davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Omaha daily bee., 1899-11-26

these conditions exist these mixtures have
the ability to do more damage to buildings
than would be done by the disntegration of
an equivalent amount of dynamite or fulm-
nate. In the case of the more powerful eX
plosives their particles are simply shaken
apart and resolved into gases with an ac-
tion so sudden that the air itself offers as
much resistance as more solid substances.
The manifest effect is to shatter the harder
substances, but only within small area.
The slower explosions produced by the re-
lease of gases by combustion and their ex-
pansion by the resultant heat, get time to
spread their effects over a wide area and
hence their wrecking effects upon building
when the explosion takes place within.
. Only few weeks ago house In East
Fifty-sixth street was wrecked by an ex-
plosion Of gas that had leaked into it over
night from broken street main. Its walls,
front and rear, were blown completely out
at the lower story and stripped above and
the workman who unwittingly started the
explosion was found dead within the base
ment door where he had evidently stood
while he lit a match. That accidents of this
kind are not preventabe so long as men will
light matches or take lamp to look for a
gas leak, is evident, but those in flour mills
and other manufactures where the danger is
known, ought to be made impossible through
the provision Of ample ventilation and the ex-
clusion of all fire or spark producing devices,
Is clear. Suitable precautions have made the
manufacture of gunpowder almost as safe as
stone crushing, and the like would be true
Of the manufacture of smokeess powder and
nitroglycerine If 1t were not for the un-
stable chemical character of the materials
during parts of the process.
Omaha daily bee., 1899-11-26
How Different Countries
Treat Their Soldiers

With the United States at war in the
Philippines, England at war with the Beers
and every great nation anxiously scanning
It's military equipment, the life OF a soldier
possesses, at this time, a peculiar and per-
sonal interest to all people, relates the
Detroit Free Press The great armies of the
United States. England, Germany and France
are on paper merely military bodies moved
about at the will of commanding generals.
but these armies are composed Of units.
Each unit Is an individual who thinks for
himself. suffers or enjoys to the limit of
human capacity, and who has strong ties
binding him to one or more persons in the
noncombatant force of the nation These
units come and go from civil life. Their i'm
pressons are spread broadcast and they en-
thuse prejudice the people as a whole,
according to personal experiences. This is
more particularly true OF armies where the
service is voluntary. as in the case of Eng
land and the United States. and in these
countries public criticism OF government in
stitutions Is not crime, in fact. It is rather
encouraged.
The rank and file OF an army Is it's
strength. The forced draft does not produce
soldiers with high ideals. The volunteer. as
a rule, is inspired by something more than
the desire to feed at public expense. He is q
citizen, patriot, willing defender of his
country's policy. One way in which this is
recognized is in the treatment Of its soldiers
by various nations. The private in the
American army has at times been short Of
food, without shelter and without hospitals
but such occasions have arisen from lack Of
system or intelligence, not from lack Of in
tention or desire to furnish the best The
American soldier gets double the pay OF any
other soldier In the world He Is as we'll or
better fed, as well clothed and as carefully
equipped His life, In times OF stress, is no
holiday, but as compared to the life of pri-
vate soldiers In foreign armies, he Is a
highly favored individual
An Unfortunate Change.
It was not long ago that a lieutenant in
the American army resigned his commission
under stress and desiring to hide himself
enlisted In the British army under an as
sumed name as private. After serving
three months In one of the crack English
regiments stationed at one OF the most de-
slrable posts in England he wrote to a friend
In the United States: "The life OF a private
In the American army is heaven compared
to the hell endured by private in the
British army" This lieutenant was a good
soldier one OF the best drill masters In his
regiment and he had come into bis American
commission from the ranks. 80 his opinion
Omaha daily bee., 1899-11-26

was worth noting. With all that the life of
the British private is still far preferable to
that Of the private in the German, French,
Austrian, Russian or Italian armies. The
English soldier Is paid "a cents a day and
this is princely sum compared to what the
soldiers get on the continent. The differ
ence Is shown in the total cost of keeping
these armies, for while the United States
formerly paid $51 100000 to support an army
of 5000 men, England paid but $4,000. 900 to
support over 100000. Germany paid still
less in proportion and Russia the smallest
per capita of all.
prominent American army officer who
has been abroad recently has said that Eng
land has reached the limit of her military
strength in time of peace and that the pay
of soldiers would have to be increased or
enforced military service would have to be
made. This point was passed long ago by
continental Europe and there are many
significant things which tend to corroborate
the prophecy as to England Matters Of this
kind cannot be Judged in time of war, for
all men willingly go to the relief of their
flag when its ascendency is threatened. The
peace basis is the only safe estimate of a
countrys real strength in the guarding Of
It's possessions against possible and not
active foes.
In Britain's Army.
In addition to smaller paw the English
soldier does not get such good care as does
the American soldier. This is shown in a
most interesting way in a new book called
"The Queens Service, or the Real Tommy
Atkins" by Horace Wyndham, who served
several years as private in the English
army. The book Is simple recital Of
Wyndham's career from the time he enlisted
to his discharge. There are no attempts at
literary flights nor does he spend much time
in moralizing The impression gathered from
the book is that the English army is drawn
from a very difficult class of men so far as
good citizenship Is concerned, that they are
licked into excellent soldiers and make good
fighters, The author also complains Of the
small pay, scanty food, poor shelter and in
adequate clothing furnished, and as COM
pared with these things as found in the
American army his complaints seem justin
able
1t takes a war to test an army no matter
how perfect II may appear in time of peace,
and Englands army has been mainly one Of
occupation, The old saying that a soldier is
lucky II he gets six months OF fighting In
twelve years OF service is we'll illustrated
with the English army, for comparatively
few OF It's men or junior officers have ever
Omaha daily bee., 1899-11-26
Justified

Detroit Journal: Yes, she had sent the
other woman the poisoned caramels through
the mails; she did not deny it.
II hated her!" cried the defendant, her
dark eyes flaming Indignantly. II had rea-
son! For once We went shopping together
and l insisted on paying the car fares for
both of us and she let mel"
Here her voice rose to shrek, while the
jury, composed entirely of women. burst into
tears and brought in verdict of not guilty
without leaving their seats.
Omaha daily bee., 1899-11-26

OF LEON. Ia.
seen service, notwithstanding England's s
armed supremacy.
The Dreyfus case has attracted wide at
tention this year to the French army, and
its officers, staff and line, have been severely
criticised. In his book Trooper 3809"
Lionel Decle tells a story of the life of the
French private. He brings out most vividly
the details of poor pay, wretched clothes and
food, unequal punishment favoritism, and
sums up the condition of the military arm
Of France as follows:
In the French Army.
"Yet how does the case really stand? Are
these armed multitudes as formidable as
mere arithmetic would have us think?
France, for instance, prides herself upon be-
ing able to put in the field millions of trained
men. What does this boast amount to-?
Upon the outbreak of war, in these days Of
rapid mobilization, much-perhaps all
would depend upon the troops first in the
field. And these troops, upon whose behavior
in the brunt of sudden battle the salvation
of their country might depend, would be-
not a body of well-trained fighting men,
leavened with veterans, and relying upon
their leaders with glad confidence-but a
crowd of half-taught lads, lacking in thews
as well as training, and led-or driven-to
battle by officers whom either they have
never seen until the day of conflict, or whom
they know-and hate.
las for the reserves, suffice 1t to say that
officers Of the active army refuse to regard
them seriously, and consider them merely In
the light of civilians playing at soldering.
The officers of the reserves (for the most
Tod
military education worthy of the name. The
noncommissioned officers and men consider
the month they have to serve every other
year hateful episode. Awkward in their
unaccustomed uniforms, they do not even
look like soldiers, and 1t would take months
of training to convert them into such once
more. In point of efficiency they are, of
course, far inferior to our volunteers
But behind these stands yet another line
of defense-the territorial army and its re-
serve-an army composed of men who have
a faint recollection that they once were
drilled. There Is something pathetic as we'll
as absurd in pcturing these middle-aged
citizens In time of war clad in antiquated
uniforms, handling unaccustomed weapons
and painfully IL conscientiSusly struggling
to acquire a knowledge of new regulations
and modern drill. To sum all up 1t may be
true that Providence is still on the side of
the big battalions, but chiefly, we think.
when these battalions are well oficered. we'll
trained and animated with all the virtues of
the soldiers"
The American military system has serious
defects, which have been brought clearly
to light in the recent war. These are defects
which can and will undoubtedly be remedied;
but there are no defects in the material Of
Omaha daily bee., 1899-11-26
Anything for Peace

Cleveland Plain Dealer: The peppery little
man hoped around the famous prlzefghter.
You're big bundle Of nothing" he
snarled. 81 dare you to strike me-
The big prizefghter shook his head. He
didn't want to run any chances of injuring
himself in a barroom broil
You're yellow dog" shrieked the little
man.
"Im yellow pug" said the big man
quietly. Then he walked away.
Omaha daily bee., 1899-11-26

which the army is made or in the spirit
which animates it. 1t is not too much to
say that the standard of material and the
strength of the spirit are kept at the highest
and most effective point by intelligen: and
liberal treatment of the privates. This is
so much more intelligent and so much more
liberal than in any other army in the world
that there is no comparison.
Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1899-02-25
River, Harbor and Canal Bill.

The river and harbor bill as report
ed to the Senate carries an appro-
priation of about $42,0O0,0O0, which
sum largely exceeds any approprla--
ton ever made before for rivers and
harbors. Seventeen years ago an ap-
preparation of $18,000,000 for such
objects excited general indignation
throughout the country, but such
amounts are now little noticed, SO
prevalent is the fashion Of waste and
extravaganza. But the appropria-
ton now proposed is extraordinary
even in comparison with very recent
records. In 1890 there was no appro
priation for rivers and harbors; IN
1891. S25, 136. 295; in 1892, So. 951 200; in
1893 $22 .O6S, 21S; in 1894, SD, 166, 1853; in
1895, $40, O43, 1870; in 1896, ST.. 1852, 115;in
1897, SIS, 914,14S; in 1898, $19,266, 4l2.
The enormity of the total for 1899 is
all the more striking in the fact that
it comes at time when a deficit is in
sight. To add to the burden, the
Senate committee in charge OF the
bill has added to the provision for
rivers and harbors large amount
for the construction of the Nicaragua
canal. The parties interested in the
canal are determined to get it to the
front. But it may be doubted whether
the canal bill can be successfully tack
ed to another bill which is already
over weighted. Both bills may fail by
reason of their conjunction II their
opponents are determined men,
Baltimore Sun.
Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1899-02-25
The Billion>and-a-HaIf Congress

One of the striking evidences as to
one direction in which we are going
is furnished by the apparently au-
thoritative announcement Of yester>
DAYS dispatches that this Congress,
just drawing to close, will knock
the four preceding billion dollar Con
crosses into a condition of speechless
idiocy by making its record as a bill
lion-and-a-half Congress. The total
appropriations is stated at 81 ,567, 800,
900.
OF this total $500, 900, 900 is stated to
be for the expenses of the war, and
it may be said, in passing that point,
that this is the biggest record of ex-
penditure ever known for three
months war in which not over 5O,-
900 men were at any time IN the
field. But entirely aside from the ey-
penses of the war the fact appears IN
this statement that the appropria-
tions for ordinary expenditures are
81, 2U3, 800. The appropriations OF the
first session of this Congress-, which
was introduced with a presidential
recommendation of retrenchment,
were 1851, 372 900, apart from war APP
preparations. So, according to this
Computation, the present session is TO
make the record of appropriating
1914, 1000, 900 without including the
Nicaragua canal, the shipping SUBJ
sidy, or, as we understand it, the new
army expenditures. Naturally, the
deficiency for the fiscal year is esti-
mated at about $160, 100000.
Twenty years ago the complaints
of lavish expenditures were met by a
reduction to about $3.50, 900 an
nually. The business of the govern
ment went on, however. Now, after
expenditure had been previously to
an unparalleled total, the public com
plants and the presidential recon-
mendation-perhaps forgotten by
this time-are met by a further total
increase of expenditures by this Con
gress to the tune of half billion.
The political theory seems to be
pretty well established that the pur.
pose of craftsmanship is to spend the
peoples money to the greatest posi-
BILE extent.
The present rate of expenditure is
close upon $40 per capita. For the
average bread-winner of family OF
five, $50 of his earnings must pay the
national bill. But what is $50 from
workingman's wages in comparison
with the glories Of spending hundreds
of millions for imperialisms-Pitts-
burg Dispatch.
Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1899-02-25
The Methodist Twentieth Century Fund.

Richmond, Va, February 49,
Bishop Charles B. Galloway, of
Mississippi, who was elected by the
General Conference, which met at
Baltimore, to take charge of the
movement of the Methodist Church,
South, to raise sum of $1.5O0,000 as
a twentieth century offering for
educational purposes, addressed a
mass meeting at Broad Street Metho-
dist Church this afternoon held in
this cause. Bishop Galloway took as
his subject "Christian Education,
and in the course of his remarks at
tributed the greatness of the country
to the "open Bible and our Protest.
ant Christianity" He went on 10 say
that it would not be by the bravery
of Dewey and Schley that we would
hold what 1--WE have purchased" but
by the purity of the home and he be-
lieved s'the future of America is to be
determined by the battles fought
over the cradle of our children"
Resolutions that Richmond and Man
chester would do their utmost to raise
their proportional share of this sum
before the twentieth century were
introduced and passed.
Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1899-02-25
AocoMAo COURT HOUSE, Va,
Entered at the Postoffce at Accomac
G. H, Va, as second-class matter.

The latest advices are, that Manila
was set on fire and that an uprising
of the natives was attempted in that
city on Wednesday. The uprising
was checked, but thousand dwell
lings and hundreds of business houses
were destroyed. The presumption is
that the Filipinos started the confla-
CATION. A few days previous the news
was received, that the Filipinos
would not fight our troops in the
open any more but we must seek
them in the future in their jungles.
These things seem to suggest, that
the Filipinos count as nothing their
treasures in their struggles for liberty
and have concluded, that they can
worry US by a guerilla warfare into
letting them alone if they cannot
win in a fight with us in the regular
way Our victories so far in the
Philippines have been won by the
expenditure of millions of dollars and
by the loss OF many valuable lives and
the indications are, that we have a
war on our hands, the termination of
which we cannot see, and which
when the end comes will be a curse
to the American people. Destiny"
points that way, however, in the
opinion of Mr.. Mckinley and to carry
out his imperialistic schemes. it seems,
he is to be permitted to trample I'M
der foot the constitution and usurp
with impunity the powers Of the
Government such as no other Chief
Magistrate of the nation has dared
to do before him. 1.-The interests of
humanity too, say the imperialists,
demand that we continue to slaugh
ter and be slaughtered in the Philip
pines, and of course the war is to go
on for the present regardless OF blood
and treasure. Destiny however
may be revealed in different way
when the American people have the
opportunity again to speak at the
polls, and we mistake the sentiment
OF the American people, if they do
not spurn the bride of imperialism
and hurl from power those who now
disgrace the high places to which
they have elevated them.
Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1899-02-25
Silver is to be the paramount issu

Silver is to be the paramount issue
IN the next Presidential campaign.
Of this, at least, there is no doubt in
the opinion of Chairman Jones, OF
the Democratic National Committee.
In recent interview, he declared,
shat the next Democratic National
Convention will speak out in the
same clear, unequivocal terms, in the
same manner and in the same lines
that it did in 1896" Of the result he
too is equally confident. The major
ity of the people, in the opinion of
the chairman, will next time declare
for the party which means what it
says and which will redeem its
pledges and Mr.. Jones is probably
correct in his views in the matter.
Silver as an issue has in itself suffic-
lent merit to be a winner and the
people of the country will indeed be
blind to their interests, if they do
not show by their votes in the next
presidential contest, that they prefer
it or almost anything else to the vile
and rotten thing, known as McKin-
leyism, which now dominates the
country.
Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1899-02-25
The Army Bill.

From Washington is iterated the
statement that the President has as
sured the republican leaders that un-
less the present Congress passes the
army reorganization bill he will call
an extra session of the next Congress
for the purpose of pushing that meas
ure through. The administration, 1t
is affirmed, has in answer to repeated
inquiries declined ali propositions
for tlding over the necessities of the
army by passing a joint resolution
extending the appropriations on the
basis of the present organization. the
reason assigned for declination being
that such plan would be utterly in
adequate to meet the situation.
Another objection to the joint reso-
luton proposition, urged in admins
tration circle, is that it would fail to
supply the line and staff officers
needed. The pending Hull bill pro-
vides for S22 original appointments
of second lieutenants, and it Is said
to be the policy of the administration
to distribute these places among the
States and Territories, according TO
population
Now, what is the meaning OF the
attitude of the administration in re.
spect of this matter? 1t means that
William Mckinley is holding over
this Congress and the people the lash
of an extra session, which is dreaded
by all business men in order to force
the placing in his hands of two most
dangerous and vicious instruments.
One of these is power-that of regu
lating the size of the army-wh1ch
the British people wrested from the
Grown some two hundred years ago,
and which they have jealousy guard
ed as parliamentary prerogat!ve
ever since. The victory of the British
people in respect of this matter has
always been regarded as marking one
of the greatest triumphs for human
liberty ever won by the English
speaking race. By the same token,
considering his war loneliness" his
arrogance, and his usurpation as en-
braced in his Filipino proclamation,
the triumph of William Mckinley IN
this case would involve q menace to
the liberties of the American people.
The second instrument he would hec-
tor Congress into giving him. and
which he practically says he will have
or know the reason why, is a ire
mendous increase of patronage in the
shape of army appointments. What
with this power added to that OF his
position as war lord" verify ne
would be able to move many Difficult
ties that now lie in the way of his
perpetuating the grip of his party
upon the country, succeeding. him
self, and consummating Imperialism
Richmond Dispatch.
Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1899-02-25
a new election bill, in the form c

a new election bill, in the form OF
a constitutional amendment, has
passed both houses of the North
Carolina Legislature, which, if adopt
ed, will, it is estimated, disfranchise
$4,000 colored voters. The bill is the
outcome of the recent race troubles
in that State and means, that white
men in the future will run the affairs
of the Old Commonwealth. 1t will be
voted on by the people in August
1900 and doubtless become the law of
the State. There should be no doubt
at least as to what the result will be-.
A II! easure so entirely in the interest
of humanity viz: to protect the
colored brother from himself and de-
signing white men who would use
him as a tool for their promotion to
positions of honors and trust, cannot
fail to receive the approval, at the
polls, of the people OF that State.
Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1899-02-25

The life of one American soldier or
sailor is more valuable than all the
Philippine Islands put together. Al
ter we shall have conquered Aguinal-
do by the sacrifice of some of the
nations best blood, what have we
gained? Nothing more than a terri
tory to which our people can never
become acclimated, and burden that
will press heavily upon the tax
payers of this countrY.-Omaha
World-Herald.
Millions of American people are in
accord with the opinion expressed
above but of course their views are
treated with contempt by the Presi-
dent and count as nothing with him
or his advisers. The President can
change his mind with such facility,
when he thinks it is his interest to do
so, it is possible even that he has for
gotten that be is the author OF the
expression, THAT forcible annexation
is criminal aggression"
Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1899-02-25

Bishop Charles B. Galloway, of
Mississippi, is in Virginia, to inform
the Methodists particularly and the
public generally as to the great IN
ternational Methodist Twentieth
Century Movement. He is reputeo
to be the most eloquent of METHODIST
orators. His addresses upon the great
theme of the organization of Christian
forces for the conquest of the world
in the Twentieth Century will doubt
less be an inspiration to all who are
privileged to hear him.