davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The times., 1899-05-14
4 CemmendabIe Reform.

IL. in the course of human and, prefer
ably, nearby, events the retirement of Rus
sell A. Alger from the Secretaryship of
War should happen. the country will be
able to celebrate the occasion by remem-
bering that at least one commendable ac-
tion is to be placed to the credit OF the
disappearing figure That is. if Mr.. Al
gers course in establishing a departmental
council of bureau chiefs shall lead to a
better system of administration in the
War Office, and do away with the op-
pressive and obstructive policy of one
man power which is popularity believed to
have in the past paralyZed the usefulness
of such subdepartments as those of the
Inspector General, Quartermaster General,
Commissary General, Chief of Ordnance,
Judge Advocate General, and so on.
Under proper and scientific organiza-
| tion of the national military staff. the
general officer occupying the position NOM
| inally held by General Miles would be its
chief, and would have direct and personal
supervision of all the various staff depart
ments. The vital error of segregating
them from the Army organization proper,
ing the Commanding General even in the
little authority supposed to be left to him
otherwise, was one of the chief causes of
the blunders and scandals which have
made our conduct of operations in the
West Indies and our maintenance OF
troops in home fever camps ridiculous in
the eyes of educated Army officers every
where.
The absolute subordination. in theory
at least, of the most technical branches of
the service 10 civilian Cabinet officer
without military knowledge OF the first
soldierly instinct, and their complete di-
vorce from responsibility TO the Command
ing General, are propositions the fatality
Of which to the support of an Army in
peace, OF the prosecution of a successful
war. do not require discussion. Their in
sanity is self evident. Yet they present in
effect the system under which a large
American Army has been expected to exist
and engage in hostilities for a year at
least.
Since it seems to have been determined
TO prevent anything like scientific organi-
laAAOh VI 1At
of the general staff. and to keep the lat
ter as far as possible upon combined po-
litical. commercial and speculative basis,
probably the best that the country could
expect under the present regime is in
volved in the new departure at the War
onice. The council OF bureau chiefs should
at least be able to secure something like
homogeneous action. Probably their COM
bined knowledge and experience Will pro-
duce common understanding among
themselves and intelligent recommenda-
tions TO the Secretary of War. Most OF
them are men of technical education and
of superior professional accomplishments.
If the head of the department, whosver he
may be- shall have the good sense to be
guided by their advice, a great many re-
cent evils and abuses may be minimized,
though there is not the slightest hope for
their eradication while the unmilitary and
disorganizing principles and methods now
applied to the administration of the SER
vice in general and particular. are per-
mitted 10 operate to its detriment If not
destruction.
The times., 1899-05-14
Poor NeMfnundlnnd-

(From the New York Commercial Advertiser.)
II Bishop Hawley, OF st. Johns. is to be credit
ed, Newfoundland is the latest candidate for an
nexation to the United States. Her credentials
however, are anything but alluring Her dispute
over French shore rights is still unsettled she is
by the ears with the Dominion Government over
variety Of matters. and She is in 4 bankrupt
condition. The United States is not an asylum
for neglected and crippled colonies OF other
powers. 1t is not looking for trouble or inviting
needless burdens. Suppose she tries Spain?
The times., 1899-05-14
The Dewey Honne.
Hrom Tho BrOoklvn Eagle, !

WT0m INC BIO0kIEn Ea9Ie.J
In this there should be no North, South,
no East, no West but national unity of spirit
and of effort What Dewey did he did primarily
for the nation, incidentally and magnidcently
for the world and assurediy Tor all the ages.
movement to place him in a home should not
go beyond the limits of his own country for its
contributors But the limit of the movement
should not be less than the limits of that coun-
try. And every State should be the active theatre
of the energies for such a movement national
in its character as the himself a precious
possession is, and as grateful and lasting in
the benefit which it will carry as his service to
humanity and to freedom, under the Stars and
Stripes
The times., 1899-05-14
Signifying. Nothing.

There may be much Republican talk and
buster against trusts in the next Congress, but
we do not expect any legislation that will inter
fere seriously with the plans and prospects of the
trusts 1t is not probable that the tariff will be
changed very materially by Republican Con-
gress. Then we shall hear from the next Repub-
liean National Convention noble antitrust blast
but II viii be all wind, and nobody will under
stand that better than the trusts themselves.
The times., 1899-05-14
Tne ure OF sinnr.

(From the Cincinnati Commercial Tribune)
At New Albany there has been inaugurated
movement to suppress the oi slang. 1t is to
be commended. though it will accomplish but
little. In fact, some slang is so trte that it
quickly becomes good English if usage makes it
good, and sometimes before it has been in circu-
lation for a year. But any step to correct the
abuse OF slang, especially the use OF meaningless
slang, should receive support from the lovers of
pure and undefiled English
The times., 1899-05-14
THE RE1NA MERCEDES SAILS.
The Former Spanish wnrship Com-
ing to Norfolk.

A dispatch received at the Navy Depart
ment yesterday afternoon from Santiago de
Cuba reported that the former spanish
cruiser Reina Mercedes bad sailed thence
yesterday. The dispatch did not give the
name OF her destination. but the contract
with the wrecking company which raised
the vessel stipulates that ate shall b. de-
livered at Norfolk. and II Is possible that
she will touch frs; In the United States al
that port. The contract provides that no
salvage shall be paid by the Government,
unless the ship is safely delivered at Nor
folk. Of1cers and crew In the employ
of the wrecking company are In charge
OF the cruiser.
The Reina Mercedes remained behind In
Santiago HerbOr when the armored cruis-
ers and torpedo boat destroyers Of Ger
vera's feet made their dash for liberty. On
the night OF July 4. a day after Cervera's
attempted escape. the Spaniards attempted
to sink the Reina Mercedes In the channel
near the narrow entrance to Santiago Har-
Dor. to prevent SIMPSONS ships from en-
tering. This imitation OF Hobson's exploit
was unsuccessful. The cruiser was seen
steaming toward the harbor entrance, and
the battleships Massachusetts, and Texas
opened fire on her. She was struck sew
eral times. and the Spaniards became SO
disconnected that they sunk ner In a place
where she did not interfere with the en-
trance of vessels from the outside. After
the surrender of Santiago she was raised.
and was repaired sufficiently TO enable her
to proceed under her own steam to the
United States. She will be thoroughly
overhauled and put in good condition at
the Norfolk navy yard.
The Reina Mercedes is a sister ship of
the cruiser Alfonso XII and Reina Cris-'
tina. The Reina Cristina was destroyed by
Dewey's squadron in Manila Bay, and the
Alfonso Mi did not leave Havana Harbor
during the war. All three vessels were
built in 1887, the Reina Mercedes at Car
tegena and the others at Ferrol. Each had
a displacement of 5000 tons. was credited
with IA knots speed at natural draft and
from 16.9 to 17.5 knots under forced draft
Each vessel carried $40 officers and men.
The times., 1899-05-14
The Errors of MnIcontents.

lrom The ST. Paul Pioneer Press)
1t was cowardly and murderous act to ex-
plOde a dynamite bomb under a Duluth street
ear. The act is not less criminal in intent be-
cause it resulted in no loss of life for the mac.
ious purpose to destroy property, even at the
risk of destroying life, was at the bottom of IT,
The dozen persons in the car might have been
all killed or so badly injured as to be made sui.
ferer5 for life. That nobody was hurt is simply
n piece of good fortune. an accident that would
not likely occur again.
The times., 1899-05-14
The Cigar Habit.
(FrOm the Boston Globe.)

Excess in the use Of tobacco does not of course
disproye the assertion that used moderately and
carefully it may act as a delicious solace and
beneficial stimulant. Gormandizing on cigars
when deeply absorbed in work is almost equiv
alent TO eating them and smoking them at the
same time There is a polite and civilized way
of smoking as well as eating The President is
said TO have been devOurer of tobacco rather
than prudent user Of it. Doubtless he has suf-
iered harm thereby.
The times., 1899-05-14
Great Women in Minnesota.
From tbe Mipneanoli, Tribune \

(FrOm Inc minneapolis Irlbune.
Two women living in the suburbs Of Crookston
went out to the barn the other morning and
nearly clubbed 10 death big black bear that
was hugging the family calf until it couldn t
bleat Tramps passing through the Crookston
neiehborhood would do well to blacklist the
houses where those women live.
The times., 1899-05-14
Discretion Not Timidity.

The frequency with which American officers, en-
gagged in reconnoitering are wounded suggests
that they do not exercise sufficient caution or
that they led to unnecessary risks by a
desire achieve a reputation for bravery. the
war is so near end that extreme caution can
in no wise reflect on the valor of our troops.
The times., 1899-05-14
The Unkindest Cut.

Wrom the Indianapolis JournaI.)
"And. by the way, brother" asked the min
lister, who had been called in to smooth the path
way of the expiring prisoner, were all those
bear stories the truthG''
The old man opened his eyes
''Parson," said he, chats a mighty mean ad
vantage to take OF dyin' man.
The times., 1899-05-14
A Recent Hunbug.

From the Philadelphia North American.)
Howson-Did you buy any war relics during
your trip to the eolonies2
iIowe-I placed orders for a few. There is
such demand for them that the factories can't
begin 10 keep the dealers supplied.
The times., 1899-05-14
Already Provided.
Hrnm Indnal

LET me sell you an encyclopedias" said the
book agent to Throckmorton. at is the best in
the market; contans-'
Il don't need encyclopaedia" replied
Throckmorton; II am married to a Boston won
an"
The times., 1899-05-14
An Improper Syndicate.

(F'rom the Princeton sign)
81 see there is some criticism because one Of
the new Congressman has three wives
''Why should there be?'
"TlSy claim he is controlled by syndicate. -
The times., 1899-05-14
CIRCULATION STATEMENT

The Advertisers Guarantee Company, of Chi
caEo. hereby certifes that it has, by its expert
examiners. proven and attested the circulation OF
TIE TIMES, of Washington d. c. The daily
average PAID circulation for the month OF March,
ls99, i0.ss2 copies.
This is GUARANTEED to the advertisers Of the
country by bond of $4,000 in the Fidelity and
Deposit Company of Maryland, deposited with the
Northwestern National Bank Of Chicago.
ADVERTISERS GUARANTEE COMPANY.
BY j. r. MASON, President
The times., 1899-05-14

Readers Of THE TINES who may at any time be
unable to procure copies Of it at any newsstand or
railroad station or railroad trains. will confer
a favor upon the management by sending to this
Office information OF the fact.
The times., 1899-05-14

THE TINES, in all its editions. Morning. Even
ing, and Sunday will be mailed TO address
for FIFTY CENTS per month. Addresses changed
often desired.
The times., 1899-05-14

Communications intended for publication in
THE TINES must be tersely and plainly written,
and must in all cases be accompanied by the
name and address OF the writer. Rejected com
rnunications will not be preserved. and only man
uscripts of obvious importance will be returned
10 their authors.
The times., 1899-05-14
SUBSCRIPTION RATES:

Monthly by Carrier:
Morning. Evening, and Sunday. ...... Fifty Cents
Morning and sunday Thirty five Cents
Evening and Sunday....,,,..Th Thirty-fye Cents
By Nail;
One Year. Morning, Evening. and Sunday. -. 5000
sIx Months Morning, Evening. and Sunday. 500
Three Months. Morning. Evening, and Sunday. LIS
One Year. Morning and Sunday 400
Six Months Morning and SUNDAY. e25
Three Months, Morning and Sunday y....-..... LIS
One Year. Evening and Sunday. 400
Six Months. Evening and Sunday.-........... rs
Three Months Evening and sunday......... l.25
Sunday only. one LOO
Orders by mail must be accompanied by sub
scriptioa pri~n.
Ni,hone Business Office lGI0
I Circulation Department. nt........ 2oJ
The times., 1899-05-14

Washington, May 12.-With four vacan-
cies in its membership. caused by the
failure of the Delaware. California, Penn
sylvania. and Utah Legislatures. respee-
lively, to choose representatives, the total
membership of the Fifty-sixth Senate will
be eighty-six. and of this number six
teen have been State Governors. They
are these Senator's.
Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1899-06-22
More Money Than He Can spend.

The average man is bothered because
he hasn't money enough to spend, but
Mr.. James F. Burns of Cripple Creek,
Col, is embarrassed for the very oppo-
site reason. 70 tell the plain truth, it
keeps Mr.. Burns-Jimmie, they call
him out West-busy devising ways to
get rid of his surplus revenue. He has
ever so much more money than he can
spend in any reasonable way. His in
come is about $4,000 a month, and,
being a bachelor with modest wants,
it can be seen that he is actually suf-
fering with a plethora Of cash.
Mr.. Burns is an agreeable, pleasant
spoken man Of about As years, and is
President of the biggest gold mine in
the world, the Portland, of which he Is
also chief owner. One month its out
put of the yellow metal was $125,O0O, or
Just one-tenth Of the entire production
of the Cripple Creek district.
Said Mr.. Burns: II have lived in Col
orado eleven years, and before that
was in Cuba for ten years. There is
lots of gold down there, but l spent a
fortune trying to get it out of the
ground. The thieving Spaniards won't
let anybody prosper down there, and
they bled me to my ruin.
Eyes, | also got my white hair down
there. I was sleeping on the ground
one night when boa constructor began
10 coil himself about my body. | man
aged to get a tight hold about his neck
and held him until companion killed
the monster. But ] was in an agony
of terror, and the shock turned my hail
to its present color"
Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1899-06-22
Both Togeher0ne Yeari0TOn|v$ I.55

In this way you your own home paper ana oil M
magazine at price that only about fourth OF wha SOME VI M
illustrated magazines sell for For three years Inc Cosmopolitan Ia.
ndspuedly claimed that reached the largest clientele poeo ny
any periodical daily weekly monthly in the world was nc
COSMOPOLITAN which sent Julian Hawthorne to India to let te "o
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The Cosmopolitan which offered prize g 900 Tor inc peS
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Cosmopolitan whose enterprise always Iii the lead IN ADVANCING ~"
worlds civilization.
We have also succeeded arranging for two additional offers IN
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After placing y0ubook table the best of the illustrated magazines
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The cheapest price which this sold at retail sl7 express
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Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1899-06-22

-HE delights of an evening spent around wel-ghted read
ing table are not half understood An illustrated magazine
with its wealth of illustrations its stories OF adventure anu
love its descriptions of travel which carry you to the reno'eS
~ d Tho earth and its instructive articles for young and od-heSe
are the first requisites for your enjoyment and the entertainment
and proper education of your children ,n
To secure for YOU the best and interesting Of the great Nus
trated magazines at the lowest possible price has been the ann OF inc
editor of this journal That we have succeeded we EaVe o
TO Judge special contract recently entered into with Inc Ooo
oon which seeks to become better known this borhood mas
enabled us to offer you years subscription the greatest OF the mus
trated magazines together with years subscription TO hS Journal
Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1899-06-22
Hobby of n Scotch Printer.

Some men have queer hobbies, and a
remarkable one is that of Glasgow
man who has spent the leisure of four
years in rewriting the Scriptures. He
is compositor, with wonderful gift
of turning out beautiful writing, and in
the time mentioned he has managed to
reach the middle of the Psalms. In
two years he anticipates that the con-
ending verses will have been written.
A feature of this remarkable Bible will
be its Illustrations. Each chapter has
its artistically designed initial letter.
and each book a pictorial heading illus
trative Of the context, The writer is
native Of Dumfrles, and in his boyhood
days ran errands for Carlyle, to whom
he carried the local morning paper.
Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1899-06-22

A GIVE SOLICITORS WANTED ev-
n. crywhere for "'The Story of the Phil
ippnes"' by Murat Halsteat, commissioned
by the government rs Official Historian to
tue War department. The book was written
in army camps at San Francisco, on the
Pacific with Gen. Merritt, in the hospitals at
Honolulu, in Hong Kong, in the American
trenches at Manila, in the insurgent camps
with Aguinaldo, on the deck of the Olympia
with Dewey, and in the roar Of battle a, the
fall of Manila. Bonanza for agents. Brlm-
full of original pictures taken by government
photographers on the spot. Large book.
Low prices. Big profits. Freight paid,
Credit gwen. Drop all trashy unofficial war
books Outfit free. Address F. L. Barber,
Scc'v Star Insurance Bldg, Chicago.
Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1899-06-22
The Baltimore weekly SUR.

The Weekly Sun publishes alls the news
of each week, giving complete accounts OF
al events OF interest throughout the world.
The Weekly Sun is unsurpassed AS an
Agricultural Paper 1t is edited by writers
of practical experience, who know what
farming means and what farmers want in an
agricultural journal 1t contains regular
reports of the work of the Agricultural eX-
pertinent stations throughout the country,
of the proceedings of farmers cubs and i'll
stitutes, and the discussion Of new methods
and ideas in agriculture. Its Market Re
ports, Poultry Department and Veterinary
column are particularly valuable to country
readers. Every issue contains Stories,
| Poems, Household and Puzzle Columns, a
variety of interesting and selected instruc.
tive matter and other features, which make
| it welcome visitor IN city and country
homes alike.
One dollar a year. Inducements to get
ters-up of clubs for the Weekly Sun. Both
| the Daily and Weekly Sun mailed free OF
postage in the United States, Canada and
Mexico. Payments invariably IN advance
A. S. ABELL COMPANY,
Publishers and Propretors,
Baltimore, Ma.
Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1899-06-22

SECRETS WELL GUARDED BY OLD
EArhea NEPTUNE.

FATHER NePtUNEs
Vessels Which Have Sailed and Nsvsr Been
Heard of-The Marie Celeste-Aa Ameri-
can Brig That Was lowed Into Port But
Her People Had All Disappeared.
When a well-found ship leaves port
and is never afterwards heard from, 1t
is put down as mystery OF the sea.
when a dead body encased in an I'm
identified life-jackSt is lifted up by the
sleepless surf and cast on the wave
worn beach, that, too, is recorded as a
mystery of the deep. The waterlogged
raft with the stump of a distress sig
nal spar pointing mutely skyward; the
battered Afeboat with the oars drag
ging from the gunwales, and the acre
of boxes and barrels and beams and
planks floating silently on the white
crests, and In the dark hollows OF the
surging sea, these are likewise called
ocean mysteries. Sometimes these
marks of shipwreck and death are
picked up by more fortunate craft and
are brought to port to be mysteries no
longer. But there are mysteries OF the
sea deeper than the plank, the crushed
lifeboat and the dead sailor. Man has
tried to fanthom them, hopelessly at
tempted to put two and two. together
that he might get at the truth. Noun
tains and valleys echo their secrets,
but the cruel old ocean never does.
There are greater secrets in old
Neptunes care than those of the MISS
ing ship. The Naronic went away and
never came back. SO did the City or
Boston, City of Glasgow, Erin, Alvo.
City of London, City of Limerick, Pres
ident, Pacific and score OF others.
Yet the disappearance Of these craft
are ordinary mysteries OF the sea. A
greater mystery still is when crew
abandons its ship and is never again
heard from, while the abandoned craft
is subsequently towed into port with
out giving the least trace of those who
had been in charge of her.
Such a case was that of the Marie
Celeste, and it is as weird and uncapny
a tale as even the Ancient Mariber'
or the Flying buchanan" aspired to
be. The remarkable disappearance or
the Celeste's crew was made the sub
iect of an extensive investigation by
the State Department in Washington,
and 1t is from these records that the
particulars herein given were obtained.
The Marie Celeste was an American
brig of over 400 tons and early in the
seventies left this port for Villefranche,
in the Mediterranean. Several months
after her departure she was toweo into
port as sound as new coin, but her
people, numbering thirteen, including
the wife and child of the skipper, have
not been heard of from that day to this.
The name Of the captain of the Marie
Celeste was Benjamin Briggs, and he
hailed from New England. In addition
to the little six-year-old daughter who
shared the fate of the crew, whatever
4 was, the captain had boy ten years
old. 1t had been his habit to take this
boy to sea with him, but on the event.
full trip in which he disappeared from
the face Of. the globe, he left his son
behind The latter has spent small
fortune in trying to ascertain what
happened to his parents and the other
people Of the brig after that vessel was
deserted; he knows as much now OF the
mystery as he did twenty years ago.
Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1899-06-22

A Wish.
Blame once attached to men who
spoke
SO frequently and at such length.
For verbiage is too oft the cloak
OF weakness rather than OF
strength.
But since the noise of battle shook
The sphere we tenant, through and
through
And sorrows rose where'cr we'd look,
Apologies are surely due.
Oh, gentle, iilibustering sprite.
No more your dizziness you rehearse.
We once regarded you with fright,
We not confess things might be
worse.
So, patriot men of north and south,
While chasing Spain and watching
France,
Make haste to close the lannon's
mouth
And give the orators chance.