davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-01-02
MIR. Hays Open Door.

Secretary Hay has so nearly accomplished
his admirable Chinese open door move
ment that it is. pity he could not see the
conclusion of the work in time to off
it as New Year present to the American
people though with a right Of donation
better vested than SIMPSONS was when
he claimed another mans victory,
and offered it to the same beuefciaries
with more flourish than right or verbal ex-
actitude.
When our Secretary Of State presented
this imperial Republic to the word as a
great international power, by requesting
the Governments of Europe TO deiire their
intentions in China, a; least to the extent
CT written assurances th2t ihey would net
engage in adventures or attempt political
changes injurious to the rights OF American
commerce, there was not little surprise
among the chancellcries across the At an
tic. They we're not prepared 10 see the in
fant Colossus strike out quite so carly in
its career But they have all taken the
matter amiabiy. end all but Italy lave
conceded the assurances asked for. The
exception will be one 10 longer in a few
DAYS. IS the concurrence Of the Cabinet at
Rome may be looked for by any mail.
Ne are very glad 10 reflect tina, this new
achievement OF our national diplomacy, the
nrs; under imperial conditions in our in
ternational relations. has besn 80 SUCCESS
fui and 50 ereditable and honorable 10 our
Foreign Secretary. In wishing him equal
or greater fortune during the closing year
of the century, and the compliments Of the
season. it may not be improper to express
the hope that by twelve months from today
he will be able to tell us that he has Sc
curelv nailed down the Alaskan boundary
line which Tie Canadians are trying 10
steal and has Induced Great Britain 10 ad-
nit the truth about the Clayton-Bulwer
treaty, which is that it was violated and
abandoned by that cousinly power within
five years from the time it was shrewdiy
proposed on one side, and corrupty and
wickedly accepted and signed on the othef
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-01-02
RenI Education.

There is some indignation in sew YORK
over an order which has gone forth Tor the
closing of the night schools. reduction of
nav for the teachers, and the closing OF the
nublic libraries on Sunday. AS this Is a
fairly good example Of the wisdom OF
certain type Of city officials, it may be well
to consider it seriously
II there is any one institution in CITY
which ought not to be interfered with II Is
the night school, II would be better TO
close primary departments of the public
schools If there must be reduction OF this
kind. The people who go to night schools
are generally those who have had but little
opportunity to attend school in early life,
and are willing TO do their best TO repair
the loss now They are so anxious to make
mn heir deficiencies OF education that, after
working all day, they spend their evenings
In study. sometimes considerably harder
for them than for the youngsters who at
tend school in the daytime. because their
minds are not so flexible and adaptable.
At the same time they often make the best
students. because they are in earnest and
know why they are studying. When they
do n problem in arithmetic they are looking
forward to a time when they will need to
use that problem. II a man is a white
washer. the question OF how many square
feet are contained in a wall OF certain d.
mansions has personal interest for him.
If a working girl hopes TO be teacher she
will pay much more attention TO her his
tory lesson than If she were fourteen years
old and learning 1t because her parents
compelled her to go to school and history
happened to be part Of the course. Any
teacher in a college will testify that the
most thorough IL not the most brilliant stu
dents are those who have come TO the col
lege to fit themselves for earning living,
and have n very definite idea what that
living is going to be. The young folk who
are interested in mathematics. Greek de-
elenslons. or the principal dates in United
States history, merely for the sake Of the
information. are few in the land. When
they are interested in these things at ALL
Il Is usually because they have a motive.
Sometimes this motive is supplied by
the ambition for high standing. When 2
student knows that by memorizing certain
dates or conjngatioRs the highest place in
the class may possibly be attained, that has
an effect on the mind which is sometimes
very powerful. Others. without this hope.
are induced TO study hard, because they
must, in order to pass their examinations.
But the student who really benefits by the
instructions Of the teacher is the one who
is fascinated by the work itself. Thus
boys are often good scholars in physics
though ounces in other things. because
they are naturally interested in the laws
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-01-02

The year nineteen hundred promises to
mark the beginning of 9 new and proud era
in Cuban history. The American Govern
ment appears to have given the island
Governor General who intends to make the
most Of his authority to develop its affairs
along he approved lines OF civilization, and
he in turn has surrounded himself with
Cabinet embracing the highest native in
telligence
The policy TO be pursued in Cuba seems
TO be based upon a practical understanding
Of what Is needed and an appreciation of
the fact that haz will result only in con-
fusion or fictitious reform. Goyernor-Gen
eral Wood is said to have keen conception
of the islanders and their peculiarities His
practical acquaintance with the disposition
Of the people is said TO have made him
popular with them. 1t is therefore to be
expected that he will effect certain admin
istrative changes in the various depart
ments. and that these will be harmonious
with his general plan for rehabilitatins
Cuban prosperity.
1t will require shrewd sense of dis
elimination to separate those things which
are regarded as legitimate. because they
have become ingrained in the Latin char
acter through centuries of usaLc, and those
other phases OF Latin life which no elastic
ity of law or morals can tolerate III a com
munity that aspires TO a good rating among
right minded nations. Spanish common
law has endorsed many practices which
might seem absolutely vicious from a puri-
tanical standpoint. and which would not be
permitted in this country. There are other
things which have been accepted as indie
structible simply because there was neither
the inclination nor the power TO destroy
them. These latter must go, hut diplomacy
must be employed in celebrating those pc
culiarities that have grown TO be customs
There is every inclination that the new
Governor General has the shrewd political
judgment to distinguish between the mat
tiers that must Immediately be reformed
and those that will become obsolete only
through the influence of education and a
consequent growth Of a refined moral sense.
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-01-02

sent. II student has made up his or her
mind to engage in a certain business that
mind will seize with avidity on every de-
tail which has anything to do with the
business. Hence the night school, in which
most of the pupils have motive for study,
does generally more good than the day
schools, to which children are sent by their
parents
The same principle holds in connection
with the public library. The library is
intended for the benefit of people who like
to read and are unable to buy books for
themselves. More of these people are at
liberty in the evening and on Sunday than
in working hours. They should be given
access to the library during their holiday
time. IL the library can be kept open only
seven hours day those hours should be
from three to ten p. IN. The library supple
ments the work OF the public schools, and
without it there can be nothing like gen
eral culture. Unless we have an era Of
unexampled prosperity. the ordinary work
ingman, with three children TO send to
school and a baby at home, with his house
TO pay for il he is prosperous, and his
rent 20 pay if he is not, with doctors bills
and butchers bills and all sorts of other
bills on his hands, is not going to be able
to spend much money for books. More
over. he will not be able to spend the little
he has in a wise way without the help Of
the library. In places where there are pub
lie libraries one does not find hideous SUBJ
scription and gift books in such large num-
bers. The people have at least glimmer-
ing idea Of what good literature is. They
know that certain authors are renowned,
because, perhaps. the librarian has told
them SO or others have recommended these
writer's; and they know that book is not
necessarily valuable because it has a great
deal of gliding on the cover and costs
three dollars and sixty cents. including the
chrome given as premium II money
can be spent anywhere with absolute safety
it is on the night school and the public IL
brary
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-01-02
4 Boston Capitalist.

The viii OF Daniel s. Ford. late prep lie
tor of the Youths Companion is attract
ing considerable attention in Boston. Mr..
Ford published his paper under firm
name. and most people never heard of him
as connected with it. It was the FIRST
periodical CT its kind in the United States,
and it gave him the snug little fortune CT
two and half millions of dollars. II is
said that his wealth might have been con-
siderably larger If he had no: gwen large
sums TO one enterprise and another du. ing
his lifetime. The directions in which taese
donations went may be judged by the list
of institutions mentioned in his will. The
Museum of Fine Arts. the Boston Public
Library, the Children's Aid Society, and
three hospitals are given large sums, and
so are several missionary societies and re-
quest, nearly half a million dollars, goes
TO the establishment of workingmen's
social union under the direction Of n
church association with which Mr.. Ford
was connected He hedges this about with
certain restrictions TO prevent maladmin.s-
tration OF funds, and plainly expresses his
wishes as to the general character OF the
union. Hi idea in doing this was to
bridge. il possible. the chasm between cap
italists and laborers and bring the prosper
Gus members Of the church into closer rela-
tons with the working people. He believed
that nothing but religion could solve the
existing labor troubles, and by this be-
stowal OF a considerable fortune On a re-
ligious society with which he was thor
oughly acquainted he evidently intended
that 1t should have a chance to prove his
theory.
! Il is a question, OF course, whether this
{ enterprise will be successful. One difficulty
[ in the way is, OF course, the sectarian char
acter of the whole thing. The working
men OF today are drifting further and
/ further away from any special kind Of the
/ olOgy. though large proportion OF then
are far from being irreligious in any sense
! OF the word. They are rather Eon-religious.
| They wish their wives to belong TO q
church and their children 10 attend Sun
| day-school: they do not treat religion with
/ disrespect; but where the workingman OF
fifty years ago was decided Metho list, OF
Baptist, or Catholic, he is now any one
of the three. as his social affiliations or his
liking for some particular clergyman hap
mems TO dictate He demands that man
shall be coed, rather than that he shall
preach some particular creed, and he has
much softer spot in his heart for the
atheist and the skeptic than his grand
father probably had. So it comes about
that he sometimes fights shy OF any chart
table society which is labeled church
This feeling will probably grow stronger
with time.
But. however. when it happens that one
rich man proves by his actions that he ha!
taken thought for the poor, that is Away:
a good thing.
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-01-02
MARK TWAIN's FIRST STORY.
How Samuel l.. Clemens Began His
Literary Career.

(Frcm the New York HeraldJ
Just how Samuel l.. Ciemens-Mark
Twain-began his literary career has never
been told In one Of his books he tells how.
from the surrounding" On Mississippi
River boats he selected his Ion-de-plume.
but as to the very important preliminary
episode in his life leadins up ~ Is be Is as
reticent as in his lecture on the A. slisuts,
in which he makes no mention .: ,,ose who
went in quest OF the golden fTeC
OF his first published article a, tAs t.
cidents connected with its VIZ e sEd
publication he has always been = > mum as
a church mouse.
There is one man who knows hese de-
tails-Gen. p. B. Bunker. of CansoS y. II.
/ had the good fortune to meet General
Bunker the other day in Lakewood. y. ].
General Bunker told Of playing game OF
cards with Clemens, in which the latter lost
even his coat. trousers, and boots,
From the frequent terse and pithy obser-
vations intertected into the game by Mr..
Clemens the general saw there was some
thing in him above the ordinary steamboat
pilot. and when few days later official
business called him to Aurora, a hundred
miles from Carson City. he asked Clemens
to go with him, and the invitation was ac-
certed.
ON the day following their return Mr..
u
to hear his written description Of the trip.
and he said he would.
We'll" said General Bunker to me, "9lr.
Clemens read me his description. l put it
very mildly when say was utterly Dumb
founded. had been dazzled before by his
occasional flashes Of wit. They were FREELY
flashes. This was the full. Respondent
light of the midday sun. We had talk
about that ar,icle-short, sharp. and de-
eisive
sam. what are you going to DO with
that sketch?' l asked.
DO nothing with it
sam you have fortune In that brain
of yours il you only knew how to use it.
Send that sketch to the san Francisco
Union" and they will pay you 500 for it.
" You are talking Wild. They wouldn't
publish such nonsensical trash "
Clemens was finally induced to send tie
story to the San Francisco paper but on
one point. the General said Clemens was
firm He would not consent to sign he
sketch with his own name. He dl1 rot
care to have anyone know aud ia ticu-
larry his mother. that he could b. gIi'y
Of writing such trash. OF course. another
rame had to be signed. and Ma TWAIN
was selected.
A few DAYS later the san Francisco paper
came with the sketch. and close on its b els
came by express check for 81 0.
The check" said General Bunk r vas
drawn, CT course. to the order o. MARX
Twair. There was great curiosity to know
VINO Mark Twain was The agent of he
express company could find no such per-
son. and n letter to the same address in
tho postofhce from the e7itor of the paper.
soliciting further contributions from NJ.
Twain. was uncalled for. However. the
secret had to come out. and sam got is
money. and an opening for himself in a
new career in the field of literary work
lust suited 70 his talents and in the pur-
suit of which his genius has given him su-
premaey. fame. and riches"
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-01-02

We are delighted TO learn that on the
very first day of the new year the Lawton
home fund reached the high water mark
OF fifty thousand dOllars-in cash and
pledges 1t is perhaps not impertinent TO
suggest to the committee that If the
American people want to make it sixty
thousand dollars nothing should be done
to balk them. II is pleasant to think
that the support and comfort of General
Lawton's widow and the education OF his
children have been so quickly provided for
by patriotic Americans. TIE fact will
bring the thought to many poor and
worthy officer that, after all, the people
OF a republic are not always ungrateful,
even if republics in their corporate c.
pacity. a. a rule. are.
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-01-02

Perhaps Secretary Wilson is justified in
being opposed TO the exercise of mercy in
the case of the oleomargarine offenders. If
so, it is to be regretted that he is not quite
as consistent as he may be right. Indeed,
il is hard to forget that once he appeared
to regard the rotton beef msereants who
murdered our soldiers in the field as not
only proper subjects TO- executive elem
ency, but entitled to unlimited whitewash
at Government expense.
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-01-02
Grnnd-YnudcriIIc.

If there is any truth in the old proverb
which relates that what is done on New
Year Day will be done every day in ihe
New Year" next Christmas will either hnd
Burke & Chase bankrupt or che Grand shel-
tering Misunderstanding audiences. Bus
like that presented yesterevenius at the
uptown house cost money. and. when given
at small prices. can be rendered ? ont hie
only by unusual assemblages The pro-
graulme OF last week may have been bet
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-01-02
coIumbia-"rhc Jolly Musketeer."

Jefferson de Angels was guilty OF two
Columbia. where he presented the STANCE
Edwards opera. The Jolly Musketeer."
First, he usurped the rights OF the late Ia
mcnted Joseph Miller in telling 4 number
OF weli-lipened jests. and second. lie
proved his ability to DO this even while
showing carelessness OF the privileges OF
Francis Wilson and DeWOlf Hopper by
making curtain speech. Hitherto Mr..
Wilson has had a local monopoly on de.iy-
cring orations. and Mr.. Hopper on recit rs
verses Mr.. De Angels succeeded in &C
ecmplshing both feats to the entire sa is
faction OF an audience which had been Z
fciently pleased to demand them.
There is little more that need be said
here of 1.-THE Jolly Musketeer' The Of
fering last year in Washington was noticed
at considerable length in The Times. and
a resume OF the story at this period.
therefore, would be quite superiluous. SUI
fee it TO say that Mr.. De Angels present
production, in many respects Is better
than was its predecessor. The cast is more
adequate and the rendering as whole
shows much more dash and spirit. In
every way 1t is worthy of patronage.
Jefferson De Angels is a comedian who
never stops work from the time he enters
the song and joke foundry with his dinner
pail early in the morning until the whistle
blows to cease labor at night With Mr
De Angels everything is effort-siEG q
song here, dance a few steps there. and
generally manage to have hand IL
all that happens to be going on. lie
is Jolly, rollicking chap. unctious
and happy in the extreme. Harry
Macdonough is capable feeder for
the star and participates IN some cX-
ceedingly rough comedy. Hubert Nilke
supplants Van RENSSELAER, Wheeler as Fran
co.'s. and succeeds in winning much praise
for his good singing and commendable
acting. Grace Van Studdlford. the new
prima donna Of the company. possesses
sweet voice of rather thin texture and m
uncomfortable stage presence. Maud Hell
Inns has returned to soubretshness and is
easily the best of the feminine contingent.
Her osculatory song won for her four en-
cores. and the gathering evidently could
not get enough Of the number The re-
mainder of the people are efficient. y
Runaway Girl follows.
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-01-02
Ingcrsou outwitted.


If.Vm fht san FrlnClsco WaVe.J
E.t-rf G. lngersoll was not always the tlctiGi
LAWYER he bec1Ios in his maturity. Early IN hs
career lie found himself counsel for the deienec
~ . ,,,,ir.irr case. with fussy old doctor az
Urinri;.4i witness against him. Thinking he saw
Chance 90 be brilliant, he sarc1stically pro-
Ccsdej 10 buiir the witness by commenting upon
doctors mistakes Doctors make as Few MS
takes a. hwyer~.' asserted the old man.
"a G1rtor's mistakes are buried six feet unee'
ground said lngcrsan.
we. but q lawyers mistakes are NUM- -
uauy ietl above The ground. "~' ''1 ''F'''
..and ihli Is lust tho difference ,-.t, 10,
The iury saw the point. and lhseFsoH 'os'
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-01-02

Trom the st. louis Globe hemocratJ
r.-f,.-tiy. wears ago Commodore Matthew Gal
Lfgitbr Perry. on the deck Of United states
s,ipof-yar. dictated to Japan, still hermit na-
tt5n. a treaty Of amity and commerce which, as
att,r nations. opened Japan 10 intercourse with
tte rest Of mankind and started her ON the road
/. tlr,t moral and material advancement which,
in lse9. has placed her in the list Of the woTlds
rryJf -iltCs
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-01-02

TFTWW TWI
\ letter written by prominent official IN th'
t,,,crnncnt ri Natal has been received IN Ion
don. lie SAYS: cone ruhs oIc's eyes when
horde Of simply heo,lsmcu is seen TO drive back
nm army trained by men Of the highest and most
upto-jata military skill and experience, aud arm
Cd. one would think, with the most perfect
vrapcus Of destruction. The fact IL. the Boer
arm, al Pretoria would shame the armory oil
como :irst-ratc European powers
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-01-02

It is said on what appears to be good au-
thority that Governor General Wood will
shortly relieve Brigadier General Fitzhugh
Lee and James II. Wilson and ship them
home It has occurred - = great many
people that for a man who upheld the dig
nifty and honor of this country in Cuba be-
fore the Spanish war Fitz Lee has
been given poor show. but perhaps
President Mckinley has handsome Wash
ington's birthday present in reserve for
him.
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-01-02

ErOm the Philadelphia h'tHtul
English aud American engineers have discovered
important gold field. near O-rnJIz, in Ahyssinia-
Three separate aud distinct veins lave been uls-
covered and all reported Is rici- IL has long
been suspected that the so-Caicd King Solomons
MINIS from which that wise and rich lsraclItish
ling procured Ills gold in such mundane, were
located in Abyssinia. aud it is not Improbable
that these discoveries will lead 10 their rcdis-
L--..I
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-01-02
Confronting n Trust.


tFrom the PnIadeIphla Kecord.l
Within the past year two large business
has developed in shipping iron from New
foundland 20 this port, and very recently ar.
rangcmenia have been made for re ding gypsum
here in large quantities. 1t is highly probable
that slate will also become a rry'''I importation
from Newfoundland. Thus the Ecw,y formed slate
monopoly may find competitor which it. had not
looked for.
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-01-02

C'rom the Philadelphia Rccord.)
uc-growinG experiment is reported to be
under consideration by the Big -Four. between
iiriEhtwood and Ingalls, in Indiana on land owned
hy the road. II is estimated that catalpa trees,
imported from Kansas. planted now, will attain
heigbt Of sixty feet aud diameter Of twenty
inches ia about sixteen years.
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-01-02
sympaih,'- Grab Bas.


NtENhA inv bt''NlliA i~iNlrsi
senator IIoar's resolutions for .he Declaration
81 Independence and the Farewell Address and the
Constitution aud the Ten Commandments and
the Emancipation OF Women could have been
strengthened by declarations in favor Of the null
tiplication table and Of asphalt pavements.
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-01-02

From the kinsas City starD
II Joseph Pulitzer, the great friend Of tue Beers
and R,urke Cochran. another strong Boer partisan
should transfer their abode and allegiance to Pre-
tyril -h,y would not be permitted to vote.
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-01-02

jority in the Senate. it will be able TO
dominate the one and negotiate with the
other, and in the end accomplish the
things il longs for.
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-01-02
wooden wallis vs.. wooden Heads.

CFfom the Minneapolis Tribure.)
: careful military observer expresses the belief
that one German army corps landed IN England
could lick all the armed forces in the country.
Perhaps so: hut owing to Englaud's toFUidihie
navy the army corps would have good deal
cf trouble in landing.
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-01-02

prom the Brooklyn Eagle.)
AZ the holiday season in China the Nmerican
.,iit,y ard system is reversed. Instead OF the
caiIer leaving his or her card, as is the custom
in this country the host presents his card 20 the
cllIrr. Il consists Of a long slip Of paper with
.hc owners name painted on one side in black
frk