davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-02-25
The Preponderance of Probability.

Until there is positive proof to the con-
trary the chances are today as they have
been from the first, ten or more to one,
that the disaster arose from accident
within the ship.-New York Sun.
For the sake Of Spain we should like
to believe this. But we cannot The
preponderance of probability, it. seems
to US, is ten or more to one on the side
of design. Let us give our reasons for
thinking so.
Ships similar in construction to the
Maine and carrying similar supplies
are aflOat in different parts of the
world to the number of several hun
dred They have been afloat for years.
Their bunkers carry coal placed as the
Names coal was placed and quite as
liable as the Names coal was 10 spon-
tanCOus combustion. Their boilers, tc O.
are fully as liable to explode as the
Names boilers were Their crews have
been under no better discipline than the
Maine's crew was. Indeed it is well
established that the discipline on board
American men-o-war even in time of
perfect tranquility is unsurpassed
With reference to the Maine the evil
dence is complete that during the time
of her stay in Havana harbor prior
her demolition the discipline pre-
served aboard her by that cool, astute
and intrepid officer, Captain Charles d.
Sigsbee. was exceptionally strict. The
conjecture that the Maine alone of all
d the warships afioat should have been
singled out by fate for destruction by
accident would impose a severe strain
upon the doctrine of probability even
< If there were no further factors in the
problem to be taken into account.
= What are these additional factors +?
Space does not permit the enumeration
of all of them, but we invite attention
to the points which follow:
a. The Maine was an unwelcome
visitor in Havana harbor. The Spanish
officials protested against her coming,
and only eased their chagrln by order
ing a Spanish warship to pay wholly
Unnecessary return visit 10 New York
harbor.
7(2) After the Maine had dropped
anchor opposite MORO castle those Of
hsr crew who went ashore were iannt-
iaafr Ira n~ro 70 .L1fffh
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-02-25

Announcement is made that the ad-
vocates of Hawaiian annexation, rec
ognizlng the improbability during the
Cuban excitement of securing two
thirds vote in the senate in favor of
ratification, will soon press joint
resolution, which needs only a major
ity vote to become effective. Under the
circumstances this is probably wise, in
asmuch as the question of annexation
is too important to remain longer un-
decided But it is a shame that there
should not be in the senate of the
United States a sufficient number Of
far-seeing and patriotic men to give
validity to the ratification of treaty
comforting such lasting benefit and ad-
vantage on the American people.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-02-25
Some OF The Best
Advice Ever Given,
From the New York Sun.

From the New York Sun.
N0 OBODY doubts the patriotism of
lMI congress. 1t represents the pa
IIVI triotism of the American people.
This remark applies to every sena-
ator of the eighty-nine senators, and to
every representative of the eighteen
score members of the house. When the
time comes fer the voice of the American
people to be heard through it's congress,
the utterance will make history. That
time may b. a week off, a fortnight off,
or a month off; no senator or congress-
man knows The thing that is certain is
that the occasion has not yet arrived.
Meanwhile. any expenditure of time or
vocal energy in the declaration of senti-
ments or intentions which the country
takes for granted and which serve no
practical purpose except to make an in
dividual record is a waste of time and a
waste of energy. 1t is like the Iashing
of the water by the propellers of a
mighty ship before the hawsers are
slipped.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-02-25
TEN PAGES.
SCRANTON, FEBRUARY 25, 1898.

1t may interest our readers to know
that every line of news printed in The
Tribune with reference to the Maine
disaster is supplied by the Associated
Press, the most careful and conservat-
i've news agency now in existence.
Nothing can be more authoritative or
better worthy of the publics conf
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-02-25
THE NAVY rs ALL RIGHT.
From the New York Sun.

From the New 1Ork sun,
We welcome the recruits to the navy,
now pouring in enthusiastically, and we
applaud their common sense in refusing
to be checked in their patriotic purpose
by the croaking of some very toolishly
wise critics of our warships. The Amer
ican navy is all right. It's heart is as
oaken and it's Heaven-given confidence in
itself is as high as they were before the
rattle of the steam which stilled
the yeo-hcave-ho, and the heave-
away, and the signing seaman s
cheer
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-02-25
WALL PAPER.

We are recognized as the pioneers OF low prices
for Wall Paper i'm this city. 1t is reputation that
will always be sustained by carrying the largest
stock and greatest variety
We will sell you Wall Paper--6 double rolls for
2Sc. as good as can be bought elsewhere at double
the price, and all of the better grades in the
proportion.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-02-25
AT Gents Furnishing Counter

Japanese Silk String Ties for Ladies and Gents each,
for rs
Satin String Ties in plain coors also Heavy Silk Ties in pads
and fances, the rs kind at cents.
Four-innand Silk Scarfs, the SOC kind IS cents.
Mems All Wool Scarlet Hose, the rs kind S or
pairs for rs cents.
Special White Shirts with Coloed Bosoms andered only 90
White Shirts with Colored Bosom link cuffs match The
Celebrated Mascot Brand Is cent kind 4S
Laundered Cambria Shirts with detachable collars
kind at 4S
You will find all of Shirts to be well made perfect fitting
generous size. We handle no sweat-shop garments
We always urge comparison. -
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-02-25
I'm Basement

All of the Caicoes lights and darks per yard
100 pieces Striped Outing Flannels, per yard.
100 pieces Union Linen Twed Crash Towelng cents per
yard
New STYLES of Percales, yard wide 5 per yard
The finest Zephyr Gnghams and Seersucke per yard
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-02-25

man. however, wants war until every
other recourse proves inadequate to
sustain justice and enforce the right.
-
Captain Eulate of the Vizcaya (pro-
nounced, by the way, as If spelled
Veeth-ky-yah) is evidently much
better diplomat than Senior Dupuy de
LONE. To a group of reporters who
visited him on Wednesday he said that
what he had most admired since
reaching New York harbor was the
New York women. They are beauti-
ful,' he added, "and they are brilliant
You evidently have the most lovely
women in the world" If Captain Eu-
late wants positive proof of this he
should by all means come to Scranton.
-
Archbishop Ireland declares that the
Maine was blown up by accident. II
say this advisedly," he adds. If the
archbishop has such important knowl-
edge up his sleeve now is u good time
to spread it broadcast
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-02-25

Just at present the responsibility and
the burden of work are upon the execu-
tive. The country trusts President Nc
Kinley and his advisers. No senator or
representative who is not a fool believes
that Mr. Mckinley is the man to arro-
gate to himself the functions of the 90
ordinate branches of the government, or
to usurp in any respect or in any degree
the power that belongs to the Legislature.
Congress can trust the president, too.
Therefore, when the impulse comes 10
any senator or representative to take the
present state of affairs as a text for pa
triotic eloquence which will merely churn
the water without putting the ship
ahead. let him control it if he can, for
the sake of interests vastly more impor-
tant than any words he can say. If the
impulse is irresistible, then let him bite
his lips hard and hasten out of the sem
ate chamber or the hall of representa-
tives, as the case may be. Let him go
out into the fresh air and stand there till
the impulse to talk evaporates, gazing in
silence at the flag which floats over his
end of the capitol There is no lovelier
object for contemplation at any time.
There is no better object at this time for
silent contemplation. This advice applies
alike to senators and congressman and 10
all other American citizens.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-02-25
AT Ribbon Counter

Number Ribbons in all of the checks stripes at IA
cents per yard
Sofa Cushion Tops of Denim IS cents. -
Figured Tapestry Cushion Tops IS cents.
Hemstitched Stamped Tray Cloths Is cents. y
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-02-25
AT Domestic Counter, Main Floor

White checked Nainsooks from to cents per yard. -
Klondike Ready-nade Pillow Cases. Handkerchief border
36x45 only cents.
Good Ready ynade Hemtched Pillow Cases, 36x45 only II
cents.
Ready y-made Sheets proportionately low in price
Beached Table Damask 4 inches WIDE rs per yard
Cream Table Linen OF inches wide 80 per yard
Fearless Beached Muslin yard wde Of the best makes
cents per yard M
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-02-25

General Harrison urges all the people
to stand by the president. He knows
the value of such support because he
has been there himself
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-02-25
Drapery Department

Another line OF Agents Samples OF Tapestries, suitable
for chair and cushion tops for cents each and upward
White Lace effect Curtain Examines worth cents, cents
per yard.
Novelty Net and Muslin Rufed Curtains from % pair,
upwards. (See Window
Closing lot of White Enamel Gilt Easels each.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-02-25

The Tribunc's tclegraphic news
is from three to five hours fresher
than that of any Philadelphia or
New York paper circulated i'll its
field. Those papers go to press at
midnight; The Tribune receives
news up to 3 a. III. and sometimes
later. All the news in The Trib-
une while it is new.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-02-25

Talk by and by. Just now go out and
gaze at the most beautiful flag in the
world.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-02-25
AT Dress Goods Counter

lot of Double-fold Novelties at cents per yard WV
Silk and Wool Mixed 36inch Novelties 18 per yard
4o-inch Monaone Suitings at FL cents per yard.
pieces of the latest Spring Dress Goods ranging from 90
cents per yard upwards.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-02-25

ENTERED AT THE PoSToFFICE AT SCRANTON,
Pa, AS sECOND-CLASS MAIL MATTER.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-02-25
Az Silk Counter

AT Silk Counter
different combinations of Changeabe Silks rs per
yard.
New Plaid Tafea Silks suitable for Waists and Dresses 4S
cents yard
On Second Floor MUSLIN Underwear Department
dozen Ladies Aprons the IS cents kind I9
dozen Ladies White Aprons, the kind
IS dozen Fine Embroidered Aprons, the kind 49
The evening times., 1898-10-12
COSTLY MISTAKES.

In the current number of the Review OF
Reviews is the following: The corps that
went to Santiago was virtually the regu-
lar army. Every regiment that went TO
Tampa went there ready for service
Their equipment was just complete
on April 26 as it was on June 8. They wore
the same clothing to Cuba that they had
brought from Sheridan, Assinniboine and
Sherman They brought with them their
wagons and mules, their tents and camp
equipage. There should have been no
problems to solve in regard to them, and
yet there were many. Owing to delays IN
the supply department, they wore winter
clothing for their service in the torrid
zone, and drew summer clothing there
just in time to return to the bracing
breezes OF Montauk where, in their en-
feebled condition. winter clothing would
have been much more suitable When
they landed in Cuba their wagons and
mules had vanished. Consequently ra-
tions, of which there was abundance at
Baiquiri. were slow in coming up and
We're doled out one meal at a time, and
short at that. The vegetables spoiled be-
fore they got to the men who were suf-
fering for them, and men died for lack
of medicines which were abundant only
IS miles away.
There was over a month at Tampa to
foresee all this. and around the tents of
company officers ii was foreseen and dis
cussed. Why not in the supply depart
ment2 Are we to conclude that II was
impossible to get beans, rice and canned
fruits enough TO take the place of potatoes
and onions? That it was impossible in
forty days to get summer clothing? There
were 10000 firms In the United States who
would have undertaken TO provide these
things and who would have put them in
Santiago itself for consideration The
only conclusion is that these necessities
were not foreseen by the supply depart
ments in time, although they were by the
line officers generally. 1t did not require
a prophet to say that vegetables would
spoil on transport in the torrid zone; that
bacon, hardtack and canned roast beef
were not a suitable diet alone for CAM
paigning in the tropics: that the winter
clothing worn in Michigan winters would
be very uncomfortable in the heat of
southern Cuba. The reason for these de-
ficiencies must be sought and found unless
we are to inflict similar suffering Oh our
soldiers in future
The evening times., 1898-10-12
London.

Haunted by all the historic smiles and tears
OF many great seul vanished into space
Tomb of prides aims, and passions pure or
base,
Yet theater where life loudly domineeTs.
From fabulous epochs through a thousand years
OF battle and dsar-bought peace your annals
Till now Con earth mans mightiest meeting
place.
Your vastness this columnar fame uprears
In fogs Of MONDAY night. in rains and sleets,
In yellow and SILVER mlsts or suns blood red
Or violet Alps OF cloud, deep charm
For always through your monstrous maze of
streets,
With steps unechoing. walk your Deathless
Dead
% city of Ghosts that so ghostly be!
F-Edgar Fawcett, in Literature.
The evening times., 1898-10-12
Saks &Company
Penna- Ave. and 9Th St.
NOTES OF THE DAY.

London has one policeman for every sS8
square feet, or a total of I3. .564
II is said that the Hon. Roger O Mills
derives net income Qf sl00 a day from
his oil wells.
Nearly one-third of the patents issued
In Germany last year were ID foreigners.
mostly Americans.
For the hide of fuIl-grown gi-
raTe. greatly sought after in Africa for
whip and sandal making. the native hunt
ers get from s15 TO s25
As the supply of ivory is becoming short
pliIldrd balls Of cast steel are being made
IN Sweden By making them hollow the
weight Is made to correspond with that Of
ivory balls.
England is agitated- The Queen allows
her grandchildren 10 play tennis on Sun
day- That shows almost better than any
thing else the progress OF liberal IDEAS In
the treatment of children.
Milk frappe is no longer a novelty in
Europe. Milk is taken when fresh and
frozen in bricks OF different sizes. and
soId-by size. The milk is said to be- more
hygienic than liquid milk
San Francisco, like most cities. Is IN
able or unwilling TO build school houses
Of children 1t has 2oOo0 Of school age
who DO not 90 10 any school
The Boston Herald says the father n
the Duchess of York has become qui:e
imbeciie. and goes about in the care Of
two keepers. who are paid by a joint CON
tribution from the Cambridge and York
families.
The late Empress Elizabeth left a vast
fortune She had a much larger civil list
than she ever spent. and her surplus in
coIEe was judiciousIy laid out in purc has
ing property around Vienna. which was
bought very cheap, but is now cove ell
with buildings. and enormously valuable
English capitalists are already preparing
TO buy the railroad which Sir Henry
Kitchener has built in the wake Of mis-
army practically as far as Omdurman-
The gauge is the same as that OF the line
from Cape Town 10 BuluwayO. which be-
fore long will be extended 10 Lake Tang
anyika.
a writer in the London Telegraph says:
| once heard a bumpJiOUs little man. who.
acting as steward at athletic sports in
Dublin. was very assertive in keepina,
back the crowd. thus addressed by an
angry spectator: If The consate was
taken out Of yeZ. ye'd be no bigger than
green gooseberry, and ye're as sour as
wan already,
The commissioner general for the Par
Is Exposition has signed a contract with
the French railway companies. whereby
goods intended a exhibits will be car
ried 10 Paris teFmini At a reduction OF
. per cent on existing general and sDe-
cial rates \ reduction of - per cent
viii be allowed on these rate for the re-,
turn transportation.
The evening times., 1898-10-12
LABOR,S FOOD.

Commenting on the characteristic food
OF workers in different countries. the New
York Commercial Advertiser says: The
coolies food vendor OF China, with his
strings of dressed small dogs and rats for
sale, is cited far and wide to prove that
Johnny Comprador is a heathen There
are, however, other people who have
heathenish tastes. In Saxony. for in
stance. dog meat is exposed for sale in all
the markets and brings from l to 3 cents
pound more than horse meat. Well-to-
do people frequently prefer it to mutton.
An everyday sign displayed by restaurant
keepers is Roast dog and dumplings"
The lahoring classes use horse meat,
which can be bought at from TO cents
pound. The Chemnitz papers weekly
announce the number of horses and dogs
killed for food.
1T is held that the Chinese with their
centuries of slavery, have reduced the cost
of living to the minimum. 1t appears that
they have sharp competitor in the San
Salvador and in the Yucatan laborer. The
former is fed solely on tortiIlas V friioles.
which translated means maize or Indian
corn. cakes and boiled black beans He
gets two OF the cakes in the morning and
TWO at night They are about the thick
ness OF the ordinary griddle cake, and as
large as dinner plate. AT each of the
two meals enough beans are given to COW
er one of the cakes. The cost of feeding
a man per day in this manner is put at
4.6S cents. The Yucatan laborer is salts
fled with the daily allowance of ball of
maize paste. half as large as a mans
head, and a bowl of water. When hun
cry he takes a portion Of the paste and
makes with water a thin Cruel of it. This
is taken hot in the morning and cool at
noon. 1t is also the common beverage
At night tortillas are made of the paste
and served with red peppers. On extra oc-
casions black beans and bit of meat is
added. The Yucatan spends about 2 cents
a day in food, and this cheap living has so
demoralized him that on Sunday he invar-
iably takes rest" which means get
ting drunk on native brandy. or aguardi-
entes. AS long he can do this he never
grumbles about his food. The well-fed
American laborer always grumbles about
his food but he is a free man, and has
right to-
The evening times., 1898-10-12
The Kafser's Tour.

(Harold Frederic, in the New York Times.)
We are still wondering here what the Kaiser
means by his Eastern tour, conducted by Cock
personally and the Sultan by proxy, with a gilt
tering stage crowd around him of many thousand
men. That wonder is shared in serious degree
by large proportion of Williams subjects, whose
desire that he should not desert the empire at
such doubtful time is keen that rumors have
been published of the abandonment of the expe-
dition.
This is, of course officially denied and the sug>
eye Syria. If he has not, he soon will have
Landing, the Kaiser intends, that Acre
which another Emperor called the Key of Syria
he may find il difficult TO shut his eyes to the
enormous advantages to be obtained by Germany
IN the western divisions of Turkey in Asia; and
those who observe closely this energetic restless
and ambitious man are well aware that the trav-
cling kaises like other tourists of his race large
ly combines business with pleasure, and yearns to
be known to future generations of Teutons as
William the Colonst.
The evening times., 1898-10-12

abuses to which the unfortunate sick
soldiers were subject.
Whether Colonel Gibson is very in
nocent man or a very shrewd one we
can only guess. 1t has been said that
his report is intended for the President
and the Alger Relief Commission. OF
the purposes and methods of the latter
he may know nothing. Naturally he
might suppose it would be glad to get
facts that would carry home the re-
sponsibility for the incompetency and
neglect that destroyed an army. With
that thought, he would not hesitate to
tell the reporters that he had found
condemning proofs. Or, it may be that
he has a suspicion of the aim of the
Commission to conceal the truth, and
has announced his discovery in order 70
| make it difficult TO pigeonhole his re-
port.
In either case he has a disappoint-
ment in store. If he has discovered
| anything that reflects on the transpor-
tation. quartermaster. commissary or
medical departments. he will not be al
| lowed to make il public If lis report
reaches the Commission it will be care
fully examined in secret session, and if
it presents the facts which Colonel Glib
son has had an opportunity to learn,
its consideration will be postponed"
along with Colonel Gibson's examina-
tion. This is made the more probable
by the statement of that officer that
our soldiers would have starved but
for the relief committees work" The
inference is that the agents of the Gov
| ernment. whose business it was to pro-
vide supplies, neglected their duty. The
whole course of the Commission is an
| assurance that no such revelation will
be allowed to appear in the steno-
| graphic record of its sessions. When
one thinks of it, the courage of this
board is stupendous. There is quick
firm hand to suppress evidence that
| promises to show what everybody
knows 10 be the truth. Anybody who
builds hopes on Colonel Gibson's report
Will be disappointed
The evening times., 1898-10-12
A Song of Pie.

Oh, sing of the close where the pie plant grows
In Iuxuriance wild and free,
And pumpkin pies Of monstTous size
Hang ripe on the pumpkin tree;
Where the lennon cream like a fresh baked
dream
CLOVIS white in the noonday glare.
And the ''custards'' cold, with their hearts Of
gold.
Shed fragrance on the air.
Oh, sing OF the land where the mince. trees
stand
With their branches spreading wide.
And laden low with nuts Of dough
Ard wondrous things inside
Rich remnants of the foods we love
When in their proper sphere;
Beefsteaks and stew and things knew
In cornbeef hash last year
Oh sing OF the time in a happy cline
When the pie trees truIt shall fall
With ease and grace IN the open face
At no expense at ALL
Ah then indeed win the hearteSs greed
OF the lunchrOom keeper fail,
And our tongues Will spurn mince pics that
burn
And crusts that make US wall.
Chicago Record
The evening times., 1898-10-12
Hill Air the Thing.
From the Medical Reeosd.)


Although there is plentiful supply of pure
oxvgen-laden air in most parts OF the country,
the choice of place in which the tropical IN
valid NAV reeuperate is by means matter OF
indifference Most city physicians, certainly
those in large towns away from the coast. would
think first of the seashore an ideal place for
regeneration This. the writer says, may be
excellent advice for the inland town dweler, but
il is not necessarily for the returned tropical
sojourner, and as matter Of fact experience has
proven that the tropically anaemic p:r5cn is not
benefited by residence at the seaside. The air
at that low level may seem fresh and possessed OF
tonic properties but to the class OF patients
under discussion it is really relaxing and brings
neither appetite. sleep. nor muscular vigor.
Mountain air is what such persons need ana IN
which they thrive The elevation need not be
great and probably LEGO feet, or even less, woui
be sufficient The wisdom OF DR.. Cantlie's adv &c
has been shown in the of number of the
soldiers back from, Cuba, wto suffered severely at
Montauk pure and tonic IS the air there, but
picked up" almo Immediately upon going up
to the Adirondacks or into Sullivan county ON
furiough.