davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-03-09
PLANTS FED ON ELECTRICITY.
The Fluid Said 10 Have lghnng-lte Effect on
Their Growth.

| Prof. Selm Lemstrom, OF the depart
| ment of physics Of the University OF
Helsingfors. Finland, has carried on
series OF experiments on the influence
OF electricity on growing vegetables
and plants and states that as result
Of the action Of the electricity an aver
age increase OF 40 per cent in the yield
was obtained. The experiments were
made by carrying wires terminating in
sharp points about the field. says the
st. Louis Globe Democrat The wires
were connected with one pole of an cleo
trical machine, while the other was in
contact with the earth The electri-
city was found To accelerate the ripen-
ing Of fruits. berries and roots, and
also tended TO develop sugar. The more
fertile the soil and the more vigorous
the vegetation. the more will the effect
of the electrical current increase, is
stated as "a law deduced from results
obtained with plants under exactly
similar conditions, except In one case
the electrical treatment was used.while
i'm the other only the natural conditions
We're called into play
The electricity under ordinary cir
cumstances was given during three or
four hours in the morning and during
a like period In the afternoon. care be-
ing taken 10 avoid the time OF the
highest sun when the sky was clear.
In case the water supply is abundant,
IL is possible to allow the electrical ac-
tion during the entire "A hours The
cause of the increase i'm the growth OF
the plants and vegetables cannot be as
cr!bed To any change in temperature
in the stalks, as such an increase i'm
heat would be only trfling. and the ef-
feet of the electricity decomposing the
air and supplying such fertillzing
agents as ozone and nitrous oxide is be-
lieved To be only one Of the minor
causes.
A new and leading cause has been
found by Prof. Lemstrom TO lie in the
action of the electricity i'm causing
moisture I'm capillary tubes to ascend
on the inner surface. AS the plant is
composed OF number OF fine tubes, its
juices climb in a similar way, and
serve to enrich the leaves and fruit. If
the plant with it's large number of ca
pillary tubes is surrounded by eectri- !
fled air, in which there is high poten- |
tial, the action is much more pro-
nounced than Il is lin nature. and the |
effect is seen in the FASTENED growth. |
The experiments seem to Indicate that !
the method is possible on commercial |
scale, where a central station several |
miles distant would be used to supply |
for a large number OF fields. |
ana Prof Lemstrom is exceedingly |
anxious that extensive applications OF |
the idea should be made throughout
Old King Cole is a smart old soul
Europe and America.
And a shrewd old soul is he:
He never let's slip a chance to rise
When there's falling mercuree.
Chicago News.
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-03-09
STICK TO CHICAGO PLATFORM.

Kalamazoo, Mich, March 9.--Thomas
+. BarkwortAi was nominated yesterds y
by the Denbcrats for Justice of the
supreme court. The resolutions
adopted reafirm the Chicago platform,
protest against retirement of treasury
notes, denounce trusts demand an
amendment TO the constitution making
an income tax possible, declare for Il F,
disposition of the colonies for the best
interests OF the people, protest against
n large standing army, praise the SER
vice of the army and navy. and con-
graduate the party on having the leader
ship of Colonel Bryan.
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-03-09
CENSUS PLANS OUTLINED.

None but Men OF Recognized Ability VIII
BE Engaged In the Work
Washington. March 9.-Ex- Governor
Merriam of Minnesota. the new director
OF the census. was busily engaged yes.
ters. There was host of applicants for
positions, but few OF these had personal
interviews. Many applications have
been filed, but il will be impossible &c
give them consideration for "A consider.
able period. Director Merriam further
more made the announcement that these
appointments must be preceded by an
examination. Assistant Director Wines
Is en- route 10 washington.
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-03-09
NAVAL CHANGES.

Washington, March 9.-CommanSer
Walker has been detached from com
mand of the Concord on the Asiatic sta.
tion and ordered home on waiting orders
Commander Colby has been detached
from duty at Boston as inspector ir
charge Of the second lighthouse district
and ordered t. the command OF the Con.
cord,~per steamer April Il.
Lieutenant Commander Sefridge has
been ordered TO take charge OF the sec.
ond lighthouse district at Boston.
Lieutenant Commander Niles has been
detached from duty at the torpedo sta.
ton. Newport, and ordered to the AIasss.
chusetts as executive.
Lieutenant Commander Schroeder ha.
been detached from the Massachusetts
and ordered home on waiting orders.
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-03-09

THE whole plan is to accomplish the
work as IA IDLY and expeditiously as
possible, and not to take on an immense
amount OF lines of inquiry which over
burden the task and make the census
drag on for long period. Everythh z
VIII be made secondary to the general
questions Of population, vital statistics
and the mechanical and agricultural
schedules, d the general scope will be
limited as the value OF the undertaking
Will permit"
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-03-09

Director Merriam says: THE general
policy of the approaching census will be
to conduct the institution on the firm and
sound principles that underlie business
success. First. statlsticians will be Sc
lected from among the best men engaged
In that work in the country. This will
be done only after careful deliberation
and consultation with such men as Com
missioner OF Labor Wright, Henry Gan
nett and other eminent authorities. Then
the heads of the various bureaus will be
selected after painstaking consideration
and they will be men of recognized
ability. All the appointees in the office
will be selected after rigid examination
as 10 their fitness along the lines of wof
In which they will be engaged. The en-
ployes will be appointed solely on the
basis OF their capacity for work.
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-03-09

Committee of the City OF Providence.
held Tuesday evening. March eth, 1899.
the following call for Primary Meetings
ana CITY Convention was ordered.
PRIMARY MEETINGS.
The Republican electors of the City
of Providence are requested to assem-
bic in their respective wards on FRI
DAY evening. March 10th, at s o'clock,
To elect delegates TO the Republican
state Convention TO be held in Music
Hall, Providence. Wednesday, March
IL, 1899. at IL o'clock, a. m, for the
purpose of nominating State officers
for the ensuing year. to be voted for at
the coming State election TO be held
Wednesday, April 9Th. 1899.
The electors of the 9Th. 7th, Sth, 9th,
10th and lst wards will elect three dell
egates each, and the electors OF the I'd.
3D., 4th and 5th wards Will elect two
delegates each.
Also To elect five delegates each to
the Republican City Convention. TO be
held at the Central Police station on
Fountain street, on Saturday. March
IL, at p. m. To nominate candidates
for the General Assembly. Also elect
five members OF the City Committee
for the ensuing year.
The electors of the I'd. Sd. 4th, 9Th,
9th, 9TH, Sth. 9th and 10th wards will
meet in their respective ward rooms.
said electors OF the 1st ward will
meet in Pioneer Hall. South Main
street.
CITY CONVENTION.
A City Convention of tho Republican
Party OF the City OF Providence, will
be held i'm the Court Room at thu Gen.
tral Police Station. on Fountain street,
on Saturday. March H. 1899. at y. m,
to nominate one Senator and ~ Repre-
sentatives to represent the said City in
the next General Assembly said Sena-
tor and Representatives TO be voted
for on Wednesday, April 5th, 1899, the
day appointed for the General state
Election. FRANK u. OLNEY.
Chairman Republican City Committee.
LOUIS r.. CADY
ms, 5-5t Secretary.
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-03-09

for such service In case some OF the regu.
lars in Cuba have TO be brought home for
a change OF climate or reinforcements
should become necessary.
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-03-09
PROSPECTS DARK
FOR THE FILIPINOS.
Gen. Otis ReinforCements Are Sharp
shooters and They Are Armed
With Up-tO-Date Rifles.

Washington. March "a fact In con.
nectlon with the regulars who are now
reinforcing General Otis in the Phil
ippines that is giving considerable SAT
isfaction TO the war department IL
that they are all armed with the zeal
ibre SO' rife. commonly known as the
Krag- -Jorgensen.
1here has been more or less uneas-
ness over the fact that the volunteers
on the firing line around Manila were at
decided disadvantage against the ma
tives, owing to the fact that the Fill
ipino sharpshooters, armed with Maus-
ers could lay out of range Of the SPRING
fields. with which our volunteers were
armed, and pot them 10 an extent that
was limited only by the bad marksman-
snip OF the natives. This was not only
the source OF good many casualties
among our troops. but had bad moral
erect on them, since IL was very trying
I'D De continually under fire from an
enemy who keep discreetly out OF range.
with the arrival of the regulars this
situation Will be completely changed
The reinforcements all have the calibre
80 rife. which is practically just as good
a gun as the Mauser. while in addition
our regular troops are sharpshooters
almost 10 man. This is largely owing
10 the fact that for years the target am
munition allowance in our small army
has been about SO per man per annum
an amount no European nation has ever
thought Of spending. This does not say
that there are not many excellent shots
among the volunteers. and though the
war department has no definite infor-
nation on the subject, there is little
doubt that the best shots among the
volunteers are armed with the new
rifles already. 10000 stands Of these
arms having already been sent TO Gen
eral Otis. while tS~re arc COCO more
waiting his order at the Benicia arsenal
There have been some reports re-
Gently Of the wounding OF some OF our
own men by explosions Of the SPRING
fields. and IL has been suggested In the
war department that possibly this was
the result OF trying the new smokeless
ammunition in these guns. But this |
Is discredited by the ordnance bureau,
which says that. although there have |
been shipments OF smokeless ammuni- |
uon for the Springfields, il is not likely |
the volunteers have yet received IT, In |
powder has been accurately gagged so |
as not to overtax the resistance of the |
Springfield mechanism.
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-03-09

There are 100 women to every 100
men In the world.
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-03-09
An Improved Cleaner.

Miss Edith Ives. Miss Carrie Rose. Miss
Kate Walsh. T. Folsom. j NJ McCar-
thy, Irish Love Co.
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-03-09

SAVOY -STANLY-H c Young, Bos-
ron; { Underhlll. w A Record, New
YORK; q SMay. Newark: B Bishop
and wife, NJ Pettis. Boston, @ s Col
ton and wife, Lowell: N r. Wilson and
wife, Boston; L w Cameron, New Ha-
ven; w II Goodwin. Hartford: II A
Leigh. Bristol; Mr. and Mrs Scott,
Boston; B Smith, Denver, Col; 4 G
Watson, North Attleboro: III ] Page
and wife, Taunton, ii c Adams, Bos-
ton.
PERRlN-C S Finley. Lynn: T. Rob-
inson. Smith. Y $ a; w @ V Ridlon,
Worcester; w | Morgan. Boston; RI ID
Arnold. Rockand. Mass G w Tarbox,
New London: w Senour II NJ Smith.
New YORK; ID Shirley. Boston; r. -
Welsh. Walliston; O Weir, New York:
q w Keller, Boston; Il A Saunders,
Providence.
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-03-09

Sheep are used as beasts OF burden
in India and Persia.
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-03-09

If you want 10 sell your
bicycle. put an ad. i'm
T" the NEWS.
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-03-09

CIT1-A Kuhn. ] ] Magsamed. ]
Chadwick. New York: II @ Gallagher.
Massachusetts: w Elliott and wife.
New York; j Green. Newport: ] w
Reattie and wife Burke. u Blan-
chard. New York; J T Thompson. Prov
idence: II Norton. Lowell; u T. Eek
hard. Boston: II j Barrett L Forest
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-03-09
Republican Primary Meetings.

At meeting of the Republican City
Committee of the City OF Providence,
held Tuesday evening, March eth, 1899.
the following call for Primary Meetings
and City Convention was ordered.
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-03-09

Old King Cole is smart old soul
Europe and America.
And a shrewd old soul is he
He never let's slip a chance to rise
When there's falling mercuree.
Chicago News
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-12-03
sOyE NEW BOOKS.
william Penn.

To Mr.. Sydney George Fisher, whose
former book. The True BENJAMIN Franklin,
was noticed In these columns We are in
dsbted for a companion volume The Trus
WHiidm Penn dippincouS. The subject
Of tho biography is defended against Macaulay's
aspcrsions. yet the author is far from
being an indiscriminato eulogist lie may
be said TO have attained his purpose. which was
10 bring out the real features Of the man. neither
exaggernting the virtues which he undoubtedly
possessed nor cNcnuating the faults, from which
no cannot be entirely nbsolved That this book
will be ms widely read as is it's predecessor can
hardly be expected, for Penn by no means holds
o. large and high a place in American history
a. Is occupied by Franklin; nevertheless. tho ser
vices which he rendered to this country by the
foundation Of Pennsylvania were too great ever
10 be forgotten. We shall here mark what Mr..
Fisher has to say about Penn's personal traits,
and then glance at tho reply TO Lord Macaulay's
charges
The author begins by reminding us that Will
lam Penn is usually thought Of at the present
day an a pious contemplative man, peace low
ing Quaker In a broad brmmcd hat and plain
drab clothes. who founded Pennsylvania on beno-
violent principles and through the undertaking
practice Of kindness TO the Indians The aim Of
this book Is TO demonstrate that tho real Penn,
though Of q very religious turn Of mind, was
essentially man Of action. restless and enter
prising. at times courtier and politician
who loved handsome dress, lived well and
Iavishly, and who, although lie kept faith
with the red men. found Pennsylvania the torment
OF his life. He came Of fighting ancestry, and
was himself soldier for n short time. His life
was full Of contests imprisonmcnts, disasters
and suffering II no, Of actual lighting. and he
lived during the most critical periods Of English
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-12-03
III.

The subject Of this biography lived at VAN
stead. with his Dutch mother. until he WAS IL
years old during which time he saw little or moth.
ing II his father. Al Wamstead the boy wen,
to school, and seems to have received the train
ing in Latin. Greek and mnthcm mates which was
customary at the time In October, 1850. when he
WAS 10. he was s-nt to Chrsts Church College,
Oxford where he was entered as gentle
man commonrr He was. about two years
later. expelled for completely IN Puritanc
protest apparently levcllcd against surpl COS,
and thus his academic education came
to an end. Whether he retained any acouain-
tance with Greek is uncertain but he was able.
subsequently, TO correspond in Latin with Sewell
the Quaker historian and he seems to have known
French, German and Dutch well enough to read
and speak them. His writings show that at
one time or another he read widely on theology
and the art Of government History he studied
largely through biography and his natural bent
to progressive and philan throphc ideas seems
TO have been thus stimulated. He knew all the
distinguished men in England Of his day. and
many Of them h" knew intimately. lie travelled
both In England and in foreign countries, more
than most people of his day BY the time he was
grown up. his father had earned the right TO as.
sOciate with the aristOcracy. while. as a Quaker
the young man became intimate with the middle
and lower claSses
During the short timc--pcrhaps two ycars-that
Penn remained In Ok ford he seems 10 have fallen
under Quaker influence, for when he returned
To his father in London. ne went wandering about
the city looking up Quakers and consortnR with
them. Penn himself refers 70 the bitter usage
underwent when returned from the university |
TO my father whipping beating and turning out
OF doors His father conceived the idea Of ~ nd
ing him. with some gay people Of the court 10 travel
in France and Italy. Two years later, he came
back, and Pcpys thus describes him in his diary:
~Ihis day, my wife tells me, Mr. Penn. Sir Will
iams son. has come back from France, and came
TO visit her most modish person grown, she
says fine gentleman" And again: After
dinner comes Mr. Penn TO visit me, and stayed
an hour talking with me. perceived some.
thing oil learning he hath got, but a great deal
u not too much, of the vanity Of the French garb
an affected manner Of speech and gait fear
all real profit he hath made OF his travel will sig
mfy little" Young Penn. IL seems, found Mrs
Pepyss society so agreeable that Pepys became
very jealous Against my WILL left them together.
but, God knows, without any reason Of fear in
my conscience OF any evili between them hut such
is my natural folly" There was, apparently
no ground for Pcpys's suspicious, and afterward
he speaks OF young Penn AZ very merry, talk.
ing OF his travels and French humors" II is a
characteristic fact that, while Penn came back a
Franco-maniac in respect Of clothes and man
ners' he had while in France. studied theology
Tor a lew months at Protestant college. He was
now entered a. . student Of the common law at
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-12-03

Linooln's Inn but, soon afterward. was cent
by his father 70 Ireland. whore he took such q
vigorous part in quelng mutiny that the Duke
Of Ormond. Lord Lieutenant, offered 70 make
him tho captain Of a company Of soldiers His
father, however. deemed him too young for q COM
mand.
This was the turning point OF his life. Not
being permitted to become soldier, he now
definitely Joined the Society OF Friends. His
fathers methods had. however. been so far Of
foctivo as TO give the young mon adouble charac-
ter. He was, and remained both cavalier and
a Quaker. On the ono hand, he became a rococ.
nzed leader and preacher among his co-religion-
lists, and the author OF numerous theological
works on tho other hand. he passed large part
OF his days at Court dressed handsomely on oc-
casons, could be gay and iovial. and took part
In politics and other things somewhat inconsist-
ent with Quaker doctrines. So much. indeed. was
the worldly side OF his character developed, that
in spite Of his great abilities, his sect wero. al
the time Of the Revolution Of 1888. a little dis
posed to dispense with his services. Penn
seems TO have used the thee" and -thou" Ian
guagc rather sparingly. In his private letters
to acquaintance who wero ouakcrs he employed
IL freely, and. sometimes used II TO non -lluakcrs
when he was indignant or angry: but, in his i'm
portant public letters. he often managed 10 avoid
it altogether. for the reason. as Mr.. Fisher sue
gests, that. being an educated mnn. no would
not give needless offence. He may also have
given annoy ancc TO his coreligioniss by the splon
dor Of the establishment which he maintained at the
court OF James II. Al th. period Of his career,
his throng Of clients compelled Penn TO rem, Hol-
land House. tho residence belonging to the Earl
OF Warwick. and he led very expensive life.
keeping coach-and -four, and INDUCING in other
extravngoncos.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-12-03

a. above the medium height and others az short
watsons Annals Of Pennsylvania" gives the
recollections Of an old woman who professcd
70 have socn him when he visited his province:
"She describes him as Of rather short stature,
but the handsomest, best-lookng. lively gentle
man she had ever seen. There was nothing
like pride about him. but afnblo and friendly
with tho humblest In life" Clorkson, relying
apparently. on traditions gathered among Eng
iish ouakers. describes Penn as tall man; Mr.
Fisher Is inclined TO think this description cor
rect He points out that Homskirck's painting
Of the Quaker meeting represents Penn as rather
tall. and Hemskirck would DO apt 70 give his
figure correctly. for. although he might be innc-
curate in his recollections Of Ponns face he could
easily remember whether no was tall or short
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-12-03

Now let us look at those pages OF this book
in which the author undertakes TO defend Penn
from MacAulay's criticisms The first passage
to which We shall refer will be found on pages
26S 28O II may be remembered that Macauiay
in that part Of his history Of England which deals
with tho suppression OF Monmouth's rebellion,
charges william Penn with being concerned in
The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-01-12
WEARY Of THE VAUDEVILLE.
WHY MYRTLE HRocEE no LONGER
WANTED I'D LIVE
Her Ain Waa 60 Leave the stage.
snd Unable 10 Find the Means,
She Took Her Chances With the
Fusure-Her Hint From . Novel

The following graphic description Of the
suicide OF Myrtle Esrocse. the Dawson va
rsety actress who ended her lie TIE morn
ing OF December 30. IS taken from the
Dawson Yakca san:
'fane was alone. 6espondent. depressed.
and desgajsesi of future life, while TIE
gloom Of black melancholy. settling down
as a black pail. engesopsa asr reason.
owing 20 s severe Illness with pneumonia
OF rotne four weeks Duration
4she had just completed reading the
novel entitled One Too Many written
By Mrs r. Flynn Linton The heroine.
MORA Rad walked 10 the river aud jump
ed into the black waters. sue MlsE nave
axed her eyes on tne pages with Grow
ing excitement. and these were the Nof1s
faAs rung in her ears, az TIE s@osei nm
lsheG: Her eyes were nxed On Inc osIsa's
streak or dawn. which made. what seemed
10 her. q golden stair. Quietly. nait-cseZ-
cd mentally asleep. and dreaming sae
walked through THE shadows &c the depths
and sank as dead thing might, without
struggle.
.*Of an excitahie nature, the story ap~
pealed 20 Der personally, and Gadoa9teaiy
produced temporary alteration o. the
saInd The fascinating thought OF end
ing her llfs as did the heroine. MORA,
must have taken possession of Ter. IL she
had had the pistol she would have foyed
with it In uncertainty. If she did not have
II in the room, then Was the time she
must have sieaithiiy crossed the corridor
and secured the weapon from Or. Hlc1-
nrdxons bureau.
Half lying In the bed, her bead ard
shoulders propped up ny tbs pillows. the
current events Of her life passed her men
tai vision in quick review, sac could hear
the roulette wheel the humble of voices.
fha lar Of the front room OF the saloon
.baiow But she was tired OF the life on the
vaudeville stage, tired Of rs associations,
fearful Of this future, ana so, under aenof-
ulaI excitement. she ended II ALL
TIE woman was born at Lancaster. Ont.
nineteen years ago. She had been in the
variety show business but short TING.
and was continually looking for means
10 leave IT. Sh. bad once before tried
suicide at Victoria by asphy Siation: but
was interrupted before she became uncon-
xcfO1g-