davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-04-28
WOMEN IN MISSION WORK.
The Methodist Conference Hears
Papers on Their Accomplishments.

NEW ORLEANS, April 27-The fourth
days session of the Methodist Missionary
Conference was devoted to women's work.
Mrs Wightman, of South Carolina, was
chairman.
Mrs. S. c. Trueheart of Kentucky
spoke on THE Aim and Scope of Women's
Foreign Missionary Work" She gave an
interesting report of the work of the
Women's Board of Missions since its or
ganlzation in 1879. II began work in Chi
ma with the happiest results and in 1881
had inaugurated missionary work in Mex
leo and Brazil. The work has been car
ried on among the wild tribes of India
also by means of schools and Bible
women, etc.
Korea is the latest field entered The
board has now 81 missionaries. 162 teach
ers and native helpers, II boarding
schools. 81 day schools. 6 kindergartens. 2
hospitals, > Bible schools. and 60 Bible
women. Its average annual incomes since
has been $4,000 There are Mt home 80
conference societies, 900 auXiliaries. and
70, Gii members. The board conducts the
Scarritt Bible and Training School at
Kansas City, Mo.
Miss NJ. L. Gibson. OF Baltimore, spoke
on educational work and made plea Tor
mission schools for the natives IN the va
lions countries in which Methodist mis-
sionaries are at work
Mrs. Anna w. Fearen delivered an ad-
dress on medical work and wanted the
missionaries to take up the task of teach
ing the natives in savage countries the
duty of having adequate medical treat
rnent In savage and half civilized coun-
tries the most barbarous methods prevail
ed in regard to medical treatment. She
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-04-28
4 Suub in China.

AS a matter of courtesy 1t would be
impossible for us to smile at the Ad-
ministration. but we must say that the
answer OF the Council of Ministers in
Pekin to the Rockhill demand for a
reduction of indemnity claims almost
makes such a thing unavoidable. Our
representative has been calmly told
that, while the other Powers have not
the remotesl objection TO selfabnega-
ton on the part of the United States,
they do not intend that such a spirit
of sacrifice shall interfere with their
own interests or intentions.
This is straight from the shoulder
snub to our splendid diplomacy" and
it ought to make a deep impression
upon our responsible diplomatisL Not
that we regard him as wholly
or in principle perhaps at all, re-
sponsible for the long succession Of
blunders and puerilities which have
marked our course in China. He was
i'll and away and his expert assistant
secretary was away. when the ridicu
lous mistake of the amateur garden
seed and postage-stamp diplomatists
was committed last summer, in CON
nection with the Russo-American cut
and scuttle from PelSin. Still he has
seemed 10 adopt the policy of that
amazing Tsung- Yamen ad interim.
and he must not complain If he is criti
cised for its consequences.
We are afraid that 1t would be use
less 20 deny that the course of the Ad-
ministration in China. since the first
of last August at least, has resulted in
destroying what prestige as a world
power we may haze gained through the
prowess OF our troops and the energy
our initial action in the premises
gave us for a time. When the United
States. by its precipitate action with
out notice to the other Powers. rup-
tured the Concert and assisted Russia
to play its lone hand in Manchuria,
one would think that 1t should have
been patent to Mr.. Hay that the in
fiuence of this country. as far az the
Chinese question is concerned. had been
lost.
Far from proceeding upon the basis
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-04-28
SPECULATION AS TO EROS.
A New Theory Relative to the
Planets Pecuiin titles.

BOSTON, April pa new theory rela-
tive to the planet Eros is advanced In a
circular issued by the Harvard College oh
servers. The variations in the light of the
planet. which are giving the astronomers
much thought, are due, the circular says,
either to the planets rotation or to two
similar bodies alternately eclipsing each
other. If the first named cause is the cor
rect one, there are two explanations:
Either the planet is darker on one side
or the other or that IL is double. The lat
ter hypothesis is regarded the more prob
able.
But If the variation in light is caused
by two similar bodies alternately eclips-
ing each other, it is difficult to see how
one-half Of the light can be cut off in each
case and the minima is more than three
quarters of a magnitude fainter than the
maxima.
1T then becomes necessary" says the
circular TO assume that the two bodies
are OF unequal brightness. that they are
elongated, or that we have single body
of the shape of dumbbelL Further in
vestigation Is in progress. and the OBJ
servatory hopes to be able soon to offer
solution Of the mystery
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-04-28
COINS OF ANTIQUITY.
Moneys That We're Orthodox Before
the Era of MINIS

Ancient Indian coins display great va
riety. Besides gold, silver, and copper
coins, there have been found in various
parts of the country coins of brass. nick
el, tin, and lead. Even at the beginning
of the nineteenth century articles other
than orthodox coin passed current. Thus.
cowry shells were used in Bengal, Per-
sian almonds on the Malabar coast. and
silver wire in the Maldive Islands. Up to
very recent times silver wire was also
used in CeylOn as money and was first
known to us in the seventeenth century.
The wire was formed in the shape of a
iishhook, and officially stamped; some of
these hooks weighed an ounce and half.
The use Of cowry shells is or rather
was, an almost universal institution. They
are still common in parts of Africa, and
East India Islands; there is little doubt.
however. that the custom had its origin
in China. a curious account in New Brit
ian was given by II. II. Ramilly in 1886.
When first issued the cowries are thread
ed on a thin strip of cane about thirty
feet in length; and as an inch contains
twelve shells. each length has no less
than 1870 shells. On distribution the
length Is cut up into such pieces as may
be required, and fathom, or the stretch
of a mans arms. is the recognized unit.
In Japan, an iron coinage, begun about
1876. has existed up to the present day
one Of these coins issued in 1866 bore the
couplet:
May your wealth be as vast as the Eastern Ocean.
And your age great the southern Noun
tains.
Curious bullion Ga mixture of silver and
copper coins in use from 1901 to 1853 were
shaped in various sizes from a small pea
to large bean. Lead coins were also
made in $50, and used for 500 years. Some
authorities suppose that perforated pieces
of Japan were used In prehistoric times
as money.
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-04-28
A POINT OF POSTAL LAW.
The Cuban Authorities Refuse to
Give Letters to N Judge.

HAVANA, April 1.-TWO men named
Menendez and ViIlaverde have been sus-
pected of receiving lottery tickets from
Madrid through the mails. The judges
ordered the postal authorities to give the
correspondence of these men to the court
for examination. Mr.. Fosnes. the Director
General of Posts. who succeeded Rath-
bone, at first refused to comply with the
request on the ground that the United
States postal regulations held that cor
respondence was sacred.
In order to assist the authorities, how
ever, Mr. Fosnes refused to deliver any
mail to Menendez or ViIlaverde and
threatened to return all their correspond
ence to the sender, as allowed by the
postal regulations, in cases where it is
suspected that the mails are being used
improperly. Thereupon Menendez and Vii
laverde consented that the court should
examine their mail. The Cuban consti-
tuition holds that mail is sacred. but it
may he seized. nevertheless, and examined
by an order of the courts.
There is one case of yellow fever in Ha-
vana, that of a Spaniard who arrived here
on April .
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-04-28
TRYING TO MAKE TERMS.
The Marconi Directors visit Eng
Innd,s Postmaster General.

LONDON. April 27.-The Postmaster
General the Marquis of Londonderry. yes
terday received a deputation of the di-
rectors of the Marconi companies who ask
for license for the transmission of wire
less messages within territorial waters
between ships and land stations.
The postoffice, which. of course. controls
the telegraph. has a monopoly that ex-
tends to the three-mile limit. The depu-
tation also asked on what terms the COM
panies might organize sea telegraphy, ex-
pressing confidence that a business man
at sea would like to maintain daily rela-
lions with the chief centres of trade and
that many passengers would like to COM
municate with their friends on shore. all
of which would add to the revenue of the
postoffice department
They also asked for license in order
to arrange for dealing with kilograms
to and from foreign places and for land
purposes. The Marquis of Londonderry
promised to consider the matter and con-
suit the heads of the various departments
concerned. The reply was not considered
very satisfactory
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-04-28

There is another potentate besides Mr..
Mckinley who needs the canteen con-
sideration OF the total abstinence women.
The German Kaiser has been at the Uni
yersity of Bonn to see his son and heir
matriculated; and his Majesty actually
presided at festivities where beer was
drunk out of stems. He also smoked a
long pipe Do not the highest interests
of humanity demand that the cantineers
and the hatcheteers should go over TO Eu-
rope and see what they can do? They
need not worry about what might happen
here in their absence for the cranks are
like the poor-they are always with us,
no matter how many may be absent at
any given time
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-04-28
THE LAST GREAT VICTORIAN.
Herbert Spencer, the Philosopher,
Celebrates His Eighty-frst Birthday.

LONDON, April 27.--Herbert Spencer.
who has been called the last Of the great
Victorians,' was eighty-one years old to-
day, and is in fair health.
II is understood that he does not intend
to revise any of his works. He has COM
pleted a two-volume autobiography which
is already partly printed, but will not be
published during his lifetime.
Despite the admiration of people all
over the world his philosophical works
have not been remunerative
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-04-28

of any such conviction. the Administra-
ton has airily acted as if its views and
wishes would be regarded by the other
States interested in China as manda-
tory, and has cheerfully requested them
TO forego fifty per cent of their claims
against China, apparently expecting
that compliance would come as mat
ter of course. But it has not, and the
question is: What will our poet-diplo-
mat do uext7
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-04-28
BEAUMONT OIL MEN MEET.
A Consolidation of interests May Re-
suit From the Conference

NEW ORLEANS. April "a confer
enee was held here today by the leading
men in the Beaumont. Tex, oil fields
Capt A F. Lucas. who discovered the oil
near Beaumont and is the owner of the
first or Lucas gushe=; James NJ. Guffey.
the Independent oil manipulation of Pitts
burg and owner of two of the Beaumont
gushers: John Fl. Galley. of Pittsburg. and
W. NJ. Cook. lawyer. took part. The
meeting, it is understood, was for a con-
solidation of interests
1t is understood here that the Standard
Oil Company has purchased the Port Ar
thur terminals aud wharves and is in alb
solute control of the marketing of oil in
the Beaumont district An oil craze on a
smaller scale than that at Beaumont is
reported at Lanse LaButte. in ST. liar
tins Parish, La, where both oil and gas
have been struck.
The neighboring town of Breaux Bridge
is filled with prospectors and land values
have gone up tenfold.
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-04-28
should BE Advertised.


tFrOm Inc FhIIadeIpHla Ledstf-J
The Geological Garden contains one Of the
finest collections of animals. birds. and other
forms Of life in the world. but it is 50 badly
neglected by the public that it does not pay ex-
penses The fact may show bad taste on the
part of the public but it would DO good to
scold on that account. The public is not to be
driven hut it may be coaxed. Suitable attFac
tons suitably advertised would undoubtedly draw
il to the comparatively Ou- of the way corner in
which the Zoo is located and make that in
stituton more than self-sustanng. Unless the
city Is willing to maintain the Zoo as a public
institution it would seem 10 be the duty Of the
persons in charge Of it to devise a plan for some
form OF entertainment which will bring the peo-
r,lc IN
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-04-28
OBITUARY.

The Rev. Thomas Conroy Porter. D. D.
IL D.. died at EastOn, Pa, yesterday
from heart disease. aged seventy nine
He was professor emeritus of botany and
theology at Lafayette College, where he
had taught since 1866. He graduated there
in 1910 and after preaching at Reading.
Pa, until 1S4S. went to Franklin and Mar
shall College. Lancaster, where he re-
manned for seventeen years.
He was prolific writer on the flora of
this country and contributor to literary
magazines and scientific publications He
belonged to the American Philosophical
Association, the Academy of National
Sciences, Philadelphia: the Terry Botan-
icaI Club. of New York. and was a Fellow
of the American Academy of Science. His
wife died two months ago. None OF their
children survives.
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-04-28
TO MEET AT FORT TOTEM.
An Examining Board Appointed by
the Secretary of War.

Secretary Root yesterday issued an or
der detailing Major William NJ Black,
Corps of Engineers, L. S. A. and Capt.
Charles II. McKinstry, Corps of Engi-
neers, U. S. A, as members of the ex-
amining board convened at Fort Totten,
New York.
The following officers are ordered for ex-
animation as to fitness for promotion:
First Lieut.. James p. Jervey, First Lieut..
George p. Howell, First Lieut.. Charles w
kutz, Second Lieut.. Edward n. Johnston.
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-04-28

Some people are inclined TO make fen
OF the schools of Kansas because in
certain parts OF that State The school
children are asked In examination to
explain the meaning OF imperialism.
expansion, free trade, and protection
II is not TO be supposed that these ques-
lions are put TO toddling babes. and IT
Is not altogether impossible for a
bright child OF twelve or fourteen TO
understand at least the rudiments OF
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-04-28


Ocular Demonstration.
A young lady in Chicago became CON
WINGED that she had heart disease and
| rushed in terror to a physician. who
speedily assured himself that there was
| nothing whatever the matter with it.
The question then was. how he should
| assure her of the fact. He pondered a
little, and then decided that he would
let her see the organ. in action; and he
turned on the X-ray and let her look
| at her heart in a mirror. 1t took
little time for her to accustom her
eyes to the darkness, but she finally
became able to discern its outlines, and
watched it in fascination. One of her
comments was:
''Just see it wag!'
She left the office of the physician in
gre.t content. convinced that after all,
she was not threatened with angina
pectoris or any other serious heart
complaint.
If the X-ray treatment becomes COM
mon in cases like this there will be
something of revolution in the science
OF medicine Al present there are nu-
merous physicians, some quacks and
some thoroughly educated, who make
fair living out of the assisted self-de-
lusions of fair patients. A lady be-
lieves something to be the matter with
her-and when human being is fash
ionably gCwned, well fed, and obliged
to pass her days in a sort of busy
idleness, it is not hard to develop such
belief. In some cases the would-be
patient has nothing to do but imagine
diseases, and revel in the consequence
which naturally attends an interesting
invalid. Such a patient rushes to the
physician, receives sympathy and at
tention, and directions ad libitum, and
pays fees correspondingly large. The
doctor, meanwhile, quiets his con-
science. if he has one, with the reflec
ton that if he told his fair patient
bluntly that nothing was the matter
with her except Incidence and i'm
proper food she would be insulted and
rush off to sons, other less scrupulous
and less truthful medical man.
All the same. ii the X-ray treatment
were to become common, the most per-
sistent delusion would be upset. 1t is
impossible to believe that ones heart
is about to stop, or is unreasonably
enlarged or is not performing its
functions properly. in the face of ocular
demonstration of the fact that it is all
right. And, despite the artificial fond
ness for invalidism which has been
more or less cultivated among the rich
and idle, there are few human beings
who would not really rather be we'll
than i'll.
Another reflection suggested by this
incident is that some such treatment
is really, perhaps, all that Christian
Science needs to cure it. If some kind
of an X-ray could be turned on that
doctrine and the mass of absurdities
which cluster about it-if 1t were pes
sible to convince those people that in
spite of their assertions of miracle and
magic and the upsettinis of the laws
of nature, those laws are going on just
the same as usual-it might be bene-
fetal. But the X-ray which will do
that has not yet been invented. No
scientific treatment has ever been able
TO make a man without a sense of hu-
NOR see his own ahsurdity. and it is
improbable that the Church of Mrs.
Eddy will ever gaze into an X-ray
mirror and see itself wag.
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-04-28
Pennsylvania Black Art.

At Wilkesbarre a black art doctor, denom
mated = Hex was called in to treat the sick COW
OF Il local farmer and Immediately suggested that
the animal would recover provided a naked woman
walked about il nine times and stepped over it
four times. These difficult conditions were COM
piled with BY the farmers wife at her husbands
solicitation, the latter being probably less
anxious As TO his spouse contracting pneumonia
than at the idea OF losing COW. Despite all this,
the COW. unreasonably continued to grow worse,
and actually died. There isn't much moral to the
story bat what there is would indicate that cows
cost money in Wilkesbarrc while wives are to be
had for the asking.
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-04-28

II is a very bad thing for employees OF
a street car corporation to pull cancelled
tickets out of the furnace and use them
over again, to their own advantage and
to the detriment of the service. 1t is also
II not equally bad for an official of the
company which has suffered through such
an offence TO brand practically all of its
people as dishonest In a pertinent case,
now before the Washington public, this
has been done, and it is not surprising
that the small army of worthy men in the
service of one of our most important cor
porations should be indignant. If ii be
any satisfaction to them. they may rest
assured that the sympathy of the COM
munity is with them.
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-04-28
spartan Courage Necessary.

lFrom the halis-is VlIy Stsf.1
The surcst way for a public official to make
himself strong with the people is TO respect
their wishes and pay strict regard TO their in
terests. II often happens that this cannot be
done without displelsing the politicians. whose
plans are not. usually speaking, in line with
wholesome public policy. 1t requires some cour-
age for a man who has been elevated to a high
political post to run counter to the desires Of
the party managers. but it pays when the people
are on the other side.
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-04-28
southern white Republicans.


(FTUm the Bo'Ioh H'Tll1.l
II is not unlikely that Prelidrnt Mckinley and
hi, advisers are oycrsansuue il they think thar
a white Republican party can be built up ia
the south which Will b. IN aDprrcilh.e factor
in the Presidential election % 1894. But SIC
on our part would be surprised II in the rs -
ton of 1895 OF 1912 there vas not strong whit D..
Republican party in psactisa'ly all OF the souli-
cTn States.
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-04-28
Long vacation suexertea.

(Frorn the Philadelphia North American.)
Minister Congcr says he has strong desire 10
return to Pekin to complete his work and see a
hua settlement. provided he is not compelled by
his sense Of duty to accept nomination for Gov.
erEor Of Iowa. There is every reason why he
should not be permitted 10 have anything more to
do with the settlement Of the Chinese trouble. and
it is conceivable that the people Of Iowa and the
rest of the United States could endure with forth
tudc the calamity Of Mr.. Conger's Temporary re-
tirement from office Of any kind lie came home
ior a rest. and there is objection to his taking
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-04-28

Our Cuban visitors appear to be making
progress in their study Of the Plat terms,
although we do not hear that they are
yet ready to agree that the same are the
best they have to hope for. About an
other conference with Secretary Root
ought TO settle that, and then the COM
mission should be ready to return to
Cuba. and carry a fine large truth with
them. II is that American suzerainty is
a condition precedent To Cuban autonomy.
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-04-28
Party Organs.


tFrom inc NhshNIiIt NlltIIVIH-I
There are more first class newspapers and fewer
party organs in this country today than ever be-
lore The people want the news, the facts. They
may or nay not agree with the opinions Of the
papcr but they want no ostrich performance, no
miserable cvasau timidity In no line Of
business or duty are honesty and courage more
to be desired than in the conduct OF news
naner
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-04-28

(From the Springfield Republican,
" thorough Cancellation was desired II would
have been better for General Wood to hive
STAYED at Havana while TIA" delegate NeJc ,sa-
ferring with the President and Secretary of War
in Mashimgion.
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-04-28
Possibly for nanaueains Purposes

(from The indianapolis NeTs.)
An act TO set aside $4,000 for ''the use of the
delegate in Washington is before the Hawaiian
Legislature. What Is the purpose of this fund 2
Is the delegate not paid his salary and does he
not receive an enormous amount for mileage in
additieng To what use is the delegate to put
SIOOIDy
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-04-28

a Kansas City despatch asserts that
President Mckinley has consented to
make speech in that town In the
course of his approaching tour. We are
not aware of any objection to the project
Kansas City is not Kansas. In the latter
region such thing might be dangerous
The Nation woman or some other crank
might heave hatchet with the idea OF
smas hing him.
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-04-28
The Fanss should Re Extracted.

tFno,n the Chicago News.)
IL Is said the ship Subsidy bin, with the
Objectionable features removed will he passed
by the next Congress. The cnaetins clause IS the
most objectionable feature. With that removed
no one ,s~.,id comnzin-
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-04-28

Mrs. Eunice r. Davis. the oldest resident
of Dedham. Mass, died on Friday from
old age at her home in that city. She was
born in Andover on October 20. 1900. Her
father served during the Revolutionary
war Her mother was a full-blooded
Narragansett Indian. Mrs Davis had the
distinction of being the only surviving
member of the Woman's Anti-Slavery
Board of Boston and the oldest woman
abOlitionist.
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-04-28

Frederick Christian Freund, seventy
years DID, a director of the Hudson City
Savings Bank, of Jersey City, died on
Friday at his home. 729 Newark Avenue.
that city He leaves n widow and six