davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-06-20
MAKING SAFE sLOWLY Y.
a Possible Explanation or some Building Acct
dents In This City.

Chapter 40 of the Laws Of 1882 requires the
Superintendent OF the Department OF Buildings
OF New York to make quarterly reports OF the
operations Of that department, which was for
merly n bureau of the Fire Department. The
purpose OF this provision seems to be TO enable
the other departments Of the city government.
which work in cooperation with the Building
Department-the Police. Public Works. Fire,
and District Attorney-to be appraised OF the
extent to which the laws and ordinances
OF the city are enforced or disrcsarded.
The last report of tho Department Of
Buildings covers the quarter ending on April /.
but for some reason it was not sent to the Mayor
until May Is. This report shows the rate Of
speed which appears to prevail in the Building
Department in abating or providing against
VOL ions of tho law in buildings in New York,
and it seems to show that there is much delay
in attending to such matters.
On last Jan. ! for instance. there were pend
ing "a cases Of defective PLUMBING and drain,
months following 3i3 of these cases were dis
posed OF. either by compliance with the law or
by action for penalty, but meanwhile 5SS other
cases had been neglected, so that on April l tho
number OF violations not abated had Increased
to 9s6. 1t is a well-known fact among builders
and real estate men that the building operations
in New York may be said to begin actively on
months succeeding. II. therefore. the accumu.
lation of cases undisposed OF by the Building
Department was larger on April than on Jan.
= oh III 70 amy Wv
still greater.
There were. as reported by, the department.
Between that time and April / exactly 6i2 cases
were disposed OF and so added. bringing up the
total pending on April l to .595. In the matter
OF the use of -" defective material" for building
purposes-a frequent cause o! COLLAPSED more
rapid disposal OF cases was made by the Depart
ment OF Buildings. but II was not sufficiently
rapid to clear off the accumulation OF business.
There were |. 1856 such alleged violations on Jan.
l and lbs on April !. Though the bust
ness OF the ONCE accumulated, the cause
OF such accumulation is. not, given in
the report OF the Superintendent. II is
not to be ascrihed, it is supposed, to n lack OF
adequate appropriation. for the, city Is cxpcnd'
ing for the Department OF buildings this year a
larger sum than at any time before, The
amount OF expenditures for the maintenance of
this department has usually been about 5000
900. In 1898 it was S20i, 600. This year, how
ever. the appropriation is $3lo, 900, and more
than $500 900 OF this sum goes for the single
item of salary: There is no lack OF diligence in
the Building Department in respect Of core
spondcnce at least. for 1t appears that during
the three months ending on April ] the number
OF letters written and copied in hook " by the
attorney of tho department WAS ]. S35.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-06-20

hve-cent pie into his mouth at one fell syoop.
putting n very dirty handkerchief In after II,
thon pushing the whole down hard with the ond
of n cane. BY the tino no had finished, tho au.
dienco was climbing oyer tho stage to get at
him, and he had to run for IL.
Had not tho Cherry sisters already been In this
city the Weber sisters might get u Broadway
engagement, There were but two OF the Wob-
bers. One was fat and. one was lean, and both of
them wore short. frocks. Tho fat one wore q
the knees and sky blue above. The crowd
wanted them. They fell over ono another in
their efforts to get at the young women, who
were singing MY Pearl Is a Bowcry Girl y and
the manager hauled them OF tho stage by force.
There wero many othors who did turns. but
after q time the crowd began 10 grow tmpa-
tient and to yell for "Scotty.' At last Scotty
tion, ending with his "Bowery Bum" song. For
encorcs he sang q ditty entitled only Me-"
The professor pitches tho first verso too high.
and the kid couldn't roach the top notes. Tho
next time tho professor lowered the key, but tho
Kid forgot his words, and went to the professor
"Sny, watts do matter Wild. youso anyway
Donchenow dat wen youse changes. dc key !
gets all hRllcd upi Say, break away"
The audience was so please1 with Scotty's Of
mics ut him. and thcro was Il walt while he picked
up the coins. lie was going TO make tho most
Of them because ho couldn't got tho watch.
When the last turn was finished It was nearly
stage and began to shout the name OF the favor
ite, Jones, tho winner of the gold watch. All the
actors and actresses lined up on tho. stage and
Manager Woods cnnlc out, gold watch in hand.
The contestants held out their. hands for 1t. MIR;
Woods walked up and down tho limo a couple OF
times, then put the watch into Lew Jones's
hands. and tho grlnning darky was carried out
Of the theatre on tho shoulders OF the crowd.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-06-20
THE MAN WIrn A GIANT sNoRr.
IL Higgins Like tho HuEz OF . Rec and Increases
TIL Il L. Liko n Roar.
From the ST. Louis Giobe. Democrat.

fFpH tNt Of LDuts U 'DfHlOCTut.
Helpless and persplring on a cot at the City
Hospital lies Albert Woisse. tho heaviest man
ever admitted TO tho institution ~ n patient.
Weissc, who weighs 203 pounds, is suffering
principally from his obesity. although his case Is
diagnosed as malaria, and no Ia subject ut
times to that disease.
Wcisso was admitted yesterday morning, and
II took the combined efforts OF q dozen mon TO
push him mp tho narrow stnirways. lie whcoEcd
and pulled, and was at last landed safely in
ward 3. At one time. however. his promoters
only gone TO sleep when half way up the stairs.
That is ono of his failings. A physician up.
proachos the, cot on which no lies, feels his
pulse, and asks him how he feels. Weisse starts
10, tell him, and half through u sentence falls
asleep. When no wakes up half an hour later
no completes the sentence.
The man snorod SO loudly last night that, with
tho noise he made and the heat combined, few
Of the patients in tho ward were able 10 sleep.
Woisso has been In u number of private huspi-
tails, but has been discharged because he dis
turbcd the other patients with his snores. These
sioroS are wonderful. They start with a mild
buzz, like that OF u bee under a tumbler. Then,
changing in tone, they become Shrillcr, like the
approach OF u distant train. Nearer comes tho
engine. or rather, louder is the snorc, until sud-
lion. That is the finale. Then Weisse begins
over ngnin AT tho boo stage.
The hospital physicians gay they can do lit
tie for .Weissc besides diet him.. Al a private
hospital he would be mado to take u system of
exercise, hut tho facilities at the city instltu-
combine his meals 10 non'fat producing food and
Keep the double braces under his cot TO prevent
n CAyc-in. WCissc Is n German, 10 Years old.
and his home Is at O05 South Second street.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-06-20
Funny without Knowing II.
Nrom the Youths Companion.

FSOm the Youths Companion.
Debate In the British Houso OF Commons 10 ordi.
uariy concuvled In Aiow. conversational tone.
Not long ago u buriy military member, who was
not accustomed 10 public speaking. delivered an
excited harangue on tho exile OF the Guards to Glib
rAlt.r. and nearly emptied the House by tho vio-
lence OF hA shouting.
II was ike the breath OF q roaring blast furnace.
and every word seemed TO crackIe with explosive
energy. Members I'm the benches wers q. nrst
amused oy hia unnecessary fsrvor, aud finally
weaTiod by his noisy. cnr-splittiug defamation.
Drawing himself M to his fun height and speaking
In toneH which were fairly dearening, he shouted:
'lt ! may be allowed TO whisper la the car OF the
Goverument--'
He was not allowed TO so on. Tho members burst
into 4 loud guraw OF laughter. which drowned his
voice and seriously Disconnected him. When IL
was perceived from hs look OF astonishment that
he was unconscious OF the real causs OF amusement,
they laughed aSain. even more heartily than they
had laughed before.
Unconscious humor is not always appreciated.
When Herr Ricshsrr, not long ago. turned con.
temptuousiy toward the German Ministers and
cried out, 1--WE hear nothing upon the Ministerial
benches. nothing but profound siIcncs.' no mem.
Der moved a muscle. and nobody laughed; yet
Whispering In thunder tones Was scarcely more
luuicrous Than hearing profound silence.
o'C5nnell's most famous Irish bull was delivered
at q public meeting In London, and passed unno.
ticed until the speech Vas In print. He asserted that
the birth rate In Dublin had diminished by 5000
q year for four years, and added, soicmnly;
~ charge the British Government with the muir.
der OF those 10000 iniants who never were bornl''
Nothing could have been more ABSURD, yaI there
was not q aigu OF appreciation from the audience
that the great orator had been unoonSclousiy funny.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-06-20
MIR. BHLTOPs DISTURBED.
, Chilled BY Cold Facts which Mrs. Bintops
Occasionnily Recites-

S
ct am not, as you might say, a victim Of In
somnia." said Mr.. Billtops, but I find I sleep
best when I go to sleep in a tranquil frame of
noisy contributes materially to that happy con-
dition. and after dinner I like to smoke a pipe or
two and road an interesting book. II 1t is really
interesting 1t makes me forget all about bust
ness cares and II 1t Is so interesting that when
Hay 1t down on the table I can say. half to Mrs.
Billtops and half to myself: That's the most
interesting book I've read In a long time why
then I'm In such shape that l can go to bed and
go to sleep.
But rs likely as not Mrs. Billtops takes that
time of all others TO speak about the leo bill or
tho children's shoes. Mrs. Billtops is not a
gloomy person-far from 1t. She Is the lifo and
soul Of the Billtops household; but sbo knows
that things have got to BIO looked after. that
they won't take care of themselves. and SO she
up. And she speaks about them the last thing
at night because, that - the only time she can
fnd TO speak OF them. She is busy herself all
dinner, and then when sho sits down she finds
me reading and she doesn't want to. interrupt
me. and 50 she says nothing until ! have laid
After tho leo bill. which she says ought to
have been paid two weeks ago. and the chill.
drcn's shocs-Ednn's feet arc through to the
ground. and Ahels shoes are beyond repair--sho
says she doesn't see how we are ever going 10
needs stockings, and so on: and | forget all about
the book and look. across the table at Mrs. Bill
tops. and say think everything will come out
all right; and Mrs. Billtops snys Yes; you nj
ways say. that and ! go to bed and lie awake
half the night thinking about It,.
tive or three times / have asked Mrs. Bill
tops not TO talk to me about such things the last
thing at night before going to bod: that II dis
turbs mo and keeps me awake; and that with
only half II nights sleep I am less able to work.
! try TO explain to her TINT II would be better
for all concerned to let ms sleep. hut sho say.
there's no other time when she can speak.
And 80 | guess there's nothing for me to dc
but to pitch In and. earn more money; enough tc
meet all these various wants promptly; and
that ! am going Ia do, with something over fol
Mrs. Billtops, who never speaks of herself"
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-06-20
MANAGEMENT OF THE CATHEDRAL.
Moro than 100 Persons on the Pay Roli-A
Parish or IL. OOO.

Parish or ~, 900.
st. Patrick's Cathedral on Fifth avenue Is the
chief church Of what Is said TO DO greatest
Catholic SEQ in the world. and yet tho outside
world hears very little about the business
management OF it. Few who stop to admire its
graceful lines even give a thought to tho large
amount OF money that must be raised every
year 10 pay its expenses and keep up its repair.
Every property right Is vested in tho Arch
bishop who is the head OF the Board OF Trustees
and e~X-Oficio Chairman OF each committee, but
for business purposes tho corporate body Of tho
Cathedral consists Of nine trustees. who
meet on tho first Thursday of each month.
Before them everything OF u business nature
pertaining to the Cathedral goes for review and
adjustment. In tho present Board there arc
Archbishop Michael A. CorriGan, James ID.
Lynch. John McAncrncy. Frederic r. Coudert.
John Hayes. DIR. T.. l.. Keycs. William IMm-
mis-. Cornelius OReilly. and John A. Sullivan.
Tho government OF this big church is In the
hands OF tho Archbishop and his chief ~licutcn-
dollar raised and expended goes through Rector
Lavcllc's hands. The Church Economist quotes
tho Rev. Father Lnvclle rs saying:
There are but two sources OF revenue In our
church, and they are pew rents and tho volun-
tary offerings OF tho people. The expenses OF
thedral. with its auxiliary schools, libraries. and
hcncticcnt institutions. are mot without much
ullnCullS. 1 ne amount required Is, OF course,
large. but the Cathedral people are reasonably
liberal in their financial notions. and whenever
"a need presents itself nothing moro has been
necessary, thus far. than to notify them and
they respond.
There are about IL. 900 church going Catho.
lies in this pnrish, hut n great many OF the per-
sCrs who worship in the Cathedral como from
other parishes and other cities. From October
10 Juna probably from $4,000 to Is, 900 persons
worshipir this church each SUNDAY. On special
days, such MS Christmas and Faster, We have
had rs many as 10000 worshippcrs. Naturally
| tho nfpSnnfp M 4 n MANY nnrAnna rnnntrNa thu Al.
tcntion and labor OF a largo forca of
eleTgymon and attendants. Besides tho Arch,
bishop thcrc arc eight priests regularly
connected with the Cathedra! and there
Gre, ,hyc %chapcls, outside OF tho Cathe-
dral building, under the care OF these clergy
men. These outside chapols are located as fol-
lows: One In the Orphan Asylum for boys; one
ia the Orphan Asylum for girls; one in the De
La sale Institute; one in the residence OF the
Christian Brothers Mt 2iS East Forty.ninth
street, and one in the Convent OF the Sacred
Heart at Fifty'fourth street.
Including tho choir, altar boys, sexton and
persons on tho pay rolls OF the Cathedral.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-06-20
REST CURE IN THE TENDERLoIS.
A Resort That was 10 Tt DsviIish, but Is
simply sOp0rInc.

There is a new establishment founded with
tho idea Of supplying tho Tendcrloin with
gayety. although IL Is somewhat Intermittent
and linbfe to sudden interruption. The p~ropric-
tor of this particular resort has his place only a
few doors from broadway. but It might be in tho
quiotcst part OF tho torn. Tho stiffness OF tho
room, despite three musicians, is awful. Tho
desolation OF II is more distressing. One or two
couples are generally to DO found on the low
benches, and in the comparative yastness of
tho place they emphasize the difference between
the evident purpose Of tho establishment and
tho degree OF success with which it has been
accomplished. Anything like ~revulry in tho
gloom of that room would seem sacrill 20.
The proprietor meant the place TO be an im!ta-
ton OF an Oriental resort, and it may rot DO his
fault that It has turned out more of o rest cure.
But whatever his plan was, that waS tho result.
The sounds of the broadway life seem far away,
and the few people that come into the place
speak in whlspcrs, They are not afraid OF being
overheard. The restraint OF the establishment
Is not one of Its strongest f~oaturss; but n sound
interrupts such a bulG OF silence that anybody
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-06-20
AND JUNCTROPOLIS RACED
Il TRUE STORY OF NEW JoURNALLsM
IN KANSAS.

Tho whole Town Torn Up by q view York
MANS Account or Its ''Lady Minstrel
SHOW" and n wild ana vooiiy Reply
Hurled Mt the offender by tho Newspaper.
A young man from New York who drifted into
Kansas City went to work as q reporter. His
only hat happened to DO a straw one with q blue
and yellow band, and this in Kansas City gave
him the name Of being a great dude and brought
him this order:
There is to be a lady minstrel show at
Junctropolis. Kan. Go there and got up q pic
turesque story about society girls in burnt cork.
Take an artist along"
When the New Yorker with the gay hat got
on the train no learned that Junctropolis was
$50 miles away westward toward the Rocky
Mountains. Sure enough, the girls had adver-
tised q grand lady minstrel show and the
town was agog to see them. The reporter made
inquiries to find out who were the bellies Of the
show, picked up some town incidents. and knew
intuitively that his blue and yellow hat band was
the cynosure OF all eyes. After the show the
artist and the dude reporter conferred.
at won't do to go back and say tho show was
too tame for words" said the reporter. We've
got to turn in a good story after spending three
days and travelling 500 miles"
Il could make q hit by drawing them true to
life" replied the artist. but the paper would
get boycotted!"
There's nothing to do" continued the re-
porter. except to make a fairy scene of grace
and beauty out of 1t. They can't kick on that"
So they went to work, the reporter describing
the lady minstrels" and their show as a be-
wi!dering constellation Of female beauty which
no burnt cork could hide. The artist drew black
faced hours.
Say" said he. II guess I'd better cut n few
inches off their skirts T.
"Yep!' replied the reporter. who was working
like a stevedore on his story.
Now. the reporter with the frivolous hat did
not understand that the very heart OF Junctrop.
oils had stopped beating pending the criticism OF
the worldly person who had been in their
midst" Eagerly the newspaper was seized
when it came, and the eyes OF Junctropolis stood
out in CLASSY establishment to read OF q grand
affair that seemed like the account OF the doings
Of European royalty. Junctropolis gasped and
gathered in knots on the street corners.
A day or two after the New Workers. return q
man in the business office OF the newspaper said:
Say. you made n great hit out there with
that lady minstrel story; we are still getting
Geographic orders for papers"
Then, imagine the reporters establishment
when the following clipping from the county
newspaper in Junctropolis was handed him:
Is HE 4 DAGO?
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-06-20
Two Hunarea and sl.r, seven Pound. OF Dog
from the Vernon, Pnani-.

TTOn Tie Vermont FhdniT.
Nero. q dog owned by Wayne Bailey of Rutland.
is said TO be the larEes, canine in the world. he
tipped the scales Friday at 2B7 pounds. Nero Is q
handsome half German aud-half English mastin,
fawn br!ndle in color. bis huge head being OF q
tr!he darker shade. :e IS as agile and lively as q
cat He makes q splendid. watch dog. but ia a kind
and anectionate animal. Mt. Bailey bought him NJ
West Rutland when he was six months old. He is
now four years old. At tho time OF purchase Nero
weighed 162 pounds. The animal stands up from
tho ground 80 inches and Eirts so inches. The
dogs neck IS unusually large, measuring 80 inches;
and from tip to tip he measures 8 feet 81 inches.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-06-20
ny Paper Catches n Rat.
From the Topeka Capital

PrrsBuRo. Kan. June ia weii.known local
grocery man has been In the habit OF placing sew.
erai ahee;s of III" familiar tanglefoot paper on his
counters at night to entice tho flies. Whom he
opened his store yesterday morning he found q
couple of the sheets NJ tauglsfoot paper partially
rolled up on the floor and tangled up with them
was q good. sized rat, that was endeavoring 70 get
away. bus made n miserable failure OF It. It had
evidently got its feet fast in the paper in such q
manner as 10 prevent its running. ana then in ly-
Ing down to free itself gave the sticktpess = good
grip upon its hairy coat.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-06-20
"FIsNEam.''
rho Coiored Deacon's FIsurat,rs rraysr.
From the Roanoke Ne.Ns.

FSom the Roanoke Nets.
A white minister. after conducting services at .
eolored church, asked an old deacon TO lead in
prayer. The brother in black offered q fervent ap.
peal for the white brother and said; 20 Lord, glib
him de eye oh de eagle Oct he spy out sin afAr on.
wav his hands to de Gospel plough. Tie his tongue
to de iiue oh truth. Nall his ear TO de Gospel pole.
Bow his hea: way down between his knees. and hia
knees way down in acme Lonesome, dark, and mar
rer valley where prayer 10 mu, wanted TO be made.
Mont him wild de- kerosene flo OF sAlvashon and st
him on nro -
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-06-20

from to Phttudctphto HccoTu-
Theodore D. Sage took q vest to Burnbardt's cloth
ing shop to DO furpished up. Yesterday Sage called
for the vest, and. a Il was ready for him, he
donued IL and left the place. When outside tho
shop Sage took q cigar from HIS pocket and struck
o match to light tho wood. In an instant ne was
ablaze. Tho vest was responsible. Some innam-
mabio stur with which the garment had been
cleaned had not wholly dried and had been set anre
by the flame from the match. Before Sage could
get the vest OF he was badly burned and had 70 bo
taken to the Pennsylvania Hospital.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-06-20
An 0SiiGing superintendent.

Prom the Electrical RerIetr.
The President of an electric railway company
complained to his superintendent, . Hibernian
named FinneGin, that his daily reports:of trouble
on the line were too iong-too wordy. "cut 'sm
Short" said the buay President. The superinteu.
dents next report OF . car on The track satisfied
all lnnds. IL was:
'oiaEin.
"Ouagin.
"AwAyaGtn.
..RfnHpnn .,
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-06-20
Locouotivo Captures . ThieE.


n ~ FTFV
nAucH cHuSE, Pa, June lt.-Jamss Schmidt,
residence anywhere. entered weibrech's bakery
to-day and stole q watch from . vest. Fifteen
minutes later the theft was discovered. Schmidt
was seen running up tho railroad. and q special On.
CINE ran him 10 earth two miles above town. Al
the point OF Q revolver no gave up the treasure.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-06-20
Asleep Nearly Three Daya.


ETUHE tWO HtFuItFVFtE -
ArLLvuLn, June lo.-pavid Champion, = folder
employed at o MilivIlio bleachery. suddenly on
Sunday evening fell into . deep sleep. in which
state he remained until late this afternoon.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-06-20
Correct


From the San Francisco EranfAsr.
The master .was asEinE questions. Masters are
ant to AK questions, and sometimss. too. the
answers are spt. This question was as follows;
Now, boys. how many months have twenty
eight daysi'
.Aii OF them. SIR replied q boy In front.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-06-20

:" ~ ITVoF0V TT
In . Maine town there 10 a Custard Pie Associa-
tion. II originated in q pie-satine match between
two farmers nearly . generation ago. Since that
time 10 has held an annual festival, with custard
pie as the pisos dc rtsistanoe. This ''unrivailed
deiicacy.'' as the b~enightsd natives call II, 10
washed down with cider.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-06-20
uorso Chased . bicycle ana Kiokea 1t ana the
Rider.
Hror, u. Baltimore Anertean.

sHrTxNsBUno. June IT,. p. Lavanture. . b.
cycle rider Of MELVILLE. met with an odd accident
while riding along the pike. He passed . horse
grazing nc the side OF the.road. The horse became
skittish and trot,ed after him. He rode fast 70 get
away, but it was Of no use. and when the horse got
along side OF him he kicked the bicycle and rider
into q stone pile. The bicycle was wrecked and the
rider badly cut and bruised.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-06-20
-Four Husband. and Forty Chnarsn.
Nom the Dublin CGa.) Courier.

Fron the Dublin (Gd.) Courier.
There II a neRro man working in this county who
says he is one OF forty children BY one mother. He
says his mother was married four ttmes, and rave
birth TO twenty seven boys and thirteen girls in
North Carolina, and IL yet living.