davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The times., 1899-09-15
FRIDAY. SEPTEMBER Is, 1899.
Am Acute sitration.

For good or III, the reply Of the South
African Republic 10 the latest note OF
Mr. Chamberlain is ia the hands of the
British Government. What its contents
are we do not know. because the authori-
ties an London refuse 10 make the matter
public. But. today or tomorrow. il IS
probable that leakage either at Pretoria
Or Bloemfontein win put US in possession
OF fairly reliable summary. Indeed, a
Free State has already conveyed the state
ment thai the response is .truculent,
loquacjous, and blasphemous.'
II that view Of il be correct and it
would be about what We should expect,
the chances for a peaceful settlement
nave nearly reached the vanishing point
That does ret mean that war viii neees-
sarily follow at once The British Min
istry would almost make some temporary
concession Of dignity TO gain enough time
TO get the imperial re-enforcemsnts on
the ground. and that viii take at least
TWO or three weeks. The imminent dan
ger is that the other side may not wait
II Kruger and his counseloTs have made
UP their minds to try the issue CT war their
natural and anticipated play would be TO
rCsh the Natal frontier before the Indian
troops now en- route, or about to start, can
get there. That such an immediate move
nent is feared at the Horse Guards Is be.
yond doubt. AS soon as the Transvaal
message reached the Colonial Office tie
Commander-in-Chiefa and Gen. Sir Stewart
White, who is to command in Natal. were
hurriedly summoned TO a conference. It is
believed that the exposed condition Of the
Natal frontier was the subject discussed.
Sir Stewart White has seen service in the
region and is familiar with its conditions
and military possibilities.
AT Cape Town there is stilI q hope that
the Beers may yield. but there does not
seem 10 be much basis for il, while We
hear from Bloemfontein that the Orange
burghers have determined 10 stand by their
Dutch neighbors. To judge OF the situa
tion by its externals: The British have
everything TO gain by short delay while
the Beers have nothing 10 gain and much
10 lose The latter are as nearly prepared
10 take The field as they would be nexr
week or next month. If they have decided
10 resist the Chamberlain demands we may
expect them 10 take the initiative and 20
be quick about it.
The times., 1899-09-15
VACATION NEARLY OVER.
The Public schools VIII Open Next
Week

Inc public schools Of the District Will
be opened for the new school year Mon
day morning. after having been closed for
three months. The school clocks have been
started and preparations made for the re-
ception of the pupils The Offices OF the
superintendent Of schools and the super
Vislng principals have been the scene OF
considerable work during the past few
days 1t is expected that there win be
a large Increase in the number OF students
ever those of last year. though the new
order requiring the children of non-resi-
dents TO pay for the actual expenses OF
eduestions derived hereafter from the rub
lie school.may balance the increase to some
extent No over-erowding is expected.
though several OF the buildings for school
purposes have net been completed.
The new buildings at RoSedaIe and one
at the corner OF South Carolina Avenue
and Second Street have not been finished.
ana IT may be necessary to hold halliday
sessions in the lower grades in some OF
the schools. 1t is estimated that there are
more than 10000 public school children
IN the city and District. The law com
pelling the payment OF tuition By those
who do not reside in the District may de-
crease the classes in the High School
where the largest number Of pupils living
out Of the city attend Last year there
were between three and four hundred non
resident pupils An addition to the school
facilities this year win be the opening Of
siz kindergartens- The Recommendation
Of the school board made last year has
been approved by the Commissioners. but
the delay in the arrival OF proper school
furniture viii prevent the opening for
several days after the schools have been
started in working order
The Eindergartens will he located af Ma
sonic Hall, in Anacostia; one at the Gales
School, Massachusetts Avenue and First
Street northwest; one at the Harrison
School, on Thirteenth Street between
and w Streets northwest; one at the Toner
School, Twenty-third and z Streets north
west; one at the Jefferson School, at the
corner of Sixth and D Streets southwest.
and one at the Henry School, on P Street
between Sixth and Seventh Streets north
west The increased number of schools OF
this kind makes total OF sixteen kinder
gartens for white children and eleven for
eoIored.
About SIS, 900 has been used in improve
ments in the plumbing in a number OF
buildings. Out Of an appropriation OF
s40.6o0 for repairs and improvements about
$50, 600 has been expended, leaving $40, 600
for an emergency fund The standard OF
the course Of study has been raised in
several instances Beside the use OF
Green's History of the English People" in
the eighth grade. higher arithmetic and
geography formerly a part OF the sixth
grade course will be taught in the fifth
grade.
W. B. Murch. formerly principal Of ore
of the Georgetown grammar schools as
suIned the duties Of assistant superintend-
ent Of the public schools on the 1st of
July. He will assume the management OF
the financial part of the school system, and
allow Superintendent Powell time TO devote
his attention to the work Of superin-
tendent-
The times., 1899-09-15
SCARCITY OF SMALL BILLS.
Much Embarrassment Caused In the
Agricultural Centres

CHICAGO, Sept. 14.-According to the
Record" banks with extensive country
business complain bitterly OF the scarcity
OF small bills. The crops are now fairly
well in motion, and the small banks clamor
for money. When the Chicago banker goes
to the subtreasury for currency. he is paid
III $4,000 gold certificates, or by bills of
other denominations, with only enough of
the little ones to round out the total. II
he makes a demand for small bills he may
be given few thousands in $20 gold GER
tidcates. but that is the best he can do
Meantime his correspondent is wiring for
$780, 900 lots of currency-nothing wanted
larger than tens or fives.
1t is impossible to meet all these demands
and it is impolitic to refuse them, so the
banker wires his New York correspondent
TO express currency. In return he gets his
money in big bills or is put off altogether.
The crops cannot be moved with big bills.
1t takes SIC TO pay one farmer for his
wheat and another has load worth So.
The country bank has to supply the cur
reney for these transactions, and it cannot
do so If its Chicago correspondent sends
$40, $50, and 500 bills. To meet this con-
dition some of the big institutions have
been shipping gold, but complaint has fol-
lowed this course. One bank having deal
ings in the cotton region shipped gold to
meet an order. and received the reply:
Don't send US gold. People here are not
used to it, and as soon as they get it
they hoard it away and refuse TO nay it
out even to meet their debts. It is worse
than nothing"
The times., 1899-09-15
PEARY IN EXCELLENT HEALTH.
Bridgeman Returns With Good News
From the Explorer.

NEW YORK, Sept 14.-Herbert l.
Bridgeman, leader OF the Peary relief ex-
pedition of 1899, returned today from sgd
ney, N. S., where he had left the Diana.
and went at once to his Brooklyn nome.
He was in excellent health and spirits, ard
perfectly satisfied with the results OF the
expedition. His views with regard to the
outcome of Peary's work during the COM
ing year are optimistic. The explorer IS
in fine health he said, and undaGnted by
the mishap of last winter which caused
him the less of seven toes This winter
would give him plenty of opportunity for
rest, because all the preliminary work hai
been completed, and the light OF next SUM
mer would find him in fine shape for a
dash toward the pole. His equipment was
all that could be wished for; his dogs the
best there could be found in the whole
sound region. and he had the hearty and
active cooperation of the Arctic highland
ers.
Mr.. Bridgeman did not believe that any
difficulties would be met with in getting
men for the necessary relief expedition. 1t
had already been decided that the ship
chosen for the purpose should be COM
manded by Capt. Samuel Bartlett who had
charge of the Hope in 1898 and the Diana
in 1899. The party of Princeton scientists
who made the trip northward with Mr..
Bridgeman on board the Diana stopped
for a day or two at Sydney to unload and
reship their collections They are expected
to reach home tomorrow or Saturday
The times., 1899-09-15
The conad.nce OF Peel

Mr.. Ferdinand w. Peck is Commissioner
from this country TO the Paris Exposition.
If things 20 well he VIII have good time
and az the end of the fair win be made a
commander of the Legion of Honor, ae-
oording TO custom He is. therefore, con-
tident that there is more bosh than bust
ness in the movement TO boycott the enter
prise with which be is so interestedIy
Identified Peck says that mans rage
ever injustice done to another man is usu-
ally short liyedr'
Sc it is ordinarily, we must admit, but
the affaire Dreyfus is an exceptional case.
and exposition officials viii live to see ii
treated exceptionally. Peck himself will
one day know the ionesomeness of the
American section. bare of American ex-
hibits. barring the geological and stuffed
specimens Of the Government contribution.
The times., 1899-09-15
The Commercial Nemesis.

(From the New York Commercial Advertiser.)
The worlds boycott of France and the French
Exposition seems TO be gaining in dignity and
determination. Mere expressions of dsapproyal
are not alone the effect OF the trial. An associa-
tion of seven hundred persons in Chicago whose
members have been paying weekly dues for some
time in anticipation of trip to the exposition
has disbanded and the members have received
their money back; and more significant still, the
firm of solicitors Of the French consulate in Lon
don have resigned their position. When men
curtail their pleasures and their profits for a
matter Of principle, there is earnestness in it,
Still more significant is the rumor that Ger
many and Italy to Withdraw their military
attaches from France and request her to with
draw hers from them. That is a snub that even
the Frenehman of the most limited range of
vision must feel
The times., 1899-09-15
The aIenn Mun.

There is mean man in Sioux City.
and il is refreshing to know that he has
had 10 pay for the luxury OF being a scamp.
he gave note recently without revenue
stamp On it. saying that the stamp was
unnecessary. as the note was for only a
ieE days time. When it became due he
refused TO pay on the ground that there
was no revenue stamp on IL He won his
case, and went home chnckling But the
law was not yet through with him. 1t has
two arms. and ore is just as powerful as
the other. The would-be swiudler was
presently brought before the court on the
charge Of violating the revenue law, and
before he was able TO extricate himself
from the situation he had to pay several
times the amount OF the original note It
is safe 10 say that he viii not try to cheat
his neighbor IN precisely that way again.
II might be interesting to trace the de-
veIopment OF the particular kind of rascal
who makes a business OF being mean
There must be some reason for him. and
II that reason could be discovered. and he
could be prevented from happening. IL
would be money in the pockets of all his
neishbors. Some rich nen are rich be-
cause of a combination Of the predatory
instinct and the love OF adventure. Had
they lived in other centuries they would
have been soldiers or pirates: now they
are business buccaneers, because they love
the excitement and the power Of controIl-
ing large sums Of money. Others are
wealthy because they have systematically
made a business Of obtaining the possess
sions OF Others. They are not SO rich as
she men of the first class. as a rule. be-
cause in these days one must spend In
order to gain wealth; the niggard is at
4 discount but they are strong enough
and mean enough 10 make a great deal
of trouble ia the world.
One reason for the existence of such
men Is narrow conditions OF birth and
bringing up. When a man has been reared
In home where the simplest comforts
depended on careful boarding Of all Len
The times., 1899-09-15

nies, and even of all scraps of material
of saving, which grows into a passion.
Again, the mean man is sometimes made
avaricious by having continually held up
to him the ideal of wealth. He is taught
to believe that the finest thing in the
world is to be well-to-do, and that the
rich man is always respected. He grows
up with a sovereign contempt for the
'shiftless" who pay more attention to
their neighbors than to themselves.
This wrong ideal has been responsible
for some very mean men. 1t is a country,
not a city, philosophy; it was developed
by the Pharisees of a country village-the
kind of people who are never happy unless
they feel themselves better than everyone
else. This type of person has caused most
of the offensive elements in our civilization.
Its best representative is, perhaps, the thor
eughly respectable farmer or small shop
keeper who, having accumulated his own
property by hard work and slow saving,
sees no other object in life for anyone, and
stigmatiZes as "shiftlessness'' or extrava-
ganee all other ideals He patronizes the
church chiefly because it is a respectable
club, in which he is certain not TO have
to associate with reprobates. He does not
believe in theatres, or card playing, or wine.
or society. Sometimes he does not believe
in libraries and newspapers. His artistic
taste is entirely undeveloped. and he does
not wish to encourage such development in
anyone else. He it is who is the supporter
Of the trust, because it represents property.
He viii support any kind of political or
social iniquity as long as he does not lose
more money by its support than he would
by its downfall Money, in short, is his
god. not for what it can do, but for the
mere comfort of possession. He does not
count his gold like the stage miser, but he
fingers his bankbook with quite as much
satisfaction, and while he does not theatri-
cally curse his daughter for marrying poor
man. he makes it exceedingly uncomfortable
for her sometimes. He should be discour-
aged, if not abolished. He is a superfuous
excrescence on civilization
The times., 1899-09-15
RED MEN ON AN OUTING.
Indian Braves Sail on the Historic
Potomac.

Potomac.
Marshall Hall was the Mecca of all good
Red Men yesterday evening. and while
the council fires were smothered and the
council teppees of the braves closed. the
chiefs and tribesmen, accompanied by
many OF the Ladies of Pecahontas, enjoyed
sail down the historic Potomac AT the
Hall the Red Men spent an enjoyable
evening. The mansion house elaimed the
attention Of large number as the cold
breezes swept over the river. Many of
found the pavilion more attractive, and
there were ghost" and other dances.
Matters of interest only to the Red Men
occupied the attention of the council yes
tefday, and much that was said and done
is not 10 be known by the paIefaces. The
9ow-wow was brought TO a close in the
afternoon, and the braves and Ladies of
Pceahontas. accompanied by many pale
faces friendly to the Red Men, visited the
Great Father. President Mckinley, in the
East Room OF the White Wigwam The
visit was made at 2:S0 O'Clock. The pipe
of peace was smoked, and all We're glad
at the hand clasps of the President. An
afternoon session of the council was held
on the return from the reception. The
place of meeting of the next Great Council
was under discussion. Many cities have
invited the Red Men to accept their hos
pitality.
At late hour yesterday afternoon re-
ports from the committees on finance, con
dition of the order. and Judiciary were
heard. The afternoon session adjourned in
order that the delegates might make the
trip down the river. AT the first session
OF the council the uniform 10 be worn by
the Red Mems League, the uniformed rank
of the order, was under discussion for some
time.
When the meeting was first called TO
order Past Great Sachem and Great Repre-
sentative George ?. Johansen, of the Dis
trict of Columbia, presented Great Inca
honee Green, on behalf of the Great Council
with tomahawk made from a tree growing
at Mount Vernon and bearing a picture of
the home of Washington. The reports OF
the committees on appeals, grievances, and
laws occupied considerable time Scme
changes in the degree of PocahoHtas, as
we'll as q few changes in the method OF
eleeting officers Of the Red Men, were pro
posed
The times., 1899-09-15
sHAW,s ALLEGED CONFESSION.
He Denies the story and May Sue the
Author.


PHILADELPHIA, Sept IA news
paper this morning published story
giving an alleged confession BY Eli Shaw.
that on the morning OF October 12, 1897.
he killed his mother. Mrs. Sarah H. Shaw.
and his grandmother. Mrs Emma Zane.
The confession is represented as being
made to William II. Hay and Howard X.
Sloan. reporters for the paper. Shaw WAS
tried for these murders and acquitted more
than a year ago. The paper also repre-
sented Shaw as saying that Eugene Dar-
nell was in the house at the time OF the
murders. and that he had concealed his
knowledge OF the crimes. On the strength
OF affidavits made by Hay and Sloan. DaF-
neil was arrested in Camden. Shaw today
made affidavit that he had met and talked
with Hay and Sloan, the reporters, but
that he never said anything that would
have led them even to infer that he com
mitted the murder. He said that he
would institute suits for criminal libel
and sue the paper for damages, and would
also charge the reporters with perjury
DarneH declares that the statements made
are untrue and that he can prove an alibl
The story Was to the effect that shaw
had confessed that on the night OF the dou-
bic murder he and DarnelI had been OUT
carousing. and reached Shaw's home sbout
1:3o a M Shaw went upstairs. Soon there
was shot fired, and Shaw came down and
told Darnell that he had killed his mother.
Darnell then ran out Of the house and hid
In some bushes In the yard. A man whose
name is not mentioned Is said to have seen
DaTnell in the bushes The murder OF the
grandmother. Mrs Zane. is said TO have
been accidental, Shaw having fiourished the
revolver in her face to intimidate her and
force her to grant his demand for money
when the weapon exploded sending the bull
let through her brain His mother, who was
IN another room asleep, aroused by the
snot, came into the room, saw what had
occurred, and went to get some bandagss
10 stop the flow OF blood During her ab-
senee Shaw. seeing that his grandmother
was dead. determined 10 kill his mother To
protect himself. and so when she was kneel-
ing beside her mother he fired the mur-
derous shot
The times., 1899-09-15
rempus Mutantur Nit.

From the Minneapolis Messenger
| wandered to the circus, John; I sat beneath
the tent and saw the man from Borneo, likewise
the tattooed gent. 1 heard the toothless lions
howl, while men in spangled clothes stepped
fearlessly into their dens and whacked them on
the nose 1 saw the sacred elephant spout water
through his trunk, the salamander eating lead
and other melted junk; heard the merry clown
get off the jokes used to know when we
were bows together John, some twenty years ago.
The same old horses waddled round the same
old kind of ring; the same old comic Yocalists
proved that they couldn't sing; the same old
hippopotamus grunting with disgust; the
same old Persian kicking up the dust;
the same old rheumatic acrobats sprawled pain
fully around, and the ossified contortionst was
crawling on the ground, and ladies rode bare
backed steeis to music sad and slow-the same
old girls used TO some twenty years ago.
The times., 1899-09-15
INSURGENTS LOOT A VESSEL.
Forty Thousand Dollars In Cash and
n Valuable Cargo Lost.

The War Department has received by
| mail report of the capture and destruc-
ton of the steamer Saturnus by Filipino
rebels, and the loss of $4,000 cash and
the cargo. Another report of the mishap
says the passengers and crew are unin-
jured. and that they are at liberty at
rarlac, the Filipino capital, and about to
go to Manila The account of the capture,
which came by mail says:
The United States gunboat Pampanga
arrived here yesterday morning, bringing
news of the capture of the steamer Satur-
nus, belonging to the Compania Martina.
The facts as gathered from those Who
know. are as follows: The Saturnus sailed
from Manila on the morning of July 80
for San Fernando de la Union, on the north
side of the Gulf of Lingayan, Cavayaa,
Currimao, and Aparri. all of which are
northern ports. 1t is supposed the vessel
arrived off San Fernando on the S1st
ultimo.
When discovered by the gunboat Pam
panga she was lying with her nose buried
N the sand of the shore south of the city
of San Fernando Both anchors were out,
and smoke which hovered closely over the
vessel, showed her 10 be on fire. Small
boats, with native crews, could be seen
carrying the cargo of the burning vessel
ashore
Little suspecting the true condition of
affairs the gunboat Pampanga sent boat
out to the burning vessel to investigate,
but upon the approach OF the boat, with
her American blueiackets the natives i'm
mediately retired and opened fire upon
the boats crew, using Mausers and REM
ington rifles from concealed trenches, and
sending shells from two three-inch guns,
which formed a concealed battery. over
and close TO the little boat.
THE watchful officers on the Pampanga
Immediately ordered the fire from the rebei
trenches to be returned by the crew of the
gunboat, and under cover of the guns OF
the warship the boat reached the Saturnus
A brief inspection OF the vessel showed
every indication that she had been looted
by the rebels, but the examination failed
to disclose any sign of the crew or any,
thing to indicate that struggle had taken
place on board. The boats crew then at
tempted to raise the anchors, but, failing In
this they cut the anchor chains and at
tached a hawser to the Saturnus. An at
tempt was then made-to pull her out OF the
mud and sand, but was unsuccessful.
THE Saturnus was commanded by Capt
Antonio Aralucea, and had two officers,
three engineers, and crew Of thirty six
natives. II is supposed that all were taken
prisoners by the rebels.
The cargo of the vessel consisted of 520
cases of petroleum of ten gallons to the
case, 300 dernijohns of wine, 143 barrels OF
wine, eighty sacks of rice. ten cases OF
linen CLOTH seven cases of money, contain
ing $4,000 in cash, and 1,946 packages ami
bales of various kinds. In addition TO the
cargo, the vessel carried twenty-six pas
ssngers and two children, all of whom were
either Filipinos Or Chinese.
The times., 1899-09-15
Rooseveit Becoming GarruIous

(From the Brooklyn Eagle
Besides, Governor cannot speak SO well as an
unofficial citizen. unless he speaks better His
office is one of power, CT unusual sources of in
formation, Of great influence, CT much dignity in
itself and a position which iustifes the expecta-
tien of something to say that ought to be said
indeed that must be said when it is said Mr.
Roosevelt is not taking that view; he is not act
ing up to that conception of his Office. He is
suggesting taikatiyeness and almost garrulity
Indeed he appears to be sort of restless rover
with too much fondness for saying nothing at
considerable length and with too much zeal to
give TO commonplace virtues and duties the ben
eft of that adhesion which could be assumed Of
him without verbal proclamation by him. Jour-
nalism is barometer of public interest. The
growing tendency of Journalism to cut down the
Governors addresses, to remark that he spoke,
in part, as follows" and even to leave out all
that he said, with the explanatory statement that
che reiterated positions which he had previously
taken, should admonish the Governor that he IS
OVERRIDING the role of a roaring rover at this
time.