davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-08-13

STANDS. harbor master, hay scales, health
once insurance companies, liquor licenses.
Inspection or lumber, markets including
nay Market square; board of medical ex-
aminers care of municipal building. trans
portation or paupers. physicians to the
poor, commissioners of pharmacy. police
disposar of police rewards, peundu,, ster
board of control Of Rock Creek Park. seaIer
or weights and measures. board Of exam
lners OF steam engineers surg cons of reIice
and fire departments, veterinary surgeons
telegraph and telephone service, Inspection
and measuring of wood
commissioner Ress-Almhouse AsvIu,n
Hospital, Washington; assessments of yen-
eral taxes and special assessments other
than water assessments and rents asses
ser: assistant assessors board of: ottor-
neys office; attorney, special assistant. an
dttor's office; bathing beach: claims VS.
the District of Columbia; charities sinner.
lntendent of; charitable and reformatorv
institutions receiving aid from the District
government; collector of taxes: liisbursine
officer; dog tags; insane, commitments of:
library. free public; licenses, other than
liquor; gauger and inspector OF spirituous
liquors; municipal lodging house; property
clerk; public schools; public schools board
OF trustees of; reform school (boys) trus-
tee of; Rock Creek Park, board OF control.
president Of; sweeping and cleaning streets,
Commissioner Baach-Asphalt and ce-
nicnts. inspector of; bridgea, engineer Of;
bufidfngs inspector of; chief clerk, engf-
neer Department. computing engineer: con-
QUITS; contracts preparation and record off
s-Se -,
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-08-13

The District Offices and Those VIII
Fill Them.
OFFICIAL HEAD OF The GOVERNMENT
Assignment Of Duties Among the
Commissioners.
SOME PERSONAL SKETCHES

| 1t is surprising how little acquainted the
| people of the District are with their mu-
| nicipal government, both to its person
| mel and as to its many and various depart
meuts. So limited, indeed, is this acquaint-
! ance that it would appear that most per-
| sons do not even know just where the Dis
| trict building, the official home of their
| municipal officers, is situated. And, when
| they have occasion to call there, it is re-
| markable how utterly at sea they are as
| to which official it Is necessary for them to
| see in order to accomplish the purpose of
| their calls. Most people. it would appear,
| have a vague idea that the District is gov
erner by three Commissioners, and that is
about all. But as to the duties of the Com
missoners, how divided, how performed,
no wel-setted idea seems to be possessed
by large number Of the residents of the
District.
The official home of the District govern
| ment is in the six-story brick build ng
known as AGA Louisiana avenue, and there
the three known as the CorumisS onerS
Of the District of Columbia Officially have
their home. together with a. majority of the
subordinate officials of the District. From
1902 until 1871 the government of the Dis
trict was that of the ordinary municipal
character, with It's mayor and beard of al
derrnon and common council. But in 1871
Congress, which has exclusive jurisdic ion
over the DlSlr1ct, established what is
known as territorial form of government
so called because 1t resembIed in It's gen
eral features that provided for the terri
tories Of the United States, the charters
Of the cities of Washington and George
town being abolished. together with the
levy court. This territorial form CT gov
eminent was abolished by Congress tt rough
an &C. approved June 20, 1874, the President
Of the United States being authorized and
directed, with the advice and consent Of
the Senate, to appoint commission COM
posed of three persons selected from civil
life. The President was also authorized to
detail an officer of the engineer CORPS of
the United States army who, subject to
the general supervision and direction of
the Commissioners was to perform the
duties formerly performed by the chief
engineer of the board of public works he
to appoint three assistants from civil life
Permanent Form.
This was what was known as the tenn
porary form of government of the Dis
trlct, and continued until Congress- by the
act of June II, 1878. established what is
known as the permanent form CT govern
ment, and that is, with some changes, the
government of the District as it exists to-
day. The board of Commissioners W IS cen
tinued by the act CT 1878 with tbs pro-
vision: Two of the Commissioners to be
appointed by the President, by and with
the advice and consent of the Senate from
civil life, the third Commissioner to be
an officer detailed by the President from
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-08-13
Care of the Eyes,

From the Maine Faruer
Few people know how good a cold water
oath is for the eyes. Numbers OF folks
oathe the eyes with a sponge and cols
water, but this of necessity is done with
the lids closed; it is very much better. IL
tae eyes are open in cold water This. az
course, can be done by filing q basin with
water. putting the face in and opening the
eyes once or twice under II; this is rot all
ways convenient. however as one is ant
TO wet ones lair at the same time At anv
CHEMISTS one can buy for a small price a
little eye glass, made to fit the hollow OF
the eye; one of these should be filled with
clear, colo water, and the eye opened and
smut two or three times IN it Clean water
should be used for each eye.
When You have nothing to do when YOU
are Just resting, close your eyes So long
as the eyes are open they ere 20 a certain
extent at work; besides the moisture of the
Ito is very good for them. Good sight is ono
or the greatest blessings of life and II be-
moves us, for our own sake, to take care
OF our eyes But remember always that
you may spoil the sight by using the eyes
too little: that Is Only a degree less harmful
than using them too much
1t Is surely unnecessary 10 say that bell
ladonna and all advertised beaut.flers for
the eyes are nnost injurious; the eve is so
delicate an organ, sight Is so vital to the
enjoyment OF life. that these sensitive win
dows of the soul should be subjected to no
tricks III one is In good health the eyes
VIII be sufficiently bright and beautiful;
IL they are duh and heavy looking pay q
visit to your doctor.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-08-13

Washington, D. c." But If you are well
enough acquainted with the details of the
District government to know just which
Commissioner has immediate charge of the
subject matter which concerns you address
him directly, for then your letter will be de-
l1vsred to him, and will not be required to
await the somewhat slower course of a ref
erence to him.
The Present Board.
The present Commissioners of the Dis
trict are John B. Wight John w. Ross and
Capt. Lansing H. Beach, United States
army, the latter baing what is known as
the Engineer Commissioner The law pro-
vides that whenever there is a change in
the personnel of the board of Commission
ers thsre shall be reorganization of the
board, and thereupon one OF them is elected
as president of the board. In this matter
another unwritten rule prevails, which IS
that the Commissioner elected as president
Of the board shall be of the dominant po-
htica1 party That is. if the administration
is democratic the democratic civil Commits
sioner is chosen by his associates. and vice
versa. Hence it is that Commissioner
Wight, the republican civil Commissioner
Is the president of the board of Commits
Sioners. The president OF the board how
ever, Is clothed with power or authority
not enjoyed By his associates, and, as one
of the Commissioners cnCe upon time eX-
planned the matter, about all his additional
duty is to attach his signature to the off,
cial communications OF the board of Com
missioners
While the government Of the District is
presided over and conducted by the three
Commissioners acting board, or q ma
Jority of them, supervision of the business
and Offices of the District is divided among
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-08-13

he liv'd four Years and four Months, with
out seeing the Face of Man, the Ship after
wards -keiag cast away as he Dreamed, -
etc. etc.
Robinson Crusoe" was published in the
year 1T19.- but Selkirk's narrative appeared
In 1I12 or seven years previously. Far be
1t from me to charge old Defoe with
piasi rism. for he had troubles enough dur
ing his lifetime. At any rate, his story
took" better than Selkirk's, and the lat
ter made TO bones of charging Defoe with
the theft Of his ideas.
There Is no doEot whatever that Selkirk' g
Island is the real Juan Fernandez for he
was left there, did live there four years,
was rescued by an English captain of re-
pute This much is authenticated; but
further than this, and that perhaps his
yarn suggested the Crusoe story, that is
land has no connection whatever with the
real and genuine Robinson Crusoe. And
after all, what ridiculous story it Is.
Defce had never been at sea-at least, not
as sailor-ana ne makes poor old Robin
son do all sorts of silly things. For in
stance. he first strips him of all clothing
(at the tine of the wreck and then has
him swim ashore with his pockets full of
bis cults. He saves a chest full of fine
clothing, yet weeps over the loss of
all his clothes; Man Friday was well ac-
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-08-13

electrical engineer: elevators. inspector Of;
fire escapes; gas and meters, inspector Of:
highway extension plans; lamps, superin-
tendent Of; lighting, street. gas and cleo
vision Of: parking, superintendent Of: pave
ments; permit clerk; plumbing board;
plumbing. Inspector of; plumbers. exami-
nation OF; property. superintendent of:
river front: roads, superintendent Of: Rock
Creek Pork commission: Rock Creek Park,
beard of control; sewers. superintendent OF;
sidewalks; STABLES, engineer department:
street railways, supervision of; streets.
superintendent OF; Subdivision of land; sur
veyor; telegraph ard telephone lines; trees;
water department. chief clerk and regis
trar; water department, superintendent OF:
wharyes.
Means of Expedkting Business.
OF course, II IL not always necessary for
one to see the Commissioner having i'm
mediate control of the department cover
ing the object of the call. and in the great
majority OF cases = the people OF the Dis
trict would only bear this in mind they
would not only relieve the Commissioners
OF much less of time, but would also ac-
comp-ish their purpose much sooner. For
instance, If citizen desires q permit for
the erection of building or to repair one,
it is not necessary that he should first call
upon Captain Beach. who has charge of
the office of the building inspector but he
should go at once 10 the building inspector.
So, If one wishes TO pay his tax bill, or II
he finds mistake in II, 1t is only neces-
sary for him 10 step into the office of the
collector of taxes or assessor and pay II
or have the mistake corrected, instead OF
calling upon Commissioner Ross. And, If
one desires to obtain license to sell liquors
or to protest against the granting OF such
a license to any one, the best and quick
est way is not to call upon. and lay the
matter before Commissioner Wight, but
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-08-13

them, each having immediate charge Of thu
various departments assigned to him. This
assignment of the departments Of the Dis
trict government is made more as a matter
OF convenience. and while the recommended
tons of a Commissioner made in matters
connected with or under the departments
over which he has immediate charge are
as a rule, approved as a matter of course
by his associates, yet this rule has not the
sanction or authority of any law, and at
times suggestions made by Commissioner
respecting matters under his charge fail to
meet the approval of his associates And
1t may happen, as ii has in the past that a
commissioners nonina ton of person for
appointment to a position in a department
over which he has immediate charge also
fails to receive the sanction of his associ-
ates.
The assignments.
Under the latest assignment of the bust
ness and Offices of the District government
Commissioner Wight has immediate super
vision of the following departments: Inspec-
ton of boilers, chimney sweeping. inspec-
ton of coal, ex-off1cio trustee of Columbia
Hospital for Women, coroner and assistant
coroner, board CT dental examiners, drug
sists to the poor, excise board fire deDart-
ment, inspection of -four inspection of food
collection and disposal of garbage, hack
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-08-13

Burke, being also very popular. Mr.. Bitke
is a native-of Virgins, having been born on
Q form near Burkevule in ls0n He was edu.
Gated In the public and private schools ana
took n scientific course at the CurcofAn
Scientific School of this city He was with
the Southern Railroad Company until 1901,
when he became the secretary of Col. Her.
ry NJ. Robert. the then Engineer Commits
sloner. and he has fliiel that position with
embarrassing Engineer Commissioner.
Mr.. Burke Is the treasurer OF the First
Baptist Church Sunday School and clerk
OF that church.
Secretary TindalI.
DR.. Tindall. the secretary or the board,
is a familiar figure In the local government,
and has had as large and varied On ex-
perfence in matters and systems OF munich
pal administration as falls TO the lot OF any
one individual. He was secretary 10 Mayor
Bowen and 10 Governor Henry u. Cooke
and Governor A. T. Shepherd during the
entire terms OF office OF each. He was in
the army for more than three years-from
1se1 20 Iceland has great familiarity with
military history. He is 4 graduate OF both
the medical and law departments OF George
town University. One Of his diversions
from the cares of Office life is his interest
In athletics Of all kinds. His predictions
IN this respect and his belief In swimming
as a potent adjunct to the physical and
moral development Of the young has led
him to take a prominent interest in the
bathing beach, to the Improvement OF
which he has devoted a great deal Of time
and attention. especially this season.
He. is q thinker and writer on a great
many subjects and a number of articles
from his pen have appeared in the coli
umns of The S.ar ana other papers. HIS
leading official maxim is that public Offices
are created for the public convenience, and
that those having business with an ONCE
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-08-13

should be treated accordingly and sanctions
his precepts on this point by his practice.
Mr.. Clifford Howard, the assistant secre-
tary TO the board of Commissioners, is q
native of Pennsylvania. He is twenty-uine
years OF age, has been a resident OF the
District for ten years and has been In the
District service for nine years. Mr.. How
ard Is a graduate of the law school Of the
Columbian University and is the author Of
several books, both of verse and prose and
a regular contributor to the leading maya
zines.
Chief of Police.
One OF the busiest men at the District
building is the chief OF the police depart
ment, or. as he is officially known, the ma
jor and superintendent. This incumbent OF
this Office, as about every one knows, SIS
Mr.. Richard Sylvester. who but recently
succeeded the late VIM. G. Moore From
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-08-13

the time he reaches his Office, and Il is at
an early hour of the day, until he leayes
an endless line of callers They come On
all sorts of errands and with all kinds OF
stories. They are all given a hearing, al.
though 1t takes the chief but a moment To
discover that In perhaps a majority of
the cases he is not the man they should
see They are then politely sent In the
proper direction. Receiving people ana
thelr complaints, for the majority of the
chiefs callers come 10 MAKE CON, ni.,,ts y.
put a part of the work he is called upon to
perform, and he often comes back TO his
once at night TO put in many hours In ar,
sideration. NH Sou-
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-08-13
"Put 1t Up In Capsules,
From the Portland orepouisn.

A pretty Michigan young lady has q
sweetheart living near North Yakima. She
thought the dear boy had enlisted and
gone to Manila by way of Vancouver, SO
she made up a package containing oranges,
bananas. dates and other perishabie arti-
Giles. Then she wrote 20 a hotel proprietor
requesting him TO call at abe North Yakima
express Office, receipt for the package and
forward ii 10 her beloved in case re had
gene TO the front. When the Aotcl man
reached the express Office he found that
the employees had euaran<ined the package
The soldier boy for whom the package was
intended was located on farm. He had
not enlisted and had no intention of going
to war. The hotel man closed the Incident
by writing to the young lady. suggesting
that her next present TO her sweetheart
be pitchfork or something that lvoA,d
keep. IF you are deterpiined to send
fruit" said he, pvt II up IN capsules" =.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-08-13

T MA Y COME AS A
surprise to some, and
be re s e n t e d b y
others. to be told that
Robinson Crusoe, the
hero CT the great
eighteenth century
story of adventure,
never saw the Island
of Juan Fernandez.
on the coast CT South
America. Even were
he real or fictional,
the scene Of his adj
ventures was not
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-08-13
On the Island Of Tobago and Not
Juan Fernandez.
NEAR PORTO rico In THE WEST INDIES
Interesting Facts About Robinson
and His Story.
PAGE FROM A JOU r n A l.
7 MAY COME AS A

Written for The Evening Star.
Evening star., 1898-11-05
U N lVER SlTY NOTES
GeOrEetOwn.

A second foot ball game will be plavsJ
with the University of Virginia nexs Tues
day. Every possible effort is being made
to have the team win out. Both teams are
going to make the fight of their lives as the
enthusiasm rife in the two colleges can
hardly be kept within bounds. The Uniyer-
sity of Virginia has telegraphed for 100 seats
at the game, and Georgetown is straning
every point to equal its rival in roofing
ability.
The Villa Nova eleven was defeated in
Wednesdays game by score of 10 to o.
The indoor practice in preparation for the
fall. winter and spring indoor meets begins
next week. The election of the captain of
the team will then take place. The most
likely candidate is j. E. Mulligan the we'll
known Philadelphia sprinter, who is a stu
dent at the law school. 1t is expected that
Georgetown will have the best team it has
had for several years. 1t has been decided
not to have a fall meet this year. and the
one that was in contemplation ANA for
which preparations were being made has
been abandoned.
A course of lectures on biology is in ,.-og-
ress in CASTOR Hail. conducted by varicus
members of the faculty: The next lecture
will be given on the subject of the German
American pork question by Mr. Charles w
Stiles November 8.
The debating society of the law school at
Its last meeting appointed Leo F. Harlow
John McA. Carr and john J. Kirby a com
mittee on intercollegiate debates. it is the
intention to arrange a series of joint debates
with other law schools during the winter
committee was also appointed on collegi-
ate debates. consisting of Eugene A. Logan,
Gerald Van CASTLE and Kenneth l. Murch-
iSon.
The junior class of the law school has
held several meetings in an attempt to
elect class officers, but there are so many
politicians among them that as yet nothing
has resulted.
At the meeting of the senior law class the
following nominations for officers were
made: For president, Messrs. Emmet kiIcul-
len, Gerald Van CASTLE, Dr.W.C. Woodward
and J. j. Kirby; for first vice president,
Lloyd NJ Tiliman: for second vice president.
Messrs. Edmonston, Hollantler, McDoHeli
Evening star., 1898-11-05
COster Courtship.,

FROM tne LOBuon MAIL.
There comes a time in the history OF
every knight of the barrow when his heart
Is softened and subdued by the power OF
the tender passion. He loses interest In
sport, and no longer finds satisfaction in
pummelng his ''moke"
II his passion is of moderate dimensions
1t finds an outlet in treating" He takes
his adored one down the whitechapel road
and buys her sponge cake. ginger beer, ap-
pies, bananas. chocolate milk scenes, ice
cream, and anything else she may have a
fancy for.
When her appetite has gone and she can
eat no more they turn to shooting galleries,
Edison's phonograph and cocoanut SHES.
which exist permanently in this nelghhor-
hood, and conclude the evening by drop
ping in at a music hall.
But il his love be very deep these things
are forgotten. Ginger beer and three shots
a penny can no longer satisfy the cravings
of his heart Real love is by far a cheaper
affair.
AIRY and 'Arriet wander down dark turn
fngs together, he with his arm twined low
ingly around her neck until they reach an
open space whereon some philanthropic So
ciety has planted garden seats. Here they
sit very close together in one corner of the
seat-there Is another couple In the other
corner-gazing silently at the stars until
ii is time to go home.
And provided no other and bigger coster
comes along and demands the girl accom-
panying his request with the threat of a
bash on the jaw" the marriage will be
believe In long engagements in the east end.
He Will propose and she accept, even
though he is only eighteen years of age and
re3oices In a salary of I6 shillings a week.
Evening star., 1898-11-05

man must reap as he sows. If be sows
ill-health he will reap ill-health. If he
neslects his health the weeds of disease
will grow up and choke it.
II is daily and hourly marvel that men
will recklessly neglect their health. when
moments thought should tell them that
thry are counting death. 1t lies in most
every mans power to live to a green old
age. If man would only take the same
care of himself that he does of his horse. or
cow, or dog, he would enjoy good health.
When man owns hundred dollar horse
and II gets sick, he does not waste any TINA
about doctoring him up. When his garden
gets full of weeds, he doesn't DELAY about
roofing them out for he knows they will
choke out his vegetables. When he is out
OF sorts, sick, nervous, headachey, has no
appetite and is restless and sleepless at
night, he pays little attention to it. The
result Is consumption, nervous prostratiou
or some serious blood or skin disease. DR..
Pierce's Golden Medical Discovery is the
best OF all medicines for hard working men.
It gives edge to the appetite, facilitates the
how of digestive juices, invieorates the
liver and puri6es and euriches the blood.
IT Is the great blood maker and fesh-
builder. 1t cures oS per cent Of all cases
of lingering coughs, bronchial and throat
affections, weak lungs, bleeding from lungs
and kindred affections. Do not wait until
the lungs are too far wasted to admit Of
being cured
given me up 70 die with consum ptior. !" writrs
MT i e .. Mckinney, Of Deepwater, Fsyette C.,
W. va took treatment from br II "
Pierce, and am entireiy well now 1 hs1 taacs
steadily as directed, his Golden Medicai bis-
Or. Pierce's Pleasant Pellets cure con.
snpanon. One little Pellet" h . Aase,