davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-07-10
A Sturdy FaVOrite.


Nearly every one will find
Many things tibet strikes his mind
In way with which most people won't
agree:
When the summer perfumes rise
From the fields up to the Skies
They seem the sweetest thing on earth
to me.
An the 1ow'rs tibet We hev tended with
sech patience an sech care
Hev flown like tickle friends an left the
tf1orns behind em there.
1t doesn't show a taste thets cultivated,
! suppose,
But 1 sort o. like the clover blossom better
than the rose.
Its petals ne'er caress
Cheeks of blushin' loneliness
Midst brilliant lights an music soft an
low.
But where modestly 1t waits
Folks of high or low estates
Finds comfort in its frank and CHEEKY
glow.
An the bees they hover round it an they
seem to love 1t best,
Cause 1t doesn't smile with promise but to
wither, like the rest;
And it freely gives it's fragrance to each
wanderin' breeze that blows
And 1 sort o like the clover blossom better
than the rose.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-07-10
Written Exclusively for The Evening Star
An Ineyi,ni,lc PurDslnx.

An Inevitable Paradox.
There's no use of expecting anything
else. said the misanthrope who had been
persuaded to go on a picnic with. his fam
lily. Human nature is going TO be incon-
sistent. and that's all there is to it. You'll
merely waste your time trying TO make it
any different
What's the matter now?" asked bis
wife. Hasn't the weather been good ?
And didn't people let you alone so as to
give you nothing to grumble about?'
On, yes. But did you notice the singing
as We got back?''
Yes. And it was very NICE appropriate
music
appropriately he repeated with infinite
scorn. Il don't pretend to be any critic.
AS lar as quality was concerned. the music
may have been as good as any opera you
pay f1ve dollars "a seat to go to sleep at.
But when ii comes to question of pro-
priety. all 1t did was to remind me of the
downright and unalterable perverseness
OF this human race. When people get back
from trip to Europe they don't do any
thing but hustle around to get :heir lug
gage through the custom house ard pro-
cure a carriage to take them TO a hotel
home from an excursion a mile and half
out of town, they can't be satisfied unless
they wake up the whole country singing
Home Again, Home Again, From a For
e:En Shore!"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-07-10

palm him off as human turkey he or;er
have feathers claws or somethin' like
that" she commented. 1.-The only differ
ence I kin see between him and other peo-
pie Is the way he smokes tobacker"
"Ef / was as skeered of gittin' cIus up
to the weed as he seems ter be l wouldn't
smoke at all. And anyhow 1 don't believe
he's smokin' tobacker. He's just drinkin'
lemonade through piece of hose"
AS tiey turned away in deep disgust at
the decisions of life, the Mohammedan took
long puff at the hookah. The deep low
gurgle arrested the mans attention and
he shoIted.
Come back. Mandy! 'Tain't no swindIe
He amt got no feathers and he amt got
no claws. But there's no denyin' that he
kin 'gobble' most life-liker'
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-07-10
What Cured Him,

NO" said the Texan, Il hain't had a
hand in a hangin' fer long time an ct
the Lord fergives me fer what I have had
to do with them I won't do it again.
'You must be contemplating a removal
to the effete intellectually of Boston," re-
marked Star reporter.
mo, you see it was this away" said the
Texan seriously "'Long about five year
ago. come next August. and 1t was hotter n
Phil Sheridan in Texas that year. me and
four er five of the boys come across a peak
ed lookin' teller one day with boss that
we knowed didn't belong to him. We
stopped him very polite and asst him where
he got 1t and he said he was a stranger
there and had nothin' but a wagon about
seven mile back and off the road with a
dead boss hitched to 1t and sick little
gal in 1t likely to die and he was out seem
ct he couldn't find doctor err a woman
er somebody to do somethin', fer the little
gal was all he had on earth and he couldn't
stand to have her die like that. He told us
he had picked Up the boss we found him
ridin' because he was not able to walk fas.
enough and wouldn't We fer God s sake tell
him where ne could find somebody to see
the little gal and then eff We wanted to
square him UP with Texas fer takin' the
moss. he wouldn't have word to say.
Nv ell, we had heerd that kind of a story
many a time. and the first one that had
been spread out before us saved the mans
life and lost a boss and subscription
fer the sufferers that We took up, and We
had been learned 4 lesson. So when this
chap give us a racket like that we give
him seven minutes fer pra'r and swung him
up.
That was the end of it fer the present,
hut about month after that me and one
CT the boys happened to be ridin' along tine
read where that Teller told US about his
little gal, and we seen something that
reckon l won't fergit eff 1 live to be
thousand years old. There was only
ramshackle old wagon with skeleton Of
horse In the shafts, and layin' on some old
rags In the wagon was the little bones of
child, all picked clean and white by the
huzzards. just like the boss was
Il kinder choked up when 1 seen that,
and MY pardner done the same and while
l was 'standin' there thinkin' he reached
down under the side Of the wagon led
and picked up a slip of paper pinned to the
wood. 1t was wrote on with a lead pencil
and was mighty near faded out but what
very carefully a silver box from which
he took small and crumpled sheet of pa
per bearing upon 1t the line, in a chiid's
hand: 'Dere pa / cant waite no longer for
You to cum Because T. That was all
there was to it, he concluded land then
me and my pardner looked at each other
and never said word. There was a big
funeral for the little gal and her pa and
the pore old boss that died in the harness
but it'll take good deal more'n any fu-
neral to set me straight with myself and
put my feelin's like they was before
IL und them bones and this little scrap OF
writn'. And 1 don't feel the same about
swinsin a man up fer stealth a boss,
neither" '
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-07-10

A man who was bald with the exception
of small red fringe " hich reached around
the back of his lead from ear to ear was
waiting for the lawyer when the latter
came into his office.
Il want to consult you on rather I'M
usual case he said after greetings had
been excha nged. What 1 came to find
out is this, can a persons name be
changed?"
Certainly. All he has to do is to show
| some good and sufficient reason for adopt
ing another name, and it can be very easily
arranged
Il know that. But can it be done with
| out the knowledge or consent of the party
| most interested
why, of course not"
Il WAS afraid you would say that. But
maybe wren you hear all the circum-
stances
But there are no circumstances which
will permit you to change a mans name
mean things you can do behind a friend =
back. but I'm glad to say this is not one
of them
But this person isn't a man.
THE same thing applies to a woman"
But it's not a woman either. It's my
ten-months-old baby. The trouble is that
were having too much education in our
neighborhood. honestly believe that what
l am trying to do is for the babys own
good. Ny wife and were anxious to give
him name that would have a substantial
sound and at the same time he associated
with classical tradition. So We hit upon
Cicero
That's a very good name"
Your remark shows how easy IL Is to
be deceived. We liked it first rate until
our eldest girl got into the High School
One day she came home and informed US
that We We're mispronouncing the baby's
name 1t isn't Sissero.' she tells us; its
.kickero.'
That's the pronunciation usually taught
now"
so l learned upon inquiry. And if you'H
take the L am willing to go 10 any
expense to Change his name to Thomas or
John or jeremiah. or most anything that
won't sound as If We had taken Indian
DapooSe to raise"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-07-10

patheticaIly. "ycu always were so fond of
ham sandwiches
i can't imagine any worse fate than TO
be an unraturally fat man: so 1 won't run
any rishs with potatoes, and as for milk
what is life without hair"
sun, said his wife. even If YOU were TO
go INTO a museum people wouldn't believe
you when you said you got along without
eating those things"
gu don't understand. All that there is
left Tor me TO eat IS, now and then, a quart
OF peanuts or cents worth of piums from
the fruit stand l suppose that one can
subsist long time en- peanuts and plunls.
But he is bound to waste away And as
soon as reach the proper degree of ema-
citation 1 want to go into the living skeleton
department OF some good reliable museum
and feel that even though my own life is a
blank, my misfortuneS are the means of
laying up something to keep the wolf away
from the door of those whom l leave be-
hind
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-07-10
So TX EST >. ~ = : :
An EXPENSIVE ASSIGNMENT.
Is - -Na---ASs $50
The Jubilee Cost. the BrOokIyn's Of.
Ef,cSS

The Jubilee Cost. the BrOol>lyn's Of
fcefs Il 1'tetty Penny.
Naval ofacz+s OF duty here await with
interest the reiurnTpf the officers who went
to the QuesE's jubilee on the cruiser
Brooklyn. Although. from many points
of view that assignment was most de-
sirable one. bn had gone great disadvantage
in the important matter of personal ex-
2cnse. which, caused it to be generally
Stunned. When The Brooklyn was selected
for the mtssien. many of her officers were
detached at their own request, and their
places supplied by others. more fond of
social diversions, and at the same time
able financially to. engage in them. the
consequence Was that the ship was OIL
cered main,y by volunteers willing and
able to pay for the social obligations in
cident to the jubilee.
1t was conceded that the officers would
be put to heavy personal expenses far be-
Eond their Salaries in returning social
cGurtesles shown them by the assembled
representatives of other navies. as we'll as
in making some show OF recprocatirg the
lavish Inequalities of their English Eretk-
rem. The trip meant winning and dining
galoreto reciprocate which in the slightest
degree, ~ meant expenditures considerably
in excess of the regular salaries paid by
the. EoNernT>ent. To meet this. condition,
Only officers hav!Ig other financial re-
sources Were detailed to fill the vacant
pithSeS oli Inc brooklyn. MOSl OF them
are well eff ma worldly sense and several
OF them are. rich. In the latter class is
included Commander William Emory, VINO
acted as executive, officer. He is we'll
known here as a man of independent for
tune, fond of society and. as one of his
friends put it. liable to hold up his end in
any company. ccIvivial or otherwise
Several others of the ships company
are similarly circumstanced and constitu-,
TED, ara were chosen on that account. In
order to tighten their financial burdens
as much as possible. however, the Secre-
tary of the Navy allotted Admiral Miller,
who was in &C m mand of the expedition
the sum of $1,000 towards meeting the ex-
pe.lses CT the entertainments the officers
would necessarily have to give in return
for courteses received. This money Was
used, OF course, only for the purely formal
functions on the ship. and is popularity
supposed to have been merely drop In
the bucket compared with the total ex-
penses incurred by the officers on their in
diviaual accounts. In reciprocating cour-
tesies extended they had to entertain
scions of nobility and other guests of equal
ly expensive gastror omical tastes and sew
eral Of the dinners given are said to have
cost the hosts a pretty penny.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-07-10
An Elm With a Heart of Brick.

From the New YYfk Sun,
One Of the, oldest 1sight of New Bruins
wick. N. j., is the elm tree in front of John
E. Elmendorfes house on Albany street.
Mr., Elmendorf had the tree lined with
brick to keep 1t alive.
The tree Is said to be nearly two hundred
years old. Several years ago insects at
tackled 1t and followed its heart out Then
at Fourth of July celebration q spark set
fire to the dry interior. and destroyed the
greater part of what was left Only the
bark on one size and a little of the wood
remained.
At every wind the tree shook and seemed
IN Imminent danger of falling. Mr. Elmen-
dcrr mad given up all hope of saving the
elm. when his wife proposed that they wall
It up inside. Mr.. Elmendorf set a mason at
work lining the elm with brick. Fully one
half Of the tree is now solid masonry. and
1t Is In fourishing condition,
The side with the bricks faces the street
ard is easily seem 1t is two blocks from
the Albany street bridge The tree is
known as the freak tree and the brick tree.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-07-10
A LOST OPPORTUNITY,
The story of How a Fortune Got Away
From a Man.

From a Man.
A little group of men were talking the
other evening in the cleaning time, when
people seem to think more about what
they might have been than they do at any
other hour of the day, and the subject was
lost OPPORTUNITIES.
Il hate to refer to the matter at ALL"
remarked the colonel. who fought through
the late war at the head of Michigan reg
iment, because it only makes me renew
my contempt for myself, but I've had
chances in the northwest to put myself
iii the millionaire list that nobody but
confirmed zap would think of neglecting
After the war was 'land-looker,' they
are called and L knew the whole country
from Detroit clean through to the far cor
ner of Minnesota, and right where there
are big buildings and beautiful city squares
today 1 could have bought land at any
price l might name. Ore man wanted me
to buy, in Duluth, few lots at fifty dol
lars apiece, and l laughed at him. They
are worth five dollars square foot today
and upward. 1 picked up enc piece of land
at Agate Harbor for hundred dollars and
sold it for thousand; that is worth fifty
thousand now, and / wouldn't give a man.
two hundred and fifty for a tract that is
worth as many thousand this very minute.
But those are small potatoes and few
iii a hill to the biggest piece Of lost oppor-
tunityism was ever guilty Of and the
colonel sighed profoundly. You know that
famous Mesaba iron mine country, UP there
on Lake Superior. where they are taking
out thousands OF tons every year of the
richest iron ore on earth, and any quantity
of men are enjoying princely incomes from
their royalties? Well, before anybody ever
heard of the Mesaba iron ore 1 was up
there running a line north from the Clo-
quet river, and one day 1 began to have
all sorts of trouble with my compass.
Ordinarily it was d very tractable and
reliable instrument, but here for some rea-
son 1t acted strangely, or rather refused to
act at all, and could hardly get any sense
out of it, 1 kept going ahead, however
ard for ten miles my trouble continued.
Then it was over. and I never was quite
so glad of anything when that compass
began to work again, and did not have 10
lay my course by sun.
Il knew before l finished what the mat
ter was, but what did that iron under the
ground that swerved my needle out of It's
course mean to me? Nothing. That's all.
l was plain everyday chump. What l
was after was timber, and the timber all
a-cng there was not of sufficient quality 10
justify my giving the land second
thought. and 1 didn't. Think of it. men
and brethren sighed the colonel again,
there was walking over and standing on
millions and millions of dollars, and could
have had all of 1t 1 wanted for the mere
having sense enough to take 1t up, and
didn't have the sense"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-07-10

He laid down his paper with a sigh and
exclaimed: Il wish could find out whom
to write to, to learn what salaries are paid
/. to museum freaks"
why. Benjamin Titusr' his wife ex-
claimed. what for? You're not any
freak"
I'm not any freak now. But I will be
one before a great while. And I'd like to
learn how much a good living skeleton
ought to command per week.
"Are you losing your senses?'
mo. I've been reading these articles
about how to take care of myself. One of
them says that you mustn't eat meat be-
cause 1t stimulates the nerves and is over
heating. Another says that bread gives
you indigestion and that potatoes make
you fat. Still another conveys the informa-
ton that milk will make your hair fall out
nervous man Il a bltghting nuisance to
the community and the quicker he gets out
of 1t the better. I'll have to let meat
alone, sure. man with the indigestion
makes home unhappy. and can't take any
more chances on filling my system with
bread"
Its too bad" bis wife interjected. sym
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-07-10


the hour for the display arrived Mr.. Bly,
kins, who had assembled his wife and some
friends on the lawn. lit a candle and stood
1t on a corner of the porch. and he read
from book, while his son held the fire.
works as his share in the enterprise. The
pieces did rot always perform in precise
accordance with the announcements. Paper
cylinders, which were billed to produce
sparkling scintillations and bouquets Of
silver flowers emitted a few sparks and
faded into melancholy embers. fire.
cracker which was to explode with q
tremendous defamation like heavy artillery
proved to be a sizzer. and through some
clerical error he read an elaborate descrip-
ton. including references to scrolls of
crimson, blue and gold, and radiant halos"
about what proved to be whistiing bomb.
What he looked forward to with most en-
thusiasm was large mime
This" he read aloud, bending close to
the candle and holding his glasses to his
eyes with one hand, 'is q most effective
and snowy work. It ID heavily charged
with colored and silver stars. groups of
exploding serpents. meteoric star-showers.
colcred gerbs and japanese fires, which
are discharged In a great cloud and scat
tered In all directions. The display con-
eludes with Q galaxy Of electric stars amid
an eruption Of prismatic gems"
Amid appiarse-the applause Of his Id
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-07-10
A Gloomy Moment.

uiOomy MOment.
There's subtle fascination in the study
of the weird
In these metaphysic mysteries which
never can be cleared
From the simple fireside story meath the
candies shivering rays,
To the learned disquisition couched in sci
entific phrase.
The phantoms which, tits told. appear
mems faltering nerves to shock
Have filled us with great awe concerning
night and twelve o'clock:
But. none the less. the rcst uncanny, spec
trail time of day
Is the hour of 7:3O. when the rats come out
to play.
This is the time when solitude reigns I'M
disputed there
Where life was swift and earnest while the
day was shining fair.
And the aimless wight who fingers finds
the fading sunsets hue
More CHASTITY thar the lights which war
locks turn 10 Pickering blue.
Ard lamps shine in the distance from the
homes of happiness
Like lantern-jacks which mock men in
their moments of distress;
'Tis then that sorrows gather and our
hopes all fade away
At the hour of T:30. when the rats come out
to play
From corners where the shadows seem to
join in hide-and-seek
They leer and jibe and iostle and they
scurry and they squeak
They hit like gruesome memories Of terror
and of pain
That leave us for a moment, only to re-
turn again.
Ard their gaunt and sinuous bodies pass
like wraithS of human need;
OF cowardice and cruelty and shameless
ness and greed.
All, better far the darkness, be its terrors
what they may,
Than this hour of $780, when the rats come
out to play.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-07-10
Seeking SOlacc.

1t was one of the sultriest days of the
season. when the unhappy-looking man
went into the physicians Office 1t was a
heavy. sullen heat. in which every twig
and leaf hung absolutely motionless.
Doctor" he said. Il want you to repeat
something that you told me last year"
Some advice that you have forgotten
No L haven't forgotten it. l simply
want to hear it over again. You remember
early this spring you warned me that 1
would have to take better care of my gen.
eral health"
Yes
And you especially pointed out to mo
that L mustn't sit in draft"
II recall that"
Il can't remember your exact language
but you were very eloquent i'm impressing
the risks man ran when he sat by an
open window without any coat on and
permitted the zephyrs to splash against his
chest
II don't believe 1 used exactly those
Words
No. That is one reason why I want Won
to say 1t all over again. I'm willing to
pay the regular consultation fee to have
you go through with that speech. The only
way 1 can get any comfort out of this
weather is to be reminded with all the en-
phass that rhetoric can command of how
dangerous it would be to sit In a draft n
there was any draft to sit in
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-07-10
1t Seemed Queer.

From Tid-Bits.
A poor woman who kept a small shop in
a northern village, and who was troubled
with husband who could scarcely be con-
sidered a credit to the family. one day
found herself a widow through the sudden
demise of her spouse. Said lady: II am
sure. Mrs. C.. you must miss your hus-
band. Well. mum, 1t does seem queer to
go into the shop and find something In the
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-07-10

From Puck
And now"
Nero bent his glance toward imperial
Rome in flames and twanged the strins
carefully to see If his instrument was In
tune ----l.-s t.s--
"Tll give 'em some appropriate music"
Bringing down the bow with flourish
he soon had the quick strains of "There'il
Be Hot Time in the Old Town Tonightw
quivering from his violin. ~. ..r
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-07-10
He Escaped.
From the Atlanta Constitution.

From the Atlanta Constitution.
bishop Of the Methodist Church was
preaching sermon on the vanity of dress.
and incidentally alluded 20 People who
wore velvet and gold ornaments
After tine sermon distinguished member
of mis- conference approached him and said :
Now. bishop know you were striking at
me. for l have velvet vest and heavy
watch chain"
The bishop smiled. passed his hand over
the vest. touched the chain, ana then said,
with merry twinkle in his eye: mo
really. Brother E. for the vest you wear
is only cotton velvet and I am half per-
suaded that your watch chain is brass"'
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-07-10
A Memorn bic Display.

Mr.. Blykins is one of the men who are
methodical in whatever they do. Even
when he is bent on diversion. he lays out
a program and regards any departure from
it with annoyance. He did not prepare for
the celebration Of the Fourth of July in
the usual haphazard manner His small
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-07-10

my pddoVd " au-
mire his gaudy CO.'S
tune and watched
him with great inter-
est as he paused in
his narcotic luxury.
I'D just like to
know what they cali
him." said the wo-
man.
Hes advertised as
a Turk. I took that
to be short for 'Tur-
key But ] don't see
anything about him
that justifies their
putin Sech a state
ment onto the bill
boards"
EFF tbey're roip' 70
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-07-10

son, Tor whose bene-
fit the pyrotechnics
were to be. did not
sympathize entirely
in the extremely sys-
tematic a rr a n & e.
ments, but submitted
to the Inevitable. Mr..
Blykins instead of
patronizing the retail
shops had sent to q
fireworks manufac-
turer and gotten q
C a t a I o que from
which he ordered.
The language of the
book was dazz,ingly
effulgent and whetted
expectation to the
kaanact <lDa U-han
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-07-10

From Puck.

Hotel Clerk Ito seashore hotel proprietor)
They say they saw sea serpent Off
Barnacle beach yesterday"
Hotel Proprietor (of rival resort, con-
temptuously)-"That shows how slow they
are down there. l am Just sending in q
newspaper account of sighting the airship
off here yesterday"