davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The times., 1899-11-19
BETWEEN TIE ACTS.
In Chicago lees Are served In the
Theatres

One Of Chicagos cleverest women has
recently introduced an innovation into one
of the theatres OF that city that is bring
ing delightful little thrill OF dollars in
her pocketbook, as well as the larger thrill
that always goes with the idea Of success
in any undertaking She achieved it by
the Introduction OF charming servi-e Of
ice cream and fruit punches during the
entr' acts of the performance. It is SO
managed that &c rather adds to than de-
tracts from the aesthetic quality Of the
entertainment A limited number Of pret-
ty girls in violet cashmere gowns, sheer,
white muslin aprons, coming nearly 10 the
knees, and huffed into butterfly effects at
the shoulders. with Alsatian bows Ot
white satin ribbon on their heads. pass
quietly down the aisles. bearing silver
trays upon which are daintily arranged
champagne glasses Of creams and ices.
These are not only of delicious quality
but are of pretty and contrasting tinjs,
and grouped with some idea as to their
color effects Projecting from either side
of the glasses are thin, triangular pieces
Of cake. also in delicate tints, which add
to the decorative character Of the en-
semble while providing delicious ac
compartment for the ices.
This charming service is not only an
innovation in the theatre into which IL has
been introduced but is new in Chicago.
and quite unknown in other cities Of Amer
lea. More than thirty years ago the Gus
tom of serving some refreshment was in
troduced into the theatres Of Paris, and
was found to add so much 10 the general
dash sparkle and brillancy of the Occa-
sion, that it has never been abandoned
there; and today one can scarcely enter
a French theatre without having MS
palate likewise his pocketboOk tempted
by some delicate Wand proffered by chic
demOiselle England and Germany soon
followed in the wake of Paris. although
their service lacks something of the light
ness and grace that so invariably char
acterizes French methods The English
are rather inclined to adhere to their
national beverage, tea. when at the
theatre.
From the way that this new departure
has been received in Chicago, it would
really seem to have met a long felt want
Considering the nation of ice consumers
that we are. and the peculiar drying quail
ty of the atmosphere of theatre. il seems
strange that this delightful custom has
not long since come into general use,
especially as America leads the world in
the deIicacy and variety Of beverages com
pounded with ice
The times., 1899-11-19

times to be multiplied indefinitely VIII
labor become so subdivide8 and business so
concentrated that all work Will be done in
huge factories and all the population be
gathered in huge factory towns. except the
favored few who can afford to have country
estates. and the parasitic workingman and
women who live on these few?
If anything Of that kind happens there
VIII have to be a tremendous reaction some
day. It is to be hoped that we shall not
slip unconsciously into any such condition
of things. but that the wide-awake altruis-
tic and philanthropic thought of the pres
eut day viii ward off The danger. The
masses of the people think more, read
more and understand more than they ever
did before. Certain Industrial classes here
and there have degenerated. apparently, by
being merged into The great uncultiyated
mass, but they after all. viii help TO
leayen the mass. One reason why progress
is inevitable is the natural oyerturniug Of
this that and the other powerful family
or group of families. each generation. Old
Smith, or O'Brien or Van Rensselaer,,
amasses fortune by his energy and
uEiltE. OF rises 10 q ltdttuS pooltioAA IA
the community through his trustworthi-
ness. His descendants may, through lack
OF energy. lose the position he won for
them and be pushed out by some newer
leader, but their children may, and often
do inherit some Of the ancestors force
of character, and much OF the fneness Of
perception developed through a generation
or two of ease and culture: and when
they are thrown back into the mass, they
impart TO it whatever of these qualities
they have. ami so they make for general
progress. The spirit of progress will mill
tate strongly against any permanent ar
( rangement which does not make for the
good Of all as well as few, and it is
coming to be more and more generally
recognized that the community cannot
afford to have any. even a small percent
age. OF its citizens forced into crime,
I squaIor. and disease by the circumstances
in which they live.
The times., 1899-11-19
SUNDAY NOVEMBER 70, 1892.
The Merit system and Politics.


ID does not require a long memory 10
recall the time when the present national
Administration, committed 10 support and
extend the merit system by the Repub-
Iicsn platform and the pledges of its head
suddenly made an attack upon the whole
fabric and destroyed il altogether in prin-
'cipIe and more than half in fact. That
was done in the interests of Republican
politicians and placemen. who could be
used 10 barter public employment for po-
Ilical services in the campaigns OF 1859
and $500.
For strictly analogous reasons. the Re
publican machine in New York has applies
the screws IN an opposite direction. In
that STATE there is an excellent civil service
law. the legitimate enforcement of which
depends upon questions Of expeEiency al
feeriug the party OF combination for me
tiTle being fn power. Under a Democratic
State Administration the starch" is taken
our Of the system generally. and pard-u-
iarlv in respect OF appointments in the
metropolis where il is evident that any
JniHg iike a method of rigid comp titiye
examination would deprive the Common
wealth Of the services of many excellent
and active Tammany henchmen. But
Unsu. rs al present there is RepGbH an
Governor and Legislature. il is plain ID be
seen that the public voice is for reform
and share OF the patronage. even IN
places locally dominated by the enemy
Accordingly. ii is announced that the
Democratic occupants OF ali places rot
specially excepted in New Yo.k. Kings and
Queens countless wei as In eight others
10 make il look fair-wilI have TO take the
examination recently prescribed by the
State Civil Service Commission. and VII
Immediately thereafter vaCate their Jobs
unless they can manage TO secure rating
above their competitors. Such important
offices as those OF assistant and deputy
assistant district attorneys. under and
deputy sherins. and host of Others viii
come under the ruling and 10 say that
there is weeping. Wailing and guashng Of
teeth ia the wigwam Of Grand Sachem
Croker is TO put the case mildly and quite
free from the profanity that actually a.
companies the sound Of grief and despair.
The superhuman efforts recently put
forth by the faithful to administer a sting
ing rebuke to Mazet and his committee. and
stop the tide Of bucoIic up-country invasion
al the lower shore OF the Bronx VIII nos
have been pretty much for naught With
q virtuous civil service law az their backs.
Platt and his combine viii accomplish ex-
actly what Hanna and his have achieved by
boIdlv kicking the na-oual r1srft sy.sta-,,
into the Potomac. Verify. extremes
meet" and in the dark, al cats are
grey.
The times., 1899-11-19
vertical DeneInnmenr

the chances are thar with the constantly
Increasing business done by the electric and
cable car in our large cities We shall soon
come to adopt a European Improvement,
and have "double-deckers" on all the lines.
OF course this was impracticable while
horse cars were still in general use. because
the Increased weight would have been TOO
much for any ordinary team; but there Is
no such objection when electricity Is the
motive power, and the car with two tiers
Of seats certainly has great advantages. es-
ueciaIly in summer L is significant that
Philadelphia firm is making cars Of this
scr 1or use in Paris next year. and also for
Caina Portugal. Mexico and even South
africa and South America
Tn Washington this kind OF car ought TO
De especially popular. since there are Pc
riods OF mild weather all the year round in
this latitude. and the upper deck could be
used in winter as well as iu summer. From
May 10 September il would De in constant
use and there would be nothing more
charming than an excursion into the sn-
burhs, made in the upper half Of such a car
always be crowded. but that would give the
people in the open seats below a chance for
breath d air perhaps. The double
decker is likely TO become a familiar OBJ
ject in all our large cities before very long
But this possibility suggests an old Ques-
ZION. never quite settled-whether the city
q the future viii become merely a big bee
hive. developed skyWard instead Of lateral
D.. with the submerged tenth living lIter-
ally under everybody else. Mr. H. G. Wells
who has acquired a considerable reputation
by peer1ng into the future. seems 20 think
that il VIII and that the country viii Be-
practically deserted, except that part OF il
which is laid out in big market gardens
The trend Of civilization at present seems
70 be that way But VIII il continue? Are
the twenty-story buildings the abandoned
farms, the elevated railways Of modern
The times., 1899-11-19
CERTIFICATES oE TITLE
District AUDITOR Opinion Mny
Chnnge sN.tem OF pr,n,ent

District AudItor'~ Opinion Mny
Change system Of Pay usent
j. T. Petty. Auditor Of the District. hss
forwarded an opinion to the Comuissfsr.
as to the payment for titis cer.is-stes on
land which has been condemned Ser mu-
nicipaI purposes. The Auditor states hsf t
has been the custom 10 the Disrte
when land was condemned. 20 compel tas
owner OF the property 60 show cer,iac5i.
OF title assuring he Auditor that the lana
belonged 20 him before the condemnation
award was paid
These certificates have been made out by
competent companies or lawyers and high
zee Is CHARGED for their execution &c has
'ohs neen the custom Of Che District t0
make the owners Of the property paw for
District
4 certificate OF this kind IA necessary fo
P.o'eet tne District Ar Petty states. bat
atler careful consideration Of rha matter
ne heS reached the conclusion that 10 re-
4uife tna owner Of the property Co paw ths
zee charged IS an exactiou indefeusihle from
an equitable standpoint In the case Of a
SAFE "here the owner voluntarily offers his
property, the District IS Justified Ia reauir
ing the certificate to be made at che cost
or the vendor but where the sale IS com
pu.sory regardless Of the wishes OF the own
ers OF the land, sheer equity would seem 90
demand that the Government shoulE pav af
the expenses incident to the acquisition 81
the title Mr. Petty has recommend trgt
the matter be submitted to the Comp.roTe-
or the Treasury for an opinion. and the
commissioners have approved Of his action
The times., 1899-11-19
Sntnn,r Kingdom.

lfEonl llf HARTFORD NolhaALsf
The Central New England road removed
about six hundred tons Of dangerous rocks
in Satan's Kingdom Sunday. This section
is about two miles this side Of New Hart
ford and it is very wild There is just
room enough for the tracks of the Central
New England and the Northampton roads
end the Pennington River. and the bed
of the river is filled with rocks. 1t is the
widest spot on the line. About two
months ago trackman discovered bowl
der on the track that had become els
lodged from the overhanging cliffs. II the
trackman had not been attending 10 his
business there would have been a terrible
accident The frost had caused masses OF
rock to become dislodsed, and there were
gaps of six inches in some Of the places.
Sunday the Central New England cad
had a gang of one hundred men working
at the place to remove all the rock that
was liable to fall During the week holes
were drilled for dynamite The most agile
men scaled the cliff and barred out all the
pieces that were loose enough They calm
bered over the cliff in all directions. heid
py ropes let down from above, and some
who We're 125 feet below them watching
the work had the shvers. The rocks that
had been loosened and could not be re-
moved with bars were rent asunder by
dynamite. The largest rock that came
down weighed about one hundred tons
and its length was % feet. When this
stone came down the noise could be heard
a mile away The tracks had been taken
up and old rails put down for the day. as
it was necessary TO remove the rock as
fast as it came down, Some of the large
pieces broke the rails. Satan's Kingdom is
now safe from any of the overhanging
rocks. as all the rocks that We're in any
degree dangerous have been removed. il
is the first time that rocks have been re-
moved from a clin along the road since
the road was built
The times., 1899-11-19
GOLD LANDS AT AUCTION.
How the Russian Government Dis
poses of Its Claims.
tFr0m the New YORK Iourn5I)

(From the New York Joupsl)
In Russia they have unique and prof
liable way of dispOsing of public lands
particularly those rich in mineral wealth
Instead of allowing a wild rush OF reck-
less men to squat on the gold fields, the
Russian Government announces the gold
lands for sale at auction.
The Russian Minister of Agriculture and
Domains has issued a circular bearing date
of September concerning the auction sale
of the gold bearing lands Of Okhotsk
which says in part:
Declarations of participation will be re-
ceived from all persons having. according
TO the laws in force the right TO engage
in gold mining in Siberia. whether Rus
sian subjects or foreign individuals asso-
Citations, companies, or joint stock socie-
ties, on the condition that they present,
first a guarantee of 100 600 rubles 1851 500
and, second, information regarding the
capital to be used for the development Of
the gold lands in the basin in question.
This information must be recognized as
correct and the capital as sufficient by the
Minister of Finance, in accord with the
Minister of Agriculture.
Companies and associations are required
besides to present the statutes by which
they are governed; joint stock societies
must be formed in compliance with the
statutes governing the same. The requests
for appreciation of these statutes should
be addressed to the Minister of Finance,
who. in accord with the Minister OF Agri-
culture, causes them to follow the pre-
scribed course"
In the event of the grantee refusing to
conclude the contract, the security of 100
600 rubes will be con1scated by the treas
uTV
The times., 1899-11-19
The Fighting Generals in Africa.

BY way Of assisting the newspaper reader
10 locate the names Of various commanders
who are operating on British or Trans
vaaI account in South Africa. and who are
daily mentioned in the dispatches. it is
proper to state that the generaI-in-chief
cf the British forces is Sir Redvers Butler.
with headquarters at Cape Town. The
commander OF the first division. now
marching TO the relief OF Kimberley. is
Lieutenant General Lord Methuen Colonel
Kekeyich commands at Kimberley, Lieu
tenant Colonel local brigadier generaD
Baden Powell al MafelIng, and Lieutenant
Colonel Plumer in Rhodesia. The cavalry
division headquarters lately at Cape Town
lis commanded by Major General French.
until recently second in command at Lady
smith As we all know. Lieut. Gen. Sir
George Stewart White commands at Lady
smith. with Colonel Brockelhurst second in
command. The relieving column from Dur
ban and the troops generally in southern
Natal are under Mai Gen. Sir c f.
Clery and Major General Hildyard We are
in doubt as to which is the ranking officer.
The latter was last reported at Pieter-
maritzburg Brlgader General Wolfe
Murray lately in command at Estcourt. is
in charge OF the communications at Piet-
ermaritzbgrg. He has been succeeded at
The times., 1899-11-19
JeTerson's Democracy.
CFrom the indianapolis News)

IFf0m thf IndIIuIU3Ils NeWs-I
II is strange fate that Thomas jefferson, who
was both an eNpansioui=t and civil service re-
former, should have been appealed TO by members
OF the Democratic party Of our own day as an
anti-expansionist and q spokesman. Those who are
so disturbed over the Philippine situation re-
member jefferson as the author OF the DeclaIa-
ton OF independence, in which the ccnseut Of
the governed theory is exploited, bat find it
very convenient to forge that be bought Louis
lana from France, while those who think that
tho spoils system must find a place in any truly
Jefrlaonau scheme Of government, do not care
to recall the fact thai jefferson made practically
no removals without cause, snd that he probably
would have made even fewer than he did had
it not been for the fact that the members Of
the Jefersonian party had been ruthlessly pre-
scribed by the FedeIalists.
The times., 1899-11-19
POLITICAL NOTES AND GOSSIP.


The SpenISership and the Commit
t"eS'-In addition TO receiving many call
ers in headquarters al the Normandie, Gen
eral Henderson the next Speaker OF the
House, gave attention yesterday to several
letters and telegrams from members not
vet in the city. These communications con-
tanned suggestions as to committee assign
ments and the like but the answers thereto
simply informed the writer's that contents
had besn noted. During the forenoon Cen
eral Henderson called upon President Nc
Kinley and visited some of the depart
ments. Il mas already become a fixed i'm
preston, although little chance has been
given for private converse with the next
Speaker that there Will be no radical
changes in the membership or chairman
ships of the important committees. Cen
eral Henderson. it is said, has no intention
Of removing old members from their posi-
tiOnS on committees. except where they
make requests to be transferred to other
committees than those they have been sery-
ing on, and that such transfers Will be
made only where there are vacancies to be
filled so that no one Will be turned down.
There viii be contests over only two COM
mittee chairmanshps, so far as can be
foTeseen Representative Cooper, OF Wis
COnsin viii seek to be made Chairman OF
the Committee on Rivers and Harbors, in
place Of Mr. Burton Of Ohio who was ap
pointed over CoOper's head by Speaker
Reed when the Wisconsin man was the
ranking Republican on the committee. In
considering Mr.. Cooper's claim for prefer
ment General Henderson may remember
how he himself was turned down by Speak
eT Reed when the latter succeeded Crisp
for the charmanship Of the Committee on
Appropriations Mr. Henderson was by
precedent entitled to the place but Cannon
of Illinois, who had been out of Congress
for two years, thereby losing his rank in
the committee was appointed Chairman OF
the Appropriations Committee by Reed. Mr.
Henderson was given other good places be-
cause Speaker Reed although bound not
to have him chairman of that particular
committee, probably felt that he must do
something Mr.. Henderson took the mat
ter philosophically, but did not like It.
Now. in the case of Mr.. Cooper he may
see a chance to undo the previous Speaker S
action, and proceed as he thinks precedent
demands Furthermore Mr.. Cooper will
make use of the influence which the Wis
consin men eXerted In setting up the pins
for Henderson's election to the Speaker
ship it having been the first Of all the
State delegations to take action. There
will also be a contest for the chairman
ship Of the Committee on Indian Affairs
by Curtis of Kansas and Sherman, of
New York, who has been at the head Of
that committee
The times., 1899-11-19

Payne OF New York One reason for this
lies iE the fact that there will be no general
tariff bill for the Ways and Means Commit
tee 70 frame in the Fifty-sixth Congress
which Will detract from its prestige as the
most important of Congressional commit
tees. There is, besides this fact a belief
that Speaker Henderson Will prefer Cannon
for his first lieutenant on the floor. rather
than Payne The Appropriations Commit
tee, too, is likely 10 be the most important
of any From persons who have visited
General Henderson since his arrival in the
city there is already heard talk about
economy, Some who profess TO know say
that General Henderson is anxious to have
Congress make a record in. economy Of ex-
penditures. and it is pointed out that in
any event appropriations will have to be
held down next session on account Of the
war expenses. These things, therefore win
have the tendency to make the Chairman OF
the Appropriations Committee heavy man
on the Republican side.
The times., 1899-11-19
A Queer Prescrirtion

ttrOm the ChlCag0 NeW>-)
Doctors and nurses who have to deal
with foreigners in hospitals know by ex
perience how careful they must be in the
use of words when giving directions about
medicine. otherwise the most ordinary in
structions would be apt to be misunder-
stood. with probably fatal results. The
head physician of well-known charitable
organization in this city recently had
curious experience of this kind. A woman
had brought her baby for medical attention
1t was not really i'll, but very much needed
daily application of soap and water. The
doctor gave the mother some medicine for
the child and then directed her TO wash
the baby" To many of the foreigners the
word ''bathe' is entirely unknown. Know
ing from experience that the me. her would
have little faith in the efficacy Of soap and
water alone, the doctor wisely added that
she should put a certain amount of salt
in the water. The use of salt in this way
being entirely new TO the mother, she
would naturally conclude that this alone
was the curative agent and obey the doc
tors directions. AS the woman was about
TO leave the doctor, as was her custom
repeated the directions, saying: Now. re-
member 10 give the baby the bath Of soap
and water and salt every day"
The woman looked up and asked
Please, lady. ken put q little sugar in it,
toc?"
Sugar" said the astonished doctor.
Why do you want TO put sugar in it,
Cause the baby won't take nothin' that
amt got sugar in
And then only did the bewildered physi-
clan realize that she had unwittingly said:
Give the baby the bath To the mother
the word give meant to feed, and the
baby's salvation Is probably due to the
fact that it had always so strenuously OBJ
jected TO taking anything that did not have
sugar in il.
The times., 1899-11-19
when the Tide TurnS.

tFrvm the ST Louis t'iohe-DtWocraf-l
When at length the British re-eUf0rcemeuts Ics
strong enough to advance the Beer, will change
place from bcsiegers To be,ieged They Will make
a stubborn stand behind heavy entertainments
already prepared. Pretoria Is -ub~tantialy
the Beers are at this disadvantage. They began
the war with their maximum OF men. Every
soldier killed. or disabled through sickness OF
wounds. cuts down their aggregate No new
levies can be called Where all under arms
CONSUMPTION IS a meaningless word. Iha Boer,
have no seaport nor method OF getting material
from the outside world Sieges are a waiting
osm. and this is what the Beer armies can
least afford Iadysmith, Kimberley and Mafe-
king are, as matters stand dscouraging start
for the Boers- The boer columns have been
halted bv these obstacles and may have % 90
on the defensive without getting any Of them.