davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Republican., 1899-04-27
GUARDS A PRESIDENT
"Frenchy" Tharn Is One of Mr.. Nc
Kinley's Favorites.
He Is the Husband of Mrs. McKinIey's
Maid and n Wise Citizen-Cnrried
on the Secret Service
Pay Rolls.

Christof Evon Tharn, or "Frenchy,"
is an odd character in new guise at the
white house. Until recently he was
stationed in the cellar as a private
watchman, with little to do except
guard the basement stairway leading
up to the private dining-room.
"Frenchy," as he is familiarly called
by the employees of the executive man
sion, is the husband of Mrs McKinley's
French maid. 1t is said, according to
the st. Louis Republic, that he received
his appointment as private watchman
through his wife's influence with the.
mistress of the white house. Later
the same power was invoked to secure
his transfer to the secret service
branch of the government, at con-
siderable increase in salary and with
.1para sSngenfal duties.
"Frenchy" is native of Switzerland,
but has made his home in the United
States for more than IA years. He is
a typical French butler, small of stat
ure, not large in intellect, but possess
ing considerable native cunning and
liberal supply of egotism. The lat
ter Characteristic has developed with
marked rapidity since his elevation
from the basement to the top floor of
the presidential mansion.
1t would be difficult to describe
"Frenchy's" official duties unless he
is designated as an understudy for
Capt. Charlie Loeffler, the German vet
eran who guards the door leading to
the cabinet room. When Capt. Doetfler
is absent "Frenchy" bobs up serenely
at the entrance to the council chamber
The Republican., 1899-04-27

which storms rage sometimes for weeks
together, are only revealed by line OF
foam-capped breakers.
To prevent, if possible, further ship
wrecks in the daytime, the government
has constructed beacon, the only one
of its kind in the world, which 1t is be-
lieved will do much in warning away
ships and their crews. :.
1t is what is termed day beacon,
and is built on solid steel rods, forming
= skeleton structure, which will stand
about 40 feet above the water at low
tide. The skeleton holds a huge cage
of iron. which it is believed can be seen
through glasses at distance Oh 1uiiy
ten miles.
The question of fastening the struc-
tura securely in the treacherous SANDS
at this point has been great engineer
ing problem. Four steel disks will be
sunk to a point IA feet below the bot
tom, and filled with concrete. Ihey
are of such size that engineers believe
thev will form huge anchor, prevent
ing the skeleton from being thrown
over by the great force of the wave'
at this point.
The framework alone weighs 30 tons
and was towed to Cape Hatteras resting
on pontoons filled with air, which ar
40 feet long and seven feet in diameter
If the beacon is successful, others ar
to be placed at different points on tn
|
The Republican., 1899-04-27
To,,ov Candles as Medicine.

In France the peasantry still stick 10
medicines calculated to turn the aver
aoe doctors hair gray with horror
Wine is an ingredient of every prescrip-
4ion. In fever cases it is always the
predominant one. The French peas
ants faith in fermented grape juice IS
truly beautiful. If his children are
stricken with the measles he gives then
beakers of wine, well sweetened with
honey and highly spiced with pepper,
For a severe cold he administers quart
Of red wine and a melted tallow candle
nixed. For scarlet or brain fever he
gives eggs, white wine and SCOT well
beaten together. Not all their super
stitions are curious; some are pathetic
A mother. for instance, often buries hel
dead child with its favorite toy, or
lock of her own hair in the cotiin' tina
u NAV not feel quite alone
The Republican., 1899-04-27

arTenchy IS lth,'s-aa,,ntil relieved nv |
Mckinley. That is mistake. He
could perhaps fill such a position to
better advantage than the role of an
amateur Sherlock Holmes, which he
Is now endeavoring to play.
II is understood that he is an eX-
perienced house servant. having served
as butler with the Cutting family in
New York. However, he is now car
ried on the rolls of the secret service
branch of the government at salary
aggregating about $1,4OO year. HIS
new responsibilities are beginning to
tell upon him. He grows thinner and
thinner each day, and his eyes are be-
coming contracted from their cease
less search for cranks and suspicious
characters who sometime visit the
white house.
"Frenchy" may be seen daily in the
anteroom mingling with the persons
who call to see the president. lie does
not converse with them unless asked
a question. Then his replies are
eyasive and noncommittal, SO that he
cannot blame himself for having be-
trayed the confidence of the president
So faithful is he to his new trust that
he lives at the white house, so that he
may be prepared at any moment to give
protection to the president if called
upon. Nine. Tharn and her HUSBAND
have an apartment in the executive
mansion and they take their meals
in the state dining-room with th'
housekeeper.
It is said to be the ambition OF M
Tharn to become a famous detective
He closely scrutinizes every visitor whit
5 enters the white house, day or night
I He has accompanied the president Of
one or two out-of-town trips, not i
: the capacity of valet, but as guardia
t of the presidential person. 1t is III
e derstood that "Frenchy" makes
: weekly report to Chief Willie, of tn
y secret service. The nature of it is
mystery. Under no circumstance
" can "Frenchy" be induced to discus
g the contents of that important doc'
u ment.
The Republican., 1899-04-27
THE FIRE.

Cricklety, cracklety, am the Fire!
Cricklety, cracklety, cree!
Flickering, flackering, higher and higher.
What is so pleasant to see?
Winter winds may be piping dreadily,
Snow in a binding whirl.
Come to me and I'll warm you cheerily,
Dear little boy and girl.
Scarlet and gold my flames go leaping,
Sparkles glitter and die;
curling, swiriing, quivering, creeping,
Ever at work am l.
Wood or coal, however you feed me,
l m your friend whenever you need me,
Roar away, soar away, higher and higher
Crlcklety, cracklety, l am the Fire!
Laura h. Richards, in St. Nicholas
The Republican., 1899-04-27
wonders of IA Rats Tail.

A rats tail is a wonderful thing. The
great naturalist Cuvier says that there
are more muscles in this curious ap-
pendage than are to be found in that
part of the human anatomy which is
most admired for it's ingenious struc-
thre-namely, the hand. To the rat
in fact, its tail serves as sort of hand,
by means of which the animal is en-
abled to crawl along narrow ledges or
other difficult passages, using it to bal
ance with or to gain hold. 1t is pre-
hensile. like the tails of some mon
keys. By means of it the little beast
can jump up heights otherwise mac
cessible, employing it as a protective
| spring.
The Republican., 1899-04-27
backward Around the world.

The newspapers have announced the
fact that an enthusiastic sportsman has
lust left Brussels with the avowed IN
tention of walking around the world
backward. The feat of going around
the world without a sou in ones pock-
ct has become an everyday matter
bicycle tours of the world are an old
there must be some
new invention, by which the public
craving for notoriety, may be gratitied.
The man who walks backward is bound
to be safe from accidents, as the auto
mobile and other vehicles OF locomo-
ton, if not out of common humanity
at least out of admiration for creature
of such absolute daring, must give HIN
| right of way.
The Republican., 1899-04-27
ARCTIC WOLF DOGS.
Far North, and Thrive on Cold
and Wilt in Warmth

'You may not believe me, sir, but
those wolf dogs will live for two weeks
on an Indian moccasin."
There was a string of strange, howl
ing wolflike dogs cut in the narrow
street in front of us as the dog dealer
spoke. He had handled these dogs
ever since the Klondike excitement
broke out, sending them from the lit
tie Canadian town to the Pacific coast,
whence they were shipped up into
Alaska
The dogs, or 'huskies," had just
come down from Hudson's bay. 1t was
their first glimpse of civilization, and
they didn't like it. Neither did they
like the weather, for Though it was
late in the autumn and to one from a
warmer cline cold enough for winter
clothing, to these dogs it was insuffer-
ably hot and they were painting and
lolling.
If we are to take the word of those
who breed these dogs in the far north
they are descended from wolves, at
least on one side the family line. Their
NOHuSIIu VI powers OF enc uFdQCe, tnelr
ability to live long on short rations,
their absolute immunity from far-Ae-
low-zero cold make them very valuable
for the Klondike region. There were
about dozen in the lot to be shipped,
and they averaged in Wlue $40 each.
1 think l never saw before such rest
less creatures as these huskies. The
word huskie is said to be corruption
of Eskimo. After they were driven
tandem down the street they were
staked out on green plat to await the
train that would take them west.
When l came near them to make a
photograph they began to jump and
tug at their tethers, setting up such a
terrific bowling as you never heard
save from the throats of a pack of
wolves, and every one seemed bent on
outdoing the one next him in gyrations
The Republican., 1899-04-27
MONSIEUR TARSIER.)
He Is Declared to Be the Great
Grandfather of Man.
Becomes American Property Through
the Acquisition of the Philippines
Peculiar Habits of the
Strange Creature.

Along with Tagals, Ygorottes and
other queer human beings Uncle Sam
has annexed in the Philippine islands is
the tarsier, an animal which is now
declared to be the great-grandfather of
man.
The tarsier is the ancestor of the
common monkey, who is the ancestor
of the anthropoid ape, who is the ances-
tor of man.
A real Tarsier will soon make his ap-
pearance at the National Geological
park. His arrival is awaited with in
tense interest.
NJ. Tarsier is a very gifted animal.
He derives his name from the enor-
nous development of the tarsus or
ankle bones of his legs. His eyes are
enormous, so that he can see in the
dark. They even cause him to be called
ghost. His fingers and toes are pro-
vided with large pads, which enable
him to hold on to almost anything
Prof. Hubrecht, of the University of
Utrecht, has lately discovered that NJ.
Tarsier is no less a parsonage than
a link" connecting Grandfather
Monkey with his ancestors. Thus the
evolutionary scale would be charged
by Prof. Hubrecht to run: Man, ape,
monkey, tarsier, and so on, tarsier APP
pearing as what may be popuiarly
termed th2 great-grandfather of man
kind.
Tarsier may best be described as hav-
ing face like an owl and body limbs
and tail like those of monkey. His
sitting height is about that of a squir-
rel. AS his enormous optics would lead
The Republican., 1899-04-27
Safest Place on Earth.

The president of the London inst1-
tute Of civil engineers reaches the con
clusion. in a recent address, that
good seat in a first-class train is about
the safest place in the world. In the
same period, he says, in which "a per
sons we're killed on the railroad by ac-
cidents for which they were not re-
sponsible, $500 people were sutfocated
In bed, las were choked by food IN am
ing-rooms, and o25 fatalities resulted
from falling downstairs.
The Republican., 1899-04-27
BEACON FOR HATTERAS.
Built on Solid Steel Rods and Fastened
Securely in the Treach-

"The Graveyard of-rhe qt-.44474..
what seafaring men term tnaanu DoI
the ocean which lies off Cape Ham pas'
Since America was discovered, this
long, low piece of North Carolina pro-
iecting far out to sea, has been more
dreaded than any other cape in the
western hemisphere. The bottom Oh
the ocean there is strewn with the
wrecks of vessels, and the great loss
of life which has occurred there IN
marine disasters has well earned the
place it's title. A powerful light gives
some warning to the mariner by night
but by day the dangerous shoals, apou'
The Republican., 1899-04-27

made a fiery speech which led to
threats of lynching. Young Lyons did
not know of these threats, and was
greatly surprised, says Leslies Week
ly, when he was invited by Hon. Alex
ander II. Stephens, the eX-vice presi-
dent of the confederacy, who lived at
Charlottesville, to become his guest.
AT three o'clock in the morning Mr..
Stephens secretary and valet accom-
panied Lyons to the depot and saw him
safely off for Atlanta. Some time after
ward Mr.. Lyons asked Mr.. Stephens
the reason for his entertainment, and
then learned, for the first time, that
his life had been saved by the thought
fulness of his friend. Mr.. Lyons was a
member of the republican national
convention in 1880, and served in the
internal revenue service of Georgia.
In 1884 he was graduated from Howard
university, at Washington, and was
admitted to the bar in Augusta. He
was a presidential elector on the re-
publican ticket in Georgia in 1892, and
Ia 1896, as a delegate to the republican
national convention, voted for McKin-
ley. IN 1898 he was appointed register
of the treasury. He is president of the
board of trustees of Haines college, Au-
gusta, and is one of the leading colored
men in the United States.
The Republican., 1899-04-27

of +be most eccentric ccbbIaHTSatFer. Iney
appeared fierce enough to make a meal
off a man without waiting for grace,
but. in reality, to anything human they
will offer no serious jajury. But woe
to the dumb brute that faces their
fangs! -,
They will kill geese and ducks with
savage ferocity, tearing them to pieces
as if frenzied; they will attack and Kill
sheep, calves and colts; they will even
destroy horses and cattle, so savage
and bIoodthirsty is their disposition
and so prominent in their veins the
cruel strain of the wolf. An old Hud-
sons bay region guide who had had
much to do with husllies told me OF an
authenticated instance where a pack
of three dogs set upon and killed sew
eral COWS before the owner, who had
brought them down to the fringe OF civ
ilization. could get them in tether.
The typical huskie is red and gray
mixed, though now and then there Will
be one almost black. Some husNes are
as red as a fox. and all of them have the
sharp, pointed ears os wild animal
These ears are triangular, the upper
points, when the dog is aroused, stand
ing out sharply. The tails are very
long. sweeping the ground in some
cases, and closely resemble the tail OF
= fox.
When the huskie is in repose 1t
. doesn'tlookvery fierce, but when jump
! inc in midair, howling with all the howl
of wild pair of lungs and showing its
: yellow fangs, the creature gives you
5 a vivid picture of wolfish ferocity.
= The dogs are very strong, and tandem
S of three will haul q remarkably heavy
e load. 1t would be impossible to keep
= them very long in place even as cool
e as the one where | saw them on thelr
S way to the gold regions. Even in eli
). mate where the mercury but once II
the summer rose to IS degrees they vii
not live very long. They have beer
o bred and reared in a region of almost
: eternal ice and snow, and they wilt in
Z temperate climate. When they are be
, ing driven over long journeys they VII
t lie down on the ice or burrow into th'
$ snow to sleep. They will not accept th
Is shelter of tent, refusing, even in TIL
I coolest weather, to sleep inside it.
N The huskies live on very short ra
Il tions, fish being a favorite article o
l. diet. On the north shore of Lake Su
RI perior the fishermen sometimes us
lie these dogs to haul them in and out o
ie their fishing expeditions on the ic'
III keeping the dogs in cool, dark rool
r during the entire summer and feedin
70, them the gills of the fish caught in I'll
el lake for shipment south. In spite
"a a the greatest precautions, however, it
a' difficult to keep them in summe
though after generation or so the
become used to the warmer climat
by But the genuine woltish huskie ju
IN from the head of James bay, or mort
iii, ward, thrives on cold and willis
Ter warmth.-Chicago Record.
The Republican., 1899-04-27
MONSIEUR TARsIER.

CThis Gentleman Is the Ancestor OF
ceaIed usuailT "EHT IN afbaandoned faT clearings,
where new growth has sprung up TO
height of 20 feet or more, Very often
he sleeps in standing posture, grasp
;no the lower stem of small tree with
his lo.,g and slender fingers and toes
During his nightly wanderlngs ne Ut
+ers a squeak Like that of monkey.
During the day the pupils OF his eyes
contract to fine lines, but after dark
expand until they fill most OF the lrlseS
From his habit of feeding only upon ln-
scots he has strong, bat-like odor.
Mr. John Whitehead, who has spent
the past three years studying the ant
mails of the Philippines, toreshauo"s
the probable behavior of the tarsler
when he arrives at the national ZOO.
The Philippine natives call the MUS
creature ''magou."
SIN Samar," said Mr.. Whitehead' IN
report just received at the omltn7
sonian, where at different times
kent several tarsiers alive, found
them very docile and easily managed
during the day They feed freely Off
grasshoppers, sitting on their haunches
on NV hand. When offered an insect
the tarsier would stare for short
time with his most wonderful eyesi
then slowly bend forward, and, with
a sudden dash, would seize the insect
with both hands and instantly carry
it to its mouth, shutting it's eyes and
screwing up its tiny face in a most
whimsical fashion. The grasshopper
was then quickly passed through the
sharp little teeth, the kicking legs be-
ing held with both hands.
"When the insect was beyond further
mischief the large eyes of the tarsier
would open and the legs and wings
were then bitten off, while the rest
of the body was thoroughly masticated'
NV captive would also drink fresh
milk from a spoon. After the sun had
G set this little animal became most dlf'
s ficult to manage, escaping when pos
= sible and making tremendous Jumps
from chair to chair. When on tht
d floor it bounded about like minia
: ture kangaroo, travelling about th'
= room on it's hind legs with the tai
d stretched out and curved upward, ut
le tering peculiar, shrill, monkey-lik
c, squeaks and biting quite viciously whel
/. the opportunity offered"
The Republican., 1899-04-27

It is a muscle standing upright and
hardly perceptible. The fins are mus
cles on the back and sides of the body
in about the same position they occupy
on fishes. Men who habit the water
great deal more than others have these
muscles ablormally developed. The
scales of the human body, while small
er and of epithelium extraction, are
exact reproductions of the scales OF
the fish. In brief, my dear sir, it is
claimed on high scientific authority
that your ancestors were very hshy'
but science never was a greatrespecter
of delicate sensibilities.
The Republican., 1899-04-27
JUDSON W. LYONS
prominent CplOrcd Politician
whose Autograph Every Man and
Woman Likes to Have.

The name of colored man appears
on every piece of paper currency issued
by the United States government That
man is the register of the treasury,
Judson W. Lyons. He was born in
1858, in Georgia, was sent to school in
Augusta, by his mother, and after
ward to the Augusta institute, teach
ing school at night to obtain means of
support. In 1878 he was elected dele
gate to a congressional convention
meeting at Charlottesville, Ca, and
The Republican., 1899-04-27
Facts About Ear-WaGEinS.

Only animals with long and dropping
cars are able to wag them. a rabbit,
for instance, can do what it likes with
its ears, dropping one or both, and lay
ing them fiat along its back when dash
ing through thick cover. Hares are stlll
more brisk in ear movements. But
short-eared beasts, like weasels and
stoats, are unable to wag their ears in
any degree, although they have enough
ear to wag if they had the power.
The Republican., 1899-04-27
KOLOMAN Won SELL.
Baron Banffy's Successor as Premier
of Hungary and Head of the
Royal Cabinet.

Emperor Francis Joseph recently ac-
cepted the resignation of Baron Banffy,
the Hungarian premier, and intrusted
the formation of a new cabinet to Kolo-
man Won Sell. The new premier il a
native of Grosstony, in the county Of
Eisenberg. He was born in 1s43 and
entered public life under the Deak pro-
tectorate, Deak, the Regeneration Of
Hungary, having been the most inti-
mate and trusted friend of the new
premier's father. No sooner had Sell
The Republican., 1899-04-27
Couse of Oak Calls.

oak apples, or gals, are produced by
an insect known to entomologlSls um-
dor the name of Cynips quereus petioli,
which deposits its eggs in the tender
bark of the young twigs of the oak
soon afterward the portion of the bark
in which an egg has been deposited be-
cins to swell, and ultimately forms
rounded tumor or eXcrescence' some
times over an inch in diameter.
The Republican., 1899-04-27

. It is averred by famous Chinese
doctor that nervousness is kept out OF
the celestial empire by the use OF soft
soled shoes. The hard soles worn by
the Anglo-Saxon race are said to be
the cause of their extreme nervous
temnerament.
The Republican., 1899-04-27
HAVE WEBBED HANDS.
Did Human Beings Once Belong to
the Fish Tribe, Some

the Fish Tribe, as Some
natives in the east that have weooea
hands? They are coast residents OF
Malaya and the South Sea islands
This proves to scientists that men orig
inalIy belonged to the fish tribe. Every
person has dominant gills and fms
some more pronounced than others
The birds occupy different depart
ment of natural history all to them
selves. There is nothing about man
that descended from bird life. on
either side of the neck is dormant gill
The Republican., 1899-04-27
Swiss Purses Are small.

Switzerland is the poorest field for
professional racing cyclists. The big
gest prize of the year, the Grand Prix'
amounts to 500, as against $4,000 for
the corresponding prize in Paris. Rae
Inq men can learn how to starve there
The Republican., 1899-04-27

Mrs. Clancy hear thot Mrs. O'Toole
is well an opp again.
Clancy-Yis, O'Tooie had a pair av
black owes this marnin'.-N. Y. Journal.
The Republican., 1899-04-27

The official bellringer of Potzbach,
Germany, has struck for an increase In
salary. He gets $2.64 year.
The Republican., 1899-04-27

->~>T~ uTrSEIE ..-.
of the most eccentric character. 1ney
appeared fierce enough to make meal
off a man without waiting for grace
but. in reality, to anything human they
will offer no serious jajury. But woe
tn the dumb brute that faces their
The Delta independent., 1899-05-12

! .sss - = ~ssss - vvssu."
The Delta independent., 1899-05-12
THREE soNoA

4 poet I, ths rosy prins
And olithe and dewy morn q tina
When song vas natural n breath.
Three songs ssnt forth to fight With oaatA
And one he made to please the crowd
II pleased the IA. and his praise was loud:
IL pleased them greatly for day.
And then it's mEeic die" away.
And one he made to pieass tbs feV.
II lived century OF two;
Twas sung within the halls Of ktneA
Then vanished with forgotten thinSa
And one he made to please himself.
without thought Of fame or pelf.
But sent 1t forth with doubt and fearA
And it outiasted all the yeara
No other song has vital breath
Through endless time to fight with death
Than that the singer sings apart
To please his solitary heart
New Yosk B1.-