davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The times., 1899-12-30
Ne,v 1enr CnIIs.
better pan

II viii be seen by reference 20 the col
umns Of our more or less esteemed con-
temporaries that they have determined 20
nrint lists Of the people who VIII receive
on New Year Day The Times has not
deemed il necessary to do this Many years
ago 10 was the custom OF some Washington
people. following the example Of the Presi-
dent and the Cabinet, to keep open house"
on that day and 10 announce their inJen-
tfon 10 the papers. This custom has for
the last fifteen or twenty years been more
honorod in the breach than in the oh
servance. and it is to be hoped that ia time
it may disappear altogether. But there are
some persons who, having once adopted ar
idea. never reiiuquish IL except under com
pulsion.
The custom Of calling on ones friends at
the beginning OF the year is a very cid one,
and is said to have begun in New York,
among the staid and honest burghers Of
Dutch colonial days 1t Is pretty custom
the Dutch bequeathed IL to us along with
Santa Claus. the doughnut and Pip Van
Wrinkle; and for all these legacies we have
reason to be era eful. Nothing can be
more fitting than to begin the new year
with more or less formal expression Of
good wishes and q general exchange of
hospitality. But the custom Ioseg all
its beauty if hospitality is to be extended
20 strangers for whom 10 friendly feeling
exists. and if the house which should be
centre OF merriment and renewed friendli-
ness is filed with an immense crowd of
people whose only object is to obtain re-
freshments or further some social ambition.
There is nothing which is a much greater
bore to the average human being than the
New Year reception as sometimes con
Quoted and when social custom becomes
a bore. it ought TO be either reformed or
abolished.
The truth of the matter is this: II the
New Year gathering means anything at
ali 81 means that friends, or at least ac-
quaintances, are invited to ones house that
holiday greetings may be exchanged; and
in that case The invited ones know where
the house is and who is to be in it. Why
should any sensible person wish to hunt
through the columns of the newspaper to
and out which OF his acquaintances he shall
honor with visit on New Year Day-or
81 any other time?
The times., 1899-12-30
It is reported that the Administrator is
PORTUGUESE EAST AFRICA.
The Bureau of Statistics Furnishes
Interesting Information.

Interesting Information.
Commercial Africa in 1885" pamphlet
issued by the Bureau of Statistics of the
Treasury Department, has the following to
say regarding Portuguese East Africa:
Portuguese East Africa fronts on the
Indian Ocean, almost directly opposite Por-
tuguese West Africa on the Atlantic, and
has an area of 301 600 square miles and a
population Of 3120,0 600, mostly natives. The
territory is divided into three districts,
and the details OF its affairs are admins
tered b. companies chartered by the Por
tuguese Government. The military force
consists Of about 5000 men. Of which two
thirds are natives. The most important
port is Lcurenco Marques, from which
point d railway extends westwardly TO
Pretoria. the capital of the Trausvaal Re
public, and johannesburg, in the gold
mining district thus making this port an
extremely important one as a source Of
supplies Tor the gCid and diamond mining
regions, and indeed Of the entire territory
of the Boer Republics.
Farther north a railway extends from
the port Of Bsira to the interior of the
British territory known as Rhodesia. As
these lines supply IN each case a much
shorter land haul for goods destined for
or Rhodesia. Lourenco Marques, and Biera
are rapidly becoming important ports of
entry. Mozambique, still farther North,
has also an important trade both for the
Continent and the western coast Of NADIA
gascar. which lies a comparatively short
distance of the mainland
The value of the goods received at the
various ports OF Portuguese East Africa
now amounts to nearly SIS. .0G0 600 per an
num- OF which two-thirds is transit trade,
chiefly intended for the mining regions of
johannesburg. Kimberley, and Rhodesia.
The imports OF Lourenco Marques in 1897
amounted to $13 600 00O as transit trade.
and $4,000. 600 for local consumption. At
Beira the imports for the transit were, in
1897, $1,000, 600 and the general imports
81 600. .OO0. At Mozambique the imports OF
1897 were $500, 900, and at Quiiimane $780,
COO The principal imports are clothing
and food stufs for domestic consumption,
machinery breadstuffs, clothing and min
ing requisites for transportation to the
mining regions"
The times., 1899-12-30
CAPITAL STOCK INCREASED.
Action Taken by the LRckavanHa
Iron and steel Company.

SCRANTON, Pa. Dec 29-The stock
holders OF the Lackawanna Iron and Steel
Company met in special session at the
Office OF General Manager Weherum in
this city today and directed that the eapI-
tai stock of the company be increased
from S3 $50. 600 to SIS OO0, 600
The stockholders refused 10 give out
more than the simple statement that the
increase Of stock was the only business
transacted.
President Walter Scranton arrived in
the city from New York, on the previous
day and today he made thorough inspsc-
tion Of both mills in this city
When approached by reporters he re-
fused to discuss the reasons Why such
The story that the plant of the company
is to be removed from this city to BuHa
10 was vigorously denied. The purchase
CT large coal lands in Western Pennsyl-
vania. however causes the belief that tns
company is to erect a Bessemer steel plant
in Buffalo.
Late tonight it was semi officially an
nOunced that the old North Mill in Scran-
ton viii not be used for the manufacture
of steel rails hereafter. but will be con-
verted into some other factory. The South
Mill was satisfactory and viii be continued
as a steel rail manufactOTy. The COM
pany will also erect q steel rail plant in
Buffalo. but 1t will be for the present no
more than an adjunct for the South Mil
in Scranton.
The times., 1899-12-30
BRADsTREETs, TRADE REVIEW.
business Active Even in the LuII
AFTER Holiday Trade.

Aiter HOiidaF IFade-
NEW YORK. Dec. 2e.-Bradstreets to
morrow Will say:
Holiday quiet and stock taking impart
an appearance of duIIness to general dis
tributive trade, broken, however, by fair
activity in recorder business 10 fl up stocks
depleted by the heaviest holiday trads that
has ever been experienced.
Anticipation OF spring trade wants has
given an active appearance to business in
dry goods at New York. while in industrial
lines the Efforts of manufacturers to keep
up with alIed order books is resulting in
unusually active operations. Following
the furry in money. stocks. and in some
lines OF speculative commodities. has come
a mere cheerful tone, and a irming up OF
quotations is noticed in such staples as
cotton. which was affected by last weeks
money developments. and also in hog
products. coffee. copper, tin, and lead
The failure OF cotton receipts to Increase
mas been a source of strength in that mar
llet, more especially as the break recently
is understood TO have Afforded opportunity
for heavy short covering by foreigners.
Aside from these features. prices have dis
played exceptional frmness, cereals hold
ing up especially well.
The strength of textiles still finds iusti-
sons receipts sales of wool. and in reports
OF enlarged old and heavily increased new
capacity in manufacturing lines Another
example CT this is found Ill the fact that,
although wool receipts at Boston for the
year aggregate nearly double those OF
year ago the stock held at the close Of the
year is actually smaller than il was at
the end Of 1888. One Of the last Of the
manufactured textiles 10 feel the impetus
of expanding demand, cotton thread has
this week been advanced
In iron and steel seasOnable quiet as
regards new business is observable, but
unabated activity on earlier booked orders
is reported In some cases no shutdown
was made for the holidays by mills and
furnaces. A production little be'Ow 13, 700.
600 tons of pig iron is anticipated with
all other branches OF the same trades re-
porting heavily increased outputs. and
prices exceptionally firm, despite the great
advance of the year.
Business failures for the week number
22O as compared with 2l1 last week, 21S
in this week a year ago. 29T in 1897, 529
in 1896. and SO in 1895
The times., 1899-12-30
Charit, and snIndIInr.

Most Of rs have been accostei. at on
time' or another. by the unfortunate maa
O. woman with something 10 sel-zome-
thing which the customer IS expected to
buy. not because he wants II. but because
he is kind hearted and wants to help he
peddler 10 earn an honest living And when
we have bought the pins. or needles o.
pencils. or whatever else the unfoItuna e
vender had for sale we have frequentI
found the goods little worse than rs
less
For example ne buy az such a pedd' 'er
q paper Of pins. We dud upon experiment
that The pins bend Is easily as II they were
made of putty, and that they are rot sha p
enough even TO prick ones finger This Is
the time 10 exercise resolution and thsoy
GIat paper Of pins IN the stove. Otherwise n
EiiI " forever lying about. mistaken iH
every emergency for q really useful thing.
and the nan VINO. ia a hasty momert.
fasteus E1H1e necessary article Of bis ap-
parei with these aimsy bits Of wire under
the impression that they are good pins
VIII be likely Ia q fcU minutes 30 use Ian
ggage Which VIII wipe out all the credit
marks shlch Dc Iray have gained by h.s
phileu lhropie Impulse. II is the same way
with pencils and the needles and The
ihread. ard the other ostansiby use Il
articles which are thus sold. Why should
these things be-
Cf course. the I.EeraHt peidisr cannot
hope 10 compete with the department
stores If be- sells q Gve-ecut paper Of pins
such IS can be bouga. at any drygoo8s
rounter and charses- only Eve cents for IL.
Re VIII lose money. But why should lie
The times., 1899-12-30
no Right 70 Interfere.

lFron tie Cleveland Plain Deal,r.)
Pro Boer and pro-Brtish, in Congress and out,
Feuians and auti-FeniaEs viii do wol TO keep
in mind the fact that the United States has IA
excuse for mixing in the quarrel going on in
Africa and should carefully attend to its own
business, which is enough jlst now to keep its
people fully occupied one part Of its business
is TO protect the border from invasion. aad from
being crossed for the invasion OF q friendly neigh
boz. All who actually think Of such an invasion
should remember tltat there arc very stringent
laws OF the Emitted States bearing ON the subject
The people of this country viii not quietly stand
by and zee their own laws violated by any or
ganizati0H, call itself what It may.
The times., 1899-12-30
aIeit.Ieiohn on Hemn.

II We may judge from the correspondence
Of the Administration organs. Mr. Meikle-
john. Assistant Secretary of War, Is a lit
Tie mixed in his views regarding the Phil
lppine hemp question. He is represented
as holding that the shipments Of this
commodity to the United States in 1895
were greater than IN 1890 and forty -one
dollars a ton cheaper TO the importer than
in 1883 and 1891. 1t IS unnecessary to
anelyze these statements, as Mr. MeikIe-
john is quoted. from letter written by
him 10 Kansas Representative in Con-
gress. as saying that the combination Of
low freight rates and high prices Of fibre"
VIII tend TO bring ample shipments 20 this
The times., 1899-12-30
SIR. Gage and the city sasl,.
From the New York wa-lt]


National CITY Bank Bought us-au-- house
property July . for S.265.0ol
The act OF Congress authsri -iHE -. .sl1irl ld
that money received should D, deposited in The
United States Treasury
Secretary Gage r6d=pCSlted cfrrt iu tae va
tior3I Citv B3nk-nOt in Che E-reS'lrr
Not single dollar 0f Ns-ilua' Ci-T Bank
money ever left its vaults and was lf1siCcd in
the United States Treasury
Title % property not recorded as having been
transferred although Nstioua' CIV RlUF IS
ceiviuv rental for il from the Government
National City Bank thereby -lvss -aye5 due
New York Cirv. because United StEt~ tsr-e e-ul1e0t
property is exempted from taya-irn
Interest for $50 days az 6 per cent "a
So 2e5.0lO left BY the Unite States
Treasury Department on deposit in
the National City BaUk.--.--.-----.-. $50 a1
Rent from United States Treasury De
partment to the National tttv Hluk
for use II the custoul-hogz t1r T~l
DAYS Ft.t UN
CITY taxes saved by the Narir11' Bitr
Bank hv delay q the Juit-d States
Treasury Department in .rss-.-rriu-
formal title 0f the c5f7r 1ni-lause r1
the bauk for I-8 DAYS .--.--.--- So. -I aJ
Total profit to National City Baak
90 date on interest and saving I'M
taxes ----+i-,.rtt a'
As long Is the National CITY Bank con-
tinues Co Cui0v these i8vors its profits
Wall be. per t1E ..--.------ St...- .i
The times., 1899-12-30
I VTfBn.
lFram the Ra.tan GIobc.l

Geographically, as truly as commercially and
politically, Cuha is dominated by the United
States. 1t is a natural part Of our system. When
we expelled Spain, simply toreclosed a mort
gage, inexorable and long overdue And Cuba
even II Independent. is covered so imprcguably
by the Monroe doctrine that it is as secure
against foreign aggression As is the State Of
Maine. When the redand-goId Spanish ensign
sank Tor the last time from the staff Of the
Morro's paapet Cuba passed forever out OF the
calculations Of the Old World It became Ameri
can for all time, and there is not statesman
and not a soldier IN Europe who does not know
this
The times., 1899-12-30
= RaIIoon Clothes line.

LFT0m IIc IICVeI8II = n T'------I
Paris laundry has started q uerg.t in the
driving and purifying of linens, anL IDS lat eled
iu louyiUejnE most 90 lis C-5argers .Hgl tls no.
tion is q good one The Jir ltCut i6e 1855 1heve
thc housetops IS partigJlaslv -od r1r ..ua. saw
tho ur1prietors and they q. aaTiiTe 7a1d veur
shirts and collars slg q balloon Grip Bamboo
frames are attached to a captive % llea. -ad .he
Huen trough ttv. IS fy m sf iaa- and
sails away III tEe air Te- .E rlEts as
cents dnilV 5nd extra F. ueile 81 each
article that JEt,.sScs tAe t-e-tm5at
The times., 1899-12-30
HITTING Against Stone Wall.

tFrom the Memphis Scimetsr.)
The lightweight Governor OF Alabama who IS
appealing 10 the State machine and the remnants
Of the Popuist party to foist him into the seat
in the Senate now occupied by John r. Morgan,
must be under an evil spell; else he would not
have veHtured to attack the statesman, person
ally. For If there is one thing that Morgan
likes better than any other, it is a fight
q that sort, and there are few men in public
life who can hold their own with him in such
The times., 1899-12-30
Let Dead Issucs Renf.

CFrom the St, Paul Pioneer Presss.)
Let those old-tme Republicans in Congress who
are so eager TO have a whack at the South, in
the matter Of the congressional representation of
that section. please remember that this is not an
opportune time for reyiyng old-time issues. Such
a revival would mean return OF sectnnaism in
politics, and would hurt rather than help the
negroes, the suppression Of whose vote is made
the occasion Of the proposed onslaught.
The times., 1899-12-30
Negro CriminnIity.

IFTom me AIaHIl IolTHlII
That negro criniuality is increasing Ia the
United States is certain. How much Il has In
creased since 1880 can only be definitely shown
by the census 20 be taken next year. And yet,
the provision. facilities and enterprises fer the
education OF the n gro have been enlarged and
made Theoretically more etheient every year since
the end oi the Ciyil War.
The times., 1899-12-30
A RIcxcIe Army Cornr.
(From the Philadelphia Record.

One Of the agencies through which the Eng.
lish War Office is supplied with and the
army in the field with orders is 4 military bicycle
corps recently organized in Cape Town. This
is the first time such a corps has seen active
service in the field. although all the standing
armies now have such couriers.
The times., 1899-12-30
In Ohio.
Q'rom the Cincinnati Enquirer.)

ITom tlc IIncInnaU LnquITer.)
"Fealty to party tenets is vital to any political
organization" says a Republican organ, and
The necessity OF patriotic and enthusiastic adhcT-
ence to party principles Is admitted alike by
Democrat and Republican, When, though Mr..
Hanna and George Cox become the tenets, and
the principles, and about ali else that comes
their way a great many conscientious and loyal
Republicans are in rebellion.
The times., 1899-12-30

country in time for manufacture into twine
before the next wheat harvest.
The subject of manila hemp as it hap
pens is not one which the Administra-
lion naturally would like to discuss ex-
haustively at the present time. 1t is di-
visible into too many subquestions, and
Furthermore, would be likely. if agitated.
to develop too much recent history con
nocted with the Otis regime at Manila
For instance. any general ventilation of
the topic would necessarily lead to con-
sideration of the fortunes which have been
made in Luzon in the exchange of arms.
ammunition, and military supplies for the
use of Aguinaldo for hemp and tobacco
accumulated at the ports held by the in
surgents. Foreign residents in Manila fire.
quently have charged, in the European
press, that hemp which was quite beyond
reach by means to which the customhouse
could conceivably have been privy, was to
be had on basis of two hundred per
cent profit on each transaction, it being
only necessary to sneak arms and soforth
at about four times market value to the
rebel strongholds on the coast. The less
said about hemp just now, the better
The perfect frankness with which Sec
retary Gage admits that his ownership of
stock in the First National Bank of Chi
cago does not give him any control over
its business, is satisfactory evidence that
he is confident of the correctness of his
position. He states that he is perfectly
willing to answer any proper questions
which may be propounded to him by Con-
gress or other competent authority. He
will be asked some, and while he is
answering them, he should not forget that
there is much public curiosity concerning
the alleged common proprietary of the
First National Of Chicago and the Stand
ard Oils City National Bank of New York
It is reported that the Administrator is
about to increase the military force in
Alaska, a movement which ought to have
been made months ago. We venture to
suggest to the War Office that if it is in
reed of recruits for arctic service near
the Canadian boundary there are several
enthusiastic FeniaDs in the ward political
associations OF New York Boston, and
Philadelphia who ought to jump at the
chance 10 enlist.
The times., 1899-12-30
a. netmcen r,,rn Dnnrern.
(From tbe Chicago Cbroniclel

IfrUm tnt tNItdAU tHtOIcIc.J
Mr. Alfred Austin is out with another poem,
entitled ITO ATmsl" which is written "to inspire
the enlistment of volunteers - And it is very
likely to accomplish its object Almost anyone
would prefer Is lace BOer bullets in South Africa
rather than remain In England 10 be engulfed in
the surfbc Of SIR. Austin's poetry"
The times., 1899-12-30
Great Expectations.

(FrOm the Chicago Times Herald.)
The Srinister-Well Willie, what do you ex-
pect Santa Claus is going TO bring you this year?
WiHie-oh, lot OF things that ma needs
around the house
The times., 1899-12-30
CIRCULATION STATEMENT.

The Advertisers Guarantee Company, Of Chi
osg0. hereby certides thss 1t has. by its expert
examiners. proven and attested the circulation oil
THE TINES. of Washington. d. c. The daily
ayersge PAID circulation for the month OF NoTem-
ber ls9q was 40-G5s copies
This is guaranteed 80 the advertisers Of the
country Pcs a bond Of $4,000 IN the Fidelity and
Deposit Company CT Maryland. deposited with the
Northwestern National Bank Of Chicago.
ADV ERTISERS' GUARANTEE COMPANY.
Rv J. r. MASON President
The times., 1899-12-30

not sell half paper for five cents. the
other two cents and half repaying him
for his trouble in bringing the goods to the
buyer? Why should he not se1 honest
goods so far as they so. even il he does
net give so much for the money? ECR
and then he dces dc this The wandering
match sellers carry grade of matches
as good rs can be found anywhere and As
cheap. They do not cheat the public
Some Of these peddlers sell things whi,h
cannot be found in the stores. One Of
thom sells little packages of lavender,
easily slipped into the pocket or satchel,
and worth the small price asked. These
people are really earning an honest living.
They are giving for the money received
goods which are really of some use. But
a pencil which will not write, and a needle
which viii not sew, and pins which viii
not do their duty. are simply a means Of
discipline to a long suffering public. It is
bad enough to be cheated by a greedy
dealer, without being hoodwinked in the
cause OF charity.
II would be a very good thing il some
philanthropic agency would turn its at
tention to this. II three or four rich Eeo-
pie could secure the right to some. patent,
or set up little plant for manufacturing
some article which it would not pay the
larger stores to kesp. and then deal out
the goods to some Of these street vendors,
it would be good for everybody. Some old
woman. who was famous cook in her
time, might be set al making Old-fashi0ned
cakes. to he sold IN the region where office
buildings abound. There would be snug
little fortune for some very poor person
in that business. though the gains would
lot repay a big mercantile house for its
trouble. There are numberless little
makeshifts and labor-saving devices which
can be made by invalids and sold by Grip
pies. There are scores Of articles. the
profits on which would not repay any rich
man for putting them on the market, but
would afford three or four poor people
fairly good living. It is not desirable that
charitable organizations should compete
directly with business houses, for IN that
way they VIII simply help to make more
paupers. But if they can pick up the
crumbs, save the waste. and gather to-
gether fragments which the poor can use,
and see that the proper distribution is
made they win save some unfortunate
people from gcing Geld and hungry Com
mon sense is worth considerably more
than sentiment in cases of this kind
The times., 1899-12-30
MUTUAL Anpreciation.

(FTom the CNIoago Kecord)
"Bifly, why do you take that homely Miss Hop
kns to the opera every nghtP'
She isn't very pretty, that's true, but she
doesn't know any more about music than do"
The times., 1899-12-30
Concerning the New Year.

As the old year draws 10 close, human
ity again prepares to catalogue its faults
and failings, TO indulge in retrospect. and t3
prepare for the Inauguration OF a reform in
it's ways. Undiscouraged by the evanzs-
cent character Of past determinsti tioEs 10
discard foIIies and adopt al the lacking at
tributes Of wisdom and virtue. rcen ald
women assure themselves That they viii
make another endeavor and mere sue
cessful one
The proHigate takes the oath OF economy
tle proud decide that modesty shall be
their 1aimeat. the reckless promise them
selves thar they viii De as cautious as
they were careless. the man with small
vices. issues q mental Injunction against
tfsm 10 take effect with the first stroke Of
the midnight bell usheriug ln the new yer,
and those VINO are good and others who are
NOT so very. very bad all Gnd some resolve
10 make betting the regeRerative season
OF the year.
All This. Notwithstanding the fact that
be good resolution is about as long-liYed
ss the hrst snow Yet there is d sum total
or benefit. general and individual. in the
determination TO he better which com
meuds the effort, however brisf il may be.
There is no harm in Renaissance os-
paciaIly when it is devoted TO review Of
ones personal conduct IN array Of PEI
zonal shortcomings is likely TO act as a
check upon the conduct Of the future, d
at the oldest and most unexpected times
the New Year resolve viii pop up. like
Banquo's ghost to admcnish the forget sul
Individual of his determination 10 at the
hetter part.