davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The San Francisco call., 1896-04-12

hatched, but the fedgling of the cow
bunting being larger and more vigorous
than those of its foster ther it seized
upon all the food the parent birds brought,
and crowded and overrode it's nest mates
until they suffocated or starved. But the
devoted mother went right on feeding the
selfish creature, who, so soon as it was
able, flew off without so much as thank
you.
A careful watching of birds and their
ways has not afforded me any evidence
that the parent birds are able to discrim-
nate IN feeding their young between the
gaping mouth that caught the last worm
or seed brought and the one beside it that
has had none. The morsel, so far as T
have been able to judge, is popped into the
beak that is thrust the highest, and there
is always scramble for first place among
despite the good DIR. Watts assertion, do
not ''in their little nests agree.
There is no occasion here to speak at
length of those animals that are known
not infrequently to kill and devour their
own young. l am not endeavoring to
make any point of failure of maternal care
through viciousness, but only through
blunder and stupidity, the two offenses
most frequently brought against hu-
manity.
Nor am L contending that there is any
real parallelism in this regard between
the human race and the lower animals
They only presuppose such parallelism
who criticize and Judge humapity by the
lower standard. The possibility of exer-
clslng reason presupposes the possibility
of error in its exercise. The human being
possesses reason, intelligence, in far
higher degree than does the brute. He
possesses, moreover, the power of learning
from experience and of handing on the
wisdom thus gained. And out of the ac-
cumulated knowledge of the ages has
grown the sense of moral obligation,w which,
among other things prompts such super
flclal criticism of the race as l have quoted.
But 1T prompts other things as we'll, and
through obedience to those other prompt
ings the human race, the wretched,
groveling, feeble human race, makes the
best showing of any order on earth, in the
intelligent rearing and care of its young.
1t most certainly should do So. am
not Offering this statement as source of
pride. There is little enough occasion for
pride in the progress we have vet made
but the statement can be made in contra
diction to sweeping comparisons between
man and the brutes.
But my wee godfinches were not dis.
heartened by the failure of their first
building enterprise. | am fairly certain
that it was the same pair | saw. as con-
tinued my stroll, hard at work making
new nest, this time, as nearly as 1 could
Judge, in thicket of wild briar-rose. wild
blackberry and megarrhiza, and there.
should fate be propitious; should no soar.
ing hawk swoop down upon the parent
birds; should no stealthy snake or prying
squirrel discover and dine off the eggs:
should no wanton schoolboy find and Bear
off the nest, or, should no chance passer
frighten away the little hen. they will rear
their brood and send them forth to glad.
den the streamside willows with their
sunny color and CHEEKY song.
ADELINE KNAPP.
The San Francisco call., 1896-04-12

Count Zeppelin's steerabIe balloon, which
can rise 1900 yards, travel eleven miles an
hour, carry two tons, stay up fully week
and then descend without throwing out
either ballast or gas. When such success is
attained as seems in this case undeniable,
then the day is not far distant wnen pro-
lection from overhead fire will be as neces-
sary to men in fortresses as on board ships
of war.
The experience of the English in the
Egyptian war proved that railroad cars
might be made into porta BILE batteries and
they constructed several armor-clad cars,
which were pushed by a locomotive, and
on board OF which cars were placed field
guns and Maxims. The French have car
ried the idea still further, proposing to
apply the system of carrying guns to sea
coast Notifications. All that seems neces-
sary is to throw up a long line of earth
works-and since earth is cheap and sand
plenty on the seacoast this costs but the
Iabor-and behind these walls lay several
tracks on which shall ply cars with the
heaviest guns mounted on board. The
guns NAV concentrate quickly at any point
desired, and then as quickly be moved to
another. Being on the move would make
Them difficult objects to hit by shot fired
from warships, and it is but necessary for
them to stop an instant to fire ere going
forward again. But as it is q poor rule
that does not work in more than one way
the French also have constructed railways
for the purpose of transferring torpedo
boats and small vessels from one place to
another.
The bicycle has come to stay in modern
war and plays an important part, and not
only is it to be used in CARRYING scouts and
ntelligence-seekers, but also for the trans
port of ammunition and the wounded. A
wheel is shown fitted with litter for
carrying the wounded, ana surely no am
bulance can be more comfortable or ad-
Unstable than this "bike," nor move as
rapidly.
The providing OF bread and other rations
for the modern armies is a difficult
problem. A number of devices to over
come these difficulties have been devised.
A field oven is represented and shows the
means by which it can be carried on two
pack mules. This oven will provide bread
for an entire battalion; but while it is
portable 8pd effective and can be takan
The San Francisco call., 1896-04-12

at any depth. The usual position in driy-
Ing forward would be at depth inst srffi-
Gent to keep the coming tower alone
above water, so that the captain can see
where to direct the boat. In the coming
tower are instruments to show the depth'
the level and the course. The ligbtinP is
done by electricity. In the bow are tor
pedo tubes, and when near vessel the
boat Is entirely submerged and approaches
to distance sufficient to insure accuracy.
and discharges her torpedoes with dead Iv
effect.
Another successful form of submarine
torpedo-boat is called the Waddinpton.
from its inventor. 1t is boat OF small
dimensions, only Sc to 40 feet in length
and In width. and is divided into three
compartments by two bulkheads. The end
cham bers are filed with compressed air.
winch may be needed for either respiration
or Tor furnishing motive power, but the
prlnclpal motive power is electricity, which
Is stored up in accumulators of 600 amnere-
nours each, there being forty-five boxes
arranged In the central chamber. as see n
IN the Illustration. The torpedo propelled
py TINS boat IS also novel. 1t is of the usual
shape, but the motive power is derived
from the combustion of three rows of four
l0O-pound rocket-tubes filled with rocket
poWder. Inc gas generated by the COM
bustlon escapes through a nozzle and acts
on small turbine which reyolyes the for
pedo's screw. A speed of twenty -four
miles, and good to run one mile at that
rate, bas been secured and demonstrated ;.
Like the Nordenfeldt, this boat NAV be
entirely submerged or only partially.
Another form called the Nautilus. which
is submerged, runs forward and DISCHARGES
its torpedoes entirely by accumulated e.ec-
tricity.
An interesting design shown is that for
an aerial ship, which the inventor pro
poses not only to propei and direct against
the wind or wherever he pleases, but he
also expects 10 carry up into the air with
him large squad of men. who shall be
employed in throwing down on the heads
of an enemy's army or fortress or town
high explosives. This is one of the prop
abilities of the future that has not yet
proved an entire success, but which un-
doubtedly will ere long. Thus, for in
stance, it is reported to us that the Prus-
sian general staff is enthusiastic ever
The San Francisco call., 1896-04-12

brain could possibly do. It feels its way
through the darkness, underground, avoid
ing every obstruction, creeping under and
about every barrier, sending out branches
at every available coign of vantage, until
the tree or plant IS securely anchored,
deep down where the roots can not only
hold it firmly, but can hnd moisture and
food for the growing stem above ground.
The root of a tree has been known to twist
upon itself and push its way toward q
well dug years after it started upon its un-
derground Journey.
Some months ago, during one of the
congresses which the women of this State
are so fond OF holding, speaker made The
statement that of all the human children
born half die before they reach the age OF
five years, and of these halt die before
they are one year old. 1t is probable that
this statement could not be successfully
denied. The infant mortality of the hui
man race is deplorably large, despite the
rapid progress science has made in the
last quarter-century. But the further
statement of the clever speaker, in this
connection, is, beyond a peradventure,
open to question. No other order OF
creatures, she added, makes so sha ameful a
showing.
1t is rather popular sort of thing,
nowadays, to decry the human race. We
are wont to speak of poor human nature
with shake of the head, and an air OF
deprecating the outlook for its future. We
have got our government into hopeless
confusion. Our men are deteriorating e
morally, our women are too ignorant and
too willful to bring up their children prop
erly, and the death rate among the young
of the race is in shameful contrast to the
showing among other creatures. So, too,
we are constantly hearing OF the physical
ills to which human beings, above all
races, are subject.
This would be a terrible arraignment,
were it true. As it is, the showing is not
fiattering to the most highly endowed race
in the scaleof being. But if human parents
do not know how to care for their little
ones, and to make the best provision for
The San Francisco call., 1896-04-12

anywhere, yet it has to be unpacked and
set up when wanted for use. This is a
drawback in an army advancing, and to
overcome this the travelling field oven is
designed and used by all foreign armies.
1t contains an oven, hot-water boiler. a
hot-air oven and boilers for coffee and
soup. 1t is intended for company of 200
meh, and while the army is marching this
wagon, drawn by four mules and followed
by fuel-cart, is in full operation. The
apparatus requires four men, one to drive
the wagon, one to drive the fue-cart and
two to cook. The bake oven for bread,
the roasting oven for meats and
the boilers for soup and coffee
may all be put in full blast
with the result that on making the halts
for night or noon the meal is ready for the
men, and the bread for the next day is
baked. And all at a cost of time and
labor far less than the old method of every
man looking out for himself and with in
tinitelv more comfort. If you can feed
your soldiers WE'LL you can do anything
with them, provided they are the right
The San Francisco call., 1896-04-12
IN THE LOWER ANIMALS
NOT 1NFALLIBLE BY ANY MEANS.

II N the course of my ram bles this morn
ing l came upon a despoiled nest
lying beside the pathway.
II 1 knew whose home it had been,
for 1 had watched the Iabors of the
pair of goldfinches building it and had
longed at the time to tell them they were
not building wisely. To all appearances
they had chosen well, but I knew what
they, rs recent settlers, could not be ex-
pected to know-that the scruboak in
whose sheltering branches they had To-
Gated stood on the bank of q little gully,
up which at rare intervals the north wind
tore madly, shaking and twisting the
growing Things in its track until one
might fancy them shrieking for mercy.
But alas! / am not versed in the lam
guage of birds, and 1 was forced to leave
them to natures not always tencer teach
ing. They completed their nest Just in
time for the visit of our last norther and
the inevitable result confronted me this
morning as strolled that way.
The owners of the little house had fed,
SO | brought it with me and it lies upon
my desk now, a pathetic reminder of the
instinct that failed. Or, no, instinct never
ldlls ltS poSSesSOr. II the DlrdS mad been
governed by instinct in their choice of a
location for their nest they would have
made no mistake. but their blunder alone
is sufficient proof were one needed, that
they are guided by reason. For reason
implies the possibility of error. Perhaps
it is not too much to say that the more
highly developed the reasoning faculty the
greater the possibility of its going astray.
1t is to those orders that have no real con-
5CiOuSnesS that are governed whoIlv' nv
instinct, that we must look for perfect
adaptation OF life. We do not find the
tap-root of tree making mistakes. Itex
ercises an ingenuity SO subtle that Darwin
has ikened it to the brain of animals.
But it does better for the plant than q
The San Francisco call., 1896-04-12


ton in destructive weapons there
IL has been wide field thrown open
for the ingenuity of all mankind.
The most wonderful ideas have taken shape
and most preposterous notions have been
spread around as to what some of these
wonderful inven tions will do, or what thew
will not do. Still, though the majority of
them have been failures under the test of
actual service conditions, enough have
been developed so efficiently as to well
lead US to believe that the time of the mil
lennium cannot be very far distant, since
the destructive powers of new inventions
are so terrible that men cannot survive
under their action. 1t is possible now to
light not only on land but in the air above
the land and in the water beneath it.
propose TO give here descriptions of few
OF the more wonderful weapons not
guns-and 1t may be stated that while in
one or two cases the development has not
been perfect yet it has gone far enough to
insure absolute perfection at no very dis
tant day.
Among the types of craft to fight under
water, the Nordenfeldt boat seems to have
achieved the greatest success. There are
two types in this country, the Peacemaker,
and another invented by Chicago man,
that have seemed to be excellent till
placed under water in working conditions,
when it was found they could not reach
that point their inventors had claimed for
them. The Nordenfeldt boat is about 125
feet long by u feet beam and displaces
when submerged about 230 tons, but when
light Its displacement is reckoned at 165
tons. it is driven by lO0O-horsepower
engines at speed of Is knots on the sur
face of the water. and about knots when
submerged. IT'S boilers contain about q
tons of hot water, while tanks on board
contain So tons of cold water.
When the tanks are full the boat is sub
merged, and by the action of sinking pro-
pelfers can be kept IL horizontal position
The San Francisco call., 1896-04-12

The bank statistics OF Ireland for 1898
are the most satisfactory ever recorded.
and show that Ireland has but to be let
alone to attain thoroughly sound eco.
nouic condition.
The San Francisco call., 1896-04-12

YER since the War of the Rebel
hon gave rise to American inven-
ton in destructive weapons there
has been wide field thrown open
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-01-06
State of Indiana. Marion County, Is.

State OF Indiana, Marion County, IS.
In the Superior Court OF Marion County,
In the State of Indiana
Elijah Il. Martindale VS.. William A. Ham,
uton ct al
No 5l2Sl. Complaint to forecloss mort
gage.
BE il known, That on the 2ist day OF No
vember, 1886, the above named plaintiff, by
his attorney. filed in the office of the Clerk
the State OF Indiana, his complaint against
the above named defendants, and the said
plaintiff having also filed In said clerks
office the affidavit of a competent person,
showing that said defendant, Madge White
Lang, has departed from the State of In
diana for the purpose OF avoiding service
of summons upon her; that said action Is
TO foreclose a mortgage upon real estate
situated In said State, and the defendant
thereto. and whereas said plaintiff having
by Endorsement on said complaint REQUIRED
said defendant TO appear In said court, and
answer or demur thereto, on the 18th day
OF February, 1896.
Now, therefore by order OF said
court. said defendant last above named Is
hereby notified Of the fling and tendency
OF said complaint against her, and that un-
less she appear and answer or demur there
10. at the calling of said cause on the 18th
day of February, 1895, the same being the
tenth judicial day OF a term OF said court
10 be begun and he'd at the courthouse in
day In February, 1896, said COMPLAINT and
the matters and things therein Contained
and alleged. Will be heard and determined
In her absence.
JAMES w. FEsLER. Clerk
Charles Martindale. Attorney for Plaintiff
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-01-06

by the late JPrussisn Minister in the
matter of the general character OF the re-
Quirements. One OF the most important %
these is that the foreign companies shall
invest one-half of their entire gross in
come within the kingdom OF Prussia IN gov
eminent securities at low rates OF interest
No such requirement is made OF domestic
companies. and the discrimination is OBJ
viously intended TO destroy the superiority
of the American companies In their op-
portunities for investment The result is 10
deprive the Prussian policy holder OF all
the advantages gained from the broad ned
of investment of the largest companies. In
this connection II may be stated that Poult-
ney Bigelow. a son OF ex-Minister to France
John Bigelow, is now in Berlin a repre-
sentative Of American life insurance COM
panies. and also OF the State OF New York.
bearing a letter from Governor Morton.
which is TO be presented TO the new PrHs-
sian Minister OF the Interior. Mr.. Bigelow
will endeavor TO obtain from the new Min
lister change in the attitude OF the Prus-
sian government towards American Hfs
companies. TX is understood that upon the
result OF Mr.. Bgelow's mission will de-
pend the treatment which the Magdeburg
Fire may get from the New York 1nsur-
ance Department in IT'S application TO az
business In that State.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-01-06

To the Editor OF the Indianapolis Journal:
The Journal Of Dec. % contained this
paragraph:
The Quartermaster-general OF the United
statement I'm his annual report. that cav
airy horses which are rejected by our army
inspectors have been found qualified for for
eign service by foreign governments: This
shows either that our standard is higher
or our inspection more rigid.
Another explanation may be offered In q
simple statement. In former years, II not
now il has been an easy matter TO work
a '1eetle game on Uncle Sam by the aid
OF horse flesh. In response TO government
advertisements horses and mules
brought into the large markets TO ,meet an
army officer and inspectors who act under
his orders. at certain designated stables
on specified days. The stock-raisers. farm
ers, spectators and outsiders form eoodiy-
sized crowds IN the stable yards, and. With
interest, watch the proceedings The In
spector or veterinary surgeon examines the
horses for points. quietly expresses his
opinion TO the army officer. his superior.
and, obeying orders, either accepts or re-
jects the animal as suitable or unit TO
join the army" The horses that can't pass
muster are put In bunch by themselves.
After the offerings have been disposed OF.
and the yards are cleared OF all but the
officials. the proprletofs OK the stables and
the owners OF the rejected stock, some one
asks. What gill We do with that string OF
hoTses?" While the couutryman Is cogi-
Eating upon his disappointment In failure TO
sell his horses 10 the government, jovlal
stranger comes along and offers TO help him
out OF the hole. The owner does not like
the icea OF taking the stock home again.
or OF submitting TO city feed bills on a
chance OF making a good sale in the near
future Rather than wait he closes out at
low figures and goes home with his money.
| pocket.aS q loss, perhaps. The members OF
| the ring meet 10 consult. IL the complement
| has not been filed. the army men put the
| rejected horses into their official lot at
| army price,: or. IL there be too much risk
| IN this. they ship the stock 10 other mar
| kets. and through agents there sell 20 the
buying representatives, OF foreign countries.
| and finally "whack up" on good sized
.'divy.' Thus il may be that rigid inspec-
ton ultmstes In rejection OF good horses.
for the ring TO buy them In az low prices.
/ and then tuin them over TO the government
at heavy profit. or TO sell them TO European
| buyers. While army officers are honest. the
| temptation is afforded for 'sknllinggery''
1 by other men engaged In these horse trans
| actions. There have been men who. In pas,
years have done 'dnancieiing IN the line
| indicated above. thus helping 10 :nystify
| United States OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES.
| Indianapolis. Jan. 4. HORSE
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-01-06
Just Like His Father.



MY old black auntie" said Representa-
tive John Allen. 1.-The old black shepherdess
who raised me and who still looks on me
as a lamb of her rearing, grows at times
very congratuiatory and proud of me.
""Deed! / is proud of you, Mars John,
she said on the occasion of our last meet
ing L takes de vastest pride in We. honey.
an de way you does hoP office. You is jes'
like yo' OF father. Mars John. jes' like him
70 de worl.' He was alters holm office
same as you. honey. hoP Office all de time
yo' paw did. an he minds me of you so
much. Deed. Use proud or bof OF ye.'
"sWhy, what Office did my father hold?' I
asked, ! was a bit astonished, for while /
had a dim recollection of the old gentle
man running several times. i never knew
of any Office he held What office did my
father holdw
'Sho. Mars John: you go an forget de
Office yo' father hol''. the old aunty replied
reproachfully: Use 'shamed TO YOU. He
was a candidate, Mars John. De whole
neighborhood remember IL well. All his life
he hor dat office. yo' paw does: never
knows him when he warn't candidate.
Looks like you an yo' father les that
away: bof alters holm Office"
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-01-06

The Lake Erie & Western did a fair out
bound business, but light inbound, for
warding 80 against IA loaded cars brought
In.
In the week ending Jan. there were
handled at Indianapolis 6.601 empty cars.
against 5.s94 in the week preceding, which
was the largest movement of empties in
any one week on record.
The Monon dropped 10 it's minimum move
ment last week, handling but 40 cars at
this point 3i6 being loaded. The Cincin-
natl Hamilton a Dayton mad q light BUSH
ness, handling CAT cars, i53 being loaded.
The Indiana, Decatur & Western
handled twenty more loaded cars at this
point than I'm the week ending Dec. 2S,
ard II the roads remain solid the freight
officials expect a good business the present
week.
The Big Four lines proper handled at In
dianapolis last week 1876 loaded carse.
This was a decrease compared with the
week ending Dec. Is OF $50 loaded cars, and
a decrease as compared with the week end
ing Dec. q OF 2.7i2 loaded cars. The hesv-
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-01-06
New Secret Order Started.

JEFFERSONVILLE, Ind. Jan. A new
secret beneficial and fraternal association
has been organized here. which will be
known as the Fraternal Benevolent Associa-
in secret orders. They are: L. d. Oglesby.
ex-auditor, supreme president: c. w. Kelly,
supreme vice president; c. II. Kelly, who
the K. of p. Endowment Rank. supreme sec
rotary; T. b. RAIDER. ex-county treasurer,
supreme treasurer. and DR.. +. W. Rruner,
surgeon-general. The association will con-
tain work of secret nature, but its chief
object Will be insurance against sickness,
accident and death The supreme head
quarters will be established in this city.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-01-06
Americans Decorated.

PARIS, Jan. 4.-Among the New Year APP
pointments to the Legion of Honor in cele-
bration of the centenary OF the French In
stitute are Prof. Simon Newcomb, the
American astronomer; Mr.. Alexander Agas-
Henry Augustus Rowland, the American
physicist, VINO were appointed officers of the
Legion of Honor, and Mr.. Adolph Hall, also
an American. who was appointed a chevalier
of the Legion of Honor.