davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The times., 1898-05-09
Child LangunEe.

CFrOm the Century Nagazjue)
The secret language period is a thing of
child nature. There are three distinct pc
RODS in language learning by the child.
The first is the acquiring of the mother
tongue. The second period comes shortly
after the time of beginning to learn the
mother tongue and is a language made
up by children who perhaps. find them
selves unable TO master the mother
tongue Very few children have a com
plete language of this kind but all chill
dren have a few words of such. Then
comes the secret language period. Al
though in a very few cases the learning
of secret languages began about the
sixth year, and in some instances the pc
riod ran until after the eighteenth year,
yet the vast majority of cases are cover
ed by the period between the eighth and
the fifteenth year, while the greatest use
is between the tenth and the thirteenth
year.
There are many reasons why children
learn and use these languages. One lady
cOnfesses that she originated A language
and introduced it into a mysterious set of
ten, in order to write notes in school, and
she truly adds that had their teachers
discovered the key, they would have learn
ed many truths.
1t can never be known whether these
languages originated in the very first
cases with children The names would in
many instances imply that children had
to do with them, as they show things IA
miliar to the child and loved by him So
in the secret languages we find animals
playing an important part in the naming.
The hog, dog. goose. pigeon. pig. fly cat
and other animals are attached to these
languages. The child in the old-fashioned
school, where all sat together, hearing the
Ito him) senseless and unknown Latin.
would naturally attach the name to this
language. and thus give birth to hog lat
In, goose latin, etc. Seeing or hearing a
language, one letter may strike the child 5
fancy. as in one the letter is hash .
and so hash language is the result In an
other "bub" (b) finds the funny spot in
child nature, and so bub talk comes forth
The child in former days. so frequently
hearing of the a-b-c's, would, upon the
construction of an alphabet language. at
once recur to such, and so name this the
a-bub-cin-dud language.
The times., 1898-05-09
NJ. CasiTnir Perier.

ttrcm the Atantlc.)
1t was remembered that Mr. Casimir
Perier had resigned the presidency of the
republic about the time of the Dreyfus
trial. on the ground that he could not
endure the combination of moral respon-
sibility and of powerlessness. The tale
told by lie Rappel was. that NJ De Mum
ster, the German minister. had called
upon the president and said that he was
instructed by his sovereign to give as
surance that Dreyfus had not, either in
France or in Belgium. nearly or dis
family. been in relation with the secret
service of the German government The
The ambassador further suggested that
one must be bien naif to believe that a
diplomat could have thrown into a waste
paper basket so important a document.
Further, it was said that the Emperor
of Germany had addressed an autograph
letter to the president of France, saying.
Il give you my word of honor as man
that Capt Dreyfus has never betrayed
France to the German government; and
if need should be, l will give you my
word as emperor, with all the conse-
quences thereof" Finally. NJ Casimir
Perier was declared to have said of the
story,-"It is not precisely So thereby
confirming the substance by contradict
ing only the detail. Now if the presi-
dent did, in fact. receive these commu-
nications, he could do absolutely nothing
The times., 1898-05-09
r-,e Enect on Our Prestige.

(FEom the Cincinnati Commercial Tribune.)
The battle of Manila will come as a
rude awakening to the nations that
have misjudged and underestimated US.
They will be taught by 1t that with
but an insignificant fragment OF our
Navy we were able TO utterly annihilate
our enemy's fleet in his own waters
six thousand miles from our own base
of supplies. They viii awaken TO the
fact that this nation. instead Of being
a pigmy is a Colossus. and that 1t isn't
safe TO maltreat our citizens and ma
teriaI interests abroad, with the expecta-
ti0n that we will not lift our hand in
return
Dewey,s triumph viii be especially
impressive IN Asia. where the native
states with the exception of Japan.
have always believed that no nation
outside of the powers of Europe is OF
any consequence Their sudden discOV-
cry that there is still another power,
possessing not only the necessary re-
sources. but a spirit OF vaIOr capable OF
achieving any desired object. IS liable
to cause new and important interna-
tionaI developments in the near future.
Our operations in the Philippines con-
stitUte the most important action we
have ever taken in the Eastern hemis-
phere. anI consequences. both to our
selves and TO the world. which are far
beyond our present comprehension may
grow out of them.
The times., 1898-05-09
Young and Eager for the Fray.

(From the New York Commercial Advertiser.)
lie was wardrOom officer OF the Ma
hant. ashore for the day. Though not
very big. he looked as il he might knock
down a refractory sailor with a marlin
spike after little practice. He didn't
seem to know or care very much about
the deeper relations between Spain and
the United States. nor what the ma
neuvers of the Spaniards were to be.
He only knew that there would be war.
and the sparkle in his eye and the bright
tones of his voice said that he didn't
regret it.
But" he said, I'VE who are in it
and he swelled just a trihe-"are not
wild for war. It's only those fellows
who are not going who are bowling for
1t.
1.-The Nahant Is not bad boat, now 1
tell you. She isn't bad at all. II would
be rather tame 10 sit ON her here and
merely guard the harbor, but we can't
tell when they WIFI order us 10 the front.
1 don't know what they Will do, and don't
much care, so long as there is something
in it. Then, too, you can never tell what
those Spaniards Will do. They might let
us have Cuba without a struggle and steer
straight for New York, just Tor malice.
bad place for the Nahant 10 be.
THE other day a gun broke loose from
her moorings. swung around. and smash
ed d thick steel rod as fiat as pancake.
AS an afterthought. as II were, the young
warrior let fall the fact that the rapidly
swinging cannon came within two inches
OF his head.
''Of course an officer must tell the men
to be careful and lie down on the deck in
rif MA
doesn't DO it himself, and hardly expects
them 10. It's too interesting.
Isn't there good deal OF news now
accessible to you in the advantageous and
glorious position you hold2 asked the re-
porter.
1--WE are commanded by high authori-
ties" triumphantly said the young man
not to tell any news Whatever
But you can tell something about the
life. can you not?
"Oh. you mean the fiub-dub of it? OF
course l can do that There is no harm in
that. The other day we passed a Spanish
merchantmen, and she dipped her flag to
US. We wanted awfuliy to beat to quart
ers and take her as the first prize OF the
war"
Il suppose the war won't last long?"
was the tentative query. Not more than
a month";"
"Oh," expostuIated the young man. lit
will last at least six months. You see,
there is much to be settled in Cuba
The thought which was suggested to
him that the war might be OF short dura-
ton stopped his happy flow or talk Tor a
moment but the belligerent situation on
the whole was too propitious for the sat
isfaction of a healthy young fellows de-
sires for the reporters remark to have
much effect. So he continued TO talk,
perhaps a little more happily than he Will
a month from today.
The times., 1898-05-09
Avengin- the EInfne.

(From the Philadelphia North Americanl
Every American will applaud the ex-
pressed determination of the Administra-
ton to administer punishment upon those
guilty of completely in the destruction of
the Maine as fast as they are located. 1t
is the belief of the Administration that
the Spanish officials guilty of this bloody
crime are still in Havana, and as soon
as Havana is captured an investigation
will be started to run down the con-
spirators who were responsible for the
affair of February 15 AS fast as they are
found they will be court-martialed and
hanged. That the Spanish anticipate
such action is shown by their action in
destroying what remained of the wreck
of the Maine. Secret advices to our
Government announce that this has been
done, the object Being to prevent the
raising of the wreck after the fall of
Havana, and so far as is possible, to
prevent the gathering of any further evil
dence against the guilty persons. Enough
information, however, is already in the
possession of officials to make out a
clear case. and we ar only waiting the
capture Of Havana to avenge the Maine
upon those who sent her and her crew
TO destruction There is no true Ameri-
can at home or abroad who will not ap-
prove this purpose and desire its accom-
plishment.
Your credit is good at Lansburg's Fur
ni.ure House. 18th and F sts- oc3-tf
The times., 1898-05-09
A Great Russian.

(From the Review of Reyiews.)
Gen. Alexei Nicolaievitch Kuropatkin,
who was appointed acting minister of war
on New Years Day. is the greatest
lighting general in the Russian army
He has won every distinction "for vaIor''
in the field that the imperial crown holds
in its gift; he has swords of honor
enough to arm company: he has seen
active service in three continents-Africa,
Europe, Asia-from Mount Atlas To Chi
nese Tartary; he was one of the decisive
factors in the last great decisive battle
fought on European soil
Further, Gen. Kuropatkin is the best
writer OF military history in Russia. the
master of those who know in the science
of war. His story Of the Balkan crusade
is classic; his works on AIgiers and
kashgar have been crowned by the I'm
perial Geographical Society: his ESSAYS
are the final authority every point Of
strategy; his lectures make military sta
tistics as interesting as romance. and
well they may, for on this warp is the
web of all poetry woven.
Finally. Gen. Kuropatkin is tried and
tested administrator of singular creative
and constructive genius. He con toll ter
ribly mastering multitude of details
and piercing TO the principle beneath
unerring insight Of intuition; he has won
the widest and corruptest region of the
world from robbery and pIunder TO ways
of peace. turning numbering hordes into
mild cOtton-grOwers and bringing wealth
TO a dead wilderness of sand: he has car
ried diplomatic success to the heart of
the Cobb desert: he has won the enthus-
iastic worship OF his soldiers. the devO-
ton Of his officers, the warm regard of
his civilian helpers.
In his forty-niHth year, in the very
prime Of vigor and power ne is lord OF
the greatest army in the world. 600 900
men in time of war. No finer auCury
could have been imagined for Russia s
hopes in the new year and the new cen
tury than the destiny which calls this
wisest warrior TO lead the armies Of the
Czar-From "KurOpatkin: War Lord OF
Russia" by Charles Johnston. in the
American Monthly Review OF Reviews
for May.
The times., 1898-05-09
a New Form of BIncisInaiI.


The Columbus Avenue car moved
and there was nothing to delay traffic.
In one corner near the door sat man.
Opposite him was another, reading
newspaper. Next to him was woman
who had got into the car five minutes
before the car passed Seventy-second
Street. The only other passenger was
man standing on the rear platform. He
was staring into the car.
The quiet of the situation was suddenly
interrupted when the woman sprang to
her feet and pushed the arm of the man
next her as she arose.
You have insulted met she shrieked.
You have insulted me, and my husband
will make you pay for this. How dare
you treat a woman In such a way?
The woman's eyes were flashing, and
she looked the picture of honest indig-
nation. The man opposite her arose in
voluntarily. The man on the platform
put his head into the car and then step
ped in. Only the man who was accused
retained his composure. He had been
reading a newspaper and did not hit MS
eyes The woman rushed toward the
man who entered the car from the plat
form.
HE insuited met He insulted met she
cried Teach him how to behave to a
LADY,
The man appealed to looked from one
side of the car TO the other, although he
must have known which of the passen-
gers the woman meant. She had been
sitting close to one of the men since the
moment she had entered the car, so close
indeed. that a stranger would have sup
posed they were together The woman
pointed to him.
stop this cart" the husband called to
the conductor stop the car and let me
and that man off. Come here, ne went
on turning to the man. Get of mere.
I'll teach you TO insult women In pub
lie"
HE insulted me, he did," cried the
woman again.
The car came TO a stop. The man stiIl
read his newspaper. While the huspaho
stood in front of him.
Get out of this" the husband said.
"Come out on the sidewalk and Wen have
this out"
The husband lifted his hand, and for
the first time the man looked up from
the newspaper.
Don't you touch me, you blackguard,
he said: II know your game. I've been
through 1t before. Now, you take that
woman off the car or I'll have both of
you arrested"
The car was still stationary. The con-
ductor with his hand on the bellrope,
was staring with astonishment at the
group. The man and woman exchanged
a sharp glance. Then, with amazing
alacrity, the two,sterped off the platform
The sound of step lively would never
be heard again If passengers always
moved so quickly. The man made no
pretense of waiting for the woman. He
was in front Of her and got out Of the
car. leaving his injured wife 10 get out
OF the way as well as she could. He let
out an oath at the car as 1t rapidly NOV
ed up the avenue. Then the two disap-
peared in the darkness.
Il was glad TO see you do that" re-
marked the man opposite to him. II
could not see that anything had happen
ed to that woman"
II knew nothing had happened" an
swered the other. again looking up from
his newspaper. THAT is a form of the
badger game that is new. But I have seen
It tried before. It happens usually at this
time of night when the cars are almost
empty. II may succeed sometimes. but I
don't believe it has made much for any.
| body yet.
The times., 1898-05-09
NAVAL ORDERS.
Officers Ordered to the Cruiser
Charleston.


Charleston.
Boatswain D. Glynn, detached Inde-
pendence. and Immediately to Charles
ton. Naval Cadet ]. P. Henry, detached
Vermont. and to Charleston. Gunner j.
r. Ward, detached navy yard Mare Is
land and to Charleston. Gunner A. A.
Phelps, detached Naval Academy, and to
Charleston. Passed Assistant Engineer
]. p. Patton detached Homestead Steel
Works. and TO the Brooklyn. Lieut..
Commander L. c. Logan, detached Oma-
ha Exposition and command Armeria.
Naval Cadet E. T. Fitzgerald. detached
Luby to navy yard Norfolk with Yank-
ton. Chief Engineer d. F. Jones, retired,
to Munhall. Pa, charge steel inspection.
Pittsburg district. Lieut.. Z. Turnbull. re-
tired to navy yard, New York. Chief
Engineer D. b. Macomb retired, TO navy
yard, Boston. Assistant Engineer b. f.
Warren. retired assistant to Chief En-
gineer D. p Jones. Chief Engineer d. p.
Mccartney, retired, to navy yard, Wash
ington. Lieut. Commander e. Nj. Sted-
man, retired, representative of Navy at
Omaha Exposition. Gunner F. c. Mes
senger detached Constellation, and i'm
mediately TO Naval Academy. Assistant
Paymaster H. e. Biscoe, detached Yam
kee, and TO Topeka. Passed Assistant
Engineer ]. L. Cow. detached Prairie,
and Immediately TO navy yard. Boston
Lieut.. c. NJ Knepper, detached Lebanon
and to Mckee, at Norfolk navy yard.
Ensign R. II. Leigh, detached Justin and
to Aileen, at navy yard New York Act
ing Ensign c. P Eustice, appointed
Acting Lieut. c. NJ. Buck. to Lebanon.
The times., 1898-05-09
window Box wonders.

There are few things more enjoyable or
as fascinating as watching the growth
of seeds or plants that have been placed
in the bosom OF mother earth by ones
own hand. and the delight is often more
keen when one has the control of a spade
full of loan than If the acres were count
ed by the hundred. For city people, even
when living in a fiat, there is no need to
be narrowed down TO the growing of
flowers alone, lovely as they are, when
such delicious crisp possibilities as rad
ishes, lettuce and cucumbers may be
grown in a box outside a sunny window.
The first weeks in May now is the
very mick of tirne'') is right to SOW
the seed; the earth, whether in yard or
box, is first to have been well turned over
and left for few days TO mellow in the
sun. for unless there is a warm welcome
for the seeds they will not germinate At
ter this spread over little fertilizer, rake
1t in well and all is ready. The packages
OF seeds usually contain minute directions
for sowing their contents. Small seeds.
such as lettuce and radish, require 70 be
under but a slight covering of EARN, and
the only tool needed after the ground is
prepared is a lead pencil. or the like Just
TO lightly spread the earth over the
seeds.
Drilling is merely sowing In rows, and
when the young plants begin TO peep
above the earth they must be thinned
out to leave inches for each full-grown
radish planted. II the earth is properly
warm and moist, radishes will peep up
in from twenty-four 10 forty-eight hours,
and afterward grow like magic. so that
II the days have been sunshiny one may
have dish Of these red crisp balls ready
Tor the table in ten days fom the time
or their first appearance. The round rad
ish Is much earlier than the long, and
should therefore be chosen, and as soon
as used the space should be again sown
and thus three or four sets may be grown
before the lettuce viii be large enough TO
need the room.
Lettuce should be thinned when . inches
nigh and 3 inches allowed between each
plant. Cucumbers may be sown between
the drills of lettuce and radishes as they
are slower growing and will not need the
room until a goodiy supply OF the others
have been produced. Parsley, too, may
snare this same wee space, as it grows
close, and a few inches of room will suf-
flee for a surprising quantity
The times., 1898-05-09
Deser, ed a Whipping.

tErom the Chlcdgo Post-)
1t was evident when the man raped
at the door of the backwoods cabin that
he felt that he had grievance.
''somethin' wrong, stranger?" inquired
the man who came in answer TO his
knock noticing his excited condition.
Wrong" exclaimed the stranger
Wrong! Well l should think there was
I met a boy about half a mile up the
road that think belongs to YOU"
Long. gawky boy. with a cOonskin
eap?" asked the man in the cabin.
That's the one returned the stran-
ger He had gun, and was evidently
out after squirrels.
big. old-fashioned muzzle-loading
gun?' suggested the native
Yes; a big gun, about half a foot
longer than he is. - answered the stran-
ger. 81 didn't stop to see whether il
was a muzzle-loader or not. but l guess
was 1t didn't look new enough for
anything else"
THAT was Ike. all right enough" said
the native. What dye want of him?''
Il want him thrashed," replied the
stranger with emphasis. Il want him
thrashed good and hard, so that he'n
have a little sense
mat Iakln purity Dig contract,
stranger" replied the native doubtful
ly. Hes a right lively boy, and there
amt any one in these parts has licked
him yet, except his dad. which is me-
''Well, you're the one that l want to
thrash him.
''Oh, that's differnt I thought mebbe
you was goin to try it yourself
don't mind Iickin' the tar outen him
when it's needful, Jest SOS to keep him,
in line, an teach him that the OF man
is some considerable yet. What's he been
doin =
HE shot at me as l came along the
road. replied the stranger.
''Sure about that asked the native,
doubtfully.
Sure? OF course. I'm sure. He yelled
out that I'd scared a squirrel he was af-
ter. and he was going to wing me just
to teach me to keep out of the way.
Then he took deliberate aim and fired. e"
And you're here to kick about it?''
exclaimed the native. ''Weu. don't you
worry no more about that boy stranger
FL tan him good and plenty, and don't
you fergit it. Aimed at you delib'rate
and never hit you, did he? Why, shoot
in like that II disgrace the hull family.
Glad you spoke of it, stranger. If you
hear any yellin' you go down the roau
you kin know I'm teachin that boy of
mine that he can't ruin the reputation
of two generations without havin to suf-
fer fer it,
The times., 1898-05-09
nIme. ,felha.s Debut.
rFrom the Argonanf.l


Nine. Melba, in a conversation recent
ly gave an interesting account OF her first
public appearance. Il was quite young
girl in Australia" she said. when not
withstanding the persistent discourage
nent of my father, who was averse to
the idea of a singers career for me.
engaged hall. and sent round a notice
to all my friends. saying that I proposed
to give an entertainment which I hoped
they would patrOnize. However unfor-
tunately for me. somebody mentioned the
little scheme TO my father. and he furious
at my clandestine enterprise, begged every
one of his acquaintance to uphold his
parental authority by ignoring the per-
formance. But even then 1 wasn't dis
heartened. and when the day came
drove on to the hall, and at the hour
announced for the commencement Of nv
find myself face 10 fOce with an audience
OF TWO. And nobody else came
The times., 1898-05-09
The HaIpine boat.

New York. May THE Halpine torpedo
boat lies in the shed at the long dock at
Willets Point all ready for her trial trip
before the engineer officers who are to
pass judgment upon her. She has been
overhauled and put in order during the
last two weeks. Her storage batteries
We're placed on board today, and she
stands ready for service.
She is built of copper. "a feet long and
2 feet in diameter. The body of the boat
is cylindrical in form. Her bow has the
shape Of semi-ellipsoidal, while her
stern has the shape of a cone. The su-
perior merits claimed for her by her in
yentor, Lieutenant Halpine, formerly of
the United States Navy, is that she has
the power to shoot her charge can under
a warshiD that has a torpedo net out;
that she carries her propelling power
aboard of her in storage batteries and does
not need a dynamo on land, and that she
is a marvel of simplicity.
She can be handled from any point
and, II necessary, she can tow small
boat after her, in which the operator can
sit at distance of 1-2 miles, and direct
her movements. She can run u miles
and be started. stopped and backed by
only pressing a small button. There are
two wire cables, each 1-2 miles in length
aboard. which uncoil and connect her with
the operator. One of the cables controls
the boat, while the other steers her
She carries two lights, which reflect
their lights backward, so they are seen
by the operator only and not the hos
tile ship, keeping the operator informed
as to the actions of the boat. If one is
above the other she is going ahead. If
sideways, she is making for the stern or
bow of warship. No light, the boat
has stopped. She runs with but three
inches showing above water but can be
submerged to fifteen feet.
Extending from her bow is a long spar.
with two arms extended. Extended again
from these is a steel harpoon, with two
arms lying fat The harpoon is forced
through the net, the arms, unloosened.
spring up on the inside of the net and
keep it fastened there. The open arms
of the spar strike the net on the out
side and drive the spar back into the
boat, which strikes the tripper The can
falls and is swung under the vessel, to
be destroyed by the action of the chain
AT the same time the leather cap is
torn off the tube of the charge can. This
action lets out the potassium, which, on
meeting with the water, ignites the rock
ct, expelling the gas in the can and ex-
ploding the charge can.
Meanwhile the boat Itself has been
backed out of danger, and returns to the
operator only minus harpoon chain and
can The speed of the HaIpine is nine
teen knots an hour.