davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington times., 1901-12-08
Logic of Speculation.

The other evening Mr.. Sanger Pei
ser went home to his establishment in
New York. buoyed up by the hope
of a good dinner. Suddenly the bell
rang. \ man placed a revolver at the
head of Mr.. Peiser and demanded of
him the price of certain shares he had
purchased some time before. Mr..
Peiser escaped by getting behind the
front door while various friends in
more or less strained falsettos and
sopranos alarmed the local patrol.
To us the matter is of interest as
the absolute lack of logic
of certain class of spectators. The
sensible speculator realizes that
money, placed upon a venture, has
SO many chances of returning profit
and so many of registering a loss.
The men who crowd the offices
around Wall Street and lower Broad
way are too apt TO consider only one
side of the proposition, the possibility
of winning When their stocks are
lost and their credit gone they adopt
the measures of Mr.. Pciser's caller,
presenting a revolver to the heads of
those who were party to their de-
struction.
1t may be that the man in question
had a real grievance, but his method
of retaliation was wrong, was illogl-
cal, was criminal. The man who spec
ulates must realize that all of his
fortune or of his ruin depends upon
the flick of a coin. The man who is
sufficiently sane to realize this is
never found in the company of those
who shoot at stock brokers.
The Washington times., 1901-12-08
ACCIDENT FRAUDS.
An Insurance Compnny's Physician
DiScIoscs some Clever Ones

NO one" said the physician. who was
in a sentimental mood. rcan realize the
amount of fraud that an accident insur
ance company meets with. unless they
are in a position that gives them an in
side view. For number OF years | have
been connected with such a company in
the capacity OF examining physician. and
am free to state that large percent
age of claims against the company that
I am with contain some element Of fraud
\ slight accident that would cause an uu-
insured man no inconvenience becomes
serious il he happens to be carrying an
accident policy My duties are largely
with this class of claims. and the amusing
experiences that | have met with would
fiji book,
- few days ago ! was summoned To
hospitaI to examine a man who claimed
10 have had his hearing totally destroyed
bv the premature explosion OF some blast
ing powder. l bod an idea from the start
that the man was scheming, but all the
tests that I could apply had no elect
whatever. and apparently he was stone
deaf still. | wasn't satisfied, and re-
solved TO try a little strategy. Coaching
the nurse beforehand how to act, | en-
tered the room hastily and cried:
The hospital is aire, Never mind
the deaf man. 1t is too late to save Rim.
Save vourselfi'
Then we both hurried for the coc"
hut the patient was quicker and reached
it before We did. He lad the good sense
10 realize that the game was up, ana ne
never showed up again. Atlanta Jour
nal
The Washington times., 1901-12-08
SNAKE WAS IN THE CHAIR.
He Was Not Disturbed by BEING
Heavily Sat Upon.

Frederic Tudor. when he was a student
at Harvard was fond OF snakes. not the
kind that some Harvard students manage
to attract after a lively evening In the
mazes Of the region where Boylston street
is the center Of excitement. but the real
ones to be found at Blue Hill and other
park reservations.
His room was a veritable snakery, and
visitors always had a creepy feeling that
did not desert them even when they
reached home after trip to Mr.. Tudor's
headquarters. Black snakes, water
snakes. and other tame reptiles basked
at their ease in corners, on the mantel
shelf. and on the chairs.
Mr.. Tudor always assured his guests in
his slow. droll tones that his pets were
absolutely harmless and as benevolent in
their intentions as good -natured kittens.
This assurance was politely received. but
not always given the full measure of
credit.
One day two of his friends walked into
the room. and one of them pumped into
a big easy chair, the kind that has such
a capacious seat that its average patron
does not fill out the full proportions Of
the chair.
Where is that great big savage look
ing black snake that you had around
here?" asked the visitor as soon as he
settled himself comfortably.
Il don't know for certain replied Mr..
Tudor slowly but / think YOU are"
The other three words. sitting on him."
were never heard by the guest. who was
half way out Of the building by that time.
Sure enough, there was the big black
snake in the depths OF the easy chair,
blinking calmly. as though not in the
least disturbed by the student who had
shared the seat with him.-BOston Herald.
The Washington times., 1901-12-08
\ soul Aho,c smoIse.,ncks.

The city of Evanston, Illinois,
sends "A rather unusual message 10
the industrial world. In commenting
upon some bylaws recently adopted
by the local authorities, the mayor
SAYS: "J'he ordinance relating to
factories is almost prohibitiye, and
we designed il To be so. Factories
are nuisance, and Evanston does
not want them. The town was started
primarily as a place Of residence. It
was never intended for "A manufactur-
ing centre"
Most cities want all the factories
they can get, but Evanston has soul
above smokestacks and Industrial
wealth IT seems to be her ambition
te become the Washington Of the
West
The Washington times., 1901-12-08
How the Senate Will Vote
To RatiTy the Canal Treaty.

After figuring over the entire roll of the
Senate. the members OF the Committee on
Foreign Relations are now certain that
the new Hay -Psuncefote Treaty will be
ratified without amendment before the
holiday recess The necessary two-thirds
vote is assured, and. in the event Of an
attempt being made to load down the
compact with amendments, these Will be
voted down without any trouble.
1t has developed that group Of Demo-
Gratis, aided by several Republicans. will
propose certain changes TO the treaty
when the matter comes up in executive
session. Senator Bacon will attempt to
attach the old Davis amendments, ard in
this he will be supported by Senators Ma
son. Jones of Arkansas. Clay. Money,
Berry. Clark Of Montana. Gibson. Heit-
field, Mallory. Pettus. Rawlins. Tillman.
Wellington and others.
II Is not believed that more than fifteen
or sixteen votes will be cast for the
amendments. as these would merely COM
plicate matters and send the treaty back
for further controversy with Great Brit
ain.
It is we'll known that the Davis amend
ments are distasteful to England. and
caused the refusal Of the old Hay Paunee-
fote Treaty. Therefore, it is argued, the
amendments would not be accepted at
this time.
The Davis amendments provide for the
United States the right to fortify the
canal and to blockade it to any enemy in
time of war. This is not wanted by Great
Britain. the contention being that the
The Washington times., 1901-12-08
The Restoration of The Forests.

The Secretary Of the Interior is
nnxious to have our forests restored,
by irrigation and otherwise. and there
s. no doubt that this would be a very
wise measure. The lumbermen Of
the last generation put in their time
emitting away growths which had been
maturing ever since the discovery OF
america. and now il is proposed to
iegislaie The protection of the forests
and start the trees growing again.
ii is "A pretty plan, and good one,
but - makes one feel rather small
upon remembering how long it takes
q tree 10 grow up to voting size.
All the same. popular interest in
this matter is an exceedingly good
thing. All of the forests have not
been destroyed. by any means, and it
will be easier 10 preserve what we
have, allowing only such numbering
as can be done without spelling the
woodlands, than to start to grow
) more trees on bare prairie.
There is a more important reason
than the mere preservation of the
The Washington times., 1901-12-08

trees themselves for this forest law.
The cutting away of the forests has
had marked influence upon The
river courses and upon the climate
generally. Floods have been frequent
in the last thirty or forty years. and
sharp alterations of heat and cold
have succeeded the more equable
temperature of the days of our
fathers. OF course, some allowances
must be made for the prejudice Of
the oldest inhabitant in favor of the
climate of his youth, but there is no
reason to doubt that the cutting
away of the forests has been bad for
the climate of the adjoining regions,
and that the effect of their preserva-
ton or restoration will be most bene-
fetal.
The Washington times., 1901-12-08
London style skyscrapers.

Victorian buildings, as 1t is suggested
the new London skyscrapers shall be
called, while reproducing features that
are common in America, will be modified,
however. to suit English requirements.
On the ground floor level there will be
wide passage, giving access to central
rotuRda or rendezvous. under a lofty dome.
Twelve hydraulic lifts will be placed in
the rotunds. an additional twelve being
distributed in other parts OF the premises
From the rOtunda proceed at right angles
passages, or arcades, intersecting others
eight in number In all, and these, in con-
junction with two much broader arches,
into which carriages may be driven from
the Strand or from the Holborn arched
entrances, give frontages TO cOmmodi0us
shops and offices. The main idea is to
make new shopping centre, under cover,
profiting by the experience of the arcades
and galleries of Paris, Brussels and in
Birmingham. England.
Above this shopping floor will rise to
the height OF the first roof Of the main
facade eight stories But falling some
way back from the street, in the centre OF
the black. and supporting the dome, there
will be four more stories. From their
position these could not obstruct the light
Of the street. No American workmen will
be employed
The Washington times., 1901-12-08

waterway shall be neutral in time OF
peace and In time Of war.
The Republican leaders on the Foreign
Relations Committee figure on getting
vote Of y to Is against the proposed
amendments.
1t is also believed that the fnll vote
on the ratification Of the treaty will be
SO TO T.
Those who will vote for the treaty as
1t stands are Senator's Aidrich. Allison.
Bailey. Bard. Bate, Berry Beyeridge.
Blackburn, Burnhsm. Burrows. Burton.
Carmack. Clapp. Clark of Montana. Clark
Of Wyoming. Clay. Cockrell culberson.
Cullom. Daniel. Deboe. Depew. Dietrich.
Dillingham;, Dolliver. Dubois. Elkins,
Fairbanks. Foraker. Foster Of louisiana.
Foster OF Washington. Frye. Gallinger.
Gamble, Gibson. Hale. Hanna. Hans
brough. Harris. Hawley. Heitfeld, Hoar.
Jones Of Arkansas. Jones Of Nevada.
Kean. Kearns. Kittridge. Lodge. Nc
Comas. MeCumber. McEnery. McLaurin Of
Mississippi. McLaurin of South Carolina.
Mcmillan. Mitchell Mallory, Martin MIL
lard. Morgan. Nelson, Patterson. Pepross.
Perkins. Pettus. Platt OF Connecticut.
Platt Of New York. Pritchard. Proctor.
Quarles. Quay. Rawlins Scott. simmons.
Simon. Spooner. Stewart. Taliaferro.
Teller. Tillman. Turner. Vest. Warren.
and Wetmore-s3.
Those who will vote against the treaty
unless 1t is amended are Senators Bacon,
Mason. Money. and Wellington.
Senator Sewell will be paired with one
Of these four.
The Washington times., 1901-12-08
Nr. Onnnrd on Cubn.

Hasn't this country done about enough
in the philanthropic way for CUBA" said
Mr. Henry W. Oynard the beet sugar
king" of Nebraska, at the Arlington. rs
there TO De- no limit TO our national altru-
ism. 1t seems to a good many people that
the expenditure OF millions and the sacri-
fee Of lives that were contributed by the
United States in giving liberty TO the
Cubans ought to be- enough, Ii We throw
down the tariff bars for them why not for
England. Germany and France? The Gu
bans remind one OF the small boy that
wants 20 eat his cake and keep IL at the
same time. The more we give them the
more they want II a concession is made
this year, the sympathetic racket will
be invoked in 1902. and the precedent
pointed out as a valid ground for endless
extension OF Uncle Sans iiberality"
The Washington times., 1901-12-08
GENIUS AND EGoTIsM.
Examples Which show That Great
Men Were Never Modest.

\ writer in the London Standard" de-
,lares the idea that genius is usually
modest to be a popular deiuslon. On the
contrary, h. alleges egotism to be the
very essence Of true genius, and quotes
many amusing examples.
When Wordsworth. Suuthey and Cole
ridge were walking together and Cole
ridge remarked that the day was so fine
lit might have been ordered for three
poets" the gentle Wordsworth promptly
exclaimed Three poets! Who are the
other twO?''
Disraeli. then a mere youth. wrote to
his sister that he had heard MacaGlay.
She'll and Grant speak, but between our
selves | could floor them all" And again
he said: when | want to read good
book / write one.
Our own Joaquin Miller wrote to Walt
Whitman: you and are over the head
of the rabble We know we are great.
aud il other people don't know it it is
their own fault"
1t was President Grant who. being told
that a certain Senator. an admitted
genius who was very hostile to him. did
not believe the Bible, expressed his esti-
mate OF the Senator'S egotism by rejoin-
ing: why should he? He didn't write il.
you know."-New York World.
The Washington times., 1901-12-08
Unparalleled for Ability.

THE Constitutional Convention in ses-
sion at Richmond. l must say. is COM
posed of able men. said Judge William
Reilly OF Accomac, at the Hotel Johnson.
but want 70 tell you. sir. that it is not
quite on a par with the personnel Of the
convention that met in 1S29-3O to frame
the organic law for the Old Dominion.
That was a body OF men unparalleled for
ability. II had for members such grand
intellects as Chief Justice Marshall. Mr.
Madison, Mr.. Monroe. John Randolph OF
Roanoke, Benjamin Watkins Leigh Abel
7. Upshur, George W. Summers and many
OF similar renown- I'm saying this not in
derogation OF our contemporaries, but the
truth OF history must be preserved, even
IL the living get a shade Che worst OF II. %
The Washington times., 1901-12-08
4 Boon 10 Farmers.

charge Of the Western division OF the
rural free delivery system. with head
quarters at Denver. IS at the Raleigh. Mr.
amin is one OF the best known and best
liked OF the Old-time force of Washington
newspaper correspondents, and was as
clever an after dinner orator as he was
writer.
Free delivery OF his mail" said Mr..
Amin, lis one OF the greatest boons that
the American farmer has ever had con-
ferred. 1t is the greatest factor in the
elimination Of the isolation Of country life
and makes residence outside the cities
more attractive than II has ever been. The
ultimate effect is 10 make life on the
farms pleasant and desirable. and to
cause a gradual rise in the value ot coun-
try property"
The Washington times., 1901-12-08
Corn Bread and ButtermIIk.

I've been down at my old home IN
Edgewood. 5. C., eating corn bread. drink
ing buttermllk and going to bed with the
chickens" said Gen. NJ. c. Butler, foriIer
United States Senator from the Palmetto
State, at the Ebbitt. General Butler Is in
splendid health and has scores OF warm
friends all over the Union who hope his
days may yet be many. a major general
In the Confederate Army at an early age
he won much fame as a gallant fighter.
and when President Mckinley appointed
him to like rank in the United States
Volunteer Army during the Spanish war
there was rejoicing on the part Of both
er-Confcdcrates and ynionists.
The Washington times., 1901-12-08
THE ARRIVAL OF THE CHECK.
II Caused Consideration In the Lit
tie Porto uican Town.

As illustrating the scarcity of money in
Porto Rico, it is related that when a
Government check for S2.0i9 arrived in
Manati a few days ago in payment OF the
towns excise collections for the preccd-
ing month it caused a genuine sensation
The city employees and their immediate
army of creditors commenced to parade
in front Of the mayor. who stood up hold
ing the check so that all might see. Two
thousand and forty nine dollars! The
mayor told the people that the check
could not be cashed, as there was not
money enough in the whole town, not even
il all the business houses combined tor
the purpose OF cashiug It. He then toiA
them that they had to wait for their
money until some one could go TO san
Juan to cash the check.
The mayor. envied by all. became tired
from holding the check In the air. folded
il. placed IL in a cigarette box. wound 1t
with red tape. and locked it up in the Sate.
Chicago News. ----
The Washington times., 1901-12-08
Cars without Rails.

The magnificent old Corniche road
from Nice to the Convent OF Laghet'
passing by La Turbie, is to be served by
a novel and ingenious traction system
No rails will be laid. The cars are prac-
tically large electric motor cars minus
accumulators. The motor receives its
electrical power from over head wires.
Central electrical works Will PROVIDE
the current, which will pass through two
parallel aerial wires supported by posts.
One wire will be used by the ascending
the other by the descending vehicle
Great economy OF energy is obtained. be-
sides the gain of all the space and the
avoidance OF the weight OF the accumula-
tors One feature of the system is the
ease with which the motor cars will make
way or pass around any carriage they en-
counter, the connecting wire being SUI
ficiently long to allow of such deviation.
The Washington times., 1901-12-08
Progress in Buffalo.

Mr.. c. c. Mccain, for some years audi
tor OF the Interstate Commerce Commits
sion. is at the New Willard. His abilities
as an expert in transportation matters
secured him the Office of Commissioner Of
the Lake Lines. with headquarters at
Buffalo. Business on the lakes has been
satisfactory this year. said Mr.. Mccain.
but the season is now about ended. as
the date for marine Insurance on the
lakes expired December ;. Buffalo, de-
spite the financial failure of the exposi-
tion, is one Of the busiest and most pros
porous cities in America. Before leaving
home / learned OF pending contracts for
the construction Of ten new factories. Its
development as a manufacturing centre
has hardly made start
The Washington times., 1901-12-08
Arizona Scenery .

Talking about scenery. said Chief JUS
tice Street. Of the Supreme Court of Ari-
zona, at the Shoreham, take my word
for it that the only scenery in America
which comes up to local boasting is the
Grand Canyon OF Arizona. Mother Earth
has nowhere else such a stupendous rift
in her bosom, and the spectacle of this
great chasm is simply superb. The
armies OF all the nations could lose them
selves there. The canyon is 217 miles
long. thirteen miles wide and one mile
deep. Until a recent date it was a very
difficult place to reach. but not long
since the Santa Fe railway built a branch
to its edge. and l predict that ere long it
viii be the fashion for tourists from
every land TO visit the canyon
The Washington times., 1901-12-08
PERSONAL
A Good Front.

The sympathetic and intimate rela-
tions that existed between slave owners
OF the better class and their black de-
pendents. in the South have never been
thoroughly understood by Northern peo-
pie" said Mr.. G. R. Wallace. OF Virginia,
at the Riggs. Il recall an incident that
illustrates the proposition better than
volume Of essays.
Right at the close of the war. when
fortunes were shattered and money fear
fully scarce in our part OF the country,
Judge Roger A. Pryor, a neighbor Of
mine. and now eminent as jurist in New
York, was invited to dinner given by
general of the Union Army, at which
many officers of high rank were present.
II was very elaborate banquet. and after
the good things were consumed, the
guests fingered at the table drinking
tOasts. An old colored man OF courtly
manners did the waiting with rare skill
and grace. He had been a slave in Judge
Fryor's family. and loved the judge dear
ly. for they had fshed and hunted to-
gether as boys in the old days before the
war.
1t seems odd. but it is true, that when
the dinner was over. not a soul remem-
bered old Tony, except his former mas
ter. Reaching down into his pocket. Judge
Pryor pulled forth the last piece OF cur
rency he had on earth. 81 bill, and
handed IT to his chum Of other days. With
a grin, and deep bow. Tony took it.
Twenty minutes later the friends met
with no one else present.
Marse Roger. said the other, deed
was glad TO see you make sich good
front befo dem Yankees. l knowed dat
was all de money you had. and l knowed
dat Miss Sally and de children needs it
lots wuss den l dosS and ! jes followed
you up TO glib you back dat money and
suiting the action to the word, handed
back the 81, nor could all Judge Pryor's
arguments make him retain it"
The Washington times., 1901-12-08
Russin's Rigid Censorship.

A curious suggestion as to the false
reports of the death Of Tolstoi comes
from the st. Petersburg correspondent
OF the London Times II is that the
reports arrive whenever it becomes
known that Toistoi has had an Illness.
and the explanation is found in a com
mon impression that when his death does
occur 1t will be suppressed by the censor
ship as long as possible. The occasion
OF this belief is that because he was re-
Gently declared hereto by the ecclesi-
astical authorities they will be obliged to
deny him Christian burial, that this is
certain to provoke popular disturbance.
and that therefore the news will be sup
pressed II possible until the trouble has
blown over.
The Washington times., 1901-12-08
Fatally sundered.

Edgar-In Chicago, Eustacia. the
housewives keep their cooks by treating
them as equals
Eustacia-oh, it's too late. Edgar. too
late: cook wouldn't recognize me as her
equal ff gavo her tea" ever after
noon ia the wcek.-DetroN rrSo pre.s.
The Washington times., 1901-12-08
SupprcsSIng Anarchy.

Philadelphia Ledger-Bills to suppress
anarchy are plentiful in Congress. but
some of them fail to define the offence
with sufficient definitcness, while others
are defective in providing means for
handling It. Out OF them ALI however.
the proper committee will, no doubt, he
able To formulate a measure sufficiently
definite and comprehensive to cure the
evil at least. II not to eradicate il en-
tirclv
The Washington times., 1901-12-08
DrlightfnI. In a MnN.

THE Alaskan winter must have seemed
very hard 10 you?"
"On the contrary. replied the Chicago
an, Il found It delightful"
How was that?"
Why, there never was any uncertainty
as to the kind of weather we were going
TO have.''-Chicago Post.
The Washington times., 1901-12-08

There has been suspicious death
rate among Chinese viceroys of late
After the exciting incidents Of last
year, and in view of the approaching
return of the royal family to Peldng,
one regards the death of Ii Hung
Chang and Of Tao-Wu as something
more than coincidence. Reorgani-
zation of the Chinese Empire gen,
orally takes the form of dissolution
Of individuals.
The Washington times., 1901-12-08
FOREIGN TOPICS.
Sermons by Telephone.

Successful experiments were made with
the electrophone at Tunbridge Wells re-
Gently Ten transmitters were placed In
st. James Church and connected with the
corporation telephone system. people at
Edinburgh. Glasgow, Manchester, Cheims-
ford. Weybridge and London being en-
abled to hear the sermon pre- ched- More
than a hundred local subscribers heard
the church service distinctly. The au-
thorities hope to connect all the places OF
worship in the town with the Central Tel
ephone Exchange
The Washington times., 1901-12-08
CrcduIOus PariSinnS.

Buffalo Express-Judging by the way
book entitled The Flogging Of Women in
America" was sold in Paris at s. a copy.
the French people must be easy marks.
The hint will be likely to bring down a
food Of enterprising American gold brick
men upon them.
The Washington times., 1901-12-08
Many Prominent Guests.

The Arlington is favored by the patron
age Of many distinguished men Among
its present guests are; Ex-Governor
Francis OF Missouri. Gov. Richard Yates
OF Illinois. Hon. John G. Miburn. Of Buff
falo. former Secretary OF State W r.
Day. OF Ohio. Gen. &. VI. Dodge Of New
York; Hon ". W. GTout, Of Vermont.
and Senator Aldrich Of Rhode Island