davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1899-04-08
FINGER-PRINT TESTS.
The Method Discussed in Novels of
Identifying Criminals.
From the London Globe.

L rom lhe London IlODe.
In detective novels fnger-prints left by
criminals preferably in blood, play an i'm
portant part; but truth seems stranger
than fiction in the fact that the finger
print system of identifying criminals in
India has been made perfect that It
would enable any intelligent person. in d
few minutes to distinguish the Individual
If necessary, from all other persons now
living in the world, or, if data were avail
able, from all other persons who have lived
since the creation of man. The system is
simplicity itself, and there is none of the
elaboration of process or the costly and
delicate machinery required for the an
thropometric system. All that is needed
is a piece of tin. sheet of paper and some
printers ink. The linked impressions of
the ten digits are taken and filed in the
proper compartment of the proper pigeon
hole, and 1t is on the classification of rec
ords and their distribution into the pigeon
hoies that the success of the system de-
pends. Wv
Every finger mark shows lines of the
loop, or the whorf' type, and by a sim
PIE table OF the ordinations of these
types in the ten digits 1,024 main classes
are made. These are again subdiyided ac-
cordlns TO minor details, and the subdiyi-
sions can be further divided ad infinitum
II necessary; but with the table before him
any person of ordinary intelligence can
place his finger on the CORRESPONDING card
to a record in his hand within five rninutac
no matter how many thousand cards there
may be. 1t is calculated that the chances
are about 64.000,000 to l against anv two
persons having single fingers identical and
tne chances against all ten fingers being
identical go beyond mathematics alto.
gether.
Evening star., 1899-04-08
EVOLUTION OF FISH HOOKS
Invention Did Not Involve Any Great In
genuity or Skill.
The Earliest Were Made of Pieces of
Bone or Wood, but Answered
the Purpose.

L. G. Gates. in Popular Science.
Men have doubtless been fishers from
very remote times; hunger would teach
them to catch fish as we'll as to hunt NAM
mails, but while the evidences of the latter
are so abundant in the shape of stone
weapons, the weapons or implements used
for catching fish, being made of less
durable material, have disappeared. The
exceptions to this general statement are
the few instances where fish hooks made
entirely of stone, or of a combination of
stone and wood, or bone, have been pre-
served with the other implements of SINH
lar material.
Fish hooks of Siiicious material have not
been found in America, but hooks composed
of flint or chaleedony and bone have been
found in Greenland.
The invention of rude implements to ia
cilitate the catching of fish would not re-
quire the exercise of any great ingenuity
or mechanical skill. From watching the
fish snap at or swallow objects thrown in
the water, the idea of tying some tempting
bait on tie end of a string, and throwing
it into the water, to be seized and swal
lowed by the fish, which could then be
pulled out by means of the string. would
be very simple, and from this to the
earliest known attachment for making the
capture of the fish more certain, that of at
tachng a silver of wood to the end of the
string or line, in such a way that any at
tempt at escape on the part of the fish
would make its capture more certain was
very easy.
Afterward pieces of bone or wood, sharp
ened at each end, and sometimes grooved
in the middle to keep the string from slip
ping, were evolved.
Implements of this character are still
used by the Eskimos for catching ,sea-gulls
and other water fowl. A cord made of
braided grass. fifteen or eighteen inches
long, is looped around the groove in the
bcne, and fastened to a trawl line, kept ex-
tended by anchored buoys, the bone being
baited with small fish, into which the i'm
plement is inserted lengthwise, the trawl
lines are placed near the breeding places
of the birds, and would be equally effective
in the capture Of certain kinds of fish.
AS man gained experience and advanced
in knowledge other forms of implements
would be evolved better suited for the pur-
pose, but, with the exception of better ma
terial being used in the manufacture, the
fish hooks of the civilized nations of today
are but little in advance of those used by
savage races and prehistoric peoples.
Prehistoric fiSh-ho0ks of bronze and 9TH
ers made from the tusks Of the wild boar
are found in the Swiss lakes. Another form
of bronze fish-hook, found in the Lake of
Morat, is almost Identical in form with
those used today. Clipped flint fish-hooks
are found in Sweden. Among the aborig-
ines of Wisconsin native copper was used
in the manufacture of various weapons and
implements and fish-h hooks of beaten cop.
per have been found in some of the mounds
in that region.
Evening star., 1899-04-08
New Fad in Sealing Letters.


My lady has a new fad about her pane-
terie, which this time has nothing to do
with the size or shape of the envelope or
the tint of the paper. The fad has just be-
gun to gain a hold on New York society
girls, but 1t is seen often enough for the
letter carriers to have noticed it, and If Won
carefully inspect envelopes the fair sex
have used that come to your notice You
will soon see what 1t is
When she seals her letters now the up-to-
date girl no longer puts the seal In the
apex of the triangle made by the flap of the
envelope. but carefully sets 1t about two
inches TO the left as the envelope lies asj-
dress side down on her writing table
just what the reason for this is or what
the origin of ii Is, none of the fair ones who
are following the fad seems to be exactly
sure.
Its so novel. though one of them ex-
planned, ''and the seal really looks much
more artistic off to one side than planted
right in the center"
Rumor has 1t that the fad started from a
letter received from New York girl now
resident in Paris, who has quite a reputa-
ton among her friends for doing original
things And so many of the styles and
fads come from the capital of France that
seems as good an explanation as any.
Evening star., 1899-04-08
KINGDOM OF BEGGARs
unique Mendicant Monarchy Once Es-
tabIished in France
From Lippincott's. s.


In France veritable beggar kingdom
sprahg INTO existence. 1t was an elective
monarchy. and its rogue of a king swelled
his exchequer by levyng taxes on his dis
reputable subjects. His able lieutenants
Known as cagoux, collected revenues in dis
tant parts of the domain, and enforced the
penaI1es for non-payment of tribute add
ing to these duties the task of instructing
youthful mendicants on all the subtleties of
their art. Directly beneath the cagoux in
rank was another class of officials COM
posed of decayed priests and students.
whose smattering of learning gave them
some standing even among beggars These
were the archiSuppOts, the mendicants'
ct unselors-at-law, who taught recruits the
beggar tongue, Argot
The rank and file of the beggars were di-
vided into distinct classes, each following
some particular form of mendicity to
which strict attention was demanded One
mad to be specialist and stick to his own
line of business; the general practitioner
was accorded no recognition.
The subjects of the King of Argot kept
no chronicles; consequently our knowledge
of the beggar dynasty is somewhat limited.
Three kings, however managed to make
names for themselves in history-Ragot,
Scion in rags, who founded the monarchy
and drew up system of laws for it's gov
ernment: Anacreon, who, wrapped in a
mantle of thousand pieces, collected aims
while riding an ass through the streets of
Paris, and a monarch who is known to us
as the King of Tunis. The latter reigned
for three years only, and was broken on the
wheel at Bordeaux because his ideas of per-
sonal liberty differed from those of the
French government, whose millions hap
pened to be stronger than his own.
At stated periods the French beggars held
a general parliament al Sainte Anne
d Auray, in Brittany, where means were
discussed for the advancement of mendicity
in all its branches. What a gathering it
must have been What fantastic night
mare-like assemblage of rags and tatters!
Evening star., 1899-04-08
TEMPLE OF TEP0XTECO.
Ruins Indicate That 1t Was the Work
of Civilized Man.

FROM the san Francisco Chronicle.
The temple of Tepoxteco, in Mexico, is
built upon a cliff which is sheer mass of
rock more than 1900 feet in height Be
tween. this cliff and the extraordinary ring
of cliffs above it there is couloir or Chin
ney of loose fragments of rock, up which
the visitor must climb, no matter whether
he ascends from Tepoxtlan or descends
from San Juanico, a village above the cir
-eular cliffs. He is aided by ladder at the
worst part, but he must transfer himself
from the topmost rung to a basaltic mass
three feet to the left of the ladder, with
the prospect of rolling down 209 feet if he
slips, and the probability of pitching down
the gorge of Tepoxtlan headforemost, about
l,So0 feet. Holes for the hands and feet
We're cut long ago.
The ascent up the gorge of TeDoxtIan iS
toilsome to the last degree. Though it is
narrow, yet 1t would have been feasible TO
have made winding trail like the one in
the Yosemite, which leads to Eagle cliff
But this was not done On the contrary
the ascent was made as difficult as possible
by making a rude stairway of masses of
rock from two to three feet in height so
that climbing the canyada of Tepoxtlan is
as bad as getting to the top of the pyramid
of Cheops.
The temple is a building of two terraces.
upon the model of the so-called pyramid of
Cholula, which has four terraces. and of
'He tower OF BABEL which had eight. There
was an incloSure with an arched or yaultad
roof supported by four pillars built up of
masonry, which was covered with this stuc-
CO. SO that from below upon the crest of
the slope leading down to Tepoxtlan 1t is
exceedingly conspicuous.
Upon the second terrace are the remains
OF the Tour pillars that supported the roof
and the three walls of the temples These
are intact up to the spring of the vaulting
IL there mad been any openings for the
purpose of giving light there would have
peen traces of them but there is none
from which we must draw the conclusion
tnat lamps were used during the cere-
MONIES. Had torches been employed the
Waiis would have been blackened The tenn
pie was all the darker because it was SUBJ
divided INTO two by breast-high walls that
joined the third and fourth pillars to the
side walls OF the structure. All along these
walls there was a broad seat about 20
lnches nigh, and the front of this was COW
ered with sculptured slabs nearly square
ihese nave been stolen and rude imita tions
have been substituted.
Evening star., 1899-04-08
The Uniform Didn't Suit Her.


One of the young gentlemen who have
just been appointed in the regular army
was married only few weeks ago. and
his bride takes great deal of interest in
his uniform. He left his measure with
military tailor here the other day, and the
next afternoon when she was out shopping
she dropped in to give some instructions as
to the manner in which it was to be trim
med She told the tailor she did not like
the ordinary uniform of second lieutenant
and desired to have her husbands different
She wanted four bands of gold braid
around the sleeve, like Admiral Schley had
on his, and after critically examining all
the shoulder straps she instructed the
tailor to put on her husbands coat a pair
that had silver birds embroidered on them,
because they were prettier than any of the
rest. The tailor tried to advise her that
the regulations did not permit a second
lieutenant to wear the insignia of an admi-
raj of the navy or those of colonel in
the army, but she declared that if he would
not make the uniform the way she wanted
it she would have her husband patronize
somebody else.
Evening star., 1899-04-08
ChiIJlesS.
Jennie Belts Har1

Jennie Belts Hartswick. in Leslie's Monthly.
A little figure moves from room to ROOM
L meet 1t now and then upon the stair:
II fits before me through the twilight gloom
And when l wake at morning it is there.
1t wears little frock of quaint design
My fancy fashioned ii with loving care
Although no needle wrought its stitches fine,
Although its fabric is but empty air
Sometimes at dusk there falls upon my ear
trili of baby laughter clear and sweet;
sometimes through all the silent house 1 hear
The hurried coming of its tiny feet.
And eft used to plead with 1t to stay,
To tarry in my lonely life "a WHILE
l know not II Its eyes are blue or gray,
only KNOWN angel-wise they smile.
But l have learned my fate-n0 more l call
On the wee stranger to abide with me-
For well | know that fitting figure small
Is but the ghost of what will never be,
Evening star., 1899-04-08
Exploding Ice Bubbles.
From Good Words.

A traveller in Siberia tells of remarkable
occurrence among the frozen regions of
that country. In the intensely cold nights
the silence was. sometimes broken by a
loud report as of a cannon. This was the
bursting of one of the ice bubbles on
rivera phenomenon I had neither heard
nor read of before.
The streams coming down from the hills
were frozen on the surface some six to
nine inches thick The water beneath
flowed faster than 1t could escape, and the
pressure. on the principle of hydraulic
press, became Irresistible. First the elas-
ticity of the ice was seen by the rising of
circular mounds some six to eight feet high
The bursting point came at last with a re-
port like an explosion. The water escaped,
but soon froze again. I have seen scores
of these ice hillocks in a few versts of the
river.
Evening star., 1899-04-08
Tennessee Marksmanship.


A yarn is told in Manila, and it concerns
the prison and two Tennessee volunteers.
A Filipino convict had climbed the prison
wall and was running for dear life through
the open. Two long legged Tennesseeans
were on guard duty. They kneeled TO fire.
'T don't guess it's more than 800 yards"
said one quietly.
81 reckon it's most 500," said the other
as If he were discussing the weather.
The prisoner was running like deer and
rapidly approaching tine underground
around innumerable little huts. where he
would be safe.
Call it 4OO" suggested the first Tennes-
seean in a conciliatory tone.
They adjusted their sights. aimed, and
fired. The escaping convict fell. and the
two Tennesseeans went out to bring in
what was left of him.
IF he's hit in the head It's my shot,"
said one.
II aimed low, acco'din' to amy regula-
tions," drawled the other.
The convict was found with one bullet
through the back of his head and another
through the lower end of his spine. They
know how to shoot in the mountains of
Tennessee.
Evening star., 1899-04-08
RUSSIAN TEA DRINKING.
The Poor Use Bricks and the Rich Paw
$12 Pound.

$12 q Pound.
From the Anglo Russian.
Among the few things for which Russia
deservedly enjoys creditable and univer-
sal reputation, Russian tea doubtless occu-
pies a prominent place. both on account of
its quality and mode of preparation and
consumption. In the first place there is no
such thing as Russian tea in the literal
sense of the word. 1t is entirely an article
imported from China, which country will
probably continue for long time to be the
chief source of tea supply for the Russian
markets. Tea in Russia is very DEAR but
this is due to the heavy expenses of trans
port and custom duties. The Russians
drink enormous quantities of tea sufficient
to frighten any EngliShman.
The poor people-and, alas! the Russian
people are the poorest in eXistence-use the
so-calied brick tea. This is the cheapest
sort, being mixed with the stems and COM
pressed by some adhesive gum into dry
cakes of various sizes, resembling in its
appearance plug tobacco. This tea, which
would probably prove poisonous to any one
else, is consumed by the Russian working
man at the average rate of about twenty
stakans Cor tumblers) day; the Russian
stakan being quite equal to five of the little
thtmbles OF cups used in England at after
noon teas. Indeed, a Russian won't be sat
isfied until "sedmoi pot proshibyot,' or ''the
seventh perspiration breaks out" accord
ing TO the popular saying. Taking into con-
SluefdtloH tiict pihCh, SOuf OF Dr1ck-
like bread, raw onions, garlic, dried leather
like fish and strongly salted herrings are
usually the chief articles of food of the
people at large, one must not wonder at the
enormous quantity of hot tea needed to
still Russians thirst and help on his di-
gestion.
The inferior sort of tea is, besides, very
cheap. but, of course, it is not the brick
tea as used by the poor moujik that enjoys
a world ld-wide reputation, but that in use
among the middle and upper classes. In
such households tea at the price of IS. or
.6s per pound-(0.90 of the English pound
avoidupois) is quite an ordinary thing while
in wealthier families los. to 12s. per pound
is frequently paid. There are choice sorts
of teas which are sold even at 20 rubles per
pound. but of these only few leaves are
used to add an extra delicious aroma to the
ordinary tea Thus the high quality of the
tea itself, brought overland and most care
fully packed, is the chief reason of Its su-
periority over the teas in use In western
Europe.
But apart from the tea itself, the Rus
sian method of preparing 1t goes a long
way to contribute to the fine taste of the
beverage. In this process the famous ''sa-
Evening star., 1899-04-08
"My Ma, She KNOWS"

irch Arnold in the Detroit journal.
My pa, he scolds me les. ,becuz
He says I'm gittiIp' tough;
He says my face is nevefielean, -
My hands always rough;
I'm not behavin' like 1 should
An goin' wrong, IIs'pqss,
But ma, she takes an pats my hand
An smiles, becuz she Knows.
My pa hain't got no f,ise Per boys;
L s'pose he wants Gem men;
/ wonder if he's clean forgot
The boy he must IA besfl: .r
Fer ma, she says they're all alike
Bout face an hapfs snfI clothes,
An says I'll learn to- "a man;
An ma, l guess she knows,
My pa, he says 1 aintf nossped 49,. .
AT dom any thing . ,iso !,f.-, IRA, .-.
I'd ruther, fool away the ,time - = =
An whistle. dance an Sing;
But ma, she smiles an says I'm young,
An then she up an goes
An kisses me, an shows me how;
Fer ma YOU bet, she knows.
My pa, he says I'll never be
A business man. like him,
because l haint got any drive
And ''get-up,'' pluck and VIM"
But ma. she says, so solemn like,
a mans Il boy that grows;'
''An boys must have their playin' spells;"
An ma trump an knowsi
My pa, he shakes his head an sighs,
An says he doesn't see
Where | get all the careless ways
That seem jes' born in me;
An ma, she laughs, an laughs, an laughs,
TIL pas face crimson grows,
An then she says, - Ills very queer"
But, somehow, ma, she knows.
My ma, she knows most everything
Bout boys, an what they like:
Shes never scoldin bout the musS
make with kites and bike;
She says she wants me to be good
An conquer all my foes
An you jes' bet I'm goin' to be-
'Ctz my sweet ma she knows.
Evening star., 1899-04-08
A WOman's Prayer.

Anna B. Baldwin in the ladies' Home Journal.
o Lord, who knowest every need of mine
Help me to bear each cross and not repine;
Grant me fresh courage every day,
Help me to do my work alway
Without complaint!
o Lord, Thou knowest well how dark the way,
Guide Thou my footsteps lest they stray;
Give me fresh faith for every hour,
Lest l should ever doubt Thy power
And make complaint!
Give me heart, 0 Lord, strong to endure,
Help me to keep it simple, pure;
Make unselfish helpful, true
In every act whate'er do,
And keep content!
Help me to do my woman's share,
Make me courageous, strong to bear
Sunshine or shadow in my life;
Sustain in the daily strife
To keep content!
Evening star., 1899-04-08
Methuselahs of the Forest.
From the Ladies' Home Journal

The ages attained by some of the conf
ferae are scarcely less extraordinary than
their colossal bulk The greatest longevity
assigned to any tree is perhaps credited to
the celebrated taxodium of Chapultepec, in
Mexico, III feet in circumference which
is thought to exceed in age the baobab of
Senegal, inferred to be 5,150 years old. In
Lombardy there is a cypress tree which is
said to have been planted in the year of
our Savior's birth. There is even an an
cient record that 1t was growing In the
time of Julius Caesar. Near the ruins of
Palenque are trees whose age Is estimated
to be from 1000 to 5000 years. The mann
moth tree has been estimated to 1--we 1900
years IN California.
Evening star., 1899-04-08
The OId-Tamef Hero.


rthur Grissom in Munsssss. C
Swashbuckler to the core Was he.
His highway was the universe;
With equal grace and gallantry
He snatched kiss or cut a purse;
That day was lost to him. in truth,
In which he failed to break a lance,
A merry gentleman. forsooth-
The picaroOn Of old romance!
How wefl we know his jerkin's cut,
Or color of his gay cockadei
His lusty bluster and his strut,
And exc the glitter of bis blade!
And how we've loved his platterdash-
Aye. every one of us that reads!-
And 1oyed to see him cut and slash,
And gioried in his CORY deeds!
All, there's the hero to our mind!
No languid airs for him. parfayi
damsel in distress to find
Hot foot he'd travel night and day;
And when he found her, as was sure,
DDS daggers! there was sport for him.
The rogues " no thought themselves secure
Were not their chances mighty slim?
tankard of good ale, mine host,
Or shandygafr-the best ye can!
Come, one and all, Wen drink a toast
To our enchanting geHtlemani
A prodigy Of valor he,
The very prince Of all gallants
Whose like we ne 'er again shall Sec.
The picaroon OF old romancel
Evening star., 1899-04-08
RAN DON VERSE.
The Ase45,ra.

The oe&ird.
Listen a moment. pral you$ what was that sound
that / heard?
Wind in the budding bE5nche& the ripple of brooks
or a bird? u
Hear it again, above ms. md see, dutter of
wings!
The bluebird knows it Is .iE FL and scars toward
the sun and sng&
Never the song of the SpHn&could make nv heart
so glad.
When hear the bluehfsd: 81 Hging in spriur for
get to be sad 80
Hear 1t! ripple of mRsic kunshipe changed into
song! 81
1t sets thinking of &nmrser when the DAYS and
their dreams HJng
Winged lutte that we call bluebird you blend in
silver strain
The sound of laughing waters, the patter Of
springs sweet rain,
The voice of the winds, the sunshine and fra
GRANGE of bossHming things.
All! you are an April poem, that God has endow.
cred with wings!
EUGENE REXFORD.
Evening star., 1899-04-08

Apropos of the agitations on the subject of
cheaper postage between this country and
Great Britain, 1t Is pointed out that the cost
of a frst-class ocean passage between this
country and Europe averages about 800.
The charge for conveying the same weight
of letters as the passenger weighs Is $1S7.
Evening star., 1899-04-08
A Domestic Destiny.
, NJ. Best in What to Eat.

Susie NJ Best in What to Eat.
Some women of an heroic mold,
And oft they feel the hearts within them rife
With wish to share the public of life,
And solve the problems that perplex the bold.
l meet them and they look askance at me,
Because never thrill with their desires,
But am contented with my household fires,
And with the simple duties that l see.
Perhaps, oh love, l of baser clay,
And this may be the that l crave
No mission exalted more brave
Than just to make you happy day by day.
Evening star., 1899-04-08
Though We Repent.
Louise Chandler Moulton in scribner's.

Louise Chandler MouIton Ia Scfibner's.
Though repent, can any God give back
The dear, lost days we might have made so fair
Turn false to true and careless to care,
And let Lnd again what now we lack?
Oh, once, more to tread the old-time track,
The flowers threw away once more to wear
Though repent any God give back
The dear, lost days we might have made so fair !
Who repulse stealthy ghost s attack
Silence a voice that doth the midnight dare
Make fresh hopes spring from graye-sod of de-
Set free tortured soul from memorys rack?
Though we repent. can ANY God give back
The dear, lost days We might have made so fair?