davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1900-09-24

Description of the City of Refuge
Called Si-Gnan.

From the London Globe.
The empress dowager, Prince Tuan and
other Chinese notabilities whose consciences
have accused them of being mainly re-
sponsible for the recent outbreak of the
anti-forefgn movement in China have fed
westward across China to the town which
may be said to represent the very cradle of
the Chinese empire of today. The fugi-
tives have left Pekin for the interior of
China, and it Is said they are on their
way to the famous city of Si-Gnan, the
capital of the province of Shen-Si, and sit
uated On afiiuent of the Hoei-Ho. ST.
Gnan is about 660 miles southwest Of Pc
kin as the crow flies. and it is regarded as
being practically out of the question to fol-
low the fugitiyes with anything like a prop
erly organized punitive force. The choice
of Si-Gnan a city Of refuge by the up
holders Of the political creed China for
the Chinese" is certainly very fitting.
The city Is said to have been built In the
twelfth century before the Christian era,
and at this day it is, after Pekin, the most
important town in northern China and the
capital of the entire northwest of China so
far as extent. population and trade are
concerned. Times out of number Si-Gnan
has been destroyed and has arisen again
out of its ruins, but in spite of this varying
fortune it has always maintained it's i'm
portance as the great entrepot of the trade
between the western word and the center
of China
Today the population of Si-Gnan con-
sists of Thibetans, Mongolians, Tartars and
Mohammedans. The last named became
Chinese subjects after the great Islam re-
volt which lasted from 1865 to 1873. The
town contains a colossal stone statue Of
Buddha. and a mural tablet kept in one of
the temples is probably the oldest existing
evidence of Christian mission activity In
that part of Asia. as 1t speaks of the Mes
torian Mission Of the year 7S1. The name of
this town, one of the oldest In the whole
world, is really Shangan, which means
Everlasting peace" Baron Won Richthofen
visited Si-Gnan in the sixties, and he has
left on record the following description of
the place:
Si-Gnan is still an imposing city. and it
is really the capital of northwestern China,
although the governor general of Shen-
81 and Kamsu prefers to reside in Lam
Tchou on account of the large extent of
extramural territory committed to his
care. On approaching Si-Gnan from the
east there Is nothing In the character of
the country to bespeak the approach to a
great capital. At the end Of q ravine lying
between terraces the long. straight city
walls of Si-Gnan come suddenly into view.
The city lies four square, and has main
entrance gate In the middle Of each wall.
and before each city gate there is an ex-
Evening star., 1900-09-24
GAMBLING ON THE SEA.
Card Sharpers Who Infest the Trans
atlantic Liners.

From the New York Tribune.
Every once in a while public attention ls
directed anew to the professional gamblers
who cross and recross the Atlantic ocean
on the first t-class steamships for the pur-
pose of inducing passengers with more
money than caution to play with them. In
these games of alleged chance the profess
sional gambler takes few chances and al
! lows his victim none at all. That the Vo-
cation is a profitable one seems certain, or
else 1t would not be pursued SO indus
triously. The fleecer's expenses are heavy.
He must pay for a first-class saloon pas
sage, must be dressed we'll, must be Will
ing to spend money freely for drink, and
be able to lose considerable cash over the
cards at the start OF the voyage without
wincing. BY SO doing he acquires the con-
fidence of his fellow passengers, averts sus-
p:cion from his real motive. and makes the
way clear for his swindling operations.
These fellows generally travel in pairs.
OF course they put up the time-honored
pretense of not knowing each other at first.
They play cards with everybody who asks
them. but manage never to get together
in the same game for the first few days.
They show no eagerness to play. but as
sent in a good-natured and rather bored
manner when asked to take a hand. They
generally manage to lose, and always pay
cash promptly and without grumbling.
They seek to acquire the reputation of be-
ing good losers. Having in this way
made several acquaintances they have no
difficulty In getting one of these to intro
duce them one to the other. Their man.
ner Is cordial to the mutual acquaintance,
but decidedly distant between themselves.
The next step Is to become casually en-
gagged in the same game with a man who
has shown that he has considerable money
and Is not afraid to risk 1t Ii such man
can be found who Is also rather stuck on
himself as poker player, then the sharp
are indeed in luck. There are various
ways In which they soon relieve him of his
surplus wealth and also of his conceit. One
of the clumsiest is by marked cards. This
method is crude. however. and SO easily
detected that 1t Is seldom resorted to in
such company as Is found in the saloons of
first-class steamers.
Another way Is by dishonest dealing or
stacking" the cards. This plan presents
insurmountable difficulties TO all but the
cleverest mampulators of the pack. The
man who can stack" cards accurately
enough to make betting on the result q
sure thing can probably do better as a pro-
fessor OF legerdemain In a variety show
than by gambling for living. II the cards
are carefully and conscientiousy cut after
the average gambler has got through shuf-
ding them he Is pretty much at sea as to
what cards he IL dealing out to the players.
The most approved scheme for deecing
Evening star., 1900-09-24
| tensive suburb, which is really little
| town of itself, and in turn has it's own

ramparts.
When Won Richthofen visited Si-Gnan the
city walls had been completely destroyed
as they had not been able to withstand the
attacks made by the Mohammedans. The
gates are finer than those in Pekin, but
the walls are not quite so strongly built
as those of the Chinese metropolis. The
streets are for the most part laid out at
right angles. The houses form square,
of which each side is ten ly, three-quarters
of a German mile. in length. Within a
special rampant in the most northerly part
of the city are the magistrates buildings
and the quarters of the Manchu garrison.
The Chinese geography books give very
accurate details of the ruins of the thirty
six palaces Of olden days, but it is said
that these ruins are scarcely to be dis
covered now. The population of Si-Gnan
is estimated at rather more than 1,000.0
and this estimate includes $1,000 Moham-
medanS
Evening star., 1900-09-24
Tramp Burned to Death,

BENTON HARBOR. Mich, September
24-Joseph Brennings, aged forty, was
burned to death last night at the Morrill,
fruit falm. Brennings was a tramp who
had been employed for the summer and
had been given sleeping quarters in the
farm packing house. Coming home drunk
he accidentally set fire to the packing
house, which was burned to the ground
The body was taken out today, burned to
q crisp.
Evening star., 1900-09-24
Masons at Cincinnati.

CINCINNATI, Ohio. September 24.-Two
great Masonic bodies began their trIennial
sessions here today. that continue uurlng
the week-the General Grand Chapter and
the General Grand Council the highest de-
grees of the York Rite below that of
Knight Templar. These meetings are pre-
lininary to the grand encampment of
knights Templar at Louisville next year.
The reports showed membership of 81. 500.
Over 200 delegates were present.
Evening star., 1900-09-24
FOrcfble.

From the St Louis Globe Democrat.
Teacher-''Now. Tommy. give me sem
tence and then we'll change 1t to the i'm
perative FORM
Tommy-'.The horse draws the wagon"
Teacher-"Now put 1t In the imperative
Tommy-s'Cee-upp'
Evening star., 1900-09-24
More Interesting Work.

From the Philadelphia Press.
Friend-"What have you got on hand
now?"
DAuber-"A portrait Of Miss Marigold."
Friend-"Why. you were on that months
ago. II didn't take you half that long to
do Miss Smiths portrait"
DAuber-'I know. but Miss Marigold Is
much prettier and twice a. wealthy"
Evening star., 1900-09-24
Howard,. Trial Near. C,o.e.

FRANKFORT, KY. September 24.--At 10
o'clock sur-rebutta1 testimony for the de-
fense closed in the trial of James Howard
on trial charged with being a principal in
the shooting of Gov. Goebel Speeches by
counsel began at / pm.
Evening star., 1900-09-24

SAN FRANCISCO, September PA San
ia Fe engine crashed through a wharf at
Point Richmond yesterday and sank in fifty
feet of water carrying with 1t Engineer
Henry A. Allen, Telegrapher Mulcahey and
Fireman Press 8. Adams The body of Ad-
ans is pinioned beneath a hundred tons of
steel at the bottom of the bay. The two
other men were injured but slightly.
Evening star., 1900-09-24
TransnOrt Port Albert Sails.

SEATTLE. Wash. September 24.-The
United States transport Port Albert has
sailed for the Philippines. with 500 cavalry
horses and cargo of forage and commits
sary supplies.
Evening star., 1900-09-24

Irascible Lieutenant {down engine room
tube)-"Is there blithering idiot at the
end of this tube?"
Voice from the engine room--'.Not at this
end. sir"-Tit-Bits.
Evening star., 1900-09-24
How They Cured Him.

From the Indianapolis Journal.
We've cured that clerk who was always
in debt 10 all of u.s."
How did you do it?"
why. he minute he gets paid We all
borrow Of him."
Evening star., 1900-09-24

quaint piece of wearing apparel, and bits OF
finery reminders of all the tickle fashions
which have come and gone since these old
things were new. l think that scattered
throughout this house may be found ex-
amples of all the old shapes in chairs that
one could see In a museum.
Evening star., 1900-09-24
To Modern Ways Again.

Finally our tour of inspection was fin
ished, and as we stepped out again from
the low front door. 1t was as If we suddenly
We're brought back to another existence.
so thoroughly had we been absorbed In
this dear old place. with its record and
mementos OF almost two hundred years.
and the picture Of it, nestled by the river
as 1t flows into the sea, with the sunset as
a background. was still with US as the
modern upstart OF trolley car whirled
US away homeward.
Evening star., 1900-09-24
Fiddle-Racked Chairs.

In one hall are two Of the old fiddle
backed chairs. bandy-legged, and with the
original club feet. This is the Oldest form,
1 believe; then 1t was elaborated little.
and the foot became ball and claw" and
a little carving was put on the knee. and
FINALLY the back was divided into an inter-
lacement of bands" These good old chairs
are often reproduced now. in their various
notifications but kiln-dried mahogany and
machine construction will not stand the
wear and tear of years like the old ones,
and not so much Of furniture made today
will descend intact to interest the millions
vet to come!
Evening star., 1900-09-24
Quaint Sitting Room.

Leading from this is the staircase hail.
with the narrow, steep stairs, painted
white making several turns before the top
Il reached The windows and an outside
door show views up and down the river,
while portraits Of youth and maiden.
with the legend appertaning, give interest
u the walls \ door opposite that leading
into the sitting room opens into the parlor,
certainly the quaintest of rooms. 1t is
considerably smaller than the sitting or
living room and has one side paneled. The
fireplace is III the center of the paneled
side. and a noticeable thing about ii is the
absence OF a mantel. only wide molding
around the opening finishes it, and above
the paneling i well-covered with small
pictures, some silhouettes among them. On
one side of the room hang two portraits,
Of the ancestor who built the house
and the other Of his wife: both were paint
rd by an EngIiShman, and before the latter
finished business or pleasure called
him home AMI the portrait has been kept
with the background incomplete. just as it
when the artist dropped his brush.
Evening star., 1900-09-24

ST. Silk VelVets, 6Qc.
rs pieces of regular one-dolar Silk Velvets,
real Croise back and all-sik face in full range
of the Partisan colorings, such gray, vio-
let cerse, navy, cardinal, brown, hello, tur-
quose, mode myrtle, olive and black, etc. These
are to sell all season at ST a yard-but our spe-
cial price tomorrow shall be 6oc. a yard instead.
Evening star., 1900-09-24
Family Portraits.

Family Portraits.
4 Ife-sized painting Of their only daugh-
ter is also there. the great-grandmother Of
the present owner of this store house of
old-time treasures. and the vivacious face
looks as If she were still Interested in
whatever goes in this white parlor
where her own marriage took place so long
ago. No modern thing, even in way of or
nameut, IS here to break the harmony and
the beautiful mahogany tables are the
background for rare old glass goblets with
covers. a huge loving cup cf glass with a
bold pattern engraved by hand encirclng
kind. One OF the prettiest mirrors of the
many in the house hangs here, and that
joy of all New England housekeepers, a
corner cupboard. is built into one angle of
the room
Its Contents.
or course IL is filled with china and glass
that Is almost priceless from its age and
rarity and the colors are brought out to
perfection by the white woodwork with Its
futing and curves so full of grace. The
the house. and highboys. spindle legged
tables corner washstands and all the con-
sistent furnishings of colonial times are
there In the room over the parlor panel
ing also surrounds the fireplace. and not n
ing but a large group OF siihouettes hangs
there, more than dozen. most of them in
small gilt frames. making striking effect
against the white paneling. The high
carved bed has curtains differen from any
I have seen elsewhere, being Of N'ue and
white, even plaid cotton or iirsr F'th q
white fringe bordering them h-a -
warming pan stands in corne the
drawers Of the highboy contair
Evening star., 1900-09-24

The genuine Feder's
Brush Skirt Binding. the
regular standard price Of
which Is 7c. a yard
everywhere. as doubtless
you know-wiii be Of
row for only only. 4MC.
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-11-24

Keep II clean with soap and warm wa
ter. clean towels and quick drying. every
two weeks.
SINCE II every two months. II Is far bet
ter than cutting. The women IN the In
dies have superb hair. and singe II often.
Hair Is a living plant. but dirt is not
its proper soil.
IL needs good blood way beneath tho
growth. A good tonic Is often needed OF
quinine and VIII stimulate the growth.
Scalp diseases are more common than
people know. The hair hides many un-
pleasing proofs OF this truth. Therefore,
IL Is very unadvisable for several persons
TO use the same brushes.
Never use dyes. IL your hair has been
touched up until the texture OF the hair
IL like raveed rope. do not repeat the
odious peroxide wash. but have IL sham
pooed with good olive oil soap.
Bitter apples and rum-half pint rum 10
an ounce OF the apples-is very stimu-
lating tonic for weak hair
Brushing makes the hair shine. and bo-
rax makes IL fluffy. Do not use borax
too often or II will bleach and rot tho
hair.
Warm towels viii expedite home sham
pooins. IL will take several during the
process.
care OF brushes is not considered OF as
much Importance as II should be- Dirty
brushes with silver backs can be found
In very fine houses. Every few days a
brush that Is daily In use, should be
cleansed.
Falling hair Is very common Massage
twice q week and vaseline well worked in
will often stop IL falling out.
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-11-24
SOCIAL GOSSIP.
9@@%SS$@4$<

Among the notable social events sched-
uled for the coming season the Trocadero
dances under the management of Mr.. +.
M Guild), will be preeminent.
The dates for these are fixed as follows:
Friday evening. December H. and We'd
nesday evening, January l6 Reeves full
orchestra has been engaged TO furnish the
music.
on Thanksgiving evening at the Troca-
dero will be given the first of the bache-
lor dances by Dr. Walter l. Sweet. Mr..
Howard Jenckes, Mr.. Jesse Sweet and
AIR. VIII Burt.
Miss Maud Wilkinson will give dance
at Mrs. Spinks assembly rooms one eve
ming in December.
Mr. and Mrs. George j.. Church cele-
brated the 25th anniversary of their mar
riaee at their home on Adelaide avenue
last evening
II was an exceedingly pleasant affair,
though the number OF guests was limited
TO the relatives and most Intimate friends
OF tho family. Mr.. and Mrs. Church were
the recipients of large number OF pres
cnts among them being valuable gifts
from tho teachers or tho Peace street
school, OF which MIR. Church Is principal.
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-11-24
THE CASE OF MAYOR VAN wAck


will
republic
tho most
o trusts.
GOV Roosevelt after Van wyck wa.
shareholder in corporation
he
onice conaden.
OF the Of
his In the
be
the
he ala not fan to follow looking after his
The
,
IL disastrous 70 SO. r"
" ~ p""''
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-11-24
pIEp D..

RROwN-In this city, 23d inst, Mary
Etta daughter OF Charles ~. and Julia
r.. Brown, aged years, . months and
10 days.
BtIDI.ONG--In Cranston. ed inst. Clar-
ence A. son OF Charles II. and Martha
A Budlong, in the s4th year OF his
age
COZZENS-rn WEXFORD, 23d inst, Mary
Jane Cozzens. aged ~ years.
CIIAPIN-In Brooklyn, n. Y, 2ist inst,
Eliza Eaton Chaplin, widow OF Charles
y. Chaplin in the s7th year OF her age.
Burial at Woodstock, Conn, Sunday.
Nov. %.
GUNN-In this city. 2od inst. Annie,
wife of John Gum. aged ~ years and
10 months.
HAMMOND-In this city. 22d inst, Geo
~ Hammond. In tho ssth year OF his
age
KNIGHT--At Howard. r.. T. 2ist inst
John Edward knight. I'm the Ssth year
of 4..s age.
MANCHESTER-In Lincoln, 22d inst,
Mrs Temperance Manchester daugh-
ter OF the late Seabury and Temper
ance Tompkins, in the 10th year of her
age.
McINTYRE-1n Pawtucket 1od inst.
Frank. son OF James and Mary McIn-
tyre, aged "a years.
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-11-24
TALENTED FAMILIES

The unmusicai member of musical
family will appreciate the following con-
versation
"Do you play any instrument. MIR.
Jimp7"
YES. I'm n cornetist"
And your sister,
shes pianist"
Does your mother playf'
"she's a zitherist"
And your father
Hes "a pcssimist.'
This reminds Us OF another fragment OF
contemporary talk
"Dont you think asked the young
xirl graduate. that Miss Spring is a
charming poetessf
.sNsal,N ssid Uncle solomon. with de.
migration. a think she u "a mlahtv
sweet poetessi I'm sure her cousin Miss
chalmers. - = charming pointress and
her aunt bucrece is an excellent sculp-
tress and her mother used 20 be a capt
tai dlshwashress. ~ a talented family.
hers - Tit Bits.
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-11-24
THE YOUNG WOMEN'S c. T. u.
HOLDS ANNUAL MEETING.

the addition of f24 new volumes during
the past year. She also spoke of the In
creased patronage and added that the
new library on Snow street would he sup
piled with all the best new books, and
that the library would he open TO the
public upon payment of the small sum OF
three cents per week.
That the library Is i'm a most prosper
Gus condition is evidenced by the fact
that IL contains 1900 volumes.
Other reports that followed were those
of Miss e. G.. Hodge on Temperance
Literature" and Miss Bessie NJ Blink
horn on the work OF rest cottage.
The final report was that of the nomin-
ating committee presented by the chair
man, Mrs. j. w. h. Rich. This gave the
following names for officers for the com
ing year and they were unanimously
elected
President, Miss Nellie B. Pearce: hon
orary vice president, Mrs. Frances e.
Bates; vice presidents Miss Grace r.. At
kins. Miss Eudora Joslin, Mrs Joseph
Harvey Kendrick, Mrs. Ardeiia Dewing
Gladding, Miss Carrie r.. Bates; recording
secretary. Mrs. Moses Fifteld; correspond
lng secretary. Miss Mary N. Falconer:
treasurer Miss Clara M. Law; auditor,
Mr.. Albert G. Day.
After years of continued faithful SER
vice IL was distinctly gratifying TO her
constituents that Miss Pearce again con-
sented to remain the leader of the asso-
citation.
Miss Catherine ID. Pike. Miss Emily T.
Hall and Mrs. Moses Fifeld were APP
pointed the committee In charge of the
new hall
A vote of thanks was rendered Miss
Grace Atkins and the tea room COMMITTEES
for their faithful work I'm arranging the
new quarters on Snow street. Mrs. G. A.
jacques was also rendered a vote of
thanks for her care of the tea room dur
ing the summer and Mr.. Albert c. Day
for his services as auditor.
Looking forward to the new year with
bright hopes and feeling assured of an
abundant and ever increasing prosperity
the meeting adjourned
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-11-24
HINTS ON WASHING BLANKETS.

Blankets that are to be washed should
be first shaken and then soaked for a
In which a lump of ammonia has been
dissolved. Then they should be washed
as quickly as possible TO prevent them
from shrinking, and afterward rinsed In
several waters the last OF which should
be nearly cold. In the process OF wash
ing the blankets. squeeze and knead them.
hut do not rub them. They should be
dried In the open air, being taken down
and shaken occasionally IN order That me
nap may be raised. Soda should not be
used, as IL changes the color of the blan-
kets. To shrink hanhels soak them thor
oughly before making them up, first In
cold then In hot water
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-11-24
DEMOCRATIC REORGANIZATION.

There is Just at the great
reorganization Democratic party Repeated defeats
honest members of that
ganaon realization necessity change
in leadership principles hoped
difficulty appears party unable
who brought gnominous Bryan
dominant still spokesman, Chairman Jones of the National
Committee scouts Speaking
agitation that question, he said
There's nothing IT, will blow thirty days
was precpatcd by party gave
enemy represent strength spirit
genuine Democracy What they adopt
policies the Republican party only But
granting there strength so.caled
power within the party Not dsgruned
organizers the reorganiza-
platform done for four
years. or until the next National Convention"
Thus plain Chairman Jones belief Bryan
and himself There be- argues, reorganization
ocracy unless Billy Bryan He does
this words that plain meaning Should
that be the feeling the great body Democracy be
feared there will be reorganization long Bryan and
Bryan principles dominate the party. long will genera
on be delayed Neither the defeated Nebaskan political
anbowchser who served his during two pres
dnta campaigns would attempt anything way Of reform
within the organization which they claim they
know that such buryng the o to
ssue With that issue laid away Bryan Jones would also be
placed the political shelf just Bryan aud ZONES do
want.
Excandidate Bryan hopes be again fact four
hence and Mr. more Bryans
political The chance Of their hopes
lies in their ability keep alive they can do
this they will be able the the
and they will be equally certain Of insuriug its defeat