davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-12-25
OFFICIAL OATHS,
England Has Some Curious Forms
Even at This Late Day.

England Has Some Curious Forms
Even at This Late Day.
From the London Law Journal
Not the least interesting feature of the
appointment Of Mr.. Shee. Q. c., as presiding
judge at the trial Of the officials OF the
Dumbell bank. in the Isle Of Man, was the
peculiar ceremony that preceded the per-
Torrance OF his judicial duties. He was re-
Quired to swear that he would administer
justice as impartially las the herring
backbone doth lie in the middle Of the fish,"
This oath equals in Quaintness the ceremony
of swearing through which the Norwegian
witness has to pass. Before he gives his
testimony he raises the thumb. the fore
finger and the middle finger of his right
hand. These signify the trinity while the
larger of the uplifted fingers Is supposed to
represent the soul Of the witness and the
smaller to indicate his body.
eff I swear falsely" he exclaims may
all l have and own be cursed; cursed be my
land. field and meadow, SO that may never
enjoy any fruit or yield from them; cursed
be my cattle. my beasts, my sheep, SO that
after this day they may never thrive or
benefit me; yea. cursed may be and every
thing I possess ~. -
This is certainly a good mouth-fIling
oath" but its comprehensiveness does NOT
exceed that Of the oath taken by the Bur-
mese witness. He Is not content that the
consequences Of his perjury should fall
upon himself; he is even ready that his re-
lations should suffer with him Let US be
subject" he prays, Ito all the calamities
that are within the body and all that are
without the body. May we be seized with
madness. dumbness. deafness, leprosy and
hydrophobia. May we be struck with thun-
derbolts and lightning and come to sudden
DEATH" Even more conscientious, perhaps,
was the first witness in the days of the
Brehons, who took three separate oaths be-
fore he gave his evidence. the first stand
Ing, the second sitting. the third lying as
these were the positions in which his life
was spent. The nation that has shown It
self to be the most ingenious in the making
of oaths is the Chinese. Sicing Of fowls
head, breaking saucer and eXtinguishing
lighted candle are among the picturesque
ceremonies that precede the giving Of evi-
dence in a Chinese court Of justice. The be-
heading Of the fowl is supposed to indicate
the fate Of the liar, and the cracking of the
saucer and the eXtinguishng of the candle
flame are intended to Indicate what will
happen to the soul of the witness who does
not tell the truth.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-12-25
IMMUNE TO SNAKE POISON.
A Dog Who Hunts and Fights Rattlers
With Impunfty.

From the Cincinnati Enquirer.
Dog fanciers and those who have lived in
the country with dog for their friend
know that many Of the CANNES of pure or
mixed breed have a native antipathy to
reptiles and will attack a snake at every
opportunity. Other dogs are MORALLY afraid
of snakes and will flee from them In ter
ror. Few persons, however, know that dog
can be immune against the poison of a
snake
That this Is true is the observation of
Mr.. John w. NJ Kiger. secretary to the
local board of health. who spent some
time last summer in Woppocoma W. Va.
At that place he fell In with dog-a small,
common cur. with long shaggy hair The
dog Is born fighter. obstinate and pug
nacious. He has been bitten SO often by
copperheads and rattlesnakes that he is
immune from their poison, which Is deadly
to many dogs.
This particular dog is the friend Of sports
men who visit the locality. and he gayly
joins them on their excursions. His method
Of fighting a snake is simple. The sight,
smell or rattle of a snake puts him on the
aggressive. His sharp, bright eyes follow
the reptiles movements and he circles nim-
bly, around for chance to nab his prey.
When he sees an opening there Is a sudden
spring. a quick swapping Of his sharp teeth
in the back or near the back of the head
and a sharp, strong jerk lifts the snake
from the ground and prevents its striking
Soon the battle is over and the snake is
dead.
A short yelp Of triumph announces the
victory. and the dog Is on for another bat
tie If it should come his way. Occasionally
the dog miscalculates his leap upon the
snake and 1t eludes him. Then before he
can get away he Is bitten. A yelp Of pain
escapes him when struck by the rattler
but he does not give up until the snake Is
ia ha
he ticks his wound and no i'll effect results
from IT,
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-12-25
FUNERAL THURSDAY.
Prof. Will1ams' Remains to Be Taken
to Nebraska

The funeral Of the late Prof. Thomas A.
Williams. assistant of the division of agros-
tology of the Agricultural Department,
VINO died Sunday morning at Takoma Park,
Will take place Thursday morning at 10
O'Clock. The services will be brief and will
be conducted by Rev. John Van Ness. pas
tor Of the Takoma Presbyterian Church, at
the family residence on Magnolia avenue.
After the ceremony the remains will be
taken TO Washington and thence to his
former home. Weeping Water Neb, where
the interment will take place
The pallbearers have been selected from
among his associates in the Department Of
Agriculture. They will De Jared Smith.
a ; Woods. II. ]. Weber, a. j. Peters,
c. l.. Shear, G. W. Ball
Mrs. Williams has received a large num-
Der ~ letters and kilograms of coincidence
fIcm points throughout the country. includ-
Ing Prof Charles +. Bessey Of the Cniver-
sltY Of Nebraska and Prof. ]. c. Corbett
OF the University of West Virginia at Nor
gantown.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-12-25
sPECTACLEs FOR SOLDIERS.
England FOrbids Them, Though
ScOufA Mistake Cattle for Cayalry,

England Forbids Them. Thourb
scouts Mistake Cattle for Cavalry.
From London Truth. -,-. o.. b. %.
The following interesting anecdote is sent
by one Of my readers ,apropos Of the re-
marks In last weeks Truth on spectacles
in the army: ast
A few years ago AT some foreign man
euvers spent an afternoon on the outpost
line with an officer Of a crack British cav
airy regiments. Pointing to some fields
about 1000 yards away. he said: There
are some cavalry among the trees. I won
der whether they are scouts from the other
side" I pointed out to him that the SUD-
posed ENTHUSIASTICALLY cattle Although
short-sighted, 81 have good sight even for
long distances, thanks to a properly Sc
lected pair OF ipince-hez spectacles. My Of
ficer friend used hisIfiefd glass and admit
ted his mistake adding 1T am short
sighted. 1t is9a great nuisance. One can
not always be l1isinF'field glasses" I sug-
did. II would sgI4dly," he replied, but
there is such IprejudIcei against them in
the service. 'aS Justo Imagine this cavalry
officer sent out scouting and going about
his work half Sblind 9becatise Of the preiu-
dice against specialized officers! I could
name men ef-active service in Africa at
the present moment who are very short
sighted, but dare not wear glasses. Some
VI lAcIi wear iSlIlSlc eyeglasses, TO the
great damage OF what sight they still have
Yet last year IN Germany at the Imperial
maneuvers l Saw plenty of officers in spec
tacles and a good many privates as well.
l regard this one OF the most conspicu-
Gus instances OF wooden headed stupidity
with which our army liz governed. Another
which deserves to be bracketed with 1t is
the exclusion of men from the army be-
cause they happen to have false teeth.- II
there Is to be new regime worth anything
In Pail Mall these are among the many
absurdities which will at once be got rid Of
The correspondent l have just quoted
states, on the authority Of Mr.. Conan
Doyles book, that the redoubtable De Wet
actually goes about in blue spectaeles, ow-
ing to soma eye trouble. If this is true
1t Us indeed one Of the object lessons of the
war. How ,maqy of the British officers
whose sight was scien tifealiy. tested before
they received their commissions can see
as far as the blue-spectacled De. Wet?
My last weeks remarks about spectacles
In the army were, delivered apropos of the
grant Of commission to a City Imperial
volunteer, who was said to be shortsighted.
1t was suggested at the same time that the
volunteer in question had been originally
rejected on medical grounds, but subse-
quently passed, through the exertions OF
influential relatives. This suggestion how
ever, appears to have been unfounded. /
am told that no c. I. v. who has gained a
commission was ever objected to by the
medical examiners.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-12-25
SIZE AND DRAINS.
There Is No Relation Between Intelli-
Gence and Stature.

Dr. Charles E. Woodruff in Medical Record.
From investigations among soldiers and
from the literature of the subject there is
no doubt in my own mind that II a man S
development is so unstable that he has
psychical stigmata, he Is invariably Of bad
physical development also and has numer-
Gus physical stigmata. AS far as I know,
there are few, II any, cases OF abnormal
minds in average bodies devoid of stigmata.
1t is a fair inference, then, that II a mans
body Is nearly an average in all respects.
height weight, proportions, ETC., there must
also be an average brain, and, therefore, a
normal understanding, Of course, normal
men who have acquired insanity. Beyond
this we dare not go. for there is absolutely
no relation between Intelligence and stature
Men of genius may be big like Bismarck
or little like Napoleon or Da Costa, and the
same may be said Of the feeble-minded as
well as Of those OF average intelligence.
George WashiRgtonbs physical measure
ments are said to have been identical with
l n0se at night given indefnitely. ns'
1t is true that tho human brain weight
depends uponidhe body weight, for many
muscles requipe many brain cells. In like
manner the sparrow needs but a few grains
Of brain, while the Whale and elephant must
and Unreasonable variable called intelligence
depends upona othert things in addition to
weight Of brain. and the increase Of brain
tissue which A. may hot and PROBABLY DI does e
not, have any Bearing upon intelligence.
A big physique with immense reserve
power and endurance Is a decided element
in forcing meH,to the front in the struggle
Of llre. Thisoia in accordance with recent
Investigations 1emopg Chicago school chill
dren, which are said to show that the best
scholars in anEI clasA are appreciably bigger
than the rest. Hence. other things being
he III hov irer
should have a larger percentage Of their
number successful than the little men. Yet
statistics show the very opposite. for Lom-
broso mentions oman Of Genius, !" page g.
but twenty-six great men Of tall stature
while he names fifty-nine who are short,
some Of them being even dwarfish or less
than five feet in height, AS the anomalies
Of height are equally distributed on each
side of the mean, there must be some tre-
mendously active cause TO make the little
men more than twice as brilliant as the
big. The two classes. being equally re-
moved from the average, should be equally
abnormal mentally.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-12-25
FALCON ISLAND REAppEARs.
Little Pacific Island Which Disap-
peared Again Comes Into View.

Little Pacific Island Which Disap-
peared Again Comes Into View.
From the New York Sun.
Falcon Island, which early last year was
reported to have completely disappeared
beneath the waves of the Pacific, Is again
showing its fiat surface above the water.
The life history Of this speck of land has
been unusual and interesting. cable dis
patch from Europe printed In April last
year said that after brief life Of fourteen
years Falcon Island had ceased to exist
II was thought that no trace Of 1t would
ever be seen again. But Mr.. Vossion, the
consul general Of France in the Tonga
group, announces that Commandment
Ravenhiil Of the cruiser Porpoise has re-
turned to those islands from a cruise in
the Pacific with the news of the re-emer-
gence of Falcon Island. He says that the
highest part Of the Island Is now about
sixteen feet above sea level.
The island was formed by great vol
canic eruption at the bottom Of the sea in
1855. 1t took the waves and storms Of the
ocean fourteen years entirely to obliterate
1t. Mr.. J. ]. Lister. who visited the island
a short time before 1t disappeared said
that 1t was rapidly being torn to pieces by
the action Of the waves. Unless fresh
volcanic outburst occurred he thought it
would soon disappear. His prediction
came true and a steamer that visited the
reported that not a trace of 1t was to be
found above the water level
The island was built up in the neighbour
hood Of the Tonga group about thirty-five
miles from the Island Of Tofooa. A sub
marine volcano had reared from the bot
tom Of the ocean a mighty mass Of ejecta
and on this foundation rested the outpour-
ings which rose above the water The
island consisted of two distinct parts. One
Of them was hill of gentle slope and wide
base, whose height was 1884 feet. On one
side the hill ended abruptly in a cliff,
whose base was washed by the sea at
high water. The other part Of the island
was a fat, extending away from the base
Of the hill in northerly direction and
only ten to twelve feet above the high
tide level. The whole bit Of land was Just
a bare, brown heap of ashes, around which
the great rollers broke and swept I'D the
black shores in sheets Of foam. The island
was entirely destitute Of any vegetation
save for half dozen Seeding plants that
had found lodgment there.
1t will not be strange II the island Is torn
to pieces and again disappears from view
within a very few years. Its temperance
now is doubtless due to another volcanic
eruption. Volcanic islands seldom endure
many years unless they are so large or so
we'll protected against the sea that there
is time for them to become covered with
dense masses Of vegetation before ocean
storms have an opportunity to thear them
to pieces.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-12-25
DUTIES OF LINE OFFICERS
STATEMENT PREPARED BY THE
NAVY DEPARTMENT.
Many in the Grades of LfeI 'enant and
Below Employed I'm Watch
Duty<at Sea.

The Navy department recently prepared
for the info}pation of the congressional
committees 81 naval affairs statement
showing the Duties Of line officers on shore
or at sea any invited special attention to
the large nui4 ber of officers in the grades
Of lieutenant End below employed in watch
duty at sea. A tabN IS; given showing the
duties of officers Of the various grades as
follows:
Rear admirals, eighteen, Of which num-
Der thirteen are on shore and five at sea-
Captains. 20; on shore. 20; at sea. 16; sick
Or unemployed, 8. COMMANDERS. 112; on
shore. Go: 1t sea, 30; sick or unemployed. Z.
Lieutenant commanders, 1ye; on shore. 81:
at sea, "a: sick or unemployed, 4. Lieuten-
unemployed. 7. Lieutenants u. c., los; on
shore, 80; at sea, 90: sick or unemployed, L
Ensigns, Ill; on shore, 2; at sea. 108: sick
or unemployed, L Cadets, LIZ; at sea, Ill;
sick or unemployed, l.
The following general statement is made
OF the duty now being performed by the
officers OF the several grades:
or captains and commanders on shore
duty, nineteen are engineer officers. who by
the term OF the personnel are required to
do shore duty. In addition to the captains
desisnated as on shore duty. number have
been selected for the command of vessels
approaching completion, and some have re-
ceived such orders.
Again inviting attention to the figures
above as to sea and shore duty of the
lower grades it will be seen that Of total
OF 6lS (ten sick in addition), 400 are per-
forming sea duty. In other words, 70 per
cent (nearly of this class Of officers in
which the bureau requests an increase are
now performing duty at sea. The 149 off,
GERS OF these lower grades who are per-
forming duty on shore are absolutely neces-
sary In positions at the Naval Academy in
the administration and technical bureaus Of
the Navy Department, In the construction
and inspection of work at navy yards, the,
technical inspections Of material being used
or constructed at private yards. and in the
manl1od duties OF a naval officer ashore.
Close acquaintance with all OF the details
OF construction and administration has been
the characteristic of the American naval
omcer Tor years, and to such close &C
quaintance may be largely attributed the
high standard of perfection which we have
reached In all naval matters. In this re-
spect our system differs from that of many
foreign governments. where the naval Off
Ger aboard ship Is unacquainted with the
manufacture OF the weapons that he uses
and where the construction branches on
shore are unacquainted with the necessities
or the seago1ng branches
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-12-25
Irish OfatOry.
From the London Chronicle.

from the LONDON Chr0nlcle.
At the meeting Of the Irish Literary So
ciety in the rooms OF the Society Of Arts on
read a paper on "A Hundred Years Of Irish
Oratory." He denied that oratory had
gone out of fashion. If Burke reappeared
in the house Of commons he would not find
that his day had passed-only that the
house had gone out of fashion. We have
not too much oratory, said Mr. Murray, but
too many speeches, just as we have nsot too
much music but too. many barrel organs.
Mr.. Vessey-Knox. who presided, referred
to the "singularly dangerous gift of ora
tory" which in Ireland tends to follow the
wishes OF the audience, just as Froude's
fisherman who predicted fish when there
were none excused himself by saying Sure
I thought your honor would like a pleasant
answer" The Hon. William Gibson. who
wore the old-fashioned costume OF an Irish
squire, thought that Irish oratory should be
discouraged, and that the people should
stick to fact.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-12-25
APPROVED BY RUSSIA.
Expressions of Leading NevsDaper,
on Our Treaty Action

ST. PETERSBURG, December 25-The
Novoe VreTnya, discussing the English news
paper Indictment of the United States Sem
ate for Its unparalleled attempt to over
turn the Clayton Bulwer treaty" says:
The case is not unusual. Conditions have
changed and the treaty must change, too
Russia afforded an example in 1870 in de-
claring that she no longer bound by
her promise not to maintain war vessels In
the Black sea-
The Bourse Gazette SAYS: .Hussia is graft
fed by Americas diplomatic victory over
England Western Europe dislikes the Mon
roe doctrine because it desires to grab ter
ritories everywhere. Russia which has
sympathized with America since her indie
pendence. which liquidated American pos
sessions to America, has nothing against
the Monroe doctrine. and the old sympath1es
have grown more cordial in China
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-12-25
Frances Declining Population.


The real explanation for the declining
French population. as shown once more in
the statistics, is to be found in the pro-
visions of the Code Napoleon. 1t is not
immortality but really the stipulation of
the code that all children must have equal
shares whenever their parents property Is
divided. There was time when the
French were much given to large families,
and the French Canadians, who preserve
in America the language and customs Of
the France Of Louis XIV, still consider
sixteen as a normal family. But in France
parents are regarded as little less than
cruel who have more children than can
live comfortably upon the divided parent
al estate. In the excess of Its population
Germany has the equivalent of more than
million fighting men, although the emf
grafton Of the Germans Is six times that
of the French. II the present conditions
continue. Germany will before many years
elapse have a preponderance OF fully two
millions Of fighting men.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-12-25
RED GOGGLES FOR A BULL.
They Made Him q RavinG Bovine
Lunatic for Awhile.

They Made Him q RavfnG Bovine
Lunatic for Awhile.
From the Cincinnati Enquirer.
A set Of crimson goggles on bull Is q
combination as rare as 1t Is bizarre, but
this is just exactly what John Anschutz Of
Stowe township ran across the other day
when he went out to take q look at his
black and white bovine. Dexter. The bull
was indebted for his new ornaments to a
bevy of mischievous boys, who wanted to
demonstrate the generally received theory
that anything red renders bull obstreper-
ous When Dexter woke up the next morn
ing he saw everything had a decided red
dish tinge. By the time he had come to
the conclusion that every object he gazed
on had unaccountably been transformed
into carmine he became furious. He no
ticed that his cattle companions had all
taken on the new color; that the grass was
no longer green; that the landscape had
been painted in the prevailing tint, and then
he became a bovine lunatic. To cap the
climax he saw he was near red barn.
close to red fence, and that the milk
maid was red girl. who carried a red
bucket and a three-legged stool of the same
color. Now he was simply pent-up vol
cano in COW skin. and the trouble began.
With snort he made pass at straw
stack that was the color of brickyard,
but failed to knock 1t into the next county,
though he had the supreme satisfaction Of
witnessing the terrified antics Of red chick
ems, red geese and red ducks in their wild
endeavor to get out of his way. Without
stopping to enjoy his satisfaction in having
turned a peaceful barnyard into a cyclone
swept prairie he butted up against the
weather boarding of the barn, making the
red splinters fly like straw in a whirlwind,
and accelerating the flight of the red-head-
ed girl into a bright red spring house. Next
the panels of the red fence succumbed to
the furious onslaught; a meadow with red
grass was crossed, and Mr.. Bull found HIM
self on the bank Of a stream, the water of
which was red as blood. Here, after an
hour of unspoken misery. the poor bull
sank down exhausted, and the red goggles
dropped from his deceived eyes Mr. An
schultz has offered a reward for the arrest
Of the bloody-minded' boys
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-12-25
To Manage r. C. and On

DULUTH, MIMI. December I'D. H.
Bacon Of Duluth. who has been president
Of the Minnesota Iron Company for the
past ten years. will on February 1 resign
his present position to become chairman Of
the board Of directors Of the Tennessee
Coal. Iron and Railroad Company. MIR.
Bacon will reside in New York city and
will have the direction and management OF
all the departments Of the company's bus
mess.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-12-25

MONTREAL. Que, December 25-James
Baxter. formerly of Chicago and lately Of
New York. who was sentenced here some
time ago to five years in the penitentiary
Tor his connection with the Banque Vile
Marie frauds, mas been released on con
ditional pardon from ST. Vincent de Paul
penitentiary. His wife and friends have
been working necessarily for his pardon on
account of Ill health ever since his convic-
ton He is suffering from dropsy and his
condition Is serious
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-12-25

81. LOC1o, DeCenIDer z5.-F. n. SOth-
ern, the actor, who for some time was laid
up with an accident that necessitated the
cancelling Of dates all over the country.
made his first appearance last night since
the accident. presenting Hamlet at the
Olympic Theater before a crowded house.
He was well supported. and the production
was well received. The interrupted tour
will be resumed. the company leaving for
Chicago next week.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-12-25

Philadelphia's coroner yesterday inves-
tisated the death Of Edward Sanfard,
professionally known as Joe Barr, who
died in a hospital Saturday night after q
boxing bout with Joseph Kerrigan, at the
Athletic Club of Philadelphia. The Jury
rendered verdict that Sanford's death was
due to hemorrhage of the brain. herrigan
was held to await the action of the grand
jury. The referee seconds and Others ar
rested Saturday night. were discharged
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-12-25

The police arrested ed. johnson on sus-
picion of being concerned In the Cudahy
kidnapping case. but he proved his inno-
cence and was released ss-se