davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The National tribune., 1899-06-29
L,f,vette POSTS Patriotic Work ia Porto Rico.

The following letter from Gen. Eaton,
U. S A, who succeeded Mr.. Carbonel as
Director of Public Instruction in Porto
Rico, addressed to Col. Allen G. Bakewell,
of Lafayette Post, New York City, is of
more than usual interest, illustrating as it
does the almost incredible appreciation of
the recent Spanish subjects for the new
life and institution coming to them from
the United States. Certainly a good work
has been done by the Grand Army Post
that sent flags in such qualities as to i'm
press the people with the wealth and mag
nanimity of the country now governing
the island.
SAN JUAN, PORTO RICO, May 81. 1899.
MY DEAR COLONEL: Before retiring
from my work here, must write you
word about the flags furnished the schools
of this island by you and your associates
of Lafayette Post. There could hardly
have been a more happy thought. The
flag is beautiful in. itself and symbolical
OF all that is best in America. AS you
saw, when here, it was at once attractive
to the people and the children.
| have now visited personally most OF
the municipalities in the island and have
seen the flag sallIted and heard America"
sung in English in large number OF
schools, where word of English was never
island is now divided into 16 divisions and
Supervisor of English is in charge of each
division, visiting all the schools ia city and
country. Undoubtedly 10000 children are
now. learning English, and as a visitor
enters school one of the first things asked
is will ne have the flag saluted. This is
everywhere the favorite exercise and the
children enjoy carrying the flag at the
| head of the procession whenever the schools
march in public. This has been notably
so here in San Juan when the people as
sembled to express their Joy at the ratifica-
| ton of the Treaty by the Senate, and on
the occasion of the celebration of Washing
| toms Birthday and when they gathered
| to greet Secretary AIger, and when again
they assembled to bid good-by to Gen.
Henry and to welcome Gen. Davis. l
have never seen the flag saluted in the
States with more enthusiasm than have
seen it here in the schools of Porto Rico.
The map of the United States is now
going into every school, and they connect
| the fiag with the country which the map
represents. The new school laws provide
for the extension of the study of English
and the introduction of patriotic songs,
and the flag will constantly be an object
lesson, bringing to the minds of the pupils,
as they learn the facts of American his
| tory and sing the songs of liberty, the
principles and institutions which are offer
ed them.
Thanking you personally for the aid
the flags have been to me in my work here,
and thanking you in behalf of the Porto
Ricans that have been gratified by your
generosity, l am, very sincerely, yours,
JOHN EATON, Director of Public Instruc.
| tinn
The National tribune., 1899-06-29
Holy Firecrackers.
rank Leslie's POpul0r MonthlU.

rank Lestie's Popular MOnthly.
Independence Day reminds me- said the
missionary from China, 'of the most en-
couraging and the most disillusionizipg
experience in my life. / had labored hard
in the work of converting the Chinese to
Christianity and there was unfeigned
rejoiclng among all the missions in China
and the churches in America when the
demand for Bibles on the part of our con-
verts culminatedin orders for "a 200 Bibles
in one shipment
"Tha remarkable number of new Chris
tiaus thus indicated, while it Occasioned
much thankfulness in America, caused the
heads OF the missionary associations to set
on foot an inquiry as to the methods en-
pioyed in saving the souls of such an un-
usual number of Celestials, and the uses
to which they put the Bibles sent them.
You may not know that in China the
majority of the firecrackers with which we
celebrate our day of national independence
are made by the Chinese in their homes.
Contractors for fireworks give each man
certain amount OF powder, and that must
be made into a given number of crackers.
The paper used in the manufacture he buys
himself-and paper is not cheap commod-
dom fills the required number of crackers,
but that does notdisturb the Celestial in
the least; heiiturfs in his quota. all the
same, and the American boy, in conSe-
quence, invariablyi'finds in each package
Of firecrackers a few that won't go off,
Il discovered that Yankee thrift had been
absorbed by the sheathen Chinese with
much more retadiness than Yankee morals.
In contributing his!labor toward our festi-
val occasionsi he Hit upon an expedient
whereby a considerable profit accrued to
In ytheUwords, our great ship
nent of $4,000 Bibles had literally gone
ip in smoke. ,.s T4sy were to be had for the
never 10 have suffered pang as to their
disposal for firecracker wrappers. e.
The National tribune., 1899-06-29
Muscular Powers Of a Beetle.

The following anecdote of a three-horned
beetle will give some idea of its vast strength
of body. A beetle was brought in and
there being no box at hand in which to put
it, it was clapped under quart bottle of
milk, which happened to be upon the table,
the hollow at the bottom of the bottle allow
ing the insect to stand upright.
Presently the bottle began to move slowly
and glide along the smooth table, propelled
by the muscular power of the imprisoned
beetle, and continued its travels for some
time to the astonishment of all who wit
messed it. The weight of the bottle and its
contents could not have been less than three
pounds and a half, while that of the beetle
was about half an ounce; 50 that it readily
moved a weight 112 times greater than its
own.
A better notion than figures-can convey
will be obtained of this feat by supposing a
lad of Is to be imprisoned under a great bell
weighing 1900 pounds, and to move it to
and fro upon smooth pavement by push
ing it from within.
The National tribune., 1899-06-29
Yankee ReM

Apropos Of the proposed "Anglo-Ameri
can alliance" the story Of Horace Greeley s
neat rebuke Of the Englishman who once
agreed with him too literally is told by the
Youths Companion. Mr.. Greeley was
discussing, in a general company, the
faults and needs Of his own nation.
What this country needs" said he, in
his piping voice and Yankee accent, "is a
real good licking!'
1t happened that there was an English
man present, and he promptly said, with
unmistakable English accent:
Quite right, MIR. Greeley, quite right
The country needs a licking"
But Mr.. Greeley, without glancing in the
Englishman's direction, or seeming to pay
any attention to the interruption, went on
in the same squeaky tone.
"But the trouble is, there's no nation that
can giUe it to us!"
The National tribune., 1899-06-29
Silk Worms In Iowa.

Mark Chiesa, an Italian, is successfully
raising siikworms in Des Moines, Iowa. The
eggs were brought from Italy by relative.
Two years ago he made the experiment
first. but the person who brought the eggs
carried them in his pocket and they Matched
on shipboard, so the worms had to be
thrown into the sea. This time the person
to whom the eggs were intrusted suspended
them on a string so that they got cool air
on the ocean and on the railway trains.
After arrival at Des Moines they were put
into cold storage until the mulberry leaves
were ready for them. Then, upon being
put into warm room, they Matched in one
day.
OF the supposed 5000 eggs from 10 silk
moths about 1000 Matched, which result,
Mr.. Chiesa says, is better than the average
in Italy. The greatest difficulty has been
TO find mulberry leaves for the worms.
They eat about three wagonloads day,
and never stop eating for a minute, but eat
all the time, day and night. They. must
be fed about Is times day and several
times during the night. The worms, in
deyouring the mulberry leaves, make a
noise like rain on the roof. By lively
hunting the food for the worms has been
The National tribune., 1899-06-29
PEACE CONVENTION

It is believed from the tenor of private
a1vices received here that The Hague con-
ference will be redeemed nominaliy from
failure through an agreement on an arbi-
tration project that will satisfy the ap-
parently general demand on that point, but
which, at the same time, by carefully
framed safeguards, will so marrow the
field of matters that may or must go before
the arbitration tribunal as to make it little
more than arbitration in name. The
attitude of Germany is said to he only
little in advance of those of the other powers
after all in opposition to the plans sub
mitted, and the disaffection is more gen.
eral than appears on the surface. AS for
the other projects that were especially de-
sired by the Americans, such as protection
of individual property from seizure at sea
in time of war, they have all been ire
deernably lost, it is said.
The National tribune., 1899-06-29
REUNIONS.

All comrades interested in having Re
union of the Fifteenth Corps at the time of
the meeting of the National Encampment
in Philadelphia, Sept. to 8, are invited TO
correspond with Theo. Schiveriner, Co. III,
Sth Mo-, 5725 Main street, Germantown,
Pa; or III. III. Joslin, Co. G, 55th- ILL.,,
Ulster, Pa.
21st Wis, at Green Bay, Wis, July IS
and 10. Reduced rates have been secured
from both railroad and steamboat lines.
Col. NJ. II. Fitch and other old officers will
be present j. ii. WoOdnorth, Secretary,
3I2 East Water street, Milwaukee, Wis.
11th Me-, at Waterville, Me-, Aug. 10 and
II. Thos. L. Tabor, Secretary, Bangor,
Me.
The 31st annual Reunion of the 12Oth
complete success. Nearly 100 OF the old
veterans answered to roll-call. The guests
of honor were Mrs. G. F. Spiegel, widow;
Mrs. Martin Barbe, daughter, and Hamin
Spiegel, son OF NJ. NJ. Spiegel, Colonel of the
regiment. Nearly every member of the
regiment was accompanied by his wife or
daughter. The 32d annual Reunion will
be held at 0dell's Lake. o., on the first
Tuesday in june, 1900. The officers
elected for the next Reunion are: Pres,
David e. Faltz; V. p, Capt. b. L. Jones;
Sec, Lieut.. J. p. Van Nest, Wooster. o.;
Treas, Lieut.. Mahlon Rouch, and Chic
Marshal, A. A. Keiester.
The 31st annual Reunion Of the 18th
Mass. was held at Ocean View House,
Nantasket Beach, June Is, and was a most
enjoyable occasion. There was a goodly
number of the old boys present, and among
them some who had not attended for many
years. All missed Col. F. p. Harlow and
Comrade Markham, who were unavoidably
absent. Col. j. b. Parsons, of the old 10th
Mass, was present, and invited the boys
TO the Reunion of the 10th at Monson,
Mass. GuStavus T. Fisher was elected
President b. F. Cunningham, Treasurer;
w. III. Wade, Plainville, Mass, Secretary.
The members of the Executive Committee
are James G.. Church and Israel Burlington;
Finance Committee, John Chace,- d. S.
Elliott, Jas. E. Seaver.
The 18th Reunion of the Survivors
Association of the 9th and 33d n. Y. and
1st N. Y. Cav. will be held at Philadelphia,
Sept. ) and 6. Headquarters will be at
VIM. Penn Hotel, 3S17 Market st. B. S.
Coffin, Secretary, Nunda n. Y.
seth Mass. at United States Hotel, Bos-
ton, July 2S. Eben w. Pike, Secretary,
City Hall, Cambridge, Mass.
ID Pa. II. A. Q12th Pa. Vols.), at Third
st. and Girard Ave-, Philadelphia, Monday.
Sept. 4. Geo. w. Ward, Secretary, 40
n. Fifth ST., Philadelphia.
AT the Reunion of the Missouri ex-Pris-
oners' Association, at Kirksville, Mo-, the
following officers were elected. Pres, John
S. Ferguson, Keokuk, Iowa; v. p, j. B.
Cotty, Moberly, Mo-; Chap, Jos. Myres,
Kidder, No. Standard Bearers, w. E.
Montgomery, Macon, Mo-, and C. Gerwell,
National" Military Home, Leavenworth,
Kan. Delegates to the National Associa-
ton, j. B.. Cotty and James McMillen.
The National tribune., 1899-06-29
EVANS MUST GO.

AT a special meeting of Gen. John R
Gibson Post, No. 161, GA. r., of Sisse-
ton, S. D., the following resolutions
were unanimously adopted:
Whereas H.. Clay Evans, the present
Commissioner, OF Pensions, has rendered
himself obnoxious to the old soldier by his
arbitrary rulings and misinterpretation
of the various acts Of the Congress Of the
United States, granting pensions to the
soldiers of the civil war: Therefore, be it
Resolred, That the attention of the Presi-
dent of the United States be invited to these
charges and that he be respectfully re-
quested to nominate another Commissioner
of Pensions whose rulings will be more in
accord with the spirit of the law.
And be 1T further resotred. That a copy
of these resolutions be furnished THE
NATIONAL TRIBUNE, of Washington,
D. G..
The National tribune., 1899-06-29
SOUTH JERSEYS BURIED cEDARs.
Thousands Of Giant rrsqs Centuries Old Lying in the
IS Swamps


To the north; aid east of Dennisvile.
N. j., are great sWainps of pine, cedar,
gum and oak trees;c Beneath these. buried
deep in the bldf ttqcky soil of the swamps,
are other grtat tees centuries old. At
one time this part 3f New Jersey was GOV,
cred with a vHst forest of cedar trees, and
the red cedar has been the only variety
found in the butied forests. From the
soundness of these, trees, it is declared by
men OF science thaf they were alive when
they fell to the ground and that probably
terrific storm swept across southern New
Jersey and levelled thousands of acres OF
forest.
Evidences Of the immense size of these
fallen cedars are found. Only few days
ago red cedar was unearthed in Cedar
Swamp Creek that measured SIX feet IN
diameter. 1t was only the heart or center
growth. With the bark and middle growth
attached the tree may have measured from
larger have been brought to the surface in
the Dennisville swamps. Among these
monsters OF the forest were some that would
equal the giant redwood trees OF California.
Recently an Indian canoe in perfect
state OF preservation was unearthed from
,lred six feet across and was nearly 16 feet
long. 1t had evidently been followed out
of one of these buried cedars.
The buried trees lie under from IL to
30 feet of soft black soil. Men OF science
have not been the only ones interested in
them. The natives have for years turned
the trees into money, and the business OF
selling split shingles made from the heart
OF the red cedar has been lucrative one.
Thousands of shingles are made annually.
Shingles made from the trees found in
Cape May COunty's buried forests never
rot. They have !lleen used extensively in
the neighborhood and there are houses
| known to be more than century old whose
| shingie roofs, still sound and intact, came
| from beneath the swamps. An old Quaker
meeting house at Seaville was built en-
| tirely of red cedar dug up in the Cedar
Swamp Greek some years before the Revo-
lutionary War. The building is as sound
as it ever was.
The National tribune., 1899-06-29

wall of which large BASH was followed
out to receive tie spri1g water which
came from a seam of TIE rock. Shelves
were also cut oat, Oh which stood the milk
crooks and the demijohn, cooed by the
sparkling, pur.ing water. was treated
splendidly, and Miss Roy3to1 regaled us
that evening with sentimental songs. ac-
companied by the music of an antique
piano which had very bad affection of its
diaphram. Next morning Mr.. Sam told
me stories of Yale, and how he was nick
named "Raw-oyster' for Royston. He
also showed me the pride of his plantation,
an uncultivated strip about 20 feet wide,
extending diagonally across the place,
which he said was the road on which Gen.
Jackson marched his army when going
after the Creek Indians. His father, being
a member OF the command. reserved this
road as sacred. and forbade any plow TO
ever touch the hallowed ground.
(To be continued.)
The National tribune., 1899-06-29

provided, and they are well developed and
healthy, about three inches long, and are
Just beginning to weave their cocoons.
There seems TO be no reason why the indus
try should not succeed. Mr.. Chiesa has
brought woman from Italy who has had
80 years experience with silkworms and
she says they are doing as well as any she
ever saw.
The experiment is the first that is known
to have been made in the West, and is
certainly the first that has been successful.
If they turn out as well as they promise
to, MIR. Chiesa will buy large farm near
the city, plant it to mulberry trees and go
into the business of raising silkworms and
producing silk on large scale. From
the experience he has had in America and
Italy. where his father is silk producer.
he sees no reason why the industry should
not be entirely successful in Iowa.
The National tribune., 1899-06-29
Odd Names Of Maryland Farms.

The CURIOUS names given to tracts of
times are Illustrated in a conveyance en-.
countered by a clerk in the record office AT
Baltimore recently while engaged in re.
organizing the indexes. The deed in
question is recorded in Liber w. G., No.
go, folio 81. It was executed in 1893, and
conveyed from Joshua Stevenson to Rich
ard Cuttings fivet tracts Of land in Balti-
The name of each tract and its dimensions
are as follows: MY Sweet Girl, My Friend
and Pitcher, 62 acres; Here is Life With
out Care and Love Without Fear" 411l
acres; 'The, Unexpected Discovery" 262
acres; "Hugo Me Snug. 1874 acres, and
"Steyenson,sL CoY Pasture, With Little !
am Content,f % acres.
The National tribune., 1899-06-29
NEWS OF THE WEEK.
THE DISTURBANCE IN THE TRANsvAAL.

THE DISTURBANCE IN THE TRANSvAAL.
The periodical friction between Great
Britain and the Beers of the INransvaal
Republic has broken out afresh. There
is nothing new practically in the issue.
The English have developed the gold
mines of the Rand district to such an ex-
tent that they now produce about $780,
100000, worth of the yellow metal a
year. Naturally this state of things has
drawn a vast number of foreigners from all
parts of the world, chiefly, however. from
England. In the Transvaal Republic this
class of people are known as -Uitlanders,
or strangers simply, and they are not given
rights of citizenship, nor are their interests
represented in the Transvaal Legislature.
For years they have claimed that they
are unfairly treated by excessive taxation,
without any representation in the Govern
ment, and there have been vigorous protests
from time to time against this condition of
affairs. 1t will be remembered in the
Winter of 1885, .-,D6, when Cecil Rhodes
was Governor of British South Africa. an
effort was made to forcibly overthrow the
Boer Government by the .Jamison raid
against Johannesburg. The venture fail
The National tribune., 1899-06-29

ed but the relations between the Beers and
the British have continued strained to the
point Of rupture ever since.
Recently the trouble has been renewed,
and the Beers are said to be arming TO the
teeth to resist an expected attack from the
British colonial forces. President Kruger
has yielded SO far as to give the Uitlanders
six representatives in the Transvaal Coun-
Gil. 1t seems to be only question OF time
when the Dutch of South Africa will have
to yield to the overpowering influence OF the
foreign element, and perhaps become
merged into the British-African posses
sions. This can not be accomplished,
however, without a struggle, in the opinion
of those best informed as to the spirit of the
Beers. who, it will he remembered, in 1881
defeated the British with great loss at
Majuba Hill, defending their right to the
independent occupation OF the territory
claimed by them.
THE PHILIPPINE INSURRECTION.
Affairs in the Philippines have been
more quiet during the past week than
hitherto for some time. it is stated that
Aguinaldo, not satisfied with the attempt of
the insurgents to retake San Fernando,
has taken command of the late Gen. Luna'S
army, and has massed the largest rebel
force yet modified, bringing 1000 men
from the Antipolo region. He is exceed
ingiy troublesome to the Americans, ana
Gen. MacArthur's men are constantly on
the alert to repel any attacks by the rebels
The movement of troops to reinforce
Otis, delayed for lack of transports, was
resumed by the departure of the Zealandia
from San Francisco last week with ABB
men of the 24th Inf, colored, and 155 re-
cruits and II privates Of the Signal Corps.
This expedition forms part of the move
ment for the transportation of about $500
troops to the Philippines, and is also part OF
the general plan for the increase of Otis IS
army to $4,000 men. Other transports
left for Manila late last week with 2, 100 men
and 116 officers, belonging to the 4th Cav,
14th Inf, and oath and 25th Inf. Several
vessels are scheduled to go to Manila within
the next few weeks, they now being on the
way to San Francisco from Manila.
Plans have been made at the War De
partment for the organization of the 1C
The National tribune., 1899-06-29
Over London In q Balloon.

A writer of the Strand Magazine d.
scribes the astonishment he experienced
when, riding over London in a balloon,
at hight of more than half mile, he
heard the deafening roar of the great city
beneath him as it could not be heard on
the ground. The noise, even at that hight.
was SO harsh and intense as to be painful
to the ear. How perfect sound conductor
the air is was shown when the balloon
drifted far over the city to a wooded part
of the country, where the murmur of the
leaves moved by the wind half mile below
was distinctly heard.
The National tribune., 1899-06-29

volunteer regiments in the United States,
with view to their ultimate service in the
Philippines. The President has informed
Gen. Otis that he can have all the men and
supplies he needs, and it is stated at the
War Department that action on this point
will depend on future advices from Gen.
Otis. The General has been authorized to
organize three volunteer regiments from
the troops now in the Philippines. There
are now at the Presdio, San Francisco,
about 5000 men waiting for transporta-
ton to the Philippines. Many are old
soldiers. The army is almost recruited
up to the legal maximum of 65, 900 men.
SITUATION IN SAMOA.
The news is that the Samoan Commis-
sioners have appointed Provisional Gov
ernment composed of three Consuls. NAL
letoa has abdicated in favor of the Com
The National tribune., 1899-06-29
No Further Argument.

"And now, Cashmere" rapturously
whispered the young man, "it only re-
mains for you to name the day" 81 will
marry you, Orlando she replied, as the
bushes chased each other over her face,
"on the first day of the Goth century," And
Orlando abjectly surrendered the point
that had been so long in dispute between
them. In defiance of every dictate OF
reason, common sense, and the plainest
elementary principles of mathematics, he
murmured: "You are right, dearest. Il
begins Jan. 1. 1900"
The National tribune., 1899-06-29

All we want is cooperation in our effort to
recruit a NATIONAL TRIBUNE Army of One
Million We shall spare no cost to accom-
plish this end.
We give Flags Of various Standard sizes
for clubs of corresponding numbers, as shown
in the table below. viz:
The National tribune., 1899-06-29
DEER PARK HOTEL,
Deer Park, MayIand-Mest Delightful Summer Resort
the Aliefhenies. o.

Deer Park, Maryland-Most Delightful Sumner Resort oi
the ANefhenies. o.
Swept by mountain breezes, $500 fest
above sea level. Absolutely free from
malaria, hay fever and mosquitoes On Main
Line of Baltimore & Ohio Railroad. Hotel
and Cottages Every modern convenience.
Rooms en- suite with bath. Electric Lights,
Elevator, Turkish Baths, two large Swim
ming Pools, Golf Links, Tennis Courts,
Bowling Alleys, Magnificent Drives, Com
plete Livery Service. Annapolis Naval
Academy Band. Delightful cottages (fur-
nished for housekeeping if desired) ready
for occupancy June 1st Hotel open from
jane oath to September Both.
For rates and information address D. c.
Jones, Manager, B. & o. Building, Balti-
more, Nd. until June 10th. After that
time, Deer Park, Garrett County, Md.
The National tribune., 1899-06-29
Standard Flags.

We are prepared to furnish Flags without
the outlay of Money. We will give them
away as premiums to Club -Raisers as re-
ward for various sized clubs of yearly SUBJ
scribers. All subscriptions must be taken
for one year at One Dollar each.
These Flags are made of Navy Bunting,
and are Standard in every particular, and
just such Flags used by the Army and Navy
of the United States.
There is Star for every State.
Remember, no money Is asked for the Flag.