davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington times. (Washington [D.C.]) 1901-1902, 1902-03-02

There is another parallel, little later
/ on, between the feudal institutions of
Russia and those of Europe. Military
services were in Russia, as in feudal Eng
land, rewarded with grants of cultivated
| lands.
Russia, however, never had law of
primogeniture, and this prevented the for
nation of a powerful landed aristocracy.
| The Dark Ages are very much alike all
over Europe, and the account of Russia
in that period does not differ materially
from accounts impartially written of more
western countries. In all dense igno-
rance, much oppression. and lack of re-
spect for women prevailed. Criminals
were tortured, hanged, drawn and quar-
tered. and the peasant had no rights ex-
cept the right to be taxed.
The reign of Peter the Great is too ia
miliar to the English and American pub
lie to need much comment 1t is an inter
esting chapter, but there is nothing par
ticularly new in it.
Catherine II Is a ruler who has been
maligned and exploited In about equally
| extravagant terms. Nobody has dared to
call her good, but most people agree that
she was great. NJ. Kovalevsky says that
many of her ideas of government were
taken from Montesquieu's Esprit des
Lois and adds:
at dare not be said that Catherine fol-
lowed her chief instructor. Montesquieu,
in all the theories he tried to develop.
Her book may even be considered as
masterpiece in interpreting an author In
way contrary to almost all his expressed
beliefs
OF the emancipation of the serfs the au
thor says:
THE emancipation of the serfs intro
duced into the social structure of Russia
such a profound change that 1t became
impossible to maintain the existing sys-
ten, of provincial administration. accord
ing to which a single order, the nobility,
had to cooperate with the Government IN
the management of local affairs and the
decision of civil and criminal suits from
the moment when all classes were admit
ted equally to the acquisition of the soil,
all differences between the socalled in
habited and uninhabited estates-those
occupied by SerfS ana those Tree Ol tneln
disappeared, and new social division
was formed, the land owners. Composed
of the most heterogeneous elements
former lords of manors,, liberated serfs.
holding land either In private or In COM
mon, the capitalist. merchant. or artisan,
who had bought the whole or a part CT
some immortal estate-this class of pco-
pie, according to ideas which became ia
miliar in Europe as early as the time of
the physiocrats, was thought, by implica-
ton. to be interested in the good manage
ment of provincial affairs, and therefore
were called to an almost exclusive part in
matters of economical elf-government."
OF the Russian system of municipal
government he says:
The thirty years existence of munich !
pal self government is not a sufficiently !
long period to authorize anyone to give a |
definite judgment as to It's utility. The |
chief criticism directed against 1t is that |
il has placed the cities in the power of |
the richer class of the so-called plutoc-
The Washington times. (Washington [D.C.]) 1901-1902, 1902-03-02
A Literary Flame.

While camping in the Adirondacks last
summer Percie ". Hart, author of THE
Abracadabra Affair." in the February
number of 'fLippincott's Magazine" had
an inspiration regarding a unique short
story, but found himself apparently help
less to utilize the heeting thought The
camp was ten miles from civilization, and,
while creature comforts were abundant,
the supply of paper was limited to bundle
wrappers, and one stump of a lead pencil
was the only literary tool in the outfit.
But where there's a will there's way.
The happy thought came to strip OF
sheets OF bark from the graceful birch
tree-even as another Hiawatha-and
utilize this romantic material. This was
done, and all went well for number of
noontide hours and moonlit minutes
snatched from sleep. The story grew until
the pile of scrubbed bark sheets upon
the mantel shelf was as thick as pom
sheets lay beside, all ready for tha fast
waning stub of pencil Returning late
at night from days fishing, CHEEKY log
fire in the hearts greeted the sportsmen.
But what's this? The bark screeds gone
and only the virgin heap remaining!
adian guide. Bark good make fire, an
only use dirty piece And his manner
and explanation were both so open and
sincere that no man could have the heart
IN cayiI
The Washington times. (Washington [D.C.]) 1901-1902, 1902-03-02
REVIEWS OF THE WEEK.
The Work of a New Novelist.

Harris Dickson. author of The Black
VOLTS Breed" which created demand
for itself a year or so ago, has written
a new novel of the historical species, en-
titled The Siege of Lady Resolute." The
chief charm of this book lies in the char
acter of its heroine. who is a girl of the
Cevennes, proud high spirited, high prin-
cipled and deep hearted. The scene is
laid partly in France and partly in Louis
lana, and the time is that of Nine. de
Maintenons rule over the will of her roy
al lover. The inscrutable and cold ma
dame plays a considerable part in this
development of the plot, which is full of
incident, action and the historical atmos-
phere. There are some pretty examples
of psychological analysis, of which the
following is an example:
There are two kinds of women, and
they nurture two kinds of love. The one
twines around and nestles in the strength
of him to whom it clings. The other fas-
tens upon, defends and covers up his
weaknesses. One, the instinct of the child;
the other that stronger, perhaps more
madly passionate, instinct of motherhood.
The one takes all; the other gives all.
And this is why, perhaps. through the
providence of God, the gentleman of no.
BILE purposes and high ideals, buffeting
and struggling with the world, winning
its plaudits and compelling it's homage
why he should select for his souls mate
the woman who is forever a child, the
butterfly girl, who smiles and weeps AMI
covers on his breast.
And this is why, perhaps, in Natures
sweet, eternal harmonies, the clear
browed. vast-hearted woman, within
whose boUndless soul fleet of sorrows
might fin6 their anchorage-why this wo
man shoU,d select the weakling and the
dissolute to diadem his worthless life
with unappreciated jewels. She must
plan for him; she must plead with him:
she must work for him; she must bear
his children; she must bear his Gliding,
and she must love them both.
jules was the love which gave"
The hero is not quite so poor a crea-
ture as suggested in this comparison, but
he is not altogether heroic. Another
striking Characteristic of the book is the
authors evident appreciation of the ira
ditions of French nobility. Altogether,
it is not exactly great novel, but it is
a well-written one. (New York: Harper
r. SQ1
The Washington times. (Washington [D.C.]) 1901-1902, 1902-03-02
Proposed Memorial to the Brontes.

The Bronte Society of England is now
making efforts to buy the old home of the
| Bronte sisters, known as Haworth Par
sonage. Their intention is TO convert it
into memorial to the remarkably gifted
women who have made it famous. There
poor, trouble-ridden Charlotte Bronte
wrote Jane Eyre and sent it to the
publishers with the following note (see
Mrs. Gaskell's Life of Charlotte Bronte,"
Haworth Edition of the Bronte Works.:
August "a, I1s47I
81 now send you per rail Ms. entitled
Jane Eyre novel in three volumes by
Currer Bell. 1t IS better in flu
ture to address Mr. Currer Bell, under
cover to Miss Bronte, Haworth, Bradford,
yorkshire. as there IS a risk OF letters
otherwise directed not reaching me at
present. To save trouble, / enclose an
envelope
The Ms. aroused the utmost enthusiasm
of the publishers readers, one of whom
sat w half the nigh. to finish It, Mean
while Charlotte had kept the news from
her father. but after the success of the
novel the following conversation took
place between them tsee Mrs. GaskelD:
Papa. I've been writing book
Have you, my dear?'
a. Yes, and / want you to read it.
81 am afraid 1t will try my eyes too
much
But it is not manuscript; it is print
ed
My dear! you've never thought of the
expense it will be, 1t will be almost sure
to be loss; for how can you get book
sold? No one knows you or your name
But when he came in to tea, and had
read the novel, he said, Girls, do you know
Charlotte has been writing book, and it
is much better than likeIy?'"
The Washington times. (Washington [D.C.]) 1901-1902, 1902-03-02
A New Sea Story

The chief feature of the February issue
of THE Critic is the first installment Of
Mr. Joseph Conrad's serial story "Ty-
phoon.' As may be conjectured "Ty-
phoon'' is sea story. and is one of the
best that Mr.. Conrad has yet written. 1t
is both thrilling descriptive narrative
and a character study of unusual flavor
and pieturesqueness. "Typhoon'' will
run through four numbers of The Critic
concluding in May.
The Washington times. (Washington [D.C.]) 1901-1902, 1902-03-02
Like Other Women.

What a jam there was at the Capitol
Monday vowed l would not cross the
street to gaze upon royalty. and then did
exactly what other women had vowed they
would not do and did. l went to the Capt.
tol and crowded and elbowed and craned
and | came home satisfied in soul and
wearied in body. How l wanted to shake
some of those critchity- crotchity, stiff
necked, surly old Democrats in the House
who hadn't the courtesy to rise from their
seats and chow the Prince any sort of re-
spect for fear they would be judged gull
ty of funkeyism by their constituency at
home.
Over In the Senate pretty little fut-
ter was apparent when several women,
who for hours had been luxuriating in
the diplomatic gallery, without the shad-
ow of a right to be there. and mercy
knows how they effected an entrance.
The Washington times. (Washington [D.C.]) 1901-1902, 1902-03-02

Washington. Unanimously. we pronounced
him darling, with his earnest face, we'll
trimmed beard, and slender figure. We
made the most of the outer Prince, though
we hadn't much of a chance at the inner,
because, like all Benedicts, he looks at
women through the eyes OF wife.
There was one thing l liked especially
about the Prince, and that was his de-
sire to be presented to-not have pre-
scented to him-Mrs. Roosevelt, the ladies
of the Cabinet, and few of the chosen
elect invited to assemble in the Green
Room upon the occasion of His Royal
Highness' first visit to the White House.
After greeting the President, Prince
Henry took up his position in the Blue
Room like the good, solid Teutonic rock
he is and the members of the Cabinet
were graciously permitted to pass in So
cial review and be presented. After this
ceremony, the Prince progressed to the
Green Room, where the ladies did the
stationary rock act and his Royal High
ness was as the purling stream passing
before.
This time he was presented exactly
as the humbiest citizen of the United
The Washington times. (Washington [D.C.]) 1901-1902, 1902-03-02
PSEUDO-SClENCE.

happen at such and such times, not assert
that they actually will happen. For ex-
ample, it is stated by those learned in the
craft that, given the necessary data, it is
possible to say that in the thirtieth year
of a mans life he will be likely to have
a severe Illness of certain sort, affect
ing. perhaps, the BRAIN but his circum-
stances may be such as to counterfeit this
likelihood so that he will escape the ILL
ness. 1t may be compared to the knowl-
edge of characteristics and tendencies
given by acquaintance with the genealogy
of q subject.
But this book. while it gives some of
the principles of the ancient science of
The Washington times. (Washington [D.C.]) 1901-1902, 1902-03-02

threw into them, unaware of the fact she
was wasting energy freely.
Forgetting all over" is not easy to
teach, because no set of rules can be laid
down for the process. The easiest way of
doing it is the best. If you understand
what it means you will soon learn the
trick.
There are a few simple exercises, how
ever, which can be used any hour in the
day but are of especial benefit at night.
Letting the arms drop of their own ac-
cord is the first one. 1t took Sue Belle
and her mother a week to accomplish il
successfully. The little girl did it first
because childhood is always more relaxed
naturally than age. Babies often drop
from third story windows or tumble down
long flights of stairs without being hurt
in the least. The reason for it is that
they simply tumble along without trying
to stop themselves.
AS we grow older the tense habit grows
upon us. Mrs. Aliens fingers were long
in forgetting the work they had been
doing all day. In spite of good intentions,
whenever her hand was swinging free she
The Washington times. (Washington [D.C.]) 1901-1902, 1902-03-02

tanning the position, which might other
wise be put into the prayers themselves.
When the body is no longer tense (al-
ways remember that word means strain
ed tight'D the mind is able to work
clearly and accurately-becaus none of
its force is being expended knowingly or
unknowingly upon the body.
If you are a brain worker try to think
along the line you are obliged to, with
out wasting thought upon your body In
short, teach 1t relaxation when action is
not necessary. That four syllable word
can be always written in one--rest 1t is
the wear and tear we do not realize OF
understand that weakens and breaks down
health.
By brain worker" is not meant a col
lege professor, or writer only, but any
one who is required to do a little more
than the usual amount of thinking A
stenographer may unconsciously grasp her
pencil so hard that her mind absolutely
cannot work as readily as it otherwise
The Washington times. (Washington [D.C.]) 1901-1902, 1902-03-02

TF you are not a Daughter a Mother,
a Suffragist, Pen-woman, a club
i hend-at-large, there is no hope for
you in Washington these days.
1t is the real and recognized thing to
enter the dress competition at the d. a.
R. Congress; to run away from nur-
sery full of measles or whooping cough
to discuss the universal duties of moth
erhood; to let the spring sewing languiSh
while you write essays; to shout for vot-
ing privileges though you are not up in
political natural history and would not
know the G. o. P. elephant from the Tam
many tiger If you met them at the polls;
or go in for a council, a federation, a
league, a union, or some sort of a de-
batting society of sufficient prominence to
show up your latest photograph in a
Washington newspaper.
There is raging epidemic of club fever
II has invaded even the kitchen ranks, and
unless it is checked well have a petit
coated President in the White House be-
fore the Potomac runs dry. Last
week my rheumatic black cook climbed
three flights of stairs to beg an advance
Of three dollars to meet the dues of her
society" This morning she tolls up once
more to plead for two additional dollars
for the purposes of de society"
But ! gave you three dollars for that
society last week. I object"
Yes, Miss, dat you certainly did" adj
mits Nanny, and was dere-by enabled
TO pay my righteous dues. But you see.
las night We held a meetin' of de club
and dey was shoutin' out Parmilentary
rules and l jes' naturally got excited and
riz me voice considerable. You know how
1t is yo-self. honey when dere is de-
batin' goin' on. De result was / got fined
81 for sassin' de chair, and dat q how !
come to ask you for de ioan.''
The Washington times. (Washington [D.C.]) 1901-1902, 1902-03-02

her pet fad. And then, woman-like, she
went on visit TO Boston, and she for
got all about the Mothers and the con-
gress She had not been in Boston many
days before a large reception was given
in her honor, and one of the guests, an
earnest little woman, approached her and
remarked gushingly: "Oh, / am so glad
to meet you. l could not get to Washing
ton in February, my little ones claim
most of my time, but I want to see more
of you, know you better, for / hear you
are such a devoted mother, and you will
give me suggestions about the bringing
up Of"
Excuse me- interrupted Miss -,
turning pink and allowing touch of frost
to get into her voice, but you have
made a mistake | am not Mrs, but Miss,
-" And the gushing parent Of
many babies retired. chilled by the lack
of sympathy in the devoted mother"
and the early touch of frost
The Washington times. (Washington [D.C.]) 1901-1902, 1902-03-02

Russian Political Institutions by
Maxine Kovalevsky, is work describing
the growth and development of Russian
political life from the beginning OF the
country's history to the present time.
The author was formerly professor of pub
lie law at the University of Moscow. and
is the author of several other works on
political history. among them THE
Origin of Modern Democracies,'' Con
temporary Custom and Ancient Law lin
French, and THE Economic Regime of
Russia" lin FRENCH.
The book, as the author explains in his
preface was suggested by a remark OF
Prof Bryce, who expressed himself as
surprised that a book similar to his
American Commonwealth" had not ap-
peared on the political institutions of
Russia. While there are works in Rus
sian which cover this field they are too
voluminous for translation and too
technical TO be easily understood by the
American reader.
The peculiar condition of things in Rus
STA is explained by NJ. kovalevsky in this
comprehensive way. He says:
From an Eastern and despotic State,
Russia, thanks to the reforms of Peter,
Catherine. and the two first Alexanders,
is becoming more and more a European
one. And to achieve this end she began
by initiating Swedish German, French
and English institutions. But this re-
nf Due ;o'c nj
ton into the likeness of foreign models
has by no means prevented the main
tenance of genuine Russian customs and
institutions; indeed. the laws and rules
grated from western Europe have had to
yield much to the home stock. No won
der, then, that on more than one occasion
Russia adopted only the form and not the
spirit of the institutions she was copying.
And will not this mere imitation of form
explain why Russia's experience with Ell
ropean institutions has, till now, done
scarcely anything toward roofing from
her soil what is left of that unbounded
despotic power which is common TO all
Eastern monarchies? For in Russia this
power has merely changed its appear
ance-the single head of the monarch has
taken on the hundred arms of Briareus
And a bureaucracy with It's power CEN
tered in one head-a bureaucracy such as
plagued the European Continent during
the seventeenth and eighteenth CEN
turies-is the present form of the Rus
sian Government"
The book is divided into eleven chap
ters. the first dealing with the earliest be-
ginnings of Russian history. Then come
the purely Muscovite institutions; then
the eighteenth century and the reforms of
Peter the Great; then Catherine II and
the two Alexanders, and so down to the
present time. The position of Poland and
Finland are discussed in the last two
chapters.
In the first chapter, IN the history of the
origin of the Russian people, We find the
folk mote and other Anglo Saxon Scandi-
navian customs; but we find one impor-
tant difference. There was no majority
rule. The whole assembly had to agree
to any decision, and If the minority
proved intractable there was a fight.
The Washington times. (Washington [D.C.]) 1901-1902, 1902-03-02
Made a Show of Himself.

This recent idea of army officers on
duty in Washington wearing their uni
forms is more gratifying to the general
public than to the individuals directly
concerned. One extremely handsome off,
Ger at present on duty at the War De-
partment so dslikes his uniform that he
keeps it at his office and goes to and from
his home in the fashionable West End at
tired in very smart civilian garments. He
has become accustomed to the frequent
changes and has converted small office
cupboard into dressing room.
Not many days ago this oflicer-bear in
mind his good looks-was charged by his
wife to be at home promptly at $50
o'clock to accompany her to an afternoon
tea. That was his busy afternoon, of
course. Men and papers were exacting,
and it was past 8 when his office was
finally cleared. Then flew the army Off
Ger into mis- tiny dressing room to make
The Washington times. (Washington [D.C.]) 1901-1902, 1902-03-02
Early English Drama.

Prof. Felix E. Schelling, of the Univer-
sfty of Pennsylvania, has just published
through the Macmillan Company his work
on THE English Chronicle Play: A Study
in the Popular Historical Literature En-
vironing Shakespeare" His book relates
the story of THE English Chronicle Play
in its origins, in its relations to the wealth
Of historical literature in other forms
which flourished around it. and in its
growth and decline.
The Washington times. (Washington [D.C.]) 1901-1902, 1902-03-02

astrology with fair accuracy, goes off into
charlatanism very suddenly when it states
that to cast a horoscope one must take the
number of letters in the subjects name
and carry out some. calculations with
them 1t is manifestly absurd to connect
the course of the stars with anything so
arbitrary as spelling, or to figure mathe-
matically with the number of letters in a
name as a basis. The genuine astrologer
can cast a horoscope without even know
ing what the name is This work will be
useful chiefly in parlors, professional and
otherwise. There is a lot of decorative
mysticism mixed up with it which adds
to the effect. Chicago: Laird & Leel
The Washington times. (Washington [D.C.]) 1901-1902, 1902-03-02

Practical Astrology," by Comte C. de
Saint German. is a book whose practi-
cality lies largely in the fact that 1t
would probably be commercially avail
able to somebody with professor" before
his name and large audacity In his
heart. AS a work of science it IS not
much.
There is such Il thing as science of as
trology, and books have been written
about it of such a nature that the student
can forecast with reasonable accuracy d
horoscope OF anyone willing to give the
necessary data. OF course, there are linn
its to such forecasts, and the astrologer
can only tell what things are likely to
The Washington times. (Washington [D.C.]) 1901-1902, 1902-03-02
Not Mrs, but Miss.

When the Mothers we're not quite as
old as they are now, one of the ardent
supporters of the congress was a certain
spinster numbered In the household OF
Cabinet member. She did not miss
session, and she lived and breathed for
the cause. She read papers and advanced
theories, and everybody thought it was
The Washington times. (Washington [D.C.]) 1901-1902, 1902-03-02
LIST IN WASHINGTON SOCIETY, d.
d. The EYE AND EAR SPECIALIST

States might have been. and all his greet
ings were formally and correctly made
In English. 1t was blow to several
women who said their little says in beau
tifully prepared German when the Prince
gravely replied in English.
The Washington times. (Washington [D.C.]) 1901-1902, 1902-03-02
Peter Newell's "Alice /"

1t is stated that the original of Mr..
Peter Newell's conception of "Alice in
Wonderland was his little daughter Jo-
sephire, and that she was mis- Model for
the recently drawn illustrations of Lewis
Carrolls classic.
The Washington times. (Washington [D.C.]) 1901-1902, 1902-03-02
Mrs. Craigie's New Book.

''Temperaments," John Oliver Hobbies
new book, is coming cut in the spring.
1t is to contain short play and three
stories.
The Washington times. (Washington [D.C.]) 1901-1902, 1902-03-02

ii was all they could do to carry their
bushes away. and my heart bIed for
them
The Washington times. (Washington [D.C.]) 1901-1902, 1902-03-02
Prince Henry.

Princelings may come, and princelings
may go, but the memory of Prince Henry
Will linger forever with the women of