davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The evening times., 1899-04-29
AREA OF THE PHILIPPINES.
Data ConcerBinE the Islands Com
Diled mt the War Office.

The following interesting comparisons as
to the area of the Philippines with some
of the States of the Union, as well as some
important facts relating to the trade and
climatic conditions of the islands have
been compiled by the War Department.
Luzon, the largest and most valuable
island of the Philippine group. has an area
of $4,000 square miles. nearly the same
as that of the great States OF New York.
North Carolina. Arkansas. or Louisiana.
1t would be necessary to combine the area
OF Wisconsin and Illinois. Georgia and
Florida. or of New York. Vermont. and
Pennsylvania. to make them approximately
equal to the total square miles of the
entire archipelago. which is ll5. 900.
AS regards the foreign trade of the Phil
ippines, under normal conditions. $62,e00.-
600 is fair estimate. In 1896 the imports
yielded s26. 500 coo. For 1887 there was a
decrease in imports of SS000,00o, which
may be attributed to the rebellion Of the
natives The exports in 1897 amounted 10
07. 900, 00o.
The extreme length of the Philippine
group being from north to south, one
extremity reaching to the northern limit
OF the tropical zone. causes consider
able variety of climate. However. the
general characteristics are trop cal. March,
April and May are the hottest months.
while the coolest are October. November.
December, January. and February. al
though the humidity is at all times ex
cessive. The sun is always avoided by
poor and rich alike in the afternoon,
when its penetrating powers become the
strongest. The rainy season makes its
appearance in June and lasts until Sep
tember,
The evening times., 1899-04-29
ANOTHER cENTENAR1AN DIES.
Miss Mary SpOOner. Oldest Woman In
Massarhusettn. PASSES Away.

Massarhusetts.P PASSES Away.
New Bedford. Mass, April 29.-Miss
Mary Spooner. the oldest woman in Massa-
tional Society OF the Daughters Of the
American Revolution. died here yesterday
at the age of 105 years, months and 20
days. Her death occurred in the house
which was erected on the site of the cabin
in which she was born.
Aunt Mary as she was known 10 all
her friends. was born in a log cabin near
the present site OF Acushnet Mass. on
February s. 1894. She was the daughter
of Micah SpooRer, minute man and SOL
dier in the war OF 1872. In the 1J5 years
of her life she had the distinction Of liv-
ing in three towns without changing her
residence. New Bedford. Fairhaven. and
Acushnet each have claimed her as 4 resi-
dent By reason OF changing town lines.
Aunt Mary never rode on steam or cleo
trio cars. and only twice in her life was
she photographed When a girl she work
ed in Whites cotton factory at Acushnet.
the ruins Of which have long since crum-
blei into the earth. She worked there at
the age of sixteen, and so claimed to be
one OF the oldest mill operators in the
country.
Miss Spooner was elected President OF
the National Society OF the d. \. r. in
1897. Accompanying the certificate was
a gold spoon. which is presented 10 all
real Daughters OF the Revolution.
Up to within a few days of her death
Aunt Mary was as active as she was TWEEN
ty years ago. She could crack joke and
appreciate a humorous turn in conversa-
ton with as much apparent enjoyment as
any of the young people.
The evening times., 1899-04-29

1t is time we told our religious friends
that our fellow citizens of the several ISL
ands in the Sulu archipelago are not only
pirates. marauders, and murderers but,
what is much worse, that they are Moham-
medans with as many wives as they can
beg. borrow. or steal. The reason we ex-
pose this state secret is that something
will have 10 be done to employ Brother
Aguinaldo's Young Mems Missionary Asso-
citation. and we want help to promote a
Sulu movement. AS colporteurs with some
reference to Mauser rifles. there is an idea
abroad that the Rev. Emilio Aguinaldo and
his companions could do a good work in
the realm at present occupied by Sultan
Abou Ben Frisbie. or whatever his title
NAV be-
The evening times., 1899-04-29
Wireless TeIcgrnphy,

1t may be that the writer's of comic
opera melodrama and farce will not see
limitless possibilities in the invention Of
wireless telegraphy. but If they do not,
then they are a much less perspicacious
set of men than they have generally shown
themselves TO be. The things which are
likely to happen while the guileless public
is experimenting with this new means of
communication are numberless, and inf
mite in variety.
ror instance, IL has not yet been ex-
planned to us how message is to be kept
from wandering off into space and reach
ing persons for whose ears-or eyes. or
touch-it was not designed. Suppose that
an absent and anxious wife telegraphs to
a recreant husband that If he will come
home all will be forgiven, and the message
chances to come to the knowledge of wife
No. ?, what will happen then? Suppose in
innate personal details of election plans
happen to reach tAe minds of Democrats
and Republicans at one and the same time
VIII not there be a lively racket? Sup
The evening times., 1899-04-29
FLOUR TRADE IN CHINA.
Necessity of an Increased Pacific
Merchant Marine.

Necessity of an Increased Pacific
Merchant Marine.
In reply to questions from a Minnesota
correspondent. Consul General Goodnow.
of Shanghai. has forwarded some valuable
information concerning the flour trade in
China The report says:
The -four imported into China was valued al
1.5c565s taels tse7s.61s) in 1896: l.22I.5 taels
(s19S, ,9s5), in 1897. and l.77i7l2 taels tSll53.
562) in 1898 would estimate tine weight in
1888 at 59.OoO.OoO pounds.
The advance in the price Of -four has materially
checked its The small cakes used by the
lower classes are made almost entirely OF
rice -four. and only vanished over with wheat
-four. return to the average value of wheat in
freight from the Pacific coast to this point will
result in a very large increase in the Of wheat
-four here.
Nest of these people poor beyond our un-
derstanding and wheat flour is luxury to them
Just it was to our forefathers and not ne
cessity, as it has grown to be 10 Its is
instantly lessened by rise in price.
The increase in 1898 ard 1897 was not in
crease of consumption by Chinese. large pro
portion has gone to the garrisons of foreign
troops at Port Arthur. Weihaiwei, and Kyao-
Chau, and to the foreign men-of-war now on this
coast. On the other hand. the local mill at
Shanghai sold last year nearly l0.0O0,OO0 pounds
of -four. This enters directly into competition
with -four from the United States. While Shang-
hal -four is slightly darker, it sells (wholesale)
at sl.s5 in Mexican currency (s7 cents in United
States currency for fifty pounds. American -four
is sold at 50 in Mexican currency (9i.i cents)
per fifty pounds.
The present difficulty in importing -four is in
the matter of transPacifc transportation. There
freights offered than boats to carry
them. Consequently. the rate now is s. Mexi-
(s3.7s United States) per ton from San Fran
cisco to Shanghai, an increase of 50 Mexican per
ton the rates prevailing two years ago.
When this high freight rate was united to a
high price Of wheat in America during most of
1895, -four whoesaled here at cents Mexican
CA cents United statcs per pound To-day the
wholesale price is cents Mexican Q.so cents
United States) per pound. When we have ssiff-
cient ships in the Pacific for the demands of
the trade the lessencd freight rate will lessen
the wholesale price of -four here, and increase
its consumption.
The evening times., 1899-04-29
st. Cuthbert'. Tomb opcned.
(From the London Mall !

The tomb Of saint has just been opened at
Durham Cathedral, and lively interest in .he ex-
huma.ion is being displayed in Northern archae-
illogical circles. It is that of st. Cuthbert and
the object is to reconstruct the original coffin
Of the saint, which dates back to Cos, by recoy-
ering certain fragments. which known to be
contained in the grave.
The original coffin of oak was taken out in
1927 and substituted by another, but it was after
ward found that considerable parts were still
wanting.
The bones have been found to be in an excel
lent state Of preservation, ard in the grave
there we're also found other remains, among
these being the sfrontal bone Of a large skull,
cut open by bEtleax or sharp sword.
This skull ID supposed to be that of King
Oswald, whose hends dfter he fad been killed in
battle. was brought to scarborough and ulti-
mately deposited in the shrine of st. Cuthbert,
the latter being always represented carrying
in his hands the head OF st. Oswald.
The evening times., 1899-04-29
The Puzzle mt The Hague.

In view of the character OF the principal ap-
pointees to the international disarmament confer
ence the most sanguine proponents of disarma-
Emperor Williams choice of Prof. Stengel,
a rabid advocate of war as the only means of a
nations economic well political sovereignty.
is on a par with similar appointments by other
Governments. Prof. Stengel not only speaks
of the aspirations OF the friends of peace as
fantastic but describes the Cars rescript as
''bombasticaly composed document Thus
there is a probability that the principal feature
of the coming conference will be a tearing to
tatters of the Cars Utopan plea for interna-
tonal agreement to reduce national ornaments.
As the old song has it, there more ways than
one of sknning eel. and the powers that make
the bravest pretensions of theoretically endorsing
the Cars proposals are probably the ones that
will knock 'the disarmament proposition higher
than Giideroy.
The evening times., 1899-04-29
HEARD H1s FUNERAL SONGS.
Eccentric Whim Of . Dying MILLION
aire In Chicago.


aire In Chicago.
Chicago, April 29-While on his death
| bed Parker r. Mason. the eccentric Old
man who died Thursday. had part CT his
| own funeral services rehearsed in his
| presence. He summoned the quarte,te
that was to sing at hts funeral and had
| them rehearse the hymns. Then he asked
to see the Rev. Mr.. Hoke. the Psesbyte-
| rian minister Of Washington Heights. For
this pastor he had an endearing fondness.
because the cleryman's fancies turned to
making fishing poles. Fishing was Ar.
Masons fayorite pastime.
When the minister called the dying man
talked over the arrangements for his bur
ial and showed a diagram of the lot which
he had owned in Rose Hill Cemetery ever
since Rose Hill became a burying ground.
He pointed out little rei-inked cross in
the diagram where he had p'a aimed to have
his remains laid at rest. He asked
"Hoke," as he always familiarly address I'd
the clergyman. to tell him the text OF the
sermon that was to be preached then he
was gone.
Receiving this information, he presented
the minister with one of his own Gshing
reels that he had made himself in pay
ment for the forthcoming funeral ser
mon. Just before he died he effected his
last tidue, swapping u HS1lnS poe WIN
James Payne. one of his cTonies whom he
had selected to be a pallbearer, for a re-
Volver which the latter owned and which
Mr.. Mason coveted.
He had chosen all the other pallbearer5.
and their names were written down in
notebook
With care for the minutest details Nr
Mason had assigned each Of the palIbsarers
to a distinctive place about the coffin. He
had paid for the coffin and undertaker's
fees in advance.
He engaged the Imperial Quartet to sing
Nearer My God To Thee and Rock OF
Ages" and the night the singers went 10
the house to rehearse the hymns he laid
them. He left word that in a pasteboard
box, tucked away under the couch in the
parior OF the quaint old house. 4 suit of
black clothes would be found. The suit
has never been worn. II has rested in its
repository under the parlor couch for nine
months.
At the northeast corner of the block in
which stands the isolated house there is
gigantic bowider of solid rock. For years
it has stood there towering rugged and
ungainly to a height of nearly ten feet.
This, Mr.. Mason said. should be placed
over his grave.
The evening times., 1899-04-29
Fun for the Cnnrcks.

''Thcy say Englishman can't appreciate a
joke, play one. That isn't the case with the
man who has Just returned from a trip to the
Dominion. Il was in Toronto" he added, ..for
nearly week. The last day was there
the guest Of lively crowd at the big
club of the town. After the entertainment nv
jelly companions said they would walk with me
as far my hotel, and they did. They went
in with me and followed me to my room After
a short stop, the leader of the party told me to
go to bed. Although We had dined and told
stories and quaffed. we had not become unduly
familiar, and was somewhat surprised when
told to turn in in my quarters. They saw
was puzzled. and the leader explained:
You fellows from The States have such
funny way of blowing out the gas,' he said,
and then they all laughed In spite of the moss
that has accumulated on this gas joke, rather
enjoyed it, because it seemed to be new to my
fricEds, the Canucks." :"
The evening times., 1899-04-29
A WOMAN ON THE FIRING LINE.
Mrs. Boycson sed II Rifle When Not
HurY CARING for Wounded.

Seattle. Wash. April 29.-Mrs. May
Boyeson. of Denver, is worshiped by half
of General Wheatons brigade.
She was on the firing line two days. a
letter from the front reports, attending
wounded soldiers, and at times took up
rifle and fred at the insurgents.
She narrowly escaped death several
times. General Wheaton said to her:
Il congratulate you on your coolness.
For the first time in my life l have seen
a woman on the firing line
George Schneider. of the Twenty-second
Regulars, was captured BY four rebels
after a hard fight with clubbei guns. while
he was trying to carry off badly wound
ed comrade left behind when the COM
pany retreatsd. He was knocked insensi-
BILE. but came to in time to see TWO FIJI
pinos cutting his friends heart out.
1t fired him with new life, and he again
went at them with his dubbed gun He
was getting the worst OF the hght Wne,, =
a lucky voiley from friendly troops Killed
his assailantS.
The evening times., 1899-04-29
the coast of Africa will. be seen in its true

the coast Of Africa will be seen In Its true
light. -
In Europe 1t IL well understood that we
have a recognized position among the ma
tions. But there are various half educated
and semi -barbarous. peoples in out-of-the-
way corners of the world, among whom
Americans sometimes 90 for purposes of
trade or pleasure. Thesetpeoples do not al
ways understand that thezAmerican' is as
good a man as an EngIishman. and that it
is dangerous to interfere with him. The
British flag they know, and they respect
English citizens accordingly; and it is nee
essary that they should also know the
American flag. Hence they must have an
object Lesson now and then. This is the
purpose of the journey Of the Chicago.
The evening times., 1899-04-29
For Two Hours In n Trench Under
Filipino Fire.

Seattle. Wash. April 29.-Mail advices
from Manila received yesterday are full of
interesting incidents Of the fighting before
Malabon.
President Schurman, Of Cornell Univer-
sity. member of the Philippine Commits
sion. had a narrow escape from death
while in the rear of General Wheaton S
brigade. He was sitting on trench when
a large rebel force opened fire. a stray
shct warned him to seek cover, which he
did BY speedily falling into the trench.
He lay there more than an hour. 1hiIe
the Filipinos sent Mauser bullets singing
over his head. An occasional bullet would
Craze the top Of the trench and shower the
college man with dirt.
The rebels were finally dislodged and
President Schurman deturned to Manila.
He will not follow the army again.
The evening times., 1899-04-29
England's Cursins Pnrson.
(From the Brooklyn Eagle.

Those who kEow Joseph Parker will not be
surprised by his gilt-edged swearing at the Sal
tan in his pulpit. Generally, however. he finds
occasion in prayers, rather than in sermons. for
that relief which others seek in expletiyss or in
proane language. lie has sated more than one
dislike and got even with more than one clerical
critic, caustic editor, or other enemy by con-
venient recourse to vehement expression under
cover form OF petitions ostensibly addressed to
the Deity. but really addressed to the audience
present, and through the reporters to the British
public of readers.
But it should not be thought that he is
fraud, by any means. Few men escape their
temperament anywhere, and some men make the
preaching function only an avenue for the rio.ous
manifestation of their temperament. And some Of
these men are expert in the choice of occasions
for doing DIR. Parker is very expert in that
line
The evening times., 1899-04-29
All Fuss and Feathers.

II strutting little tyrant like General Torres
could be supposed to be capable of producing a
grave crisis such condition would appear to have
supervened at Bluefelds. The attempt of the
general to exact from the merchants of Bluefields
a second payment of the taxes previously collected
under the short regime of the revolutionist Gen.
eral Reyes has led 10 a suspension of business
and the closing of all the stores while the settle
ment is filed with the drunken and barelegged
soldiers Of Torres A little canister fred over
their heads from the cruiser Detroit, which is
momentarily expected to arrive, would probably
cool the ardor of Torres and his ragamrfins
The evening times., 1899-04-29

1t will be a sad day for some OF the
members Of the French general staff, IL
the German government should feel COM
PEELED to divulge its knowledge of the
Dreyfus outrage. 1t may be taken for
granted that the Berlin foreign office
knows the truth and the whole truth of
the AFFAIR. and that. should the same be
made public it will completely exculpate
the prosecuted prisoner of DEVILS Island.
The evening times., 1899-04-29
Quay vs.. Quay,
(rrom the Harrisburg Patrio,

tffOm tHe 1faIfIsbufg P2trI0t.J
Senator Quay is on record against the right of
the Governor to appoint Senator when the Leg
islature fails to perform its constitutional duty
So also is PenrOse, the other Pennsylvania Sena-
tor. No longer ago than last year Corbett was
appointed Senator by the Governor of Oregon after
the Legislature had failed to elect. P.nrose voted
against the seating Of Corbett. Quay would have
voted the way if he had not been paired
with Morgan. How, then, Quay with any
sort Of consistency ask for admission on the
Governors appointment? The practice of the
Senate for seventy years has established rule
which would be violated by seating Senator Quay.
The evening times., 1899-04-29
A jew in Russian Mobility.

The Russian senate has just had to consider the
question whether a Jew can be admitted to the
ranks of the hereditary nobility Of Russia The
Russian law has declared that the recipient of
the Vladimir order enters at once into the ranks
of tine hereditary nobility of the government in
which he resides. The chamber of mobiles at
S,nolensk was recently astounded when He
brew requested TO he entered in the local Book
of Mobiles. They refused the request. but the He
brew appealed TO the senate, and that body has
declared that every recipient Of the Vladimir
order. whatever his race. receives at once, auto
matically, the patent of nobility.
The evening times., 1899-04-29

We are going to watch the progress of
Thomas Bracket Reed through Europe
with great interest. II will be edifying to
see succession OF sovereigns trying to
gain recognition from him, and to OBJ
he will exclaim: The gentleman from
Ohio"
The evening times., 1899-04-29
COuntcr-IrritatfOn.
(From The Detrnit Free Pres

VfFOHI INT I1ttIUIt TTtt IFtsS-I
'.They say that electricity is artijote
for the sting OF bees. said the electrical en-
thusiast.
..Yes, I've tried it," said the student.
'RealIy? How did it work?
..WelI, a bee stung me. and it hurt so that
I applied the electricity After that I went
over and SGT down hornets nest TO see il
couldn't get over the effects Of the cure"
The evening times., 1899-04-29
4 Losing Game.
OErnn .Intlce.l

Nose Moodus-So you bet SO wif Jim Jackson
on de prize fsit Which lost?
Pete Porridge-Oh. we bofe lost. We let old
Judge Talent bold ie stakes. an aftah dc fight
was over darncd il he didn't have US brought Up
before him. and iined us each so for betting.
The evening times., 1899-04-29
Unhappy Associntions.
Trom the Chicago Ncws.)

81 want you to understand, however" said her
father, ..thlt | consent to your marriage only
under protest"
..oh, that's all right The Young man replied;
eff you will let ronc of the demands may make
On YOU afterward go to protest
The evening times., 1899-04-29
4 Cautious Man.
Irrou ~, lh;c,po Record !

(From the Chicago Record)
..What are those pegs all over your back yard?'
give ordered some trees, and I've drove those
pegs down to show my wife where l didn't want
them planted
The evening times., 1899-04-29
A Job Lot.
DEran, Harlem Life !

(Fr0m Harlem Lfe.)
He-Are all J. Millionaire Crawford's daughters
married?
She-Yes; all five Of them.
He-Married some English syndicate, / sup
pose?
The evening times., 1899-04-29
Feline Amenities.

(FrOm the ChiCa.O POst.)
..My husband tells ali his friends that he drew
a prize in the matrimonial lottery she said.
proudly.
..He probably refers to your bank account"
returned her dearest friend.
The evening times., 1899-04-29
A Bargain.
nm the Detroit Free Press.)

(From the Detroit Free Press)
s.John You don't seem to enjoy this aspara-
gus.
"No: Just as was buyirg it that miserable
Tom Biggs came along and dunned me for that
so him.
The evening times., 1899-04-29
CURRENT HUM0R.
A Georgia Definition.

T'rom tine Atlanta Constitution.)
s.Pop. what's a 'after-dnner speaker?'
Hes a man. my son. that's too onsteady TO
stand up. an too full to know when to set
down.
The evening times., 1899-04-29
pcDular Products,

From the Philadelphia North Americsn.)
.Teacher-what do get from the Philippine
Islands, children?
ma am.
The evening times., 1899-04-29
scEURMAN WAS IN DANGER.

Postmaster F. II. Wilson, Of Brooklyn
\. Y, is at the Arlington.
The evening times., 1899-04-29

]. II. Thieriot. American Consul at Lis
bon, Portugal is at the Arlington with
Mrs. Thleriot.
The evening times., 1899-04-29

Watch for town. Congress Heights. D. c.
The evening times., 1899-04-29

Stuyvesant Fish, President Of the Illi-
nois Central Railroad. and H. r. Duvall,
President Of the Florida Central, were at
the Shoreham yesterday for a short time,
and in conference over railroad matters.
They came to Washington quietly. how
ever, and escaped before their presence
became known. leaving no intimation as
to the nature Of their business.
The age-herald., 1899-01-10
SITUATION IN
 PHILIPPINES A Peaceful Solution of the Problem
 Hoped For. THE CLIMAX APPROACHING All Sorts of AlarmiSt Reports Are in Circulation. ANOTHER INSURGENT DOCUMENT Aguinaldo Threatens to Drive Out the Americans Miller Has Orders
 Not to Fire Unless He is
 First Attacked.
THE CLIMAX APPROACHING t
ANOTHER INSURGENT DOCUMENT

Manila, January 9.-The situation is rapld- ly approaching a climax, and 1t is just pos sible that tomorrow will see a peaceful so- lution. Meanwhile, all sorts of alarmist rumors are in circulation. The United States authorities are taking every precaution; the California troops have disembarked from the Transports.
 The natives, it is reported, have been or dered not to work for the Americans and the employees in the commissary department have gone on strike. Many natives are leaving the city.
 Major-General Otis, however, has the whole situation thoroughly in hand.
 A second proclamation by Agu.naldo bear ing the same date the one which imme- diatelg followed proclamation of General Otis based upon President McKineys in- struetions, first appeared on the streets to- day, but it is alleged to have been recalled It's terms are much more vehement than those used in the first proclamation. Agui- naldo threatens to drive the Americans from the islands, calls the Deity to witness that their blood will be upon their own heads if it is shed and details at great length the promises he claims were made by the Americans as to the part of the in- surgents in the campaign
 It Is believed that this second proclama- ton is the original draft which was not adopted by the Filipino congress at Malolos