davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The evening times., 1899-03-24
Literary Merit by the Yard.
From the Hartford eourant.)


The current number of the ''Yae Alumni
Weekly contains a. study of 1.-The Yale Lii. -
for the last year with regard to the coming ed
itors. This venerable magazine still holds an i'm
portant place in Yale esteem, and there is ac-
tive competition for, the five editorshps which
each year allotted to- juniors. The work OF
the various competitors. or contributors as YOU
please, is reviewed and carefully totted up II
has come to be the unwritten law that the boy
who has the longest string of contributions is
the surest OF selection. Merit is measured by the
yard by the bushel. The more a fellow can
get accepted the sprer bis chance for election
and for the other ,adyancements that SO often
appertain to Lit editorships. Competition for
'The News is similarly regulated, and the boys
who have the longest strings get the coveted
editorships. In other words, advancement fol-
lows prolxity, while the genius that can do a
bit OF literary work which attracts wide atten-
tion is not in it with the verbose grind who
fills up all the space that he can spread himself
and wins position by his mileage. 1t may
be that in the push of so much competition no
other way of selection can be devised but the
thing is mere travesty literary effort, and
real merit, by its assumption that all that is
accepted is equally good, and the maker of two
columns is entitled to double the credit due the
maker Of only one column. 1t may be the simp-
lest way TO pick out the boys who shall enjoy
the perquisites accompanying these publications
but positions so obtained must be taken as evi-
dence rather of industry than of the higher lit
erary gifts There is difference between @'most''
and '.best."
The evening times., 1899-03-24
FIERY VISITOR FROM THE SKY
Fall of Flaming Bali at Mont
clair. " y.

New York March 24-An immense ball
of fire fell from the heavens at Nontclair.
N j.. Wednesday night. and after shout-
ing through the streets and Yards pIowins
up the earth and shattering trees >and
fences, encountered a house at Nos. i23
and 12o North Fullerton Street. which it
promptly wrecked. All the occupants OF
the house escaped. 1t was perfectly round
and had the appearance of an immense arc
light, only more brilliant. 1t struck a tree
In front of the Lamb house, splitting il
into splinters, then started off over the
ground. powing up the earth in a terrific
manner. 1t dug deep trench several feet
wide down the street until IL reached the
double house at Nos. 123 and 125.
Here il encountered the water pipes
which lay buried two feet below the sur
face, and. turning upon these it rolled UP
beneath the house and exploded.
Fortunately all the residents of the house
were UP stairs at the time. The crash and
retired. and they made their way with
great difficulty TO safety. In the house
completely wrecked lived Mr.. and Mrs
Gross, their three children. and the grand
mother of the children, who is eighty-six
years old.
In the other house were Mrs. and Miss
Mcneil, Miss Hayes and Mr.. Campbell All
managed to rush from the house except
Mrs Mcneil. She had been stricken with
paralysis short time ago. and had to be
removed from the building in her night
clothes.
The evening times., 1899-03-24
The President to snun.on,

IL the President has in his possession
any information about the naval cam
paign that ended in the destruction of
Cervera's ships to warrant the giving of
superlative credit to Admiral Sampson, it
is unfortunate that he withholds il from
the public. His response to SIMPSONS
wall in which that officer makes an insin-
cere and absurd suggestion to the Presi-
dent for the purpose of expressing his
grievance. does not seem to be warranted
by the facts as they are known 10 the
people.
The charge. based on the report of an
engineer of authority, that the ships under
SIMPSONS command. were not in proper
condition for instant service, with the ex-
ception of the Oregon and the Gloucester.
has never been refuted. If the movement
of Ceryera had been better managed and
Admiral Schley had been less prompt
and efficient, the victory would not have
been what IL was. The facts have not been
disputed that Sampson did not take part
in the fight and that but for SchIey, the
Colon, at least, would have escaped. Since
the ships under Sampson's command are
not known to have been kept in proper
form 10 crush Cervers. but rather the re-
The evening times., 1899-03-24
Death-Dealfng Trades.

There is one very important feature of
modern life which has come upon us so
suddenly and affects comparatively SO
small a part of the population that it has
not received the attention which it should.
This is the effect of the so-called death
dealing trades" upon human beings. While
these trades give employment to many
thousands of men, women, and girls. the
employees are SO segregated, and there are
so few people who are interested in the
subject that the country at large does
not realize the horrible state of things
which actually exists. Here are the facts:
The metal polisher rarely lives to be
forty. The breathing of metallic dust,
mingled with other dust and various
chemicals, kills him off in his youth. He
receives fifteen dollars a week for the sac
rifice of his life.
Girls employed in carding linen lose their
health in twelve years.
In alkali works the strongest men do
not live 10 be fifty.
Glassblowers become old at forty, often
become blind, and sometimes contract pain
full diseases as a result of their employ
ment.
Phthisis is developed in pottery works.
Most of the women and girls employed in
the manufacture of white lead die in
year or two. A very few live for con-
siderable number of years.
Workers in match factories are so poi
soned by the phosphorus that the jaws rot
away, with pain similar to that of can
Ger.
In all of these trades are to be found
women and girls who do not risk, but ac
cept, certain death rather than face the
alternative of starvation or the streets.
They work for bare living wages as long
as their strength lasts. Then they are
discharged and are cared for-if they are
cared for at abby the charity of rela-
tiyes or friends.
This is an indictment against our civil
Iization which cannot be overlooked. That
human beings should be forced to work at
trades where death from painful disease
at an early age is practical certainty is a
disgrace to every civilized man in Amer
lea who has vote. By concerted action
on the part of the people such things could
be made impossible, and some day they
will be. In the mean time the martyrdom
of these thousands goes on.
Not only is such a state of things in
human, but it is extremely bad political
economy. The tendency of the nineteenth
century to throw men out OF work before
middle life is fairly past will have to be
counteracted in some way. A nation in
which no man Of forty or fifty can find
The evening times., 1899-03-24
The Cuban situation.

The situation in Cuba, as far as the AS
sembly can make it, is amusing. The gen.
erals of the Cuban army have denied the
authority of the Assembly and refused TO
obey its instructions. giving all their al
legiance to General Gomez. They agreed
with him that the soldiers should accept
the three million dollars offered by the
American Government and disband. 1t is
stated that almost the entire thirteen thou
sand soldiers are ready to follow this
course. The Assembly, however, is busy
recognizing the army and has put in Gen
eral Gomez's place the former President
of the Cuban Revolutionary Government,
Bartoleme Maso There is the interesting
spectacle of a commander chief appoint
ed from civil life without an army, while
a deposed commander has control of the
whole military outfit.
The situation is even more complicated
While the Assembly processes to be the
chief authority among the Cubans with the
sole power to direct the army. II is on the
eve of formal dissolution because nobody
recognizes it or pays the least regard to
its commands. The few Cuban army off,
GERS on whom the Assembly counted have
been seduced from their allegiance by the
gold of the Americans. The three million
dollars is there ready TO be divided and its
allurements are stronger than the promises
of the Assembly. Another inducement to
desert that body is the proposition to or
ganize force of ten thousand Cubans-
which would include about all the able
bodied men now in the Cuban army-to
serve under the Americans. There is a
natural eagerness on the part of the ma
tive soldiers to be enlisted in the force
which will have the novel experience of re-
ceiying regular rations and the regular
visits OF the paymaster, besides being well
clothed, armed and fully equipped by this
Government.
In all these circumstances the rumors of
conspiracies to resist American administra-
tion may be treated with scant courtesy.
There is every advantage in taking service
under rich and powerful government
which has the welfare of Cuba in its keep
ing.
The evening times., 1899-03-24
PROF. KOCH IN A NEW FIELD.
VIII Visit the Tropics in Search of
a Malaria Cure

a Malaria Cure.
Berlin, March 24-Prof Robert Koch.
the celebrated bacteriologist. who, in 1883,
at the head of the German cholera COM
mission, visited Egypt and India, and dis
covered the so-called comma cholera
bacillus, will start with an expedition next
month for the tropics TO continue his in
vestigation as to the nature and origin of
malaria.
The Reichstag has made a grant of 60
600 marks in aid of the undertaking.
The expedition is in line with the efforts
OF Prof. Koch to mitigate tropical fevers.
When he returned last year from a similar
expedition to the German East African
coast he advanced the theory that among
human beings mosquitoes communicated
malaria. He had reached the conclusion
that where there are mosquitoes there is
always malaria, and that where there are
no mosquitoes there is no malaria
He reported that it was possible by mi
croscopic examination OF the blood of a
patient to discover from the nature of the
microbes the exact stage which the dis
ease had reached. This discovery he re-
understanding TO his report at the
time--as of the highest importance in its
bearings upon the administration of qui-
nine shortly before the attack or shortly
after.
His theory, as then expounded. is that
the quinine, taken at the right moment
stops malarial fever, not by killing the
germs, but by arresting their growth: and
his conclusion was that a proper employ
ment of quiniDe, with the establishment
OF mountain health resorts would rob
tropical fever OF many OF It's terrors.
The evening times., 1899-03-24

work is using only half its strength. The
strength of a farming country comes large
ly from the fact that on farm every
man. woman. and child can find something
to do. The child of five can be set to
feed chickens or pigeons, or run errands.
and the work is healthful and not over
taxing. The housewife can add her share
to the happiness and prosperity of the
farm by care of the poultry yard and the
dairy. Even the grandfather whose time
for field work is long past can do small
tasks of ''tinkering' or potter about in
the kitchen garden. When the varied la
Dor of such an existence is replaced by
system in which the whole burden of sup
porting the family falls on the men be-
tween twenty and fifty the inevitable re-
suit is that the women of the family have
to go out and do mems work, and some
times the children are pressed into some
sort of service; the home is broken up,
the food and clothing of the family be-
comes inferior in quality, there is no time
for social life and the whole community
made up of such families inevitably de-
terioriates.
We cannot go back to the old-time sys-
TENS Of hand-work, but there must be
some way in which the multiplication of
improvements and labor saving devices
will not mean killing labor at starvation
wages for the laborer. 1t Is possible for
children to be trained to trade and wom-
en- to take part in the labor of the world
outside the home without either being
| oxerworked. A boy of twelve may begin
to earn money and acquire habits of self
reliance and knowledge of business. and
a woman may be able to work at the trade
she likes best, without either being
obliged to give up the whole life to bust
ness or take places which should be filled
by heads of families. In perfect civiliza-
tion there would be a readjustment which
would permit these things, and II is time
| that the people began to consider the
| problem.
The evening times., 1899-03-24
Unique Insurance.
(From the Philadelphia Record }

The business Of insurance seems to embrace
nearly every imaginable risk. A youth who stood
watching three giants hoist piano into the
third story of house with block and tackle,
remarked TO the languid man who bossed the Job:
I'D like to see that rope break $50 would
l." replied the man; the ropes insured Every
week an agent inspects it. II it ever breaks the
insurance company pays for what is smashed
So, you see, it's nothing to me whether the old
thing breaks or not In fact, I'd. rather like
to see her break with a good, valuable piano
like this in tow. I've paid so blamed much
money into these insurance companies I'd like
to make them fork out little of it some time
or other" '.What a malicious thing to saw"
exclaimed the young man, In highly moral
fashion suppose this piano was smashed Well,
the company would pay for 1t, but you wouldn't
be benefited any; neither would the owner OF
the instrument You ought to be ashamed of
yourself, wishing an evil to happen to an honest
corporation, when this evil would benefit no.
body" Perhaps l OUGHT said the boss, peni-
tently, "but 1 can't help it. IT'S my nature,
partner"
The evening times., 1899-03-24

The reports from Manila are to the effect
that the American soldiers are eager for
the general advance that will demonstrate
the folly of resistance on the part of the
insurgents. Aguinaldo recently informed
Europe, through his agents, that the Amer
ican soldiers were on the point of refusing
to fight against the Fiiipinos, but the num-
ber of dead and wounded insurgents in
every engagement rather refutes this as
sertion. 1t has been difficult for General
Wheaton and the regimental officers to re-
strain their men and prevent reckless
charges on the rebel works. The great fight
is imminent and may take place today-the
great fight, If the enemy stands to his
work
The evening times., 1899-03-24

verse; and since Schley did vastly more in
the battle than the commander who was
not in it, on what consideration is this
superlative credit to Sampson based?
II is not fair to say that the friends OF
Admiral Schley in the Senate prevented
the advancement of Admiral Sampson.
They are the friends of justice and fair
play. Most of them have no personal ac-
quaintance with Schley Their action was
based on the character of SIMPSONS re-
ports. and on Schley's letter defending
himself against the attack of Secretary
Long. The people, as far as they are rep
resented by the newspapers, believe with
these Senator'S
The evening times., 1899-03-24
BEaUEsT OF PROF. MARSH.
Remembers the National Academy of
Sciences in His VIII.


New Haven, Conn, March 24-The will
of Othneil Charles Marsh. late Professor
of Palaeontology and Curator OF the Geo
logical Collections of Yale University. was
filed in the probate court OF this city yes
terday. by William w. Farnam. Treasur-
er OF Yale. Prof Marsh bequeaths his en-
tire estate TO Yale with the exception OF
$4,000, which he gives to the National
Academy OF Science, at Washington, for
original research in the natural sciences.
He gives his house on Prospect Hill and
his large gardens and green houses. filled
with rare plants, TO Yale. rs be used as a
botanical garden. He also gives to Yale
his great library. his scientific collections
and collection of more than 1900 rare
orchids. On his house and gardens the
university must agree 10 spend at least
s., 900 a year.
He gives to Yale s30.e00 to be expended
III publishing the results of his expIora-
tions in the Far West. and also the residue
of his estate. which will amount to 800
600. TO be used as trust fund for promot-
ing original research in natural science.
Prof. Marsh left no family. His only
relatives are a sister in Batavia. y Y, and
half brother in Chicago.
The evening times., 1899-03-24
Anglomania In France.
lFrom London Sketch.l


Anglomania, in spite of the political
sension, is rampant in France. 1t is true
they call it malady, which may keep us
from being proud. French women dress
a PAnglaise, and entertain a fAnglaise in
houses furnished a FAnglaise; they go out
in English carriages drawn by English
horses and driven by English coachmen;
they have adopted English sports, which
they call by English names. and they have
imported English houseboats, with which
they are in way ii turn the Seine into
little Thames. AS for Frenchmen, every
one that respects himself orders his COM
plet of an English tailor and sends his
linen to London to be washed. He goes
TO the races at Longchamps to pace his
bets with English bookmakers on horses
of English pedigree that are ridden by
English jockeys, and he firts there with
ladies in English ''tailor-mades," whom he
regards through an English monocle.
French families now stay in the country
all winter. and come up to town only be-
fore Easter, after the English manner.
When in town, they go to the ComedIe
Francaise to see no longer "Sganarelle,"
but Hamlet" and to the Vaudeville to
hear the exquisites in the society plays in
terlard their French with English and talk
of the London season. One hears no more
of the beau-monde, but only of high
iife;" one receives no longer chez sol, bul
is lat home,'' when one wears not a robs
d'interieure. as formerly, but a ia
gown" etc.
How is it that the French have become
to this degree Anglomaniac? The explana-
tion is simple. In what concerns fashions
the movement is due to the aristocracy
Separated by profound gulf from the re-
public chilled in sentiment. disda ming
and disdained the titled families of Franc
have retired into themselves, and live
their lives apart, asking of the French
world only forgetfulness. In their sec u
sion they have turned to England for tn
satisfaction of their tastes The Fyench
public copies the aristocracy. and the
French aristocracy copies the Eng ish.
Hence a complete infection.
The evening times., 1899-03-24
THREE PERISH BY FLAMES.
OIL Poured on Fire Carried Death to
Mother and Children.

Uniontown. Pa, March PA horrible
accident by burning occurred at Oliver yes
terday morning, which resulted in two
deaths and will probably cause another.
Mrs. Frank Wilsick, wife of Slav miner,
was hurrying the fire for dinner and poured
kerosene in the stove. The usual explo-
sion followed. Mrs. Wilsick had her eight
months s-old son on her arm, and a two
ar-old son was clinging to her dress.
The burning oil was thrown over all three,
their clothing burned off and their bodies
eharred before aid reached them. The wo-
mans screams called the neighbors. who
were Mortified by finding the three burning
bodies writhing in agony on the floor. and
the floor under them on fire. Mrs. Wilsick
did not regain consciousness, and died in
a few hours, and the infant died last even
ing. The other child is burned fatally.
The evening times., 1899-03-24
OUR DUTY IN THE PHILIPPINES
Only Covards Oppose Retention of
the Islands. says WhiteIasr Reid


the Islands, Says Whitelasy Reid.
San Francisco, March 24.-At the charter
day banquet given by the University Club
in honor of President Harper, of the Uni
versity Of Chicago, last night, Hon. White
law Reid made some interesting remarks
He said:
THE man who, in the face of the present
duty of the United States, would advocate
a neglect of that duty. is a coward and
shirker. I am amazed that there should
be any discordant note to the Govern
ment's intention to retain the Philippines
President Mckinley nor anyone else franz
ed any policy concerning the Philippines
They came to US as natural sequence of
our striking Spain in her most vulnerable
point. There are 300, ,00e, 900 people who
have been sleeping in China for the last
thousand years who are Just about to
awaken. Whatever may happen in the his
tory of that mighty people across the Pa
cific, with outposts located as they have
been as result of the Spanish war, we
are in position to command the great
bulk of the immense commerce that is to
be the result of the awakening of China
The evening times., 1899-03-24

1t is easy to do injustice to the State au-
thorities in commenting on the fragrant
lynchings of negroes in the South. It
should be considered that these tragedies
take place in country villages far away
from the railway and telegraph in many
cases, and that even those whites who do
not take part in or sympathize with the
lawlessness are intimidated by the mobs
1t is veIy difficult, if not impossible, to Sc
cure evidence on which to convict the
guilty men, no matter how jealous the
State officers may be.
The evening times., 1899-03-24
Untold Millions.

(From the Yonkers Statcsman)
.She-I understand the railroads in the United
States give employment TO about 500. 600 persons.
He-That cannot include the people it keeps
busy trying to open the windows.
The evening times., 1899-03-24

Mr.. Bryan has not tried to "read the
gold Democrats out of the party" They
are exactly where they placed themselves
They refused to vote and associate with
the Democrats at the last election, and Mr..
Bryan simply insists that they shall either
become Democrats or still refrain from
political association with Democrats
The evening times., 1899-03-24

About the only reason for annual ses-
sions of the New York Legislature is the
need of the politicians and lobbyists who
depend for support ON what a session
brings. Still, this reason appears to be
enough to defeat the measure for biennial
sessions
The evening times., 1899-03-24
a Little Too Mnch.
From the Chicago Tribune.

I've like the idea OF simpfied spelling" says
the editor OF the perkins Junction Palladium. "
but we don't think could ever become used
to writing il: He wawkt down the lie, ieevins
the trax of his larj and muddee shuze the
fore. The marx ar vizzibl yet
The evening times., 1899-03-24
IndubitaI,Ie

(From the Pittsburg Chronicle -Telegraph)
Bellefeld- Spring has come; saw robin yes
terday.
Bloomfield know sureF sign than that.
''What is it?''
"a man in Iowa has seen an airship."
The evening times., 1899-03-24
A Healthy business.

(From the Chicago News.1
''Your cousin Wilfred's health seems TO be
much better than it year ago."
'sYes; the doctor says the trouble with him was
that he was too hearty an eater. But he's doing
literary work for living now"
The evening times., 1899-03-24
Needed Little Ureinr.

tFrom the Cleveland Plain Dealer)
"And you say his wife drove him to drink?''
mo; i didn't say that. The place was just
around the corner. He walked
The evening times., 1899-03-24

Mr.. Sherman's condition is so much i'm
proved that he will be able to enjoy the
obituary reviews as soon as he gets the
American newspapers.
The evening times., 1899-03-24
A Cautiou..Laxer

From the Cleveland Plain Dealer.)
Suppose / tell you, dearest, that my fatlle,
has lost all his money. What will you do?''
go out and see if the story can be verified .
The evening times., 1899-03-24
Evolution backward.
(From the Chicago Post.)

''When / men, he said thoughtfully
Il prepared to believe that we are actually
descended from monkeys and that in certain
cases it has been considerable of 4 Descent
The evening times., 1899-03-24
Base DupIicity,

From the Chicago Record.)
MY present wife had had three husbands, 50
she thought she could manage me.'
''Well?'
81 didn't tell her until after the wedding that
| had had four wives
The evening times., 1899-03-24
Mixed Goods.

(From the Cleveland Plain Dealer)
Il notice that a Chicago judge has decided
that department store has right to sell
meat"
Next thing,,I suppose, he'll hand down a
decision to the effect that butcher sell
shoestringsn
The evening times., 1899-03-24
CURRENT HUMOR.
The Obvious Contrast.

(From the Chicago NewS.)
''The more | hear about the management OF
army said Uncle Allen Sparks, ''the better
/ like our navy