davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-05-09
GOT DRUNK OPPORTUNITY.
Spree of an Insurance .Adjuster That
Saved His Company n Fortune.

Spree of nm Insurance. Adjuster That
Saved His Company n Fortune.
From the New York Herald. =
Il have no patience" observed we'll
known insurance man yesterday, with
people who keep insisting that there's no
such thing as luck. Chance rules the world
and the insurance business. Have you
ever noticed that the most promising risks
are the first to mulct a company, whereas
the old rookeries that ought to have burn
ed to cinder twice in every twenty-four
hours stand out against the shocks of i'll
fortune? Well, in my business adjuSters
who go about the country looking over
risks assumed by the various agents of an
insurance company are presumed to have
soft thing, and so they have far as
the travelling money and the other extras
go. They live high, but their employers
hold them to a strict accountability, and
whenever a loss occurs they get all the
blame. Now, there's where the majesty of
luck comes in. A certain New York COM
pany sent fellow I know down to Jack
scnvlle, Fla, couple of years ago to look
over the risks there. He got drunk on the
train and had been steadily !nebriatad for
twelve days when l met him in Jackson
vile hotel. He explained his mission to me
and l asked him what ne had done. OF
course, he hadn't even been near the agent
Look here said l, you'd better go and
see your man, drunk as you are. Go to the
office, anyway. and cancel something, just
to let the home office know you are alive"
Il didn't see my friend for several days
after that and when 1 did encounter him
in the bar room of the hotel he was drunk
er than ever. l took him outside and asked
him if he had followed my advice.
Why, yes he responded, quickly. I
went down there and Cancelled every
blankety blank risk on the books
Il tried to reason with him, but he would
not listen. l besought him, if he valued
his place, to let me straighten things out,
but he only leered at me and returned to
his liquor. Well, sir. that very night Jack
sonville had one of the greatest fires in her
history, and my drunken friends company
was saved by my drunken friends idiocy
from loss of $lSO,OOO. They didn't do a
thing to him but give him a fat job and
present him with a magnificent gold re-
peater in which was inscribed the glorious
history of his shrewdness. And yet 1 sup
pose some people wouldn't call that dumb
luck
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-05-09
Prayers in War Time.
From Lippincott's.

Uncle Duff, hearing the noise, began to
pray; Aunt Saluda joined him fervently:
Sam listened stupidity and in suffocatine
terror. :.
FIFTEEN cannon thundered together over
heyoDd the bridge, and flight of shells in
the air made prolonged whirring noise.
followed presently by rapid spluttering of
musketry in the woods at the lower edge
OF the plantation. The regiment went
across the field a double-quck step, knock
ing over the fences as they came in the
way.
'Oh, good I1or', eff We kin spa de ole man
er leetle bit longer" began Uncle Duff. but
f1S prayer was interrupted by an explosion
on beth sides of the river, rival batteries
thunde ring at one another, and opposing
lines of infantry exchanging long rolling
volleys.
Mrs. Farrow saw the cavalry scurry away
from their lurking place under the river
bank and disappear in the woods while
four or five heavy field guns, drawn by
painting and overworked horses, trundled
rapidly along the red clay road the drivers
whipping and swearing.
After few rounds there came short
lull in the bombardment, during which a
singular serenity pervaded the air and sky.
and lef' de ole darkey-'
But Uncle Duff sprang to his feet as an
other awful cannonade began, and a shell
burst on the railroad track in front of the
door He forgot his prayer
Hell an fury he cried, "dats danger
Gus! Gil me my hat, fo' de Lor' sake, Is
gwine outen yer!' And he rushed through
the back doorway and across the garden
to the woods, followed by Sam and Aunt
Saluda.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-05-09
GROWTH OF INSECTS.
influence of IIeredity and of Environ
ment Considered.

influence of IIeredity and of Environ
ment Considered.
Flom Meehan's Monthly.
POSSIBLY few branches of scientific thought
are more active at this time than that
which is considering the influence which
environment has in governing form and
general character. A recent author who
objects to the extent to which environment
has been carried in forming theories Of
evolution well remarks that it must have
some influence or it could not have capti-
waited so many leaders in scientific philos-
ophy. But he contends that it is a weak
and not strong agent, and is limited in its
powers. He illustrates by the common
housefly. When an insect energies from the
Pupa stage, it has reached it's full size
But there are small housefies as well as
larger ones-these do not grow larger or
smaller after being once formed. 1t must
nave been some condition of environment
that led to these variations in size Pos
slbiy some inability in one case to make
available nutrition at a certain period of
growth, made the dwarf, and opposite con-
dltlonS favored the giant. But heredity is
also a potent factor, and is able to hold
what has been brought into existence If
the small flies could be so isolated that thew
would mate with each other only, heredity
might result in bringing about a race of
small housefies. Such a race might. under
some conditions, be regarded as a species
yet II would be due rather to heredity than
10 conditions of environment. The great
probability would be that when '.enviran-
nent again acted on some one member of
'ne small race SO as to change its puny
race OF giants again, and thus make it
again larger.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-05-09
PAYING RENT,
The Old Lady Simply Sat and Waited
on the Doorstep.

The Old Lady Simply Sat and Waited
on the Doorstep.
From the Philadelphia Press.
Commend me to the old lady in Roch-
ester who sought novel and successful
means of collecting. her house rent last
week. She vas an old lady of ideas and
a knowledge of human nature CLEANED from
a lifetime of experience with the world.
She owned a house and lot in Rochester
and the income from it was the substance
upon which she depended for hfe's necessi-
ties. 1t was rather an destinations house
and lot and the tenants were persons with
a reputation to sustain, although apparent
ly embarrassed for ready money Two
months rent was due, and the agent was
not able to collect.
She would collect it herself. Now, she
wasn't a stylish nor artistic old lady,
but she was sturdy and imperturbable, and
her proportions were ample and her spirit
unfaltering. She rang the door bell at an
early hour the other morning and inquired
for the head Of the family. The servant
glowered at her and said he was not to
be seen yet for two hours, because the fam
lily had not yet risen. The early caller was
cheerful. and said she'd sit on the door
steps and wait.
Finally she was granted an audience with
her tenant, who put her off with smooth
promises. I'll just sit here and wait till
you can pay it," replied the righteous col
lector, and she settled herself once more
on the door step, took some knitting from
her basket and prepared to spend the day
She made quain Unlocking picture, and
all the neighbors wondered. When any one
came within conversing distance and stared
rudely at her she explained in a friendly
way that she was waiting till the tenants
paid their rent. She looked truthful, and
no one doubted her, and her plan worked
like A charm. The rent was paid long be-
fore shutdown, and she ambled home more
than ever convinced that nothing is i'm
possible
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-05-09
He Could Speak for Himself.

From Harper S Round Table.
The late VIM. J. Florence, the comedian had
a reputation for bright stories and practical
jokes. The following one is said to have
been told by him at a dinner one night,
when the conversation turned on travelling
theatrical companies: Years ago." said
Florence, II was in small company skip
ping from town to town. We had met with
extremely bad luck up to our landing in the
town of D.. There we found the lowest
ebb of all, for when the curtain rolled up
there were just two persons in the au-
dience, young girl in an orchestra chair
and a young man in the front row of the
balcony. We went on with the perform
ance, however, possibly to warm ourselves
more than anything else. According to my
part l was helping the heroine to escape
the clutches of the villain, and in one of
my lines l said: Have you noticed that
even the bright moon is rising to light us
on our way" Before she had time to reply
the young man in the balcony called out
1 am not so certain about the young lady
downstairs, but l can see it all right"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-05-09
duties of principal. aided in turn by an

duties of principal. aided in turn by an
other pupil-teacher.
A study of the conditions has led to the
belief that in the higher grades the SYM
pathetic, persuasive disciplinary power so
successful In the lower grades must be
supplemented by more dominating ele-
ment. This has somewhat modified the
plan of selecting pupil-teachers for the
practice schools, and it has been thought
best to obtain for the higher grades only
those who have taught successfully in two
Of the other grades.
In Two Sections.
At present the Washington Normal
School is divided into two sections, one at
the Dennison building and the other at the
Franklin. This plan of having the school
divided, however, Is considered unwise and
the members of the committee on Normal
and High Schools of the board of school
trustees are now considering the advisable
ity of bringing the two sections together
The Normal School work is carried on by
a faculty of seven, five of whom are from
the Washington schools. Faculty meetings
are held often as conditions require
them, and at such meetings reports of the
work are given and general measures for
the advancement of 10th schools and pupil
teachers discussed.
The principal of the Washington Normal
School is Mrs. Ida Gilbert Myers, a naive
of the state of New York. Mrs. Myers went
through the public schools and then took
course extending through four years and
a half at the Oswego Normal School in the
city of that name in New York. This in
stitution is the pioneer school, and supplies
the greater number of teachers for the
west Mrs. Myers came to this city in the
spring of 1881, about the time Mr.. Powell
was appointed superintendent of public
schools. She became a teacher in the Nor
NAL School, and was soon thereafter pro-
NOTED to the principalship, which position
she has held ever since.
Miss Annie 10, C.Odinp no asSicto MIN
cipal, is from Bridgewater, Mass She
secured her early education in the public
schools of New England, and also came to
this city in 1885, and taught in the graded
schools. While principal of the Blake
school year before last she was appointed
70 her present position in the Normal
School.
The other Normal School teachers are
MISS Elizabeth B. Brown, Miss Helen 3.
wise, Miss Ella Mcmahon, Miss Elizabeth
hummer and Miss May Breen all Washing
ton young ladies, and all graduates of the
Washington school.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-05-09
How n Sun Burned UD.

In December, 1894, the astronomers be-
held the most wonderful sight that has
ever greeted mortal eyes. They were watch
ing the queer antics of star of the ninth
magnitude, when all at once it famed up
like smoldering brush pile to which new
fuel had just been added Within forty
fold, and then the star slowly disappeared
from view. The astronomers believe that
what they saw was sun burning up"
The final flash which they saw probably
years ago. 1t is well-known fact that
there are stars removed from US by dis
tances so great that they might have been
wiped out Of existence 100 years ago and
the light still be coming to us through
space.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-05-09
The Bicycle in Texas Politics.

Waco CORRESPONDENTS Of the Dallas News.
The bicycle has entered the city canvass
here as an important adjunct to those cam
didates seeking to attend several ward
meetings the same night. To neutralize the
advantage possessed by the wheelmen, some
of the other candidates have secured fast
moving horses. The bright moon, the good
weather and the nearness of election day
cause nightly meetings in all the wards
These meetings begin about and close at
1870 pm, SO that an active candidate can
speak at several Of them the same night
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-05-09
THE NORMAL SCHOOL
Where Young Men and Women Are
Trained to Be Teachers.
APART OF THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM
About the Work and How 1t is
Carried On.
THEORY AND PRACTICE
| PART OF THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM
THEORY AND PRACTICE

T is AN INTER-
esting fact that the
young idea of the
District of Columbia
is being trained to
bit the educational
bI ll's-eye by a corps
of Instructors. t h e
V a s t majority of
" HON are young
m e n and women
who have g o n e
through the local
public schools and
have been given d
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-05-09
Floral Beauties Of Washington and
Vicinity.
FLOWERS ABOUT THE WHITE HOUSE
Out in tho Woods During Cor
geous May.
COLORED PEOPLES FAVORITEs
T0 RY AS HARD AS

KY AS HARD AS
one will to keep it
down, there is some
thing in the spring
time that makes folk
long to go on pilgrim
ages, to dig in gar
dens and to write
spring poetry. Wash
ington lends itself to
entertainments. In the
springtime 1t Is fairy
land, both in the city,
with all it's trees and
flowers, and In the
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-05-09
Gorgeous May!

The arbutus is gone. the May apples are
about to blossom, the Dutchman's breeches,
which, by the way, are related to that SEN
timental beauty of the old-fashioned gar
dens, 1.-The bleeding heart.'' will soon be
out. Violets, purple and white and yellow,
and those rare ones that have the velvet
petals-the pansy violets-are In full beau
ty. The wild honeysuckle. (which, with the
laurel seems to be faxofite resort for
ticks when there aren't any girls handy. is
just pinking itself. The Judas tree, which
blossoms with the dogWood;as in flower, and
the ground ivy is purpling the earth wher-
ever 1t has chance. The ferns are uncurl-
ing their fronds in that graceful but sur
prising way that they have, SO that one is
half tempted to beg their pardon for having
caught them at their toilet.
And so the spring is well under way, and
1t is well to believe all that the spring
verses say and to go out to watch the skies.
the leaves, the flowers, the butterflies and
sunshine, to hear the birds. bees, frogs and
running streams and to see the beautiful
land that we live in. E. p M,
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-05-09

almost ruby-like. The Indians have a way
Of esignating the spring season as the
time when the oak leaves arg like the ears
shaking out its finely pleated leaves, each
one discarding a papery ease and coming
forth crisp and crimped toIperfection. The
sassafras is putting forth leaves and mod
est blossoms as fragrant as, q rose, and the
birch is opening tiny leaves. Il
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-05-09
The Soil and the Drnfnape

mere should be small orifices in the bot
loih Oh sCch box and a layer of broken
pieces CT stone, ur of moss or. better stiu
OF charcoal, half an inch or an inch thick
iaio On the bottom, to assure drainage. On
Top Oh TINS the soil is placed 1t may be
secured for a few cents from a florist. The
pest sou for flower raising is a composition
CONSISTING of two-thirds rotted sod and
ohe-thlrd rotted stable manure If rhe 81
Is not sandy a handful or two of clean.
. t,'. sand should be added. A stump or
Two OF a beau's cigars unrolled and the
nso mixed with the soil will prove an
excellent preventive for insects
II pots are preferred they should he filled
In the same way. w -eu
Thus prepared, even a novice NAV suc-
cessfully begin to cultivate flowers AT home
ana De assured of good results and a pro-
fusion OF blossoms when the cold DAYS
come again. 1t must be always remember
ed that dust is dangerous to flowers when if
Is allowed to collect upon them, and that
pants should never be subjected directly
TO cold wind blowing on them.
There are hundreds of flowers that NAV he
cultivated at the window as easily as in
those described p0' q"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-05-09

The very name
plate, Columbia, is
a d / S t i m c t i've
&C q S tie" nm q r. TX
among bicyclists
and bicycles.
Pope Mrfg Co. F,
j. HSrt Britain Local Mgr
49, Penna. ave.
Columbia Bicycle Academy
o 1000 feet space
m!e-5t 22d and SITS.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-05-09
Exquisite Indoor BIoomer.

Inc otaheite orange is particularly sus-
ceptlnle plant for home culture. 1t is really
u"art orange tree, and its blossoms are
deilclously fragrant, while the fruit that
follows is sweet and pleasant to the taste
The tea olive is another easily cared for
flower, and an almost constant boomer
bearing profusion Of fragrant, small white
blossoms.
The Mexican primrose is another attrac-
tive house plant. 1t grows nine or ten
inches in height and droops over the side
of the box or pot, bearing pink flowers in
luXuriance.
For a hanging basket or a tall vase the
RusSelia Juncea Is advised 1t has long
rush-like foliage, with scarlet blossoms at
the ends.
Annunciation lilies are not difficult to
bring to perfection at the window. and the
Spanish iris in a variety of delicate tints
and shades blooms during the winter with
great conStancy
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-05-09
Other Attractive Varieties.

a very beautiful and attractive flower is
the Brazilian plume plant. 1t is a genial
plant, and grows anywhere, sending out
from large, dark green leaves a number of
long shoots, with pink flowers at their tips
Wax plants are another species of flowers
that flourish indoors and if one would have
heliotropeS all the winter it needs but
plenty of water and a removal of any dust
from their leaves to have them in plenty
The fountain of gold' is well worth the
little time it requires, too in the brightness
1t adds to a room in winter. Its name is
the Genista Canariensis and when in bloom
it is covered with soft, yellow blossoms of
great beauty. Plumbago of every variety
will grow luXuriantly indoors, and sweet
alyssum blooms in winter abundantly. The
list could be indefinitely continued through
the geraniums, begonias, oXalis, freesia
chrysanthemums while for box edges moth
ing sets them off so we'll as wandering
jew. Then there are the fuchsias, of which
some varieties bloom throughout the year:
the Cuban lily, or, as 1t is also called the
Peruvian hyacinth: the Album Neapoli-
tanum, whose clusters Of delicate white
flowers are peculiarly charming, and which
retain their perfection for weeks, while for
contrast there is the black Gala lily, which
needs plenty Of light and a warm nook
All these flowers may be secured with
little expense in slips or bulbs, and a we'll
selected lot of them will give great pleasure
when they reach maturity and fill the room
with beauty and fragrance.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-05-09
GARDENING AT HOME
Cultivating Flowers at a Window
Conservatory.
>-
ROOMS MADE BRIGHT AND PRETTY
Directions for an Admirable Form
OF Recreation.
PLANTS EASY TO CULTIVATE

for the regret. If the
feeling is analysed it will be found that it
is due to something CHEEKY and inviting
something home-like and comforting that
impressed us while there. 1t might have
been the glow of a cracking, open fire, a
comfortable cushion in the chair, a pretty
arrangement of draperies or pictures,
warm, inviting coloring in carpets or furni-
ture, or. more likely, few graceful plants
at the window, with the sunlight kissing
their leaves and blossoms. There is moth
ing that lights up and animates a room
more than living flowers, and when it is
considered how little real care is necessary
to have them and to keep them it is won
DER That more sitting rooms and dining
rooms. and even reception parlors, are not
supplied with them. There will be a chorus
OF negatives at this assertion. Scores of
women will declare that flowers are such
bother and such ceaseless trouble, and
dirty up everything" SO much. Still, these
same objectors will nurture canary birds
and even parrots, while pet dogs VIII I'LL
their bosoms with delight.
Why Flowers Are Troublesome.
The fact is that flowers at home are not
troublesome at all except when they are
made SO by their guardians The average
woman who undertakes to grow flowers be-
Dan" Gnu eHuS ny pdHpeFlHS the poor things
to death. She is continually shipping at
the leaves and branches and every morning
she reliS1ouSly gives each pot a sousins
flood Of water, under the impression that
the plants are dying for want of moisture
Nature does not treat her children in anv
sucn generous manner, and why a woman
should try to Guido nature is one of the
pecullar things no one can find out Flowers,
ihdeed, should not be watered more than
twice week, and neither time should the
SOIL be soaked. good wetting pouring
the water on slowly, SO it Will enter the
SOIL equally and thoroughly, is the secret
OF the hygiene Of house flowers. Most house
MOVERS are Killed by too much water
Inc present Is an excellent season for per-
sons VINO wish to beautify their homes with
poisoning leafy things to go about the
genesis OF 1t and prepare TO be gratified with
the beautiful revelations. Whether one has
hsh up in the roof story of a CITY
boarding house, she may safely embark in
the garden business with confidence in
future pleasing results. Some care and at
tehtlon Will be required in the interim. ia
De sure, but then everything we accomnIish
III Inc world is bound to be preceded bv NOR.
OF less Oh these, such reasons are NOT
worth conSidera tion
=, ihefe are many receptacles in which
mowers may be cultivated in room. and a
square box neatly painted and lined win
TN is about the best The box need NO, ha
square unless 1t is to be placed upon a tahls
oplons Is a good shape, the width of The
suhniest WINDOW and capable of being sun
ported on the outer sill or resting on
support inside. "
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-05-09
Trees and Their Foliage

The oaks now are a pretty sight. They
have tiny leaves as pink as any coral.
Some of the older leaves that have spread
themselves out in the sunshine are green,
but covered with white downiness that is
like the white light on velvet. At the foot
of the tree, where the new shoots are
springing up, their leaves are a deep red,