davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1902-02-01

= In the improvement of the capital the
various religious denominations have taken
prominent part, keeping pace with the
other interests of the city's progress. This
progress has been marked, not only by the
erection of better houses of worship. but in
some instances by the change of location
to neighborhoods which had been built.
The hold that the churches have on the
people of the District may be shown by a
canvass made. a year or two ago. or that
portion of the city between 9th and 18th
streets embracing some fifty blocks. The
canvass showed that 30 per cent of the
families were represented in the churches
1t should be matter CT congratulation by
the church people that of the churches or
ganized here in the past failure to Sc
cure a foothoId has been rare, and that on
the other hand but few denominations have
failed TO build larger churches or established
others While with some 1t was difhcuit In
the early days 10 sustain themselves as
churches, there have been no total failures,
and where sixty years ago there was scarce
a dozen houses of worship of all the de-
nominations there are now few denomina-
tions that have rot that number in the city.
With some of the old churches there has
not only been Improvement of the build
tngS but in location, for as the city mas
grown some sections were found to have
so changed their character from residential
to business sections that the most prom
Using fields were not in the neighborhood
of the church. And as the y has grown,
neighborheods built up, not only have
churches been organized in them. but old
congregations have moved into them and
built new houses of worship.
OF the Catholic churches of the city there
Is but one of the old ones which has dis
appeared, this was due to the establish
ment of ST. Peters. of which 1t became
part This was St. Mary's, better known
Evening star., 1902-02-01
VAGARIEs OF ANIMALS.
Oysters That Grow on Trees-Rooks
That Fight for Nests.
From the Chicago News


The British government conducts a turtle
farm at Ascension Island. January in each
year sees the commencement OF the turtle
season, which does not, as a rule last more
than three months. All turtles caught at
Ascension Island are the property OF the
crown, and are only sent to England and
other places for disposal as directed by the
admiralty. in whose hands the government
Of the whole island practically rests. The
particular species which favors Ascension
with its visits is the green turtle. from
whose green fat and portion OF the fins
that particular brand of soup is made
which is proverbially associated with the
banquets Of London's civic dignitaries.
Many people still smile when they hear
travellers talk OF oysters that grow on
trees. just as long ago sailors were laughed
iyfng fish. Both are real enough, how
ever. and the tree oyster is of delicious
taste. IL voyagers through the tropics ara
to be believed. At a conference recently
held in Barbados ]. Z. Duerden of Ja-
maica. an economic scientist of some note
brought forward an interesting proposal for
increasing and improving the cultivation OF
tree oysters, and as there lis rich field
In nearly all the West India Islands and
along the coast OF Central America some
thing may come of the scheme. Thesesoys-
tiers cling to the branches of the mangrove.
When the English rocks are building
their nests frequently a rookery is dis
turbed by big quarrels over the placing OF
those huge bundles of sticks in the tree
tops The trouble occurs mostly with
young birds wishing to place their nests
too near to an old nest. A council of rocks
is called. with the result that the dispu-
tants nests are soon scattered to the winds
and the claimant and the defendant both
have to begin new foundation. Some
times there is a disturbance on more
limited scale when pair of birds do their
very best to pull the sticks from the nest
Of another pair. each of the contending
parties doing all they can to prevent the
other from building. Rocks are curiousiy
weather wise and they scent coming
storm and set to work to repair ana
strengthen their nests before that immI-
nent gale has been evident TO the farmer.
The rocks powers Of sight and hearing are
remarkable.
Evening star., 1902-02-01
FARMING IN JAPAN.
Crude Implements Still Used In Cultf-
waiting the Soil.

Crude Implements Still Used In Cultf-
waiting the Soil.
From the Springfield tOhior Farm and Fireside.
Twenty-seven hundred years before Christ
the Emperor of China introduced a sys-
tenn Of agriculture into his country. The
soil had always been cultivated in an in
ferior way. but this enterprisng ruler saw
the need of other methods, and made every
effort to inforce their general adoption. In
order to impress the matter upon the peas
ants he plowed small plot of land and
sowed it with the five most important GER
eals. For this he was deified after his
death and made god of the crops. For
| more than 1900 years the rulers of the en-
pire have followed his example in the mat
ter of plowing and sowing.
When these new modes of cultivation had
been well established, and every hillside
and valley were smiling ready for harvest,
the islands of Japan became known to
China and they sent their missionary priest
over to this country. They took with them
the entire civilization of China-their arts,
sciences. philosophy, industries and among
the latter their well-tested methods Of en-
riching the soil.
:, The Japanese farmer had many disad-
vantages that made the process Of better
<cultivation very difficult. The entire coun-
try is of volcanic formation, and only one
twelfth OF the land is sufficiently fat to
admit of farming. Added to this the soil
llSCll 10 Hdtui dliy VI d very pour qualify
and requires special treatment both by
ways of enriching and irrigation. The
greatest advantage Of the farmer is the
fact that he has divided the land into very
small sections Perhaps it would be more
accurate to say that extreme poverty
makes it impossible for farmer to possess
more than a good-sized potato patch. AT
any rate. the smallness of the farms has
its advantages, and the toll of the farmer
of today is not to be mentioned when COM
pared with that of his ancestors, who took
the virgin soil in all it's poverty and law
ished no end of energy and strength to
bring it up to it's present producing capac-
ity. Yes. the farmer of today has entered
into a rich heritage of hills already ter
raced and plains finely irrigated, repre-
senting the patient, steady toll of many
centuries.
The first turning of the soil on a we'll
conducted plot is done by crude plow har-
messed to a bullock or horse, usually the
former. A crooked piece of wood forms
the central feature Of this ancient struc-
ture. To one end is attached a sharp blade.
and to the other a crOSSbeam, used for the
double purpose of lettering the bullock
which Is harnessed with indescribable rope
trappings and also furnishing a means by
which the farmer may guide the plow Az
ter this sort of plowing the soil is loosened
by a lOng-handled spade and the process
of planting begins.
The crude manner Of the prepa ration OF
the soil is of little moment when compared
with the harvesting. The sickle is scarcely
larger than curved breadknife and upon
this the farmer depends for gathering
everything that is not uprooted.
Evening star., 1902-02-01
Where Mr.. Kruger Is Living.


Inc Dutch press persists in alludng to
MI Kruger as the president of the
Boers,' and great interest continues to be
taken In him. HIS new abode is called
soranJelust. 1t is separated from the high
road by an iron trellis. and it stands in a
small garden planted with bushes and with
piece OF rockwofk in the center. Ali
around tulips have, been planted in such
a way that their foagss will reproduce the
vlerkleur' just under Dom .Paurs window.
Mr kruger'sSroous ara on the ground floor
on the right: they are drawing room, din
is furnisi1e d beaueffaNy- in the style OF
LOUIS AV': the f,nndto Is, in walnut, up
hoislered In green stuff, embroidered with
stun. The bed 4tsoS6 4tsoSS6rnh Al furniture is oaken,
with green cusH6nsrf and green curtains.
3Ihe finest room,hs tfhh dining room; it is
) IN OAK, upholsterfd IN yfed leather. and with
reo. plush curtainst The carpet comes from
smyrna, and is q ArbesAtifui specimen. The
'tendants. Next door but one affords an
asylum to the Eylpfa family. and a little
time ago Dr: Leyla. vented house In the
nnelsHporhood. AsmpSa pitifm description OF
Mr. krugers gradual breakup is given by
those who haven Visited him lately, and
there Is no doubt that he Is still beng
mlsled with regard 10 the actual state Of
aHalrs in South Africa.
Evening star., 1902-02-01
SINGLE EYEGLASs FAD.
Plain Window Pane Worn by Men
With Good Sight.

Plain window Pane Worn by Men
With Good Sight.
From the London Express.
The monocle is slowly coming back to
town again. Not since the days of Major
Pendennis and the Iron Duke. whom the
old soldier tried to copy, has there been
anything like the vogue which is now set
ting in in single eyeglasses. Some who
claim to know trace the origin of the new
fashion to the fact that officers serving
in South Africa have, found them very
serviceable; others put them down to a
revival at Oxford and Cambridge.
/ At an establishment in New Bond street,
which for years has supplied the elite with
monocles, an Express representative was
informed that the new craze has been in
progress for some time. 1t is an undoubte d
fact that there is a growing demand for a
. particular type of eyeglass manufactured
in America, which Is peculiarly adapted
to sensitive eyesight To a question
whether the wearing of the single eye
glass was not so much a necessity as a
foppish fad, the Express man received the
reply that OF one hundred men wearing
monocles there would be. perhaps. about
twenty wearing plain non-ma agnifying
glasses-window pane-purely for orna-
ment. The rest would require the use of
the monocle to help the defective sight of
one or the other eye.
Evening star., 1902-02-01

the lower half of this region Is generally
called. Express trains cannot make head
against t-nay, sometimes they are even
blown from the track! Upon the crests of
some OF the ranges are hundreds of acres
buried deep In the fine, white sand that
those fearful gales scoop up by carloads
from the plain and lift on high to fling
upon the scowling peaks thousands Of feet
above. There are no snow drifts to block
ade trains there, but 1t is frequently neces-
sary to shovel through more troublesome
drifts of sand.
Man or beast caught in one of those sand
laden tempests has little chance of escape.
Inc man who will lie with his head tightly
wrapped in coat or blanket and stifle there
until the fury of the storm is spent may
survive; but woe to the poor brute whose
swift feet cannot bear 1t betirnes to a place
OF refuge There is no facing or breathing
tnat atmosphere of alkaline sand, whose
nghtest whin inf1ames eyes. nose ard throat
almost past endurance.
Evening star., 1902-02-01
I. Porcelain ViOlins.

From Chambers Journal.
A well-known manufacturer of musical
instruments in Germany-Max Freyer-has
introduced a process for making violins
from clay. These fddles are of the ordi-
nary pattern. but are cast in molds. 80 that
each instrument is an exact counterpart Of
its fellow. 1t Is said-but it Is somewhat
hard to believe-that the porcelain body
acts as a better resonator than one OF
wood and that the tone of the instrument
is therefore singulariy pure and full. The
same inventor Is also making mandoiins of
china clay, and it seems that they are much
appreciated in southern countries where
this instrument is regarded more seriously
than 1t Is in Britain. The obvious dIsad-
vantage of a musical instrument being
made Of china clay Is the brittIeness OF
that material. AS well as Its weight, but
both these drawbacks seem to have been
forgotten. For some time We have heard
rumors OF most excellent victims being
made OF aluminium. and this metal. from
its extreme iightness and other qualities
would seem to be admirably adapted to
such purpose.
Evening star., 1902-02-01
A BILLIARD BALL.
Care and Time Required to Produce
the White Spheres.


the White Spheres.
From the Philadelphia North American.
1t takes more than a year to make a bill
lard ball! Few devotees of the game prob
ably are aware of the infinite pains that
have to be expended on this important part
of the equipment that contributes to their
entertainment
Billiard balls are made from elephants
tusks, and only the small tusks from four
to six inches in their thickest diameter will
do. for these furnish the best ivory. The
price Of this ivory has greatly increased OF
late. and the demand is far in excess of
the supply. This stringency in the market
has induce a prominent billiard company
to offer $4,000 for a perfect substitute for
ivory.
The elephants tusks come to the fac
tories cut up in sections, each having been
cut just large enough to allow of the turn
ing of single ball. Only skilled labor is
employed to work upon it. The exact cen
by measurement. 1t is then placed in a
socket and one-half of the ball is turned
by sharp-edged steel instrument. The
ivory Is then hung up in a net for a time.
Later. the second half is turned. and the
ball again hung up as before in a room
where the temperature is from GO to 20
degrees.
The ball must be kept thus suspended for
ABOUT a year, When IT Is rubbed and pol
ished to as near certain weight as possi-
bic, and to diameter Of two and three
eighths inches Even with the greatest
care it is impossible to make two balls of
exactly the same weight
The life of a billiard ball after it is placed
in use is an uncertain quantity. If the room
in which it is kept is too hot the pores of
the ivory may close. and a crack ensue.
Then it has to be returned to the factory,
where 1t is shaved off and consequently re-
duced in size. n SecOnd-rate billiard room
gets it next BY and'b by it develops another
crack, and again goes back to the factory,
where this time it is probably fixed up for
a cue ball in pool. When it has reached it's
last limit of usefulness as ball 1t is bought
by dealers in bone and ivory and turned
into buttons
Evening star., 1902-02-01
Dizziness After Fairs.
From the New York Tribune.

Ground has been broken for the ST. Louis
exposition. 1t was frozen ground and the
air bit shrewdly. May III omens be absent!
Philadelphia, Chicago Omaha and Buffalo
suffered so serious reactions after their big
fairs that many of the residents of those
cities were sorry after the Blooms" had
passed that they had ever undertaken the
colossal tasks of such exhibitions. MAY st.
Louis be more fortunateI But it cannot bo
denied that after an enormous show q
dreary reaction is practically inevitable.
Evening star., 1902-02-01
DESERT SAND STORMS.
Neither Men Nor Eeast Can Withstand

Nefthcr Men Nor Beast Can WfthsfanN
Them.
From the Philadelphia North American.
As would be. inferred from its tempera-
ture, the desert Is land OF fearful winds.
When that volume of hot air rises by its
own iightness other air from the surround
ing world must. rush in to take Its place.
and as the new ocean Of atmosphere.
greater than the Mediterranean, pours in
enormous waves Into its desert bed. such
winds result as few people In fertile lands
ever dream OF t-s-ss
The Arabian SIMEON -is not deadlier than
. the sand storm of the Colorado Desert ias
Evening star., 1902-02-01
Postal Clerks Memory.

1.-The department has formulated and ad-
hered to the rule have given for the pro-
lection of the public, as well as itself
against errors in delivering the mail. A
man will devote great care to the writing
of letter and then write the superscrip-
ton with a -got-to-catch-a-t
a-mile-off style. when he ought to devote
the greatest care to the address on the en-
Evening star., 1902-02-01

The large addition to the Methodist IJome
at 9Th and M streets is almost completed
and public opening will occur about the
1st of March.
Evening star., 1902-02-01

copal Church held a meeting Tuesday even
ing and was addressed by Rev. T. P. Noe
of St. Paups School, Beaufort NC
Evening star., 1902-02-01

Rev John F. Malo, the well-known In
dian missionary, has been visiting Father
Jas. P O'Brien at st. Peters rectory this
week.
Evening star., 1902-02-01

District officers of the Epworth League
have been invited to assist in the organi-
zation of new chapter at the K street mis-
sion in Southeast Washington next Sunday
evening
Evening star., 1902-02-01

The Ladies' Mite Society Of Metropolitan
Presbyterian Church gave q musical and
literary entertainment in the lecture room
Of the church last evening. Refreshments
were served at the close OF the program.
Evening star., 1902-02-01

A. North Carolina. Avenue NJ. E. Church
last Sunday night Rev. A. N. Ward preach
ed a sermon on the life of Christ. illustrat-
ell with stereopticon views.
|; The Christian Endeavor Of Central Pres
/ byterian Church conducted the services at
tive committee of the Christian Endeavor,
which has had charge of services at the
fort have recently bought and paid for a
new piano, which has been placed in the
auditorium at that place.
Post.conf1rmation classes Of 1900 and 100,
Of the Hebrew Congregation on 9Th street
have -ecsrtly organized and their number
will be added to by conflrmants of previous
years The class Of the present year has
also been organized. under direction of
Rabbi Louis Stern. and the combined
classes will take up course of religious
slonal lectures In conjunction with the
Sunday school and Young Peoples Temple
Society OF the church these organizations
propose to present the cantata Esther" on
Rev. Father Fitzpatrick Of the Catholic
University preached at st. Augustine 5
Church at the II o'clock mass last Sunday.
program at the high mass.
The board of control OF the Epwortn
League will hold its monthly meeting at
Hamline Church. sext Wednesday evening.
instead Of at Foundry Church. as usual.
At recent meeting Of the Young Peo-
pies Society Christian Endeayor OF the
First Presbyterian Church the following
oncers were elected for the ensuing year:
President. Mr. J. L. Hayes: vice president,
MT William AcCubbin: secretary. Miss
| Eva IVA. sfeoss: treasurer Miss Emelie Mars
/ with the Sunday school In arranging a
series OF entertainments, TO be given this
Evening star., 1902-02-01

A very enthusiastic missionary mass
meeting of the District Epworth League
Evening star., 1902-02-01

Mrs. Belva A. Lockwood addressed the
Monday afternoon meeting Of the Council
OF Jewish Women at the Hebrew Temple on
Sth street.
Evening star., 1902-02-01

A very pleasant social was given by the
Ladies' Aid of Gunten Temple Memorial
Presbyterian Church last Friday night.
Musical numbers We're rendered by Mrs.
George Leppitt Miss Matte V. Wade, Mr..
Harry Hart and Mr.. Hubert D. Lawson.
Mrs. Eugene M. Tilden gave a recitation.
social hour was spent, during which re-
freshments were provided.
Evening star., 1902-02-01

James P. Eagle of Little Rock, Ark.
prominent in Baptist Church circles in the
south. has been in the city this week and
visited a number of the Baptist churches
Evening star., 1902-02-01

A mock trial was held at the Y NJ c. A.
last Saturday night which aroused consid-
erable interest among aspiring youths with
legal turn of mind. The debating So
ciety held meeting last night and debat-
ed
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1902-08-15

President Roosevelt has appoint
ed Oliver Wendell Holmes, Chief
Justice of Supreme Court of Massa-
chusetts, to be an Associate Justice
of the United States Supreme
Court, vice Justice Gray, who re-
signed on account of i'll health
Justice Gray who is "a years of age
was stricken with apoplexy some
months ago and has not since ap-
peared on the bench. With the
exception of Justice Harlan, Justice
Gray served on the bench of the
United States Supreme Court longer
than any of his present colleagues.
He was appointed an Associate
Justice by President Arthur on
December 10, 1881, his service ex-
tending, therefore, through period
of nearly twenty-one years.
Judge Holmes, whom the Presi-
dent has selected as Justice Gray's
successor, is one of the most dis
tinguished lawyers and jurists of
Massachusetts.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1902-08-15

King Edward VII, after a strug-
gle with a severe sickness extending
over period of six weeks, was
crowned ruler of the mightiest
empire on the face of the globe in
Westminster Abbey, London, on
Saturday, 9th, and solemnly swore
to govern according to the laws of
Parliament. The coronation of King
Edward and Queen Alexandra was
carried out with the greatest pomp
and splendor, and all the Old
World usages. The dazzling dis
play of jewels, robes of velvet, en-
mine and cloth ,of-gold; gold lace
uniforms, medieval costumes, etc.,
presented picture Of brilliancy
and splendor which has seldom
been excelled, and though the GER
emony was bereft of some of the
elaboration and pageantry original
ly contemplated, it lacked little in
the way of spectacular perfection.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1902-08-15
The Trust Checks Progress.

Free competition develops the indus
tries of country. The aim of every
producer is 10 lower the cost of produc-
ton and to do it first. He seeks to antic-
ipate his rivals in the application of new
methods and the use of new machinery,
knowing that if he did not the lace could
not be won by him, hence this struggle
to produce the goods cheaper than rival
on the same footing is a powerful in
centive to progress and results i'll great
saving to the people. But when trust
gets control of the industry it carries on
the profits of the concern are used to pay
fancy dividends on watered stock in order
that the stock issues dumped upon the
market may sell at premium, and conf
petition being crushed out the trust does
not have to devote its energies to the
improvement of the plants in the hope OF
cheapening IFS products. as there is no
fear of competitor underseling. The
incentive for improvement being removed
by the absence of competition, there is a
corresponding absence in progress as a
monopoly is satisfied with its methods and
plant. case in point is that of the tele.
graph trust buying up every patent
brought out that would tend to improve
rival concern, and shelving them,
when if they were applied to their own
system it would necessarily cheaper the
service and compel the trust to give the
public the benefit in cheaper rates
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1902-08-15

The Atlanta Constitution in a mild sort
of way, protests against the junketine
of high officials, at government expense,
which has grown with each succeeding
administration until the abuse of the
privilege has come to be looked upon,
apparently, as one of necessary evils for
which the people must be taxed without
receiving any benefit in return.
There are lot of common, every day
citizens in this country, says the Consti
tuition, who would like to know what they
build dispatch boats, revenue cutters, and
light house tenders for, anyhow? The
President puts his family upon naval
boat and sends them from the Capital
around the capes to Oyster Bay, with a
dip into New York slip. There may be
good and irrefutable reasons why our
naval vessels should be thus employed,
but the people do not seem to catch onto
them all at once. The President has a
special government yacht, the Mayfower,
fitted up, we are officially told, i'll style
of luxury that beggars the Technology OF
decorative art. On it he can take his
familiar friends and go fishing, hunting,
speech-making, or just swallowing BUSH
els of salt air. We do not say such uses
of government property are illegal We
simply do not find the authority for it in
the Revised Statutes. Secretary Moody
and his subs are junketing in government
ships on alleged inspection tours, taking
families and guests to help do the ardu-
Gus inspecting. Then Secretary Shaw
takes tour in one of those jimdandy
revenue cutters and bumps around in the
fog banks until the whole country is
alarmed for his safety. Even if these i'm
perial looking appropriations of the
national property to private uses are law
full and not worthy of complaint, yet there
is question of propriety in it all that the
peoples servants should consider.