davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Grit-advocate., 1900-09-21

At any time of the day or night,
Sundays and holidays, no matter what
the rest of the world may be doing
says the Chicago Chronicle, the man
who takes down telephone receiver
and places it to his ear will instantly
hear a CHEEKY voice saying: Number
please?"
The telephone operator, as an insti-
tuition, might well be classed with the
famous detective agency whose proud
boast is I'VE never sleep" Of course,
the operator does occasionally give a
little sigh of relief, unbind the receiver
which has been fastened to her ear for
several hours and go home to receive
Algeron or to sleep. But her place at
the switchboard is instantly taken by
another operator, and the subscriber
who calls the main Office at the instant
the girls are changing places is an
swered as readily as though one operat-
or were at work all the time. There
are about 450 girls in the employ OF
the telephone company as operators.
and half Of themeare in the main office
downtown. The others are divided
among the various Exchanges scat
tered all over the city. The main Of
flee, however. is looked upon as the
most desirable post by the girls. for 1t
The Grit-advocate., 1900-09-21
THE TELEPHONE GIRL.

is there usually that promotion comes
to them AT the exchanges they are not
under the eyes of the managers and Of
ticials of the company. and their talents
are likely to be wasted on an unappre-
ciative chief operator.
The operators are divided into five
sections. or shifts" the first of which
goes on duty at I o'clock in the morn
ing and answers Hello calls until 4
O'Clock in the afternoon. The last of
the day shifts goes on at in the morn
ing and works until o'clock, all the
sections being worked under the eight
hour plan. But they do not work stead
lily during their hours of duty. The
strain OF working at the switchboard
intermittently so many hours would
prove too great for the operators, and
each one has a recess of fifteen minutes
forenoon and afternoon. besides half
an hour for lunch, making an hour a
day that they are off duty and recuper-
ating.
The evening operators are divided
into four shifts, each of which works
from four and n half to five hours be-
tween o'clock in the afternoon and 10
O'Clock at night At that hour the reg
ular operators come on duty and work
until in the morning, with two hours
off during the night.
The Grit-advocate., 1900-09-21

earth's layer of atmosphere was but
48 miles deep. 1t has been recently
estimated that it is more than four
times that depth. 1t probably extends
$50 miles above our heads. Above II
there probably are some lighter gases
which will not mix with air.
1T would be impossible to travel to
the planets in balloons or in devices
using propellers, aeroplanes or Tapping
wings. Once above the earth's atmos-
phere there would be nothing to buoy
a balloon up and nothing against which
wings. propellers or aeroplanes could
act. Giant projectiles sent up by e1-
plosive force would be out of the ques-
ton. Too much energy would be re-
quired to project them. The greatest
possible explosive force put back of the
best adapted projectile would send 1t
hardly to the roof of our atmosphere.
Ether Is Navignble.
Between the planets We find only
ether, about the nature of which there
is much difference of opinion. Some
experiments which | have made in
the accepted doctrine ether ia not en-
tirely frictionless. 1t is composed OF
particles many billions of times small
er than atoms These are of such
nature that no ordinary body meets
with any resistance in passing through
them.
These experiments prove that ma
J><>
where there is no air. Such devices,
therefore, could traverse the open space
between the planets. How? Through
the ether space between the planets
there are streams of electric and light
waves. Against either of these two
systems of waves other sets of waves,
artificially made by machine, can be
forced in such way as to cause resist
ance and propel the machine along.
have devices by which | have proved
this. I have proved that the rays given
on by magnet may be acted upon by
light in such manner as to rotate the
magnet. This is direct proof of the
action Of one set Of waves upon an
other. The electric and light waves, al
ways coming from the sun. penetrate
the ether in every direction. At any
place In the ether reaction against
them may be had in any direction.
1T would thus be possible to con-
struct machine capable of propelling
itself through ether in any direction
at enormous speeds. and one able to
generate as it goes along waves that
Will thus react upon other waves In tho
ether. AS to how far beyond the earth's
atmosphere man could travel in such
a machine would not like to say. He
would, of course. have to take with him
a supply of air for breathing puY-
poses"
The Grit-advocate., 1900-09-21

light during descent and thus mark
the path of the drop | will thus be
able to locate the machine when it re-
turns to earth
"One cannot reach Mars said he,
by any existing method of flight util-
izing atmosphere as an aid, to prOpul-
sion or buoyancy. When We were
school boys we were taught that the
The Grit-advocate., 1900-09-21

upper air. Inside of 1t | am going to
put instruments which will measure
temperature and moisture and another
which will bring down samples Of
the atmosphere found at such enor-
nous heights. These samples will be
tested here in the laboratory. I pro-
pose to use the instrument at night, at
taching device which will show a
The Grit-advocate., 1900-09-21
nothsch,ld,. GIFT to Bordeaux.

Baron Alphonse de Rothschild has
presented to the city of Bordeaux
marble statuette. La Source" by N.
Albert Miserey. This statuette. which
figured in this years Paris salon, has
arrived at Bordeaux and has been
placed in the museum.
Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-04-09

been used in Europe. by British officials
and the British press, as a menace to
other European powers who are anx-
ious to assist the Beers in their brave
struggles for freedom and indepcnd-
ence?
Let us not drift away from the
principles and doctrines of our fathers.
Let US listen to the cry for help from
all who struggle for liberty and justice.
Let it not be said by future historians
that this great republic arose in splen-
dor and grandeur, that made the world
stare, but it hated justice and liberty;
1t halted on it's bright and shining
march; 1t fell, and as 1t was going
down the despotisms OF earth, grinning
from the tops of bloody thrones, shout
ed, We told you so, We told you so.
Oh, may the eighty millions of Ameri-
can freemen see to it that the world
may know that their sympathies are
not with Great Britain, but with the
struggling Beers. and let 1t be known
that they believe the cruel war waged
in South Africa should stop, and stop
at once"
Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-04-09
Can't Understand 1t.

Cape Times, South Africa.
Since the outbreak of hostilities we have
seen the estimate of a force of $4,000 at
in South Africa by the most competent
authorities, swell into one Of 100000 men;
we have seen General White at the head
of 1900 veterans lashing vainly at the
tolls inclosing him, and we have seen Me-
thuen and Butler, dashing themselves,
without avail, against a stubborn foe. We
have seen 10000 men placed hors du COM
bat on the battlefield and nearly 1900 9TH
ers closely besieged, and the average man
finds himself asking if there is not some
thing wrong somewhere.
On the one hand is an army, every
branch of which is highly specialized, kept
in constant practice of it's weapons by in
Vulnerable wars waged under every con-
ceivable condition, with the unlimited re-
sources of great power at its back. and
led by men, experienced, not only in South
African warfare, but who have also made
war close and constant study.
Opposed to it is practically a rabble of
farmers, armed, it is true, with modern
weapons, consisting practically of the
adult male population of the two republics.
unable to replace by another a single bur-
CHER who falls. and limited by strictly fin
lite supplies; and yet these uncouth, undis-
ciplined levies called from the veldt and
the homestead, have more than held their
own
Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-04-09
DELEGATE CONVENTIONS.

At a meeting of the Democratic State
Executive Committee of West Virginia,
held at Charleston, or the 25th day of Jam
uary. 1900, it was, ordered thai. the twelve
ginid is entitled in the next Democratic
National Convention (to be held at Kansas
City, Mo-, on the 4th day of July, 1900, to
nominate candidates for President and wee
President of the United States, be selected
as follows:
The Democrats in each county in. the
State shall appoint at such time and place,
and in such manner as the Democratic tx
Iermine, Delegates to the. Congressional
District Conventions to be held in each OF
the founr Congressional Districts of the
State on the
10th Day of May, 1900,
at the following places:
In the First Congressional District, at
Clarksburg, in the County of Harrison; in
Charles Town, in the County Of Jefferson:
In the Third Congressional District. at
Charleston, in the County of Kanawha IN
the Fourth Congressional District at Point
Each Of said Congressional District Con-
yentons shall appoint one Delegate-at-
Large, and one alternate therefor, and two
District Delegates, and two alternates
therefor, to represent the Democracy or
West Virginia In said National Convention;
The basis of representation in each or
said Congressional District Conventions
will be one vote for each one hundred
votes and fraction thereof over fifty cast
for w. ]. Bryan for President, at the No
vember election of 1896, and each county
IS requested to appoint such number OF
Delegates to each Congressional District
Convention as Is equal to the number OIL
votes It may be entitled to by the above
oasis of representation.
ADREW EDMISTON, Chairman.
WILLIAM A OHLEY, Secretary.
Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-04-09
THE LESSONS OF FIRE.

The unusually hot and quick fire in
the mammoth Horne building, Pitts
burg, yesterday morning, demonstrated
at least three things very conclusively.
One fact is that 1t is really possible
TO construct "a building, the essential
portions of which will remain prac-
tically uninjured after it has been a
roaring furnace for an hour. A second
is, that really fire proof building is
TO safeguard against heavy fire loss
when 1t is filled with an immense
stock of combustible goods of many
sorts. The third fact is that ordinary
fire fighting apparatus is of very little
use in attacking a fire starting on the
seventh or eighth floor of a building.
The largest type of fire engine, or even
at that height, ladders are useless, and
the flremen are virtually powerless I'M
til the fire burns its way downward
and comes within reach. With thir-
teen engine companies and five ladder
companies in service, the Horne build
ing was swept by the fire from the
eighth floor down to the first, and the
evidence is that the blaze in this fire
proof structure was a particularly hot
one.
The problem of securing immunity
from loss. by fire has by no means
been solved, and fire departments have
not reached the ideal state Of perfec-
ton, particularly as to apparatus. In
American cities the number of tall
buildings is steadily and rapidly in
creasing. The makers of fire engines
and designers of ladders must keep up
with the changed conditions. The
three-story era of architecture has
passed.
Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-04-09
THE Kentucky PLOT.

The details of the murderous plot in
Kentucky, by which Governor Goebel
and others were to be removed" for a
cash consideration, are astounding and
astonishing, and promise to implicate
a number of very prominent men. The
story published by the Sunday Regis
ter was detailed, circumstantial and
convincing. But it is evidently still
incomplete. Much remains in the dark
as yet, but the whole truth will come
out, sooner or later, and when it does
as vile conspiracy as was ever hatch
ed in American history will stand re-
vealed.
There Will be punishment for the
outlaw who shot Goebel for pay, be-
yond doubt; but punishment should
not stop there. The men behind him
are even more guilty than Jim How
ard, and neither influence, politics,
previous reputation, official standing
or anything else should be allowed to
stand for moment in the p.th Of jus
tice. Kentucky owes it TO herself and
to the country at large to probe this
matter to the very bottom and deal
out such penalties as the facts call for.
Until this is fully done the people of
Kentucky will fail in their plain duty.
Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-04-09
path to safety at enormous ex-
pense. South Africa itself, in the

path to safety at enormous ex-
pense. South Africa itself, in the
present war, has illustrated the
point upon several occasions, notably
at Ladysmith, where only logged de-
termination to hold on and the most
tremendous efforts of a relieving army
saved the British from becoming pris-
oners of war. At Kimberley the same
thing occurred, while Mafeking, where
another English force is cooped up, is
apparently hopeless case. Even the
great Napoleon blundered in this re-
gard more than once. His army in
Egypt was doomed to inevitable disas-
ter almost from the first, and his Rus
sian advance, even though made with
half million men, has been universal
ly condemned, and when compelled 70
fly before the coalition to the frontiers
of France. he added to his error by
leaving 10000 men in German garri-
sons, who were as hopelessly lost as
were the legions who invaded the do
| mirion of the Gar
! Lord Roberts has not yet been de-
| feated or his army even seriously i'm
! perilled, but that is not his fault. 1t
is solely because the Beers can not
bring an adequate force against him.
They have him practically surrounded,
and with equal numbers his complete
isolation could be accomplished in two
days. At Bloemfonte1n ne is trapped,
but Kruger has not the physical
strength to pull the trigger. The city
is not capable of defense, and the
Beers made no effort to fortiiy It. or
resist it's capture. Undefensible for
them, it is equally so for the English.
To occupy it means nothing to either
army. 1t is simply city, but to the
English it's taking was thought to be
a long step toward Pretoria. So far
the stride has resulted in serious lame
ness. The English there have twice
suffered severe loss, the Beers appear
to hold every dominant point, the water
supply of the city has been seized and
it's engines destroyed, the English cav
airy is useless through the breaking
down of their horses. and the whole
advance has not only stopped, but the
army is concentrating to resist at
tack" This is bad situation.
One no longer hears from London
the jubilant cry that the war will be
over by May, and there is a distinct
feeling of depression in the metropolis.
Lord Roberts may work his way out to
us is not an enviable or satisfactory
one.
Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-04-09
DIVIDENDS POSTPONED.

The decision reached by the general
management of the Federal Steel Com
pany that regular quarterly dividends
cannot be paid to holders of common
stock until the end of the year, prom
Uses to be duplicated by National Steel
and other large industrial concerns
incorporated under the laws of New
Jersey. The New Jersey statutes pro-
vides that companies cannot pay any
thing in the nature of dividend on
common stock until the preferred
stockholders have received full year
dividends out of the earnings of fiscal
year of the corporation. The situation
appears to have been not only a sur
prise to the common stockholders of
Federal Steel, but to the management
and insiders as well. The money for
the dividend was on hand, but the pro-
Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-04-09
THE ENGLISH pREDICAMENr,

The latest news from South Africa
shows no change in the serious situa-
ton of Lord Roberts and his army, but
rather accentuates the impotency of the
largest body of soldiers England ever
put in the field to do anything else
but stand on the defensive. His situa-
ton is not a new one to military men,
but it is none the less interesting.
History is filled with examples of great
and splendidly equipped armies being
surrounded, cut of from supplies, and
finally being forced to either surrender,
stand a seige in the hope that
help would come. or cut q
Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-04-09
The Kearsarge.

Philadelphia Record.
A further and final test of the .Kear-
sarge's main battery has set at rest all
doubts as TO the stability of the vessel
and the structural strength OF the super
imposed tcrrets. The tremendous shock
from the simultaneous defamation of full
service charges in four 13-inch and four
S-inch guns, was sustained by the ship
without the slightest indication Of weak
ness at any point. No such ordeal would
he possible in actual warfare. although
it might be safely undergone There is
scarcely a dissenting voice among the
naval experts in regard TO the supreme
value OF the new design. and it is ex-
pected that the superimposed turret sys-
TEN VIII now be applied to the three
battleships in course OF construction. as
well as to all other future creations Of
this class for the Federal navy.
Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-04-09
WEBSTER DAVIS APPEAL.
Continue from trirst Page.

the famous 300 at Thermopae.
But equally brave, gallant and chival-
rous are the humble peasants of the
veldt, who, defending the passes of the
Drakensberg, or seeking death, climb
ing the rugged sides of Spion's Kop,
willing to die, if need be, to save their
beloved republics from the British yoke
of oppression.
'These men have the same spirit
that prompted the farmers to face
death for liberty at Lexington green;
at Saratoga, Bunker Hill and Bran
DIVINE; that warmed the hearts of
Washington and his shivering pa
triOts at valley Forge; and at New
Orleans where jackson md his men
Taught old England that easier were
1T to hurI the rooted mountain from
it's base than to force the yoke of
be free.
Then why should we not sympa-
thize with them? Why should not the
greatest republic in the world assist
the smallest republics? Is the word
liberty to become obsolete In our ma
tional lexicon? Must this greatest re-
public of the worlds history chain it's
destiny to the chariot wheels of the
British empire in
Shall the fair name of this great re-
public, whose prowess on land and sea
has been the marvel of the country,
Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-04-09
THOSE eight" TAXES.

Here and there is to be found a
hide-bound Republican editor who
seeks to palliate or excuse the Puerto
Rican tariff iniquity by saying the
duties imposed are very light" This
claim is as false as the tariff to be i'm
posed on the. people of the island at
the demand of the President is outrag-
eous.
The proposed tariff levies tax on
the products of Puerto Rico coming
to this country which is not light"
but heavy. Sugar is to be taxed 10 per
cent, leaf tobacco 50 to 81 per cent,
manufactured tobacco Is to 100 per
cent, and upon scores and hundreds of
other necessities, including food, ma
chinery, tools, ETC., the duty is Is per
cent. of the almost prohibitory Dingley
schedule. The people of Puerto Rico
do not esteem these rates light" On
the contrary they are dismayed at the
prospect, and throughout the island
they have met in mass meetings and
protested with one voice against the
embargo upon their industry and their
commerce, and in the meantime Cover
nor General Davis telegraphs that he
must have hundreds of tons of food at
once, or starvation will run riot 1t is
like levying a head tax on pauper,
with the edict that he must either pay
or starve.
The evidence of the serious condition
of affairs is ample. An illustration Is
contained in an official letter from w.
H. S. Lothrop, United States fiscal
agent on the island, who writes:
81 tell you now that If Puerto Rico does
not get relief in the way of free exchange
of products before next summer we Amer
our hands. There has been a feeling of
discomfort ever since last summer.
and about all that kept them (the Puerto
Ricans) quiet was the assurance from
American authorities that as soon as Con-
greSs met everything would be set rigdt.
ing them desperate. A starving people Is
the worst in the world
The Puerto Rico tariff is neither
light" nor just, and therefore the uni
versal indignation of the American
people and their widespread disgust
and dissatisfaction.
Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-04-09
The Rhode Island Election.

Pittsburg Post.
The Rhode Island election last Wednes-
day probably showed some of the effects
of imperialism on a small scale. Mckin-
ley's plurality in the State in 1886 was 2s.-
97s. On Wednesday the Republican candi-
date for Governor had a plurality of only
$780, There was a falling off of 140O0 in
the Republican lead, while the total vote
was 1892, against 81, 7S5 at the Presidential
election. There was a falling off of 5000
in the total vote of the State and 1900 in
the Republican majority. A percentage of
losses like this would have great effect
if carried through the Presidential election
next November.
Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-04-09
THE OPINION OF THE PRESS
What Do You Think

Chicago Inter-Ocean.
The Republican party must go before
the people in the Congressional and Pres
idential elections of next fall on the plat
form ''of free rum and taxed bread, free
rum and taxed clothing. free rum and tax
ed medicines" It cannot escape this disas-
trous issue, which has been avowed in the
acts of the Oxnard faction in the Senate,
and has been specifically set forth by the
leader of the Republican party in the
House.
Do the Republicans of the middle West
imagine that they can stand and win on
this plank next fall? Do the Republican
Representatives from the Mississippi VAL
ley believe that they can be reelected on
the issue of free rum, taxed bread, and
broken faith?
Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-04-09
Federal Expenses.
Baltimore Sun.

Baltimore Sun.
The receipts Of the Federal government
in 1889 were $50. 1852 go. against 1854. $751;
7S4 in 1S92-a great advance in a few years.
What with wars. Imperialism and protec-
ZIONIST jobs Of various sorts, we are learn
ing to dig deeply into the peoples pockets.
Expenditures, however, have been on =
stu more magnificent scale. The total of
expenditures in 1889 was 500. 072.l7s. against
50, OF. $50 In 1882 What went with the
money can be seen from the fact that $22s.-
Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-04-09

visions Of the law prevented its dis
bursement, and holders Of common
stock will probably have to wait till
January 1st next, when lump divi-
dend will probably be declared, al
though this has not yet been deter
mined upon The situation fully ex-
plains the unsteadiness and weakness
in some common stocks, of late.
Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-04-09
DIED.

WHEELER-On Saturday. April 7th.
1900, at $50 p m. Henrietta Lakn. wife of
c. II. Wheeler, Sr.
Funeral from family residence, No. SO
Virginia street, Tuesday. April 10th, at
1890 o'clock a. m. Friends of the family
are invited to attend. Interment private.
RAMP-Sunday, April sth. 1900, at 9:1O
o'clock p. m, at the residence of her IA
Their, Henry Ramp. No. 1876 Sixteenth
street. Lille NJ. Ramp, in the 23d year of
her age.
Funeral notice hereafter.
Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-04-09

In the "Sapho" case the presiding
judge rebuked one of the counsel who
had asserted, in a f1owery speech, that
a certain Nethersole gown was trans
parent" and also "diaphanous," the
Court ruling that the terms were syn
onymous. The Court was correct