawrence Kan. With hair three
feet long and three n nd n half feet OF beard,
the old man is a weird spectacle. He is
seventy years OF age, but as hearty as
man OF thirty. Wealth is in his pos
session too, for he owEs large tracts OF
land in Kansas, besides several dwelling
houses here.
This queer hermit has two hobbies over
which he grows enthusiastic. He is an ar
dent admirer Of Tippecanoe Harrison, and
he shouts loudly for the present Benjamin
Harrison for President; but his greatest
ambition is that the United states Congress
viii grant his petition to make April .
legal holiday In commemoration OF the
ascension OF Jesus Christ.
WORKS EARLY AND LATE.
The name of this man is Hugh Cameron.
He is called the Kansas Hermit, Il name
which he himself has adopted. Notwith-
standing the fact that he saw hard service
IN the civil war, being wounded therein,
and being seventy years OF age. he works
on his place from early morning till late
into the night. day in AMI day out. Uncle
sam helps him out to the extent of $50 a
month TO see the old general working
industrioUsly at his place four miles north
west OF Lawrence, QUE might think lie was
approaching one OF the old patriarchs.
Fifteen yclrs ago hr threw off the tram
mels of IA shiou, dcclarin, that lie would De
perfectly independent, and lie has been
Since that time he has C'It neither his hair
nor his beard While working he braids
both hair and beard aud tucks them in
side his shirt. on his head he wears
close fitting cap. aud over this either
thick winter cap or "a straw hat.
For years Hermit Cameron has been pray
!ng for fuller Acknowledgement by the
people of the divinity OF Jesus Christ. As
The evening times., 1896-04-09
EXIT MARCH.
meteorological Versatility That
EyOkcs Admiration.


Honest effort, however humble, mis-
directed or fruitleSs. ought to be patted
on the head and get an honorable mention.
AS the month of March is about to he dis
charged it Is q favorable time to say that
the present bearer of the name is worthy
of the family. No halter or March l-IES
ever was as mad as this March has been.
He ranged with the versatility of genius
from snow to thunder and lightning. He
has been aCcoutrci like n rugged Russian
bear one day anu he has worn linen suit
and a rose in his butt onhole the next; and
the next he has been full of niackintoshes
aud has carried q lightning rod for Il stick.
His thermometer has ranged from summer
heat TO colder than a reform club Celebra-
ton. He has produced more wind than
couId be turned ont bya PopuliSt convention
grated on a goo-goo club. He is wonder
and credit to his race; but nobody is
inbiSpppsnhlp
The evening times., 1896-04-09

propratc, annually, an amount equal to
that collected from other taxpayers. and
the revenues thus obtained would be as
effectively applied by the people of the
District, through their local lcgisIatu ure,
as If Congress had expended time and
breath in the undertaking; probably even
more so.
The abolition of triocracy and ring rule
and the substitution for these Of popular
government would bc the greatest boon
vcuchsafed the people of the District in
years. They would improve their streets,
without trying to discount time by a half
century just to help a ring of real
estate spectators. They would perfect
their sewerage system without making
this important work contingent upon any
other. They would do each and everything
to advance the best interests OF Wash
ingtun without bothering their heads about
this or that private interest. Under the
management OF its own people Washington
would advance ten steps where under tri-
Ocratic rule. il has taken one. Best nf all.
the restoration of suffrage would place them
on the same footing with the rest OF the
American people i'll respect 10 the funda-
mental maxim that there shall be no taxa
tion without representation
The evening times., 1896-04-09

ments and towers not considerd, is the
Cologne Cathedral. The height of this
building from the pavement TO the copper
tip on the spirc is GIL feet.
The great hammer at the Woolwich Gun
Works, Woolwich, England, weighs 40
tons. and its drop is Il sheer fall of Al feet
inches.
The 5.OOO-horse-p power pumping enginein
the mines at Frcidensville, Pa, raises I, 500
gallons of water at each revolution OF its
gigantic flywheel.
The evening times., 1896-04-09
HORSES LIKE PERFUMES.

Trainers Use Delicate Scents In Sub
DUNG Their Chargers.
There are some perfumes that are very
grateful to horses, however, little credit
horse may commonly receive for possess
ing dclicacy of scent.
Horse trainers are aware Of the fact, and
make use of their knowledge in training
stubborn and apparently futractable ami
mails. Many trainers have favorite per-
fumes. the composition they keep a secret,
and 1t is the possession of this means OF
appealing to the horses aesthetic sense
that enables SO many of them to accom-
plish such wonderful results. s--s--
The evening times., 1896-04-09
Ever
Published
In
This City.

aud when the forty thousand daily mark
shall bc reached the round figures thereof
will Indicate Il mark unknown in District
Journalism.
THIS statement is surprising? Very well.
1t is nC:Ic the less true anu ii certainly
can be proved by figures which The Times
is always ready to produce. Its circula-
ton books are always open and every pos
sihle inquiry is couricd.
Watch the growth of the paper of the
The evening times., 1896-04-09

1lENRY L. HOPKINS young divinity
~ student ut Yale is one of the guests
at the A rlinctun. There Is gentle
man in New Haven said he. who has
made a present To the Yale Divinity School
that will he as valuable to 1t as several
courses in theological lecture The man 5
name is William f. Downes and bis gift is a
prize for excellence in reading the Bible and
hymns in the course of public worship.
There is hardly one in forty ministers that
does this correctly. and it is all in the di-
rection of a general mnvementin Yale to Sc
cure better work in elocutiun and public
speech.'
The evening times., 1896-04-09
SpoilSmen Scored.

II the rejection of the amrndmcntto con
solidate certain postoriiccs had occurred
in the House it would have given color to
the assumption that that branch of Congress
Is far from being a supporter OF the civil
service reform policy. but, "n the contrary.
is still firrn adhcrent of the doctrine that
t. the victors belong the sroils. One would
havccNpectcd some thing better froma Il body
whose members are not supposed 10 be sub
iect to those vicis>itu in the ur:Sination
aud determination of which fourtii-c!Sss
poStrnastcrships range rs factors. Rat II
appears that Senators are tarred with the
spoils stick gust as much as are the Repre-
scntativcs. for the vote against the amend
ment was practically unanimous.
1t was a simple amendment in itself. and
vet would have made directly Tor civil
service, reform. in that IL would have les
scncd expenses, improved the postal serv-
ice and Incidentally given an opportunity
for diminishing the number of fourth-ClaSs
puStmasterShips II merely authorized the
Postmaster General to use the money dp-
propriated for one branch Of the postal
service for another branch. The govern
ment could not have been a loser under any
circumstances. aud the public would have
been the gainer.
In the discussion which arose over this
amendment in the Senate great deal of
The evening times., 1896-04-09
A Free Translation.

Pupil (rendering into English>-And, sir,
how dost thou fare today?
Teacher-Technically correct; but don't
you think the translation is a little stiff?
Couldn't you give something a little more
colloquiaI? Now, under similar circum-
stances what would You say?
Pupil (after moments reflection
Say, old man, how's your liver?
The evening times., 1896-04-09

IN HE bicycle has long since invaded
Congressional circles. but. of course,
every statesman did not purchase
wheel as soon as they came into the mar
ket. one of tiiose WHO waited and got his
bike quite recently was Representative
Charles a Townc, of Minnesota.
As Mr.. Towue's friends tell The story,
II is not improbable that his new wheel may
now hc fouB, outside dc alcr's store, with
a reduction price card upon il. before
ne bought his safety the Congressman went
to riding dcademy 10 learn the gentle art
of riding. He acquired it in TWO lessons.
his. friends say. aud thcn he bought the new
wheel. tr
The sport was. delightful as he truudled
about the sirco'h and even streets. Then
he h,ramc ambitious. He resolved O climb
a hill. He took the nearest one. the hill
on Thirteenth street. from II street to
Massachusetts avenue. There was moth
ing easier At he start. and the statesman
couil not for the world why people and
wheels ShouId dis like hills. Then he
reached I street. Tie earth here began
10 shont upward n doubtful angle.
Before balf Of the steep ascent was made
Mr.. Townc resolved To- turn and 20 back.
He turned. Thcn for the first time the
dreadful truth da wned upon him that he
had not learned how I" ride down hill. The
speed qUickcucd ten times as fast as it bad
Slackercd in going the other direction. The
statesman il said To- have thought that the
day OF rapid transit and Of his end had ar
rived To aid to the horrors of the occasion
wagon turned into the street ahead Of
him.
Hope was almost gone when Mr.. Townc
spie,i a friendly tree box. He resolved To
make for it. and succeeded, with the mo-
mentum of young cannon ball. Only one
side OF the tree box WAS shattered. \ po-
liceman picked Mr.. Towne up. and the men
on the approaching wagon took care OF the
pieces of the wheel.
The evening times., 1896-04-09
nera1x a Technical pitfsrpnee. .

Judge-You say, Mrs. Mcsorley, that
NrSe has been in the habit of striking
you with impunity? r".
Mrs. Mcsorley-Wid phat, yer anner7
Judge-With impunity?
Mrss -McSorley-WeH, yer amer, he GIN
nerly sthruck me wild de poker.
The evening times., 1896-04-09
De Koven to Direct Tonight.

Tonight the Whitney Opera Company will
opera of Rob Roy" and al a compliment
to Mr.. whitney. MIR. Reginald De X oven has
consented to come fromNew York and direct
the orchestra. Another feature of the
evenings entertainment will be the sking
OF q flashight picture OF the audience be-
tween the second and third acts This will
be q novelty, as nothing like 1t has ever been
done in a Washington theater.
The evening times., 1896-04-09
SER!''s:!'i!S; ! : Svr'eRovs i5oesn,
A Stroke of Diplomacy.

Mrs. Nuwed-Don't you want me to sing
sor your, dear?
Mr. Nuwed readingt-Um-er-yes sure.
Mrs. Nuwed-What would you like?
Mr.. Nuwed observation-disclosures, any
old thing.
Mrs. Nuwed-Str?
Mr.. Nuwed recovering himseif)-Whata an
absurd mistake. Imeant' Loves OidSweet
song"
The evening times., 1896-04-09
tFlfdhE OF TIE news
--ih The MORNING Times,

II you Miss any news In the evening
edition look in the list below. What
you're looking for was prOba bly,
published In this mornings edition,
und as The Times never repeats
youn have to take both editions to
get all the news as quick as II hap
pens.
The evening times., 1896-04-09

Owing to the visible effect on the New
York assembly, the debate on the necessity
OF a law for the study of narcotics has
been limited TO teniuinute speeches.
The evening times., 1896-04-09

I FRANK HANLY. Representative for
q. the Ninth Congressional district OF
Indiana. returns to his home at
williamsport today to attend to some law
practice and look to the fences that sur
round his possibilities of denomination. He
is thrown by the Indiana gerrymander in
witt, n new set of counties. and has strong
opposition in Representative Hatch. but is
sapciiine OF the ultimate result.
The evening times., 1896-04-09
Identity Incomplet..

Burrows-Did You ever meet man
down there with one leg named Wilson?
Burrows (doubtfully)-What was the
name of his other leg?
The evening times., 1896-04-09

AS convention day approaches, and the
financial plank is being bewn closer to
the mark, there is evidence that it is the
same old, wormeaten straddle.