davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington times., 1902-03-23
STONE MARKS CAPITALS MERIDIAN

TEW PERSONS are perhaps aware
that the meridian of Washington
L comedies with the longitudinal
axis Of the Capitol building. and
that to the west OF the prolongation of
North Capitol Street. just beyond Bound
airy Street. is Il stone known to the init
lated as the North Meridian Stone, which
is supposed TO be upon the line OF the
meridian The visitor TO the Naval OBJ
servatory is told that the meridian passes
through the centre OF the clock house
of that institution. but this is not the
true meridian of Washington; however,
1t answers all the purposes OF computa-
ton.
The meridian of Washington has often
been confou6ded, even by experienced
writers, with the meridian of the old
District Of Columbia. The latter extends
from the cornerstone of the District, now
built into the wall surrounding the Al
eXandria lighthouse, through the Execu-
tive Mansion. north along the centre Of
Sixteenth Street. and thence over what
was Meridian Hill. TO the intersection Of
the diagonal lines at the north point OF
the District about one mile due West
from Silver Springs. Maryland. Upon the
brow of Meridian Hill stood about eighty
yards south of the old standpipe. which
was for many years an ungightly termina-
ton of the fine street. Commodore David
Porter's mansion, the entrance door OF
which was due north of the front door OF
the Presidents house. The farm upon
which this mansion stood was long known
as the Meridian Hill Farm" On the
edge of the south lawn, in close proximity
30 the Mansion. was placed the Meridian
Stone."
This stone was nearly two feet across
snd two feet high. The north edge of IL
was circular. and upon IL was afterwards
placed brass sun dial. II was from this
stone that Meridian Hill received its
name. and hence. also. Meridian Hill
Farm" The stone remained in its origi-
nal position until about the time of the
The Washington times., 1902-03-23

sheets. making 200, 900 stamps, and these
are then ready for the vaults. So perfect
is the system that there is seldom a loss
or shortage.
The Bureau OF Engraving and Printing
stamps of the Government, and the pro-
cess for manufacturing is about the same
as for the ordinary postage stamps When
the work was undertaken by the Bureau
great difficulty was found in getting the
right kind of machinery for cumming ana
perforating the stamps. the Bank Note
Company. in New York, which had for
merly had the contract, ref Using to assist
in any way.
Fortunately the dire or secured the
services of a lady who had been with the
company for long while, and she was
able to furnish information which en-
abled the Bureau to make cumming ma
chimes and dry boxes which do the most
perfect work.
The perforating machines also caused
no end of trouble, but now there is no
trouble experienced. This gave more
trouble than any other portion of their
manufacture, and occasioned several law
suits. Men scarcely beyond middle life
can remember the trouble and annoyance
occasioned by the old-time sheets of
stamps which were without perforation or
division of any kind. A regular part of
the equipment of every office and every
house was a tin ruler and pair of shears
TO cut postage stamps from the sheet.
From the department of the Third AS
sistant Postmaster General stamps are
issued to the postofiices throughout the
country. and this work requires a large
force. Postmasters at offices of the first
class are required by law to keep stamps
of every denomination on hand, while 9TH
er Offices are only required to keep ordi-
nary stamps. special delivery. and postage
due the latter not being for sale, but
for use. In ordering stamps, cards, and
envelopes postmasters are not permitted
TO go beyond the amount of their bonds,
and settlements are made at the end of
every quarter.
When a postmaster at some out of the
way place orders stamps n large amounts
it is known that something wrong is 60
ing on or contemplated, and an investiga-
ton Is made by the department. BY do
ing this crooked postmasters are fire.
quently picked up or a stop put to their
:llegitimate work.
Since July, 1894, when the Bureau OF
Engraving and Printing began the manu-
facture OF stamps. the following changes
in design and color have been made:
One-cent. Franklin. green: 1-cent. Frank
lin. blue; 2-cent. Washington. carmine: s.
cent. Jackson, purple; AGENT Lincoln.
velvet brown; scent, Grant. light brown;
The Washington times., 1902-03-23

the lips of those fortunate enough to be
hidden there-glowing tales OF the high
intellectual plane on which the conversa
lions were carried on in the drawing
room and the open-handed hospitality that
was dispensed by the "old man. to those
his company in the dining-room.
! was never invited to take part in any
of the delightful Sunday evening gather
ings with which Miss Smithers' name and
fame are inseparably connected in the So
cial history of the metropolis, and all that
The Washington times., 1902-03-23
BRILLIANT WOMAN---THE SECOND OF SERIES OF STORIES

I question in the firm tone OF one whose
mind has long since been made up on the
subject. Tallboys was the only person at
the table who was not IN the least az
fected by this extraordinary manifesta-
tion OF interest on the part of woman
who had always seemed to live in an in
tellectuaI atmosphere which was exclu-
sively her own.
Certainly the workman should be per-
mitted to drink little sound red or white
wine with his dinner, and l am heartily
in favor Of beer in moderation. There
should he. however, law forbidding the
sale OF more than two glasses in one ev-
ening to the same person. and that law.
in my opinion. would completely do away
with drunkenness Moreover. the money
well expended for tickets to the concerts
and lectures. In this way the working
classes could be gradually educated up
to loftier plane OF thought"
But" exclaimed Miss Sm;thers, who
was now almost beside herself with ex-
citement, what sort OF lectures would
you consider suitable to the needs Of the
working mani"
Something calculated to elevate
them" replied Mr.. Tallhoys. Il myself
have a lecture on The Folk Songs OF
Iceland which / am willing 20 deliver
without charge. and I am certain that a
series OF Saturday evening talks could
easily be prepared which would. to
large extent, counterfeit the evil infiu-
ences of the saloon and playhouse.
Among the topics to be treated in these
discourses l would suggest the use OF the
ballot, Greek architecture, the Eliza
people and far-off lands"
Mr. Tallboys paused and turned his at
tention to what was before him and as
his Jaws closed on huge mouthful Of
terrapin / heard Miss Smithers say to Joe
Brindley: How fascinating it is to lis
ten to man VINO is so sound in his views
and so marvelousiy original, How is it
that no one has ever seen fit to introduce
me to Mr.. Tallhoys before tonight?''
A few words viii suffice to tell the re-
mainder of this little tale of how brill
liancy, which had reigned unchallenged
10 lat LIZ rad ant
in the first round, by solemn, pretentious,
asinine ignorance. The very next day
Tallboys and Miss Smithers were seen
talking earnestly together at the Acad-
envy OF Design-she said the meeting was
accidental-and within six weeks their
engagement was announced. Early in the
spring they were married, and when 1 saw
Carolyn TaIlboys the other day she was
talking about wooden socks and wonder
ing whether Harvard or Yale was the best
university in the country.
She has ceased to be anything on her
own account and deyotes her time to re-
volving around Tallboys. who as almost
any woman in New York will tell you,
lis making a great name for himself in
politics."
That is to say he is candidate for
some Office or other whenever there is an
election. and am told that he would un-
be elected were it not for the
fact that whenever he makes a speeches
he loses from so to $50 votes. according
to the size of his audience. Two years
ago he came within a very few votes of
being chosen an alderman. But that was
the year he had the pneumonia and was
not allowed by his physicians to talk in
the open air.
Copyright. 1902. by James /. Ford)
The Washington times., 1902-03-23

I'm afraid I've made ar awful mis-
take whispered Mrs Joe. at last, but
1T all happened through Joe's sending him
a card for tonight instead of next Friday
when he would be the only lion. II really
people together. but now that l have done
it, 1 do wish that she would just shine
and dazzle him. You know he is hocom-
ing a great power in municipal affairs
and. well. we all know that Carolyn is
The Washington times., 1902-03-23
By JAMES L. FORD.

~HE first time I ever met Carolyn
Smithers she asked me what
4 thought OF Rants "Critique on
Pure Reason" and that, as l after
ward learned, was her favorite conversa
tional gambit. told her had not looked
into it since the beginning of my sixteenth
year, when / had just recovered from the
measles and was beginning TO fancy my
self afflicted with religious doubts and IN
certairties. Underlying both of these
complaints, as l distinctly remember now.
was a strong desire to brighten my grand
mother into the belief that ! was about
to become an infdel like Tom Paine
Such was my first meeting with one Of
the NEST famous young women that New
York has ever known The last time
saw her. half a dozen years later, she
said nothing about Kant and had ceased
to take any interest in his theories. She
had ceased also to be a dominant figure
in New York society, had ceased even
to be Miss Smithers, and now spoke with
unaffected earnestness and simplicity
about certain small woofen socks which
she was knitting fer the little creature
who within the past few months had be-
come the soul of her uaiyerse-a universe
which was real and had completely sup
Of
physics which had once been her stock in
trade
In the meantime. however. she had
ragged like a forest fire in the very best
social circles that the town can boast
OF. And few and bold were they who.
during the half dozen years of her reign,
dared to question her rightful claim to
the title that she bore.
And it is eminently fitting that I, who
getting severely snubbed for my pains
and who was actually present at the first
of the preliminary skirmishes which cul-
minated in her Waterloo and transformed
her from what she was then to what she
is now, should tell the story of that
meeting. which was fraught with so much
import for her and the society which
she had so long adorned.
At the time of my first encounter with
Miss Smithers she mad recently graduated
from a famous woman's college. and her
chief desire in life was to play the role
of a nedern de staeL On first meeting
anyone it was her custom to apply some
such testing acid as that OF Rants
Critique, which not only determined the
intellectual capacity Of her acquaintance,
but also served 20 set the conversation
of at sober pace and on an exalted
plane. 1t required only few minutes of
this work to give her what she believed
was a very accurate estimate of any per-
sons RINK III that strange dreamlald that
women, and is made up of those mar
velous specimens of the human race whom
they call Interesting"
It was Miss Smithers' dearest dream to
gather about herself a circle of inter
esting" men and women-painters, actors,
singers, poets-Awho should look up to her
as queen, and by their presence lend to
her drawing room-it was a salon" in
her dreams-such an air of distinction
and artistic individuality as cou1d he
found in no other house in New York
The TACT that she was the only daughter
OF wealthy and obedient father made her
path toward the salon an easy one. and
for long time | continued to hear-frorn
The Washington times., 1902-03-23

ing could do the work equally as well and
as cheap, and the Government began doing
its own work in this line.
During the years the Bureau has been
doing the work of printing postage stamps
only little more than $50 worth of ma
terial has been spoiled, So carefully is
every detail of the work carried out. and.
too, the army of employees at the Bureau
know that material spoiled by them
through ignorance or carelessness must
be paid for. This rule naturally keeps
the workmen on their best efforts to do
their best.
From the time the blank paper leaves
the Treasury Department until the
stamps are in the hands of the stamp
clerk and ready for the purchasers the
The Washington times., 1902-03-23

Scent, Garfield, magenta; Scent, Sher-
man. lilac: 10-cent. Webster. mileri
green; Lucent. Clay. olive green; So
cent, Jefferson. orange; 81, Perry. black;
81. Madison. sapphire blue; s.. Marshall.
gray green.
1t was In 1890 that Mr.. Wanamaker
put the 2-cent stamp back to carmine
The 2-cent stamp was first issued in
1868 for newspaper postage. and jack
sons head in black was the design. The
color was changed to bronze in 1869. and
thus it remained until 1888, when letter
postage was reduced from 3 cents and
the 2-cent was made the stamp of first
Importance. In September, 1887, the color
The Washington times., 1902-03-23

was changed to green. and some time be-
fore that Jackson removed for Washing
ton. 1t is likely that carmine will remain
the color for the 2-cent stamp. as the
postal congress adopted this. However,
it is suggested that carmine suggests the
Puritanic spirit
Time was in this country when a red
petticoat was looked upon in New Eng
land as a sign of the Scarlet Woman Of
Babylon, and room draped in scarlet
suggested an atmosphere of the lower
regions. But the times have changed. and
letter writer's will continue to use the
cdrmine stamp or stick on two of the
green 1-cent ones.
The Washington times., 1902-03-23

THAT the American people are fond
of letter writing as well as talk
ing is fully demonstrated in the
fact that Uncle Sans sales of
postage stamps. stamped envelopes. pos
tai cards, newspaper wrappers etc. dur
Ing the past fiscal year amounted to S1O4,-
1S5.ss6.7S. being an increase of $685.
2l5.1S over 1900.
The process Of manufacturing postage
stamps is known to but few, and there
have been long and costly law suits in
relation to different patents employed In
the manufacture of them. Prior TO July.
1Ssi, all our stamps we're manufactured
by the American Bank Note Company, OF
New York, but at that time it was decided
that the Bureau of Engraving and Print
The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-10-02
GREAT CONVENTION
OF STATE ATHLETES
1t Will Be Held at University of
Virginia Revival of Regattas
to Be Brought Up.

Next year promises to see such re-
vival of the regatta as has not been
known In Virginia in many years Every
college and city athletic association OF
the State viii be asked to fit out boat
crew next spring.
The matter will be brought before all
educational institutions at great ath-
letic convention to be held at the Uni.
versity OF Virginia on December Goth
At this time 1t is expected that every
college in the State Will be represented
Then the tier Will be laid before the
various delegates and they will be asked
to take it up with their respective athlet-
ic associations when they return home.
This coca sion Is regarded as a favorable
one for impressing upon the various col
lege associations tho benefit to be de-
rived from the revival OF this manly
sport.
The Richmond Boat Club, which is one
Of the most enterprising institutions Of
the kind In the country. is behind this
movement and Is getting itself in readt-
ness for the contests hoped for next
summer
One Of the last motions adopted be-
fore the club took its winter recess
provided for the appointment Of a COM
mittce to effect tho purchase Of two
boats. One is to be shell and the
other to be gig" The cost OF tbs
two together will be something like $500.
The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-10-02
THOMAS-sH SHEPHERD
A Beautiful Home Wedding With Golden
Rcd Decorations.
Especial Dispatch to The Times.

Especial Dispatch to The Times.)
BOStN YELL, VA, Oct. 1.-The home OF
Mr.. r. j. Shepherd was the scene OF a
beautiful marriage at@1:3O p M. October
I'D, when Miss BERTHE Shepherd became
the bride of Mr.. Randolph Thomas. The
parlor was beautifully decorated with
ferns and golden rod, the main feature
Of which was a lovely wedding bell.
The couple was preceded by four of
Cumber!and's Drettiest girls as brides
maids. namely: Misses Myrtle Tucker
and Nerna White in blue organdy and
white ribbons. and Misses Janet Baker
and Mary Flanagan in white organdy
and white ribbons.
The ring ceremony, the favorite of all
brides, was beautifully and impressivey
performed by Rev. w. II. Lawson mid
the sweet strains of A1enoelssoin's weo-
ding march. rendered by Miss Katie
Flanagan.
The bride was becoming attired in :.
suit Of tan with hat and gloves to match.
and carried a large bouquet of brides
roses.
The bride is the daughter of Mr.. ana
Mrs r. j. Shepherd, and is one of the
fairest and most accomplished young
ladies of the community. Mr.. Thonta. Is
a very popular electrician Of Richmond
After receiving the most hearty con-
gratulations Of their numerous friends
present the bridal party -cc dS;.-ca %
Boswell station for Richmond, where the:
will reside on thair return from: a trip
around Old Point and other places of
int
The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-10-02
'GRAND JURY MAY
FINISH SATURDAY.
Adjournment Taken Yesterday.
Until Next Saturday.
EXAMINE SEVERAL WITNESSES
EXAMINE SEVERAL WITNESSES
There is No Probability of Any Indict>
ment, but Presentments May Prove
Sensa,ional-The Council May
Push the Investigation.

During couple of hours yesterday the
grand Jury examined four witnesses,
after which they took another recess IN
I'll next Saturday, upon which date 1t Is
now confidently expected that the long
looked for prcsentments will be handed
to Judge Witt, of the Hastings Court.
They will then be given to the public. No
indictments will actsnlpany the present
ments. as the jury has not obtained evil
dence Of sufficient strength to warrant
any.
At the session yesterday, Police Com
missioner Chris Manning was called into
the room and uestioned concerning his
former testimony in regard to the street
raiir>ad franchises. Nothing new was d.
yulred by Mr.. Manning. and he was eS-
cused
Following Mr.. Manning, Councilman
Thomas Hicks. Of Monroe Ward was
called. He remained In the jury room LOT
only a few minutes. and when ne came
out did not care to discuss what evil
dence. II any, he had given There is
considerable speculation as to just what
The grand Jury wanted to know Of him.
Mr.. G. Y. Meredith. counsel for the
Richmond Traction Company. appeared
before the Jury for few minutes, ou1
no new fact, were learned from HIM he
was excused within ten minutes after
entering the room.
TOOK A RECESS.
Upon the conclusion OF the eXanlna-
ton of Mr.. Meredith the jury took a
recess until next Saturday morning.
Among those who have watched the
investigation of the jury since 1T hrs'
undertook the work Of probing into the
alleged municipal corruption. different
opinions prevail as to the nature OF the
report which will be submitted to Judge
N-.t.. The difference is great
Some think the jury will make a hlghls
sensational report In which the Cit.
Council viii! be severely scored. with
broad intima tons Of corruption. Others
hold that the presentment will be OF
keeping with the ma ture OF the men c1
which the jury is composed. conservative
In the event any broad hints as
to corruption are dropped. it is safe tt
say that the Council will keep the In
restisations M ard If the intimations
bear any resemblance to facts. genera
investigation will be entered into by the
city fathers.
The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-10-02
WATER-POMER TO STEAM
Preparations to Rebuild the Burned
Houses at Columbia
(specisl Dispatch to The Times.

COLUMBIA, VA, October 1.-The fac
tory of Russell Wilierd has been stopped
on account OF water, which was procured
from the old James River canal to run
the machinery from the Chesapeake and
Ohio Railroad Company.
This company, owing to the scarcity Of
water, refused TO furnish Mr.. Willetd
water any longer to run his mill and the
mill was forced TO shut down. Mr.. WEI
lerd has now bought new engine and
fitted the old mill with new machinery
and the mill that was once forced by Wa
ter power is now run by steam, and Is
engaged in turning out axe helves, ham
mer and pick handles and various other
things out of hard wood.
The flour mill, which is also run by
Mr.. Willerd, in Columbia, is doing
fine business.
Mr.. Arthur Walton has 4orce of hands
cleaning bricks and taking down the
walls of his dwelling that was recently
burned.
He has also bought the lot of Mrs.
Lucy Tlmberlske. that A. T. Richardson's
store stood on and which was burned
al the same time. He is also taxing
down the walls OF this building and clean
ing up to rebuild. and Will commence
work In the near future
The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-10-02
SWEET BR|AR ESTATE
TO PAY BIG FEES
Executor Has Expended Fifty
Thousand AID Reserves One
Hundred Thousand More. a
Special Dispatch to The Times. ,

Y
AMHERST, VA. October 1.-The depo-
sitions in the suit of Williams Executor
against Mccall and Others involving
the Sweet Briar estate. were closed this
afternoon. The time already consumed
re and in Lynchburg In taking these
dispositions is at least month.
It all Grows out Of fees claimed by
attorneys for services rendered the ex-
ecutor and commissions claimed by this
executor. There appears to be at this
time at least twenty-five lawyers con-
nscted with the case in one way or an
other From ten to twelve have been
present at the taking Of these depcet-
tons and not half who ware engaged
were present. The gift of this large es-
tate by Mrs. I. E. Williams. aSgreSat-
ing nearly three-Guarters OF q million
dollars. to endew Sweet Briar Institute.
represents the earnings of her father.
Elijah Fletcher {who started In life a
poor boy). together with her husbands
brother. Dr. Sidney Fletcher, and sister.
Mrs. J. F. Mosby, who had planned Tor
years and agreed among themselves
that their combined wealth should nnaiiy
20 10 endo.s a school at Sweet Briar.
their princely country home where all
OF the Fletcher family had been reared.
This is considered handsome ana
munilcsnt gift from self-denying. gem
ara oil OYER this State will deplore tho
fact that so much OF this estate should
be detected from the generous purpose
for which it was intended into other
channels,
over $50 600 has been paid out already
~ tho executor in compromising suits
tb,+ have, been brought against the es-5
tate and the executor now holds PACK
ed, to0 10 datray attorneys fees. his COM
missions and any other claims that may
come against the estate This mas tru4y
been field OF gold Ior .he a..oi =. -.
49, thew hava not failed to work 1t Tor
all Trey could get
The manner in which this money has
t..,1def,crsd will doubtless be warm
inr TO Others VINO may have means ana
purposed in their hearts 70 give !. -
,ns. nrecaurion TO administer their es-
ta,ss while they are living. and see with
ther own eyes the going OF their money.