davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1898-05-14
Rapid-Fire Guns.
From the Engineering News.


'Rapid-fire'' or .quick-firng' guns are
frequently referred 20 at this time, but
few laymen really appreciate the meaning
OF the term, as contrasted with the "sloW-
nre breech-loader. The distinction is not
one Of size, for the rapid-fire system has
extended from one-pounder projectiles to
four-inch, hve-inch and six-inch guns
throwing Sc. 40 and 100-pound shot or
shell. The essential difference is in the
method of loading. Instead of opening the
bfeech and inserting the projectile and
the powder separately, the latter in a bunt-
ing bag, ammunition for rapid-fire guns
IS now prepared as for small arms, the
ball, powder and firing primer are united; :;
the powder in metallic case attached
TO the shot, and the primer in the center
OF the base of this case. There are a num-
Der OF types of rapid-fire guns, differing
in the way this fixed ammunition is fed
to the gun and fired. The six-pounder
t224-inch calber) rapid-fire guns of the
holchklsS, Driggs-Schrceder, Ma kim. Nor
denfeldt and Sponsel types, can discharge
100 shots in four minutes twenty-six sec
ondS. four minutes thirty-fiVe and a half
seconds, four minutes forty-one seconds
and foJr ninu es fifty six and a half sec
Chds, respectively, or twenty to twenty-five
shots per minute with accuracy of aim
without attempt at accuracy of aim the
rate can be increased to thirty TO thirty
hve shots per minute. With five-inch rap
ld-ilre guns. or Seyenty-pounders tflrty-six
shots have been fired in five minutes
Evening star., 1898-05-14

IL. E. W., jr., in Philadelphia Times
The first great fight Of the war ia foupbt
And who is the victor-say-
Is there aught of the lesson now loft untsuybt
BY the fight of Manila bay2
Two by two were the Spanish sbips
Formed in their battle line:
Their flags at the taffrau peak and forA
And bat ries ready upon the shore
Silently bidiIg their time
lrto their presence sailed our fleet
me harbor was fully mined;
with shotted guns and open ports
Up to their ships-aye-up to their fortsI
Fer Dewey is danger blind.
Signaied the flagship "Oren fire.
ana the guns beched fcrth their death,
AT closer range, - vas the order shoWpf
Inca eacn ship sprang to d1aimther own
AND to lick her fiery BREATH
seIvea We're our squ1dron's heavy guns
WIN gunners stripped to the waist:
ana the binding, swirlingl suIbh 'rous smoke
Enveioped the ship each qua spoke,
IN its furious, fearful hasteg u
srnk ana destroyed were the Spanish ships:
Hgiied by our heavy shot,
for the Yankee spirit Is lust the same
anu tne Yankee grit and the Yankee aim:
ana thelr courage which falieth not
The first great fight Of the wsr is Fought
anu VINO Is Tlctor-say- II
Is mere aught of the lesson now left untaught
by the night OF Manila bay?
Evening star., 1898-05-14
The Anvil Bird,
From Our Animal Friends.


AT dusk in the wilds of the gloomy Bra
lillian forest you will think strange to
hear the clink of hammer On an anvil.
You would imagine that you were ap-
preaching some settlement and the picture
OF the ruddy glow of the forge would come
up before your eyes.
But If your guide were a native, he would
tel you that the sound made by a
campanero. as they call it, although to for
eiSners 1t is known the anvil bird
Tnis bird IS little larger than a thrush.
Ih7 piuindge Is perfectly white; the ewes
are Il pale gray color and the naked throat
ana skin around the eyes are of a fine
bright green. while its more northerly rela-
i've Is orange and black, very much like
our oriole.
1t Is generally in the early part of the
day that the campanero sends forth the
wonderful note that can be heard at a dis
tance of three miles. Marvellous indeed
must be the mechanism of the vocal organs
OF so small a bird to produce so far-rzach-
ing note; but there is no doubt of the fact,
Tor many travellers have heard the strange
sound uttered by the bird when perched on
the topmost branch of some witherad tree.
Evening star., 1898-05-14

climatic conditions as the Saharan desert,
and presents the curious anomaly of water
everywhere, and hardly drop to drink.
Rain is very rare the Verdes; for five
years at a time not a drop has been known
to fall, for neither the southern nor the
northeastern monsoons bring relief, and
the same torrid heat. unrelieved by mois-
ture. prevails all the year round. Several
of the towns are dependent upon condensa-
ton for their supply of water for drinking
and domestic purposes. and, as may be
supposed, agriculture in such a climate is
almost an impossibility. The capricious-
ness of nature. however, is exhibited by
the fact that in these barren islands the
baobab. one of the largest trees in the
world, hourishes with luxuriance known
only in the most moist and hottest parts of
Africa and Asia. This tree furnishes the
monkey bread and the negro population.
hnding their bread growing wild, have no
Incentive to labor, and work as little as
possible; in fact, no work at all Is done by
the men. and at ST. Vincent and other ship
ping points. all the labor is done by women.
Brawny, semi-nude negresses perform all
the labor of unloading and loading the coal
from ships and lighters. The islands are
valuable only as coaling stations for the
steamers of the South Atlantic, and were it
not for this use there would be no white
population. There is nothing to attract
strangers, there are no natural curiosties,
there is no scenery deserving attention.
there are no antiquities, and the squalor
and poverty of the population are such as
TO disgust the visitors who come ashore
from the South African steamer which
regularly calls for supplies of fuel The is
lands have never played any part in his
tory. The only event of consequence which
ever happened there since the discovery
was the burning of an American ship early
In this century. From every point of view
except as a supply depot for coal. the Cape
Verde archipelago is absolutely devoid of
interest. and is unanimously pronounced by
all strangers who have visited it to be the
duliest. most uninteresting, and, as one de-
ciares. the most God-forsaken set of is
lands on the planet"
Evening star., 1898-05-14

or arctic winter snow. But soon the COM
Portable travel Of the sleeping cars VITA
lefsurely waits at meal stations and. later.
the easy-goiDg advance of the river ves-
sells, with fan personal security and polite
attendance, may safely be reck2ned upon.
thus accentuating the extraordinary
triImphs over obstructive physical difficult
ties which may be accomplished by per
sistent and intelligently directed human
effort. According to an official Russian
report, some Of the goods bound from
CHINA or Siberia to Russia proper were
formerly a year on the road. The fur
clad. snow-hourd journey across the
steppes. with its frightful monotoay. re-
lieVed only by occasional stops for tea and
Tor Change Of horses at the posing houses
Is familiar picture in literature. Ii is
arother striking contrast that perhaps
IN the coming summer the new rail-and-
river route may be open % any robust
traveller who, equipped with nome passport
ana with special permit from the St
petersburg authorities. is prepared to meet
rough wagon travel over a fer hundred
miles of uncompleted railway between
Lake Baikal and the Shilka river. What
ever he may encounter, this much is GER
tain, that IL he is an Anne rican and prop
erly voucfed for he will find extrelae and
unfailing sympathy and civili:y from all
the Russians-officials and others-as those
or his countrymen who have met these
gentlemen will gladly testify
Evening star., 1898-05-14
The Care Of Goldfish
From Harper's BaZar.


The reason so few people have success
with goldfish is that they do not pay
proper attention to them, strive to learn
their pee uliarities. A little intelligent care
will go ii lorg way toward making the gold
fish feel at home, and il is with this idea in
view that the following suggestions are ap-
pended:
Keep them N water. The method adopt
ed by some persons of keeping goldfish i'll
bird cages does not produce good results
The water should be clean. Wash ii thor
oughly with soap and Il scrubbing brush
every morning. If this process does not re-
move the dirt from the water throw it
away and get some fresh water.
Do not comb the hair of the goldfish more
than once day. Oftener than that annoys
them.
Do not take goldfish out of their globe
when you go bicycling and expect them to
follow you like dog a run of even ten
or eleven miles may produce fatal fatigue
in the very strongest goldfish.
DO not nurse goldfish too often When
fondling them on your lap be very careful
not to stroke their scales the wrong way
BE very careful of the food you supply
to goldfish. Their breakfast should consist
of nothing stronger than little toast and
butter, with boiled egg and cup of coffee
or cocoa. For dinner you may give them
game or poultry, but be careful not to feed
the poultry to them with their feathers on.
A goldfish might choke to death in the
effort to swallow Il chicken or a duck
which had not been denuded of it's feathers
In like manner, the eggs should be shelled
before feeding them to the goldfish These
are important points, for goldfish are very
sensitive about their food. For supper few
lamb chops link OF two of sausage
will be found sufficient, with mullins or
some other form of bread There is no use
IN oVerfeeding goldfish, as they do not
thrive if their stomachs are overworked.
The Goldfish's amusaments ought to be
carefully looked after. 1t is not advisable
for them to play exciting games. such as
golf, but the milder croquet NAV be in
dulged IN to a moderate extent They
should never be taken to the theater or
opera but there is no objection to their
attending fish ball occasionally
Evening star., 1898-05-14
The Palace MT Madrid.
From the International May0zine

The royal palace at Madrid is one of the
most beautiful structures in the world, be-
ing built by an Italian architect in the early
part of the last century. at a cost of S.
100000, and was intended to be rival to
the French palace at Versailles The ma
terial is white marble, and 1t is 40 feet
each way. with a court 240 feet square,
rooted with glass Few places are more
tiresome to visit than palaces, with their
long rows of gorgeously decorated cham
bers, Silt furniture and everlasting mirrors,
but the Casa Real at Madrid is very in
tsresting, and contains a remarkable IL
brary of 100000 volumes, including priceless
Papers, pictures, bronzes and marbles.
The stairway is a noble structure Of black
and white marble, and is guarded by four
statues of Roman emperors who were ma
tives of Spain = Trajan, Adrian, Honorius
and Theodosius. On the first floor are
thirty large saloons, the chapel and the
library; on the second floor the royal family
and the members of the court reside The
palace is said to contain over seven hun
dred French clocks which were collected by
Ferdinand VII, no two of them being alike.
Evening star., 1898-05-14
NICARAGUA,
1t Has Great Resources but They
Are Not Developed.

1t Has Great Resources, but They
Are Not Developed.
W Eleroy Curtis in the Forum
As an example of the evils of personal
politics, Nicaragua stands pre-eminent 1t
has been the theater of war almost con-
tinuously ever since the country was dis
covered. There is no country of equal area
upon which so much human blood has been
wasted, or 50 much wanton destruction
committed, in the settlement of questions
that involved only the ambition of men or
the rivalry of cities. For half a century
three towns contended for the seat of gov
ernment; and, although Managua is now
the residence of the president, Granada and
Leon nave never recognized it as The capi-
tai.
Nature having blessed Nicaragua with
wonderful resources, peace and industry
would make the country prosperous beyond
comparison, but much attention has
b7en paid to politics that there has been
little time left for anything else Scarcely
a year mas passed without revolution and
during the Seventy-five wears of IFS inde-
pcndence the republic has had five times as
many rulers as it had in the three CEN
turtles during which it under the do
Hirion of Spain. 1t Is a land of volcanic
disturbances, physical. moral and political
ard the mountains and the men between
them have contrfved to keep UP an almost
continuous commotion.
In mines. forests. fisheries and pastoral
resources Nicaragua has been bountifully
blessed by nature; but, if peace can ever be
made permanent. its future wealth will
come from the development of it's agricul-
tural lands. The forests are of great value
not for timber alone. but for rubber drugs
ana dyewoods. The mines produce gold
silver. copper and some of the rarer metals
but they are worked by primitive processes
ana political disturbances as well rs lack
OF transportation facilities prevent their
full development. The agricultural lands
are divided into large estates which are op-
Grated upon the same plan that prevailed
among the planters of the south before the
rebellion The people are eXtravagant and
usually anticipate their incomes, so that
the crop Of nearly every eStancia is mort
gagged to the commission merchant before
1t is harvested, and the planter is compelled
TO take any price that is offered him He
borrows money to pay his laborers and pro-
vide Them with food. well as to meet his
own personal expenses. or draws upon his
credit at the nearest mercantiIa establish
ment. The peOn is in debt to the planter
the planter to the merchant the merchant
TO the exporter; and the latter conducts his
business with funds furnished by his corre-
spondents in New York, London or Ham
burg. And so it goes on year after year
Each person involved in the transaction
spends, in advance of its receipts as much
or more money than he makes conducts his
business on paper. like spectators in the
stock market, meets deficits with mort
cages, and causes the country to grow
poorer each year. with no possible hope Of
redemption except by an influx of fresh
blood and capital.
Evening star., 1898-05-14
Traits of Abyssinian Troops.


The Abyssinian soldiers ordinary dress
is not very attractive. 1t consists of n
white linen shirt down to his knees and a
pair of tight linen trousers to half way
down his calf Over this he wears a belt
of folded linen, and as a rule a ..sham-
ma or white cotton sheet. draped around
him. None of these garments are ever
washed, so that they rapidly assume A
dingy brown hue; and as no native ever
washes himself. and his only toilet consists
IN rubbing butter into his hair once a fort
night, the aroma from a large body of men
Is not precisely pleasing. No shoes, stock
lEgs or head covering are worn. The Off
GERS and all who can afford it wear a
stamina with broad red stripe, called a
jano. and on high days and festive oc-
casionS all varieties of clothes are produc-
ed, of all colors in the rainbow. Cloaks of
blue. red. green. yellow or violet, orna-
Hented with rough embroidery leopard
skins, sheep skins and even lion skins. are
worn on such days by the officers and
small chiefs, and on these occasions the
army presents a noble show.
ANY man who has killed lion OF an ele-
phant, or has distinguished himself much
IN battle, wears an aureolc of lions mana
on his head. and for each five men lie has
killed he wears a silver band on his sword
Scabbard. The highest recompense for
valor is a sort of velvet top hat ornament
ed with silver. and great officers are given
SnfeiuS covered with FeiNet ana ornament
ed with gold or silver. The swords are
worn on the rfght-hand side and are very
much curved, almost sickle-shaped, and
sharpened on both edges. These are used
for everything. from killing people down to
cutting off mouthfuls of 'beefsteak. The
rifles of every sort of single-loader (except
Martini-Henrys) and great many repeat-
ing rifles were taken from the Italians .. !.
the battle of Adua in 1896: but, as far as
We could find out, their musketry would be
improved considerably by bit of regular
target practice.
As for the men themselves they are
tough and sturdy. but not big; their skin is
OF the color of mud, and their features and
hair are distinctly negro-like, though they
have straight noses, as a rule.
Evening star., 1898-05-14
DEEP SEA LIFE.
Purity of the Water Necessary for
Fishes ut Any Depth.

From the Chicago Tircs-Heraid.
Results of deep sea dredgings are differ
ent in different oceans. A series of expert
ments made in the Aegean sea, which is a
part of the Mediterranean, seems to estab-
lish the fact that there was an abundance
of life in the shallow water which dimin-
ished till it found limit at 800 fathoms,
below which no life seemed tc exist 1t was
afterward shown, when repairing ca BILE
on the coast of Africa. that animals were
attached to the cable that had been lying
at depth of 300 fathoms This however,
was exceptional for the Mediterranean.
Both the English and American govern
ments have made extensive researsh in the
bottoms of different oceans, with very in
tereStfng results to science. 1t is proved by
these dredgings that there is abundant life
in the Atlantic ocean as deep down as 300
fathoms, or nearly three miles One result
OF these soundings was to establish the fact
that there We're currents reaching to great
depths moving in opposite directions, with
fifteen degrees difference of temperature
within short distance.
The Mediterranean seems to be an ex-
ception to the general rule in the matter of
deep sea life. The reason is found in the
fact that there is Shiny sediment in the
deeper portions of this sea that interferes
with animal respiration. the same as an ex-
tremely thick dust would in the air. Life
is supported in the water the same as on
landry breathing oxygen. In the one case
1t is absorbed from the air and in the other
from the water. Pure water is to the sea
animal what pure air is to the land animal.
The sea animal could not live in muddy
water continuously any more than we could
exist continuously in atmosphere filled
with dust. 1t is thus seen that depth is not
the only condition that affects animal life
on the bed of the The nature of the
soil and deposits are factors. as well as the
temperature of the water. However there
are certain forms of life to be found in the
lowest temperatures. But, as is the case
on land. We do not find the same kind of
life in the colder and deeper zones of the
ocean as in the warmer and more shallow
parts.
In the cold waters the animals are dwarf
ed in size. somewhat as We find them in
high mountain regions. 1t is said that the
starfish will grow as large as a pudding
plate where the conditions are favorable,
but not larger than silver dollar in the
cold current of the Atlantic which flows
southward. In some places this cold cur
rent falls to 2la degrees below the freez-
ing point of fresh water, at the bottom of
the ocean.
Evening star., 1898-05-14
" v
Spain.
Tribune

From the New Yols Tribune
Scared old snarling lion, with scraggy tattereJ
name, ''eieo
realm of Spain; N e''
with ne thitst for blood still on him. and still
He rends poor bleeding Cuba nrostr.+o ,horo T.,
meath his paw ~ "
He's fierce and famed man-eater, and from early
days of yore. ~ ~ A'
Has ravaged many an island, wasted many teem-
Anu tne hGt4ihs number millions whom his
strength has Ovcrpowered
"hoin with ravening. bloody slaughter he has
mangled and deyoured: ~
But MS roar grows faint and hollow and a lunter
from the West
VIII snatch away fair Cuba with her torn and
bleeding breast ~
And seLd him bowling, 1imping reviled of gods
medieval den. -
Evening star., 1898-05-14
Buckle on Spain.

From the Boston Journal
Do you remember what Buckle wrote "A
Spain? There she lies at the further ex-
tremity of the continent, a huge and tor
pid mass, the only representative now re-
manning of the feelings and the knowledge
of the middle ages. And, what is the worst
symptom of all, she is satisfied with her
own condition Though she is the most
backward country in Europe, she believes
herself to be the foremost. She is proud
OF everything of which she ought to be
ashamed. She is proud of the antiquity OF
Ler opinions, proud of the strength of her
faith, proud of her unmeasurable and child
ish credulity, proud of her unwillIngness
to amend either her creed or her customs
proud of her hatred Of heretics, and proud
of the undying vigilance with which she
has bafhed their efforts to obtain q full
and legal establishment on her soil"
Evening star., 1898-05-14
Old IrOnSldeS,

Ay. tear her tattered ensign down,
Long has 1t waved on high
And many an eye has danced to see
That banner in the SKY:
Beneath II rung the battle shout.
And burst the cannoD's roar:
Inc meteor OF the ocean air
Shall sweep the clouds TO more!
Her deck. once red with heroes blood.
Where knelt the vanqu!shcd foe
'" hth WINDS were hurtying Ger the flood,
Ana waves were white below
No more shall feel the victor's tread
Or Know the conquered knee:
Iha harpies of the shore shall pluck
The eagle Of the sea!
y, better LAT her shattered hulk
Should sink beneath the wayet
Her thunders shook the mighty deem
And there 1houlJ he her grave:
Nail to the mast her holy flag,
Set every threadbare sail;
And give her - the god of storms
The lightning and the gale!
OLIVER WENDELL HOLMES
Evening star., 1898-05-14
War.
the Cincinnati CommercIal-Tribune.

From the Cincinnati Commercial-Tribune.
What you ask than ruthless war
Sunk ships, stormed cities, states down hurried
The thundrous hammer strokes of Thor
That crash the rock ribs of the world?
What worse than hOrrid war? Oh cease
The cowaA cry: is not the curse
OF vile and signomnous peace
Bought with the price of honor, worsef
What worse than war? sullied fames
The scon of heroes and the scern
OF history and song: the shame
The taint-corrupting sons unborn.
Better is than sorld gain
Wrung from the servile; better far
Than manhood lest and virtue slain,
Is war, war. everlasting war!
Alas, I. too. lament the woe
That war must bring-the blood. the tears
Yet Right. TO vanauish Wrong know
Ml.st oft beat pr ming hooks to spears.
When fallen Liberty's sweet breast
Throbs bare below the SpaDiards knife.
Pause not to drool Of worst best
First save the bleeding victims life.
Two strokes sublime Coumbia's hand
Hath dealt in war-une stroke to save
From foreign sway our native land,
One stroke to free the negro slave
Now. once again the great sword awes
The dcspOt-finmes DER land and sea-
volunteer in Cuba cause
Spain falls and Cuba rises free!
Evening star., 1898-05-14
Spain.

Strike for the Anglo Saxon!
Strike for the newer day,
strike for heart and strike for brain.
And sweep the beast away.
Not only for our sailors.
The heroes Of the Maine
But strike for all the victims
OF molcch minded Spain.
Not only for the present,
But all the bloody past
strike for all the martyrs
That have their hour ut last
Old stronghold of the darkness.
Come ruin ii with light,
1t Is no fight of small revenge;
lis an immortal fight.
Spain is an ancient dragon.
That all too long hath curied
Its coils Of blood and darkness
About the newborn world.
Think Of the inquisition!
Think If the Netherlands!
1ea. think of all Spain's bloody deeds
In many times and lantis \
And let no feeble pity %
Your sacred arms restrain:
This Is Gods mighty moment
To make an end of Spain
-RlCHARI LIZ GALLENNI
Evening star., 1898-05-14

Interminable distances of monotonous
Asiadc geography will before long be
speedily trayersed in comparative comfort,
II undertaken in the typical corridor car of
the first class commonly met with on the
Russian railways. and thereafter, IN the
beats on the river route to Vladivostoek
What a contrast such u trajet viii be TO
those who have iaboriousfy covered the
same ground under pre-existing condi-
tions! Then, the seemingly endless Jour-
ney was undertaken with whatever un,om-
fertable primitive vehicle might be found
at hand, appropriate either to summer mud