davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening journal., 1898-05-05
RATS OWNED THE CAR.
Chicago R0ilroRd Omcial Has Trouble
with the RRpaciOus Rodents
for n Time.

The private car of a burlington rail-
way official, with headquarters in this
city, has been infested for nearly a
year with a brood Of rats. 1t is not
known how the vermin gained a foot
hold IN the aristocratic vehicle, but
they evidently became tired of the fare
on the freight trains and picked out the
private car as good graft" It's not
unusual for rats or mice to get into
dining and sleeping cars on railways,
but this Is the first instance on the
Burlington at least that they have made
their appearance within the sacred pre-
cincts OF a private car
II was during a trip in the west last
summer that their presence was first
noticed, but little attention was paid to
them, as il was thought that they would
stay but n short time. They were first
noticed by their appearance in the
kitchen, where they seemed to like the
work of the private cook. Becoming
bolder they invaded the remainder of
the car. Poison and traps were set for
them, but they were rats of experience,
who knew the look and taste Of the
trough" and who were too wary to ven
ture inside the trap even when it was
baited with imported cheese. They con-
tinued TO live on the fat OF the car and
TO make livery unpleasant for the occu-
pants. The latter would awake in the
night to feel four little feet running
over the coverlids or to hear the gnaw-
ing of sharp little teeth eating away the
woodwork of the car. For awhile the
officials carried rat terriers on his
trips, but the dogs never got n rat, and
the official and his employees were in de-
spair.
On one occasion, when the owner OF
the car had out with him one of his SUI
periors and some members Of the lat
ter's family, the ladies were made
bysterieal by the presence Of the rats
and had to abandon the trip and return
on regular train. Finally the rats be-
came so bad that the car was put in the
shops and north side rat catcher was
sent for. He brought both dogs and
ferrets, which were used to working to-
gether in eNterminating rats. In every
nook and corner where rats can go the
sharp-scented ferrets found their way.
and it looked as though the rats would
battle them after all.
The car is provided with n double
floor and it was decided that this was
the only place where the rats could have
concealed themselves. But there was
TO hole big enough for the ferrets' en-
trance. so portion of the flooring was
cut out. The ferrets were let in and in
a moment seven big rats came one by
one Jumping out Of hole cut for a
steam pipe. But they emerged to
death, for as they came out dog seized
each and broke its back.-Chicago
Chronicle.
Evening journal., 1898-05-05
OUR YANKEE TARs.
Sailors Have the Greatest
Record ns Fighters on
the Sea.


Oneof the first productions the Amer
lean republic was proud of was the
American sailor, or, as he was affec-
tionately called, the yankee tar" It
was very small navy that was set
ahoat by the revolted colonies in the
revolution to contend with the greatest
naval power in the world, but IL made
a great record for sailing and fighting.
Our navy has already written brave
story on the pages Of our history. In
face of our own declarations to the con-
trary, we have always, when the emer-
gency came, had ready within the nec-
essary period the ships and the sailors.
II has been our habit for a very long
time to assert our inferiority but there
has always been a stanch craft TO carry
the American flag TO any point Of the
earth's surface where honor or duty re-
quired IL to 20, and 10 keep IL flying in
honor after It got there.
The United States hasa q great inland
population, dwelling remote from the
ocean and It's commerce and It's life,
but the American Is nevera a landlubber.
lie takes TO the sea on occasion wher-
ever he may have been reared, just us in
war times he shows a genius for the ar
tillery. In his country there are lakes
on which navies may perform their evo-
lutions, and rivers where steam fleets
may meet. On Lake Champlain the
Yankee tar kept up fire which old
English sailors said they had seen
equaled only in Nelson's great fight at
Copenhagen.
II has been the popular belief that our
sailors were recruited from foreign
countries, that the Yankee tar, strictly
speaking, did not exist, but this is one
Of the numerous mistakes we have
made about ourselves. 1t was in 1890
that the nativity Of the sailors Of the
American navy was enrolled. In April
Of that yeaEA53 per cent. Of the whole
enlisted force-7,516 men and appren-
tices-were described as American cit
liens. In 1896 Secretary Herbert re-
ported that 70 per cent. Of the enlisted
men were American citizens and 50 per
cent. of the apprentices were natives OF
the United States.
From these figures twill be seen that
the American navy is more American
than IL ever was before. The future
navy Is TO be ofiicered and manned from
the apprentices who are natives of our
soil. Every American sailor is the in
heritor of glorious traditions. Every
generation Of American sailors has
proved worthy of its predecessors
KANSAS City Star.
Evening journal., 1898-05-05
VAUDEVILLE vAPORINGs.
War Talk Furnishes a Fine Field for
the Merry Punsters of the
Variety Stage.

Looks like war this morning, sure
enough. see they have sent for Lee,
cleared the decks of the ironclads and
closed the Congressional library, for the
first time in 40 years."
CLOSED the library. What for9"
Afraid the magazines would ex-
plode."
"Yes, and Isee they have sent for Mrs.
Bradley Martin. Such a good hand to
get up balls"
Better send for that man that lives
on the sea coast, for he's great at gath
ering Shells"
Il see the Episcopalian preachers
have to 60, too. They know all about
canons."
Il heard that Busters boy whipped
his school teacher. Got mad because
she told him she would make him walk
Spanish"
That's not as bad as Grubb. His
cook got mad and left because he
brought home some Spanish onions"
Too bad. Hear about the trouble
they're having with the smokestacks of
the Spanish cruisers. No? Too smut
ty."
That 2ss is worse than that"
How SOP"
Two gross"
Girls are going to war, they say"
Too dangerous. The powder on
their faces might go Off"
Evening journal., 1898-05-05
PoRouGH ADVOCATES WIN.

Media, May 5.-After over a years
struggle In the courts and before q
master, the advocates OF a borough for
Morton have won their fight. The
original petition for the charter has
cent farm land and also the tracks OF
the Philadelphia, Wilmington and Bal
tim0re railroad Judge Clayton con
fmed the report of the master, w. s.
Sykes, yesterday. and dismissed the ex-
ceptions He also ordered a decree OF
incorporatlon to be drawn and when
this has been signed by the court. the
citizens OF Morton will hold an election
other town officers
Evening journal., 1898-05-05
THE AMERICAN COAST LINE.
Work OF Surveying IL BeEun
Under Jefferson.


in a message 10 congress in 1907
Thomas jefferson, then president of the
United States, recommended the survey
ing Of the Atlantic coast line of the
country with view to its adequate de-
fense and also to the establishment OF
guides and safeguards to navigation.
Congress adopted the recommendation
Of the president and made an appro-
priation of $4,000 for the purpose, the
direction of the matter being put into
the hands Of the secretary of the treas
ury, at that time Albert Gallatin, who
communicated the views Of the admins
tration 20 "the scientific men of the
country" in a circular distributed in
New York, Boston and Philadelphia
chiefly. The plan adopted was TO ascer-
tain the positions of certain prominent
points on the Atlantic coast by astro-
nomical observations and 10 connect
these by trigonometrical lines.
The chief of the coast survey was a
native of Switzerland, and the work
went on under his direction with occa-
sional interruptions caused by changes
Of administration until 1si3, when he
died. The work at that time had been
finished from Point Judith, opposite
Block Island, to Cape Henlopen, in Della
ware. Since then the work has been
prosecuted actively, but meanwhile It
has been increased, particularly since
theconcessiono of territory on the Pacific
from Mexico. This coast line of the
country is now, according TO the report
Just completed, nearly 6,OOO miles, the
land frontage Of the country on the
Canada and on the Mexican border lines
being only 4,ssO miles. The details of
the American coast line are as follows;
5,7i5 miles, embracing 2,349 miles on the
Atlantic ocean, $3.50 on the Gulf Of
Mexico, and $40 on the Pacific ocean.
II is an established proposition
among authorities in naval warfare
that the naval strength OF government
would be proportioned to its coastlne.
The rule may be said TO prevail pretty
generally, though Russia, which has
relatively a small coast line on the Black
sea and on the Baltic, has n large navy
and Norway andSweden, which have an
enormous coastline, larger in proper
ton than any other countries Of Europe
have very few warships. The coastlln'
OF the United States Is really as nearly
long as the distance from New York tC
Liverpool and return by the ordinary
course Of steamship travel, and its pro
lection against any possible attack hai
OF recent years sccuredlmore attention
than was tho case before the recon
struction or more practically the con
struction Of the present American navy
IN. Y. Sun.
Evening journal., 1898-05-05
QUEER THINGS TO PUMP.
Pig Iron, Ends OF sDiles, Cannon Balls
and the END OF n Tail shnft
brought Up.

There are sometimes brought up by
centrifugal pumps-which are used for
dredging, for pumping up coal from
sunl1en vessels, aud for various other
purposes-tlings that seem strange TO
be handled even by such pumps as
these, designed 10 pump coal, and so
on. An eightinch centrifugal pump
used by a wrecdng company Of this
city to pump coal with has brought up
piece of pig iron weighing SO pounds.
A pump with a 2s-inch suction used
in dredging at the Mississippi river jet
ties brought up two mushroom an
ehors, one Of them weighing 50 pounds.
1t brought up ends of spues IL inches
in diameter and 2s inches long. IL
pumped up sharks; part of one
pumped upon one occasion was five feet
long.
Another eight-inch pump used for
coal pumped up pieces of board IS
inches long, and a car coupling IL
inches long.
Large pumps used in dredging in the
improvement Of New Yori: harbor
brought up cannon balls and various
ether heavy objects. including the end
of tail shaft weighing 76 pounds.
Evening journal., 1898-05-05
nInnr nriIer of soIdIers.

A German military critic has been
adding up the grand total Of the eonti-
mental armies, and, after noting that we
can form only a vague idea of what is
meant by tens of millions, he tries to
bring home 10 his readers in another
way the colossal growth of modern
ornaments. If, he says, we could have
all the armies of the continent on a war
footing and drawn up in one long pro-
cession, with their guns and ammuni-
tion and baggage wagons, the column
would be rather more than $4,000 miles
long, and, marching day and night, it
would take nearly a year TO pass a given
point.-Golden Days.
Evening journal., 1898-05-05
HUMOROUS.

The Only Thing Left.-"How does
Blanldy get along? He says that he's
too proud to beg and too honest to
steal" 'He gets trusted."-Indian-
apolis Journal.
Wee Miss Mamma, mayn't l take
the part of a milhmaid at the fancy
ball?" Mamma-"You are too little"
Wee Nfiss-"Well, can be a condensed
millSmaid. ."-Tit-Bits.
Tommy" said his gentle-faced
grandmother, you're a regular little
glutton. How can you eat so much?"
Don't know. Guess it's just good
uck."-Detroit Free Press.
Wife (suddenly awallening) g)-"Harkl
What's the matter? Fido is way down
stairs, yelping as if he were hurt.
What's happened to the little dearT"
Husband-"I threw him at burglar"
N. Y. Weekly.
Doubling Woman-"Really, now, are
these eggs fresh9" Grocer-"Madam,
If you will kindly step to the telephone
and call up our farm, you can hear the
hens that laid those eggs still cack-
ling."-Cincinnati Enquirer.
Newspaper Proprietor-"I can re-
member the time when there was no
Sunday paper with more than four
pages; and now we give our subscribers
40, and sometimes more" One of the
Subscribers-"Sa isn't it?"-Boston
Transcript.
Have you given up your idea Of mas
tering some European language?" said
the courtier. "Yes," replied the Chi
nese emperor. whats the use? There
is no means of telling which l will need
IN order to talk to my neighbors. -
Washington Star.
An Overpraised Man.-"Ehackeray q
master of style!" repeated Chollie tc
the earnest person. MY deah fellaw
you pawsitively don't know what you
are saying. I've seen dozens of pictch
avs of the old Johnny, and no one ol
them showed q coat that had the least
approach to a fit."-Cincinnati In
quirer.
One Resource.-"There we were,
said the old engineer. 1--WE were go
ing at least so miles an hour. In from
was the burning bridge and behinC
were IL coaches filled with passengers
The locomotive was rushing toward
destruction at a frightful pace. II wa
an awful moment" The Boy-"Wh,
didn't you back pedal2"-Life.
Evening journal., 1898-05-05
AUsTRIA's DEcADENCE.
There Is No Place in the Tranquil
Empire for Great Men, Says
Mark Twain.

must take passing notice of another
point in the governments measures for
maintaining tranquility, says Mark
Twain, in Harper's Magazine. Every
body says it does not like to see any in
tEiYidual attain to commanding infu
Cnce in the country, since man can
become q disturber and an inconveni-
ence. eve have as much talent as the
other nations" says the citizen, re-
signedly, and without bitterness, shut
for the sake of the general good Of the
country we are discouraged from max
ing it over-conspicuous; and not only
discouraged, but tactfully and slillful-
ly prevented from doing it, if we show
too much persistence. Consequently
we have no renowHsd men; in centuries
we have seldom produced one-that is,
seldom allowed one to produce himself.
We can say to-day what no other ne ton
OF first Importance in the family of
Christian civilization can say: That
there exists no Austrian who has made
an enduring name for himself which is
familiar all around the globe"
Evening journal., 1898-05-05
unrdshins of Wnr.

Capt. Burdick's advice to the mem
bers of troop A i'm Cleveland, o., to use
silk underwear in case of war reminds
the Boston Journal of Artemus Wards
"Touching Letter from Cory Member
of the Home Guard:" broadway, De
cember 10, '61.--Dear Father and Moth
er; We are all getting along very well.
We mess at Delmonico's. Do not re-
pine for your son. Some must suffer
for the glorious stars and stripes, and,
dear parents. why shouldn't 1? Tell
Mrs. Skuller that we do not need the
blankets she so kindly sent to us, as we
bunk at the ST. Nicholas and Metropol-
itan. What our brave lads stand most
in need of now is fruit cake and waffles.
DO not weep for me. Henry Adolphus."
Evening journal., 1898-05-05
SPANISH STAMPS.
Ten Millions of Them Have just Been
Issued 20 Raise War
Funds.

A San Antonio (Tex.) special says:
There was received in this city from the
City of Mexico, consignment of $500
patriotic postage stamps" of Spain.
The consignee was Jose NJ. De CASTELAR,,
a Spanish resident Of San Antonio and
native of the Canary islands. This
consignment of stamps reveals a gigan-
tic patriotic scheme of loyal Spanish
subjects on the American continent to-
raise fund of s5OO,00O to aid the Span
ish government in its war with the
Cuban insurgents. The scheme is to
issue 100000 postage stamps five,
cents face value in the money of the
country in which they are used. The
matter is in the hands of an executive
committee in the City of Mexico, and
the second issue of 1,OOO,O 900 stamps has
been turned out by a German htho-
graphing firm in the Mexican capitall
The stamps are sold for five cents apiece
TO the Spaniards, and one stamp is
stuck on the sheets of every letter
written by the patriotic subjects. The
committee in the City of Mexico has
sold these stamps, 1t is claimed, in large
quantities in the South and Central
American republics, and many have
found their way to this country. Senor
CASTELAR, says that the lot which he re-
ceived Is part of second million of such
stamps issued. The stamp is of light
green color and bears this inscription
in an arch around the Spanish coat of
arms; "5-Impuesta Patriotica Espa-
nol-5."
Evening journal., 1898-05-05
Decline of Bun Fighting.

The wholesome change that the char
ncter Of the Mexican people is under
going IS shown again by the movement
headed by President Diaz and taken up
by the better social element TO abolish
bull-fghting. That brutal sport is one
Of the handicaps which Mexico got from
Spain. In the mother country it still
fourishes. and any attempt TO suppress
it would be resisted as strongly by the
ruling classes as by the common run
Chicago Chronicle.
Evening journal., 1898-05-05
JOKE ON THE OFFICER.
The Thief Catcher UnsuspectinEiy
Gives His Suit TO Wagon
Thief to Clean.

There is good story told on a
prominent official of Allegheny, says
the Pittsburgh Dispatch. He denies it,
but its truth is vouched for by another
well-known official. Some days ago,
the story goes, the former official hap
pened to be going into his residence
on one of the prominent thorough
fares when he saw man hurrying
across the street with several pieces,of
mems wearing apparel on his arm. The
man was walking in the direction of
wagon nearby that belonged to a clean
ing and dyeing establishment. ItstruclS
the official that he would have one of
his spring suits cleaned, and he hailed
the man, thinking he was in charge of
the wagon. However, the fellow proved
to be q thief and had just robbed q hall
rack in a neighboring boarding house.
When the official cried out to him:
"Say, mister, have suit wish you
would have cleaned" the thief took in
the situation and saw that he had been
taken for the driver of the wagon. He
coolly went over and got the officials
suit. The thief was well out of sight
before the real driver of the wagon re-
turned and the truth became known.
Evening journal., 1898-05-05
LIGHT YOUR PIPES, GIRLS.
lish You Must Smoke
Dudheen.

The latest from England is that the
different railroad companies are being
tormented to death by letters from
women requesting the addition of smolS-
ing cars for women on tho different
railroads, says the New York Evening
World.
This naturally leads one to inquire;
Where is the British matron? Why
isn't she forming a crusade and leading
it against her refractory daughters, for
the would-be smokers in public belong
TO the younger class of professional
women who crave the solace of cigar,
cigarette or pipe as they ride up to Lon
don to their studios and Offices.
Smoking among the better class Of
women in England is far more prevalent
than it is in the United States. This may
be due to the fact that women's clubs
in London are more clubable than they
are here.
The London women's clubs do not
stop at gavel-pounding and an annual
tea. There is daily tea, but it is spelled
sherry, or Observation-Disclosures,
or a variety of ways.
Now that we havO taken to copying
everything English, even TO their boots
we fought against the boots for years,
but we are now paying double price
for them-are we going TO demand
smoking cars, too? It won't add much
TO the attractiveness of the fin de steele
girl to have a briawood pipe sticking
out of her hip pocket.
But if it's English, we must have IL,
avar ~ o.,,ovr, % ,r,,,,-,,,o,.
Evening journal., 1898-05-05
A gIost Expen.Ive sermon.

At n recent sale in Boston a copy Of
n sermon sold for $1,000. The extreme
rarity Of the work, which is a copy OF
Robert Cushman's Plymouth sermon,
gave it this value. The book contains
an account of the Pilgrim settlement
md IS small quarto of 10 pages, bound
In crimson levant morocco extra, by
Bedford. printed in London in 1922.
Only five copies are known to be in ex-
ts,Cnce.
Evening journal., 1898-05-05
2UCK A DELAWARE MINE.

unknown sailing vessel ran the
let Of patrol boats at Fort Della
In doing so the vessel struck a
arine mine and knocked it out of
The patrol fleet found the mi%e
lg down the river yesterday
ing. Three carloads of powder ar
at Delaware City yesterday for
Delaware.
Evening journal., 1898-05-05
ARTERIHANGING FIRE.
IMITATION OF GOVERNORS
PORTRAITS ON MAY 26.

XE WILL BE SPECIAL AND IN
TESTING CEREMONIES AT
NT TIME - ROUTINE PRO-
sDINGS OF HOUSE AND SEN
l..i.nal
Ter, Del, May 5.-The Elections
ne of the most important Of the
*tive session, has not been COM
yet, and may not be ready for
& tatiOn to-day or Friday.
'e is little probability of the Leg
Ne passing a Wilmington city
b bill. Schemers have been hard
but, as there are opposing fac
+ no agreement has been reached,
le members of the Assembly are
to get together on any plann of
Committee from the two houses
n May 26, present to the state the
graphs of eX-governors, and the
House will be the centre OF spe-
8remonies. Governor Tunnel will
the pictures on behalf of the
s City Solicitor Henry c. Conrad,
|lmington, will present the pOr-
of the governors who resided in
Castle county, and Judge James
will, of Dover, will present those
Kent county men.
morning session of the Senate
nsumed in reading the House bill
ing for a general corporation
5hiCh was referred.
ne House Representative Short in
ed a bill amending the law pro-
for the maintenance of idiOtic
en- at the Media Institute. Mr..
gave notice OF a bill amending
larter of the Union Cemetery
any, of Georgetown. Mr.. Mere
ave notice of bill for a justice Of
B Heace and notary public for the
srn district of Brandywine hun
4 House cOncurred in the Senate
lments to the Educational bill,
bus it becomes a law. The House
the bill providing for quarterly
. es for peddlers. Representative
a introduced bills providing for an
onal notary public for Whining
md authorizing the granting of
Dnal licenses to salOonkeepers.
ouse bill abolishing days Of grace
.enate bills extending the limits
lmington and regulating arrests
city were introduced in the Sen
Senate passed the House bill
ling for a Levy Court Commits
Or Kent county.
i ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS.
/ TE-WEDNESDAY MORNING.
er, May 4.-The Senate met at IL
X.
5er by the chaplain.
ding-Reading Of the House cor
on bill.
asls until p. m.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
Senate reassemibled at 2.45
<.
reading of the House corporation
as resumed.
1rred to cOmmittee-General cor
on bill.
ice-By Mr.. Meredith, providing
Justice of the peace and notary
Tor Brandywine hundred.
d and referred-HOuse bills abOl-
days OF grace; relating to the
enance of idiotic children.
Oduced-By Mr.. Stewart, to ex-
the limits of Wilmington IRE.
D; by Mr. Meredith, in relation tc
S and bail bonds in Wilmington
red.)
sed-House substitute for Kent
y Levy Court bill.
burned until tomorrow morning
SE-WEDNESDAY MORNING.
Use met at 10.45 o'clock.
oduced-By Mr.. Short, in relation
0tic children.
ice-By Mr.. Short, to amend tht
r Of Union Cemetery, of George
ess to 8 p. m.
WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON
use met at 3.05 o'clock.
sed-In relation to idiotic chill
Cured in-Senate amendments tC
| bill.
ed-To allow peddlers to take out
rteriy license.
'oduced-By Mr.. Short, to allow
overnor to appoint an additional
public in Wilmington; to amend
er 500. volume II.
burned to 10 a. m. tomorrow.
2UCK A DELAWARE MINE.
Unknown sailing vessel ran thI
Evening journal., 1898-05-05
G9AIN-o! TRY GRAIN-OI

,our Grocer to-day to show you a
&c of GRAIN-O, the new food
that takes the place of coffee. The
en- may drink it without injury as
NO has that rich seal brown OF
A or Java, but it IS made from pure
3. and the most delicate stomach
es It without distress. u the price
fee. l5c. and 25cts. per package.
1y all grocers.
Evening journal., 1898-05-05
In the KIondike.

New Arrival-If the food supply here
should become exhausted during the
winter, isn't there anything else TO fat
back on2
Old Miner (grimly) - Yes - the
ground.-Up-To-Date.
Evening journal., 1898-05-05

The building OF the manual training
department of Delaware College, which
was recently destroyed by fire. will be
rebuilt and ready for occupancy by
September /.
Evening journal., 1898-05-05

Charles b. Finley. of Epkton, a mem
Der of the class of 1900, OF Princeton,
wss among those Who enlisted for SER
vice in Battery A, Of the Philadelphia
Light Artillery.