davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington times., 1902-04-20

Appropriations were not ladled out in
those DAYS in as careless a manner as
now. and the voters held their representa-
tiyes accountable for their acts. This
fact made the lawmakers wary of giving
the appropriation. because it might have
been regarded as useless waste OF public
funds and give encouragement ard AID 10
an invention which appeared to some as
little mere than the delusicns OF mes
merism.
Among those who took an active inter-
est in securing the appropriation was
Hen John Kennedy. of Maryland, and
Hon. George Ferris, of New York, and
after laboring from 1886 TO 1S43 bill
appropriating $50 OO0 was passed by the
House by a vote of So to So. To become
law It required the concurrence Of the
Senate and the sanction of the Presi-
dent.
The records show that the hill passed
the House on the 23d OF February. and
while it is said that Prof. Morse antici-
rated no violent opposition in the Senate.
that body would adjourn On the Sd CT
March, and it was doubtful if the bill
could be reached on the calendar before
adjournment and under the rule no bill
could be taken from its regular order.
During the last few days of the session
Professor Morse haunted, the halls and
gallery of the Senate. and en- the after
noon Of the last day he became discour-
aged and felt convinced that he would
have TO wait until the next Congress. With
Il sad heart he left the Capitol and went
to his boarding house ard to his room
where he remained until next morning,
when it was his intention to take an early
train for New York where Ire intended to
resume his work an artist. His plans,
however, were not carried out, for just
before he was ready to go TO the depot he
received call from Miss Annie Ellis
worth, daughter CT The Commissioner of
Patents who said that she had called to
congratulate him upon the passage CT his
bill.
The Washington times., 1902-04-20

~ LASS insulators through which
the wire was run carrying the
~ first message over telegraph
line from Washington to Baiti-
more were recently discovered in the
document room of the Senate by gentle
men who were taking measurements Of
the walls fer the purpose of putting in
rev files cases
While it was known that the nsula-
tors had been placed in some portion of
the Senate side of the building by Rrof.
Morse, their exact location was not known
TO any cf the present employees OF the
Capitol until discov cred as stated.
1t was in the winter OF lS45 that Prof.
Morse, after repeated efforts, succeeded
in securing from Congress an approQria-
ticn to enable him to make a test of his
improvements in teIegT Apply. He had al
ready demonstrated that he could send
and receive a message distance of ten
miles through coiIed insulated wire the
fact having been satisfactorily demon
strated number of times to members of
the House and Senate who were willing to
aid him.
However. there was large number of
doubling Thcmases who would take no in
terest in the man or the invention, and
declined to witness his tests, all of which
were made at the Capitol. Prof Morse
was fully convinced in his o77n mind that
the same could be done over even n much
greater distance in Il straight line. In
fact, it was his belief that space could be
annihilated in the transmission Of intel
l'gence through his invention. 1t simply
depended on the power of the battery
used, and this he proposed to overcome
by relays of batteries where needed.
That Prof. Morse was correct in his be-
lief is carried cut by the fact that mess-
ages are now sent around almost the en-
tire world simply by the use of what is
known in telegraphy as repeaters. Strong
doubt existed, however. in the minds of
some of the lawmakers and appropria-
uon-sisers as to the ability of the great
inventor TO do what he said he could.
The Washington times., 1902-04-20

and this in the case of the dinosaurs
tterrible lizard) hints at predatory habits
the ability to catch and cat their de-
fenceless and more sluggish brethren.
claw, or better yet, tooth, may con-
firm or refute this hint, for n blunt claw
could not be used in tearing prey limb
from limb. nor could a double edged
TOOTH made for rending flesh, serve for
champing grass.
you will notice that few bones of the
feet. and especially the fore feet, are
present, these smaller parts OF the skele-
ton having been washed away before the
ponderous frame was buried in the sand,
and the best that can be done in the res
toration is to follow the laws OF proba-
blity and put three toes on the hind
foot and five on the fore, two OF these
last devoid OF claws. The single blunt
round claw among our bones shows, like
the teeth, that triceratops was herbiv-
orous; II also pointed little downward
and this tells that in the living animal
the sole of the foot was a thick, soft pad
somewhat as il is in the elephant and
rhinoceros, and that the toes were not en-
tirely free from one another.
There are less than a dozen vertebrae,
and still fewer ribs, besides half barrel
full of pieces from which TO reconstruct
backbone twenty feet long. That the
ribs are part from one side and part
ron another matters no more tIdn IL uiu
in the case of the leg bones; but the
backbone presents more difficult prob
lem, since the piecey are not like so
many checkers, all made after one pat
tern, but each has an individuality OF
its own. The total number of yertetTae
must be guessed at, and, knowing that
some sections are from the front part of
the vertebral column and some from the
back, we fill in the gaps as best we may.
THE ribs offer a little aid in this task
giving certain details of the ver: ebrae.
while the latter, in turn, tell something
about the adjoining parts OF the ribs. we
finish our triceratops with tail OF mod
crate length, as indicated by the rapid
taper of the few vertebrae available. and
from these we gather, too, that in life
the tail was round and not fiattencd, and
that IL neither served for swimming nor
for u balancing pole.
$50 much for the manner in which,
piece by piece, the framework OF an AMI
NAL is put together, and what the various
parts may tell of the life and habits OF
some creature that lcng ago Passed out
OF existence"
The Washington times., 1902-04-20
FIRST TELEORAPHMESSAOESE SENT FROM THIS CITY

Prof Morse could scarcely believe the
young lady when she told him that the
bill had passed the Senate only a few min
utes before adjournment. and that she
had asked her fathers permission to con-
vey to him the glad news. Miss Ellsworth
was promised by the inventor that she
should send the first message over the
long distance line, 4 promise which was
fulfilled
With the necessary money at his dis
posal Prof. Morse at Cnce began the work
of constructing the line to Baltimore.
first experimenting with an underground
system. which did not work satisfactorily,
and was socn abandoned The overhead
wires were then strung, touching Balti-
more at the Office Of the Mount Clare
Depot. recording instruments being placed
there and in the Supreme Court room in
the Capitol.
There was little delay in making salts
factory test of the line. and when all was
in readiness-the 10Th of May. 1s44-Miss
Ellsworth was sent for to come to the
Capitol, and she promptly responded. She
wrote for transmission the words. what
hath God wrought" the first formal mes
sage ever sent over a telegraph wire, and
which was preserved and is now in posses
sion of the Connecticut Historical So
ciety.
Naturally the line did not do SUI
ficient business to make it a paying one.
or even self sustaining. and during the
year following its completion Prof Morse
asked an appropriation Of $4,000 from
Congress for its continued maintenance,
and he also renewed his application 10
become the sole possessor Of the telegraph
in the United States. The former was
granted. but the latter was denied the
great inventor. Strange to say. Pref.
Morse experienced great difficulty in get
ting capitalists interested in his inven-
tion but finally Amos Kendall. former
Postmaster General. became associated
with him. and it was not long before lines
were extended and cities united by wire,
and money went into the pockets OF the
inventor and his associates. 30
The Washington times., 1902-04-20

HERE is a popular belief, said
Prof F. A. Lucas. of the Ma
tional Museum, that 1t is pos
sible to reconstruct an entire
prehistoric animal from one tooth or a
single bone. This is. unluckily,' he con-
tinued, very far from the truth. 1t is
true that much may often be done with a
bone or tooth. but this is in cases where
| these fragments are Enthusiastically like
those Of creatures which we do know and
, with whose more or less complete struc-
ture we arc well acquainted.
How is il possible to restore a creature
which existed millions of years before a
human being came on earth? Well. come
with me and 1 will show you the romans
OF the triccratops, one Of the chiefest
treasures OF the museum. The recon-
struction of this big beast may well il
lustrate not only the methods of the pale
ontologist, but also the troubles with
which he is beset The skeleton OF this
animal was reproduced in papier-mache
for the Buffalo Exposition. In order to
give as vivid an idea of the animal as pos
sible, a small model of the creature was
made by Mr. Knight, as well as painting
showing triceratops as nearly as he might
be supposed to look amid his natural sur
years ago.
Now, we have goodly number OF
homes though by no means an entire
skeleton and yet we wish to complete the
skeleton, and, incidentally, to form some
idea OF the creatures habits. We can in
teroret the past only by the knowledge of
the present. and it is by carefully study
ing the skeletons Of the animals OF today
that we can learn to read the meaning
of the symbols of bone left by the ami
mails of a million yesterdays. Thus, We
End that certain characters distinguish
1be bone of mammal from that Of a bird,
a reptile. or a fish. and these in tura
Srorn one another. and this constitutes
tbe A b C of comparative anatomy.
And in like manner. the bones of the "a
lions divisions of these main groups have
.o a greater or less extent their own dis
ting,iishing characteristics, SO that by
trst comparing the bones OF extinct ami
,oaIs with those OF creatures that are no"
,i~;ng we are enabled TO recognize their
nearest existing relative. and then by
comparing them with one another we learn
The Washington times., 1902-04-20
A TAME KANGAROO.
Of All the Beauty Spots That Make Washing
ton the Fairest Of American Cities the Res
ervatioR Devoted to Brute Creation is the
Best Of Natures Gifts to the CdpitaE-- --PFesi-
dent Mckinley Loved Its Peaceful Quietude.

proud of his neck, and the stork of his
foot fer any period.
Old Dunk.
Old Dunk the elephant, is an exclu-
sive somebody, living in an edifce ex-
clusively his own. He has his man
servant. and altogether lives the life of n
respectable bachelor. There was time
when Dunk was compelled to earn his
living with a travelling circus. but that
time, happily, has passed. No more work
for him, other than reaching for the pea
nuts which his visitors supply. His weak
ness for peanuts is a result of his circus
days, when as youthful elephant ne
played the fool with human clowns in the
sawdust ring.
Last of a Proud Race.
The bisons. last Of their proud race, the
story of whose existence and extinction
must be told with that of the Indian. for
both have been victims of the same infiu-
ences, seem pitiably forlorn in their en-
closure on the hill while the Ship of the
Desert, the patient old camel, in a bit OF
q park across the way, appears TO be
homesick You may scratch his nose If
you will, for he pushes it close to the wire
netting in order that you may do so.
How it must disgust the fearless eagle
10 he kept in a cage adjacent to loath-
some vuitures and snarling wolves. What
a cynic would it not make of him were he
TO know that he, Gagged bird, IS the en-
blem of the liberty of the free people who
have imprisoned him. He is leading life
OF mockery, and he seems to feel it.
There is a world of pleasure to old and
young in this animal show. and it is the
usual thing on a pleasant Sunday for
twelve or fifteen thousand people to enter
through the gates of the park. Sunday is
the best day to visit there, for the genus
man, in large numbers. is as interesting
an animal any of the Gagged varieties.
Doubtless the testimony of the brute crea-
tion on that point would prove interesting
and convincing.
The Washington times., 1902-04-20
Sighls at the Great Local Menagere
Where the Animals WhoE1aV BeeRE1Oused
During the Past Six Months Are Once More
Granted the Liberty Of Fresh Air and Exer-
cisiRg Spdce--Treat for the CiN's Children

~ ESERT wastes and tropical junglcs,
the land of the midnight sun, and
L. the rugged heights of mountain
ranges have yielded to the
National Geological Park the noblest
types of brute creation for the instruc-
tion and amusement of the people of the
American Capital. Amphibians and the
funny creatures of the deep are made
comfortable at the Zoo in their native
element, and even the birds of the air
must stay there in confinement that the
people may be educated and amused.
Natures Best Gift.
OF all the beauty spots that make
Washington the fairest of American cities.
the reservation devoted to zoology IS
natures best gift to the Capital. The
artifce of the engineer, the trowel of the
mason, and the spade of the gardener
each has done its part to make this recre-
alton ground the most attractive resort
OF the multitudes. Here, too the high
and the mighty seek temporary immunity
from the exactions of the artificial life
of society or the harassing cares OF Of
fetal position.
President Mckinley loved its quietude,
and when he might escape for brief
spell from the duties of his office, drove
there with that sweet woman, his wife,
beside him. On almost every day, Just
as the sun begins to disappear. you may
hear there the clatter OF horses hoofs
and see the President of the nation dash
by. often accompanied by his wife, who
rides not less intrepidly than himself.
Truly is the Zoo the delight of all, but
most of all is it source of pleasure TO
the children.
Collection Constantly Enriched.
The collection of animals is not as ex-
tsH:se as the menageries to be found In
other large cities, but it is being con-
stantly enriched. Science is intended 20
be served by this gathering together of
the creatures of earth and air, and the
zoologist undoubtedly finds much to inter
est him at the Zoo. 1t is, possibly, in
The Washington times., 1902-04-20

the best line of pranks in the repcrtory of
tn monkey comedy company is reserved
for that day.
The Snake Family.
The snake family in the opposite cage
is now wide awake, the first thunderstorm
of the spring, so the keepers say. being
the waking up signal for the reptiles, big
and little. Their beady eyes snap and
glisten, and they th -ust out threateningly
their forked fangs il you approach too
near their prison of glass. The big boa
constructors on the tree trunk gaze long
ingly on the monkeys across the way, and
their horrible mouths water as they think
There is one species of reptile that
seems never to arouse itself from n
lethargic state. and that is the alligator.
Night or day, in roise and in quiet, he
sleeps on and on. Never blink from his
eyes nor a change in his position. He is
the terror of the little colored boy. who
in a frightened whisper tells his handy
legged companion tnat down SOutn ItlIe
negro babies are used for alligator bait.
The Aquarium.
Over in the aquarium are the most hap
PLY situated of any of the prisoners at
the Zoo. Water is water to fish. and
even though his field of travel be limited.
he gets plenty to eat without being COM
PEELED to hustle for it. In the construc-
tion of the tanks, nature is admirably
simulated, so that the fish which have
been brought from their own element
must feel very much at home in their
apartments at the Zoo.
Pelicans and peacocks, swans, and barn
yard ducks live in a little community OF
their own, and seem to get on very well.
although allowances must be made for the
intolerable pride of the peacock, who
fiaunts his gorgeous feathers before all
the people in the block. The swan is
The Washington times., 1902-04-20

reaches his prime. The Kodiak bear comes
nearest, among extant species of carniv-
ora, to attaining to the size of the NAM
NAL and other monsters of prehistoric
days, and the development of the year
ling at the Zoo will be watched with
great interest, especially by the zoolo-
g.sts.
Old Grizzly.
Old Grizzlys in the den next to the
Kodiak, locks very forlorn and detected,
for he knows well that those ivory-like
claws CT his were not intended TO be worn
away in tramping around an iron barred
cage. scarcely mere than twice his owa
size. The sniff that he gets of the weed
lands makes his pocr heart ache. In
him is the instinct of the savage who
roams the mountain side with never a
fear OF an adversary WHOM he cannot
overcome. However, he mRkcs the mcst
of his limited quarters and takes to his
tub several times during the day, this be
ing the only diversion he enjoys.
The Animal House.
If ycu care to be where the fun Is go
ing on walk over to the brick structure
In which most of the wild beasts are
Gagged. Sometimes you may see them in
the tiny parks adjoining their cages, but
more often they are Within the animal
house. Here the king OF beasts, even in
the disgrace of prison life, is as proud and
dignihed n creature as walks the earth.
Only when the smell of bloed is in the
air and the quarter CT an OK is thrust into
his lair does he unbend from his austere
severity. Then the sayagery OF his ma
ture asserts itself. The roars which the
Bedcuin in the desert knows so well, and
from which he fees in terror, fill the air.
Other creatures near the roaring lion are
hushed into silent fear. The monkey
forgets to caper and the buliocks from
the Philippines trcmble in abject fright
Only the tiger seems unmoved. The
striped Bengal knows that sharp ciawed
monsters of his own family have fought
the lion in the Asatic forest and often
il was the lien who in death yielded the
yictOrv
The Washington times., 1902-04-20

for his species attains a size exceeding
that of any carnivorous beast known to
zoology. Even the giant grizzly in a
neighboring cage will look like a lap-dog
beside the Kodiak when the Alaskan
The Washington times., 1902-04-20

even makes merry with his keeper should
that individual place himself within
reach. AS a result of their rollicking
nature the monkeys get most of the pea
nuts that the children bring TO the Zoo.
The Washington times., 1902-04-20
Monkeys Are Comedians.

The monkeys furnish most CT the COM
edy element at the Zoo and they are as
tireloss in their efforts to raise laugh
as funny man at club smoker Con-
fnemcnt seems to worry the monk less
than Sry CT his jailed neighbors, aAd he
The Washington times., 1902-04-20
In the Bear Line.

In the bear line, the pride and the
hope Of the keepers at the Zoo are CEN
tired in the year-old Kodiak recent un-
willing immigrant from Alaska, or, more
correctly, from an island, Kodiak by
name, situated short distance from the
coast Of Alaska. At present he is about
twice as large as full-grown st. Bernard
dog, but his growing capacity is great,
The Washington times., 1902-04-20
Mr.. Sea Lion.

Mr.. Sea Lion, neiehbor. twice removed.
from the bear republic, is totally lacking
in cordiality. Never a look does he be-
stow upon his visitors. Occasionally he
gives a swimming exhibition. not, how
ever, &c be agreeable. but rather because
he feels the need of exercise. His appa-
ratus for overland travel is inadequate to
very extended movements on shore, but,
considering his impediments, he does
wonderfully well, and on frequent occa-
sions has been Known to climb TO the roof
of the small shed that stands at the brink
of his artificial lake
The Washington times., 1902-04-20

Sunday is, of course, their busy day and
the best line of pranks in the repcrtory of
tn, monkey comedy company is reserved
for that day.
The Washington times., 1902-04-20

Difference to him that an ordinary bear
is ponderously designated as Ursus
Americanus. The multitude, however,
sees only bear.
Ursus seems to have all the comforts
Of home in the big family cage in the hol-
low near the banks of Rock Creek. There
are several of him there, some cinnamon,
others black. The color line is evidently
not very strongly marked, for all battle
in the same pool, and when night comes
seek rest and shelter in the same dormi-
tory in a miniature cave at the foot Of the
precipioe. Droll fellows are these clumsy
balf-grown bears. Comedians every one
OF them. they get as many laughs on a
Sunday afternoon as the monkeys up there
on the hill. They walk listlessly about
like loafers on the city streets, and when
excited to exert themselves by some
prank of one of the more playful members
of the family instantly they seem TO re-
gret it and lean up against the iron bars
to recuperatc
Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-12-20
Falls Church Tidbits.

FALLS CHURCH. VA. December 1s.-
(S3acial)-Falls Church Lodge. No. II. IN
dependent Order Odd-Fel;ows. have elect
ed the following; officers for the term be-
ginning January l. 1903: Past grand. G.
3. Fadeley NJ. D.: noble grand. Walter
Marcy: vice grand. II. i. Hurley: secre-
tary. Rev. II. a. Beach: financial secre-
tary. j. Howard Drummer; treasurer,
Charles Z. Manki1: chaplain, Rev w H
Wolf: olganist. Edward T. -Crump. and
captain CT degree team. George A. Brun-
ner
DR.. T. c. Quick. George T. Manlin. and
Professor z. c Line. attended tha ban
Duet given by Mount Vernon Royal Arch
Chapter. in Alexandria on Friday night
The Board Of Control of the Falls
Church Library Association held a meet
ing on Monday night and decided to add
forty volumes TO the library.
Master Grey Church. son Of N. z.
Church. fell down the stairs at Jefferson
Institute on Tuesday ana was seriously
injured.
Interesting exercises are announced to
take place in Jefferson Institute Hall on
Friday. a the closing OF the school for
the Christmas recess. There will be a
large Christmas tree music. recitations.
etc. Professor Line Will be presented with
a handsome scarf-pin by The scholars.
Pioneer Lodge, No. j. Independent Order
Coed Tenlplars. will hold Christmas SER
vices on Tuesday night next. after which
tha members OF the lodge will be served
with supper.
Mr.. I. \. Conklin. OF New YORK city.
has purchased tle Watson Loyd farm on
The Lewinsville road, ana will take pos
session January l. 1893.
Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-12-20
,fr. Cubel,s Latest Story.

Since the publication of The Love Let
ters Of Falstaff," the progress Of James
Branch Cahel in the world of letters mas
been watched with interest. especially III
RicE1E ond. where he is SO well known.
and his many admirers will be glad to
know that the Smart Set for January
prints another story from him. "A
Shadowy Past is not nearly so gruesome
as it sounds: in fact. it suggests that
the writer. with his bright style and
pointed wit. might make even shady
past attractive. The motif OF the present
story is hardly more than an episode
but, as in the case Of all well-written
fiction much more is implied than meets
the eye: and if there is q vein of sly cyni-
cism underlying the brightness, we may
forgive it. provided. of course it be in
our own peculiar line of cynicism. Like
the story first alluded to. "a Shadcwy
Past has to do with love letters but
what part they play in the action OF the
plot must be left to the reader
This number of the Smart Set presents,
perhaps, more than the customary array
of entertaining fiction. catchy verse and
pointed paragraphs Guy Wetmore Carryl
contributes the opening story, the title
of which is The Lieutenant Governor"
and such names as Carmen sylvia. Edgar
Sa!tus Maurice Francis Egan. Clinton
Scollard and many others of equal note,
give sufficient guarantee Of excellence.