davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The times., 1899-08-10
THE COLLIER sCIPIo.
The Question of Her Registry Settled
Over n Month Ago.

The Question of Her Registry Settled
Over Month Ago.
A statement has appeared In print that
controversy Is in progress between Mr..
Chamberlain, Chief of the Treasury Bu-
reau of Navigation, and the law officers of
the Navy Department over the status of
the Scipio, one of the coliiers bought dur
ing the late war and now offered for sale.
According to the article, the Scipio lad
formerly Scotch register, and Mr..
Chamberlain rules that she can. therefore.
be used as an American vessel only for
the coasting trade and not for foreign
commerce. These two statements seem to
stamp the whole article, since there is of
course, no such thing as a Scotch regis
ter and the use of the vessel would be
restricted now to the foreign trade and
shut out of the coasting trade-just the
reverse of the way the case was put in
print.
The question of registering the Scipio
was settled on July / against the vessel.
in so far as there could be any question.
The Scipio is foreign built. and is one Of
a score of foreign built merchant vessels
aggregating nearly 100, GOO tons bought by
the Government during the late war. The
law specifically prohibits the issue of
American registers to foreign built vessels
with exceptions precisely defined by Con-
gress. The Scipio Is not excepted.
The times., 1899-08-10

being circulated in Manila and are being
signed and supported by American resi-
dents. Can this be true? Can il be a
fact that the VIGOROUSLY doddering idiocy
of the Administration policy in Luzon has
appealed to our own people there as so
hopeless and disastrous that they have lost
hope in the Stars and Stripes and see sal
vation only in the Union Jack.
Lieutenant Commander St John goes on
to tell US that the efficient work Of the
press censor at Manila has kept the Ameri-
can people in ignorance of the horrible
conditions obtaining in our Eastern posses
sion. He AYERS exactly what The Times
asserted several weeks ago, that, under the
paretic policy and course of Otis we do
not hold an inch of territory under mill
tary control. except Manila and its envi-
rons. San Fernando lin a state of active
siegel, Cavite, and Iloilo, and that all these
places are surrounded by hordes of armed
natives.
There is one weak spot in the British
officers opinion, but We must forgive him
for that. since his experience has been
confined to the operations of Otis, DENLY,
and the two schoolmasters. Contemplating
their antics alone, we can conceive that
he is excusable in thinking the Govern
ment capable of sending such persons to
conduct and control a great territorial
problem of pacifcation, as quite unfit to
do anything on large scale with provision
or even sanity. But when he deduces from
the humiliating data at his command the
idea that the American people will ever
allow England to take over anything
that "0ld Glory has once floated over, he
Is away out of his reckoning. We do make
grieyous mistakes as a nation; principally
through the lack of backbone and the
prevalence of politics among our govern
ing men for the time being. But we, as
whole brave people, do not allow those
mistakes TO stop the clock of American
progress, or put any brake on the wheels
of our destiny. The idea advanced by this
loyal, perhaps sensible, but surely mis-
guided, Britisher, that we could be induced
to trade the rich empire of our Orient for
the miserable little hybrid and maroon
infested island of Jamaica, is ridiculous,
and we are sorry to say, detracts from
the credit which should be given to the
record of his observations among the in
competents of our military and civil SER
vice, among whom he has foregathered with
proper hilarity and disgust
But while We must criticise Lieutenant
Commander st. Johns conclusions as to
the ultimate fate of our Philippine archi-
pelago, We are obliged to admit that his
structures upon our representatives and
commanders are more than deserved. The
United States. by the grace of Alger and
the ring which sent DENLY cut to Manila,
has succeeded in covering itself with ridi-
cule and shame.
The times., 1899-08-10
Thomn. Pnine,s Deathbed,

To the Editor OF The Times
Allow me to correct an important error
in regard to the last hours of Thomas
Paine In Wednesdays Times Mr.. Kit
tredge quotes Colonel Ingersoll as saying
that Paine rose from his bed and cursed
two Catholic priests who had called 10
@enioy the agonies of the dying friend OF
man" Paine never cursed anybody. The
son of Quaker he never used profane
language. His attending physician, who,
as a Christian interrogated him in regard
to his belief in Jesus Christ, and was
answered: 81 have no wish to believe on
that subject" tells Us that he prefaeed
his enquiry with these words:
You have never been in the habit of mixing in
your conversation words OF coarse meaning; you
have never indulged in the practice of profane
swearing
Colonel Ingersoll based his statement
upon a fabricated account CT a scene at
the deathbed of Thomas Paine, which made
its appearance after the death of Bishop
Fenwick, in 1916, and purported TO have
been written by him.
The interested reader will find my ex-
posure of this fabrication in an appendix
to Thomas Paine's Vindication,' - by Rob-
ert G. Ingersoll published by "The Truth
Seeker" Company, 2S Lafayette Place, New
York: rs page; price 15 cents. My ap-
pendix is entitled, "a Roman Catholic
Canard" w H. BURR.
The times., 1899-08-10
THE ARMY CANTEEN.
The Nebraska Epworth League Pre-
tests Against GriSgs, Decision.

The Nebraska Epsvorth League Pro-
tests Against GrIEgs' Decision.
Lincoln, Neb., Aug. 9.-The State Ep-
worth Assembly has been camping here for
week, and President Mckinley has come
in for the great abuse at the hands of the
temperance orators, principally because of
the army cauteen order. Today while the
Grand Chief Templar Of State, the Rev. Mr..
Snyder, was speaking, a white-haired vet
eran leaped to his feet and demanded that
he take back what he said about MeKin-
ley. The soldier cried out, Mckinley is
brave man, and has ten times as much
backbone as his defamers.'
Mr.. Snyder shrieked back: Yes, he has
backbone enough, but 1t came from the
depths OF hell"
The affair created great sensation in
the audience of 5000 persons, and the old
soldier was with difficulty prevented from
making IL a personal matter.
The assembly telegraphed the President
today a resolution, condemning the Gin
famous decision of Attorney General
Griggs. nullifying the act of Congress abol-
ishing the canteen. and appealing to the
President to overrule him, and protect our
soldiers from the injury and outrage in
fiicted by the shameful blot on our mill
tary system, which is more destructive to
life and character than fever, famine, or
war
The times., 1899-08-10
THE BELTANE FESTIVAL.
| Scottish Ceremony Connected With
the Riding OF the Marches.

The annual ceremonies connected with
the riding of the marches and the Beltane
festival have just been carried out at Pee
bles with much enthusiasm, and even
more than usual success. Both functions
date from early times. The more an
cient. however is the BeItane festival,
which goes back 20 a period prior 10 &u-
thentic Scottish history At one time the
festival was widely observed throughout
Scotland, but since the Reformation, and
especially during the last hunderd years or
So its observance has become rarer and
more rare. 1t is supposed by some anti
quaries to be a relic of the worship OF
Baai. In olden times a fire was kindled
on the hills, and the young people danced
around it, and feasted on cakes made of
milk and eggs, the cakes being known
specially as -Beltane cakes. Other fes-
tivals were associated with the annual Bel
tame celebrations. For example, al Pee
bles, during the period of the Stuarts,
there was horse racing and other sports
on the occasion of the festival. The an
cient records of the royal burgh bear wit
ness that the large bell and little bells
were prizes at the races. The winner had
to take his oath that he would give back
the bells the following year with ''One
addition" to them And so the number OF
bells increased
The Beltane festival has now, however,
altered its character. This year Bel
tame queen was chosen (for the first time).
The young woman chosen was the eux OF
the English school-Miss Maggie Muir
and she was attended by a number of 9TH
er school girls. representing members OF
her court, fairies, etc. At noon the eoro-
nation took place at the Cross. in the pres
ence of a vast crowd of spectators. The
queen was conducted to a platform, which
had been specially erected, and on which
already stood a number of attendants.
while around il was maTshaled her bady
guard-the Boys Brigade. Her Beltanie
Majesty was accompanied by lords and la
dies s-in-waiting. aud after the school chill
dren had sung Scots wha haze" she was
gracefully crowned by the wife of the
provost. 4 herald then read a proclama-
tiop. after which God Save the Queen"
was sung. and cheers given for the queen
of the festival. A procession was next
formed. and the riding of the marches was
proceeded with. A complete circuit of the
town was made, and sports were afterward
held in Kinkmead0ws Park. The day was
held as a public holiday. and the streets
were gayly decorated for the occasion.
The times., 1899-08-10
THE CHINESE FORM OF OATH.
Celestials Not Bound by the Usual
Court Practice.

New York, Aug. 9.--Dr ]. F. Moy, the
Chinese Government inspector, was asked
what attention Chinese witnesses paid to
the usual form of OATH He replied:
Not a particle. 1t does not bind thsm
at all. They are very superstitious, but they
do not believe in the Christian deity; SO it
has no influence on them.
The most binding method is to write the
oath on yellow paper in red ink, then make
them repeat the oath: then cut off a chick
ems head and sprinkle the blood over the
paper, then burn it. The form is: I
swear, before God that / will tell the truth
about this matter; and if / shall swear
falsely death may fall ON me in the same
manner as on this chicken. If / travel by
road tiger may follow and eat me; if
go by sea ] may be lost and the fishes eat
me-
If a crate of chickens was brought up
to this court house, in ten minutes three-
fourths Of the witnesses would be in the
depot ready TO go home. They think that
If any bad luck befalis them during the
year it is because they have done something
wrong. The fear of what may happen will
restrain them If we can get some oath they
will respect We have been trying for two
years TO get some Chinese form of oath in
Vermont If that were adopted it would
go long way toward solving the ques-
tion.
Preparation for the testimony he must
give" continued DR.. Moy, lis the chief
work during a Chinese voyage TO the coun-
try Experienced coaches beat the proper
answer into heir heads so that slip-u
is rare"
If the. applicants are coming in as mer-
chants, they are furnished with maps OF
Boston and New York, with explanations
in Chinese for 81 each, and If they are at
all bright they can name the street and
locate public buildings in way to shame
some people who have lived in the city
all their lives.
"The care Of the rich patron does not
fag. At Montreal they are asked If they
have lost the paper or any information
sent them. If SO new instructions are is
sued and the applicant does not go to
Richford until he is primed for examina-
ton
THAT is the theory, of course, but in
practice 1t isn't always carried out, and
blunders follow, but that isn't the fault
of the system. The Chinaman who do
duty as fathers have a regular price now.
1t is SIS for each case and all expenses.
In view of the zeal of the prosecution a
new preeaution has to be taken. II is the
agreement in writing that if the father is
arrested for perjury he shall receive 50 a
week while he is serving his sentence. In
case it is year, he comes out $3.50 richer
than he went in, II no wiser"
The times., 1899-08-10
THE DEMAND FOR CERTIFICATES
Numerous Applications From Banks
for the New Treasury Notes.

Numerous Applications From Banks
for the New Treasury Notes.
New York, Aug. 9.-The subtreasury in
this city received another supply of gold
certificates from Washington today. The
allotment represented notes of various de-
nominations, $2O $50, sl00. $500, and 81, 600.
aggregating in value s1,500,ooo. The notes
banks, which had applied for them yes
terday. Applications have also been re-
ceived from out-of-town institutions and
it is probable that additional supplies OF
the certificates will have to be distributed
almost daily in this city for some time to
come, If the Government intends to meet
the demands at this centre.
OF the gold certificates received today,
very few represented the smaller denomi-
nations. The new $50 notes have been in
great demand, but only a few have been
received by the local bankers thus far. The
subtreasury will make another demand for
certificates this afternoon, SO that more
can be distributed tomorrow if the appli-
cants are urgent in their requests during
the day The applications already received
call for mich more than the entire S10,
000,600 issue of $40 notes. One or two local
institutions would gladly take all of the
national issue. it was said today, if they
could get them.
Applications from about forty banks have
thus far been received at the subtreasury
fer the gold certificates. Payment in most
cases has been made by means of the Sc
called yellow tickets" although coin has
been deposited by some institutions in ex-
change for the certificates
The times., 1899-08-10
decentralization.

There is striking similarity between the feei-
ing with which Americans now regard William
Waldorf Astor and that which they have long
borne toward Benedict Arnold.-St. Paul Pioneer
Press.
What nonsense, Mr.. Astor had the same
right to become a Briton that Germans,
Russians Irishmen, Frenchmen, and Eng
lishmen have to become Americans.
Does our ST. Paul contemporary con-
denim as traitors the many thousands of
Scandinavians who, renouncing allegiance
TO the King of Norway and Sweden. are
now most valuable and productive citizens
of Minnesota?
Does it hold that Carl Schurz and An
drew Carnegie committed wrongful acts
when they came to the United States?
Let US be just, though the heavens fall.
Mr.. Astor. having been an American, de-
sired to become an Englishman. England
being willing, his wish was gratihed. There
is no crime, no fault, no treachery; 1t was
and must always be simple question of
taste.
The times., 1899-08-10
JAPAN,s NEW REGIME.
No III Effects From the Recent
Treaty Changes.

Yokohama. July rs. via Victoria. B. G..
Aug. 9.-Life among foreigners here un-
der the new treaties is progressing as
OF those who imagined that on the 17th
OF July, when we passed under japanese
Jurisdiction. tumbrils would be backed
against our doors and all foreigners car
ried away 20 jail have not been realized.
Some attribute the calm TO the fact that
because the French and Austro- Hungarian
treaties do not 20 into force until August
4, the Japanese Government is simply
asleep until that date knowing that In
case Of any difficulty, the most favored
nation clause can be availed OF by other
treaty powers. But the simple truth Is
that the higher officials are anxious that
no trouble shall arise either after or be-
fore that date.
Japan is summoning all here energies.
backed by her pride. to show to the world
that she is equal to her new responsible
tles and to deserve her new position in the
family OF nations There will be no
trouble II those high in authority can pre-
vent It, The chief difficulty will come
from petty officials who usually are the
close
and daily contact. These are, indeed. care
fully instructed by their supsriors to use
the utmost discretion in dealing with
aliens.
The earnest desire of the heads OF the
Government to avoid friction Is manifest In
the many eager and successful attempts on
their part of bringing the foreign clements
into close and cordial relations with the
natives. The Governor Of this ken and the
mayor OF the city with this purpose In
view. have just issued invitations TO a gar
den party on great scale. In osaka and
Kobe, On the occasion of the turning over
OF the foreign concessions to Japanese con-
troll, formal ceremonies viii be held and
speeches made In which the most friendly
sentiment will prevail on both sides. All
things considered, while some freely pre-
dict that IN less than year Japan will be
heartily sick OF her new bargain, the gen
eral view is that the best OF auguries at
tend the opening of the new era
Yokohama has been rejoicing of late in
the visits OF returning American soldiers.
and their eouutrymen here have every oc-
casion TO be proud Of the conduct and bear
ing OF the regiments which have landed
Last week the Government transports
brought the NebEaskans, Utahs. and Penn
syivanias. Nearly 2,500 men for two days
thronged the streets, and yet during the
entire time there was not a single arrest
for drunkenness nor the slightest OCCASION
Tor police interference on any score The
tail forms of the soldiers attracted univsr-
sal attention, while their thin faces. ac-
centuating the Yankee type bore witness
to the terrible hardships they had under
gone and ELECTED universal sympathy.
The times., 1899-08-10
CUBAN CUSTOMS RECEIPTS.
The War Department Publishes the
Figures for Six Months.


The War Department yesterday gave out
the total OF customs receipts for six
months at the several ports of Caba. Ha
vana leads the list with s.. lac, $50 .55 for
the period named; Cienfuegos ranks sec
end, with s559, ,969.42; and Santiago ranks
third. with SAFE. .210.0s for the six months
named. The ports following in order are:
Matanzas. with SleS. .s44.0S; Nuevitas. SI75.-
154.07; Cardenas. s144. 1880; Baracoa, sls,-
224-a2; Batabano, sl.ss5. 45; Caibarien. $780,
970.37; Guantanamo. $50, 1881: Glbara,
$6G.72726; Manzanillo, $50, 400. %; Sagua
Sfi ,42761; Santa Cruz, Si,329.13; Trinidad
$11. 1921. and Zaza, S4,99124. Grand total
for the island for first six months OF 1899
81 -eS4 1851.
or this amount, s6, 227, ,0ss. 81 were derived
from import duties; S3SS S01. II, from ex-
port duties; 14,512.S1 from capitation
taxes; Sl4,S9S-99. from harbor improvement
taxes; S5,S5727. from coastwise tonnage
taxes; S229, 9,1S1.s9, from foreign tonnage
taxes; and s140. .095.07, from other sources
The number of vessels. eoastwise. and
foreign, that entered and cleared the ports
of Cuba for the first six months of 1893 is
as follows: Total number OF coastwise YES
sells entered. 4.537: total of foreign enter
ed, 2,22S. Total of coastwise tonnage en-
tered 729. .9SS tons Total OF foreign ton
mage entered. 2,477,340 tons. Total number
of eoastwise vessels cleared. 4.459. Total
number of foreign vessels cleared. 2.12S.
Total of eoastwise tonnage cleared, 746,-
55S tons. Total OF foreign tonnage clear
ed, 2352. .66S.
The times., 1899-08-10
The Car and His Throne.

fFr0m the Chicago TTibune-)
These cares Of empire. along with the thSs-
sand petty amoyances of every day life, might
easily move a sombre-minded sovereign to ex-
claim that the crown not worth the trouble.
that he was weary of the task, that he would
rather be a peasant. something Of the sort
But there IS a vast difference between saying
md doing in such cases. People who wish them
selves dead are not won't 10 put their wishes
into execution, or to thank anybody for helping
them to attain their desire The burden of EN-
pire. like the burden OF life, is not easy to lay
down. The fact IS that both burdens have
aIIurements which every sane mind recognizes
instinetiveIy even in the darkest hour There IS
something about power that fascirates the hui
man soul. and. though. uneasy lies the head
that wears a CROWN history shows but few ex-
amples of kings who hive secured and
safety by abdication- Jetferson's remark OF
American oficeholslers that '-iew die and none
resign is bit OF philosophy that applies u
the whole human race. 1t viii require
thing much more authoritative than the pom
derous trumpetings Of NJ. de Blowitz TO convince
anybody that Gar Nicholas has any serious
thought Of retiring te farm
The times., 1899-08-10
sUBTERRANEAN BOSTON.
Highway That May Have Been
WashinGton's Military Road.


Two hundred years ago Charlestown
Neck was peat marsh Less than a hun
dred years later it was crossed by a good
road, and the exact stages OF evolution
OF that road are shrouded in mystery
The woFkmen excavating for the foun-
dation OF the elevated road piers down at
the foot OF Bunker Hill Street, on Main,
Eave found twelve feet below the Boston
and Maine Railroad tracks large oak and
cedar logs laid parallel as logs are laid in
making a corduroy road. These logs are
twelve to fifteen inches In diameter; hewed
at the ends and as sound and as well pre-
served as the year they were laid down.
The road apparently led up toward Bunker
HILL for Ii is on the north side OF Main
Street and trends in that direction There
is no record of the building OF this highway.
When DIR. Samuel Abbott Green. libra
rian of the Massachusetts Historical Socie-
ty, was asked il he could shed any light
on the history Of these pink cedar relics
today, he said that this road might have
been built at almost any time in the eigh-
teenth century In 1888 4 road, pToba-
bly, a good highway. was built across the
marshy lowland OF the neck, but this was
in all probability better structure than
a corduroy makeshift- Dr. Green said:
I'm the old time the people from the cut
lying country had to cross the neck to get
ground, a corduroy road would be a very
natural kind of road to build over IT.
Timber was near at hand. and corduroy
road is often the first expedlent In new
county That road might have been built
in 17S9 or a hundred years before It's
construction was not an affair Of great
significance
Michael Tallant. who is experimenting
the men that unearthed the old road. has
had much experience in city excavations,
being connected among other things. with
the subway construction He is familiar
with subterranean Boston largely Mr.
Tallant said:
1--WE often find curious things; old-fash-
ioned implements and coins Not long ago
we came across an old farm we'll right uu-
der the street The bottom pert OF il was
open and pumped out. Of course before
going further. When the subway was De-
ing dug along fremont Street. just in front
of Kings Chapel, an immense coffin was
unearthed The body was OF an abnormal
Iy large man The coffin was nine feet in
length.
saThsse old Iogs might have been part o!
Washington's military road across the neck.
Anyway. the logs are more than hundred
years old and are surprisingly well pre-
served. "
The times., 1899-08-10
pewey,s Forethought.


The regret felt by the citizens OF Philadelphia
that Admiral Dewey viii not be able to be their
guest of honor at reception when he reaches
home is unanimous There is nobody, little or
big, who would not have felt proud of the oppor-
tunty to render TO the hero of our last war some
OF the homage he has fully won.
1t is a curious thought in this connection that
the AdniraPs courteous and adequate letter de-
clining the invitation because he might at any
time after his arrival be called TO Washington
as a member of the Philippine Commission shows
the same kind of forethought he displayed when
more than twenty five years ago, he reminded the
Government that, in case of war with Spain
over the Virginia affair, Manila on the map
and that he would like to be assigned to the
task OF taking it. He was as ready then for the
work he has since proved to be and as he
was when, some time before the sinking Of the
Maine, he succeeded in being assigned to the
Asiatic Squadron. 1t is this readiness and the
habit of it that has made him the man he is
Such instances strikingly clear examples OF
the kind of mental equipment which achieves
its aim and performs the big work OF the world
wherever il is needed