davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-03-17
cHINA's MEASURING RULES.
Odd Ways of Determining the
Length of a Mile.
(From Leslie's Weekly.

Many travellers returning from China
have commented upon the appareGtly sin
gular lack of knowledge of the distances
across their country or between their
towns that exist among the Chinese. If
at one town You enquire the distance to
the next YOU may he told that It is twenty
ii tone third Of milel, but upon arriv-
ing at the towu> you will be surprised to
find the distance back to the town from
which You have just come is twentv-t our
III and that the cost Of joUrneyiug back
again is correspondingly greater than the
cost to 80 to IL.
This pcculiarity also extends to dis
tances between town by river. the dis
tanCes up stream being from 80 to 100
per cent greater than down stream. The
cost of travel and transportation in the
different directions bears the same rela-
ton to each other as the distances. The
confusion which has thus arisen has been
incomprehenSible to foreigners. The
Chinese measure distances not by rule,
but by the amount of physical energy re-
quired to traverse them. Their wage is
based on unit of energy, the amount
that il takes them to carry given load,
one picul one II, on level ground. If the
road from A to B is down hill the dis
lance is regarded as less than the actual
linear distance because 1t is supposed
to take less energy to travel in that direc-
ton: or. as the Chinese say. the Ii are
short" 1t naturally follows that in
travelling in the other direction, from b
back to A. the road being "A gradual as
cent, a greater expenditure of energy is
necessary: the Ii are long. and in order
to get fair compensation for their work
the carriers must see that the distance
and the charges are corresponilngly IN
creased.
With this explanation what has often
appeared "a Vagary of the Chinese be
comes simple and reasonable.
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-03-17

and the soul again escapes, 'as sweet
perfume escapes from u broken vase.
improved by the new faculties it has re-
ceived. and the new senses with which
it has been endowed, il enters a rev body
equipped with still more num Nus and
exquisite senses, and armed with still
more powerful faculties, and thus begins
another new life further on in ether-the
life of an archangel ar archhuman.
NJ. tlgtier, through long course Of
reasoning, then endeavOrs 10 demonstrate.
that there are several other promotions
how many he does not state in the HE
rarely of beings who dwell in the plane
tary ether, succeeding human individuals.
az each OF which improvements Increase,
Tue sense ar" multiplied, aud the intel
lectudl power greatly extended. until M
length the state OF pure spirit and final
bliss or Heaven Itself Is reaC he'd Final
bliss IS supposed by n. Figuier to hc
found in the sun. He hazards the fu:-
Their remarkable theory that the lUmiua-
~ is not only the home of souls who have
completed the various stages Of their 5No-
lutiOD. but is also nothing else than the
aSSemblaEc of those souls coming from
different planets after passing through
the intermediate states he describes. Says
NJ. Figuier:
Since the sun is the first cause of life;
since ii is tie origin Of life. Of feeling.
and Of thought. since 1t is the determining
cause of all organized life ON the earth.
why may we not declare that the rays
transmitted by the sun to the earth and
other planets are nothing more or less
than the carnations If these soulS?
NJ Figuier eHl2Tges considerably on this
highly poetical theory. Low and coarse
souls are believed by him to undergo a
second birth or Il retrograde evolution.
The various qualifications which he pur-
sues in the exposition of his theory are
curious and often beautiful, ii not thor
oughIy satisfactory.
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-03-17

selections which one hears by dropping n
nickel IN the slot. A very fine singer may
make very poor record upon the ma
chine. and good elocutionist may like
wise disappoint himself and his audience
unless he observes the necessary rules.
There is ''knack in singing song
or recitiug piece in the receiving horn
Of talking machine so that not n note
or word shall be lost. which consists
mainly in preserving comparatively
even tone. neither raising the voice too
high nor sinking II too low. In the former
case too great shrillness is the result; in
the latter the note or word is lost entirely.
II may bc argued that the more delicate
shades of vocal EXPIRE SSion are thus rem
dered impossible on Il talking machine,
but the fact is that all shades of eN-
preston are possible after few trials.
and this is proved by the great variety OF
records on the market When the record
maker learns how 10 send his voice into
the machine So as to affect the diaphragm
of the recorder and leave its impression
upon the WAX cylinder he may achieve
results that gre highly satisfactory.
In Washington there are many hun
dreds of persons who are devoted to the
talking machine. and some surprisingly
good amateur records have been made in
the National Capital Like everything
else. a certain amount of practice is
necessary before the desired result, can
he obtained in making records Tor the
talking machine.
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-03-17

and She would not tell Him where She
had Secreted the Silver and Diamonds.
until one Night when Burglars came AMI
made \ Rummage call al The House.
leaving an Old Cap and a new Cold ChiseI
for the Police to identify them. which
they never did.
Where are Your Diamonds and snpzr
Ware? asked the Common Sense, Man
looking very Anxious.
Look in the Rag Bag, said His Wife
with Triumph In Her Tone
But where is The Rag Bag
They called In The Police. who Looked
Wise and said they had a Clew. but No
one has ever heard what II was and the
Woman has since learned that Burglars
places for Valuable Booty that Is all
ready to be Carried OF
Moral; 1t is better To Be Safe than
Sorry.
once there was a Man who built A
House to Please his WIFI. II had 4
Clothes Closet in every room and a Porte
Cochere. besides Billiard Room for the
Mans friends VIXEN they came 90 visit
Him. They began living in The House
in great style and the Man said il was
A Dream, but his Wife called IL \ Night
mare She found Fault with il Some
Of the Time. Part of the Time. and All
the Time When she had Company The
House was Too Small. and When they
were Alone II was Too Large. They could
not Pronounce Porte CoChere with A for
eign information. So they called it The
Driveway. Their Friend who knew how
DISCONTINUED The Wife was offered to
Buy The House.
1t will Make you a fine Family Resi-
dence said The Man who Built It,
Il do Not want 1t for A Family Resi-
dcnce but for a Home, His Friend said.
So he paid Tue Price and was Given
Possession at once. His Wife was a
Conteated woman and made the Best of
Everything. They turned the Billiard
Room into a Nursery. and practiced on
The Porte Cochere until they could say
1t as easy as rolling OF log. and there
wasn't any Frost settled down on the
New Home.
Then the Wife of the Party OF the
First Part who mad built the House for
her appealed to Him to Build Another
House and the Next time to try And
have it right.
There Won't Be any Next time-Not
on your Life. he said: You can Spend
the Rest of your days in a Flat or A
Boarding House, For | am entirely out
of the Business Of Building"
Moral: Fools build Houses And Wise
Men live in Them
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-03-17

oddly enough" said Cairns, showing
his white teeth in smile. Il don't know
whether Winifred is pretty or not. have
never seen portrait of her. But In your
interests. Captain Dunstone. / must ask
my wife TO give me a sight of one, if
she has it.
And he babe the owners and the retiring
skipper a 1oVial gOOd-by and swung off at
a smart pace homeward. The mile that
lay between Grlmport and the country
cottage he had rented for the honeymoon
was soon covered. isabel was waiting at
the gate. and there Were no paFsers-by
to witness the rapturous embrace with
which the married lovers met after three
hours Of separation.
oh, Jem, his young wife cried. as she
met his triumphant kiss. You have good
news for me- | am to sail in the Venture
with you? Isn't il true?'
True as that the seas are salt and you
around her slight waist. kissed her golden
hair-for Isabel was "A fair beauty-and
looked at her with pride The cabin is
TO be scraped, painted and new rugged. mt
Tor bride, piano is TO be shipped for
you at the Haxbys' expense, and this
watch and chain are present to NE be
cause | have been so lucky as to marry
the sweetest girl on dry land;
Isabel glowed at the simple nattery. Her
heart was in her eyes as she looked at
him.
They should have given it to me- she
said. because ! have married the hand
soonest man and the bravest in the whole
world She had heard the story of the
sharks and Cairns dive "Oh. Jem. if
more
ed Cairns. with a twinkle in his bright
grey. eyes. 1t wouldn't have affected
II should never have married Isabel
fiarcd out. NO other man but you would
ever have won my hearth She covered
one OF his large strong hands with both
of hers. Say, she coaxed,. that ST You
had not met me you never would have
married." "
81 should have been a sea husband. like
Dunstone, welded to my ship for better,
for worse. laughed Cairns. Though.
now that the old fellow Is going ashore
for good, he'll be wanting somebody to
brew his grog and I'LL his pipe for him
lie wanted 10 know about your sister
Ninifred-whether she was as pretty ~
you are. and whether she was engaged
and | said that she couldn't possibly he
the one, but l understood she was the
other"
Isabel began to laugh. How ! am
longing to see your face when you iirst
set eyes ga Ninifred"' she cried. w hat
VIII you say? What will you think!
On. ! wouldn't show you her photograph
for the world. though | have got half
dozen; II would spoil the effect Ell mean
To create
Ask her to come down and spend
few days with us before We sail. said
Cairns 1T is. for one thing. only proper
consideration for your sister. ana, Tor
another -
You are expiring with curiosity to see
her" Interrupted Isabel with little gush
OF laughter. Then she pretended to DoN
her husbands ears. and he kissed her,
ana they went In to supper. Next uay
the letter OF invitation to Winifred carr
insbrook was written The reply came
back in due course-a letter OF Delighted
acceptance mingled with girlish expires
sions of grief at Isabel's impending de
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-03-17
SETTLERS FOR SOUTH AFRICA.
More EngIishmcn snid to BE Needed
in Tint Country.

tFrom the London saturday Review
The establishment of more English set
tiers in South Africa is nothing less than
national duty. TIE country population
being almost exclusively Dutch. agricul-
tural settlers are the kind of immigrants
most required since it is in the rural
districts that II is most desirable to in
troduce English men and English ideas.
To this must be added the further con-
siderdtiun that, as the labor basis in
South Africa is native. not European.
these agricultural immigrants must be
persons who are possessed of the capital
and Intelligence necessary to enable them
to develop their holdings and utilize the
already existing supplies of cOloTed labor.
If English emigrants are to be sent out
on this errand they must not be drawn
from the ranks of the agricultural labor
ers bat they must he selected from
among the sons of the landed gentry and
the farmers.
to take up small farms unless they pos
sessed certain amount of canital. and
even then they would be unable to gain
a livelihood unless they were endowed
with intelligence and resolution cutie be
yond the average; for they would have
to acquire a knowledge of Dutch and
Kaffir and be able to control the natives.
As a general rule, therefore, immigrants
of this class would only be useful over
seers and fOremen on large iaI ms. The
men who are to go out to farm and raise
stock. to grow fruit and sUbtrOpical pro-
duce must be men who already possess
some experience of such Industries. or
who. failing this experience. are prepared
to spend the time and money necessary
to acquire il. In short, the settlers who
are wanted are men who can command
a little capital-say from G500 upward
and are otherwise qualified by their train
ing and assOcia tons for this particular
phase of colonial life.
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-03-17
The Captains Surprise.

The southeastern harbor town OF Grim
port Is a sleepy, old fashioned place.
where antique prejudices survive stale
fashions prevail. old customs strangely
finger, like the long strips Of dried sea
weed hanging up behind the bars of the
queer old public houses. and which once
were used as weather gauges. and ancient
saws are still quoted. Consequently when
Jameson Cairns met. fell in love with and
married Isabel Carlingbrook within the
short space OF six weeks from the arrival
"f the Venture in port with her cargo Of
rum and sugar for the warehouses OF
HaXby & Son, heads We're nodded over
cups Of tea IN spinstcrs' parlors Grim
port boasts an astonishing collection Of
nd maids: and even the gouty old retired
sea captains exercising. with the aid Of
their silver topped Malaccs canes. on the
Broad Walk, between the rows OF burst
ing docksheds and the tiers Of shipping
or slipping pale Madeira or old Jamaica
rum in the bow window Of the Mercantile
Marine Club House, quoted the mouldy
couplet-
Change your name and keep your letter
Youn wed for the worse and not for the
better"
But. between ourselves. there was
scarcely a girl in Grimport, rich or poor,
pretty or ugly. who would not have en-
barked for a life voyage in the good ship
Marriage, master and owner jameson
Cairns. 81 she had had isabel CARING
brooks chance, ana a double allowance
Of "Cs' To- her maiden name. For Jem
Cairns had what old women call "A way
with him. and. Whatever kind Of way
that may be. il is one that young ones
like
For the man was the beau ideal Of a
sailor. Well proportional muscular. II
good height and fine build. with curling
brown hair and fair beard. close clipped:
"a bright grey eye. rather deep set: blunt.
straight Saxon features; mellow voice
and hearty laugh. which showed per
feet set Of strong white teeth.
He was first mate Of that splendid all
ing ship the Venture. owned by Haxby- =
Son. of Grimport and Jamaica, and he
passed his examination FOR shipmastcr'S
certificate just before his wedding. and
was 10 have taken over the command Of
the Venture the very next voyage, owing
Il. the retirement of Captain D--lstone. her
old skipper. had all gone well.
And II you think I'll be grudgine YOU
my berth. Mr. Cairns" said Captain Dun
stone. holding out red hairy hand across
he table of the owners office 10 his sec
and I'm command we've sailed together
eight voyages for nothing. You're gen.
tleman and smart sailor ~ ever met.
ard no crew 1..,!ld ship under better
captain
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-03-17
A SPANIEL's LONG FAST.
He Had Been Deprived of Food for
Twelve Days.

The endurance OF cocker spaniel. the
property of Fred j. Warren of Iyes.
Newton, Mass. which finished a long
fast in good condition, having been ac-
cidentally deprived of food for twelve
days. Is remarkable
The dog was a favorite of Mrs. Warren,
who died several weeks ago Ii was
shortly after Mrs. Warren's death thar
1t was decided to remove some of her
clothing to the home of her own family,
the WadswOrt ilS. Of Hillside Avenue. The
spaniel. who had grieved much since the
death of his mistress. followed. 1t was
after a place had been found for the
late Mrs Warrants effects that the SPAN
lei sought his way. unnoticed to tho
room. Within day or so the Wadsworth
family locked their house and left fo-
California.
Twelve days later some members Of
the family had occasion to go 20 the
Wadsworth house. Upon entering this
room where Mrs. Warrens effects had
been left they were surprised but much
pleased, at finding the dog. His impris.
onment and hunger had seriously Affect
ed him. but a saucerful OF warm milk
seemed TO revive him. He received every
attention. and promises to pull through.
His adventure has won for him warm
spot in the hearts of all who have heare
the story. The family say he Will never
go hungry again.
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-03-17
FABLES AND THEIR MORALS.
Modern Applications Fitting !ari-
Gus Modern Events.

A Man who was a Suburbanite and
spent much of His Time Travelling To and
Fro on the Elevated Cars was different
from Other Men in this: He did not be-
lieve in HolduI3s. He said he would like
to see Thug who could rob him and Get
Away with the Valuables. One morning
going into Town he had been talking to
the Other Men in the Smoker in this
Strain when. wanting to see what Time it
was he put his hand in his Vest Pocket
TO get his Watch, and nearly Jumped to
the Roof of the car. His Watch was
gone He looked at all The Men i'm the
Smoker, and said in loud. Distinct
Voice: II have Been Robbed
Impossible" said One of His Friends /;
You said you We're Immune
Don't be A Fool: My Watch Is gone
He glanced at each Man in turn, as if
He might have The Watch up his Sleeve.
but Everybody went on Reading the Morn
ing Paper in a Perfectly Heartless way,
and Soon he got out and went to His
Ofice. where he Stirred Them all up Re
lsting His Tale of Woe. till his Partner
said:
"oh Come on! Get new Nickel
Watch that will keep Good Time. and
don't be So Fresh Dragging about Being
Robbed You are not the Only One.
Gold Watches don't Grow ON Every
Bush, Grumblsd the Man Then He felt
so bad that he decided TO Go Home and
Make His wife Wretched Too, and get 1t
over That He had been Held up and
Robbed. At least She would be Sorry for
him.
But when he told her She Only laugh
ed. He called her Cruel Woman Then
She told him to go upstairs and look I'M
der His Pillow. where he found his watch
Safe and Sound.
Moral: 1t Is better to be Born Lucky
than Rich
In the Year 1891. Man lived who had
some Common Sense. He desired to buy
\ Safe I'm which his wife could keep her
Silver Ware and Diamonds where Thieves
could not Break In nor Steal.
Nonsense said his Wife, in that flip
way Some Women assume when arguing
with even the Greatest of Men THE
Burglars would carry il off or Blow it to
Pieces before you Could get il Into the
House X would Advertise the Fact that
we had Something to Steal. 1 know 4
Trick worth two of that
So he left The Matter to her Discretion
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-03-17

fiom the London ENpfess-)
1t has been often said that every man is
an inventor. If he had only the opportu-
nifty of exercising his talents. In any case,
it seems clear that the faculty of inven-
ton is not so much of a born gift as Is
generally supposed. Why should not the
technical pupils be encouraged to attempt
al least to invent by the exercise of some
very simple means of education? Surely
it would not be difficult to prepare a Sc
ries of mechanical models more or less
imperfect in their operation, and call upon
the pupils to employ their wits In devsing
improvements in them. The intellectual
training entailed by such a course of in
struction would in itself he most valud BILE,
and the results peculiarly interesting. 1t
would teach pupils to think and induce
a habit of mind in the examination and
criticism of mechanism that should prove
of the greatest use TO them in their sub
sequent careers.
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-03-17
FEARS WOE FOR NEW YORK.
Predictions That the city VIII Cave
in From Overtop Weight.
From the New York Mail and Ezpress.)

ttrom the New ORR Mali and Express.
There was nothing about him to indi-
cate the crank. He was neatly bat not
fashionably dressed. and his good natur-
ed countenance was of the corpulent or
der He glanced refiectively out of the
rear window of a Third Avenue cable car
at the tall buildings along Park Row
and Broadway and for a moment looked
serious.
Too much weight" he said to fell
low passenger beside him, nodding his
head in the direction of the buildings.
Too much weight entirely. People don't
seem to realize that the lower portion of
this city is only crust of rock. with
water of great depth beneath IL. They
keep putting up building after building
of great height and weight. and some
day there's going to be the greatest ca
tastrophe of the ages. The whole bloom
ing lower part OF the city, or a good por-
tion Of IT, viii cave in under the enor-
nous strain put upon 1t by these sky
scrapers. and the loss of life and prop
erty Will be incalcuIabe
Just think of the weight that crust
has to sustain. Millions of tons of iron
arriving here every year to be used for
Orders and rafters. Millions of tons o.
brick and mortar are used in construct
ing the buildings. to say nothing OF
marble. granite, and other kinds of stone,
and all piled upon that frail crust OF
rock. which must give way some day
under the strain.
Then there's the bridge. too 1t can't
last forever. Some day ii is going to
break down under the additional strain
put upon it by the trolley and steam cars
now running to Brooklyn. lima giue the
scene at a rush hour some night-trolley
cars on both sides laden with people. the
promenade crowded. and trucks in a
steady stream. Suddenly one of the
cables gives way. The other, unable to
stand the strain alone, also parts. and
people. cars and trucks are dumped into
the river like q shovel of coal into "A
bucket. Oh. it's bound 10 come, | tell
you.
that threatens this city. BY the time the
next mayoralty campaign comes around
the people of this city are going to be
treated to sensation such as they never
had before. They will see to what extent
vice and corruption have been practiced
and-what, do you get off here? I'm
sorry