davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Republican., 1899-04-13
EXPLANATION OF "SIRDAR. -
Interesting Items Concerning the
Egyptian Title Borne by
Kitchener.

In the flood of news which came in
daily over the wire recently about
Fashoda there was a constant refer
ence, an iteration and reiteration of one
word which, while persons who read
might surmise it referred proba bly, to a
title, yet had no positive proof of eX-
actly what it meant. That one word
was invariably preffXed to Sir Herbert
kitchener's name-the sirdar. Now,
what meant this word sirdar?
A quarter of a century ago. or there
abouts. at the time when Great Britain,
by right of might. and not for any
other reason, occupied Egypt and took
the sultan's khedive under its tutelate,
one of its first acts was to reorganize
the Egyptian army. British officers
were sent to Egypt and placed at the
head of native troops. These officers
drilled the troops. taught them the
manual of arms and gradually instilled
i'll them that same esprit de corps and
enthusiasm which makes the British
army itself such a compact and formid-
able body. The native troops were al
lowed to retain their colors their flags
and insignia and all the paraphernalia
of war distinctively the attribute of an
unconquered people. British states
men went further. They even allowed
the same military titles to remain. 1t
was tactful thing to do. Britain lost
nothing thereby, and the Egyptian war
riors retained all that was sentimental
ly sacred to them.
Thus, therefore, the very ancient
words, sirdar, bimbashi, jougoul, etc.
remained in the army. The sitdar of
the Egyptian army is the general in
chief. The bimbashi is major. the
jougoul a captain. Sirdar, literally il
means an officer, is as old an expression
almost as the country of the Pharaohs
itself. In Arabic the word means
"head man." There need be little
stretch OF the Imagination to see how
the tenn came to be given to the COM
mandant of the Egyptian forces.-Chi-
caro- Times Herald
The Republican., 1899-04-13
FAITHFUL TO BILL.
How Little Samoan Boy Tried to
Find an American Sailor Who
Was His Friend.

"Amatua's Sailor" in Mr.. Lloyd Os-
bourne's story in st. Nicholas, is an
American sailor named Bill, and this is
the way the young native boy Amatua
tried to find him after the great storm
at Apia, Samoa, in 1889:
When ne came back from German
town he found band playing in front
of Mr.. Moore's store, and noticed sem
tries about the place, and important
looking officers. with swords and pis-
tolls. He was told that the admiral was
upstairs, and that Mr.. Moores' house
was now the headquarters of the Amer
lean forces. A great resolution welled
up in Amatua'S heart. If there was one
man on earth that ought to know about
Bill, it was the admiral. Amatua
lodged a sentry, and, running up the
steps, he crept along the yeranda and
peeped into the room which Kimberly
had exchanged for his sea-swept cabin.
The admiral sat at a big table which
was strewn inches high with papers,
reports and charts. He was writing in
his shirt sleeves, and on the chair be-
side him lay his richly embroideredcoat
and gold-laced cap. At another table
two men were also writing; at another
a single man was nibbling a pen as he
stared at the paper before him. It re-
minded Amatua of the pastors school,
Half dozen officers stood grouped in
one corner, who were whispering to
one another, their hands resting on
their swords. 1t was all as quiet as
church, and nothing could be heard but
the scratch of pens as they raced across
the paper. Suddenly a frowning Off
Ger noticed Amatua at the door. "Or-
derly," he cried, drive away that
boy;" and Amatua was ignominieusly
The Republican., 1899-04-13
TEMPERANCE TIDINGS.

\ hog has no use for the moral law
Rams Horn.
Conservation and concentration are
much needed in the anti-liquor fight
National Advocate.
The drink traffic practically bosses
the political and commercial life of the
country Advocate.
A baboon i'm San Francisco drank
some whisky and then proceeded to
smash the mirrors. That is another
missing link between the baboon and
man. AS rule, if an honest mirror is
held up before a man, he will smash it
if he can.-Interior.
The English secretary for war has
called attention to the illegal practice
of allowing civilians to purchase liquor
at military canteens and sergeants'
messes. Such ant Infringement of the
law, he points out, renders those re-
sponsible liable to heavy penalties.
The Republican., 1899-04-13
BURGLARS IN SILK HATS.
Their Dress Impresses Servants in
Paris and They Gain Ad-
mittance.

lnnumerable complaints have reached
the Paris police of late touching the ex-
ploits of band of burglars. which had
begun operations in the Charonne dis
trict of the capital. This latest add
tion to the gangs of rogues by which
Paris is too frequently infested is chief
ly distinguished from similar asso-
Citations by the care which its mem
bers devote to their dress. They 90
about their nefarious business at
tired as dandies of the smartest cate
CORY. Their clothes are of irreproach-
able cut; they would blush to go un-
gloved, and their patent leather boots
are in themselves a sort of guarantee
Of respectability. Their crowning
glory, however, is their silk hats,
which are of the latest fashionable
shape and shine with luster it would
be hard to surpass. Thus accoutred
they have no difficulty whatever in
obtaining entrance to the houses they
propose to ransacll. In broad day
light they politely inquire of the con-
cierge whether one of his tenants is at
home, and the doorkeeper, impressed
by their magnificentappearance throws
no difficulty in the way of thew ex-
ploring at leisure the house intrusted
to his care. Well equipped with false
keys and ingeniously contrived jim
mics, they make light of locks and
bolts, and as they disdain all booty ex-
cept money and bonds, their depart
ure excites no suspicion, Last week
alone over 40 burglaries aare believed
to have been committed by this gang.
In several intances they left a note
behind them, addressed to their vic
tins, and informing them that they had
had the honor of receiving the visit Of
the silk Hat Band" So far the polio
have been outwitted by the gang.-Chi-
cago Evening News.
The Republican., 1899-04-13
THE FATHER FISH.

thousand fishes, but three or four in
stances are known where the mother
displays any affection for her young
of remains by them.
The father stations himself by the
nest and presently appears to be dining
upon the eggs; but If he is carefully
watched it will be seen that he is taxi
ing them into his mouth with the great
est care, and not swallowing them.
They are lodged in what corresponds
to the cheeks, and held there.
The eggs soon hatch, the little fishes
grow, and the countenance of Mr.. Til
apia becomes greatly swollen and
puffed out of all semblance to his
former self. He cannot begin to close
his mouth, and presents a most extra
ordinary appearance.
To accommodate and protect the
growing family, the fish submits to the
greatest inconvenience, and only per-
mits them to escape when it is phys
ical impossibility to hold them any
longer. At this time the father will un-
dergo severe treatment rather than re-
linquish his progeny. He has been
thrown out upon the beach, but still
clings to his charge, even during the
death struggles. Many of the young
remain in this singular cradle until
they are four inches in length.
The male seahorse has a little pouch
in its ventral surface, into which, in
some manner, it places the eggs of its
mate. When they are hatched and be-
come too numerous and large to con-
troll, the .seahorse presses the pouch
against a stone and gently urges them
to take their departure. At this time
they are almost invisible to the naked
eye, but in a strong beam of sunlight |
have seen them moving through the
water like myriads of minute balloons,
They grow rapidly, and are preyed upot
by myriads of fishes.-Cincinnat Com
mercial-Tribune.
The Republican., 1899-04-13
Burden of the Rich.

No sovereign is so rich as the emperor
of Russia, and no sovereign has such
heavy calls upon his purse. The Grand
Dukes Vladimir, Alexis, Serge and Paul
AleXandrovitch, as well as the Grand
Duke Michael-Nicholejevitch, as the
sons of emperors of Russia, receive
from the head of the house an annual
sum of $4,000 rubles, which, added
to their private means, makes them
very rich. The wives and widows of
Russian grand dukes receive 10000 ru-
bles, their sons 10000 rubles. 1t was
the late emperor, Alexander Ill, who
made the rule that every member of the
Russian imperial family must spend a
part of the year in Russia or else lose
third of his or her allowance.-Chi-
cago Times Herald.
The Republican., 1899-04-13
CAMELS HARBOR HATRED.
They Wait Patiently for Long TIM
Until Opportunity Arrives
for Revenge.

The arab who has angered a came
will throw his clothes upon the ground
and the infuriated beast. after stamp.
ing on them and tearing them asundel
with his teeth, goes on his way, and the
driver is thereafter quite safe, as il
seems to be an, axiom with the came
that no man shall be put in peril of life
twice for one offense.
The camel is stupid, save when angry
and then seems to become almost pre-.
ternatural in carrying out its vengefu'
designs. Palgrave relates the follow.
ing story of a camel's revenge, which
serves to illustrate this point: "a Lao
of IA had conducted large camel lader
with wood from one village to another
at half hours distance. AS the ami.
NAL loitered or turned out of the way
its conductor struck it repeatedly, and
harder than it seemed to have thought
lie had right to do. But, not finding
the occasion favorable for taking i'm.
mediate quits, it 'bode its time. That
time was not long in coming. A few
days later the same lad had to recon.
duct the beast, but unladen, to his OWL
village. When they were about half
way on the road and at some distance
from any habitation, the camel sudden.
ly stopped, looked deliberately round
in every direction to assure itself thai
no one was in sight, and, finding tht
road clear of passers-by, made a ster
forward, seized the unlucky boys head
in its monstrous mouth, and, lifting
him up in the air, flung him down again
on the earth with the upper part of his
skull completely torn off. Having thus
satisfied his revenge the brute quietly
resumed its pace toward the village as
though nothing were the matter, till
some men, who had observed the whole
though unfortunately at too great q
distance to be able to afford timely
help, came up and killed it"-London
Telegraph.
The Republican., 1899-04-13
HAS STRANGE HABITS.
A Fish Indigenous to Palestine Thht
Carries His Children in His
Big Mouth.

In the Nile there is a singular fish
that has been known from early Bible
times. 1t is dedicated to the Apostle
Simon or Peter, and is known as Til
apia Simonis, and is especially common
in Palestine and the sea or lake of
Tiberius.
Nearly all these fishes have singu-
lar method of caring for their young.
At the time of spawning the mother
fish forms d little nest among the
reeds and rushes, in which she depos-
its perhaps 200 green eggs, about the
size of shot, which she Immediately
deserts. Curiously enough, in all the
The Republican., 1899-04-13
BLIZZARD BROUGHT JOY.
Two Little Eskimo Children In New
York in High GIee Over the
Great Storm.

1t would have been impossible for
the big city to have prepared a better
reception for its little Eskimo visit
ors than the blizzard the weather man
sent. Even the polar bear Gagged in
Central park did not welcome the
frost and snow more than the two lit
tie twin girls from the ice region who
are now housed in a comfortable brick
dwelling in West Thirty-ninth street.
with their foster father, Winner w.
Bruce.
While. everyone else in the house was
half frozen Artmarhoke and Zaksriner
sought cakes Of ice and buckets of snow
in the back yard. They rolled and tum-
bled about, laughing merrily while
their pies and cakes baked" in the
frost.
30, my, I am warm, Artmarhoke!
said one.
20, dear, dear, so am I, Zaksriner, -
said the other.
To cool off they sat in the snow and
made more snow pies to freeze into ice.
Their eyes glistened like black dia-
mauds and their checks were red as
roses. Indoors people were bundled up
in wraps and seemed to think they
never would get warm, while the little
youngsters outside were happy.
Zaksriner spent two hours sewing the
other day for her baby, a blonde-haired
doll of which she is proud. and then ran
over to Capt. Bruce and asked:
These people don't have such cold
weather like this all the time?''
''No, indeed. If this would keep up no
pne would go outdoors" said Capt.
Bruce.
80, wouldn't that be nice if it was al
ways like this? Artmarhoke and !
would like it. We just love it."
But the people in this part of the
country are not used to such cold,''
said Capt. Bruce.
perhaps this weather just came for
Artmarhoke and myself. Maybe it just
followed us here. o, my. suppose-sup-
pose-it did. Then wouldn't the people
be mad, and (sadly) perhaps they
wouldn't let us stay here!"
Artmarhoke went to the Museum of
Natural History the other day. where
casts are being made of both the chill
dren. Hers is almost completed
Zaksriner remained athome
Accompanied by servant from her
home Artmarhoke went over to the
arsenal, leaving the museum, and
watched the bears snoring in their
snowlined cages.
'Zaksriner and I like the snow Just
like the bears do" said she. "Do you
get some snow for the bears in sum.
mer? | hope so. You ought to.''-N.
Y. journal.
The Republican., 1899-04-13
DAYS AND NIGHTS.

II days were only twice as long,
'Twould be a splendid thing!
Cause don't you know, fore you're quite
dressed
The breakfast-bell will ring;
And then it's time to go to school;
And then run home at noon,
And back to school; and four o'clock
Most always comes real soon;
And then you just begin to play,
And then it's time for tea:
And then, in such little while,
Your bedtime comes, you see!
If nights were only twice as long,
'Twould be a splendid thing!
Cause, don't you know, when you're
tucked up,
Sometimes your motherll sing;
And first you lie and watch the stars,
Or maybe there's a moon;
And then you get all nice and warm
And sleepy pretty soon;
And then, perhaps, you shut your eyes;
And then your mother'll say:
Have l a little boy that means
To lie in bed all day?"
Elizabeth Lincoln Gould, in Outlook
The Republican., 1899-04-13
The Typewriter,s sprend.

There are probably few even among
those who use the typewriter who have
any proper conception of the variety
and universally OF the ingenious SUBJ
stitute for the pen. Although only in
its very early youth, it has already
penetrated into every corner of the
earth. 1t has gone with invading
armies and explorers into the very
heart of Africa. Lieut.. Peary has in
troduced it to polar ice, and it has trav-
eled thousands of miles over Siberian
SHOWS. 1t travels with every army and
fleet. and it was one of the first things
rescued from the sunken Maine. Two
of the most costly typewriters belong
to the queen and czar Of Russia. They
are exquisite machines of white enamel
and gold, with keys of ivory, The queen
regent of Spain uses one for her CORE.
spondence, the khedive possesses one,
and, in fact, there is scarcely a court in
Europe where the typewriter has not &
place.-N. Y. Herald.
The Republican., 1899-04-13

Genuine hunters are apt to sneer al
any kind of trapping and declare thai
it is not sport" and perhaps it is not,
but it certainly serves a worthy pur.
pose at times. Two brothers living in
South Dakota are making more than o
handred dollars week trapping wolves
and coyotes. Liberal bounties are paid
by the state for the hides. These men
own 70 traps, and use mutton for bait.
on which is sprinkled a scent which
has the odor of musk. If the wind is
favorable this scent attracts wolves and
coyotes from miles away. They make
bee line toward the spot whence the
scent proceeds, and while shifting
around the scented meat step into the
trap and are caught.
The Republican., 1899-04-13

seized, led down stairs and thrown
roughly into the street.
Amatua cried as though his little
heart would break. He sat on the front
porch of the house, careless of the
swarming folk about him, and took a
melancholy pleasure in being jostled
and trampled on. Oh, it was a miser-
able world! Bill was gone, and anyone
could cuff little boy who wasn't big
enough to hit back He wished that he,
too, lay numbered in that pallid row
which he had so lately passed, asking
nothing, wishing nothing, but a few
spadefuls of kindly earth. More than
one sailor patted his curly head and
lifted him in the air and kissed him; but
Amatua was too sore to care for such
attentions. Cruel it was to think that
the one man alone in Samoa who knew
where to find Bill, the great chief-cap-
tain upstairs, was absolutely beyond
his power to reach. This thought was
unbearable to the little boy. He nerved
himself to try again; he recalled the
admiral's grim face, which was not un-
kindly, though sad and stern. After
all, nothing worse could befall him
than beating. Again he lodged up the
stairs like cat. Again he gazed into
that still room and listened to the ever
lasting pens. This time he was discov-
cred in an instant; the orderly pounced
at him, and Amatua, with his heart in
his mouth, rushed toward the admiral
threw himself on his knees beside him.
The old man put protecting arm
around his neck, and the orderly, foiled
in the chase, could do nothing else than
salute.
The Republican., 1899-04-13
Green Gutta-Perchn a.

This substance is now obtained from
the leaves of the caoutchouc tree, and
is said to be more durable Than that
procured by cutting into the stem of
the tree, Unlike the ordinary product,
it does not require an expensive process
of publication, so that its cost is cheap
eneG. In France green gutta-percha is
now being employed in the construc-
ton of submarine cables.-Youth's s
COmnnninn
The Republican., 1899-04-13
A Phenomenal Phenomenon.

''Mither," said little Scotch lassie,
''dae ye ken what phenomenon is?"
Eyes, dear, l can tell ye that. Dae
ye see yon coo in the field? Weel, that's
no phenomenon. Dae ye see yon tree ?"
"Ay, mither, | see the tree"
'Weel, that's no phenomenon, but
when you see yon coo climbing up yon
tree with its tail foremost that'll be
q phenomenon. Chicago Journal.
The Republican., 1899-04-13

One of the members of the Massa-
chusetts board of pharmacy is reported
10 have said that the sales of liquor
in drug stores have decreased 60 per
cent. since the board has certified tu
the fitness of applicants for druggists
licenses. Liquor drummers now find
little profit in drug trade. There should
be just such board for the entire ma
tionL-Christian Work.
The Republican., 1899-04-13
The Paragrapher's Baby.

cts funny l can't trust you with
baby for short half hour without your
doing something ridiculous. What on
earth did you carry him up in the attic
for?"
"Just for high bawl, my love-
Cleveland Plain Dealer.
The Republican., 1899-04-13
A. He Remembered IT.

"Tll be along in about Is minutes
said the doctor. What does your Ia
ther think is the matter with him."
Hes afraid Eu's gettin' the amen.
dicits," replied Johnny.-Chicago Trib.
une.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-05-28

test. Sigismund is drugged with opiates and
secretly carried to the palace at Warsaw. The
King has prepared the Court for his reception
by making a full confession of his plot against
the Prince and OF the doubts which are tor
menting him.
In this way the ground is cleared in the sec
ond act for a scene resembling in essential idea
the introduction to THE Tanning OF the Shrew,"
which Mr. DAILY has wisely insisted upon re-
storing whenever he has produced the comedy
in England America The Prince, awakening
from his trance, finds himself in regal robes
with a swarm OF Court attendants to wait upon
him and to offer homage TO him. At first be-
wildered by his new environment. he regards
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-05-28

Of humor to light up the gloom. Bas)o. King
OF Poland, whose wife has died in giving birth
to a son, consults the stars and is warned that
the heir to the throne will be monster and an
enemy OF his country. Announcing the death
of this child the King hides him IN a gloomy
tower among cavernous cliffs, where he passes
from neglected childhood to desolate youth un-
der the charge Of a jailer. General Clotaldo.
The first act reveals the prisoner, Sigismund,
wearing his chains. unconscious Of his high
birth and the fateful reading OF the stars. and
rebelng against solitude bIighted youth and
the mysteries Of his lot The King, harassed by
doubts respecting the original prophecy from
the stars. decides to subject 1t to a practical
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-05-28
THE END IN SIGHT.
MORE OF THE THEATRES CLOSING-FEW
PLAYS SURVIVE, AND THEY WILL
SOON BE FEWER

The list OF open theatres is rapidly thinning.
There were numerous dark doorways along
| Broadway last week. and there will be more this
week and next week There will be almost
nothing more new till the new things that begin
to arrive customary about the latter part OF
the summer A few Of the sturdiest of the
present plays will continue for few weeks.
and then it will all be over.
One of the sturdiest, surely, Is THE Great
Ruby" This melodrama is nearing its both
performance at Days Theatre, and it is not
done its course yet. 1t still draws good audi
ences and people from out Of town still
lured by its fame 1t will be one of the latest
plays to stay, it already has one of the
longest runs of the season to its credit
The farce His Excei,ency the Governor has
also good chance of life though ii started so
late in the season that the hot weather may do
it harm before it has had time for really long
run. 1t had only two weeks at the Lyceum The
atre, drawing crowded houses all the time, and
now it has been doing the same for week at
the Empire No doubt it will continue to do so
as long as such a thing is possible for any play.
''Ermnie" will stay little longer at the
Casino, where it is so familiar 1t is per-
Torrance that recalls old days and 1t has many
persons in the cast who have long been stars of
operetta. special matinee is announced for
Memorial Day.
Mrs. Leslie Carter and her company viii play
'Zaza" at the Garrick Theatre for time longer.
The 15Oth performance will be celebrated on
June 8.
Chauncey Olcott will spend a final week in
New-York at the Grand Opera House, closing
the season Of that theatre and his own. He VIII
play "A Romance OF Athlone" and will sing his
songs.