davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1902-05-01
VAGARIES OF TIDES.
Curious Currents in the Ocean and It's
Various Arms Throughout the
Entire Globe.

There are as many vagaries in the
waters as in the winds. Why, for in
stance, should three great ocean cur
rents send their warm waters across
the wide Pacific, Atlantic and across
the Cape of Good Hope? There have
been many theories advanced to solve
the problem of their origin, but all
have proved fallacious. Other and
equally mysterious currents exist in
well-nigh all parts of the world. The
tides are so erratic in different parts
of the world that one hesitates to ac-
cept the theory that the moon controls
them in all cases. 1t is on record that
the sea has run for weeks out of the
Java sea through the straits of Sunda
and thence back again for like period
without any perceptible rise or fall
during those times. Then there is the
equatorial current that flows into the
Caribbean sea, the eyer-howing cur
rent to the eastward around Capo
Horn, the cold stream flowing from
the icy regions of the north past New
foundland and Nova Scotia and along
the American coast to the extreme end
of Florida the continual current run
ming with velocity of from four to
five knots an hour through the straits
of Gibraltar into the Mediterranean
sea, the swift current running across
the rocks and shoals off the end of
Billion island, which apparently
starts from nowhere and ends some
ha 1-iS,ioi+xy ~ tho
place, and the current which, starting
half way up in the China sea, runs
from two to three knots an hour to
the northeast and finally ends abrupt
w off the north end of Luzon. Then
we have those tidal vagaries known
the world over as bores. Residents on
Severn side are familiar with them,
and those that run up the Hooghly and
Irrawaddy rivers from side to side in
zigzag shape till they reach their limit,
often tearing ships from their anchor
age, originate nobody knows where or
why. The rush of waters in the bay
of Fundy is nothing but huge bore
sweeping all before it up to the head
of the bay till the waters have risen to
the height of so or GO feet. Off South
ampton we have the double tides,
while at Singapore it has been OBJ
served for days at a time that there
has been but the one rise and fall in
the "A hours. The tides may be, and
very often appear as though they
were '|moon struck" but they cer-
tainly are not controlled with hard and
fast rules by that or any other body.
London Shipping World.
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1902-05-01

tegrity of an ambassadors wife; but
as rule such losses are swallowed
with the best grace possible and scan
dial is avoided.
On one occasion the goods of a
Spanish ambassadors wife were seized
by creditors in Italy; but the court Of
Madrid, though disappearing of the
lady's indiscretion, took high grounds
in regard to the breach of diplomatic
etiquette and the Italian government
COMPOUNDED itself in official apologies.
In Washington, as well as at Euro
pean courts, occasionally dissension
has arisen over the privileges of fem
mime relatives of bachelor or widower
ambassadors. The sister, niece or eld-
est daughter of an ambassador, hold
ing the place of mistress of his house,
has sought the privileges of ambassa-
dress, but the wives of the other am
bassadors have invariably raised
mighty protest and have carried their
point.
Queen Victoria settled the mooted
question once for all by consulting
with the other European courts and
bringing about a mutual agreement
that no woman save the wife of the
ambassador could enjoy the privileges
of ambassadress.
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1902-05-01
CAN the AMERICANS
LEARN the CHINESE
LANGUAGE TO ADJ
VANTAGE g? 8 8 q 8
By HERBERT ALLEN GILES, L. L. D.,
Professor Of Chinese at Cambridge University,
England in America.


the end of them would be reached By the time that all the
living Cinnamon had passed. generation would have been
born and ready file the spot the place of the
generation that is alve-and so on forever.
Although the Chinese nation is old, know very little
about whole The time when will be to the ad
vantage American know something about China and
people and language Even the twentieth
look China and remarkable lands the sixteenth and
seventeenth centuries Europe looked America Anyway the
and its characteristics worth studying glad know
that in America Columbia university, of New York city, has
cded take the study OF the Chinese definite The
foundation of the Dean Lung chair will great deal Amer
lea In studying the Chinese language the first thing be done
to find grammar. This thing that is almost unknown China
But there Chinese gmmars but they bear the famous mark
Made in Germany Having possession of grammar the
thing to to study it. In few days the student will be
able few words, and in few weeks will
months he will abber considerably and with 1t
ponds how he to work study the language There
who speak the language we'll that is impossible
tell them from the natives.
There dialects. dialects
different from each other English and Dutch
Mandarin is the official language of the whole empire 1t the
language spoken between official and between Judge
Is prisoner brought from the country? tells his tale
in his native dialect and translated the Interpreter
into Mandarin The judge asks his questions they
translated back into the dialect The are in Mandarin
always
Mandarin is the language that should be the student
going from America for practical purposes If he going
particular province dialect of that
ince later
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1902-05-01
INDUS1W&Ma5 <
: M2.zhECHkaSs
HAD NARROW ESCAPE.
ming Related by a Most UnwiII-
ing Eyewitness.

Robert Seyboth, of the United States
weather bureau, tells of an experience
with ball lightning while at sea in Hud-
son bay in 1867. The phenomenon was
witnessed during a storm. Happen
ing to secure the upper hold on the
foretopsail brace, the writer, facing
sternward, again noticed the evil-look-
ing thunderhead, apparently but few
yards above the mizzen truck, and,
while waiting in silent expectancy for
the thing to come, saw a ball of fire
the size of mans head detach itself
from the cloud and sail quite leisurely
to the mizzen truck, striking which it
exploded with a deafening crash and
sent a shower of kissing sparks over
rigging and deck.
"Of the immediate consequences,
save one, the writer can only speak
from hearsay. When he regained con-
seriousness he found himself sitting,
propped up against the weather side
of the mainmast, paralyzed in the right
half of his body, and his shipmates
busily engaged, some in clearing away
the wreckage of the shattered main
mast, others in sounding the pump to
discover whether or not the bolt had
knocked hole in the vessels bottom.
The latter calamity was probably
averted by the fact that the lightning
had found IA easier escape to the
water by way of the anchor chains,
through the hawse pipes, as both an
chOrs had been made ready to let drop
in case of the vessels inability to
weather the rocks. The one exception
above noted and which he has accept
ed as a proof that the velocity of
thought is greater than that of light
ming, was his distinct realization, at
the critical moment, that he had been
struck by lightning and was being
hurled to the deck, though conscious
ness failed him before he struck it.
He also had time to formulate the
thought: We'll, it is all over with you
this time and feel rather gratifed at
the supposed fact.
"There was absolutely no pain felt,
not even an unpleasant sensation; on
the contrary, he seemed to sink into an
agreeably restful position, though, ac-
cording to his shipmates' statements,
he was hurled with great violence into
the lee scuppers. OF the other men on
the deck, especially those having hold
of the brace, every one was more or
less shocked, but none were rendered
insensible. The writer's uppermost
hold on the rope had evidently defect
ed the greater part of the charge
through his body. The paralysis of his
right side was gradually succeeded by
a prickling sensation, and the move
ment of his limbs had again become
possible by the time the watch was told
to go MISUNDERSTANDING American.
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1902-05-01

we remember that the neighboring
country of France consumes 100000
tons annually so that this mountain
could supply France with salt for 700
years. The salt mountain is private
property and is worked as mine, but
only to very limited extent. The
workmen fashion crosses, TASKS, cups,
and other objects of fine clear speci-
mems, and sell them to occasional
tourists. OF course, the rain beating
upon the salt hill gradually washes it
away, but the process is very slow.
A shower of detached blocks falls after
a storm, but these fragments grow to-
gether again as broken ice does. The
worst enemies of the mountain are I'M
foreground watercourses which dis
solve great caves in it's base. These
caves are interesting, but hardly safe
to visit for obvious reasons. Their
roofs are covered with salt stalactites.
This is not the only salt mountain in
the world. There are some in Persia,
worked as mines, and the miners are
said to build houses of blocks of salt,
cemented together by wetting. There
is one in Colombia which was uncov-
cred by landslide in 1870.
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1902-05-01
TALK WITH MENELIK.
American Traveller Has an Interest.
ing Social Half Hour with the
King of Abyssinia.

Oscar 7. Crosby contributes to the
Century his Personal Impressions of
Menelik." Here is a resume of one of
his conversations with the king:
He has never been outside of his own
kingdom; has probably never seen a
boat, save one of Marchand's, which
lies in front of the palace, in sections,
as borne there by porters; has never
seen a wheeled vehicle, save a few
small mountain guns; speaks no Euro
pean language; and must devote most
of his time to internal affairs. Such an
expansive body of water as the ocean,
l fancy, he cannot conceive; the
rotundity of the earth has been ex-
planned to him, but was not grasped.
He marveled when l told him of the
difference in time between New York
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1902-05-01

and Adds Abeba. Of New York he
seemed not to have heard when l re-
ferred to it as the big city of my coun-
try. Pictures of great commercial
buildings and views of cities made, 1
thought, rather faint impression on
him. The Brooklyn bridge was more
effective, and he marveled at it's
height, though just how the in
terpreter translated figures and dis
tances do not know, since in ordinary
transactions with Abyssinians no unit
of length was discovered. The capitol
at Washington, which was described as
corresponding to his residence, made
some impression on him when it's size
was explained.
When the books were put aside, a
new magazine pistol which 1 had
picked up in Paris came in for minute
examination, and then took its place
in collection of small arms which
must now be well-nigh complete.
Among the illustrations shown were
some of the big New England cotton
mills. These l tried to identify to
Menelik as the places in which were
manufactured nearly all of the cotton
goods which his subjects wore, fact
that 1 had learned with surprise and
pleasure while on the coast. In other
ways, also, I tried to make clear my
nationality; but in the end he dictated,
or his secretary wrote: "Mr. Crosby,
the Englishman, has permission to go
down the Blue Nile"
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1902-05-01

Berlin, Germany. This new stretch
ing and Strengthening apparatus con-
sists essentially of vertical ladder
and frame to carry the appliances
for the different treatments, with
means for adjusting the frame and
the different parts of the apparatus
to conform with the particular case
in hand. 1t is the intention of the in
ventor to have the patient suspended
in the frame in such manner as to
apply pressure to the deformed part,
at the same time causing movements
of the muscles and bones which will
aid in bringing the parts to their nor
NAL position, gradually increasing
the pressure and movements as the
treatment progresses until the cure
is completed.
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1902-05-01
PRINCES OF CHURCH.
Entire College of Cardinals to b.
Present at Jubilee Function mt
Rome Next June.

Cardinals Gibbons and Martinelli
are to be invited to repair simultan-
eously to Rome to be present at a
grandiose function in honor of the
papal jubilee of Leo XIII. The event
is to take place in the end of June,
and is to consist of a gathering of the
entire college of cardinals around the
pope to offer in a body their congrat-
ulations and their hearty wishes ad
multos amos.
The movement was started by the
cardinals resident in Cura, those who
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1902-05-01
ABOUT THE FLYING FISH.
It's Course Through the Air Is Direct
Iy Forward and It's Wings
Do Not Flap.

Out from the warmer seas fly the
flying fish-the fish of which every
one has heard, which yet none can
see for the first time without gasp
of amazement, without feeling as
though beholding the miraculous;
the fish which has given rise to more
untruthful stories than any other
fish in all the seas.
Undoubtedly the flying fish has
wings like bird, undoubtedly it flies
yet not as a bird. 1t does not flap
the wing-like, pectoral fins on which
it is up-borne; nor, once launched in
the air, can it change it's course by
any movement of it's wings, until it
dips again to the water. Yet it will
pass a ship making ten knots in the
hour, and travel in the air as far as
500 feet at time, says Parsons.
Astounding, indeed, is the sight of
a shoal of flying fish taking to >the
air, Swimming far over the surface
when the sea is calm, leaping high
over great waves when gales blow
Fish seem ludicrously out of their
element in air-but that fish should
fly is not really more wonderful than
that some animals and birds, like the
otter or the penguin, dive and swim
to perfection.
The flying fsh's fins are really
parachutes to support and steady it's
body rather than wings to propel it;
the lobe of the tail gives propulsion
to the body as it leaves the water.
A flying fish measures about a foot
in length and it's long transparent
pectoral fins reach almost to the
tail; but though very large when ex-
banded, they can be folded up very
neatly. Its fight is short and inter-
mittent, and it must needs contin-
uaIly dip into the sea to give itself a
fresh start.
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1902-05-01
a MOUNTAIN OF SALT.
1t IL Big Enough to supply All France
with Salt for IA Period of Sew
eFaI Centuries

This marvel, we are told by Lectures
pour Tous, stands at Cardona, Spain,
in the foothills of the Pyrenees, in an
inhospitable region, torrid in summer
and very cold in winter. 1t attracts
few spectators, for it can be reached
only by journey of 25 miles in tar
tame" or mule cart. Near the salt
mountain stands the old fort of Car
dona, long reputed one of the strong
est in Spain. At its base flows stream
through gorge entirely barren of
vegetation, the traveller comes sudden
ly at turn in the path upon the salt
mountain, which resembles a huge
glacier. 1t is estimated to contain
500,000,00O tons of rock salt-a state
ment which may be more interesting if
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1902-05-01

live in Rome and are at the head Of
the sacred Roman congregations.
They decided to invite all their nom
resident brother princes of the church
to convene in the eternal city as sym
boil of the unity of the Catholic HER
archy and their devotion to the su-
preme pontiff.
The gathering will be almost unique
in the history of the church. The
cardinals heretofore have been con-
volked only for the holding of an ecu
menical council or for a conclave on
the death of a pope. The conclave is
often held hurriedly, and cardinals
residing at long distances from Rome
have rarely any hope of being in time
to personally cast their vote for the
election of the new pope.
Alone of all members of the Cath
Ole church the Cardinal Camerlingo
is permitted to make provision before
a reigning pope's death for the hold
ing of the next conclave-the meet
ing of the college Of cardinals to elect
a pope, and such provision must be
only of material kind.
At the gathering Of the cardinals
next June no discussion of the subject
will, of course, be made among those
directly interested.
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1902-05-01
DANISH OLD-AGE PENSIONS.
in Denmark Proves Generally
satisfactory.

A law Tor the pensIoning OF SuperaR-
nuated and INDECENT citizens has been
in operation in Denmark ever since
1891. After ten years trial the peo-
pie have become so favorably i'm
pressed by its results that a general
demand had been made on the govern
ment for additional legislation along
the same line. The amendment of the
law is one of the most important tasks
of the rigsdag now in session, says the
New York Sun.
The present law is based on the
principle that every person who has
reached the age of 60 and finds him
self unable to earn a livelihood for
himself and those dependent on him
is entitled to public support without
being regarded as an object of public
charity or suffering disfranchise-
ment.
1t is required that the pensioner
shall be Danish subject; that he shall
not have been convicted of any felon-
ious offense, that his Indulgence shall
not be the result of extravaganza or
y
that he shall not have been the recip-
lent of public charity within ten years
of his pensioning.
In round numbers $4,000 persons are
now receiving aid under the law, and
the number of those dependent on
them is estimated at 1900. The pen
sioners thus form one-sixth of the pop
ulas.on that has passed the age of
60.
In 1898 the average annual sum paid
to each pensioner was ia kroner, or
about $50. Taking cities and rural
communities separately, however,
there is a marked difference in the
average, which in the former amounts
to 100 kroner, or $42, while the latter
give only 9S kroner, or $25.
Such sums may seem ridiculously
small when it is remembered that they
are the sole source of income of a
person for a whole year. Their INSULT
cheney is admitted by the authorities,
but their adequacy should not be
judged by American standards. A
kroner will go about as far over there
as a dollar will here.
The total amount of money paid I'M
der the law of 1898 was 81 300, 900. One
half of that was paid by the commu-
mites and the other half by the state.
The fixing of the amount to be grant
ed to each pensioner has so far been
left to the communities, many of
which, while unable wholly to refuse
aid, are known to have conceded only
nominal support.
Among the amendments now pro-
posed the most important is one fix
ing a minimum sum, below which a
pension must not fall. 1t is proposed
to shift the burden incurred by the law
as much as possible from the commu-
mites to the general government and
to permit pensioners to receive an an
nual income of not more than 100
kroner, or $26, from other sources
without becoming disqualified.
One thing seems certain, namely,
that the law has come to stay. And
whatever changes may be made in it,
these will certainly serve to extend,
not to restrict, the scope of the law.
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1902-05-01

That there are a few .consolatory
facts concerning delicate babies that
their parents may lay to heart. That,
in the first place, the the most
fragile children make the strongest
men and women. That instances
could be multiplied of sicllly infants
who were never expected to live, but
who struggled through stormy
childhood to develop into robust
health in youth,
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1902-05-01
AMBASSADOR AND HIS WIFE.
Questions of Privilege Are COntin-
ually Making Trouble in Dip
IOmatic Circles.

Questions of precedence have been
agitating the diplomatic body at
Washington and stirring diplomatic
dignity at the Court of st james.
1t isn't any easy matter to keep
diplomatic representatives at any
court in state of smiling content,
but those who have to wrestle with
the problem say that they would
agree to handle the ambassadors and
ministers if those dignitaries were
not blessed with wives. 1T is usually
the wives who contend for sacred
rights and stir up international rue
lions over the order of court pre-
sentation, or the seating at dinner
table, says a Washington report.
AS matter of fact, the wife of an
ambassador has more social impor-
lance than is generally recognized.
She shares many of her husbands
privileges, and has often helped to
make history by standing firmly
upon her rights.
All social Rome remembers the ex-
citing evening when the wives of the
English, French and Austrian am
bassadors defied all court etiquette
and left Princess Palliavicini's ball
while the king and queen were still
present. The three women consid-
cred themselves insulted because
they had not been seated at the royal
supper table and withdrew in high
dudgeon.
Their respective governments in
dorsed their action. There was an
interchange of official letters and an
imposing display of red tape, and,
finally, the italian government of
fered profound apologies to the in
jured ladies and the governments
Sighted through them.
1t is not so very long since an
other episode of the same kind oc-
Cured at the Russian court and a
beautiful ambassadress came near
upsetting the equilibrium of all Eu-
rope, while at another time France
was on the brink of war because OF
slight accidentally offered to the
wife of French ambassador.
The wives of ambassadors are per
mitted to seat themselves during an
audience with the pope. They are
kissed by the queen when received at
the Spanish court, and are seated at
her right hand.
At every European court they re-
ceive high honors, and, like their hus-
bands, they can, if so inclined, defy
importunate creditors. Neither an
ambassador nor his wife can be sued
for debt; and, by this privilege hangs
many thrilling tale, though the stor-
les have usually been promptly
hushed.
An ambassador, even if extravaganza
ty inclined, is ordinarily too keenly
alive to the responsibility of his Of
fee and the unpleasant consequences
of fall from grace to risk his stand
ing with the home government by
counting scandal; but his wife is not
always nodded of stuff so stern, and
there are on record number of live
ly little scandals woven round the love
of an ambassadors wife for Jewels and
lace and French gowns.
The famous Partisan dressmakers
and milliners could, if they would,
show heavy losses resulting from too
rash confidence in the income and in
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1902-05-01
BODILY DEFORMITIES.
German WOman's Invention That
May Prove n Boon to Those
Afflicted with Them,

The purpose for which the inven-
ton shown in the Illustration was de-
huuchbacks, protuberant chests,
pigeon breasts and other deformities
to which the human frame is subject.
It's inventor is Katherine Wegner, of
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1902-05-01

Charley, dear" said young Mrs
TorIins, "do you think that women
ought to be prevented from voting?"
Certainly not!"
"Wouldn't you cry to stop me if ]
wanted to go to the polls?"
Not for an Instant"
"Well, then what in The world is the
use of wanting to vote ?"-Washington
Star
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1902-05-01

It seems to be about settled that
the two largest islands in the world
are both in the Arctic ocean. Green
land is unquestionably the largest
if Australia is counted as continent
and recent explorations of Baffin
land show that it is second only to
Greenland in extent.
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1902-05-01

Mrs. Nurich-I want pair of the
most expensive gloves you've got.
Salesman-Yes' Do you want
them long?
"Don't be impertinent, young man.
l want to buy them, not hire them, ~.
Philadelphia Press,
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1902-05-01
Good Job.

Whyte-What is your idea of a sine
cure?
Observation-Disclosures of lines for a
wireless telegraph company,-Somer.
vile Journal.