davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1901-12-23
A POLITE. SHARK.

Trying, Apparently, to Listen UnOb-
trusfveIy to n Fisherman's Tale.
From the New York Sun.
The sharks in the great central pool at
the aquarium are necessarily on the move,
always going round and round and round
the pool at a steady. uniform gait.
OF two men who were the other day
standing leaning against the side Of the
pool talking, one. inspired perhaps by the
sight Of so many fishes Of all kinds In
view all about, was telling a remarkable
tale about how many thousand squintillion
million blackfish he caught once in a single
had to stop catching them finally. and
that. too. just when they were getting
thicker than ever. for fear they'd swamp
the boat by overlooking it, they had so
many fish in It aIready-all this being told
with many and elaborate descriptive de-
tails.
On his second round after this story teller
had begun his recital one of the cfrcling
part OF the pool where the two men were
standing, slowed down visibly and fairly
loitered past there, going as slowly as he
could go without coming to dead halt.
to that fish story. of which he had got an
inkling when sailing past at his usual gait
on the previous round.
Beyond hearing distance the shark speed
ed up again, and made the rest. the major
part of the big circle, at his usual gait, but
approaching once more the quarter where
the two men stood. the blacl1fish story still
going on, the shark slowed down again to
dead slow, just keeping going as he saun-
tered past. anxious. apparently, to hear
about that remarkable catch all he could.
without laying himself open to the charge
OF being an outright listener
OF course. 1t may have been by the
merest chance that the shark slowed down
like that at this point on these two sue
cessive circlings. but that's what the shark
did, and so the man leaning up against the
coping OF the big pool telling about his ter
rible catch OF blackfsh Off old Barnegat had
besides the chance hearers from among the
visitors this curious special audience Of
two; one his friend, standing near him
and listening patiently outside the pool and
the other that interested, wondering, per-
haps incredulous, but certainly policeman
nered shark swimming slowly inside
Evening star., 1901-12-23
TWO GREAT ARCHITECTS.
Distinguishing Traits of j. HI. Man
sard and Sir ChristOpher Wren.

sard and Sir ChristOpher Wren.
From the New York Tribune.
There have been two great and prolific
architects of the past" said Hiram Wood
bury Of Portland. Me-. at the Murray Hill
Hotel yesterday, who have in their native
countries left more examples of their works
than almost any other two in history. One
is ]. H. Mansard. whose hideous abomina-
tions make full many a blot on the fair
landscape of France, and the other is Sir
Christopher Wren. who added so much to
the beauty OF past and present London
when he conceived and erected ST. Paurs
Cathedral.
'Mansard Invented the monstrous roof
that bears his name. This roof Mansard
first added to Louis XIv's palace of Yer
sailles, and so enamored did he become of
it that he straightway apparently clapped
it on each and every building with which
he had to do.
"Blois. that beautiful and fateful chateau
where the last Of the Valois kings foully
Guise. passed finally into the gay and yacil-
lating hands OF Castor d'Orleans. The
chateau as it stood was insufficient for
Topieaas menage. mag. and ,, SO he sent for
Mansard, left to his own sweet devices,
erected pavilion which Is a monstrosity
and jars upon the beauties of the Francois
Premier and Louis Douze wings. Nothing
more incongruous could well be imagined.
The contrast is as great as that existing
between flea and an elephant, and Man
sard should have suffered Cardinal Ballou's
fate for perpetrating such a monstrosity.
Sir Christopher Wren, on the other
hand touched only to adorn. st. Paurs
Cathedral is a wondrous pile, and there we
find him at his best. The great fire that
devastated London in September 1885, gave
to Wren wide and comparatively new
owe great debt to the wonderful genius
and resource that Wren brought to the
work. No less than fifty churches We're
erected on plans of his after this fire be-
sides innumerable other buildings Marla
borough and Buckingham houses are also
examples Of his work. All England is, in
deed, dotted with it, and everywhere the
same good taste and high ideals Of the
architect show themselves. Wren himself
died In 1I23. and is buried under the choir
of st. Pauls In America we have a note
worthy example of his style at William and
Mary College. In Virginia. This college is
the second oldest in the country. being next
to Harvard in point of age. The original
building of William and Mary College
which is still standing was designed by Sir
Christopher Wren. When building ST.
Paurs Wren received a salary of only f2Oo
year, I'm startling contrast with the
charges Of architects in modern times. st.
Paurs cost nearly $4,000. 900 to erect
''St. PauPs and a number Of the churches
which Wren erected after the great fire are
grouped according to a general plan, Of
which st. Paufs forms the center The
plan itself. however. was long ago lost in
the growing city, and nowhere save from a
balloon can 1t now be viewed in its en-
tirety"
Evening star., 1901-12-23
London's Youngest Editor.

rom tne LoLuOn Mali.
Mr. Ralph Hall Caine the son Of the ia
nous novelist. who is barely seventeen and
half years old. Is editing Household
Words. the weekly paper founded and for
some time edited by Charles Dickens. Mr..
Hall Caine does not look a day more than
his age. He was till few months ago at
King Williams College In the Isle of Man.
and his father intended that he should go
on to Oxford and afterward enter the dipio-
matte service. Neither classics nor diplo-
macy. however, had any attractions for
him. He had watched his father correcting
proofs and had been in the newspaper
offices with which his uncle has been con-
nected. and he determined that whatever
his work was II must be concerned with
the trade OF the writer. To some extent
against his fathers will. he left school and
came to London for visit, and after a
week or two wrote home to Greeba Castle
saying that Household Words was in the
market and would his father buy it for
him?
Not only did Mr. Hall Caine accede Ia
the request. but he also came to London to
give his assistance and advice. He has
written an interesting article on the none
Tor. the Christmas number, and has ar
ranged that the Eternal City shall he
published as serial in his sons paper.
Young Mr.. Caine. in a conversation yester-
day, spoke difldently about his plans. sI
intend" he said, ito try to maintain the
Dickens tradition My contents win consist
Of stories and gossipy literary articles. Mr..
zangwtll. Mr.. Coulson Kernahan, Mr.. An-
fathers friends have promised to help me.
ard am hopeful OF 1t being a success. 1
am doing the one thing / have always
wanted to do. and am more than delighted
= say that the Christmas number-the first
that Is really al my OWNS In its third
-.
Evening star., 1901-12-23
White WidgeOn Duck.

From the Portland Oregonian.
A rara avis in the shape Of white Wild
geon duck was captured over at Whitaker
lake. on the Columbia bottom, Sunday. E..
Shelley Morgan shot into a band of ducks
flying over his blind. and. much to his sur
prise, a white duck came ,tumbling down
with broken wing. It was captured and
broght here alive. 1t proves to be gem
uine white widgeon without a spot of color
on 1t. It Is to be mounted and added to
the collection OF Frank Thorne, who has
several such curiosftfes. Just whether Il
Is freak or a cross between widgeon and
white duck OF some farmers flock is not
known. but many widgeon breed In this
section. There have been such things as
white crows and white blackbirds and even
albino negroes. and this may be an slbino
widgeon. Its bill and feet are pale coiored,
but quite different from those Of the ordf.
nary widgeon
Evening star., 1901-12-23
GOOD MANNERS.
Factor in Success Said to BE Neg
Iected by EducatOrs.

Iected by Educators.
From the Saturday Review.
If good manners be. as few will deny, SO
important for success in life, how comes it
that it is the one part Of our education that
is left to take care Of itself? Games and
books are regarded as essential. and the
progress OF the child in one of the other,
or both, according to the taste of the par
ent, Is anxiously watched. But most par
ents and all young persons would receive
with amused contempt or fierce resentment
the idea that the habit of being agreeable
to others is very useful, and can be taught.
And here is worth noticing the difference
between the English and French view Of
good breeding. When an Englishman uses
the term 'well-bred'' he refers to the per-
sons pedigree. He was not bred in our
kennel" said a whig peer with coarse con-
tempt Of Mr.. Gladstone. But the eQuiva-
lent phrase in French, bien eleve. refers to
the persons upbringing or education. The
majority of Engiishmen and women regard
good breeding as thing which cannot be
taught, but is partly congenita1 and partly
inhaled unconsciously from our social at
mosphere.
Lord Chesterfield took emphatically the
French view, and his failure to teach his
son good manners does not prove that the
system was wrong. but merely that the
son was deficient In Intelligence. Good
breeding Is the natural result of common
sense and common observation. Common
sense points out civility, and observation
teaches you the manner Of it. which makes
ii good breeding" "Observe carefully what
pleases you in others. and probably the
same thing in you will please others IL
you are pleased with the complaisance and
attention Of others to your humors, your
tastes. or your weaknesses, depend upon it
the same complaisance and attention on
your part to theirs will equally please
them
This, of course, is the secret of the busi-
ness. Good manners consist in considera-
tion for other people. that is to says in in
teliigent altruism in small matters. 1t is
absurd to say that this kind of unselfsh-
ness in trifles cannot be cultivated. because
Il is largely q matter of attention. Man
ners are to a high degree teachable. and
parents can do a very great deal to make
their children agreeable by impressing upon
them the worldly utility of being SO, for no
other argument would be of the least avail.
It is much to be wished that parents would
do so. for the manners Of the rising gener-
alton are marked by unabashed selfshness
and cynical irreverence.
Evening star., 1901-12-23
Souvenirs Of Jerusalem.
From the London Standard.

The Greek Catholic monks, who are in
possession OF the chief portions Of the
Church Of the Holy Sepulchre, are now go
ing to build a bazaar opposite It, where
pilgrims may purchase souvenirs OF their
visit to Jerusalem. During the process OF
clearing the site the foundations of an old
medieval church. forty meters long and
thirty wide. with three apses. were dis
covered A number Of fine capitals, frag-
ments Of basait pillars. and bas-reliefs.
with symbolic animals. were found. all
these remains having, doubtless. belonged
to the choir OF the church. Last year q
valuable silver shrine, containing a piece of
the holy cross and relics of the Apostles
Peter and Paul-acording, at least, to the
Inscriptions on them-was discovered at the
same place.
Evening star., 1901-12-23
Stale Bread and New.
From the Scotsman.

medical journal has lately been investi-
eating the claims Of new and stale bread
for popular acceptance. 1t is admitted that
new bread is fndigestibIe-that is, in the
case of the ordinary stomach-though one
medical writer alleges that sit need not be
So" New bread contains vastly more
water than old bread. its constituents are
Of doughy character and it's digestion
must present great difficulties, because
the digestive secretions do not readily gain
access to its mass. If bread Is new 1t Is
apt to prove indigestible. This is a plain
statement of fact; verified by the expert
ence of everyday life. Nothing can alter
the character Of new bread in this respect
unless, indeed, 1t be toasted. The scientific
aspect of the new-bread case is all on the
side of popular belief. Let those who have
feeble digestions avoid new bread. Such is
the lesson to be Cleaned from review of
the case.
Evening star., 1901-12-23
FOR ENGLISH CHILDREN.
Christmas Entertain ments 10 Which
the Poor Little Folk Are Invited.

From the London Telegraph.
In the majority of the schools here some
entertainment in which all can participate
is given during the days Immediately pre-
ceding or following the holidays In many
instances the teachers devote much energy
to collecting funds, and are able to arrange
excellent festivities. In several Of the poly
technic institutions also special efforts are
often directed to organizing some kind of
merriment for the little people of the dis
trict and the lady members vie with each
other in making presents and dressing dolls
TO be distributed from Christmas tree.
Among the best of the seasonable enter
tainments are those given under the au-
spices of the Children's Happy Evenings As
sociation. The presidents of the different
branches. as Countess Cadogan in Chelsea,
the Countess of Dartrey in Hoxton Lady
Llangattock in Old Kent road, the Countess
of Gosford In C1erkenwelL or Lady Mar
garet Rice in Bethnal-green, arrange some
really splendid parties.
In Bermondsey and some other squalid
quarters OF the southern side the Guild OF
Play associated with the Farncombe
Street Settlement provides mirth and mer-
riment There is one great "revel' to which
the paying public are hidden, and there are
few prettier sights than the old English
singing games as they are played by these
youngsters, who enter. into them with SO
much zest. But with the money earned at
these displays plenty can be done for the
further enjoyment of the little performers
AMI their afflicted neighbors who form the
Guild Of the Poor Brave Things One
of the most pathetic parties given during
the season is that OF the Children's League
of Pity. On this occasion all the little
guests of their more happily-placed young
hosts and hostesses have either been the
victims OF suffering and ill-usage or are
under the watchful eyes of the inspectors
OF the National Society for the Prevention
of Cruelty to Children.
Santa Claus works perhaps on the largest
scale through the Ragged School Union.
The great Gufldhall entertainment to some
1000 children is one of the events Of the
civic year. To this come the lord mayor.
the lady mayoress and the sherffrs in full
state; the menu is sumptuous. the enter
taiEment that follows excellent, and new
pennies picture books and warm comfort
ers are distributed parting presents.
Prior to this feast, which is usually held
about January 3, the union sends out
hampers to every one of the GOO or 1000
registered cripples on its books, who thus
enjoy large share Of the Yuletide rejoic-
ings, though they may be unable to leave
their homes. The Robin Society is another
agency which arranges many treats during
the Christmas season, and East End chill
dren for some years past have been in
debted to the American Sunbeam Society
for very generous entertainment.
Evening star., 1901-12-23
THE MISSING LINK.
Interesting Information Concerning
Java's Man-Monkey.

interesting lnfOrmQttOu CONCERNING
Java's Man-MOnkey.
From the London standard.
Prof. Ernst Haeckels latest publication
| contains some curious informatton about
| the human monkey OF Java from which
| our Berlin correspondent selects the fol-
lowing: The most interesting specimen was
young gibbon. which Herr Haeckel had an
| opportunity of watching for several months
| at his own house at Buitenzorg, in Java.
| iae species of gibbon to which this animal
| belongs is found only In Java, its scientific
name being Hylobates Leuciscus. By the
| natives 1t is called GA, on account of the
characteristic sounds 1t uttefs. The little
! animal. when standing erect, Is scarcely
| taller than a child of six years. The head
Is comparatively small, the waist slender,
the legs short and the arms much longer
The face of the Ga is more human than that
of the orang. Herr Haeckel says:
Its physiognomy reminded me of the
manager of an insolvent bank pondering
with wrinkled brow, over the results of the
crash. The distrust of the GA toward all
Ynte Europeans was1yery noticeable; but.
on the other hand, he formed an intimate
friendship with the brown Malays of our
household, and especially the small chill
dren. He never crawled on all fOurs. When
he was tired with running he stretched
himself out on the grass and let the troni-
cal sun shine on his body. Usually he laid
one arm under his head and assumed exact
ly the attitude of a weary wanderer who
lies down on his back in the shade of
tree.
When I held a piece of tasty food just
out of his reach. he cried, like naughty
child, 'Huite. hute. huiten a sound alto
gether different from the 'Oa, GA, oa,'
which he used to express various emotions.
He uttered a third and shriller sound when
he was suddenly frightened. The speech of
these human monkeys has not many differ
ent sounds, but those given are modulated.
and altered In Tone strength and number
of repetitions. The monkey also uses many
gestures. motions with the hands and gri-
maces in such expressive manner that
the careful observer can detect different
wishes and various emotions.
Resides milk and cocoa he liked sweet
wine. He grasped the cup very skillfully
with both hands. and drank like a child.
He peeled bananas and oranges just as we
are accustomed to do. Holding the fruit
with the left hand, he removed the rind
quite skillfully with the right, and bit off
one piece after the other. Most Maiays do
not look upon the gibbon and the orang-
outang as animals. The former they be-
Neve to be bewitched men, the latter crimi-
nails who. as a punishment, were changed
into monkeys. Others, again, they think
are men in the course of fnetempsychoss.
Evening star., 1901-12-23
Public Opinion and Lynchfng.
From the Meridian Gfiss.) News.

Signs OF the growth of healthier public
sentiment are everywhere apparent, and
those charged with the responsibility for
the administration of the criminal laws
appear generally aroused to the necessity
OF stamping out this evil. The employ
ment of state troops: the granting OF
speedy trials. sometimes under special
laws. as in North Carolina. the intrepid be-
havior of Individual officers as in the re-
cent case of a brave sheriff in Alabama;
the passage OF laws making communities
responsible. as in South Carolina; and
last, but by no means least, the free and
sane discussions Of lynchings at bar asso-
Citations, in state documents, in the press
and from the pulpit, are all tending to do
away with the existing evil and to i'm
press upon the minds of the people the
gravity OF the situation
Evening star., 1901-12-23
LONDON FOG.
Cause of Msts as Explained by Me-
teOrO1Ogists.
From the Pail Mall Gazette

cause of Mists as Explained by Me-
teorOIOgists.
From the Pail Mall Gazette
According to meteorologists fogs are of
three kinds. The first variety is formed
over an expanse of water, the temperature
OF which exceeds that of the adjoining layer
OF air. In that event the invisible yapor ris-
ing from the water-such evaporation is al
ways proceeding-is condensed as 1t passes
into the tir and becomes visible as fog.
Again. If the temperature of the water, or
or field is lower than that Of the moist
ure-charged air above it, portion of the
atmospheric moisture is condensed as the
air is gradually chilled by the cold mass of
water In its vicinity, and fog comes into
being while you wait" 1t often happeEs
that a morning sea fog belongs to the first
class and the evening sea fog to the Sec
ond. The temperature of the sea, except in
broad stretches of very shallow water is
practically fnvariable, whereas the morning
air is much colder than the air of evening
after day of sunshine. Hence these fogs;
hence, too, the difference between them
Both KINGS are bred I'm plenty on the lower
reaches of the Thames. whence they drift
siuggfshfy into London. Take a walk at
dawn down the Commercial road, and you
may have the luck to meet one travelling
westward In a dignif1ed manner Little
white" fogs of either class sometimes
members meeting one in Westbourne Ter
race, that popular camping place on the
way to Mayfair.
But the really vicious London fog-the
fog with an acrid smell and acid taste
Is just falling cloud. A cloud may fall
as rain, or it may fall as the finest driz-
zle in which case 1t is called Scotch
mist by those who talk Of the English"
language, or it may fall in the form of
fog. 1t falls rain. drizzle or fog ac-
cording as the decline in atmospheric pres
sure-vide the barometer-takes place rap
idly. at medium rate. or slowly. In the
middle height, where such clouds are
formed, the air holds smoke and dust and
fluff and chemical exhalations and pro-
Boer talkssan other abominations when
such a cloud falls it Is naturally Shiny
and full favored. Above all, it holds sui
phur fumes, which mingle chemically with
the oxygen Of the air and form sulphuric
acid. Hence the vile flavor of those count
less globues. 1t may happen that cloud
does not dissipate-that is. the globules of
moisture remain suspended-for day or
even two; in which case we "enjoy" a fog
such as that which has more or less killed
us during the last few days.
Evening star., 1901-12-23
Prince Chun's Return.
From the Shanghai Mercury.

I Prince Chun has returned. The roads
along which he passed yesterday wera
bright with native bunting, while here and
there the Rising SUM- OF Japan shed its
iurid beams upon the scene. To outward
appearance the prince has changed but l,t-
tie. He Is darker In complexion, as though
sunburut somewhat: that is ALL Inwardfv-
such Journey as he has Just taken, fitted
as he was by youth spent entirely
among native surroundings to appreciate
ct the full its strangencss. cannot but have
left Its mark. q mark which no length of
life will ever efsace. It Is q great pity that
many more OF the native youth cannot BE
sent on similar journeys, not. let us hope.
for similar reasons. but as travelling st,I-
dents of the worlds ways.
Evening star., 1901-12-23
HISTORY IN MEMS CLOTHES.
Meaning of the Buttons on the Back
and the Nfcked Lapel.

Meaning of the Buttons on the Back
and the Nfcked Lapel.
From the London Mail.
The general lack OF picturesqueness about
the present-day male attire is frequently
lamented, yet how many people are aware
that the average man carries on hts coat
at least two historical relics. one OF which
dates back to feudal timese This relic of
the times of William the Conqueror con-
sists of the two buttons worn at the back
Of mourning frock coat The buttons are
of course useless for any practical pur-
pose. and. inasmuch as they are certainly
not decorative, you may naturally ask what
they are there for.
Sartoriai historians now tell us that these
two buttons come down to us from the
sword-bearing age. when they were placed
at the back of the coat for the purpose OF
supporting a sword belt which together
with the sword, has long since been dis
carded. save by military men. the sole re-
naming evidence of its existence being the
two buttons. Thus. to this day they re-
main on our coats mute witnesses OF
the days that are gone. The other his
torical relic which still survives in our
modern coats is the nick in the lapel
Though you have been wearing coats ana
waistcoats ever since chldhood's early
Gays YOU have probably never thought to
inquire whether or not there is any rea-
son why tailors should continue to make
this nick 1t is now recalled by sartorial
experts that when Napoleon first felt the
sway OF boundless ambition he tried TO i'm
plicate General Moreau In Pichegren's con-
spiracy. As you wifi doubtless remember,
Moreau had been the man OF destinys rival.
and was an exceedingly popular soldier.
but In the circumstances. with lie Petit
Caporal in power, IL was not safe to p,fb-
licly express sympathy with Moreau. So /,
came about that his admirers and support
ers secretly agreed to nick their coat lapels
to show their fellowship. the outlines OF the
coat, after the cut had been made. form
ing the letter NJ