davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The times., 1901-05-05

provide for all his personal wants and for
the necessities of his military service. lie
rode his own home-bred horse, had his
own homemade saddle and wore his
everyday clothes. The Introduction OF
railways brought about complete
change in the haif-nomadic existence of
the Cossack. The silver rubie, to which
ne had previously been indifferent is now
everything to him. and regulates his
whole life. IL has upset all his traditional
habits, obliging him to draw a distinct
lire of separation between his own prop
erty and that of his neighbor The land
is no longer common property but has
been divided into individual lots The ef-
rect OF this change has been most preJu-
dicial to him
TO make matters worse, fresh calls have
Deen made on him for mis- military serv-
Ice. He has been reduced to altogether
precarlouS circumstances. His military
oDiigatOnS practically preclude his eXer-
cising any industrial pursuit outside his
own commune. With regard to trade he
rs handicapped by q special impoSt for
dispensation from his military duties. and
is thus at r disadvantage i'm competing
with strangers. The cultivation of the
ploy the same methods today as they did
a century ago.
The report gives particulars Of the sue
ceSSIVe administrative experiments among
the Cossacks, all of which have lament
ably failed. If a, remedy Is not speedily
found. and if the requisite reforms are
not promptly introduced, the institution
OF the CossaclSs' in the territory of the
Don cannot be maintained for any length
OF time The Russian Minister of War,
General kuropatkin, while on a tour of
inspection in the Don district last Jure
is said 10 have remarked in the course of
private conversation that in any case the
CoSSdckS We're much better off than the
rest Of the peasant population of the En-
pre. The author of the report adds that
this remark is perfectly correct.
The times., 1901-05-05
BURDENS OF THE CossACKs.
Military ENnctions Causing Their
Decline in Population.
Iron the LONDON Times.l

A report from the Austro-Huugarian
Vice Consul at ROstom. on the Don, con-
tainS some highly interesting particulars
of the enquiry instituted some time ago
by means of a special Government COM
mission as TO the causes of the decline of
the Cossack population.
The report, which deals more particu-
larly with the Cossacks of the Don be
gins by stating that in the institution
of the CossackS' there is a denomnating
factor which distinguishes its mode of ex-
istence from that of the other elements in
the Empire, and which is characterized
by compulsory military service in the
strictest sense of the term. For the last
thirty years compulsory service has been
in force throughout Russia but in ac-
cordance with certain dispositions of the
law n large number of young men are ex-
empted as being the support of their fam
lily or in consequence of tritiing physical
defects and on other grounds. No such
favor is extended to the Cossacks, who
are. indeed, obliged to equip and mount
themselves at their own expense. Their
rifles and ammunition are alone provided
by the military administration. Every
Cossack on attaining his eighteenth year
is enrolled in the Cossack army, and has
to take the oath of allegiance. The sDe-
cial privileges which the COssack enjoys
are exemption from taxes and gifts of
land. from which he makes his living and
meets the cost of his equipUe1t. The
greater part of the district of the Don, is
or was, the property of the Cossacks.
Their Improvement is due to the fact
tnat the material DuTueiS imposed upon
them by their military obligations have
been steadily increasing, while there has
been no corresponding augmentation in
their sources of revenue In order to pro-
vide himself with the regulation equip
mcnt the young Cossack, or. more fire.
quently, his father, has to mortgage. let.
or sell his property. The lessee of the
land is naturally anxious to get as much
as possible out of il in a short time The
consequence is that IL loses much of its
fertility circumstance which has proved
highly unfavorable to the rearing of cat
tie, and especially to horse breeding. Ac
cording to a member of the commission of
enquiry forty years ago the communcs
made no special distribution of the land
belonging to them. The CoSsack sowed
and reaped where he liked and as much
as he liked but he confined himself to
the requirements of his family, the land
that remained over being used for graz
ing purposes He did not need money and
cared nothing for it, Ills farm suficed to
The times., 1901-05-05
ENGLAND's ELEPHANT BRIGADE
Always Good Workers, But Averse
to Riding on Cars.
(From the Regiment }

One of the most interesting features of
the English army life presented to@the
layman in India is furnished by the re
markable efficiency Of the elephant Drl-
gade most highly developed through the
skill of the Burmese in handling the gi-
ant animals. Their usefulness in India
can scarcely be imagined by one not IA
miliar with the amount and variety OF
work which they accomplish, but it would
be a serious mistake to imagine that this
degree OF usefulness is attained through
any aptitude of the unwieldy animals or
natural tendency toward it. IL is due sole
~ and entirely to the wonderful ability
of the natives in training the huge ami
mails and overcoming their natural incli-
nations. This cannot be too highly
praised. Neither must it be imagined that
the use OF elephants in army life is not
attended by great disadvantages, not the
least of which is the difficulty with which
they are transported. Naturally the ele
phant is not an intelligent animal He
can be taught remarkable things in
which his strength and endurance play
an important part. He can never, how
ever. perform these feats without con-
tinual direction and attendance Alb
stractly, his power of work is unappre-
ciable, when directed by skillful hands,
however, IL is remarkable
The transportation facilities which are
provided for the sole use of the elephant
are quite IS remarkable. ] witnessed re-
Gently. adds the writer, the loaGing and
detraining of a lot of elephants on the
Madras Railway. Both were remarkable
processes. In loading, a rope is fasten-
ed to his foreieg, and lot of natives
haul and pull at it to induce the animal
TO take the first steps into the car This
is only accomplished, however, by ad-
monishing him In the haunch by means of
a tusk. The first step taken is rapidly
followed by the others until he stands
safely on the car. This portion of the
task is accomplished comparatively east
ly, however. when compared with the
next. At first he is timid and slightly
frightened, but when the car starts his
fear is wonderful TO behold Though he
may ride a hundred times, ne never over
comes this fear, though il is much more
denounced when he takes his initial ride
after, say, two months acqua intance with
civilization. He rends the air with wild
trumpetings, endeaVors fruitlessly to es-
cape, and only ceases his efforts when the
car has again come to a standstili. In
transporting the elephants by sea the diff
fculties are almost as great. They are
raised by means Of a canvas sling from
the wharf to the ship. struggling to es-
cape and rending the air with their cries.
Once aboard ship they are easily manas-
ed, the motion not affecting them, be-
cause they do not see the moving panora-
ma before them. Unloading them is easy.
They are lowered to a raft beside the ship
and allowed to swim ashore. They take
to the water easily and are excellent
swimmers, being able TO swim eight or
ten miles at q stretch without firing.
The times., 1901-05-05
INCOMES OF PREACHERS.
Many New York CIergymen Receive
Munificcnt SALARIES.
(FrOm the New York WoTld.)
W tho rr1inisrer. In nnn Of IL V.


To be the minister in enc of New York S
big churches is a lucrative and desirable
position. The salaries are large and the
perquisites often double the salary Ii
was said that the late DR.. John Hall had
an income of between So, 600 and 500 O0J
a year. OF this his salary was $4,000 and
the rest was for marriage fees and other
incidentalS.
DR.. Morgan Dix. OF Trinity, receives
S25, 900 per anuum, and his pcrquisites are
quite as much as were DR.. Halls He has
also about twenty assistant curates, none
of whom gets less than $3.50 per annum
Not less is the income of DR.. Greer, rec
tor of ST Bartholomew's Episcopal
Church for besides a large salary he Off
ciates at more Fashionable weddings than
any other minister in New York. Dr.
Huntington. of Grace Church. probab
comes third in the list of high-priced
preachers.
best paid Baptist minister in the city. al
though his salary does not equal that of
some OF the Episcopal rectorS. But his
parish is large. and he is in frequent de
mand at weddings. BY sort Of unwrit-
ten law among the clergy the minister's
wife always receives all wedding fees.
They are supposed To be her pin money.
Some ministers who are unmarried set
this sum aside for charity.
Clergymen who have bfe churches and
wealthy congregations receive q suJstan-
tial recompCnSe Tor officiating on these
occasions The custom OF giving big
marriage fees is every year Increasing
and the bigger the fec the more compIi-
mentary il is supposed 10 be for the
bride. For his services at the christening
of the little ones of the rich the rector
also gets rice check.
When it is remembered that handsome
residences are thrown in by the large
churches. iu addition to the regular sala-
rs. il vii hc seen that Il cali to rich city
church is not tn be despised The aver
age man Who iI1agines that a preacher
has no business ability would do well to
that he doesn't need to have It
He has a pleasant berth and he is sure
uf mis- job 3s long as lie lives.
The times., 1901-05-05
TO ABOLISH PosToFFIcEs.
Turkey Opposed to the secrecy of
Foreign Mails.
CFrom the London standard-)

An imperial trade has just been issued
instructing the Council of Ministers To
seek means for the abolition of foreign
pOstOffices in Turkey. 1t is perfectly COM
prehensible that the Ottoman Government
should wish to prevent the circulation of
unpleasant truths through the medium of
inviolate foreign letter bags But. never
theless. one of the most precious rights
of advancing civilization is the sacred
ness of private written correspondence,
and unless Turkey can show that this is
absolutely guaranteed to foreign subjects
ii will be very difficult for her TO obtain
the consent of the powers to the aboH-
tion of the respective offices.
Frequent instances have occurred lately
to prove that at present the Turkish post
office affords no security whatever for
letters entrusted to it's service. II is not
long since an individual was condemned
in the courts for a sum of money. and as
he was in the habit OF receiving consid-
cradle sums by post, orders were given TO
seize all letters addressed to him. In
spite of all protests this was done and
on a complaint being made in his paper,
the ''SerVet. it was suspended. During
the last fortnight almost every press let
ter addressed to a newspaper or to the
known agent of one was opened and
stopped. and up 20 now no reason or sat
isfactiOn whatever has been given
The times., 1901-05-05
MAPLE SUGAR CULTIVATION.
Reasons why Cnnada's Productions
Encronch Upon Nermonts.

(From the St. Johnsbury CaIedonian)
1t may be a surprise to many TO know
that the great popularity Of Vermont ma
pie sugar in the general market exists in
part in name only. The Canadian output
which is largely shipped 10 this country
commands "A higher price than ours. The
duty on Canadian sugar Is cents a pound
and among the Western dealers il sells
al about that amount above that pro-
duced at home. This is attributed to sew
eral things. The Canadian sugar is har-
der and the shrinkage is less. Then it has
a stronger flavor. owing 10 the method of
manufacture. The fact that this flavor
is foreign to the pure product does not
count in the reasoning Of the dealer
Another reason given is that IL is all SUI
gar, while In Vermont sugar the pur-
chaser frequently finds that he has bar
gained for bricks, stones. wood, and some
times sand.
This may seem like a curious statement,
but if the reader will visit Mr. Carey's
storehouse he will be convinced that there
are some Vermont farmers who are not
over careful as TO what goes into their
sugar tubs. The most conspicuous exam
pie of this is pound sugar tub with a
thin layer of sugar on top weighing about
four pounds. This rests on a smaller tub
cover and under 1t was two bricks. some
pieces of wood and rags and over twenty
pounds Of gravel This outfit came from
"A man in Greensboro who because of
other irregularities of conduct left the
country just before the fraud was fiscov-
cred There is large dealer i'm Chicago
who has about half a barrel OF stones as
souvenirs of his transactions in Vermont
maple sugar and now under no conditions
will he handle the product from this
State A more common method of cheat
ing is the partial filling of tub with an
inferior article and then completing IL
with sugar of good quality. Such frauds
are of course confined to a few of the
many producers in Vermont but il is a
case where the many must suffer for the
dishonesty of a few and Vermont'G ia
nous industry is damaged thereby.
The times., 1901-05-05
HE BUYS OLD NECKTIEs.
The Unusual Trade of IA Dealer Who
Is Making Money.
FrOm the New Orleans Times-DemOcrst.)

(From the New Orleans Times-Democrst)
4 ran across a queer line OF business
the other day. said a young man about
town. Il was dressing in the morning
when there came q gentle tap at my door
and ia walked a small, Swarthy indiYid-
ual, with big bag over his arm. Ex-
cuse me, sir, he said politely, but have
you any old cravatS you have no further
use for? If so. / will buy them for cash
or give you new ones for them. | was
considerably astonished at the PROPOSE
ton" continued the young man. but like
almost everybody who Ives in apart
ments | had lot of Old ties OF various
kinds littering my dresser and L proceed
ed to drag them to light. Altogether |
dug up three doZen-Ascots. tecks, four
in-hands, and silk and satin band scarfs.
Hardly any of them showed the least
signs of wear they were simply crumpIed
and out of shape. and some of the light
patterns were slightly sOiled, They were
ties for which / had originally paid all
the way from % cents TO 81 80, and / dare
say you could find a similar collection in
the quarters of almost any young bache-
Tor in the city.
We'll. my swarthy visitor went through
the pile with great care. smoothed every
thing out nicely and finally offered me
half a dozen new ties in exchange. | sup
posed, of course. that his stock of new
stuff would be of the cheapest and gaudi-
est description. and he surprised me
greatly when he produced a sort of haber-
daSherS portfolio from his bag and
showed me some of the finest and hand
soonest neckwear 1 have seen this win
ter. We soon came to terms and closed
the bargain, but before the little man left
| pumped him a trife as to his peculiar
business. He said that nearly all the ties
he bought We're nearly as good as new and
all they needed was renovating. He took
them entirely apart. steamed and scrubbed
the rich, heavy silk of which most of
them are made and when put together
again could not be distinguished from
perfectly fresh stock 1 tried TO get
him to tell me what ne did with his
wares after they were rehabilitated, but
on that point he was very vague, and
all be would say was that he sold EN-
around | have an idea that they are
handled by peddlers and disposed of in
the smaller towns. where the fact that
they are a little out of fashion wouldn't
make much difference"
The times., 1901-05-05
A CURIOUS NARRATIVE.
An Incident That Led to IA Chapefs
Construction.
(From the Derby, England, 9terc'ry)

(Frcm The Derby England herciuF.j
In the outlyiug hamlet of Muggintca
there is n duasi-PaUadin chapel, about if
teen feet squarc. which is commonly
known as Halter Devil Chapel The story
is a bad one. Francis Brown who had
a bad reputation both for drunkenness
and for feeding his horses at the expense
of his neiShhOrS went forth one night 90
bring home a trUlnt steed. and. In spite
Of drink and darkness, found the animal
without difficulty. On reaching home AMI
bringing out the lantern he found tho
halter was round the neck of horned
beast, which conscience suggested must
be the devil himself. RE repented Of HISS
evil deed and by way Of atonement at
tached g chapel to his own little farm.
which was situated on q stretch % tdni
taken into Nueginton from the actotn-
ing parish Of IIulaud The EroJcsGut "t-
tempt at classical architecture Whirf
the little chaQct presents cnnttts@4s
strangely enough with the farm bulldines
to which il il attached. 10 IS said .hHt q
has never been coDsccrated or licensed.
and receives the rcntal Of some sevcntce';
acres of land. which form the erCrv.-
mcnt ON a tablet in tho 9edims1t 81 ll;s
chapel are the lines.
Francis Brown IN his oid sgc
Built him here this hcTmi, rsc
The register OF MUgGintoE parish e.fi,-
tainS The following entry. laS4, sVil'
fIth Francis HTuwn. of iif;lland Wdrd.
buried. Intakes Founder or chapel IL an
Intakes Ward. 60 be annexed tu Muggin-
ton for ever after death Of hts widow.
his daughter. ana her husbs1d Edward
Allen"
The times., 1901-05-05
THE BRAGANzA STONE.

II the Braganza stone is genuine dia-
mopd, II which there is some doubt il IS
the largest on record. IL has never been
cut, and its weight has been estimated
ct both 1GS0 and I.SS0 carats Cutting
would doubtless reduce its size tw0-thirds.
s'ayiug thCn a stone OF go carats. twice
as lafgc as the Great Mogul 1t has been
rated AT fabulous price, even for 4 true
diamond, varying from Sl50.00g. 900 to
5searly N}J. 300. This geological marvel
mas given rise 10 a difference OF opinion
- - as uHe character some Judges be-
heNlnR u TO be topaz. Others rock crys-
Istl- But as tie Portuguese Government
declines to have IL tested. the doubt can
not be cleared away. II is about the size
nf q hens egg and Of a deep yellow color
h %as found ia Brazil ia 17n by a convict
aId Is owned by tho King Of Portugal
Iie history OF the Nizam diamond As
siN"bea ia The obscurity Of "A doubtful
tradition, ana. though one Of the largest
oh record, there is but little positive.
knowledge concerning this stone. except
lts size and present owner. the MAN of
ftyderabad. cmi-iudependent ruler Of
The Decca8, for whom II was named. IL
Was discovered IN the so-called Goicouds
mines, which arc ia the dominions Of
this prince. and weighs in tho rough $40
la-ats, after having been broken By some
Imperial press., 1901-08-31
Painting Binck Eyes.

The painiln. Of blackened eyes. Of which you hear little nowadays said n man cf experience. ''is so well estab- llshcd Il business now that IL does not even need advertising. A sign which l just passed aroused memories ot earlier days within me. IL was merely the name of T man who does this kind of painting. with the brief announce mcnt. Black Eyes Painted
 some years ago such simple state mcnt was not enough to enable one in that business to live. The artist whose calling this sign declared Is the same man who some years back used to have q place on the avenue farther west. and in front of that old office he used 10 have an expansive and gorgeous sign which told his accomplishments in the phrascolosy which the only Tody Ham, ilton after perfected in describing tue charms of the best that Barnum of fered. New York Sun.
Imperial press., 1901-08-31
The Odd shIIlIngs.

There Is very little difference be- tween q pound and q guinea: only n shilling. and yet the keen business man insists that the shilling shall be consid- cred. After Thackcray's series of lec- tures on the four Georges had been delivered in London. Wlllcrt Bcale says that he called upon the novelist in Onslow square with a check for f2JO.
 Whats this. w. B.f" cried Thack- cray. reading the check. Pounds? Our agreement says guineas. and guineas It must be"
 You arc aware that the lectures so far have Involved very heavy losses" said Bcale npologetIcally.
 That's not my affair" said Thack- cray. "I don't know what occult means you Lave 10 protect yourself from loss. Guincas. w. H.. GuIncas it must he. and nothing else. l mus; have the shiliiucs."
 And the shll!Ings were sent him I'm ncdlately
Imperial press., 1901-08-31
Roth prayer. Answered.

Tic last lime interviewed General O. e. Howard t was on the subject of answers Co prayer. and thought had hlm ln hls famous fight with Stone. wall Jackson the Union forces were dc. fcntcd. 20 Inquired of General How. nrd.
 You prayed before that battleT
 "Ycs." he answered.
 And Jackson was praying man. He prayed nso"
 Yes" hr asscutcd.
 "Thcn how wns li Le gained t1c vic tory Did that mean that the Union cause was wrongf"
 Very gently the good old general re- piled: Both our prayers were answer ed. Jackson prayed for immediate vic tory and 1 for the ultimate triumph of our cause. We both got what we prayed r."--lndcpendcnt.
Imperial press., 1901-08-31
A Model.

Mir. Jones came home nt m unseemly hour the other night md was surprised tO see Mis. Jones sitting up for hlm below stairs. with no other light than thnt of the gns lamp. which faced the door. Co keep her company
 "M.M.Mnric." hc said husklly. "y.you shouldn't sit up slate when I'm out on business"
 As Mrs. Jonos did not answer him. hc continued ln an alarmed voice:
 "Shorry. m'dcar, but It's last time tell you I'm sorry-won't shpcak to mcT'
 At this moment Mrs. Jones called from above stairs:
 "Mr. Jones. who nrc you talking 10 nt this hour of the nightT
 "Thash whnt I'd like to know m.m myself" stnmmcrcd Jones.
 Mrs. Jones hnstenod down stairs. lamp In hand. When she saw the sit uatIon. she laughed in spite of being very angry.
 "It's the rlodcl." she said-"thc mod ei bought today to fit my dresses on.'
 "Ycs. thash so." said Jones tipsily. "Model woman-dldn't talk back-makc some fellow good wIfe."-l.ondon Tit Bits
Imperial press., 1901-08-31
Penetration of Light.

Experiments show that light can bc seen through clean cut opening of not more than one forty.thousandth of m inch. This fact was determined by taking two thoroughly clean, straight edges. placing piece of paper between the surfaces at one end. the opposite end being allowed To come together. The straight edges being placed be tween the eye and a strong light In dark room. n wedge of light was per ceived from the ends between which the paper was pin ced and the opposite. which were brought together. The thickness of the paper being known. the distance apart of the two edges of the small end of the wedge of light was easily calculated. and the result was shown as above.
Imperial press., 1901-08-31
Hoods JdrSdpdriHO

The best of all medicines for all humors.
Imperial press., 1901-08-31
BETRAYAL.

Out oi the chilling rain and i0g That hif fbe u1unisi1 ifom our sight dusky cloud came floating down At early dauu d ligft. The cloud dropped softly 70 tbe lake And ss4rI oi uhirrng wings And spread i1t1 Q graceful line 4 host cf living things. We hailed thia burtt of joyous life. The sIflofs d5y 'ssfned dark no more, When suddenly shot rang out And s,hDfd round tho shore. Tlc watffi5 5Ui were natures Rues's. Dui iboy were doomed. and all that day Tl.e ,hois praIed forth. and on the waves Tle dead and dying lay. Al lat into ihc bfooding mist
 There tarlshed. foiily as it came, 4 lf.kc1 flock with pi1mage torn, After that day oi shame. Mary Ttachr higgihson in Youths Compan ion.
Imperial press., 1901-08-31
Tests of Culture.

The chemist !.icbiG proposed to meas urc the standard of civilization by he consumption cf soap. creation which would put inc inhabitants of north Holland at t.c Lead cr all civilized na. tlous. Asa i.u"p reliable test Edmund About suggested tLc sale Cf steel pens the socialist rcocl the frequency of re- form meetings. Dr, Bernard the use Of unucrcarwvutS. luxury unknown to the spmlciy.l,Zcd tribes of Asia and South America; Professor Ebcrs the sale of postage stamps. The mileage of railroads per hundred square miles of territory might do in comparing countries of equal density of popula- tIon.-EXchHn