davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-07-02
DIG DOWN DEEP.
Prairie Dogs Have Holes That Go to
the Water Level


THE most interesting thing I have seen
in many day." said Mr.. Harvey Geer of
Lamont. Col, at the Ebbitt a few nights
ago, was a prairie dog well. Did you ever
see one? 1t isn't often that reliance occurs
to explore the homes and haunts of these
expeditions little inhabitants of the plains.
A few miles from my town large force of
men has been at work this summer MAX
ing deep cut for a short railroad I'D into
the mines. A friend OF mine is in charge
OF the job, and I went out week ago to
see him and the workthat had been done
Inc first thing that attracted my attention
when got there was the fact that the cut
was being made through an old alfalfa field
and the roots fringed the sides Of the cut
and nung down fifteen to eighteen feet Up
at the surface of the ground were the stub
bed green plants and reaching down deep
INTO the earth were the fat, businesslike
roots getting their living far below where
ordinary plants forage for subsistence.
But the most remarkable thing was the
prairie dog wells that had been dug into.
The cut went through a dog village. and
DelnS deep one-some forty feet-it went
below the town. There has always been a
discussion about where the prairie dog gets
MS drink. Some say he goes eternally dry
ana does not know what 1t is to have an
elegant thirst on him. Usually their towns
are miles from any stream and in an arid
country where there is no surface water at
any time sufficient for the needs of an ami
NAL requiring drink. The overland tray-
eiers back in the days of pioneering used
to find the dog towns out on the prairie
scores of miles from the streams There
was no dew, the air was dry as a bone
the buffalo grass would be parched brown
and there would be absolutely nothing to
quench thirst. remember a discussion be-
gun thirty years ago in the American Nat
urahst by DR.. Sternberg, now surgeon
general. on the subject, and he argued in
FAVOR OF the well theory. But there near
Lamont Is ocular proof of the we'll theory
The nest holes Of the dogs were Ave or six
feet deep, but four or five holes went
straight down as deep as the excavation
mad been made and evidently on into the
water-carrying sand beneath. These holes
appeared to be used by the whole COLONY
commonly, and were little larger than
the holes used for their homes"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-07-02
VALUABLE WASTE.
Refuse of Photograph Galleries
Turned to Good Account.

Refuse of Photograph Galleries
Turned to Good Account.
''Refiners of nitrate Of silver for the use
OF photographers" said man engaged In
this line Of business In New York to a Star
reporter recently, have agents travelling
constantly all over the United States COL
lecting the waste clippings Of sensitized pa
per that accumulate in every Photographic
gallery. They buy all they can find and
pay for 1t in new nitrate, allowing the pho
tographers good round price for his
waste.
THE waste is shipped to the refiners.
where the nitrate in the paper is separated
from 1t by chemical processes and prepared
Tor market again. This re-refined nitrate
ts as good as 1t was originally, and IL sold
for just as much. The refiners, of course
make big profit out of the waste, and the
of material for the old scraps that would
otherwise be of no use to him.
when one thinks Of the great number of
photograph galleries and studios In this
country, and the fact that the waste paper
of them all is closely gathered by the re-
hners at q price that will average dollar
pound, he may get some idea of the pro-
portion OF q business that is utterly un-
known outside the persons directly inter-
ested In the trade. Not only the scraps Of
silver sensitixed papers, but those of the
paper treated with a solution Of gold are
eagerly sought by the refiners, and the
photographer is always very willing to ex-
change his accumulation Of to him. worth
less waste for new stock OF valuable nj
traits" ~
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-07-02
A Realization.

The mild-faced man with the big straw
hat, gold glasses and a palm-leaf fan had
just turned his back on the mercury, which
was trying to wend its silvery way out of
the top of the thermometer
"Well!' exclaimed the friend who wore a
canvas helmet; Il must say you look used
up
Used up!' was the rejoinder. II don't
suppose you are aware that this is one Of
the times when 1 am supposed to rejoice
and be proud and happy
What has happened?"
when a man finds that long-cherished
wish has bean fulfilled" he went on, a lit
tie GROSSLY, "ain't it mis- business to be
happy"
Il suppose 1t Is. Is that your cass?'
ITO be sure it is. Just look at me. Here
] am utterly oblivious TO the price of COAL
l don't wake up in the night any more In a
Geld perspiration after dreaming L have
been Shoveling twenty-dollar bills into the
furnace. When L go into warm room
don't have to wipe the stes m of my glasses
before can see, and when 1 go out I'm not
afraid of being hit with snow balls.
don't have to empty the slush out of my
shoes when l go home at night, nor put on
wooden wear which tickles, nor put my
feet in hot water, nor take cough syrup.
These are the days / have bean looking
forward to ever since the first Of December
It's my turn to be happy. and L don't want
to be disturbed nor irritated when I'm try
ing to attend to it., either
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-07-02
A Hot Dinner,

From the Tacoma Ledger.
The warmest meal on record on Puget
Sound was eaten Saturday night near
Buenna, on the east shore of the sound be-
tween Tacoma and Seattle. The feaster
was a member of the Bruin family, and
beehives loaded with honey and living.
stinger-loaded honey makers was the bill of
fare.
The hives belonged to DR. Oliver and were
standing IN his yard near Buenna. Their
delicious honey attracted the bear and
tempted him beyond resistance bees and
their weapons notwithstanding.
MIR. Bruin was not at all backward in
helping himself, and when the feast was
done he had swallowed the honey and bees
OF one hive and part of those of a second.
He left nothing to tell the tale except his
footprints On the sand. the pa.tly demol-
ished hive ard the home and the remainder
OF the homestead, together with the doctor.
who is busy explaining how IL happened
and congratulating himself upon his for.
tunate escape.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-07-02
llZs9<1fst!HHsSSs &Ey5H9lD
t bunH"' OE,Er'

tion 7 maan exists in relation to wearing
| the medal of honor, awarded by Congress,
| and If is known that certain persons have
medals of that kind and have worn them
without the authority of Congress. The
bow of the Army Legion of Honor is how
ever provided for by law. and it is a viola
have wear it"
** y -
Every time l pass through the Capitol
and notice the water coolers at the Senate
and House end of the main corridors 1 am
reminded of the late Senator Preston B.
Plumb of Kansas" observed an old poll
tician to a Star reporter. There had been
spasmodic efforts every now and then for
over fifteen years to have water coolers
placed on the main floor of the Capitol for
the benefit of strangers and others visiting
the Capitol, but somehow they never sue
ceeded. No one seemed to specially object
to them, but as they never had been there
no one seemed specially enthusiastic about
having them installed. There was always
plenty of ice water in the committee rooms
and other places at the Capitol, and it was
handy enough for persons who were ac-
quainted with the building to get a drink,
but it was entirely different with strangers.
If they were thirsty the only way for
them to relieve their thirst was to go to
the restaurants in the building and get
that the restaurant people had kept out
public ice coolers, Senator Plumb went to
work, and simple as the proposition ap-
peared to be on its face, 1t required of him
constant agitation for nearly two years be-
fore he got his desire granted. He tried
1t with direct bill. but the bill would get
lost in some committee room. AS last
resort he had an amendment put on an
appropriation bill and then had himself
made one of the conferees on the bill. There
were indirect efforts made on him to give
up the idea, but he announced his ultima
tum that If he could not get his ice water
amendment through he would defeat the
entire bill. That settled it. and during the
following recess the necessary pipes were
Dullt In the walls and the connections
made There is no expense in keeping the
water Ice cold, for, according to his own
plan, this is done by running a coil Of pipes
through and around the store room in the
basement OF the building where the ice for
use in the committee rooms. restaurant
etc, is stored"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-07-02
AN EXCEPTION TO THE RULE.
He Was Not Called Upon to Supper
His Wife.


His Wife.
He did not look as If he were composed
|. of the stuff of which heroes are made,
vine affiatus of courage in his system or
he would not have been before the re-
cruiting officer seeking to gain admission
into the ranks of those who were Offering
themselves as a sacrifice upon the altar of
their beloved country
What is your manner" inquired the off,
Ger in charge.
John Smith,
Your age, Mr.. Smith,
'Forty-three. next October
Where were you born?"
I'm Indiana"
do you reside here?
Yes. sir; have for the last ten years."
Are you married or single?''
Married.
"Ah. is that so?"
Eyes. SIR
We'll. you can't enlist?''
why not?"
Because you are married.
WHAT'S that got to do with it?"
can't take married men into the serv-
ice"
why not? Hasn't a married man got
courage enough? Can't he be as good q
patriot as a bachelor"
7 suppose so. but we can't take mar
ried men. They have to stay at home and
support their wives and families"
The applicants face cleaned like a SUM-
rise.
..Oh. that's all right" he laughed easily.
You needn't worry on that account: NV
wife keeps boarding house. and has
ever since the second year we were mar
ried.'
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-07-02
CHINESE SHOES,
The Comfort and Healthfulness Of tn.
Wsven Straw Sandals

The Comfort and Healthfulnes. ~ TIM
Wsven Straw Sandals.
may seem to be quarreling with my
bread and butter" said an uptown chi-cpo.
dist to one of his best customers the other
day, but in my humble and somewhat pro-
fessional opinion, the most sensible Of all
men in the matter Of footwear is the China.
man. Did you ever notice his feet? I don't
believe there is such a thing as a corn or
a bunion in all China. Chiropodists would
searve 70 death there so far the require
ments OF the masculine foot are concerned
Whatever the deformities inflicted on the
Feet or the women Of China may be the
men certainly enjoy sound and comforta HE
UNDERSTANDINGS Look at the Chinese laun-
drymen here in Washington: they stand at
their work eighteen hours a day No class
OF workingmen 1 know of spend SO MANY
hours on their feet as they do Yet they
never preak down there. and physically
they are wonderfully healthy race
Simple living and freedom from the ner-
Vous pursuits of our civilization may have
something to do with it, but l attribute
their exemption from foot weakness and
sally worn by them. l have pair that /
have worn for several years and 1 wouldn't
wear anything else for genuine indoor com
tort. They are woven of straw and sea-
weed eaoi and soled with horse hide. There is
a thick sole of straw above the leather and
through this the air can circulate freely
keeping the muscles of the under part of
the foot always cool The laundrymen YOU
notice, are usually barefoot, which is an
added advantage in the matter of health
fulness. There is about as little material
In the uppers as is consistent with the idea
Of shoe, and this Is just enough to keen
the thing on the foot This upper too. is
woven loosely Of seaweed. so that the air
can have access to the foot. Nowhere does
this shoe pinch or in the least degree press
the foot
These are the indoor shoes of the China
man. On the street here in the United
States nowadays he wears very commonly
the leather shoes boots of American
manufacture That is one of the ways in
which he is becoming Americanized. But
the outdoor cloth shoe of China is a great
deal worn also. That, like the indoor shoe
Is very thick and soft in the sole and the
foot is never pinched or strained by it.
The healthiest fOotgear ever known prob
ably was the sandal of the Greeks 1t had
no upper, and, as you will see in statuary
the feet of men and women were ideally
perfect. All the sandal afforded was a
protection from the ground. To him who
wears sandals, say the Arabs it is as IL
the world were shod with leather The
Chinaman seems to follow out this motto
and his shoes are nearly soles and nothing
more But the great secret of the excel
lence Of his indoor shoe is the haIf-inch
straw sole through which the air circuates
to keep the foot COOL If our fashions
would bring the Chinese shoe into use I
think 1t would be very good thing for us
1t would be so very good for people in my
line OF business. But that is another mat
ter, and the danger is not SO very near or
great" :.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-07-02
OUR SPANISH PRISONERS,
How They Are Being Cared for Mt
Fort Mcpherson.

Tort ncfhersOn.
From Leslie's Weekly.
Within easy access of the city of Atlanta
by electric cars. railway and the fine gov
eminent highway, lies the splendid wooded
reservation of Fort Mcpherson. 1t is re-
garded as one of the safest inland fortifica-
tions in America. Here are kept the Span
iards who have been captured by our war
vessels-our first foreign prisoners of war
thus confined since 1872. 1t is named for
Gen. Mcpherson. Only a few soldiers are
left as guards. and a lieutenant is ranking
officer. 1t reminds one of nothing so much
as great university in the holiday time
Three times a day the prisoners are
marched out across the sunny lawn to mess
and back again. The privates move in Won
dering silence. The officers affect an indif-
ferent air. Stalwart negro soldiers. stolid
and silent, move in front and behind. At
the meal hours the sergeants have orders
TO clear the fort OF crowds. if any crowds
gather The management at Fort McPher-
son is admirable. The buildings are clean
and airy, the grounds beautifully kept and
the prisoners are treated with courtesy
The Secretary of War has wired special
orders as to their treatment. Since their
arrival the prisoners have improved mar
velously In appearance. Even the prfvates
have regained a certain confident air. the
relaxation from the fear pictured on their
races at first heing quite apparent. An Of
ncer of the fort. who speaks Spanish has
learned that they expected nothing but in
slant death.
The group is typically Spanish. the Off
GERS alert and intelligent-looking the men
splritless. vacant-syed - mere underlings
Col. Cortijo the brother-in-law of VIEWER
who has just been released to be exchanged
Tor an American newspaper correspondent
is a gray-bearded veteran. apparently and
has strong but vicious face, not unlike
Weyler himself While here ne was the
ranking officer and always preceded the
others in going to and from meals walking
with staggering gait, carrying a cane
smoking cigarette, with his eyes riveted
on the ground in front
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-07-02

Written for The Evening Star
Interruption.
I've tried to live most proper-like, in quiet
an content,
A-doin' of my duty, day by day,
A-schoolin' of my disposition, SOS I won't
resent
The fractiousness that people oft display.
1 thought that 1 was gittin' settled COM
fortably down
To travel in accordance with my plan
OF never maxim much complaint nor wear
in Of a frown,
An a-tryin' for to love my fellow-man-
When along comes a drum. and a fife
a-singin' shrir.
An the marchin' of a weapon-wearin'
clan:
It's somethin' most confusin for to feel
that martial thrill
When you're tryin' for to love your
fellow-man.
They say. Forgive your enemies" It's
hard to stop and think
How them same enemies have raised their
hands
For deeds from which you might suppose a
savage beast would shrink,
And scattered terror over many lands.
1t makes you feel uneasy. If the record you
review
That's wrote In blood an tears whic h
freely ran;
If you think of treachery an hate toward
ladies dressed i'm blue,
When you're tryin' for to love your fell
bowman.
1 know that duty bids me keep my
angry passions STILL
cfide myself an do the best can
But along comes the drum an the fife
a-singin' shrill.
When I'm tryin' for 70 love my fellow
man.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-07-02
Dutch Horticulture.
the London Chronicle

From the London Chronicle.
In view Oethe coronation festivities which
Will take place at the end of. August and
the commencement of September next, the
Dutch florists are exerting themselves to
grow red. white. blue, and. in particular,
orange-colored flowers. with which to adorn
their country on the great occasion. The
montbretias furnish beautiful orange fow-
ers, with which the royal crown and tni-
tials are traced against the black mold.
and there Is q new orange rose which, ut
the suggestion of the Grand Duke Of Lux
-emDurg. has been given the English title
OF Sweet Little Queen of Holland''-o
very pretty and welcome idea
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-07-02
HOW n Hannenea.

There's never any telling what moment
mans fortunes are going to turn" re-
marked the man who likes to tell stories
"of course opportunities are sure to
present themselves" commented the or
hand philosopher. The only question il
whether the individual u q man Of cour-
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-07-02

He-"You seem ah-er-distant this even.
ing" ~ ese'A'
She-"Well. your chair isn't nailed down /.
Indianapolis Journal -
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-07-02
Carrying 1t Too Far.

From Puck
L hear that Alfred Austin Is writing a
dirge to the men killed on the Maine"
"Confound him! That's no laughing mat
ter
Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1898-04-21
The Mocking Bird.

Few persons in the south are aware
of the fact that the mocking bird is
found only in the south. Mason and
Dixon's line is the north boundary
line of his home, and it is seen in the
north only in captivity. 1t is. by far
the sweetest singer of the feathered
tribe. Switzerland may rejoice in the
tuneful linnets; la belle France glory
in her soft-throated orioles; the Medi-
terrapean isles exult in their liquid
voiced songsters; but our dear south
land excels them all i'll the possession
of the heaven voiced mocking bird. I
was told once of young man who lost
his mind because of the death of his
betrothed a few months before their
wedding day. The girl was not un-
like dozens of other girls of the same
community, except that she had a
gloriously rich voice OF peculiar sweet
ness. During the weeks of their be-
trothal the young man, an ardent
lover of music, would insist at every
visit on song after song. When she
became i'll and could sing no more for
him he would wander out into the
woods to listen to the birds. She
died one day while he was away in the
woods. 1t happened on that day he
had been thrown into transports of
delight with the sublime music of
mocking bird. When the bird had
ceased he wandered back to the home
of his bethrothed, to learn that her
spirit had departed during his absence.
That was eleven years ago, yet that
young man finds his love again when
ever he hears the song of mocking
bird. He believes her spirit visited
him that day in the woods in the form
of the mocking bird that had sung so
sweetly. .-Carrollton (Ala.) News.
Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1898-04-21
Fi.h Multiply Rapidly.

One of the proofs of the wonderful
way in which fish will multiply under
the proper conditions is given by the
great increase of striped bass on the
Pacific coast. It is only few years
ago that this fine fish was totally un-
known on that coast. A fairly large
shipment of adult fish was sent there
from the East about ten years ago and
distributed in the waters around Sac
ramento and San Francisco. Since
then the fish have increased SO rap
idly that they are glut on the mar
ket, and the regular price is only q
little over five cents pound.
An example of the great increase is
given in the tables prepared by the
United States Fish Commission q few
months ago. They show that in 1898
the fish dealers of San Francisco
handled 80, 1913 pounds, and in 1896
they handled 1853, TAT pounds.
Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1898-04-21
Strange Klondike Outfits.

There is picturesque side to this
great Alaskan movement, and no city
can bear stronger witness to that fact
than can Seattle at present. The
most interesting subject at this time
relates to the various methods of trans
portation needed to carry supplies
down the Yukon River on the ice when
the early rush to the Klondike begins.
Boats being out of the question, ami
NAL and steam power are the two po-
tent agents to be relied upon. And the
various forms in which this problem
is to be tested constitute q distinct
chapter of the story of the Klondike.
The form of animal power most
ready at hand is, of course, the horse.
But the horse has proved poor friend
in Alaska, owing to the food problem.
This has led to various experiments
in the use of animals. Oxen, mules,
goats and even elk are now at Ska
quay or beyond, to be used as pack
animals. The handling of these ami
mails about the water front has been
one of the sights of Seattle during the
last two months. Mules and oxen are
common, but curiosity is excited OF
the sight of four or five goats being
driven tandem, and an elk, horns and
all, trotting along business street
drawing a sled, looks like a picture
from Santa Claus book come to life
But the most interesting and the most
useful feature of the matter is the dog
team.
Nearly every outgoing steamer is
carrying several dog teams, and the
next three months will thoroughly de
termine whether the dog is to become
recognized factor in the winter traf
fc over the Yukon country or whether
he is but an experiment to be made /
makeshift until something better bt
discovered. d.-Leslie's Weekly.
Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1898-04-21
Curiosities of the Bank of England.

Some of the curiosities of the Bank
of England are we'll worth describing.
In the printing room man sits at q
machine hands him two complete five
pound notes. Ii he sits there six
hours he receives over seventy thou
sand pounds, and in 800 days over
twenty millions in paper money! 1t
is strange duty for man to have to
perform-to sit at table to receive
from machine twenty millions &
year!
The vaults where the gold is stored
are still more curious. In the ante
chamber to the gold kings throne
room are a few men attired in almost
medieval costume, commanded by a
very modern parsonage, who wears q
frock coat and silk hat. The latter,
with the assistance of another, who is
also sprucely dressed, unlocks the
iron gates of the vault. Around the
we'll white washed cellar are arranged
trolleys, upon each of which rest bars
of pure gold to the amout of ESQ, 900,
the particular vault to which visitors
are admitted containing two millions
worth of bullion. Through the thick
wall can just be heard the confused
murmir of the myriads above, who are
hurrying, working and worrying,
eagerly endeavoring to obtain some
trifie of the treasure which rests so
placidly on the trolleys. Has there
ever yet been millionaire miser who
has built for his gold such throne
room? and did he sit there through
the days thinking out the good anil all
the evil which these millions might be
made to do? But millionaires are sell
dom imaginative.
In another vault every note which
is returned is stored for five years, and
here is kept one, for twenty-five
pounds, which stayed away for hun
dred years. 1t has been calculated
that during that period the loss on the
note in interest amounted to over six
thousand pounds. London Truth.