davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-08-08
He Nailed His Sister Down.
rom the San Fen nciSco Call

Tommy Teale was just six years old. To-
day was his birthday, but instead of having
q good time to celebrate such grand event
ne had to take care Of the baby. His
mother had gone out on some errands and
LETT him all alone with his little sister,
Tommy felt very badly to think such a
thing had to happen on his birthday, and
besides, little Nellie cried great deal
He did not know what to do with her;
OF course he loved her dearly but did not
enjoy taking care Of her when she was
fretful.
AS he stood at the window Ned Brown
came out to play on the sidewalk.
Come out, Tommy" he shouted
II can't" shouted back the little prisoner.
I've got to tend the baby"
shut the door tight. then she can't get
out!' screamed Ned.
Tommy thought it over. He knew more
about babies than Ned Brown did He
thought Nellie might burn herself on the
stove. or pull the cover off the table and
break the lamp, or some other thing that
babies seem to love to do. All! a bright
idea came to Tommy's head. He ran quick
~ to the closet, got the hammer and tacks
and then went over to his baby sister and
drove three tacks right through her pretty
little dress, fastening her down tight to
the floor!
When this was done he ran out Of doors
as fast as his little fat legs could carry
him. In such a hurry was he to get to
play that he neglected to shut the door
tightly.
In about an hour Tommy's mother re-
turned, and much to her surprise she found
her baby daughter out on the top step!
both her chubby arms and her dimpled
neck were bare. for she had no dress on.
Her mother picked her up and carried her
into the sitting room. There was the lit
tie frock. nailed to the floor. in torn con-
dition. showing how very hard baby must
have struggled to get away. and of course
it had to be put into the ragbag.
Tommy came in soon after, and was very
much astonished at what his mother told
him.
Il never did see such baby" he said.
Il thought you only wished to keep her
out Of mischief. and 1 felt sure the nails
would do that"
Tommy's mother shook ner head, as
much as to say, Il never did see such a
boy!
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-08-08
Westerner and SOutherner.


The city Is sensibly emptier of its citi-
zens, both to the ear and to the eye, and I
suspect the belief some of us have that II
Is filled with strangers from the south and
west Is an Illusion. We notice these be-
cause their presence defines itself strongly
against the void. but they cannot be here
In any such great numbers, though a dis
tinguished southwestern has celebra ted
New York as the most agreeable summer
resort on the coast. Still you do meet them
In the street. now and then, and when this
happens with me. have a pleasure in their
strenuously individualized type, which ia
very distinct. The westerner is not. indeed
SO obvious as the southerner; he is Of our
own commercial civilization; but the elder
southerner, after a whole generation of the
common principle Of American democracy,
has still something feudal and lordly in
his past. l like his swarthy tint, his white
mustache and chin tuft, his countenance
at once grave and suave, his bearing cour-
teous but stately. l should like to sneak
70 MIN when l meet him in 9Th avenue or
broadway. now 30 eased of their thronRs
that we Iced not jostle each other. and T
nave feeling that he would dofr to me n
took on my hat to him, and would NOT
think my situation amiss 1 am not sure
that 1 nave setn any of the ladies' of his
family on the street. but you may identity
them by their charming accent at a pretty
hotel where I sometimes stop in INV sun.
mer visits to town.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-08-08
The Dog Wa. It's own witness.


From the Chicago Tribune.
One Of the main witnesses in q case in
Chicago recently. which was to determine
the ownership of a valuable Great Dane,
was the dog himself, who apparently knew
several different languages-at least he an
swered one Of the parties to the suit when
called In half dozen foreign tongues,
but when the other side called him in
plain English he paid no attention what
ever, seeming to be more interested in the
doings Of fly travelling UP and down
window pane.
There were two parties to the suit, named
Radell and Hines, and each of them some
time ago lost a dog resembling the one In
question. and when Mr. Hines found this
one in Mr.. Radelrs possession there was
trouble. When the case came to rial Mr..
Radell claimed the dog because he had
lost one Just like him, and because the
animal had come to his store and mani
tested the utmost familiarity with the sur
roundings. He called the dog in English
several times. but no attention was paid
to him by the animal. Then Mr.. Hines
whispered q word In Spanish, and the dog
peated, this time in German, and again the
dog manifested Joy. For the third time
the animal was called, this time in French.
and he answered 1t by almost knocking
Mr. Hines over in the rush to him.
Mr.. Radell once more attempted to win
the dogs attention by calling him in En-
glish, but the only answer he received was
a stare. This closed the case, and Mr..
Hines was told 70 go home with the dog.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-08-08
INDIA's HOARD OF SPECIE.
1t In Gradually Being Put Into Active
Circulation.


Circulation.
David A. Wells. in Popular Science.
For long period of years India has been
characterized as "sink-hole'' of the pre-
cious metals. or. in other words. there has
been for many years a continuous flow of
the precious metals-gold and silver-into
India, where they have to a large extent
disappeared. undoubtedly by burial under
ground for the purpose OF boarding and
concealment. The motive for this under
the mcgul and native rulers was unques-
tionably to escape direct plumber or confis-
cation; but under British rule these boards.
amounting unquestionably to many hum
dreds OF millions, are not taxed mainly by
reason of their inaccessibility and partly
by the recognized policy Of the govern
ment to avoid direct taxation Of active cap
fal. and encourage, by making safe its
employment, the tendency of these buried
treasures to come to light and enter into
the channels of trade. And that this policy
has been a wise one Is shown by the fact
that within recent years there has been an
Increasing disposition on the part of the
Indian owners Of concealed treasures-es-
pecially the Indian princes or ratahs-to
Withdraw from their boarding places and
invest them In government bonds, or other
desirable. Understanding securities; and
IN this way a very great addition to the
Worlds active stock, the money metals
may be anticipated In the perhaps not-dis,
tant future.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-08-08
The Bicycle Too Swift for the Poor
Dog.
From the st. James Budget.

The Bicycle Too Swift for the Poor
From the st. James Budget
Was there ever, and will there ever be.
such craze as that of cycling is today :?
In the words Of Lewis Carols carpenter
Il doubt It," Take up what paper you will,
look at any part you like. and you will find
something or other about bikes and blk
Ing l don't care whether it's the news
part or the ads" cycles, their construc-
ton and destruction. meet the eye every
where. Take the first instance 1 came
across: 1t refers to the cruelty of thought
less cyclists toward their dogs. The subject
came up last Thursday afternoon at the an
prevention OF Cruelty to Animals. The re-
port stated that new form Of cruelty had
recently been brought to light under the
action OF the society, consisting of over
taxing the strength of dogs when running
with bicycles over long distances at high
speed Some dogs would rather die than
stop when following their masters, and this
mad actually happened without the knoWl-
edge at the time of their owners who
nevertheless, would not be acquitted Of
blame for leaving their faithful animals
behind. especially after they had seen the
least sign of their distress. 1t had come to
the knowledge of the society that hundreds
or dogs had been lost in country places
consequent on cyclists outrunning them on
roads where no trace of the course thew
had taken had been left Cautions had
been issued to bicyclists to leave their dogs
at nome or keep them in sight during their
perambulations Very few dogs are capa-
be Of keeping up with a fast bicycltst dur
Ing long rum
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-08-08
SENATOR GoRMAN's COUNTRY HOUSE.

life in his old home in Massachusetts,. He
has n big farm. and he goes out on sum
mer days with broad-brimmed straw hat
his farm hands
General Russell A. Alger Is one of the
foreign excursionists. Don Dickinson likes
TO get over the water when he Is not too
BUSY keeping his grip on the democratic
party of Michigan. Ex-senator Palmer Of
worlds fair fame has a primitive home
In the woods of Michigan to which he likes
to invite a party Of friends for shooting,
loafins. storytelling and a general GOOD
time.
Tens of thousands Of people now make an
annual pilgrimage to the coast of New
September or October refreshed and in
vigorated for the winters work. To those
who go to Boston 1t is only a days sail TO
Halifax. and the land Of Evangeline Is be-
coming more and more a refuge for Amer
.cans In search of GOODNESS. Professor Alex
ander Graham Bell has q delightful sum
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-08-08
THE CHIhDREN'S EYES.
Sight of a LarGe Proportion of Public
School Pupils Defective.

sight of LarEe Proportion of Public
school Pupils Defective.
Inc growing use of glasses by people
who are In their sprime ;ands should pos
sess good eyesight has been the subject
or much discussion. Oculists claim that
with proper care and treatment of such
troubles. giving nature a chance to assert
Itself. imperfections in vision can be reme-
oled and overcome, SO that the use of
glasses can be done away with after q
time.
Acting under authority of the school
board. and with the direction of a COM
mlttee OF oculists, the Baltimore school
teachers have been testing the eyesipht
OF the children Of the city's public schools
The eyes Of 53,O67 pupils were in this way
examined by the tests ordinarily used by
suggestive.
Nine Thousand and f1fty-one pupils were
round to have such defective eyesight as
to make school work unsafe. Forty-three
per cent of the children were found to he
In the enjoyment of normal vision, but Gu
rloGsly enough the percentage of defect
i've eyesight steadily decreased with the
age of the pupils: The percentage of nor
the different grades:
First grade. 80; second. Al: third A.:
fourth, 49,; fifth. 4s: sixth. 4s; seventh
o. s ana eighth. 80. No explanation is Of
with age and the use of eyes under schoo!
conditions. Until such explanation Ia
given 1T might be argued either that the
eyesight of the race is deteriorating, being
worst In the children latest born, or that
there are defects In vision which are rem.
edied either by nature or art.
At least one definite conclusion was
reached. 1t was found that many black
boards and maps In the schools were not
placed in the proper light, and the re
port of the ocrlists recommends yearly ex-
aminations hereafter Of the pupils eve
sight and that uniform system of ad-
these be regulated to the height of the
children.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-08-08
WaterspOuts of the Desert.


rrom Inc birmingham Post.
The staff of each mine in West Australia
usually makes "a camp on the mine, which
they surround with high fences of bouehs
to keep out the dust-storms or "willie-wil-
lies" These "willie-willies" are more or
less peculiar to the gofdfelds, and are
really worth a few lines They are water
spouts IN sand. You may be gazing idly
upon the mountains Of dust and sand which
go TO make up soidfiells street when rud-
denly You observe tremor in the dirt
two or three wisps Of straw collect, a piece
OF paper wanders UP, stays and watches
the proceedings, more pieces Of paper come
along, the dust oecomas quite excited and
rises about a foot from the surface and
twists around very rapidly in a spiral The
little pillar OF dirt then moves slowly down
the street or across the plain; 1t goes very
slowly, but 1t attracts all the scraps in its
way ana sucks them up. Each yard the
willie willie travels 1t gains power and
Importance. 1t moves very deliberately,
but 1t misses nothing in the way Of small
rubbish. After few minutes it is four or
hve feet high. solid at the base and spread
ing out INTO him OF sand at its summit
The idlers watch 1t with grin as 1t gath
ers force. 1t huns like big top BY the
time 1t has meandered hundred yards in
It's zgzag 1t is fifty feet high and soaring
merrily. and then woe betide the unwarI
10 be caught by a "willie-willie" means
that your very marrow Is saturated with
sand and dirt. You go In a clean and
wholesome creature: you emerge a batter
ed. begrimed cripple The "willie-willie''
doesn't trouble; it steadily grovels about
Tor another victim. When 1t is strong
enough 1t tackles a tent-away goes the
canvas. spinning in the air. The contents
or the tent are covered with dust inches
deep-not nice. clean dust, but filthy. pu-
crescent dust of camp where cleanliness
is the last consideration. Then the willie
willie gets outside, and dies away among
inn g.
high, and then they do a good deal of dam.
age.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-08-08

W. Spoon. the naturalist. asserts that the
muskrat when obliged to go beneath the
ice from one side to the other of a pond
has a curious mode of taking along his air
supply. instinct teaches him to take in a
deep breath before starting. but even this
he knows will be insufficient for the trip.
Accordingly he halts occasionally and ex-
hales the exhausted air from his lungs
This air, being confined by the Ice in the
shape of bubble, and in full contact with
the icy water, becomes almost instantly re-
oxygenated. When the Transformation Is
completed the wise rat again takes in his
old breath. which is now a fresh inspira-
ton. Thus rejuvenated he again dives out
of sight and begins swimming for the other
side. only coming up against the ice as
often as 1t is necessary for him to refresh
en- that valuable little breath of air. But
few hunters and trappers are aware of
the muskrat's odd plans of changing his
poisonous breath into fresh inspira tion,
but those who are take a mean advantage.
By striking a heavy blow on the ice the
air Is dispersed. and the little animal dies
of aSphyXia.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-08-08
yAGARIES OF THE MEMORY.
One Man Had to Get Drunk I'm Order
to Remember.

One Man Had to Get Drunk in Order
to Remember.
From the St. James Gazette.
Men have been known to leave home for
few days. commit some serious crime ana
return, quite oblivious Of what they HAD
done. Very interesting is the case, so COM
mon among soldiers who have fought q
battle and who when 1t 10 over cannot re-
call the events for several hours. Tho
same thing happens to those who have es-
capped from shipwreck and to aeronauts
who have Just descended from the clouds.
This is the temporary loss due to strong
emotion. Then there are curious examples
Of temporary loss OF memory owing to ia
Sir Henry Holland when down a mine in
the Harz mountains and suffering from IA.
tigue completely forgot his German and
could not remember a word OF IL until he
had rest and refreshment after ascending
We all experience this in q less decree,
Sometimes II Is an injury which causes the
blank in the backward gaze. An English
professor once received a violent blow ON
the head and at one forgot all his Greek
and musician lost all memory of music
from the same cause. Mr.. Whymper in his
book on the Alps tells how he fell over q
frightful precipice. 200 feet high. with the
result that his past was for time wholly
blotted out of his memory.
The most singular cases Of memory loss
quite common in our hospitals to see a sick
German unable to speak q word of the
English he had thoroughly mastered.
A clergyman some time ago lost all recol-
lection of words, but he could still remem-
Der the letters Of which they were compos-
ed and could express his ideas freely by
spelling the words. An officer suffered
from a slight attack Of apoplexy and as q
result forgot all but a very few words.
When he tried to speak he merely uttered
nonsense, but II book or manuscript
were handed to him he read II with perfect
propriety. One Of the most extraordinary
of all memory losses is when a person for
gets how to write with his right hand, but
still has the power TO do so with his left
hand. In such a case after he has written
with his left hand the desired sentence he
can copy II with his right hand.
When the memory of words is gradually
lost it invariably progresses in one par
ticular order. First the proper nouns, then
adjectives, and this stage is followed by
failure of power to recollect events. Very
many people suffer from the first degree;
excessive smokers. for instance, II is said,
sometimes find It difficult to recall proper
names. Drunkenness Is q well-known
cause and there is the very curious case oe
a man who mislaid a package while drunk,
forgot where he had put II when sober and
had to get drunk again to find It.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-08-08
lee Fruit Di.he..

The hollowsd-oat blocks of ice which
are used to ldTthe raw oysters of the
dirrer course%now appear as supporters
of the fruit 'a9luHcheon or breakfast. At
recent luncfeon- one at each end of. the
table held respectively dollhouse grapes
and pears and peaches. They stood in
oblong shallow tins several sizes longer
and wider. These tins were painted green
and hidden in moss. into which ferns were
plentifully thrust. producing a beautiful
effect of crystal imbedded in greens. A
more artistic fruit dish could scarcely be
devised.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-08-08
Smoking Kills Germs.

Smoking is preventive of disease. &C.
cording to celebrated Viennese professor
of chemistry. He estimates that the
chances Of a smoker catching diphtheria.
smallpox. cholera or other contagious dis
eases whose germs are inhaled through the
throat and lungs are. as compared to the
non-smoker. one in twenty-eight. He as
serts that smoking tends to check the de-
velopment of bacteria and to kill them.
1t Is well known that smoking Is forbid
tories given over to the cultivation and pro-
pagation of germs of different diseases for
experiments. Smoke kills these minute or
ganisms, and what applies to a chemist
workshop applies equally to the human
body.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-08-08
ColOred People Want q Park of Their
Own,
From Harper's Weekly.


The negroes of New Orleans who num-
Der $4,000. or about one-fourth of the whole
population. have filed petitions with the
several railroads to provide them with
some park or picnic grounds where they
can go Of an evening. The public parks
are legally open to them. but the race pref
udice is so strong that very few venture to
go there. For the past few years Spanish
Fort. where Gen. Jackson entered New
Orleans, has been their chief resort: but
this summer 1t was thrown open to the
whites. and consequently closed to colored
people. Little Woods has followed suit.
and the negroes have nowhere to go. They
point out that even in slavery days they
had their special park set apart, for them
by the whites. and which still bears the
rame Of Congo Square" 1t has been re-
christened Place dArmes and Beaureeard
Place. but all in vain. 1t is still Congo
Square," in spite Of all the city ordinances,
and the fact that the Congo negroes were
crowded out half century ago. One of
the railroads and some leading negroes
are now looking for a quiet, secluded spot
that can be used as a colored Coney Island.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-08-08
Japanese Music.

From the London Spectator.
Japanese music is crude; there are no
written notes 10 go by In playing nor has
the singer any do, Re, MI to play by
observation. imitation and practice, says
an exchange. instrumental and vocal mu-
sic are always taught together. and by the
same instructor. who is either lady or
blind man, who has received a musical
degree. The singular method of practic-
ing by a young lady intent upon cultivating
her voice is thus described: During the
winter the girl in training clothes herself
comfortably, takes samisen-a banjo with
a square body, played with a plectrum OF
ivory-and ascends every cold night the
ecaffold erected on the roof of the house
for drying purposes. There she sits for
hours, sitting and banging away, until she
can endure it no longer. Upon coming
down she Is SO hoarse as to be unable to
utter a word. This training Is persisted in
until her natural voice has been acquired,
which can be heard In a storm. The girl
screams her worthless voice out and away.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-08-08

summer days far from civilization as
possible
Two examples of these contrasting types
are Senator Brice of Ohio and Senator
Frye Of Maine Mr.. Brice seems to live for
society. One eminent politician ventured
the opinion two years ago that Mr.. Brice's
dinners and receptions were given with a
view to the Ohio Senator's political adj
vancernent- In what relation of cause and
effect you look these two is a matter of
individual Judgment. Is Mr. Brice enter
tainirg lavishly because he wants to make
friends, or is he entertaining because his
official position demands 1t?
Neither of these is probable Mr. Brice
goes IN for society because he likes it.
This year he has taken cottage at New
port This is recreation possible to
very rich man only Mr.. Brice Is very
around homes in Ohio, New York and the
District of Columbia. Last spring Mr..
Brice's wife and daughters went to LON
don for the gay season there. They are
house at Newport, where they give dinners
and teas and other entertainments to their
fashionable friends
Senator Frye's Idea of Fun.
Mr. Brice likes this sort of thing no less,
COUNTLESS, than Mr. Frye likes his salmon
and trout fishing. Mr.. Frye took up salmon
fishing in middle life. but he is a great
enthusiast now and an expert in casting
the fly. He has several summer recrea-
tons. but all Of them are simple and all
ere directed to the requirement Of physical
comfort and mental rest. Part of his sum-
mer is spent at Rangeley. in northern
Maine. where he has a permanent camp"
or log house Mr.. Frye goes to Rangeley
In the early summer for fishing and in the
fall for the shooting for which the Range
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-08-08
The Four-Leaf Glover.

The Irish maiden gathers the shamrock
and puts it in her shoe. firmly believing
that the first man of her own condition in
LIE that she meets or one of his name,
will be her future husband
The American girl finds a four-leaved
clover. and laying it near her heart, re-
peats: -.
Zone leaf for fame and one for wealth.
And one for faithful lover.
And one to give you glowing health,
Are In the four-leaf clover"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-08-08
Loves Eccentricities.

From Exchange.
she-Darling husband. look at our sweet
baby; amt he sweet? Which do you 'spose
he loves most. his papa or his mamma?
He-Why. his mamma, to be sure.
She-No. he don't; he likes his papa best.
He-Well, have 1t your own way; 1 really
think he does myself.
1t was then the trouble began
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-08-08
The Road Remained I'm Its Place.
From the Philadelphia American.

From the Philadelphia American.
A gentleman travelling in England some
years ago. while walking near a railway.
encountered a number OF insane people in
charge of keeper. Nodding to one of the
lunatics, he said: Where does this railway
go tor" With q scnrnful look. the lunatic
replied: TT doesn't 60 anywhere; We keep
It here to run trains On"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-08-08

mer home in Nova Scotia. so has George
KEENAN,. the Siberian traveller. This year
George Gould has been at Halifax. but his
stay there was only an incident of q de-
lightful yachting trip toward the arctic
regions.