davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-06-24

ious bit Of color In the grimy court. The
leaning out Of. the windows gazed hungrily
at Il and their faces sOftsned and grew tender
with the memory Of youth. The children
paused In their play to count it's blossoms rev.
erently. but not one finger ,desolated the bouehs.
beer can on the other passed through the court
and stopping by the bush she held the wan little
face close to the roses so that II took color from
their bloom and over the blue baby lips passed
the very ghost Of a smile. 1t was like a Wonder
full ~benediction from above this beautiful rose
In the gloomy tenement yard"
II is quite possible that the twentieth century
bridegroom will not boast so much Of the bis
cults as Of the mint juleps that his mother used
to make. II we are TO Judge from the many bar
implements that have Q place among the silver
presented to up-to-dats brides. Our grand
mothers would be surprised. at the array Of
etrainers. shakers, TASKS and corkscrews that
are considered correct. nowadays as offerings
In place Of the inevitable butter knives and pic
kle jars Of yore. A few years ago May Irwin
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-04-08

lands. cattle and tools or farming nipple
ments. and were comparatively well to-do
These people since the beginning Of the
famine, have. sold first one thing then
smother. till today everything they owned
is gone and they are simply farers on the
highway drifting 10 the portals Of anoth-
er land. naked. starving, outraged dis
essed.
II must be remembered. also. that many
who do not die for want OF food. succumb
TO one OF the various diseases which fam
Inc breeds. Among the sufferers. thou
sands Ct blind people may be seen. The
eyeballs decay. and are entirely consumed.
leaving only CHASTITY cavities. Again lack
OF food week.-mrs. the heart action. the body
has not strength enough 10 send blood to
the feet and hands Thus after losing his
eyes, the sufferers feet OF hands begin to
crack. TO disintegrate. and death is very
near
From correspondents in the heart Of the
famine district come heartrending tales Of
individual sufferers. Two little girls be-
tween four and FIVE years of age sat to-
gether near a cactus hedge. The waits
were questioned but were SO reduced By
hunger that they seemed not 10 compre-
bend what they wanted. where they were
or who left them there. One old woman
with her four sons two daughters in law.
and three grandchildren came q long dis
tancs hoping TO get relief: but failing TO
End either work or food. and weakened by
the journey. one after another died, until
all were gone save the woman and one
Erandchild A widow was found. with two
e1iidren-s girl Of two years and boy o.
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-04-08

six. The woman was trying to sell the
little girl for TWO rupees. about 10 cents,
saying they must all die anyway and the
price Of the girl would keep life in her
and the boy for yet a little while.
Thousands Of women are so weak for
lack Of food that they cannot stand. and
the children around them are mere skele-
tons covered with skin. mother so sit
uated is helpless. She would deny herself
and give TO the children. but she has food
neither for herself nor for them. A Ma
hometan will give her thirty-hve cents
FOR her daughter She shudders. but the
girl will be fed at any rate, and her price
will feed the others for several days. So
the bargain is made and the girl goes
away into horrible captivity. Sometimes
mothers abandon their children by the
roadside, hoping either that some chart
table person may take pity on them, or
that death may speedily end their suffer-
ings One little girl was taken by her
mother to the edge Of pool. The mother
was about to push her into the water,
when the child begged her not to, but to
let her go and she would beg for bread and
not trouble her mother any more.
From these stories it is not just to in
fer that the Indian mother loves her Off
spring less than American mothers love
their own children. II is simply that when
a mother is starving to death. when her
suffering reaches a certain stage she be-
comes even less than an animal, for ma
ternal instinct perishes.
Since the famine began five months ago,
whole districts have become depopulsted.
There is hardly a town or village in the
stricken area that has not its scores Of va
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-04-08
GUN FIRING AND DEAFNESS.
Serious Effects Upon the Ears of Men
on ShIpbOard.

ttIUm BiaCkWOods MagaZue.)
The stunning report OF each gun as it is
fired is something that stranger on the
deck Will long remember. There is an old
saying, deaf as a post" Now. in the
royal navy, this is changed to deaf as a
post captain" No man can go through a
long series of gunnery practices without
having his hearing seriously affected
Some men put cotton wool in their ears
but even this precaution does little to
deaden the terrible shock. And if the fir
ing Of one or two guns has such a shat
tering power, what would be the effect II
the whole armament were i'll action to-
geJher?
Il is almost impossible to conceive the
strain upon nerve and senses Of the rem
ing conclusion. II a visitor watches the
firing OF one OF the monster nine-inch
guns. and then places himself beside one
Of the smaller pieces. the report made by
the one will not appear much louder than
that Of the other. The extra distance to
the muzzle Of the big piece discounts the
sound The only apparent difference be-
tween the two appears TO be that the small
pieces have sharper, higher pitched
note. and that the six and nine-inch guns
speak with more of a believing roar. One
piece of advice may be given to anyone
who finds himself in the neighboThood of
a gun in action. The noise will not have
nearly the same effect If you are watching
the gun as II the crash comes unexpected
~ Unconsciously nature prepares you to
resist a shock which is known TO be i'm
pending.
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-04-08
MAKES GOOD RAILWAY TIES.
A New wood Found in the Argen-
tina Forests.


A new and thoroughly suitable wood for
railroad ties has been found in the forests
in the northern part of the Argentine Re
public. II is the red quebracho. II is ak
ceedingIy hard wood, and in its interior.
not alone in the bark, is l. TO 20 per cent
of tauniu. which keeps the wood from
rotting. no matter in what substance it
is buried The wood has been used In Eu-
rope for tanning, but outside Of the Ar
gentine Republic its utility to railroads, II
seems. is yet to be discovered and appre-
ciated Posts made OF this wod which
have been buried fifty years in land fur
rowed and quilted by the torTential rains
of summer have been found to be in as goo
condition as if they had been felled recent
ly.
In the Argentine Republic ballast for
railroad beds is unknown. and the ties are
laid on the ground which frequently Is
sandy and exposed TO heavy rains and dried
by intense heat So iron cross ties were
used until it was found that the red que
braeho was undeniably the best wood that
could be used for the purpose. Il not only
is so hard a wood that il has to be bored
before spikes and bolts can be driven into
it, but it is unusually heavy. II does not
split or become compressed with blows.
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-04-08
A WRONG COURT OF APPEAL

The Assistant Attorney General for the
Postofice Department is almost daily re-
quested by people from all parts Of the
country to render his assistance or give
advice in many cases which do not come
within his official Jurisdiction.
As an illustration. yesterday he received
letter from a young man in this city.
in which the writer made the Assistant
Attorney General his confidant in his love
affairs and asked his advice as to what
TO do, and also to aid him in the recovery
OF three diamond rings The young man
said in his letter that he met a young.
beautiful girl. with whom he fell in love
at first sight. She reciprocated his love
and the courtship progressed satisfactorily
to both parties concerned until he
asked her to be his own. This
seems to be the point where
the young mans troubles began.
Upon his request to marry him she ac-
quiesced, but demanded as a proof Of his
sincerity three diamond rings The Young
man took all the money he had saved and
invested ii In three diamond rings. which
he presented to the choice Of his heart.
with VOWS of eternal love and fidelity
She graciously accepted the gifts and
promised that she would marry either him
or nobody.
The young man pressed his suit. but at
every advance he made she offered an
excuse. until finally she refused TO see
him.
The rejected lover now seeks the advice
and assistance Of the Assistant Attorney
General in recovering the three diamond
rings, as they were obtained. as he says,
under false pretences. and making use
of the males for fraudulent purposes
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-04-08
BUCKETsHoP DEALINGS.
A straight Tip That BENEFITS Bogus
Rival Operators.

Prom The New Orleans Times DemocIdt)
IF the real inside workings OF the aver
age bucketshOp were laid bare 90 said a
telegraph operator who has had much ex-
perience in such establishments. the rev
elation would open the eyes Of the young
dOnkeys who imagine they can beat the
game Just to illustrate the point I'll tell
you a little story. Some time ago there
were two rival buckle tshops in a certain
Southern city. supposed to be run by North
ern operators. Business was a little slow,
and it was evident that the speculative
element was inclined to be suspicious Of
both establishments. One day the man.
ager Of one Of the concerns hunted up a
young fellow who had more money than
brains and handing him $50 asked him,
as a special favor, 10 go over TO the other
house and make such and such a play.
It's a private speculation Of my own he
said, and have a straight tip. but I can't
very we'll place the money myself, on ac-
count OF my connection with - & Co. IL
did. they'd get suspicious right away
The young idiot supposed. Of course that
he had struck a bOnanza-One bucketshOp
man playing against another.-it must be
a sure thing,-sO he not only placed the
$50 as requested, but played the tip hard
himself and so did all his friends. whom be
promptly let into the secret. Needless to say.
they were all eventually skinned out Of every
cent they put in. but the remarkable part
OF the story is that the same tactics were
worked back and forth by both managers
on at least a dozen different occasions.
Each time IL was done they gathered 10
lot of new clients and made a big haul.
II developed not long afterward that the
two bucketshops were run by the same
people"
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-04-08
WARRIORS AND GENTLEMEN.
ChiNnlrfc Methods of the Native
Tribes of New Zealand.


We are accustomed to speak Of the hu-
name and chivalrous manner in which
modern fighting is carried on. aud to con-
graduate ourselves upon the advance
which has been made in this respect.
But is this advance as great and as real
as we imagine? For example. how do
our present day customs Of war compare
with the old-time fighting methods of the
Maoris. the natives of New Zealand? Ii
viii surprise a good many people to hear
that when band OF Maori warriors was
going TO fight the warriors Of another
tribe it was not unusual for he numbers
IL was proposed to place in the field 10
be communicated to the enemy. moreover.
one side often provided the other with
arms and provisions. so that the enemy
might not be placed al too great a disad-
vantage.
Here are few stories which illustrate
the generosity which the Maoris OF former
days displayed toward their enemies. A
chief was asked why. when on a certain
occasion he had command OF the road, he
did. not attack the ammunition and provl-
sion trains OF the English The Maori,
utterly astonished at such a question ex-
claimed why. you fool If we had
stolen their powder and food how could
they have Fought"
Another chief who considered that he
had been insulted by the chief Of a neigh
boring tribe said that the other chief,
had he not been much the stronger of the
two in arms and ammunition. would not
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-04-08
LITTLE UNFORTUNATE WAITS.
Two Children Noticed in n New Or
leans Charity Asylum

(FTom the New Orleans Times Democracy
Il paid a visit to one of our charitable
institutions the other day remarked a
gentleman who is interested in philan-
thropic work, and among group of chill
dren saw two whose history, as told me
by an attendant. made a deep impression
on my mind. The first was a little girl OF
perhaps eight years who had one of those
strange thoughtful faces that have the
features of a child yet. somehow. the look
Of a woman. She had a smooth olive COM
pleXion and large dark eyes. She is not
exactly pretty now, but / take il that she
will be very handsome when she grows up
handsome in most unusual way This
little girl was taken, so they told me- from
an island on the south coast. four or five
years ago 1t was desOlate. rocky key,
inhabited by half -barbaric negro fishermen
one of whom claimed she was his daugh-
ter. 1t is easy to see that she hasn't drop
Of negro blood in her veins, and she was
simply taken possession Of by the officers
Of the institution. Somebody chrstened her
Victoria, and she has no other name. How
did she come to be on the lsland2 God
knowsl Perhaps she was saved from some
wreck: perhaps she was the daughter Of
some unknown refugee, who wandered
down to the coast and died and left no
trace At any rate. whatever links once
DOunu heI 70 lHe past steh ~ nav DSch
broken forever. l noticed by the way.
that her hands were small and her fingers
long and slender.
THE other case was that OF a half wit
ted boy who had curious. long scars on
his arms and chest. The attendant was a
little reticent about his history at first, but
finally told me he had been taken from
surgeon who had used him for skin graft
ing. In other words. he had been kept
TO be- hayed as convenient. for the benefit
Of patients. |, shuddered and asked no
more questions. The attendant changed
the subject"
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-04-08
THE GATES TO THE PACIFIC.
and Manila Give the Amer
lean Government Control

IF it be westward that the star OF en-
pire takes its way, Uncle Sam owns the
upper and perhaps the best, and France
the lower and less useful gateway into this
new world. At Hawaii is the ma uTal mid
way between the warm and genial Pacific
Coast and the hot and luxuriant districts
of the tropics wherein most OF the Pacific
islands lie. At Tahiti is the radial place
below the equator a little less removed
from the centre Of heat and farther from
the origin OF travel than Hawaii. Both
abound in beautiful scenery. in tempera-
ture alluringly equable. in life and habits
half indolent, half Industrious; 10 products
both tropical and semi-trOpical. Both form
an admirable preparation for the things be-
yond The soldier boys who stopped IN
Honolulu on their way TO Manila. dd
their first taste of bananas and pineapples
as they come directly from the field. They
wished that they might stay In the SOFT
and luscious air forever; that is TO say,
those that did not remain long enough TO
be down with the fever or be sent home
in the hearse ship. For there are fevers
in Hawaii. as in almost all Of the islands
OF the Pacific.
ON the other hand. travellers who have
passed the exquisite locks Of Tahiti Har-
Dor have fingered in the rhapsody until
little of the English language was left 10
them with which to extOl the virtues OF
Samoa and New Zealand.
IF civilization is to work backward from
the East to the West as the Chinese and
the Russians seem inclined 10 force it to
do. Holland and Britain divide with the
United States In owning the gateway
Dutch Sumatra closes the portals to the
passengers from India. British and Dutch
Borueo and the American Philippines close
II to the passengers from China and Siam.
And in these territories there is even a
more apt and conclusive introduction 10
what lies beyond than there is in Hawaii
or Tahiti In Sumatra and in Java are
footsteps OF the ancient civilization which
entered the Pacific islands centuries before
European navigatOrs went in quest Of
spices and jewels. In the same islands are
the crude savages who have never yielded
to the advance OF the civilizer, and in the
extreme northern point Of Sumatra are the
Achiuese. who are still the pirates they
have always been. preying on the shipping
and wealth OF the more cultured nations
across the Malacca Straits In BoIneO-
driven back far into the Interior
now-are the matchmaking Dyaks. the
most typical OF the many head hunters Of
the Pacific. In Sarawak on the eastern
coast of BOrneO, are the comparatively in
dependent natives, that have been he d in
control for more than twO-thirds Of a CEN
fury by the lone and extraordinary Brit !
isher. the Rajah Brooke and his nephew |
These are types OF the numerous rugged I
fellows who have immured themselves IN /
marine wildernesses. and practiced such /
cunning and strength as might belong TO
heir nomadic and curious natures
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-04-08

have dared to act in so insulting manner.
This speech came 10 the ears Of the neigh
boring chief. who thereupon divided his
arms and ammunition into two equal
parts. and sent one-half. along with an
invitation TO fight. TO chief No. ].
On another occasion a chief who was
lighting against US, and who was short Of
guns and powder sent this message to
the Governor: Ny custom with regard
TO my enemy is. II he have not weapon
I give him one, that we may fight on
equal terms. Now, oh, Governor, are you
not ashamed Of my defenoeless hands?"
A clergyman who lived long time In
New Zealand relates how, In one Of the
inter-tribal wars. the besieged sent word
to the enemy that they were short of pro-
visions. and the besiegers at once handed
over a supply Of food.
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-04-08
EXPOSITION JURY TASKS
Work of the Congresses at the
Great Paris Show.
A Multitude of Applications for Po-
sitionS as Jurors to Decide Upon
the Merits of the Exhibits at the
worlds Fnfr-Tact. Executive
Ability and Experience Necessary.

Besides the crowd of pleasure seekers,
who will visit the Paris Exposition merely
for the fun and excitement TO be had, or
with, at any rate, only passing interest
in its manifold treasures. there will be a
large percentage of knowledge thirsty in
dividuals whose delight is in the why's and
wherefores of things. who will want a sys-
tematic mental grasp Of the panorama
spread out before them and perhaps a dig
down into the bed rock Of some particular
features.
For these nothing connected with the
Exposition will have greater attraction
than the conventions of International Con-
crosses, to be held in the building erected
for the purpose and called the Palais des
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-04-08
ANCIENT ERA COSTUMES.
A Move to Revive Fashions Long
Ago Obsolete.

Ago Obsolete.
The club has been started in this city.
having for its object the revival OF an OBJ
solete style of dress. or rather OF a COM
bination Of the different costumes worn
at various times by Americans. Thus the
neither garments Of the male members viii
consist Of the very tightest knee buckles.
such as those in vogue in the reign of
George III, while the coat will be the
wide-s kirted affair which. with bag wig
and sword gave such courtly air to the
gentlemen Of the reign OF George II.
Regarding the arrangement Of the hair,
much latitude is given to the members.
The wig will from present indications I'M
doubtedly be the favorite style. both pow
dered and unpowdered. At all events the
shorn crop of the present day is found to
be by no means in harmony with the cos
tune adopted, while the bag wig forms
most graceful and elegant appendage.
The long flowing locks of the reign Of
Charles II have also come in for their
share Of preference by some members OF
the club, and the effect is found by no
means homogeneous
The hat worn is also left more or less
to the taste Of the-individual members,
with the provisO that il shall neither be
a "stovepipe" nor a derby The plumed
and jeweled hat with soft. wide brim and
ostrich feather which formed such grace
full feature of the costume Of the gallant
Of Charles Seconds time. will doubtless
be worn. and the less pretentious three
cornered hat, popular throughout the last
century has already graced the heads of
several members Of the club in their pri-
waite rooms.
The club is composed entirely OF gentle
men. and It is designed TO inauguTate the
movement Of dress reform at a grand
ball which is TO be given at one OF the
large halls in this city.
On this occasion it is understood that the
ladies will be expected to wear the cos
tunes of past centuries. The affair will
thus resemble fancy dress ball.
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-04-08
KANSAS city Up and Doing.

The burning Of Convention Hall in Kansas CITY
while serious blow, not only 10 the Democrats
Of the town AZ The mouth Of the Raw, but 70
every inhabii4nt. irrespective Of political sfiiia-
ton. has demonstrated the uuierrhed quality Of
Missouri Democracy, If demonstration were need
ed. Instead q sitting down 10 bewal the unkind
fate that had oyertaken ihem, the party leaders
Immediately set about. repsiring the ciiy's loss
Almost before the roof Of the big hall crashed
downward subscription blanks were being pre-
pared. and before the pipemen ceased playing on
the ruins enough money, lacking $50 600. had
been pledged Tor rebuilding the great auditorium
Such energy as this viii general belief in
the promise u ksnsss City that she will COM
plete the neg structure in the short time left for
the work
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-04-08

cant houses Husbands and fathers in des-
pair Of caring for their wives and children
are abandoning them 10 their fate; and
thousand Of families are wandering If
responsibly about the mud deserts, the
jungles. and the streets Of the towns
looking for food or awaiting merciful
death.
Or. Louis Klopsch has issued a pathetic
appeal 10 American mothers. husbands, and
fathers in behalf Of the furnishing in India.
Referring to the good that contributions
viii effect he says
Remember that cents will support a
life one day. One dollar will keep man,
woman. or child two months from starva-
tion. Ten dollars viii save five lives for
four months"
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-04-08
THE FAMINE IN india
Millions of British Subjects Suffer
ing for Food.

Maternity Loses Its SubIimest Glory
in the Face of Destitution aud De-
TO Relieve the Victims of Hunger.
Appeal of the Christian Herald.
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-04-08
Cash ON THE CONTINENT
Official Figures Stating the Amount
of Wealth in America.

4 Financial showing Made by the
Bureau of statistfcS-An Increase
OF Nearly Five Hundred and sew
euty-hVe Millions In the United
states Treasury since July 4. 1870.