davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-12-30
1900 Not a Leap Year.
From the London Globe.

Next year Is not leap year, although It
is Invisible by four. The following note
from correspondent seems to show that
an explanation of this fact may not be I'M
acceptable to some readers:
AN aged reader of your solid and accu-
rate journal, extending far back The
time when Charles Dickens was editor.
bess to put the question. Is next year leap
year? He was taught at school some sixty
five years ago that, to find leap year. divide
the current Ammo Domini by four, and If
without remainder it is leap year. And yet
three almanacs for 1900 that he has con-
suited give February twenty-eight days.
instead of twenty-nine, as on the old cal
culation."
The rule which our correspondent was
taught at school was good enough for
sixty-five years ago but it is only part of
the rule, and the second part of it is wanted
now. There is u third part of the rule
which none of us need trouble to learn, as
it will not need to be put into practice till
the year 1000. As most people know, leap
Year Is simply a device to keep the calen-
dar from going wrong, it did in former
times, so that our forefathers had to jump
twelve days in 1872 and call the Sd of Sep
TENDER of that year the 18th. The Scotch
corrected their calendar a century and
half before the English. The calendar
would go wrong again without the leap
year device, because a common year by the
calendar would only be }65 days, whereas
the actual solar year is 800 days hours IS
minutes 46 seconds. We can keep the cal
endar almost exact now for some centuries
to come, if We and our posterity follow the
whole rule, which in its three parts is the
following:
l. Call every year of which the number
is divisible by four a leap year, except that
, When the year ends with two noughts
you must omit the 90 before doing the
sum in division: and
B. The year 1000 and its mutiples, 5000.
10000 and 10000, are to be treated as excep-
tons and not counted as leap years.
The men of science assure that IL
stick to these rules the solar year and The
year of our calendar will run so nearly to-
gether that it will take POO centuries for
them to vary by a single day. We may
leave posterity to correct that error in their
nMn WAY
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-12-30
From the London News.


Sleep is not 1.-The brother of DEATH" as the
poets have said. from Homer to Shelley:
but, on the contrary. sleep is the brother
of life. So Professor Baschide asserts.
Who, in an article in the Uaturwissenschaft-
iiche Rundschau. gives an account of his
Ills subjects Were of various ages from
enc year to eighty years. In some cases
mis- observations We're continued during the
whole night, and in others for a great part
OF the night. He watched and recorded
every change of physiognomy, every move
ment of the limbs, and every speech or
sound uttered by the unconscious dreamers
me depth of the sleep was also carefully
measured, while from time to time the
dTeamerS were awakened, but without their
own perception that the awakening was in
territorial The professor obtained as lie
writes at length. the following results: ID
We dream throughout the whole of our
sleep. even in that deepest sleep which We
imagine to be "dreamless." CO There is an
Intimate connection between the depth of
our sleep and the character of our dreams
The deeper the sleep, the further back traV-
els the retrospect into the past experiences
OF ME and also the more remote are the
contents Of dream from reality In light
sleep on the contrary, the subject of the
dream relates to the experiences and excite
ments of the day, and has a character Of
probability. CD In comatose sleep the
professor thinks there may, perhaps be no
dreaming. "a Persons who assert that they
do not dream ARE the victims of physical
deiusiOn-' 10 Dreams of a moderate char
dcter remain longest in the memory; tae
wilder the dream the sooner it is forgotten.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-12-30
The Man With the Hose.
Taylor in Harper's Bazaar.

Arthur X. Taylor in Harper's Bazaar
Beside the sounding seashore he has strayei
ne gulleless guy of all the passing thrnnp
" no labor for their living and are glad
For countless weeks new idea has roamed
4 ne vacant chambers of his stunted brain
For him the present is the only time;
Icmorruw hopes memory of the ma ar
Haye power to shift the current of his dream
for quite convinced is he that his indeed
Are gayest of the gay in this years hose
Who plastered down his perfumed locks7
Who set his jaws agape?
W, Whom does he work. that he from day to day
May live devoid Of toll
A brother TO the sacred cow
That at the circus chews its peaceful cud?
Perchance in ages past did Solomon
lake all the wisdom from race of men
10 ADD unto his store. and in return
FINE raiment gave for what he took of wifi
Whence was conceived this tribe
That never toll or spin.
w no knows but that at some far-distant dav
inns thing We make mirth may gropinr find
A ballot box and vote just like man?
is MS the right of franchise We hold dearp
Shall men of brain and Drawn look on at this
And silelt be for shame? Let Jerry Simpson saw
If in his present guise
lie passed beyond the portals of this earth
ana sought admission at the heavenly gates
What would St Peter say?
light? fp "eau d
His cigarette doth scarce for mind suffice.
Hath he no soul? Is he more sore hereft
Than cannibal or those of heather isle?
return In haste. U pious band There's work to
do at home. "
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-12-30

From the London Mail.
The Boer may be fairly good at handling
a rifle but he is sadly deficient in his abil-
ity to handle a pen.
When the average Boer has to attach his
name to document an air of Importance
pervades his dwelling for several hours
The children are constantly chided, the
patient ''vrouw" has a preoccupied look
and the husband himself puffs even more
vigorously than usual at his pipe.
Eventually corner of the table is cleared
and carefully wiped. The family Bible is
placed in position, and the sheet of paper
requiring the signature placed upon it. An
eXpectant silence falls upon the company
'StilteH' cries the wife. ''Stilte kindet-
les, papa gaat sefn mann teken." c.Hush,
children, father is about to sign his
name.')
The family stands round open-mouthed
and all eyes gaze expectantly upon the pa
per: With arms barred for the fray, and
with pen carefully poised, the Boer bends
to his task. The pen is crippled firmly be-
tween his horny fingers
In thick, ungainly scratches, and with
slow and painful motion, the pen begins to
work, and at the end of, it may be four
minutes, the deed is accomplished
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-12-30
The Dog Was Tired,

From the Chicago Record.
Gen. Lawton never wearied of repeating
the following story, which. he said, illus
trated the irrepressible good humor of the
negro soldier:
The night of the e. Caney affair" said
the general, when my division was march
ing back to Ell Poso to take I'D a new posi-
ton the next morning, 1 was sitting with
MAI &. Creighton Webb, inspector general
OF my staff, and one of the Quickest men
l know, at the side OF the road. NV men
We're filing past, and we watched them.
Iney were tired out, but full of ginger.
Inc Jay was Just beginning to dawn when
we heard some one coming down the road
taking at the COP of his lungs He talked
and laughed and laughed and talked and
me men with him were chattering and
joking. '''
" Here come The colored troons said
Webb, and sure enough the 25th Infsntrv
came along. The man who was doing the
talking was six-foot corporal He carried
Two guns and two cartridge belts loaded
full, and the man to whom the eYtra CIV
and belt belonged was limping aInngsida
MN. The tall corporal was weighted down
with MS blanket and haversack but in his
arms he carried . dog, the mascot of his
comp any. u Ati'
march all last night?'
salute lying 10
:. Ard. ard didn't you feat all day"
And haven't you been marching ever
since 10 o'clock tonght?' eA
Yes, sir, said the corporal
We'll, then shouted Webb .wb.+ l.,
Iiiunder are you carrying that dog for9,
" ny, boss, the dogs tired was the re-
Webb just rolled over in the dirt and
Id us ieu ana cried like boy.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-12-30

n Iitia and local levies. These levies con-
sisj for the most part of warlike tribes in
habitirg the mountainous region along the
northwest frontier Each tribe receives an
annual subsidy from the Indian government
for guarding the mountain passes and pro-
tecJing the trade routes, but no one can tell
how effective won be their assistance.
Considerable doubt has been cast upon the
wisdom of this policy since the outbreak
of the AfridiS a few years ago-a rising
which it took an army of 10000 men to
qUel. y new policy is being put in opera
ton by which each tribe is to supply a
certain number of men for q local militia
under British officers. 1t will take many
years to work out this scheme, but in the
end 1t will provide a formidable frontier
force TO cope with possible Russian ad-
vance. The armies available for the defense
Of lnGia aggregate nearly 800 600 men, but
not half OF these are match for an equal
number of white troops.
For the defense of other dependencies
there is a heterogeneous collection of troops
numbering a trifie over 10000. They COM
prise races. black. white, brown and
yellow. Some of these are under the control
of the foreign office, more of the colonial
oiiice. lew of the war department and the
remainder are paid by the chartered COM
panies. For the recent Niger expedition
troops were contributed by the war depart
ment, the Niger coast protectorate and the
Royal Niger Company, while the navy de-
-artment lent contingent of bluejackets.
he war office is now considering scheme
Tor the consolidation of all these forces.
SeIf-Governing Colonies.
The sef-governing colonies provide a
mi itia of their own for home defense. Can
ada has a regular army of 1900 men, in
-luding the Northwest mounted police, and
n militia force 36,HjO strong, about half of
( fairly well trained. Australia and New
Zealand have a rather smaller militia, but
pend vastly more on nava. defense. Cape
-"lony and Natal have thoroughly eff
sIent force of regulars and militia well sea-
suned to warfare. In the event of war
WITH ilrst-class power Great Britain guar
dntees its dependencies from an attack in
force, but expects them to protect them
selves from flying attacks by ships that
may manage to evade the British fleet.
The chief defensive force of the empire
Is the navy, which is manned by 5000 sea-
men and 5000 marines. Behind this is a
naval reserve of 10000 sailors and fisher
men, who undergo an annual training But
Tor the navy conscription would have had
o be reSorted to -ong ago. AS it is the law
provides for conscription for the militia
Wherever a county fails to furnish its
proper quota, but there has never been any
occasion for putting the law in force.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-12-30

From the Albany Journal.
Twas Sa turday night and teacher sat
Alone her task pursuing;
She averaged his and she averaged that
OF all her class doing;
She reCkOn-d percentage, many boys,
And many girls all counted.
And marked all The tardy and ahSentceS,
And what all the absent amounted.
Names and residence wrote in full.
over many columns and pages;
Yankee. Teutonic. African. Celt,
And averaged all their ages;
The date of admission Of every one,
And cases Of ilagellati,n
And prepared list of the graduates
For the coming eNamind tiun.
Her weary head sank low on her book,
And her weary heart still lower,
For some II her pupils had little BRAIN
And she could NOT furnish more.
She slept. she dreamed; il seemed she died
And her spirit went t. Hades,
And they met her there with question fair
state what the per cent OF your grade Isl
Ages had slowly rolled away,
Leaving but partial traces.
And the teachers spirit walked one day
In the old familiar places.
\ mound Of fossilized school reports
Attracted her observation.
As high the state house dome and as wide
As Boston and annexation.
She came to the spot where they buried ber ronas
And the ground well built over
BUT laborers digging threw out skull
once planted beneath the clover
disciple of t;alen wandering by
Paused to look at the diggcrs
And pluckinG the skull up. looked thro' the eye.
And saw it was lined with figures.
Just as l thought said the young NJ. D.,
How easy ii is TO kill EN-. -
Statistics oSSifcd every fold
OF cerehTum and ccrebcllurn
ITS curiosity, sure said Pat
ny the bones can you tell the rreatrreq
On nothing strange said the doctor .tbat
Was nineteenth century teacher
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-12-30

From the Fortnlghtly Review.
Were it not for the black, businesslike
jetty pushed out INTO the bay for the con-
venience of the foreign steamers, and the
flags of the European legations fiOuting the
dulI-red Moorish banner on the fortress,
Tangier, in tlis year of grace 1899 might
be the Tangier of at least COO years ago;
and. barring a few modern Christians on
donkeys. with Paris konnets, tweed suits,
and cutaway coats we might even fancy
ourselves walking the streets way back
in the time of the crusades, while the peo-
pie who pass us seem to join hands through
the middle ages with the immemorial I'M
touched cast of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
Indeed. here the nomad successors of such
patriarchs may still be seen with their
their tents on the confines of a town with
out roads, or wheel carriag es, or any other
signs of mOdernity save certain mysterious
wires overhead which have the imperti-
hence to establish electric communication
between the town of Tangier and it's envi-
rons.
Out on the cool Marchand toward sunset
"a delicious upland of downs close above
Spain, with the Bay of Trafalgar in the
distance groups of Spanish and Jewish
children turn out to play.
The Moor and the Roumi christian or
foreigner) take their evening gallop the
peasants, whte-shrouded women, and men
in brownhooded jelabas, flock back from
the town 10 their distant Cabyle villages
AS the shades of evening fall the Soko
is thronged, but no longer with buyers and
vendors. The whole place is now given up
TO hght-hearted merriment. Here four
champions. with long sticks in place of
rapiers, engage IN mimic contest before a
squatting crowd of applauding connoisseurs.
The story teller or comedian, two-stringed
lutte in hand, strides up and down in front
of another group, gesticulating wildly. In
corner of the Soko, the snake charmer
and fire eater comes in for his full share
of attention. Town affairs, the last execu-
ton or murder, are eagerly discussed: and
here and there debates run so high that a
spectator might suppose that bodily yio-
lence even to k:-iing. is about to follow:
seldom anything Of the kind happens.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-12-30
Stocking Superstitions,

fioin Notes ana queries.
On the Welsh border it used to be con-
sldered that the surest precaution against
wltchcraft was to wear the left stocking
wrong-side out. This leads us to another
kind of superstition connected with the
harmless, necessary hose-their value, when
properly worn or arranged, as charms or
as projections against sickness or pain. If
you will only take the trouble when YOU
go TO bed to cross your stockings and shoes.
you will be quite safe from the grin of
cramp. Again, If you hang your stockings
crossWise at the foot of the bed, with pin
stuck IN them, you need have no fear of
nightmare; the bag has a holy horror of
cross and pin. Wiseacres have also been
heard to declare that if you will always
put your left stocking and shoe on first you
Will enjoy immunity from toothache This
however, the most superstitious of mortals
will likely take leave to doubt Toothache.
that hell of a Diseases as Burns calls
it, is no respecter of persons, nor, assured
ly, of stockings or legs.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-12-30
A Methuen AnecIOte,

From the London Pail Mall Gazette.
They tell a characteristic story of Lord
Methuen. 1t seems that new chum"
had Joined his irregular horse. A younger
son of a noble family, this young fellow
had been sent to the colonies to get rid
of his wildneSs, or to increase it. as the
case might be. He had not long Joined
the irregular horse before he was sent up
to Lord Methuen for some gross breach OF
discipline. Not knowing before whom he
had been taken. the youngster resented,
and said to Lord Methuen:
DO You know who l am? 1 am Lord
There was silence for quite a minute, and
then came the answer:
Let me introduce myself. Paul Sanford
Methuen sentences you to twenty-one days
confinement to barracks for breach of dis
cipline."
The younger son of the noble family wore
a crestfallen look for once in his life as he
went back.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-12-30
From the Boston Journal.

l hear of primary school teacher in Bos-
ton who called the other day for the chill
dren of her class who believe in Santa
Claus to rise. About half the little ones
stood up, and then and there the pretty
childish belief, which they were sure to lose
only too soon, was turned to public ridi-
cule. That teacher doubtless considers her
self a superior woman. but have a no.
ton that vanity and hardness are the prin-
cipal elements in her superiority. If so,
she will not understand, or will not care II
she should understand, that she has gone
out of her way to carry sorrow to other
peoples children whose beliefs and doubts
in such a matter are no proper concern of
hers.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-12-30
A Close Estimate.
From the Financial Review

ioui the REVIEW
speaking about close estimates. Gen John
NJ Wilson, chief of engineers made one
some time ago. Congress called unon bin,
to estimate the cost of an addition to tho
government printing office. As 1t was near
the close of the session. and Congress was
hurriedly getting through its work, little
time was given Gen. Wilson to consider the
matter. but he submitted his estimate. and
the appropriation was made accordingly.
He estimated that the proposed building.
according to the plans and specffications
which had been drawn, would cost sl21.-
121.9O The building was completed, and
there was SOLE surplus covered back into
the treasury. Gen. Wilson was put in
charge of this work, and he took a great
deal of interest in il. He always gave cred
1t. however. to Lieut.. Sewell of the engi-
neer corps, who had the immediate super
vision of the work, for the care with which
the building was erected. and the fact that
the cost did not overrun the estimate and
appropriation.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-12-30
The Name of De Aar.

De Aar Junction is likely to become his-
torical. and the account which correspon-
dent gives Of the origin of the name is
therefore specially interesting. 1t appears
that. according to the custom then prevail
ing in South Africa, 1t was originally called
Brounger. after an engineer who was con-
nected with the works there. But after the
surrender of 1881 the Afrikander patriots
in the Cape assembly objected to the name
as being British, and the government of
the day consented to change it to De Aar
1t was situated. Few things could sbow
more clear to what a depth British in
huenee had declined under that surrender.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-12-30
Some Early War Correspondents,


Leaving aside Julius Caesar. who was
MS own war correspondent" the "sne-
cars craft is of comparatively recent
growth. 1t Is certain that the Duke of
wellington was not hampered by any by-
gone Winston Churchill in the peninsuIar
war. How his iron yisage would have bar
dened had he been asked to grant a permit
to special If Jos. Sedley remained in
Brussels in preference to showing his
frogged surtout and military cap at Water
loo, 1t seems to be fairly well authentica
tea tact, however, that at least two civil
ans-a pacifc commercial traveller and an
agent of the Rothschilds'-were witnesses
OF mat historic fight. AS far as can be
gathered, the first Recognized war CORE
name unhappily has SINK into oblivion) at
the siege of Antwerp in 1891. Much earlier
in the century, though, there was in an in
formal and unrecognized manner witness
named Peter Finnerty-one can make a
shrewd guess at his natfbAality-"who on
his return from the Nalcteren expedition,
told the British public a good deal more
about that unfortunate naval and military
blunder than the British government of the
day cared to have published" There was,
too some really really admirable pen and
ink work about the car1st war in the Lon
don papers. notablylby Frederick Hartman
and c l.: Gruinesen.t Mr.: Gruinesen fell
into the hands of the Carlists and was
his impending fate BY the intercession of
the late Lord Rapelagh. WHO had taken
service in the cause of Don Carlos de
Bourbon.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-12-30

Edwin L. Sabin in Truth.


U Solomon of bonds and stocks.
The markets ups and downs,
Who sneers at girlhood's love for frocks.
And woman's craze for gownsi
Whose knowledge is go sure and great.
In nothing Is it scrimp:
From your abundance. kindly state.
Quite briefly, what's a guimpe?
Pronounced your own peculiar way,
What's peau de sole? Foulard:
Bfege? Taf1eta? Ruching? Piquef
Crep0n? Don't think too hard
You may discuss the Philippine
1mbroglio-alasi
On bias satin serpentine
You'll never. never pass!
Explain a passementerie,
Batiste, and surah, too;
Or gros-grain silk. or point d'esprit:
The women know-do you?
And Henrietta, bolero,
Or crepe de chine, well shirred:
Guipure; glace; faille; basque; talbot:
What, stumped 30 soon? Absurd!
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-12-30
Hard to Smile.

From the New Orleans Times Democrat
''The thing found hardest to learn in nv
business was to SMILE" said a professional
gymnast who did very clever speciality
recently at one of the local theaters. Il
started out in acrobatic work when was
only fifteen years old as one of a family
of five. My instructor was Charles McDon-,
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-12-30

In Frances navy there are As admirals to
1,I60 officers and A. 36 men In the army
there are $50 generals to 81, 4SS officers and
$4,000 men, while the marines have II gen
erals to 2,loo officers and So. 3O5 men, The
marines complain of the inequality in the
proportion of generals, they having but one
to about 124 officers. while the army has
one to TO
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-12-30
Taps.

Lszettc Woodwork Reese in the Atlantic Monthly
Sleep.
Now that the charge is won,
Sleep in the clod.
Now Ii is set Of SUM-
Sleep I'LL the trump of God
Sleep.
Sleep.
Fame Is hugle call
Blown past crumbling wall.
BATTLES are clean forgot:
Captains and towns are NOT.
Sleep shall outlast them ali
Sleep
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-12-30
Bear On.
From st. Anthony's Monthly.

rom st. Anthony's Monthly.
oh. never from thy tempted heart
Let thine integrity depart,
when Disappointment fills thy cun
tndaunted. nOhly drink II mn.
Truth will prevail and Justic,, show
Her tardy h"nrFs. sure though slow.
Bear on. Our life is not dream
Though often such its mazes seem:
We we're not born for lives of easa
ourselves alone - aid and please.
i" each a daily task is given
labor which shall fit for Heaven.
Mhen DUTY cFlls let love grow warm.
Amid the sunshine and the storm
With Faith life's trials boldly braost
Ana come a conquerur to thv rest
Bear on
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-12-30

First Explorer-''We are In terrible
straits. The supply of champagne is reduc-
ed 10 thirteen cases. the cigars are nearly
gone and the mineralogist is half dead with
gnut-"
Cheer up, OLD man. the third relief party
is due this month."-I.ife