davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1900-01-07
EARTH IS GETTING SMALLER.
At Least It's Peoples Are Coming Closer
 Together Every Day.

From the St. Louis Globe-Democrat One of the wonders of this marvellous age is the rapidity with which the re- mote quarters of the earth are being brought close together. According to the Russian minister of railroad, when Russia's new trans-Siberian railroad is finished the trip around the world can be made in thirty three days. When Jules VerEe, just twenty-five years ago, sent the fictitious Phineas Fogg around the world in eighty days this exploit was deemed to be as near the absolutely impossible as at one time Pucks feat was of putting a girGle round about the earth in forty min utes.a Two American women travel ing in opposite directions, beat Fogg's mythical exploit few years ago. When the Russian railroad is built, however, the record of their journeys will, in the comparison, seem like the old stage coach and sailing vessel tray
 els do today. With what incredulity would the navigators of century ago have looked at the forthcoming Rus
 sian time table. The remnant of the fleet with which Magellan left San Lu car, in Spain, in 1519. returned to that port in 1522. Three years, lacking two weeks, were required for the circum
 navigation of the earth. The first of the British world circlers, Drake, who sailed half 8 century later, was as long making the distance. Cook, who made the journey century later than Drake, was two years ten months on the voy
 age. Tn the century and half be- tween Magellan and Cook the time of the world circuit has been shortened in only an imperceptible degree. There had been but little improvement in the speed of the ocean vessels since the days when Odysseus in his shallop, af- ter the Trojan war, started on his re- turn to Ithica. No improvement of consequence, indeed, was made until the days when steam began to be ap- piled to ocean navigation and that was at such comparatively recent date that on May A, 1919, the day on which Victoria was born, the first steamboat which ever crossed the Atlantic start ed, leaving Savannah for Liverpool and taking twenty-six days to make the voyage, which would now be made in less than six.
Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1900-01-07
RATS LEVIED BLAcKMAIL.
They Were Fed to Let Certain Eat.
 ablex aInne

ables Alone.
 Rats have always levied toll in some way on the human race. Blackmail cheerfully paid to rats is, however, new to history and a tribute to their great abilities, says the Chicago News. They had established them selves under meat market and, ae- cording to the owner, the way they used to pick and choose was dreadful" When two carcasses of mutton were available they would eat the prime and leave the poorer. The best was hardly good enough for them, and they were cunning even beyond the cun- ming of market rats. So the owner re- solved to make treaty and pay black mail, relying on the economic wisdom of rats. He gave them three square meals a day, with plenty of variety, in hope that the rats would be ap- peased and not eat mutton at night, too. The menu was bread, fancy bis cult, potatoes and sugar, and was laid near the rats front door. At first they used to come up furtively and carry the food off to their holes. But now they come out regularly in the shop, eating their luncheon on equal terms with their hosts. Their leader is I old grizzled rat, who has lost an ear. He has become the medium" between the high contracting parties and sets an example to his own side by eating bread and biscuits out of the shop mems fingers. The rats now behave exactly like other tribes when in re- ceipt of blaekmail, in that they drive off all intruders. "The other day" said one of the shopmen, "a strange rat got in among 'em and you should have seen 'em chase him out. They ran him out the shop, in front of all of us, and I believe if he'd "a stayed they'd have killed him.
Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1900-01-07
AT THE PARIS McRGuE.
Subjccting Criminals to Terrible
 Ordeal

A law that has recently come into operation gives prisoners tIe right of communicating with counsel within twenty-four hours after their arrest, says Paris correspondent of the Lon don Standard. One of the immediate consequences Of this measure may be to put a stop to those "confrontations" at the morgue, which are so dramatic feature of French criminal proceed ure. With view to bringing a mur- derer to confess, he is taken to the morgue, and there brought face to face
 with the body of his victim. Every artifice is used to make the confronta
 tion as impressive as possible, as it is hoped that the terrible sight he is con- pelled to gaze on will so trouble the murderer that he will lose command over himself and make clean breast of his crime in his agitation. When he enters the room he can see nothing, as the stone bench on which the body Is exposed is concealed by curtain. The examining magistrate presses him with questions, and then, at what he considers the opportune moment, gives the signal for the curtain to be pulled back. T he murderers who have stood this ordeal without fiincbing have been comparatively few. The majority of them exhibit the utmost terror, and implore to be taken out of sight of the corpse. There is a chair in the room where the confrontations take place, in which the majority of the most no- torious murderers of the last thirty years lave been seated Their names are inscribed on it's back, one of them being Troppman, who, just before the Franco German war, butchered an en- tire family. French criminal counsel have found that these confrontations almost always result in the confusion of their clients, have looked into the matter, and belieye they have discov- cred that the examining magistrate has no legal right to subject prisoner to this ordeal. For the future they are going to advise their clients to refuse to allow themselves to be taken to the morgue, and it seems that it is moot point whether the authorities will be able to convey them thither by force.
Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1900-01-07
tly Fish

The most beautiful and costly fishes h the world come from China, ani the rarest and most expensive of all is the brush tail gold fish. Specimens of these have been sold as high as $700 each. and in Europe the prices range from s25o to $500 The brush tail gold fish is so small that fva. shilling piece will cover it. and prob ably there is no living thing of its size and weight that Is worth so much money.
Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1900-01-07
JUSTICE IN CHINA.
A Story of u Hung Chang and Would
 Be Prisoners.


 Of Lii Hung Chang numberless sto- ries are told in Chinese society. Now and then one reaches this country through our eonsuls in China. On one occasion when the premier was having 8 bitter fight with some of the more conservative members of the tsung-li- yamen he received as a present mag nifieent cake, which he had reason to suspect contained poison. He put the cake aside and set all his powerful machinery to work to find out who was at the bottom of the plot. The investigation was partly successful, the crime being traced to three men, of whom one, at least. was absolutely guilty. Ii had the trio arrested and brought to his yamen. When they ar rived they were ushered into his pres ence and were received in his courtll- est manner. The cake was produced, with the remark that "politeness for bade his tasting it until the three generous donors had had an oppertun- ity to enjoy it's excellence" Ii cut the cake and one of his servitors AonQSQ It u b4lO QhWillldS 6oCSeos Each took a piece, and ate, or pre- tended to eat it. One crumbled the pieces and let them fall upon the floor, but the other two ate calmly, without manifesting any emotion. Ten minu- utes and the two men began to show symptoms of suffering. Ii smiled be- Ignantly and said to the man who had not eaten: Your wisdom is so great that l am compelled to pre- serve your head as souvenir to transcendent genius.' The man was removed and promptly decapitated. To the other two the premier remarked. The cake that you are eating is not the one you sent me, but one which l had my cook initiate. The poison from which you are suffering exists only in your imagination. I know of no way to cure your present pain ex- cept by letting you share the same fate as your friend who has just left the room." As they were led away the statesman said to his retinue: Tt is pity that man who can eat deadly corrosive poison with an un- moved countenance should so misapply the talent wherewith heaven has en- dowed him."
Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1900-01-07
RELIC PILFERING MINISTERS.
They Chip Pieces of the Washingto | Monument and Pay We'll for Them.

They Chip Pieces off the Washingto
 Monument and Pay We'll for Them.
 From the New York Mail and Ex- press: Colonel Bingham. superintend- ent of public buildings and grounds. who has charge of the Washington monument, says one of the greatest troupies the watchmen at the monu- ment have to contend with is the chip ping of these memorial stones by relic hunters. "One of the strangest things in regard to these relic hunters said Colonel Bingham, lis the fact that more than one-half of the men arrested for chipping off relics are clergymen. When the police arrest these despoil- CTS and start with them to the station house the man will begin to ask what is the penalty and try to beg off. He Is told that the fine is heavy one, but that $15 security can be put up for ap- pearanee in the police court. Then the prisoner explains that he is minister of the gospel and meant no harm, and that he could not stand the disgrace of appearing in police court. He ends up by giving up the collateral, after generally trying to cut it down to $1o, saying he has only that amount with him.
Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1900-01-07
Use of a Great Name.

Here's tip for some of our old friends who have big names and need little ready money: Turner Beall, president of the Produce Exchange Trust Company, used to be secretary of the Produce Exchange and of the New York Southern Society. Among the men of his acquaintance he ad- mires none so much as does Colonel William de Hertburne Washington. A little while ago he asked Colonel Washington if he might use his name in 8 financial transaction. Having im- plicit faith in Beall, the colonel con- sented, and was pleased to receive a short time afterward check for s15,000. his share of deal made by his friend on the strength of the name of Washington.
Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1900-01-07
THE BICYCLE TRADE.
Combination Cannot Keep Up the Price
 of Wheels.

The reduction in the price Of bicycles from S150 to less than third of that amount has weighed heavily upon the minds of the manufacturers who en- tered tbe wheel trust. The eombina- ton was undoubtedly made with the purpose of advancing prices to a point that would restore at least part of the old fabulous profits, but it is doubtful If it can be made a success Too many independent manufacturers are in ex- istence who are free to extend their trade by offering every possible induce ment in the way of price and quality, such as individual competition sug- gests. One of these has just issued circular, in which he has the following to say: We have a thoroughly or ganized and profitable business, both in firearms and bicycles, and there is no necessity for our joining any move ment to attempt to monopolize or manipulate the bicycle trade, or to as- slst some of the 'top-heavy' firms to dispose of their factories at fancy prices and thus avoid probable col iapse.' We are and shall remain per fectly independent and free to act ac- eording to our business judgment and our sense of justice and fairness to the agents who have assisted us in building up our present large business. No one can buy better material or build high grade bicycles cheaper than we can, and we have completed our plans and our new line of bicycles much earlier than usual, so as to make this state- ment frankly and squarely to our agents, and we announce our line and prices for the coming season as fol- lows: Medium-grade roadster, $25; Nhigh-grade roadster, s2o; with coaster brake. $40; with cushion frame, $50; chainless, S60." As these prices are a cut of $15 on each grade, and as the manufacturer is one of high repute in the trade, it is manifest that the trust will not be able to advance the cost of wheels next season. Besides, the day has passed when the wheelman could be persuaded that his machine, beautiful and delicate as it is, can be more costly than small steam engine. Louisville Courier-Journal
 A Narrow Escape.
 MT. Neumann, in his narrative of Elephant Hunting in East Africa" thus tells of a narrow escape from death: "I as on the point of sitting down in grass, when something that looked like toad caught my eye beside my boot. Thinking I had in- advertently trodden on harmless rep tile, l was about to move my foot in compassion, when I noticed a black. forked tongue darting viciously close to my right foot; and looking more carefully, saw that what had taken for toad was the villianous, triangu-. sar head of puff adder, on whose neck l had set my foot. It's body was swollen as big as my thigh. By 2 providential chance I held it so fast in this way that it could not move it's head to strike. Having my rifle with me, I put the muzzle to it's head and sent bullet through it's brain. It measured four feet eight inches in length.
Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1900-01-07
Generalization of Madrid.

19SIffo1 HIIzIIIuH CT MadTld.
 4 correspondent in the Frankfurter zeitung draws a lurid picture of the Rereasing demoralization of Madrid. present Population includes, he zo,0Qo professi ionaI beggars, the nuznbsF Of AbandQned women. azsYss. And there afe. hundreds
Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1900-01-07
Diamonds in Pretoria.

The area of the Pretoria diamond fields continues to be increased by discoveries in almost every direction, and the yield from the extensive wash is reported as highly encouraging, the yield from some of the mines for the first three months of the year ranging as high as 5000 carats.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-08-30
ANSWER FILED.
Defendant In Suit for Marriage An
nulment Denies Charges.

The answer of the defendant was filed
today in connection with the proceedings
in equity instituted the 21st of last month
by Edward j. Stellwagen, committee of the
person and estate of John Kane, lunatic
against Mary Sheridan Kane, asking that
a pretended marriage ceremony between
John Kane and Mary Sheridan be declared
null and void.
In his petition Mr. Stellwagen alleged
that while knowing the mental condition of
John Kane, and wickedly and maliciously
intending to possess herself of his estate
and representing that Kane was fifty-three
years of age when in truth he was eighty,
Mary Sheridan had a pretended marriage
performed, to which she and Kane were
parties.
The defendant in her answer declares
among other things that Mr.. Kane was
never insane or Of unsound mind SO as to
be incapable OF governing himself or his
property, and that he is now fully capable
of doing so; also that he was not legally
committed to the asylum. After being at
the asylum for a while. says the defendant,
Kane was permitted to 60 home. Without
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-08-30
TELEGRAPH RATES.
An Order That Private Indfyiduals
Must Pay Commercial Prices.


Must Pay Commercial Prices.
The Post Office Department has discov-
cred that people not government officers
are taking advantage of the government
telegraph rates with the result that the
government frequently has to make good
the consequent loss to the telegraph COM
panies. AS a result Postmaster General
Emory Smith has issued the following or
der:
ITO postmasters and other postal en-
ployes:
1.-The government telegraph rates annual
ly established by the Postmaster General
conformably to law, are intended to apply
to government business exclusively and no
private individual, association, company or
corporation should in any way be benefited
thereby.
cit having been brought to the notice of
the department, that persons other than
officers of the government, are in the habit
Of not only taking advantage of the reduced
rates on messages of no public interest but
that the department is often compelled to
pay for such private service 1t is hereby
directed that hereafter. whenever it be-
comes necessary to use the telegraph wires
on any business In the special interest Of any
private person or persons. and in which the
government has no interest, the party for
whom the service is performed will be re-
Quired to make deposit with the post
master covering the cost of message, at
commercial rates. both ways"
:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-08-30
HEARING IN LUNACY CASES.
The Misfortune of MathiIda Nellie,
Emma DnncansOn and Others.

At the request of the District Commits
soners, Justice Clabaugh late this after
noon, sitting for probate business, in the
room of Equity Court No. l. city hall in
quired into the matter of the alleged in
sanity of Mathilda Nellie, Emma Duncan
son, Blaine p. F. Champion, Mary F. Null
ligan, Maria T.. Thornton, Annie Barber
Mamie Eden and Caroline Tate All Of
the persons are alleged to be INDECENT with
out property or estate, and If the court
reaches the conclusion that they are of
unsound mind and in need of hospital
treatment, they will be placed in ST Eliza
beth's Asylum at the expense of the Dis
trict government. Mr.. A. Leftwich SIM
clair. assistant attorney for the District of
Columbia. conducts the proceedings
Miss Matilda nellie is about thirty-five
years of age. She was formerly a teacher
OF French and Spanish in the Eastern High
School of this city. Last Saturday after
noon Miss Nellie was taken into custody at
the American House, at the corner of 7th
street and Pennsylvania avenue. Mr.. Chas
w. Leannarda, proprietor of the hosiery
complained of peculiar actions on the part
of the young woman. She was removed
to the house of detention, as stated in The
Star at the time, and remained there until
Monday morning. when she was transferred
to the insane asylum, on temporary per-
NIT for confinement pending the judicial
inquiry into her mental status.
The petition in this case is signed by Dr.
r. T. Holden, who has been Miss Melle's
physician. The physicians appointed by
the court to examine Miss Nellie are Drs
Charles c. Marbury and William r. Burch
who announce that they are convinced her
mind is unbalanced and that she is In
need of treatment. 1t is thought her
trouble is due primarily to nervousness
Miss Emma Duncanson is about fifty
years old and claims to be the adopted
daughter of the late Colonel Isaac Bassett
doorkeeper of the United States Senate for
many years. She was placed in the insane
asylum about ten days ago to await an
inquiry by the court into her mental con-
dition. According to her statement she is
the daughter of John Alexander Duncan
son. Because of her long connection with
the Bassett family she knew many of the
most prominent men in political and Off
cial life. Roscoe Conkling she says. was
her friend as We're George c. Gorham for
mer secretary of the Senate; General Haw-
ley, a United States senator, and many
other distinguished men.
In February, 1888, Miss Duncanson was
adjudged to be insane by marshaIs jury
Hospital for the Insane for treatment. She
had been there only a short time when she
released, improved. Friends took her
to New London, Conn, and by some means
not explained. it IS said she was sent to
the county almshouse there. Her subse-
quent movements have been already re-
ferred TO in The Star. Notwithstanding the
fact that Miss Duncanson says she was
adopted by Colonel Bassett, the police rec
ords show him only as a friend at the
time of her commitment to the insane asy-
lum.
The hearings were in progress when this
rppOrt closed.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-08-30
Gold and Silver.
To the Editor OF The Evening Star:

To the Editor OF The Evening Star:
note that in an article by "A Gold Stand
ard Man in Tuesdays Star the gentleman
takes issue with Secretary Gage in regard
to the statement by the latter that in case
Mr.. Bryan were president he CMr. Bryan
could put this country on a silver basis.
Now. l do not suppose for a minute that
Secretary Gage is not fully capable of de-
Tending all he has allowed to go in print
as coming from him. Therefore it is not
at all necessary to defend Mr.. Gage; but l
would like to try to state a point to. Mr..
Gold Standard which possibly he has
overlooked in his study of the financial
question. 1t is the present policy OF our
government to make all of its money as
good as the best and each dollar good
as any other dollar; the 5O-cent silver dol
lar and the worthless paper dollar each
equal to the 100-cent gold dollar. The gov
eminent must stand behind such PROPOSE
ton ard be ready to make 1t good, or its
mere fiat would have no effect. The parity
of our money depends on the confidence of
good It's proposition. This must mean in
effect that the creditor of the government
must have his choice as to which kind OF
money he will take, and the government
must respect the choice or the boosted
parity of our money becomes of effect
and each kind of money drops to its market
value. Practically so long as people have
faith to believe that the government will
make its promise good very few people care
what kind of money they get, but let the
government manifest its determination to
force people to take silver or paper money
and refuse them gold and that instant it
has stepped out from behind it's pledge of
parity With nothing to sustain it parity,
in the present monetary sense. ceases to
exist. With the power to force the payment
Of silver Mr.. Bryan any one else in the
presidential chair who saw fit to use that
power could soon force all silver money
down to its bullion value of 80 cents on the
Il ILL o,,1I
with it. Wouldn't that be near enough a
silver basis for all practical purposes? The
same power exercised TO force the payment
of paper money would take both gold and
silver from behind the paper and leave 1t
worth just what the blank paper in it would
bring. PARITY.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-08-30
Civil Service nominations.

On September g. "a and % examinations
will be held by the civil service commits
sion for positions of photographer (male)
in the adjutant generals office, War De-
partment, at $1,000 per annum: assistant
physician (senior grade) Government Hos
pital for the Insane at $1,000 per annum;
botanical and horticultural assistant, d.
vision Of botany, Department of Agricul-
ture. $40; signalman in the coast and geo.
detic survey at 81 200 per annum. All
these examinations are open to all citi-
gems Of the United States. Those desiring
to compete for these places should at once
make application for application forms
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-08-30
Comfortable Footwear.


Buckskin shoes are not commonly seen In
Portland. though the old Indian moccasin
may not be much of a curiosity, so when
an Arizona man appeared with a pair on
his feet he attracted some attention. A
prominent cattleman of the land Of cactus
and hot sands who is In the city never
wears any other shoes. The uppers are
regular Indian-tanned buck; the soles are
of sole leather, and he says they are just
like a stocking to the feet. Although buck
skin is supposed to be a lasting material
buckskin shoes cannot be worn in the wet
and they would not do in the plowfeld or
the harvest field. The buckskin came from
a deer he killed In the Arizona mountains
and he paid SO to have two pairs of shoes
made. He thinks people who box their feet
up in stin calfskin are missing a whole lot
of ease and comfort in life.