davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington times., 1902-06-15
Syllable Soup.
By D. P. WAGGENER.
A RECESS GAME.

This game, like some others that we
have given you. is intended not only to
amuse you at recess, but to help you in
your study of the English language.
ANY game that will do that is well
worth playing. for to speak and write
good English is one of the most use
full things that you can learn at school.
The game is based on the fact that
there are very many syllables in our
language that are used in different
words. The first thing to be done is to
cut sheet of foolscap paper into strips
the full length OF the sheet, and about
one inch in width. Now, on each strip
write as many words of from two to four
syllables as it will accommodate, leav-
ing half an inch space between the syl-
tables.
Then. with pair OF scissors. cut the
paper into parts, so that you have a
The Washington times., 1902-06-15

brace. Never were seen such funny
dolls, and the mother Joined in the
general mirth- Elizabeth beamed with
delight. See .nother." she said, 81 have
dressed up Speckle Top and Silver
Crest'-these were the names she had
given to the chickens-"don't they look
cute?"
When the father took Speckle Top and
attempted to play with her. the hen
gave an indignant "Cluck, cluck," and
rushed away as fast as her unusual dra-
peries would permit.
Watt" said Elizabeth, 'I will fix her
for you" Sure enough. the child caught
the fugitive, rubbed her little hand over
its head several times and then said,
Now she will stay with you" The
child had actually succeeded in mes
merizing the fowls, and / cannot begin
to tell you the fun she had with her
unique pets.
When the few children who lived any,
where near heard of Elizabeth's new
dolls they gave their elders no peace
until they had visited Elizabeth and
had seen for themselves the wonderful
sight. What good times the children
did have with their feathery friends
after Elizabeth had, as she called IL,
fixed themi
Elizabeth was never lonely after she
found her power over the chickens. She
played with them all, although Speckie
Top and Silver Crest remained the
favorites. No one on the farm would
have thought of killing them to grace
any board. and they actually lived years,
finally dying of old age.
The Washington times., 1902-06-15

cream. and we know that salt causes
ice to melt. and In melting it steals the
heat out of the cream and it freezes.
Now pour q teaspoonfui of fresh water
in the saucer and place the tumbler in
1t. Wait fifteen minutes and then gen.
tly lift the tumbler To our surprise
We lift the saucer also. Put it down
and watch it for half an hour and we
shall see beautiful crystals of ice, re-
sembling frosty window, on the tum-
bier, and find the tumbler is frozen to
the saucer. We can pull them apart,
and with thin knife lift the thin crys-
tails from the saucer or from
the bottom of the glass and
taste them to prove that they are arti-
hcial ice The tumbler and saucer make
tiny icemaking plant. Presently the
thin films of ice melt and there is water
again. There is even more than We first
put in the saucer. because the cold tum-
bier stole some of the invisible water
out of the air, and it ran down into the
saucer.
In the kitchen we see the steam come
out OF the nose of the tea kettle. II wa
examine 1t carefully we see that lust
at the end of the nose, where the steam
first comes out. it is invisible. Then
1t appears as a white cloud that soon
again disappears. We can see the same
thing at the exhaust pipe of a steam
engine. These things are so yery com.
mon We forget how wonderful they are.
Water may be either an invisible vapor.
liquid, or solid. and in each form II
is still water.
Look at common Fahr<heit thermo-
meter and the word freezing can i,
seen opposite the figure 32 of the scale.
In line thermometers we see opposite the
figure 2l2 the words water boils." These
points. 32 and PIP, are the points Of
transformation or change in water. The
cause of the change is heat When the
heat OF the air out of doors rises In
winter above 80 the ice in the ponds
begins to melt. In the same way when
the temperature falls to 80 water
changes to ice. In boiler under the
influence of the fire the water becomes
hot and at the critical point OF 212 Il
is transformed into vapor
The metals-iead. gold. iron. etc
have each their critical points when they
are transformed from solids to LIQUIDS
and from liquid to hot vapor. This is
true of the rocks, the very world itself.
Once the star on which We live. called
the earth. was hot vapor. Then il be-
came liquid. molten ball and lastly
cooled down till it passed its critical
point and was transformed into Its pres
ent solid form. Under the crust thers
may still be some of the liquid left, and
from volcanoes its hot vapor may some
times pour out upon the air. Some stars.
like the sun, may still be only hot vapor.
Others are thought to be liquids; still
others are hard and cold. like the dead
moon.
The Washington times., 1902-06-15

Good hermit" returned Strongarm
nothing shall hold me from my purpose
can be happy only when | find this
boaster and prove that Strongarm is
mightier than he. Tell me, pray you,
where dwells he?"
Again the hermit sighed.
Il may not tell you that. Sir knight.
All who seek him fnd him. But his
power is terrible. Beware of it,
Thanks for your warning responded
Strongarm, as he again set out on his
travels.
He walked a whole day. and in the
evening lay down asleep under a tree.
When he awoke next morning he was
surprised to see a broad river. II need
boat TO get across this" he thought.
And as though in answer 10 his wish,
pretty little boat came gliding over
the water.
There were men to sail it, and Strong
arm had only to step In.
This he did, and liked it very much.
Presently they came to an island COW
cred with flowers. and, much TO his sur
prise, a laughing boy skipped down to
the waters edge. and. holding out his
hands. cried merrily: Welcome, Sir
Knight. / have been waiting for you"
Nay. not for me-" answered Strong
arm. II seek the mighty wrestler. May
hap you know him"
The boy laughed gayly.
81 know him well, Sir Knight. | am
he"
This time Strongarm laughed.
This passes Jest" he said. why.
could toss you as / could baby. had
but the time. Now | must pass on"
NAY, not yet" begged the boy, with
The Washington times., 1902-06-15

great many parts, each containing a
syllable. Mix these parts all together
and you are ready to begin the game.
Let each player draw from the pile on
the soup plate" three of the papers,
and when all have drawn they set to
work trying to form words.
Each player is called on in turn, and
If he has failed to form word with
either two or all three of his syllables
he must return two OF them to the pile,
keeping one. and wait until his turn
comes again. when he draws two more
from the pile and tries again to form
word.
or course, 1t is necessary to have a
limit OF time in the game. or it may be
agreed that each player shall have n
certain number of turns. and at the end
Of the game the player that has formed
the most words Is the winner.
The game is very helpful to boys and
girls that are old enough to take a
real interest in the study of words, and
it is for them that it is intended.
The Washington times., 1902-06-15
HOW TO BUILD A RUSTIC STAIR.

strong rope. You are now ready to
bend it, and you had better get your
chum to help you, as it requires consid-
cradle strength.
AS you start to bend the sapling, pass
it over the curved piece you have made
(which resembles a pick-ax in shape,
the end Of the handle being placed
against the tree). The object Of this
pick-ax shape is to distribute the strain
over a greater surface on the sapling
than would be the case II you simply
used stick without the curved piece on
the end. You will need several OF these
shapes, and after your sapling is bent
you can fasten it to these pieces by
mailing.
After your sapling is properly bent
you must fasten the end securely to the
first limb. Unless you want to go to
the trouble Of selecting pieces Of sap
ling with a very decided bow-shape to
act as supports to your stair il will be
much easier to use upright supports.
The Washington times., 1902-06-15

his brightest smile. Come, see what I
can do
Then Strongarm stepped on shore, and
catching the little elf he held him high
above his head for one full minute;
then giving him a toss, he caught him
like a rubber ball.
"Oh. what fun" cried the boy when
he stood on his feet again. please
stay and teach me your tricks. We Will
have such merry times together. Now
shall you be refreshed" He clapped
his hands while he spoke. end soon a
slave appeared, bearing two goblets Of
liquid. clear, cool and sparkling.
Choose, Sir Knight" said he, 'and
drink to our better acquaintance"
Thou art merry" answered Strong
arm. Il will drink your toast. Then 1
must leave you
But after he had finished the magic
Graught he no longer wished TO go
away.
So he stayed many days upon the
beautiful island.
At last he knew that he must really
depart, but he promised to come soon
again.
And no matter where he went or what
he did he was always wishing TO be
back with his little friend.
'I must go just once more" he said,
at last. but this time / viii not stay.
for would soon lose my strength
there"
But ha did stay, though. and each
day the boy grew taller and stronger.
They played at wrestling very often, but
Strongarm did not always find it so
easy to win.
One day he was not careful and the
hoy threw him.
He was on his feet in second. "'Tis
a small thing" he laughed. but when he
sailed away he determined to come back
and teach the saucy young fellow les
son.
In week he again set sail for the
island
The boy had grown immensely, and as
soon as Strongarm felt the grasp of
his hands and saw the firm set of his
feet on the turf he knew that today's
contest would be different from any
they had yet had.
"The young cub wants TO play the
man" he thought. "and, in truth. he is
strong enough for it. BY my faith there
is danger in him"
1t was. indeed, most terrible strug-
gle.
The boy seemed to grow stronger each
minute.
First one and then the other would
slip and nearly fall, but neither yielded,
At last, when Strongarm was well-nigh
spent, he heard these words
Save thyself. oh knight. One mighty
effort and the victory is thine"
II was the old hermit who spoke.
Strongarm saw him standing under a
great tree and anxiously watching the
fight.
The words seemed to give him fresh
strength for the next minute he gripped
the young giant around the waist, lifted
him in the air and flung him full length
upon the ground.
Then. crowned with victory. he fell ex-
hausted and fainting beside his mighty
foe.
He did not know anything more until
he awakened a little while after to find
himself in n boat and the hermit bend
ing over HIM.
Twas well done, my son" said he in
a kindly voice, but never again seek
the danger you so barely escaped. Had
you yielded you would have been a slave
all your life For that boy is none other
than Habit He is small at first, but the
better you like him and the oftcner you
do as he wishes the bigger and stronger
he grows
Il know him now" answered Strong
arm, and never again shall he control
me even in the smallest things"
And. like true knight. he kept his
word.
The Washington times., 1902-06-15
The former support is much pretticr, of

The former support is much prettier, of
course.
The supports for the steps can be
made of two pieces of sapling fastened
together (see drawing) and then nailed
to the sapling YOU have just bent. The
treads of steps can be made of any
sound, weather-b beaten boards. but
chestnut stands the weather best. The
handrail should be bent in the same way
as the second sapling. The space be-
tween the rail and the steps can be
filled with any shape of rustic work you
choose, either grapevine or sapling.
Properly built. this rustic stairway is
very pretty and graceful. and IL your
summer-house. which it is presumed,
you will build in the tree. at the head of
the stairs. is as artistic. you and your
friends will enjoy your han1iwork more
than you have any idea.
The Washington times., 1902-06-15
A Saucer Transformation.
BY CHARLES BARNARD.

Place half teaspoonful of water In a
saucer and place the saucer in a sunny
window or in a warm room with closed
windows and doors. In an hour oAtwo
the water will disappear. Where has it
gone? Is 1t destroyed or lost? Wipe the
saucer dry and clean and fill thin
glass tumbleT with ice and water and
Place it in the saucer. Watch it, and IN
about three minutes the glass grows
misty. Then drops begin to form. and
they presently run down into the saucer.
1t may be part of the very water that
before. II could not have
come through the glass. and we con-
olude 1t must come out of the air. 1t
was visible in the saucer. 1t disap-
peared. ard now it reappears.
Take the tumbler out of the saucer,
pour out the water and fill the tumbler
with broken ice. Then sprinkle table,
spoonful of salt on the ice. We have
seen the cook do this in making ice
The Washington times., 1902-06-15
THE ADVENTURES OF STRONGARM
BY LOUISE JAMISON.

After a little while he came to tiny
hut. and tapped at the door. 1t was open
ed by an old man. whose hair and beard
were as white as snow.
Welcome. my SON" he said. Long
have l dwelt under the shadow Of these
hills. but few are they who find their
way to my lonely abode. What seek ye
here?"
Il seek the mighty one" answered
Strongarm. He who boasts a greater
strength than all others. l would know
where he lives
The hermit sighed.
II know you." he said. though you
know me not. You are that Strongarm
of whom all men speak. Yet you would
seek that mightier one. Suppose your
curiosity bring you only regret. would
YOU still continue your quest? Reflect
ere it be too late"
The Washington times., 1902-06-15

Once upon a time there lived a very
brave knight named Strongarm. He
was the best wrestler in the whole
country, for nobody could throw him.
Il am the strongest" he declared.
and the people all said Yes but one
old man shook his head. Nay" he
said, there lives one who boasts a
greater strength than yours, proud
knight
Tell me his name cried the knight
in angry tones. Il will seek him this
very day."
BE not in such haste" answered the
old man. He is mighty. indeed. Many
a strong man has yielded to his power.
His name l may not tell, nor where he
lives"
The Washington times., 1902-06-15

long and with a natural bend like a
bow. Trim fat on the back and front
of the bow with a sharp hatchet. Fasten
this at right angles to another piece of
sapling about twenty inches long.
Opposite the end of the sapling which
you first bent to the tree and about two
feet away from it drive a stout post.
To this fasten the second sapling with
The Washington times., 1902-06-15

The tree around which you intend to
build your stair should be at least two
feet in diameter The larger the tree the
easier it is to wrap the saplings into
place.
These should be cut from the nearest
forest and can be of beach or maple.
Get them as long as possible and not
more than two inches in diameter.
Nail the end OF one of your saplings
The Washington times., 1902-06-15

fast to the tree at its bottom, letting 1t
slant in the direction you are to bend 1t
for the stair. Bend slowly around,
fastening with nails as you proceed.
can be either tied or nailed.
When you have fastened this securely
you must next bend the outer support
for your steps. Before you start this.
however, go to the woods and select
several pieces OF sapling eighteen inches
The Washington times., 1902-06-15
Combination Puzzle.

Here is puzzle that may seem very
hard at first. but is really quite easy.
as you will see, If you look sharply at
the picture. Still. as the very easiest
things are sometimes the most difficult.
we think this puzzle will be very in
teresting one, indeed. Just try it. and
The Washington times., 1902-06-15

when you are puzzling your brains the
hardest remember that the solution is
under your eyes all the time.
To open this lock three magic words
must be formed from the letters which
surround it. The method of selecting
the letters is clearly indicated in the
picture
The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1902-01-30

diplomatic bureau. During that
period many important international
questions have been discussed and
reached a satisfactory conclusion. In
many of these, naturally, he has borne
a cons spicuous part. As assistant sec
retary of state he has immediate
charge of the consular service, direct
ing the more important part of its
correspondence and signing all the
official mail addressed to the consuls
The volume of labor required 20 per
form this service intelligently and sat.
isfactorily is great.
Mr.. Cridler unites executive and lit
erary ability in an unusual degree. He
is not only personally able to perform
an immense amount Of work, but has
the facility of keeping others steadily
occupied. Mr.. Cridley is . positive
character, direct in his methods, quick
in his judgment of men and measures,
and has the reputation of being true
TO his friends. His friends are all firm
" attached to him.
His designation by the president as
special commissioner to the interim.
tional exposition at Paris, Of 1900
was made shortly af,cr the Gcath Of
Mai Moses =. Handy, and Mr., Grid
,er's visit to Paris wHs for the purpose
of completing Maj. lEandy's unfinished
work in connection with the part,cipa.
ton of the government OF the l"'tga
States in the approaching exposition.
This was Mr.. Cridler's fourth trip to
Europe on official duty, his last being
with the monetary conference at
Brussels in 1892.
Mr. Cridler, unlike most diplomats.
is frank. blunt and plain-Spokcn. He
seldom cunceals his thoughts, and
usually says exactly what he means.
His brusque ways are those of the
average American. and have made him
feared as well as respected by the for
eign Representatives. Although there
is more red tape in the state depart
ment than in any other bureau, Nj.
Cridler detests frippery and delay,
and would rather cut the red tape
than unite il.
The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1902-01-30
CRIDLER:S NEW JOB.
Win Represent the St. Louis Expo
sitien in europe.
Resigns His Post as Third Assistant
Secretary of Stnte-Peculiarly
Fitted for Any Position
of Trust.

Thomas W. Cridler, third assistant
secretary of state, has resigned. The
announcement was made at the state
department by Mr.. Hay, secretary
of state. At the same time Mr.. Hay
stated that Mr.. Cridler had accepted
a place with the Louisiana Purchase
Exposition company as European rep
resentative for the exposition. 1t is
believed the vacancy created will be
filed by the appointment of Mr.. Her
bert II. ID. Pierce, now secretary Of
the United States embassy at St.
Petersburg, Russia.
Mr.. Cridler has been connected with
the state department for 81 7years past.
lle has served as assistant secretary
since April, 1897. During his long
term of service he has filled many diff
ferent Positions in the state depart
ment, and has met and known inti-
mately some of the most famous of
American diplomats. He has Travelled
on special missions for the depart
ment, and has met the leading diplo-
mats and public men of Europe. His
acquaintance with methods in the
state department is probably not ex-
ceeded by that of any other man.
Mr.. Cridler was born at Harper's
Ferry, Jefferson county, Va, now
West Virginia, and entered the de-
partment of state at Washington, d.
c., July 1, 1875, in the twenty-third
year of his age, receiving an annual
salary Of 5000. July l. 1850, he was
promoted to class /; November I, 1881,
to class 3; February l, 1854, to class
4, and was appointed chief of the dip
lomatic bureau July Is, 1889. He was
commissioned third assistant secre.
tary of state, his present position,
April s, 1897. Nearly the whole Of the
twenty-three continuous years of his
official service have been spent in the
The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1902-01-30

equal amount out of his own pocket,
on the various functions that fill his
official life. The new lord mayor
will probably have to stand heavier
strain than any of his predecessors
for a generation past, because he
will be in Office at the time of the
coronation next June, and it will
take n tremendous outlay to sustain
the dignity of the city on that occa.
sion.
Besides wealth, the other great
qualification for lord mayor is q
sound digestion, because the official
breakfasts and dinners he is re.
quired to give and receive follow
traditions that had their beginning
in the days before dyspepsia had
been invented, and when three bot.
ties of port were considered mod
est and secmly allowance for one
gentleman's dinner. BESIDES this,
there is a special qualification re-
quired of the incoming lord mayor,
and, fortunately, he has it. This is
that he should be able to ride a
horse well enough to make good
showing at the coronation. The lord
mayor at the time of the queens
jubilee had never appeared in pub
lie on horseback in his life, and when
he discovered thai tradition would
require him to ride on that occasion
the poor man hurried off and took
some lessons. He was badly fright
ened when the great day came, but
managed to stick on his steed, al
though with considerable loss of dig
nifty. Sir Joseph, however, makes n
fine figure of a man on horseback,
whose five hundred and nineteenth
lord mayor he will be.
Sir Joseph gives hint he is GO
ing to be on the alert to protect the
city's rights at the time of the
coronation. The city, of course, isn't
the metropolis OF London at all, but
merely the naughty little square
mile in the middle of London, which
has a separate government, separate
police and lot of ancient dignitics,
which have precious little to do with
the liberty of its citizens, but great
deal to do with the Importance and
pomp of its officials.
The alderman next in line for he
position of lord mayor n year from
new, is named Marcus Samuel.
The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1902-01-30

dulgcd in the luxury of so many
wives. She is the first Turkish lady
who has ever set foot in Europe
with the mission of making known
the social condition of her native
land, but she says that there are
many other women in Turkey who
would come forth in like manner il
they dared, and that they are krenly
conscious of their miscrics.
The sultan seldom condcSccndS to
marry legally any of his wives, ac-
cording to the princess, unless he
takes a fancy to the wife of one of
his subjects who is powerful enough
to refuse to give her up. The sultan
then DEGREES her divorced and goes
through the form of marrying her.
If he becomes tired of wife, one OF
his royal ministers receives her as n
pre-. cut, whether the minister waut>
her or not. Another way of diSpoS.r,
Of these wives is TO present them I,
his political enemies, who also dare
not refuse them, and who thu, tJi,r
a spy into their own household, iU
constant communication with IN,
throne. \ law exists which drmguG,
a girls consent to her marriage. but
thousands of them annually are
forced into marriages by their v'r'-
cnts. A woman can take legal steps
for = divorce if her husband u ur-
HAYES with anothrr mans wife. o.
if J." does not maintain her accord.
iuy 20 his rank and wealth. or il his
par, utS miStrcat her. Iiut the wsm.
ca are very few who dare to talk,
advantage OF this law.
The women of Tdrkcy could b. wnl
educated If tn. sultan and the re-
ligious tcachrrS---who are his tools
would permit. But they have recent
~ baniShed the English governessc>
from Turkish homes, and they oppos,
the foreign schools, Catholic a71
Protestant, which have been rstah-
| lished among them. The princes
speaks very highly OF the American
school for girls at Constantinople,
which, she says, is literally patron.
lied by the daughters of advanced
, Mussulmans, notwithstanding the op-
position of the sultan.
The only thing in which the wom-
en- score in Turkey is in the dot"
The husband must give dowry to
his wife--if he marries her by law
but what the wife brings remains
| still her own Her husband has no
legal right to appropriate it. II is
probable, however, that the poor
Turkish woman, as general thing,
fails to enjoy this right, as well as so
many others which are hers in law,
but not in reality.