davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-08-12
Curious Plants.

w. L. Curtis in Chicago Record
Among the other botanical curiosites of
Colombia is a singular tree known as ''leche
MEL by the people and as 'lacmelles edu-
lis by the scientists. Its sap, when an
a'yzed, contains almost the same properties
as cows milk and in almost the same pro-
portions. During the spring of the year the
sap of the milk tree is gathered by the ma
tlves as the people of New England gather
the sap of the maple, and they not only
drink it. but manufacture a creamy sub
stance that resembles butter in it's taste
ana properties. The fermented milk makes
drink that is very much like koumiss,
which they preserve in gourds.
Another curiosity is plant of the laurel
family, botanically known as 'mirica ar
guta, which yields a species of vegetable
wax, and might be made profitable article
OF commerce If it were cultivated. The wax
Is OF greenish color and disagreeable odor,
put When boiled and purified loses those OBJ
Jectionable qualities and becomes white
The natives Use large quantities of it to
make candles, and when refined it gives a
clear, soft light The wax is obtained by
boiling the crushed fruit nof the laurel in
water. When the water cdols the wax con-
geals on the top. A welLgrown plant will
flrmsh from fifteen to itwenty pounds a
year. The wax is also used in making soap.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-08-12

then letting it set. 1t required delicate
workmanship on the part of the bricklayers
to chock up solidly all the space between
the old and the new. This was at last sat
isfactorily done and then the screws were
loosened, the needles were released from
the pressure upon them and were drawn out
one by one by means of a fitting derrick.
The cribs were quickly removed and the
Gait wall doomed in the air, proudly show
ing its new base, with a dozen holes gap
ing out to the east where the needles had
penetrated. These holes were soon bricked
up and the wall was made as solid as
rock, with a deeper, sounder foundation
than ever-better than it required for itself
and more than sufficient for it's forthcoming
Eeighbor.
The same process, with five other Gals
sons, later sufficed to give a firm founda-
ton for the new building and the older one
On the north, which is occupied by the me-
chanicai departments of the newspaper,
and temporarily by the editorial depart
ment. The heavy weight of operating ma
chlnery In the latter structure made it
particularly necessary to be most careful
with the underpinning, for the least set
flement would throw these machines for
setting type and printing the paper out Of
commission So smoothly did the work
progress that there was no settlement
whatever in either the Gait or the press
room building
While this underpinning was going on,
the work of making the real foundation
for the body of the new structure was I'M
der way. As soon as the piles. had been
driven for certain space. wofknen set
about Immediately to dig up the clay
around their tops, to a depth of about six
feet. The piles were then cut off on a
level at the bottom of these pits which fol-
lowed the outer wall of the building;-and
provided for the intermediate piers to SUD-
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-08-12
The Checks Came Back,
From Harper's Bazal.

FROM HarperS BaZGi.
Jones-Brown had just been married. Like
other benedicts, he discovered early in his
connubial career that Mrs. Jones Browns
methods of distributing his hard-earned
pelf were most unbusinesslike and waste
full. So he opened account for her in a
nearby bank and brought the little lady a
check book.
With all of his patience, six weeks of his
valuable time and some seventeen large
sized check books Mrs. Jones' Brown at
length succeeded in making out a check
which the careful bank clerks were willing
to honor.
Mrs. Jones-Brown was elated at her
success. So delighted was she that she
spent an entire afternoon with her check
book. To her unbounded joy the bank cashed
every check she had written.
About that time Mr.. Jones' Brown was
called away from town business. On
his return he asked his little spouse how
she was getting on with her check book.
''Splendidly, Harry" said she, enthusiast
tcaily. The bank was awfully kind They
cashed all my checks, and what do you
think? They sent them back TO me! The
checks were a bit torn and ragged so I
wrote them all out fresh and used them
again. It's gloriousi'
Mrs. Jones-Brown now receives her week.
ly money in cash.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-08-12

placed with equal care, but with greater
difficulty than in the open
When all was ready the screws were
slowly frightened, the timpers and the NEE
dies" rose and the weight of the wall was
taken off it's former foundation. 1t was
not appreciably lifted in the air. To do
that would have been to distort the whole
building, perhaps to wreck it. All that
had been done was to give the wall new
foundation for a time straddling over the
old one and thus giving space underneath
to send down the great concrete pillars TO
bed rock.
1t is estimated that well-built brick
wall will support twelve feet of its own
length without supports. That is to say.
that it is absolutely necessary to provide
supports for such Il wall only at intervals
of twelve feet But this leaves small
margin of safety. So in this case the wall
was held up much more literally. When 1t
had been placed thus on stills workmen
chiseled and knocked off all below a GER
tain line. including the old foundation Of
fiat stones. They then checked up the
bottom thus exposed with planks to pre-
vent stray bricks from Earring out and
hurting the men beneath.
Digging the Caisson Pits.
When all was snug and secure men with
picks and shovels Were set to work to dig
circular holes five feet in diameter from
the surface to the bed rock, twenty feet
below. The clay was hoisted out by buck
cts and wheeled away. In a short time
eight of these pits had been dug immedi-
ately beneath the Gait wall Following
the custom of the refractory earth which
protests violently against such intrusionS,
these pits filled with water almost imme-
diately The workmen were at times
obliged to bail them out to make progress.
The water came in through gravel, which
was found just above the rock. In order
to prevent the earth from caving in upon
the workmen, and to preserve a uniform
size throughout the hole, great bottomless
tubs, bound with iron, were from time to
time forced down into the pits, one at a
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-08-12

lack of technical knowledge have been
free to descant upon the slowness of
the work, upon the difficulties of the job,
and other features. These curbstone critics
have never hesitated to proclaim that
the enterprise was in sad straits be-
cause of the surprises of the soil. While
the delicate process of snoring up the Gait
wall was in progress and the excavation
consequently presented few evidences of
activity proclamations Of the disappoint-
ments suffered by the builders We're loudly
uttered.
Every possible theory has been advanced
One of these unprofessional experts asserted
upon the most solemn authority that quick
sand had been found. Another pointed with
cheerful positiveness at the, water-filled
caissons to prove that the site was under
mined by springs. Still another saw the
workmen digging around the pile heads to
prepare the pier pits and forthwith uttered
this solemn declarations: / H.
THE foundation is a failure. They
thought they were going to strike solid
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-08-12

back of the other and the blood spurts
Ihere the yellow rooster as running ana
the black follows him. 1t is only fem; of
the yellow. Sc. he turns and drives his
bill into the comb of the black The black
staggerS and the yellow again spurs him.
Some of the men have jumped over tha
raining and are swapping their fingers at
the cocks. They ale wilder Than ever
The noise is worse than bedam gone mad.
You would think IL a gladiatorial snow in
stead of two poor brave little fowls pecklnes
at and trying to kill each other.
A Battle to the Death.
The sight disgusts me- but | cannot helm
admiring the courage of the chickens. They
are game to the end. They fight on and on.
Now the black one is squirting The yellow
cock is down and the black is on top. Now
the yellow is up.
The cocks fight on and on. squirting and
picking each other. / have timed them with
my watch and they have been fighting for
hfteen minutes. A human prize fighter
would have died in such a struggle As Il
is the cocks are almost spent. The black is
trembling so he can hardly stand but still
ne nshts. The yellow is staggering, but he
PICKS away almost IS coIraGeously as when
he began.
Notice how he tries to keep on one side OF
the black, and how the black cock misses
the right. See! The black has lost his
right eye, the yellow cock knows IL and
for this reason he is fighting him on his
blind side. There, the plucky black one has
jumped up and spurred the yellow He has
driven his spur in under the right wing 1t
seems TO be mortal thrust, for the yellow
falls The crowd goes crazy. Every man
Is yelling The match is over
No 1t Is not The umpire calls time He
turns a minute glass upside down and the
men will have the sixty seconds while the
sand is running through to sponge off the
birds for second round. See how they do
1t. Each picks up his tired and bloody
chicken. He puts its head in his mouth and
sucks out the blood Next he fills his
mouth with brandy and spurts it over the
chicken, and the hot spirit appears to re-
vive il.
Now the time is up and the cocks are
again in the ring. The yellow tries TO hold
his feet, but he cannot. He falls to the
ground and the black stands by him and
picks him. This goes for several min
utes, when there is another call Of time
and the sucking, brandying and squirting is
done once more.
The poor yellow dying fowl is again
placed upon the floor. He makes one strug-
gle to rise and then lies down. He cannot
move, and the black cock picks out his
eyes, while the human brutes look on and
yell applause. He can struggle no more;
ne is dead, and the black cock has won.
FRANK g. CARPENTER.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-08-12
A Glance Beneath the Surface in
UE-tc-Date Construction.
SOLID BASE FOR HEAVY WEIGHTS
Plies, Caissons, GriIIage, Concrete,
Iron and Waterproofing:
AN OBJECT son

The sky line Of Il modern city contra SITS
strangely with that half n century ago
From four and five stories the buildings
have grown to truly enormous heights
story is piled upon story until the proper
lions which formerly prevailed are lost and
the structure becomes a vertical pile rather
than horizontal spreading of stones, tim
bers and ornaments. In consequence the
outlines of a metropolitan community are
materially altered.
No A-rays are at hand, however to pene-
trate the earth and to show the CORE
spending penetrations downward. 1t would
be vastly instructive, indeed to turn a city
upside down and to scrutinize its founda-
lions 1t would bring to light many an OBJ
1ect lesson in construction and reveal the
gradual increase in the difficulties of the
architect as the demand for more room
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-08-12
Sandy Had the hest of 1t.

FROM spare Moments
A Draw son of Scotia accepted an invita-
ton to spend, a fortnight switlr a friend in
London, whose quarters were In the dense
purfeus OF Clerkenwel. On joining his host
at breakfast the morning .afteF his arrival
the following colloquy took place. much to
the annoyance of the mistress of the house:
Host,"Well' Sandy, old man. Chow did you
Il sa la , mon. to say 7troth. ma so
Host-'I am very sorry to-"
Sandy Gnterruptirg)-"Ah, dinna fash
yesself mon! l was better aft than the
meas, for they never closed blessed zee
the whole NIGHT"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-08-12
Broke Her Contract.
From puck.


Mrs. Slimdiet (the landlady)-"'Mr Upton,
you must either pay up or leave! 1 have
Kept my contract with You and you must
keep your contract with met
Hardy Upton-"But you haven't kept your
contract with me! You guaranteed to make
me COMFORTABLE
Mrs. Slimdiet-"Well, haven't made YOU
comfortable?'
Hardy Upton-"Noi Your constant nag
ging me to settle my board bills for the last
three months has made my life in this housa
exceedingly uncomfortable"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-08-12
Feeling Too Good.

From the indianapolis Journal
The Populist-"I see you mortgaged your
farm last week"
The Uncertain Quantity-''rhat's what I
did" ~
We'll, when you goin' to jine us?'
mot now, anyhow. 1 amt spent the rnon-
ey yit.' o -0---
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-08-12
Power of the Press.

From the Philadelphia North American.
You didn't print what I said to you
ABOUT the Philippines" said the famous
man.
NO." replied the reporter, 81 did that
TO save you. You would have changed
your mind and denied it today
But l haven't changed my -mind''
know: That's because your views
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-08-12
Trouble nj Once

from The Chicago Tribune
Don't. Horace. You mustp'tr' exclaim-
ed the maiden 81 don't like to have young
men kissing me-
How do you know you dont?" fiercely
demanded Horace. What young men have
been doing it?"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-08-12

Purse proud father-''Can you support my
daughter in the style to which she has been
accustomed?"
Complacent young mani could a. were
contented with 1t, but I hope to give hel
something better."-Somersville Journal.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-08-12

A youngster went to church on recent
sunday morning and was greatly interest
ed IN the collection. He watched the ush-
ers for time, then whispered to his father,
Papa, morn half the folks has got in
free! Cumberland Times,
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1899-12-14

his eminent virtues extorted. With the
young Mr.. Washington of my own days
i had not the honor to enjoy much SYM
pathy, though my brother. whose char
acter is much more frank and affection
ate than mine, was always his fast
friend in early times. when they We're
equals, as in the latter days when the
general, as / do own and think, was
all mankind's superior.
His great and surprising triumphs, :"
continues George Warrington's eulogy,
were not in those rare engagements
with the enemy where he obtained tri-
fling mastery, but over congress, over
hunger and disease, over lulSewarm
friends or smiling foes in his own
camps whom his spirit had to meet and
master. Wher the struggle was over
and our impotent chiefs who had con-
Quoted 1t began to squabble and accuse
each other in their own defense before
the nation, what charges and counter
charges were brought, what pretexts
of delay were urged. what piteous ex-
cuses were put forward that this fleet
arrived too late, that regiment mistook
| its orders. that these cannon balls
would not fit those guns. and SO to the
end of the chapter! Here was general
| who beat us with no shot at all at
times, and no powder and no money;
and he never thought of a convention:
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1899-12-14

utterance and is brought out in the
course of historical narrative which
introduces the Revolutionary period.
After explaining the presence of the
French in the American hinterland and
the clashing of interests between them
and the English colonists along the
Atlantic coast, Thackeray tells how
Washington went with his regiment of
Virginia colonials to expe] the invaders
from beyond the great lakes. 1T was
strange" he says, that in savage
forest of Pennsylvania a young Virginia
officer should fire a shot and waken up a
war which was to last for 60 years, which
was to cover his own country and pass
into Europe. to cost France her Amer
lean colonies. to sever ours (England's)
from us, and create the great western
republic; to rage over the old world
when extinguished in the new; and Of
all the myriads engaged in the vast
contest, to leave the prize of the great
est fame with him who struck the first
blown
The event serving as text to draw
forth this mastery summary was the
opening of the Fort Necessity campaign
OF 1854, when Washington5 colonials
fired upon the advance guard Of the
French, killing their leader and precip-
itating border war. From that hour
until the establishment of the republic
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1899-12-14
CENTENARY OF THE DEATH Of WASHINGTON.

distracted parties; calm in the midst
of conspiracy. serene against the open
foe before him and the darker enemies
at his back; Washington inspiring or
der and spirit into troops hungry and
in rags; stung by ingratitude, but be-
traying no anger and ever ready to
forgive: in defeat invincible, magnan-
imous in conquest, and never so sub
lime as when he laid down his victort-
Gus sword and sought his noble retire.
ment-here, indeed. is a character to
admire and revere; a life without a
stain, fame without flaw. Quando
invenies parem? (Where will the equal
be foundry In that more extensive work
which have planned and partly writ
ten upon the subject of the great war
/ hope have done justice to the char
acter of its greatest leader. And this
from the sheer force of respect which
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1899-12-14
Thackerau'S Estimate Of The Character
Of The First President Of
lie United States.

the English colonists had no settled
peace. Then the French revolution was
disturbing the world, and at Washing
toms death, half century after his
signal gun broke the primeval silence
of the American wilderness, Europe
was on the verge of the Napoleonic
wars, which rounded out six dec
AIDES of the mightiest social and mar
tial struggles known in history. Thack-
cray wrote 1.-THE yirginians" after his
visit to America in 1852. The passing
away of Wellington just about that
time, with the full glory of his victories
over Napoleon clinging to him. drew to
the hero of Waterloo the homage of ma
tions. Just then, too, the mighty genius
of the man Of destiny" furnished a
theme for worldwide study and wrung
admiration from those who could not ig-
more the many dark phases in the ca
reer of the adventurous Corsican.
Therefore, for European cynic with
British blood in his veins to mount
the forum and say, speaking with
truth, that Washington brought out of
these epoch making struggles Of 1854 to
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1899-12-14

5SEORGE WASHINGTON, first pres
81 ident Of the United States, died ON
the fourteenth day of December,
1888, just 100 years ago. This centenary
Of the death of Americas first pres
ldent is to be officially observed by the
Masons of the state of Virginia at
Mount Vernon and has awakened I'M
usual interest in the personality of the
''Father of His Country" To wide
circle Of readers it must be matter
for surprise that Thackeray, the con-
flrmed and ruthless cynic whose
caustic pen was turned against friend
as well as foe. and held up to ridicule
British as well as alien idols, had the
grace and fine discrimination to eulo-
gize Washington in the noblest Ian
guage which lofty and admiring mind
could well conceive. The paragraphs
here quoted are from Thackeray's ia
NOUS novel, THE Virginians. Mar
tvelous as 1t may seem, In these tributes
paid by light hearted Englishman the
warmest American patriot may find
deep inspiration.
The first tribute is the authors direct
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1899-12-14

his courage never capitulated. Through
all the doubt and darkness, the danger
and long tempest of war. think It was
only the American leaders indomitable
soul that renamed entirely steady"
While Washington was being discuss
ed among company Of noted Virgin
ians, Harry Warrington" spoke Of his
bearing in the crisis brought about by
the Infamous Conway conspiracy. And
it was here" said he, "as looked at
the chief talking at night in the silence
of the camp, and remembered how lone
ly he was, what an awful responsibility
he carried. how spies and traitors were
eating out of his dish, and an enemy
lay in front of him who might at any
time overpower him. that thought.
Sure, this is the greatest man now in
the world; and what a wretch am to
think Of my jealousies and annoyances,
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1899-12-14

whilst he is walking serenely under his
immense cares!'
To this George Warrington" the Tory
responded. I'VE talked but now OF
Wolfe. Here. indeed, is a greater man
than Wolfe. To endure is greater than
to dare; to tire out hostile fortune. to be
daunted by no difficulty, to keep heart
when all have lost it, to go through in
trigue spotless. to forego even ambition
when the end is gained-who can say
this is not greatness or show the other
Englishman who has achieved SO
much 2"
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1899-12-14
1916 the prize of the brightest fame"
was praise indeed.

1916 the prize of the brightest fame"
was praise indeed.
The author works out the details Of
Washington's career in the course Of
the story and leaves 1t to two Of his
characters, George Warrington" an
able, high minded Tory. and his brother
Harry" patriot close to Washington,
to bear him out in the tribute which
stands at the portal of the structure.
Speaking Of Washington when at the
zenith, warrington" the Tory says:
What constancy, what magma
nimity, what a. surprising persistency
against fortune! Washington before
the enemy was no better or drawer
than hundreds that fought with him or
against him (who has not heard the
sneers against 'Fabius' in which his
factious captains were accustomed to
indulge?). but Washington, the chief
Of nation in arms, doing battle with
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1899-12-14


William
in
c. he
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1899-12-14

the most noted whip in the Transvaal
and has had many adventures in South
Africa. one OF the most famous being
his capture during a Matabele attack
on a stagecoach. He made his escape
by seeking cover in some thick bush
and was rescued soon after by a num-
Der of English officers.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1899-12-14

formed for the designing of decorative
windows by women. The success Of
this society may be judged from the
illustration, which shows
one of the efforts Of this. societys
youngest member. who 3ears same
well known m New York society.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1899-12-14
A NEW FAD IN DESIGNING.

A NEW FAD IN DESIGNING.
One of the latest fashions among ar
tistic and talented women is designing
in stained glass. In New York city a
society of arts and crafts was recently
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1899-12-14
THE MAx1M AGAINST THE MISSIONARY


South the Maxim superseded the
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1899-12-14

For every million Inhabitants in Rus
STA there are only 10 newspapers and
journals of all sorts.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-12-15
GAYN0R DIVORCED.


NEW YORK, Dec. H.-Col. John F. Gay
nor, who to-day was held under heavy
bonds together with a number of other
contractors in connection with the Capt.
Oberlin M. Carter frauds, was divorced by
his wife to-day. A few hours before the
decree was handed down by Justice Gle
gerch In the Supreme Court Colonel Gay
nor was arrested on a federal Indictment
alleging his connection with the crime thSt
put Captain Carter in prison. BY the de-
cree Mrs. Gaynor gets 10000 in cash and
alimony of $50 a month.
1t was Colonel Gaynor who, although he
married Miss Carrie b. Clifford in this city
in 1890, took to wife in Rockford. Nd, on
June 10 of this year Miss Annie l.. Pitney,
a young woman employed as stenographer
in the Shoreham Hotel in Washington,
and sailed at once with her to Europe.
Mrs. Gaynor No. l then began the pro-
ceedings against him which resulted in the
divorce decree being issued.