davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Savannah morning news., 1902-11-02
From the Worlds Work.


One day not long ago a marine en-
gineer received a polite letter asking
him to call at the Office of the Astor
Estate. Mr.. John Jacob Astor wished
to consult him.
"Pll have to go all dressed up" he
said to his wife.
II should think So" was the deci-
sive reply. Put on your best things
or you'll look out of place."
The mechanic, painfully arrayed in
unaccustomed starch, arrived at the Of
flee, which he found to be an unpre-
tentious two-story double brick build
ing on a side street leading from
Broadway. The only indication of pos
sible wealth were number of massive
iron bars guarding the front windows
similar to those sometimes found in
front of banks or deposit vaults On
the inside were glass partitions, and
counters with little brass-barred win
dows, and several serious-faced clerks
porting over account books. One of these
asked his name and conducted him up
a short flight of sairs.
The mechanic looked about him and
saw dingy, embarrassing interior
with a commonplace safe. At the head
of the stairs was a small room with
several doors leading into various 9TH
er rooms. Into one of these he was
ushered. The only occupant was a tall
man with an erect military bearing.
The apartment was plainly furnished
with roll-top desk, several bookcases,
a center table, and three or four plain
~ framed pictures. A red carpet COW
The Savannah morning news., 1902-11-02

thing foreigners buy often enough to
spoil the manners of the shopkeeper.
You get out of your riksha and the
rikshaboy lies about you. All the at
tendants in the shop salaam till you
wish they would get up and let you
catch their eye and explain what you
want.
When they do get up, instead of hav-
ing a shop-walker and four counter
jumpers asking you to repeat your
order you are offered five cups of tea
Japanese tea without milk or sugar
but you can have sailed cherry bios
SONS If you want, when it is a good
shop. This is the Japanese way of
asking you to take a drink.
What the Jap Shops Are Like.
Good Japanese shops contain nothing
except the proprietor. When you have
got as far as explaining what you
want, he gives orders to attendants,
who hiss as if they were brushing a
horse and trying to keep the hairs out
of their mouths, while they rub their
knees and bob their heads.
Off they go at run-good servants
always run-and bring back goods tied
up in faded green silk handkerchiefs,
or green cotton cloths. The goods are
kept in the goodwin, but the customer
is never taken there lest he should
choose right away and have done with
it, instead of being etiquettically
worked up for half day with enough
tea for a bath.
A Japanese goodwin has no windows,
and only one door and looks like
black or white plaster coffin with a
heavy gabled roof and a crest which
fills the whole gable. Its thick walls
are made of compressed plaster, COW
cred with a lacquer, and the Japanese
believe it to be fire and burglar proof.
1t looks like meerschaum or ebony. All
Japanese houses of any importance
have godowns.
The Japanese keep all their things
The Savannah morning news., 1902-11-02
SHOPS In THE
MIKADO'S EMPIRE
They Are Not AS Numerous AS You'd Suppose
Even in the Great City Of Tokyo
bv Sladen
copyright, 1902, by Douglas Sladen.

To start a, Japanese shop is the SIM
plest thing in the world. You take the
front off your house and arrange your
worldly possessions On the floor. Japa-
nese floors are raised off the street,
though nothing is raised off them. The
transient customer sits on the edge
of the floor sidesaddle. A real shop
per, who means to do the thing prop
erly. like a peasant buying jewelry in
Italy, climbs up on the floor, which is
also the counter, and squats on his
heels.
Real Japanese shops don't have doors
or windows or counters. Shop windows
in New York don't leave much wall in
a twelve-foot frontage; but even an
American shop window does not take
the whole front of the house.
The Japanese don't have many regu-
lar shops. There are very few streets
of shops even in Tokyo, which is as
large as Berlin. Foreigners never buy
anything but curios and knick-knacks
at Japanese shops; if they are fools
they deal with shops kept by Euro
The Savannah morning news., 1902-11-02

peans; if they want good bargains they
deal with Cinnamon. There are many
Chinese shops in treaty ports. The
Chinaman is cheaper and more relia-
Bile than the Japanese. European shop
keepers do not set up in Japan for
philanthropic reasons. Japanese shop
keepers are the lowest class of the
population except the outcasts. Serv-
ants and laborers take precedence of
them in society. and precedence is the
hobby of the Japanese.
ShOpkeepers' Low Social Grade.
You have a different bow and a diff
ferent salutation for man who is be-
low you or your equal; and several for
the people above you; you have even
a different language for each, and
Japanese writing wriggles like the
carvings on their temples. Just as
debutantes have to learn how to bow
and kick away their trains before they
are presented at courts, Japanese in
fants learn their alphabet of salaams.
1t is the only alphabet they have; to
the Japanese all the world is a court.
This makes it a serious matter going
to Japanese shop, unless you are 60
ing to buy silk handkerchiefs, the only
The Savannah morning news., 1902-11-02

foreigners patronize the Kwankobas,
or bazaars, where they sell rubbishly
lacquer and sham soap, new pipe-cases,
and geisha girls hair-pins that no
geisha would be seen in. These are
generally kept in temples, the hughest
of all being in the Uyeno Park, at
Toxic. The Japanese holiday-maker is
always buying knick-knacks for his
baby or his best girl.
A few foreigners discover the charm
of Japanese paper shops, where you
buy envelopes a foot long and two
inches wide, with cranes struggling
across them. and unfolded note paper
of absurd shapes with a whole land
The Savannah morning news., 1902-11-02

scape painted on 1t in colors as faint
as water-marks. They write to all
their friends, and think themselves
desperately Japanese, instead of new
chums" of the deepest dye. The
Japanese writes his letters on a roll
of wrapping paper six inches wide and
many yards long. He begins on the
right-hand top corner of the end,
writes on 1t with a paint-brush before
it is unrolled. unrolls the part he has
written on and. when he has finished,
tears II off. His letters are a yard
long, that's why his envelopes are such
funny shape.
Douglas Sladen.
The Washington times. (Washington [D.C.]) 1901-1902, 1902-05-14
PRESIDENTIAL NOMINATIONS.
Consular and Army Appointments Sent
to Senate for Confirmation.

Consular and Army Appointments Sent
to Senate for Confirmation.
The President yesterday sent to ths Sen
ate the following nominations:
To be consuls-Benjamin Johnston. OF
Iowa. at Ceiba. Honduras: Samuel 6. Lyon,
of New Jersey, at Kobe. Japan: Alfred X.
Moe. Of New Jersey. at Tegucigalpa. Hon
duras: william Martin. OF New York. at
Nankin. China: Henry II. Morgan. OF
Louisiana, at Lucerne, Switzerland.
To be csnsul generals-Hugh Pitcairn.
of Pennsylvania, at Hamburg. Germany;
Soren Listoe, OF Minnesota, at Rotterdam.
Netherlands; James II. Woman. of New
York, at Munich, Bavaria.
To be secretary of legation and tcnsul
genera1-Gordon Paddock. Of New York, st
Seoul. Korea.
First Tfe1its. Frank G. wadsworth and
Walters Rowland. Of Massachusetts,:
Alexander p. r. Hanks. OF Wisconsin. and
William II. Gushing. of New York. to be
captains in the Revenue Cutter Service
Army-To be majors-Capts. James p.
Gee. Thirteenth Infantry and Hunter Lig-
gett. Fifth Infantry. .er
To be captains-First Lieuts. Henry n.
Dichmann, Seventh Infantry. and Halstead
Dorey Fourth Infantry.
To be second Observation-Disclosures
Sergeant Staley A. Campbell.
To he United States district judge for
the district of Maine--Clarence Hale, OF
Portland. -.a-
The Washington times. (Washington [D.C.]) 1901-1902, 1902-05-14
SENATE, MAY RESENT
ACTION OF THE HOUSE
Instructions to Conferees on Omnibus
Claims Bill Perturbs Higher Body,
Which May Adopt Reprisals.

Some excitement was caused in the Sem
ate yesterday by the announcement that
the House had refused - agree TO the
conference report on the omnibus claims
bill and appointed new conferees. The
part of the announcement that created The
breeze was a concluding sentence. to the
effect that the House had instructed its
new conferees to refuse to accept the SEN
ate amendment. II is said that no such in
structions regarding the consideration Of
a bill in conference have ever been given
in the history Of Congress.
Two or three Senators asked as to :he
presidents for such instructions. Mr..
Frye, in the chair, announced tina. in his
experience in the chair there had never
been a precedent.
Some Senator's were for the appointment
Of other conferees at once. with iron in
structions not to yield to the House. Final
ly the question went over without action.
There is much interest In what course
will finally be adopted.
The Washington times. (Washington [D.C.]) 1901-1902, 1902-05-14
SUFFRAGE INVESTIGATION
HELD UP FOR THE PRESENT
Crumpacker Resolution to Go Over Until
Next Session-May Be Adopted
After Election.

Although no formal announcement has
been made, it has been practically de-
cided that the Crumpacker resolution for
the investigation Of the abridgcment OF
the right of suffrage will go over until the
next session Of Congress, and some notice
TO this effect is likely to be given this
week. 49,
While the Republican caucus favored The
resolution and the Committee on Rules
has agreed to report a rule for It's con-
slderation. there is considerable opposi-
ton to the measure in the House among
the Republicans, and there are number
who would prefer that nothing should he
done unless the Investigation is to be
followed by other action in case the con-
stitutional provisions are found to be
violated.
poll of the House practically demon
strated that at this session the rcsolu-
tion could not be adopted. but its friends
hope that next winter, after the elections
are out Of the way, 1t will go through.
The Washington times. (Washington [D.C.]) 1901-1902, 1902-05-14
UNION STATION BILL
DEBATED IN SENATE
MAY USE PRINTING OFFICE
BUILDING FOR QUARTERS
Bill Extending Privilege to G. A. R. Dur
ing Encampment Favorably Re
ported From Committee.

The bill introduced in the House by
Representative Jenkins directing and au-
thorizing the Public Printer and the
engineer in charge Of the new public
printing building to permit members
Of the Grand Army to occupy the building
for sleeping quarters during the Grand
Army encampment in this city from Oc-
October 5 to October 10. both days inclu-
sivc, was yesterday favorably reported
to the House by Chairman Heatwole. Of
the Printing Committee, to which II was
referred.
The bill was amended by placing the
authority in the hands of the Secretary
Of the Interior and providing that only
actual members Of the Grand Army shall
be accommodated with quarters In the
building The bill also provides that no
expense shall attach to the United States.
and that the Grand Army shall leave the
building in the exact condition in which
they find IL.
The Washington times. (Washington [D.C.]) 1901-1902, 1902-05-14
MR.. HUGH KELLY IMPARTS
SUGAR INFORMATION
THE FEES OF JURORS.
House Committee Orders Favorable Re-
port on Bill Fixing Pay.

The Senate bill to fix the fees of Jurors
in United States courts. increasing the
fee from So to 50 per diem, was yesterday
ordered favorably reported without amend
ment by the House Judiciary Committee.
After disposing Of the Senate bill the
committee discussed at some length the
resolution to amend the Constitution of the
United States SO as to change the date
Of the Inauguration from the ith of March
to the last Thursday in April, and also
the De Almond bill. which makes the same
provision regarding the inauguration and
changes. as well. the date of the beginning
and ending Of the terms OF members of the
House and Senate to the second Thursday
in January. No agreement was reached.
The committee also considered the bill
to regulate the hours Of labor in manufac-
turing establishments. which was made n
special order for the next meeting of the
committee.
The Washington times. (Washington [D.C.]) 1901-1902, 1902-05-14
NAVAL APPROPRIATION
BILL UP IN THE HOUSE
Government Construction of
Warships Discussed.
Chairman Foss Willing to Try Expert
ment to End Controversy-Experi-
ence Proves Private Construc-
tion Cheaper.

The House yesterday began the consid-
Grafton Of the naval appropriation bill,
which carries the sum of s77,659 ,3s7 for
the navy. decrease of s442,4 0i from the
appropriation for the current year.
1t also authorizes the construction of
two battleships larger than any now in
the American navy. two large armored
cruisers. and two gunboats.
Government Construction of Ships.
The provisions of the measure were ex-
planned at considerable length by Mr..
Foss, the chairman of the committee. He
devoted much of the two hours he occu-
pied the floor to 4 discussion of the ques-
tion Of building ships in Government
yards.
In order to settle the controversy re-
garding this matter he advocated the pro-
visions of the bill directing the Secretary
OF the Navy to have at least one of the
new ships authorized by the bill con-
structed at a Government yard. But the
experience of the past. Mr.. Foss said.
tended to demonstrate that construction
under private contract was the cheaper.
Mr.. Rixey's Opinion.
Mr.. Rixey Dem. va.), a member of the
Committee on Naval Affairs. who follow
ed. asserted his belief that ships could
be constructed more cheaply in Govern
ment yards than by private contractors.
The bill will be under consideration for
the greater part of the week.
The Washington times. (Washington [D.C.]) 1901-1902, 1902-05-14
SOLDIERS FARE ISNOT
SO BAD AFTER ALL
Mr.. ROOT REPLIES
TO SENATE INQUIRY
Eight Awards Of Contracts for Disap-
peari1g Carriages Other Than to
Lowest Bidders.

The question Of disappearing gun car
riages has been revived by the Senate
Military Committee in connection with
the discussion of the Crozcr nomination.
a resolution was passed by the Senate
yesterday calling upon Secretary Root for
statement showing the number of dis
appearing carriages purchased by the War
Department, who were the bidders for
their construction. aud the prices paid.
Secretary Root replied to the resolution
today He says, after giving the details
OF the various bids and the facts connect
cd with their awarding:
There have been eight cases in which
manufacturers in addition to those maxi
ing lowest bid have been awarded con-
tracts. This action has been for the pur-
pose OF expediting the delivery of the gun
carriages.
The distribution OF the awardg was
made with a view to securing the most
satisfactory results to the Government In
the delivery Of these carriages, and was
based upon the known capacity of the Diff
ferent bidders. the amount Of work they
had on hand, and the necessities of the
service"
The Washington times. (Washington [D.C.]) 1901-1902, 1902-05-14
Mr.. LESSLER SUCCEEDS TO
COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENT
Takes Place Made Vacant by Death of
Representative Cummings-Other
Changes Made.

Representative Lessler of New York was
honored yesterday with an assignment to
the Committee on Naval Affairs, to sue
coed the late Representative Cummings
of New York.
Mr.. Lessler is Republican and Mr..
Cummings was Democrat. but the new
assignment will make the Naval Commit
tee OF the same political complexion as
the other large committees-eleven Repub-
licans and six Democrats.
The Speaker also made the following
changes in committee assignments:
Foreign Aifairs-Mr. Capron of Rhode
Island.
Insular Affairs-Mr Olmsted of Penn
sylvania.
Banking and Currency-Mr. Moss of
Kentucky.
Revision of the laws-Mr. Terrell of
Massachusetts,.
The Washington times. (Washington [D.C.]) 1901-1902, 1902-05-14
GEN. STERNBERG TO RETIRE.
Bill Offered in the House Giving Him
Rank of Major General.

The House Committee on Military AZ
fairs yesterday unanimously ordered IA
vorable report upon the bill to retire Sur
the Sth Of June next. as a major general.
The title OF the bill is to provide for
the selection and retirement of medical
officers in the army. II provides that
the President of the Uaited States IS
hereby authorized to select one from such
medical officers of the army as have
served forty-one years OF more, nine
years of which shall have been as Surgeon
General. and. by and with the advice and
consent of the Senate. appoint him 4
major general of the United States Army,
for the purpose of placing him ON tie
retired list
The Washington times. (Washington [D.C.]) 1901-1902, 1902-05-14
S3,000,000 FOR RELIEF
.. OF DISTRESSED CUBANS
Senate Bill Authorizes a Commission to
Investigate Economic and In
dustrial Conditions.

Senator Clapp yesterday introduced a
bill authorizing the President to appoint
commission of five to investigate the
economic and industrial conditions of
Cuba.
The commission is authorized to make
provision for the relief of such distress
as they may find among the people of
that island. which. in their opinion, ought
not to be postponed until the next ses-
sion of Congress.
The bill carries an appropriation of
81. O0O. 900.
The Washington times. (Washington [D.C.]) 1901-1902, 1902-05-14
Law Effective July I.

A Joint resolution was reported TO the
Senate yesterday from the Committee on
Indian Affairs by Its chairman. Mr.. Stew
art. and was passed, providing that the
Indian appropriation bill shall take effect
on July !. so far as regards the paragraph
relating TO tAc division OF the northern
judicial district OF the Indian Territory
into two die cts.
The Washington times. (Washington [D.C.]) 1901-1902, 1902-05-14
Says Rebate Would Bene-
fit Small Cane Farmers
in Cuba.
PORTO rico SITUATION CITED
Sugar Business Improbable for Past
Two or Three Years - Cuban Sugar
Laborers Better Paid Than Elsewhere
Witness Enthusiastic Over Free Trade.

| The subcommittee Of the Senate Com
Its hearings yesterday.
| Hugh Kelly. of New York and Cuba. was
the first witness. He stated that he had
been in the sugar business all his life,
and wished he had not. He was a stock
holder in the Central Teresa Sugar Com
paDy, doing business near Manzanillo,
Cuba, engaged In manufacturing and
| shipping sugar and molasses; the
Chaparra Company, doing business princi-
pally in Chaparra. and the United Teresa
Company. owning the Central Boston fac
tories at Banes.
Mr.. Kelly mentioned Franklin Farrell.
OF Ansonia, Conn. and Joseph Rigney, Of
New York. as being associated with him
in the Teresa Company. In the Chaparra
Company were R. B. Hawley, of Calves
ton; James B. Post. of New York: Mrs.
Mollenhauer. of New York, and Nathaniel
Topper. Of New York.
Among other companies owned by Amer
leans in the island. witness mentioned the
Francisco Company, the Soledad, owned
by the Edward Atkins Trinidad estate;
the Damuji Company. owning the estate
Constantia. and the Cape Cruz Company,
now in process Of development.
The machinery and implements used
came almost entirely from the United
States. The capacities of the companies
ranged from 12O to 800 tons of sugar daily.
Cuban Sugar Mills.
Senator PIatt-How many sugar mills
-. J. CT,
aie mere III ouoas
mr.. heiiy-Aoout 49, oeiieve.
Senator Platt-About what portion Of
the Cuban sugar crop Is made by the
American companies,
"Ahou, IN nar cont ., ~,
THE vear about 81 400 ~ eh'lre ., eroP
the cron at sometime like sao 200 .on. :.
In answer to the question fron, ssnatou
Plat as To who would benefit fror, IN 80
duction of the tarifY on Cuh,n s,,sn. ~.
the United States. Mr.. Kelly said.
"The people who grow the cane in
Cuba, the small cane farmers who sell 10
th EN- highest bidder.
of it?"
Not a dollar OF it. An example OF this
Is SHOWN III Porto RICO, where cane is
cub % 90 iiu'h US III
Usually. he said. the factories maid the
farmers per cent of the weight OF their
cane III sugar. In some cases as high as
Sa,n p mas pau.
their own sugar land tbev would ee, tha
benefit of the reduction of the tariff?
The Washington times. (Washington [D.C.]) 1901-1902, 1902-05-14
TO RAISE THE MAINE AND ASCERTAIN
CAUSE OF DESTRUCTION OF BATTLESHzP
Bill Introduced Mason for Recovering Week and
Expenses of

pointed by the President to decide on the
merits Of plans which may be proposed,
and to make the contract with the owner
Of the successful scheme.
The preamble Of the bill recites that
Whereas the United States Government
is about to relinquish control Of Cuba and
Cuban waters and as the battleship
Maine. with some of our brave dead sea-
men. Is lying under water in Havana
Harbor. 1t seems just and right that be-
fore relinquishing entire control Of Ha-
vara Harbor to the Cuban authorities
The Washington times. (Washington [D.C.]) 1901-1902, 1902-05-14

Senator Mason yesterday introduced a
bill in the Senate providing for the rails
ing of the battieship Maine. now lying at
the bottom of the harbor of Havana.
The Secretary of War is given charge
~ the work and instructed to arrange
with the Cuban government for access to
the wreck in the harbor for the period
OF at least twelve months
A committee OF eminent naval officers.
such as Admiral Dewey, Lieutenant Hob
son, and Captain Sigsbee," is to be ap-
The Washington times. (Washington [D.C.]) 1901-1902, 1902-05-14
POINT OF ORDER ON RIGHT
OF CONFEREES SUSTAINED
FAVORABLE REPORT ON BILL
FOR LINCOLN MEMORIAL
Committee Also Recommends Erection of
Statues to John Paul Jones
and Longfellow.

The bill providing for a commission to
consist of the chairmen OF the Library
Committees Of the House and Senate. AMI
the Secretaries of State and War TO con-
slider plans for memorial tc President
Lincoln, to be erected III this cit1. was
yesterday ordered .avorably reported by
the House Committee on the Library.
The committee also ordered favorable
reports on the bills providing fos statues
to be erected in this city to John Paul
Jones. the poet Longfsilow, and the hill
to erect statue in Fredericksburg, Va.
TO General Mercer, of Revolutionary War
fame.
The Washington times. (Washington [D.C.]) 1901-1902, 1902-05-14
Democratic Committee Meets Tonight.

The Democratic Congressional commit
tee will meet tonight at o'clock IN the
minority room at thu Capitol. when the
appointment OF the executive and the
finance committees will be announced, as
will also the personnel of the campaign
committee Of eleven, which Chairman
Griggs was authorized to appoint at the
last meeting of the committee.
Headquarters will be opened in few
days at the Colonial Hotel, this city,
The Washington times. (Washington [D.C.]) 1901-1902, 1902-05-14
GAS COMPANY OFFICIALS
SILENT ON HOUSE ACTION
Surprised at Adverse Action. of House
in View of Municipal In
dorsement.

Officers OF the Washington Gas Light
Company yesterday declined to dis
cuss the defeat of the gas consolidation
bill In the House Monday. They would
not say whether It would end the move
ment to consolidate the Washington Gas
Light Company and the Georgetown Gas
Light Company.
The company's officials are surprised at
the adverse action of the House. as the
bill had the Endorsement OF the District
Commissioners and the City Solicitor. as
well as a large majority Of the members
of the District Committee.
The Washington times. (Washington [D.C.]) 1901-1902, 1902-05-14
NAVAL APPROPRIATION BILL.
Consideration of the Measure Taken Up
in the House Yesterday.

Following the ordering of a conference
on the "Selfridge board claims" the
House yesterday afternoon took up the
consideration Of the naval appropriation
bill for the year ending June 30. 1904. re-
solving itself into the committee Of the
whole for the purpose.
Mr.. Foss. the chairman OF the Commit
tee on Naval Affairs. gave the figures Of
the bill as follows: Total amount carried
by the bill, 77.659. 3s7. a decrease Of $442.-
404 from the bill Of the current year.