davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The San Francisco call., 1899-06-04
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hearts, two clubs, three diamonds and
four spades. 1t was the confederate s
duty to first wire what was the strongest
suit in the hand" before him. Thus,
one push Of the button informed the arch
thief that his tete-a-tete's strongest suit
was hearts, and SO on. When 1t had been
communicated how the suits stood in
strength. it was the confederate's duty
TO wire what the cards were, starting
with the highest in the highest suit and
going to the lowest in the lowest So
quickly could this scheme be worked that
very often the host knew his tete-a-tete' S
cards before the latter had properly ar
ranged his hand"
After the strength Of the suits had been
communicated in this way the host felt
twelve rapid taps on the sole of his shoe,
and he knew this meant the queen of
hearts. A short pause, and then ten rapid
taps told him the next highest card was
the ten Of hearts. And SO on. 1t Is said
that, thanks to this ingenious scheme,
which was never discovered during the in
ventor's life, many wealthy persons were
brought to the verge Of ruin, while their
host entertained them in regal style.
A somewhat similar, but less success
full. scheme was that in the practice of
which a certain Continental dressmaker
was detected. This woman, like many
others of her calling, made 1t custom
to entertain her customers at gambling
in the secrecy of her private apartments,
and she probably found it infinitely more
lucrative than her professed trade. to
which 1t attracted customers. Her plan
was to stand her husband outside the
room, which was built in another room,
so that q passage ran between the two
walls on three sides, and through an un-
seen opening all around the edge Of the
ceiling the man could see the cards of all
the players but his wife. who sat with her
back to the single wall.
Walking in the passage, the man ex-
The San Francisco call., 1899-06-04

vt is not very remarkable that con-
frmed Eamesters should stoop to
fraud as a means of enhancing theiI
chances Of winning, says Pearson
Weekly; but II is remarkable that
other gamesters should be so blind
TO the devices invented by more ingenious
fellows, and fortunes have been won by
clever sharpers, from men and women
who have been well alive to their own
interests and not wanting in cunning sus-
picion, by clever. contrivanceS or tnelr
own construction. 1t is not often that
gambler is sufficiently enterprising and
mean as to have a cardroom specially
constructed to facilitate his fleeing his
victims and visitors: but to even this
length went man, nov deceased, who,
despite his vast private fortune, syste-
matically preyed upon the pockets of his
wealthy acquaintances
The room was constructed SO small that
only sufficient space was allowed for a
square table and the chairs of four play
ers, the object of this being TO prevent
onlookers or any one standing behind the
particular chair which the host always
took.
The room was magnificently decorated
and hidden In the deeply carved black oak
paneling were two spy holes, from which
a person on the other side of the wall
could see every caro- OF the person sitting
opposite the host. When cards were being
played q confederate of the host was al
ways watching, unseen from these holes,
having his finger upon an electric button.
This button communicated with a large
button hidden under the carpet just in
front of the hosts chair, and by this
means the confederate was able to COM
municate TO his master what cards were
IN the hand of his tete-a-tete player.
Sitting down in his chair, the arch
scoundrel put his toe on the invisible but
ton under the table and received the
news. One push of the button signified
The San Francisco call., 1899-06-04

INGENIOUS TRICKS OF CHRD SHHRPS.
ooouoUUu O q q 90 ou q q o. q u uu

amined the cards Of the unsuspecting
players, and opening a small trap in the
wall exhibited similar cards drawn from
a pack he carried. Owing to the light,
which was thrown down upon the table
and into the faces of all players but the
dressmaker, the exhibited cards could be
seen by her only. Her eyes, shaded from
the glare Of the lamp, were accustomed to
the dim light in which the cards were
exhibited, but to the other players, glano-
ing from the glare, such dimness would
have been as impenetrable the dark
ness of night. In this way the man was
able to show his wife exactly what cards
were in the "hand" of the player behind
whom he stood, and when one hand had
been disclosed in this manner he moved
on to the next.
But 1t was too clumsy to be entirely
successful; victims became suspicious of
the dressmaker's extraordinary runs Of
luck and her habit of constantly looking
up at the walls, and one day a victim
contrived, during her hosts absence, to
fix the gas shade to suit her own eyes,
and during the game followed the schem-
er's eyes the moment she saw them rise.
Then the dressmaker vanished.
Many attempts have been made to in
vent system of ornamenting the backs
Of cards in such way that person
knowing the secret can read them. But
the difficulties In the way are manifest,
and gamblers who have attempted such
frauds have generally BEEN speedily de-
tected
1t is pretty well known fact, however,
that notorious American Crook who
died In jail not long ago, was successful
In this connection. He invented pack
of cards and demonstrated how readily he
would read them by the backs, while no
one else could discover anything in the
least suspicious or suggestive about them.
and have been examined by hundreds Of
persons, but no one has been able to read
their secret.
The San Francisco call., 1899-06-04

gal as he was mysterious. giving to the
poor with generous hand, snubbing the
rich and noble and posing as the peer Of
Dukes and Princes. His dazzling career
came to a sudden end. He became In
volved in the affair Of the diamond neck
lace and was banished to the Bastile and,
though afterward released, he never re-
gained his prestige, and with his death
thaumaturgy became thing of the past,
science laughed away sorcery, witchcraft
and necromancy and the art of sleight of
hand became popular. He was the last
of the exponents Of natural magic.
The life of Count Cagliostro makes fas-
cinating reading, and Thomas Carlyle re-
morselessiy dissected his character in that
remarkable essay, Count Cagliostro,"
which is so Carlylesque and consequently
not entirely accurate. Joseph Balsamo
was the Counts real name, bat 1t did not
sound mysterious enough when he became
more than an amateur sorcerer, so he
chose a high-sounding title just as the
fortune tellers, clairvoyants and mediums
of our own day change the name of
Thomas Smith or Maria Jones to Signor
Patzulosi and Nine. Zella. Human nature
has not changed so materially in $50 years,
and people still believe in witchcraft and
sorcery and young girls give up hard
earned savings for amulets and love po-
tions. People laugh at the pretensions of
eighteenth century soothsayers, forget
ting that never in the history of the world
did empiricism thrive as it does at the
present time.
Balsamo was born of q merchant fam
lily in Palermo, Sicily, in 1743. He received
the rudiments of an education, and be-
ing naturally bright he made good use
of all his learning. He was such an apt
student of chemistry that he was sent to
a monastery near Palermo to pursue the
study under the direction of learned
priests. 1t was an age of ignorance and
superstition, and the agile mind of Bal
samo detected great possibilities in per-
forming tricks based on this science. He
was naturally a tricksIer. and SO, after
completing his course of study, he started
out on a career of deception. He began
The San Francisco call., 1899-06-04

W & :: = s: :: Il: +. E: !: :: :: !" :
eenth century, Count Caglios-
tro is TO be torn down, and that the site
will he covered by a more spacious and
modern structure. If this report be
true Paris will lose one of her landmarks,
for the weird, ramshackle old place has
long been an object of interest to visitors
at the French capital Since the Counts
time few changes have been made inside
or out. Traces Of a secret stairway, now
walled up. may be found by the inquisi-
tive visitor, which assists the imagination
IN conjuring up all sorts of fantastic fan
cies Of what once took place in that
charmed corridor. There is another
stairway on the side of the house facing
the Boulevard Beaumarchais. 1t is mar
row and tortuous, and leads to the old
salons now cut into apartments, the win
dows OF which look out upon terrace
which still retains its old iron balconies.
The San Francisco call., 1899-06-04

Cagliostro is perhaps better
known as "Balsamo," the princi-
pal character in Several of Du-
mas famous novels. In fiction
the Italian adventurer is given
credit for many good qualities
that historians seem to have
been unable to find. The affair
Of Marie Antoinette's diamond
necklace is even justified on pol
itical grounds. There is good
ground to believe that Cagliostro
was the first man to make use Of
mesmerism for fraudulent pur-
poses.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-10-05

larry lovely measure, and beating time
with head and hand, said, Now, that's
music. isn't it?'
His kindly nature is shown in his care
for his officers and men. his manner to-
ward his servants, his affection for his
chow dog. His thoughtfuiness was shown
in "A hundred acts of courtesy toward his
guests. He had an eye for everybody's
comfort and enjoyment. and gave atten
ton to the huTblest well to the most
distinguished.
only once did he fail. An elderly lady
who called with a party made a motion
it. but the lady did succeed in kissing his
hand. Afterward. on cross-examination,
the admiral admitted that if she had been
younger and handsomer he might have
been less wary
'If several hundred people who have
written Admiral Dewey lately get no re-
plies they may charge their disappoint-
ment to an incident at Trieste Letters
and papers for the admiral had been ac-
cumulating there for week or so. A
bushel or two of mail was taken out to the
Olympia the morning 1t arrived. Tenn
porarily it was showed into a waste basket
Presently a Chinese servant came along
cleaning up One of his duties was to
empty waste baskets. Here was one full
to the brim and running over. So, ever
faithful to his duty he carried the basket
to the rail and heaved its contents into the
harbOr
The admiral was assured at the min
listers dinner ashore There are no report
ers present. You can say anything you
please So he talked freely. At the din
ner on the Olympia it was the same. After
the dinner We sat on the deck, the moon
bathing the waters of the harbor in It's
mellow rays. the distant lights of the city
in a twinkling semicircle before us. We
grouped ourselves about the admiral ana
for an hour more listened to him.
Il wish | could wri1e the interesting
things he and his officers told, but 1t would
be a base betrayal of confidence. We were
there as officials of the United States gov
eminent and without fear that word
would be repeated the admiral talked to US
as frankly and freely as he might TO the
officials at Washington. 1t was the exper-
fence of a lifetime to US all.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-10-05
EYEING WILD BEASTS.
Much Debated Question That Will
Probably Never BE Settled.

From the New York Herald
There is an old saying that any man can
subdue a wild animal by merely gazing into
its ewes Yet it is a much debated question
whether such thing is possible, and there
are some hunters who believe that the hu-
man eye has absolutely no power over wild
animals.
a South African sportsman once deter
mined to put the question to the test Ap-
preaching a large ostrich he SaZed hXedly
at it. and to his delight the nesmeric glance
seemed to meet with immediate success
The bird crouched and Mapped It's wings
nervously Some hours later, however, the
mans body found with the ostrich al
ternately sitting and jumping upon it.
Another believer in the human eye expert
mented on wild cat confined In zoo,
logical garden. He afterward confessed
that but for the wires of the cage his face
would have been torn to pieces.
A very different story Is related of ne
gro attached to an African hunting party.
Wandering one day from camp, he sur
prised two lion cubs at play. and thought
lessly commenced to amuse them. He was
only too successful. The big cubs gamboled
fearlessly about him. and to his dismay re-
fused to desist when he wished to leave
them.
Realizing the danger to which he would
be exposed should the mother appear, he
began to run, but the cubs refused to be
shaken off, and in their play they scratched
his legs in fearful fashion.
That the creatures were thoroughly en-
joying themselves was evident from their
manifestations of delight, and before long
their unusual cries brought honess leap
ing to the spot
Trembling in every limb, the negro faced
the growing animal, while the cubs con-
tinued to jump up at him. eager for further
caresses. The enraged lioness moved round
uneasily in a circle, man and beast keeping
their eyes fixed steadily on each other Sew
eral times the Honess crouched to spring.
but the man, from fear never shifted his
gaze.
At length, after what seemed an age.
when the negro was ready to drop from
exhaustion, the animal suddenly called her
cubs away and disappeared into the sur
rounding scrub.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-10-05
The Cannon Had n She'll In 1t.

From the Hartford Courant.
The arrival Of Dewey was celebrated in
Winsted by the ringing of bells. An old
cannon, one of two which were captured
from the confederate forces during the
war and afterward came into the posses
sion of the late Thomas NJ. Clarke and
were given by his widow to the Monument
Association was taken in hand to see II 1t
could be fired. 1t was found to be spiked.
A. hole was bored into 1t and small
charge of powder put in and touched of.
The result was the discharge of an old
shell from the cannon. The shell weighed
131k pounds and was inches In diameter
and about inches long. 1t went about
eight rods from the mouth of the cannon.
1t Is of pattern unfamiliar to the old
soldiers. and excited much curiosity. An
effort will be made to trace the cannon
back to it's capture.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-10-05
CATTLE KILLED BY TRAIN.
Accident the Pennsylvania Rail-
rOnh EnrIy This Morning.

There was a slaughter of cattle on the
Pennsylvania railroad. a short distance
north of the Benning crossing. about i:3O
o'clock this morning. The second section
of train No. %. known as the newspaper
train. did the damage. Eleven animals
We're struck by the train and only two of
them were saved. Five died a few minutes
after the accident happened and four were
shot by Agent Rfpiinger Of the Humane So
ciety
Two colored men and two boys left the
Union Stock Yards with twenty-seven cows
and bulinckS, intending to drive them to-
ward the city for Mr. A. Loffier, the butch
When the railroad crossing was reach
ed the animals separated and went in diff
ferent directions a number of them went
north on the railroad track. They scarcely
made effort to get out of the way upon
the approach of the fast express. Eleven
of them We're struck by the train and were
thrown right and left. The humping of
the train against the animals felt by
some of the passengers.
Engineer Riley brought his train to a stop
as soon as possible, but there was nothing
that he could do, and he then proceeded on
to the depot.
Policeman Michael Hagan was at once
summoned to the scene of the accident. and
Mr.. Loffier, owner of the cattle, learned Of
the affair several hours afterward He
went to Benning. While he expressed a de-
sire to have the injured ones put out of
their misery. nothing was done until 11:30
clock. when Agent Riplinger arrived. He
found that one of the animals, with two of
its legs broken. had succeeded in crossing
the road to the electric road tracks, while
another had managed TO get up the en-
bankment and go a short distance in the
direction of the Benning School. The other
dead and mangled animals were lying along
the railroad tracks.
After Mr. Riplinger had killed the four
wounded animals several of the bodies were
removed to the stock yards. where their
hides were removed. The dead animal
wagon then sent for to remove the
carcasses. Agent Riplinger is making a
further investigation of the case, with a
view to preferriHg a charge of cruelty to
animals against somebody. 1t is his idea
that the suffering animals should have been
put out of their misery soon after the acct
dent happened.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-10-05

From the Chicago Record.
..We-cnuldnI get along with two office
boys"
MOT enough work."
THAT wasn't 1t; each was afraid he'd
get here In the morning before the other"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-10-05

Lot ~ ladies black tareta silk waists,
the taffeta Of which is guarGnteed; the new
EST effects. In fact. the very Newest crea-
tons. instead OF 81. 81. for 81 9s.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-10-05

We have few dozen boys Mothers
Friend shirt waists in sizes IL, 13
and IA only; they are Of the very finest
quality of figured percale ard in best pat
terms: they have the patent band for which
this shirt waist is famous: you have paid
9Sc for them many time; they go for
25c; this hour.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-10-05

Ladies' derby ribbed vests. heavy fleece. all
sizes. tastefuily trimmed. pearl buttons. for
19c. instead of BE
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-10-05

Ladies' dressing sacques. in all coiors.
in heavy cid rdown, for 43c; edges have
shell stitching.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-10-05

Large 1o-nuarter double blankets. choice
of white and gray, with desirable burlcrs,
,l
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-10-05

Ladies' black and blue imported cheviot
serge skirts, with the newest backs and
newest hang for 81. 0S
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-10-05

Mems white and colored border hanlker-
chiefs: hemstitched. and in best patterns,
31sc. instead of Zoe.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-10-05

White Nottingham lace curtains, Of COED
length and witth. ami variety of patterns,
for 1870. pair.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-10-05

&c pairs ladies' dongola button and lace
shoes, which We sell regularly for S1.5o.
to go for Zoe. pair.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-10-05
1 O to: Il 1 .
CONTINUITY

Hamburg edying and inserting TO match
and torchon laces with insertings to match,
in all widths and patterns: worth Sc. and
101.c. yard, for BIG. yard.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-10-05

Chil.lreu's fast Llack full seamless hose.
in variety If different ribs, in all sizes. 1 i,c.
pair instead Of l2l2c,
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-10-05

White appllqurd bureau scarfs and shams
I" match. in great assortment IF patterns,
for i5isc instead # 2Ir. and 800.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-10-05
Whalebone easipg. 1e. a yard.

Ladies' neck buss Of liberty silk in as
sortment of styles. for 30. instead Of 75c.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-10-05

Boys heavy quality corduroy knee pants.
for SOc. instead of $50.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-10-05

Great assortm ent of silk ,linas, gold crepe
and cretonnts. i'll new patterns and color
ings. for 51sc. yard
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-10-05
Mems clothing store.
1 80 MEM S suits.
ONE day, SIS.
So. so & 50 values

One hundred and thirty mems
suits in FIVE distinct stvles-
strictly Atwood cheviots, in
checks and those patterns which
are SO fashionable this fall. and
which were bought to be sold at
$3.50 and So, will be put on sale
tomorrow at S.. II there are
any left OF them when the dav
closes they shall revert to their
former price. Are splendidly
made suits; with good Italian
lining; with deep, full facings-
and they go to YOU with our
guarantee of satisfaction. which.
as YOU know. means money
back if not satisfactory" Five
dollars and only for tomorrow.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-10-05

Domet skirt patterns: with pretty borders
ard crochcted edge in assorted colorings;
for 19c. instead of .9c
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-10-05

Lot Of boys fancy cheviot golf caps. In
stead Of 25c.. fer lie.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-10-05
A Poignant Attention.

Whats the matter with little Jim?''
He wanted watch for his birthday
and we gave him an alarm clock"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-10-05

Full double bed size white spreads. in de-
sfrable Marseilles patterns. instead Of soc.
for iyc.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-10-05
Plan to Issue Bonds,

Many people tavor bonding the island
(Which has no bonded depD and thus rails
ing a fund of several millions 70 be used in
building roads and in loans to planters on
mortgage at a low rate of interest. This
plan is wise in so far it applies to roads
and other public improvements but owing
to the conditions that exist here 1t could
hardly be extended to provide private loans
Porto Rico is ripe for civil government
but great care must be taken in the kind
OF civil government that is given. 1t mus
be a government almost entirely by Amer
leans. The people of the United States do
not seem to realize that Porto Rico has
teen ruled by an iron hand, and that ii
is necessary for some strong hand to con-
tinuc this rule. 1t would be dangerous 20
give them this liberty at once. for they
know no system of government, and no
code of laws except those Of Spain as ap-
pied to this islanG. The men who tnday
stand to seize the powers given by civil
government to Porto Rcans and those who
are actually in office in the municipalities:
Were formerly clerks and fourth-rat,. OIL
GERS under the Spanish rule.
They use their powers. in so far as they
are able. even now. to levy discriminating
local taxes and to release criminals on ac-
count of influence or for a cash consdera-
ton. They are apt pupils of the Spanish
systematic only one they wish to know.
DO Not Want SeIf-GOvernment.
Porto Ricans want self-gOvernment. The
political leaders, and the newspapers OWL
ed by political leaders. cry out for liberty
and for a voice in the affairs of the island;
but the business man, the planter and the
land owner cry out: Deliver us from our
own" They have confidence that Ameri-
cans will give them a just government, and
they are sure that Spanish methods would
be continued there to just the extent that
Porto Ricans were given voice in affairs.
Give the Porto Ricans a chance to learn
and to become familiar with American
methods and American laws. and. after he
had had "A good object lesson and is prop
erlv qualified for the place, let him gradu-
ally advance i'll the art of self-gOvcrnment
and, perhaps in time, to statehood Too
much emphasis cannot be placed on the
fact that the best men of the island fear
more than anything else that too much
power will be given to the people at the
outset and they are extremely anxious that
the civil government accorded to the is
land should be administered SO far as pos
sible by Americans.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-10-05

Wrapper and tea gown fannelettes, in
dark grounds. with handsome contrasting fig
and stripes. for ~"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-10-05
03 mems top coats,
ONE day, S..
$3.50 values.

Also offered for the one dav
only and shall revert to original
price when the day is over.
There are % of them-all COW
'erts in light shades, with broad
satin piping and satin sleeve
lining. You cannot possibly du-
plicate them for less than S.. so.
The choice of them for $500.
As badly as YOU need a top coat
these mornings and evenings,
you should not ignore this Of
fering.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-10-05

Black brocaded satin dachesse; in richest
designs; in perfect black; for 53c. yard In
stead of 63