davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-12-02

devoted considerable time to the advance
ment of musical interests here, having been
a director in the Capital Glee Club and the
Choral Society and is now member OF
the Damrosch Society. Mr.. Treanors posi-
ton of responsibility with Woodward q
Lothrop gives him the necessary experience
to handle the finances of the Musical Art
Society successfully, and his inherited love
for music makes the task of doing so
pleasing one to him.
Mr. Eugene E. Stevens, the secretary of
the society and chairman of the chorus
committee, has had n wide and useful ex-
perience in musical work. He is perhaps
best known in musical circles from his long
connection with the Choral Society, in
which he was actively interested in various
capacities for over nine years. He was also
the first president of the old Capital Glee
Club, and Is now president OF the Dam
rosch Society. with which he has been iden-
titled for two years. During an absence OF
two years at his native city he was mem
Der of the executive committee of the
Cleveland Vocal Society, an old and very
successful choral organization with very
high standard of membership. His local
choir connection has been chiefly with the
Church of the Reformation, where he has
been basso and director for three years. In
business life Mr.. Stevens Is a member OF
the District bar, interested principally in
departmental practice as senior member of
the firm of Milo B. Stevens & Co, attor-
neys. He is a graduate of the law school
of GEORGETOWN University, class of 1888,
with postgraduate degree conferred in 1888
Mr. Stevens has Travelled extensively
abroad in 1889 and 1891, and furnished The
Star a series of letters on his wheeling eX-
perience while engaged in trip around the
world.
Mr.. William Waldecker. musical director
of the Musical Art Society, is a graduate
of the Royal Conservatory of Leipzig and
received the diploma of that institution at
ter but two years study. This distinction
is usually granted only after three years
study. During his course at Leipzig he
studied under Louis Mass, DR.. Oscar Paul,
Carl Reineke Ernest Richter and Carl
Piutti. Returning to Washington he de-
voted himself to teaching and concert play
ing and appeared with such artists as ole
Bull, Ovid Musin, Jules Levy Henrietta
Beebe. Emma Thursby, Theodore Toedt
and Anton Schott. He has held several po-
sitlOns as organist in both Catholic and
Protestant churches, and was the organist
of the old Philharmonic Society. During
Mr.. Waldecker's administration director
of the Saengerbund of this city that Or
ganization won prize at the Newark sing
ing festival. in 1891 and was pronounced
by Van der Stucken to be the best drilled
body in the northeastern confederation of
German singing societies. which includes
about one hundreds clubs. Mr. Waldecker
was selected as musical director of the
large peace jubilee chorus, and under his
baton the orchestra and chorus rendered
an excellent program.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-12-02
A Narrow Escape.
The Endurance of the Moose.

From the Lewiston Journal.
While the peculiar pacing gait of a moose
will not carry him over the ground as rap
idly as the deer or caribou, his endurance
far surpasses that of either of these ami
mails. For short squirt or in very deep
snow the caribou can easily discount the
moose, but for an all days jaunt, where
the course Is fairly open, the moose has no
rival. Many years ago when Sir Edmund
Head was governor Of the province he
owned tanned moose that performed re-
markable feats Of speed and endurance
On one occasion the governor wagered $500
that his moose could travel from Frederic
ton to st. John over the Ice, a distance of
eghty-four miles, in faster time than any
team of horses in the stud of Lord Hill Of
the SD Regiment. A sledge was attached to
the moose and another to the horses. The
river Ice was covered with about eight
inches of snow. The start was made op-
posite Government House at o'clock in
the morning. In seven hours the moose
and his driver were in Market square, St.
John. Lord Hills team was distanced, one
of the horses expiring at Gagetown, and the
other reaching st. John three hours behind
the moose
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-12-02

India; thin disks Of lacquer cardboard.
nirety-siN in the pack. The backs are
plain red and the faces have suit marks pl
grounds Of different colars. Their are
eight suits, derived from he compass
points, twelve cards in each. ten mineral
and two court cards. Probably tho most
valuable set Of cards in the collection l.
one from Persia. There were originally
sixty in the pack but ten were sacrificed
in getting them apart, for when they came
into Mr.. Culin : possession they W.T." -
one solid block of cardboard. just what
made them stick is not known. hut il WAS
on account of their condition that they
were bought from a Persian at the worlds
fair in Chicago, at an extremely low figure.
The only way to separate ;hem was by
saving through each card; that is, hy
dividing the fronts from the backs uhls
was done with an extremely fine saw. ana
then scrapng each back very carefully
from the face Of the next card To which 81
had adhered 1t was a very delicate upeT-
alton, and ten of the cards were destroyed
but il was well worth The effort as The set
is valued at several hundreds of dollars
The cards in this pack are only about two
inches long. hut are very thick. The faces
have pictures painted on gold fuI and
lacquer ana represent tho shah. queen.
princess, Cuphearer. dancing girl and rha
arms of Persia. fifteen picjUre- ia all. and
five OF each suit. These cards hava prac-
tically disappeared from Persia. Those
used today are nearly all from Russia
Slams contribution consists ~ ID deck -
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-12-02
ORIGIN OF GAME S
Not at First Intended as a Source of
Amusement.
DlVlHATION And FORTUNE TELLING
An Interesting Collection at the
National Museum.
9 [ f Z r PLA Y | y Or CA i d :
Q L f ER PLAYING GARD :

Written FOR The Evening star.
In quiet corner of the National Museum
is the largest collection of games in this
country and next to the largest in the
world. In it are represented nearly all OF
the games and amusements from the carl-
est times to the present. They range from
simple painted sticks to pack of world :
fair cards with Director General Davis
for the kings" and Mrs. Potter Palmer
the queens" and the Goddess OF Liberty
for the Jacks"
The larger part OF the collection, the prop
erty of Mr. Stewart Cuiin OF Philadelphia.
was collected by him during his travels.
1t comprises several thousand packs of
cards alone. and is valued at many thou
sands of dollars Besides cards there are
chess, parcheesi-boards, checkers. dice DOM
inoes and kindred games from the four
quarters of the globe. The chessmen range
from nuts and bits of shell from darkest
Africa to beaHtifully-C ivory figures
Of elephants and warriors two or three
inches tall from Siam and China. While
this collection is of extreme interest as an
exhibit, by far its greatest value Is in SHOW
ing the origin and growth of the games
represented. Mr.. Cuiin has probably deVot-
ed more scientific study to the subject than
any other person living or dead. He has
arrived at conclusions never before eX-
Dlolteu ACCORDING to these conclusions
games were not invented for amusement
and pastime, but were used originally for
purposes Of divination or fortune telling.
practiced at one time or another by the
whole world.
This system of divination was founded
on the almost universal custom of primitive
people to assign all things to the four
quarters of the globe White was usually
assigned 10 the north. and so the moon
silver and all white objects, and in fact
everything suggesting white or silver was
supposed to be related to the north. Red
and red objects represented the south: 50
everything in nature was divided. Animals.
plants, the stars. cOlors and even the tones
of the voice belong 70 the north south.
east or west. in COrea today the people
are officially enrolled according TO the
points of the compass. When boy arrives
at the age Of fifteen years he has a name
tablet cut, which be carries during his life.
1t is inscribed with his name and the
world quarter to which he belongs. When
the Corean army is marshaled its banners
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-12-02

N many cities. but not here We had no
hall with an organ in it The Musical Art
Society aims 10 accomplish these ends IL
as true II will need more than the rendition
Of its programs to build concert hall
but its hopes are that public spirited citi-
zeus will rec gniZe its efforts as worthy of
support The Musical Art Society is now
engaged in the study OF the beautiful Verdi
Requiem. which is announced for its first
concert Sunday evening, January u. at
the National Theater, with the full orches-
ira which has been gotten together in this
city. This orchestra of about forty mem
bers includes all the parts which hereto
fore ii has been impossible to procure here.
They will be well rehearsed under the
capable direction of Mr. Waldecker, and
their support Of the voices will add greatly
TO the beauty Of the work. The society
to 100 voices. and have secured a quartet
for the solo parts. including Mime. Glenn
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-12-02
ID. Il. Pfeiner,
President.

The choral works Of the masters; fifth.
Sunday performances If sacred OratpriO be
selected and while the present conditions
- 10 available music hall continue: sixth,
social features to a degree and extent that
may be desired by the membership.
The board Of management. consisting of
eleven members, is as follows: President.
ID. G. P1eiffer, vice president. w. SiIas
treasurer. Jacob Scharf; financial secre-
tary, r c. J. TTeanOr; chorus secretary,
Miss Elizabeth Tyler; librarian, E. II.
Parry: Mrs H. II. Mills. Miss Jennie Glen
nor Simonds- Mr.; William Waidecker
was chosen as musical director and Miss
Glenuan as accompauist.
Its Two Purposes.
The Musical Art Society has for its chief
aim the accomplishing Of two purposes.
These are two of Washington's needs in
the musical line which 1t may surprise
some 10 realize are lacking in the national
capital a symphony orchestra and q music
hall
Since thu old Georgetown orchestra dis
banded there has been no orchestral or
gaNlzatiDu in this city We are well sun
Piled with bands of brass and reed: the
Marine Band. Haieys Band. First Brigade
Band ana others gapa Die of doing parade
and outdoor concert music on short notice
but not one organized. rehearS-d orchestra
In the true sense OF h. term cana biz. Of
rendering an orchestral program Of inter-
est There Is now IN his CITY he material
for iirst-cla-s orchestra. Much that was
lacking a year ago has been brought in
since tn" Marine Band has been improved
III condition and numbers It needs but
thr encouragement proposed by the MuSl-
cal Art Society to form and bring to the
'front.' a fully equipped symphony orchestra
The need Of music hall is Iam-ntable, in
deed. For years the regular visits to
Washington by tho Boston Sympheny Or
ch@Stra furnished music lovers with rare
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-12-02

PURPOSES OF TEE ORGANIZATION
OFFICERS AND DIRECTOR

Toward tho close ot last season a modest
circular was received through the mail by
a number of the better class of local
singers calling for meeting to be held
ct SheIdon's Hall ON F street. for the pur-
pos, Of organizing Il new musical society
for the rendition Of high-claSs choral
music The circular was signed by about
g half dozen names well known in the field
Of local music. and it had the effect OF
calling together quite gathering of church
singers and directors of choir and choral
music generally. From this was started
the organiza ton which has become the
Musical Art Society. and which is now
actively engaged I'm rehearsals.
The cardinal principles Of the new So
ciety as set forth in its circulars are: First,
q high musical standard of membership;
second. a membership representative of the
musical life and work of the District: third,
the predominauce and control in the organi-
cation of the younger musical element;
fourth, the study and public rendition of
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-12-02
Origin of Playing Cards.

Another method used in China and other
countries was described by Confucius. BY
this method the arrows, instead of being
tossed into the air, Were divided among
the various chiefs, after being shuffied, and
results were obtained by the combinations
of the marking on the arrows. This in
reality was the origin of playing cards.
1t is Interesting to know that the Ha.dah
Indians of Alaska are today playing cards,
not with cards, but with little round sticks
about the size of a half-used lead pencil
These sticks are an abbreviation of the
ancient arrows formerly used and bear the
same markings They represent series
of figures supposed to preside over the four
points of the compass and the seasons.
There are thirty-two of these sticks in
the "Haidah'' deck, and the game is played
by number of persons. The dealer sits
on the ground and with great ceremony
shakes the carved sticks out of the leather
bag in which they are kept. He then draws
them out, one by one, without looking, and
passes them to the players in front of him.
Each device counts certain number and
the winning is by high or low, according
to the sticks held. The cards of Corea
also show their descent from the arrow,
being very long and narrow strips of pa
per. There are eighty strips to the pack,
marked from one to ten of eight suits. The
numbers are none other than cuts in the
arrow feathers. which In ancient times de-
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-12-02
European Cards.

European Cards.
The origin of European cards Is extreme
lyobscure. Some authorities claim that they
were invented in Europe, and others th1t
they came from China or were introduced
by the Arabs or gypsies. At any rate. the
earliest We're Of two kinds. One pack con-
sisted of from thirty-two to Gfty-s.N cards
comprising four suits each composed of A
series of numeral and court or coate cards
The other variety, called tarUts In France
and tarocChi in Italy. had about twenty
two cards more, very elaboratcly decorated
with neurological and historical oharaC-
tiers. The latter are supposed 10 be the
earlier of the two. They are the kind
largely used by fortune tellerS all over the
world at the present time, and are sup
posed to possess virtues that do not exist
in other cards NJ. Cort de Gcbelin, a
great French mystic of the last century.
claimed that they were derived from the
secret books Of Egypt, and contained all
the mysteries of oriental wisdom.
The first pack Of cards made in America
is still in existence in the archives Of Sc
Vile They date back to l3S', and we're
copied by the Indians Of Mexico after those
brought over by the Spanish conqusrors.
Political Packs.
Most Of the modern American cards in
the collection are freaks made during the
political campaigns OF past times. one Of
three packs made in 1919 has a series OF
comic pictures for the court cards. Uncle
Sam, as the Jack of hearts. IS represented
with a cigar i'm his fingers. a sqgint I'm his
eye and silver dollar under his arm.
Another political pack Of 1855 has char
acteriStIcs OF the prominent politicians OF
the time. Cleveland Is waving a reform
/, banner. Thurman is displaying "a bandaHna
and Foraker is engaged in waving the
bloody shirt. Still another IS pack has the
portraits OF the opposing presidential candi-
dates, the governors and the number Of
electoral votes cast by each state. There
We're d number OF styles made and used
during the war In one OF these the suit
marks are stars the Union flag shield with
banners and the Coat-of-arms OF America.
The kings are infantry officers in fuT uni
form, the queens the Goddess Of Liberty
and the knaves artillery officers
Another war pack has portraits of the
Union generals in the center. and a con-
federate pack made in England in co has
the flags and seal of the confederacy on
the back
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-12-02
How Games Started.


SO long as primitive man had to do with
material things and the natural phenomena
of nature he required no assistance outside
Of his own intellect IN giving them their
proper places, but when he came to classify
fmmaterial things and future events, the
outcome of a battle or the direction of an
enemy, he had TO call on outside agencies
for help. This help was obtained through
diynation or fortune telling. To this prac-
tice of magic Mr.. Culin has traced the orr
gin of all games. To illustrate we will say
a hunting party was about TO start out and
wished to know in which direction the
game was to be found and what success
would attend the chase. The chiefs of the
tribe would meet in solemn council, and
with his particular direction, north, south,
east or west.
The bundle was then tossed into the air
and counted according to the way the ar
rows fell. The number or combination was
then interpreted by reference to rude
chart representing the world and compass
points, very much the same way people
nowadays tell fortunes by card combina-
ton with reference TO a book or key. This
chart Of the world was the original chess
or parcheesi board, and IN former times
many battles We're probably fought to a
finish according to the outcome of a game
of chess. Look at your parcheesi board
and you will notice the four directions in
Dictated by the four armed cross in the
center.
These arrows thrown or shot into the air
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-12-02
A EntaI Opportunity.

From the Chicago Record
Did that bottle of medicine do your aunt
any good?"
mo; as soon as she read the wrapper
she got three new diseases"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-12-02

were the originals of all things tossed, such
as dice, Tipping the coin, heads or tails,
&c, and the CULVER from which the arrows
were thrown was the ancestor of the dice
cup.
This method of divination was practical
way back In Bible times In Ezekiel we
areStold that the king of Babylon stood at
the parting of the way, at the head of the
two ways, to use divination; he made his
arrows bright. he consulted with images
he looked in the liver. At his right was
the divination for Jerusalem, to appoint
captains, to appoint battering rams against
the gates, to cast mount and to build a
fort
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-12-02

From the indianapolis JourDal.
Visitor-"You say those two Hill brothers
are deaf and dumb?'
Native-"Yaas. We alters call EN- the~
two Hills without q holleT."
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-12-02
sunday Night Concerts.

entine De We're. Theodore Van YORK and
Myron Whitney, jr.
Sunday Night Concerts.
For more than five years past there has
been more or less discussion in musical
circles Of the subject of Sunday evening
concerts owing to the practical difficulties
in the way of weekday evenings, the CEN
tTal obstacle being the absence of a suita-
bic music hail.
Local custom has seemed to stand in the
way of any pronounced departure from
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-12-02
ARROW MARKS ON
Q.( J ! ! (. ( I. | [
KOREAN CARDS +
{{([(ttt

bear the colorS which represent the COM
pass points; each wing having its appro-
pirate color. Seoul, its capital, is divided
into five wards, representing the four quar-
tiers and the center of the universe. Corean
jails have also the same divisions
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-12-02
How to Go Underground.

IF one wishes to do any extensive
amount of underground exploration" says
NJ Martel, at is necessary to have spe-
cial outfit Most underground caverns are
reached by nearly perpendicular descents
from the surface. These are usually mar
row and rough and frequently more or less
choked with debris. Therefore the first
thing necessary is system of ropes for
scaling the precipitous descents. The ropes
that | use are two-thfrds of an inch in d.
ameter. 1t is necessary to make them large
and strong, otherwise they would be frayed
out by contact with the sharp edges of the
rocks and might give the. explorer a fall
that would mean certain death.
las a matter OF precaution In making
such deseents one should have an extra
safety line about his waist For myself, 1
use rope ladders as they are more COM
Portable than mere knotted ropes and can
be assembled more easily The greatest
descent I have ever made required 140
yards of these ladders.
1.-The costume which 1 have adopted for
my work consists Of tough sail cloth, frock
and trousers Sail cloth does not wet
through and is not easily torn by con-
tact with the rocks. l wear q hat of waXed
leather, which l have found to be the best
protection against falling pieces of rock.
MY jacket contains as many pockets as
1t can accommodate. and in these I carry
a small hammer, my signal whistle, match
es, a flask of rum, a flint and a steel and
candles, while the repair bag slung over
my shoulder contains an extra telephone
receiver q use a portable telephone for
communicating with the surface), cords, a
| plumb line, thermometer and barometer,
l medicines and bandages to be used in case
The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1899-07-05
FIVE DROWNED.
Members tf 18th Infantry Lose
Their Lives in Pasig River.

Victoria, b. G.. June IS
Details of the drowning Of five
men of Company G., 18th infantry,
|. 5. ~, in the Pasig river June
Sd, were brought from the Orient
by the steamer Empress Of China.
A number of soldiers under the
direction of an officer was crossing
the river on q small raft made of
bamboo lashed over small boats.
The men were crossing in regu-
lar squads, but ut the time of the
accident the raft was overloaded
and rapidly filled until it sank
about ten feet from the bank. The
water was full of struggling men,
lighting against the swift current
and heavy equipments and before
they could be rescued, five had
gone down for the last time.
-Four bodies have been recover
ed, as follows: Corporal f Her
man, Jasper l. Whims, NeIs An
derson, Joseph L Nuncville.
They were buried in the new
national cemetery adjoining the
old Spanish cemetery. Since Feb
ruary 5th, 256 soldiers in all have
been buried there. Within each
coffin is placed a corked bottle
containing details and cause of
death.
The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1899-07-05
GREAT DAMAGE IN TEXAS.
Several Storms Cause Floods
Negroes Drowned-Crops In>
jured.

Houston, Texas, June 30
The remarkable heavy rains of
the past four days in Texas have
done damage which will amount
to hundreds of thousands Of dol =
lars. Railroad traffic is suspended
in south Texas because of the
humorous washouts and many
bridges are gone. Every stream
in this section Of the State is above
h'gh water mark, and the angry
waters have DESTROYED thousands
of acres of cotton, corn and cane,
besides houses and cattle.
At Calvert the rise was SO sud-
den that when the river went
through the town several negroes
were drowned, and five bodies
have been recovered. 1t is re-
ported that many farmers, white
and colorcd, living in tho Brazos
bottoms have been drowned, but
neither names nor particulars are
yet obtalnabIe. The Big and
Little Brazos rivers have joined
the Navasota where they are ordi-
nariIy three miles apart, and the
whole country between, mostly
cotton aud corn land, is ruined.
1t is reliably stated that one family
OF six persons persisted.
The loss in cotton and corn
alone will reach million dollars.
while another million will not
cover the loss to railroads and
other property.