davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-03-08

navy yard. young Licbrant was given
a gun. The improviscd troops were
drilled thar afternoon. and nearly all
night. Catching a few hours sleep near
morning. Simon was unduIy awakened.
and the march TO Fort Stevens began.
Reaching there almost exhausted with
heat and thirst. the conscripts lay IN
der arms. and awaited the coming OF the
raiders. until relieved by the sixth Army
Corps on the night OF the nth Of July.
When asked what the little army
would have done II Early's cavalry had
really swOOped down upon it, Simon
griuned. 7ul '-reckoned they would have
been gobbled up for shure."
Cut Trees at Arlington.
The next service TO which the embryo
United states citizen was called was
cutting trees Or Gen. Robert f. Lees
Arlington estate for the Alexandra
stoCEade- About POO negroes were taken
out there Tor that work and they kept
az it until the Confederate cavalry drove
them out OF The woods. killing several
simon enlisted and took passage as
officers attendant on the war transport
s. r. SpaIding. He saw the engagement
az Fort Fisher, when there were on
board The vessel Admiral Porter and
Generals Scohcld and Terrell He went
TO Wilmington. y C.. and helped to save
the wharf fired by the rebel ram Chick
amauga. In the Cape Fear River the
transport had an unpleasant experience
with torpcdOes. and CPme near being
blown 10 the moon one bright summer
night Simon was hOnorabIy discharged
September %, 1865.
With all this service for his country
Simon has never succeeded in securing
recognition at the hands OF the Grand
Army Of the Republic and has never had
a pension, though partly disabled at the
fire on the Wilmington wharves. He
thinks he has as good title TO member
ship in the eGrand Army OF the Republic
as many others, and he believes he should
be in the enjoyment of a pension.
After the war Lcibrant worked again
at the wharVCs and i'm odd Jobs about the
city I'm 1866 he ohtaiued an appointment
to care for the Senate cloak rooms. and
there ne I'D several years. lie re
fers With pride TO the fact that he
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-03-08

He bug man Of the National Mu-
scum, Prof. n. G. Dyar. has in
his keeping 1878 butterflies. This huge
collection IS housed in room that is
twenty-nine feet square and fifteen feet
high. and every foot OF space is needed
ing. The fifteen hundred cases that line
he room are barely sufficient for their
purpose. Some OF these cases contain
only two specimens, but there ares many
that contain over a hundred butterflies.
and some that hold over two hundred.
One Of the cases. having in II the mos
quitoes that were collected last summer
in the bug mans efforts 10 exterminate
the malaria giving pest. is crowded with
almost a thousand dead mosquitoes. for
which many persons are willing TO give
thanks. The number Of species repre-
scnted in this collection OF butterflies
f. over twelve thousand OF the North
American varieties alone. with few
hundred Of European and South Ameri-
can origin.
Butterflies the Universal Prey
G'he butterfly. said Prof Dyar. is the
prey OF every flying thing. and the only
protection which Il has Is given it by
nature. SOM Of the Iepidoptera. which
is the scientific name OF the butterfly
and the moth, are in themselves poison
"us TO the bird that may eat them. so
nature has Eiyen them bright and bril-
liant cOlOrs. The purpose these colOrs
serve is TO warn the birds from eating
unhealthy fOCd. and TO save the life Of
The BUTTERFLY, so the scientists have call
ed these colors warning coIors." Birds
avoid insects decorated in this style
moving well that they will suffer for a
thoughtless meal. and Dame Nature has
taken double advantage or her precau-
ticn for her creations by giving other
butterflies Of a distinct species that are
CCiblC these ColOrings exactly. SO nearly
alike apparently are the two varieties
that frequently IL is necessary TO make
an examination or their structures. and
then a. often becomes desirable TO use
thc microscope 10 find the differences.
Natures Protective Mimicry.
A South American variety I'm flight
resembles a fiuttering leaf OF brilliant
blue and the brightness OF its coIors
sdvertises il TO every preying bird as a
choice morseL Its protection is its close
imitation Of dead and rusty leaf ne
moment 1t comes TO rest with closed
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-03-08

"shined the shoes" OF Senators Sumner.
Ben Wade. Conkling. Chandler. Stew
art. Morrill,. Judge Trumbull Sprigg
and Hendricks among many others.
In May 1872. Simon resigned from the
United States Senate" as he puts it. and
took up he humble position of messen-
ger in the District Building Aside from
the ordinary work of a helper about the
building, simon has large cllentage.
who pay for cleaning their shoes each
day This work well done adds an honest
half dollar OF so to his daily wages, and
helps 10 pay for coal.
Converted to Methodism.
Up to 1874 Simon, by his own confess
sion. had been bad niger" What
there was wicked in this world OF sin
he loved, and the enjoyments of the
hayward of his race were pursued to
their utmost In that year, however,
Simon went into Methodist meeting,
and ne declares that then and there the
Lord got inside OF him. He was con-
verted. and faced about from evil ways
90 decent living and righteousness.
Simon's religion took on the form OF
public speaking. eXhortation and plead
ing with sinners. He joined the Metho-
dist Church. and at once began work in
a humble way as an evangelist. He
preached al meetings wherever he could
eNpounding the Scriptures as their
truths appeared TO his understanding.
An Authorized Evangelist
For twelve years Simon has been an
authorized evangelist OF the Colored NJ.
f. Church. His meetings are held in the
hall al 1907 \ Street northwest. and
when the weather permits he breaches
each Sunday afternoon on the plaza at
Seventh Street and Market Space. Years
of experience in this sort OF public
speaking has given this man OF no edu-
cation great proficiency in presenting
the plain doctrines of the Bible. He has
read the Book until he knows il thor
oughly, and while his texts are not prob
ably based upon the higher criti-
cism." they are still full of earnest
ness aud fresh from n mind inspired
by faith in the gospel he breaches.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-03-08

can army remained except body of five
hundred or six hundred posted on a
height on my right. The enemy pushed
forward his sharpshooters. one OF whom
shot my horse from under me. The
enemy. who had been kept in check Cor
half an hour. now began 10 outfank US
on the right. Our guns were turned that
way. He pushed up the hill toward the
corps Of Americans. who. TO my great
modification. made no resistance. They
gave fire or two and retired In this
situation we had the whole British army
to contend with. Our ammunition was
expended. and. unfortunately. the drivers
of our ammunition wagons had gone of
in the general panic"
Barney says that when he lay wounded
in the road General Ross and Admiral
Cockburn came I'D and showed him
marked consideration. He was taken
prisoner and conveyed back TO Bladens-
burg BY Captain Wainwright.
Ever since the summer OF 1914 the HI
tie spring by the side Of the Bladens-
burg Road has been called by the peo-
pie who live near il "Barney's Spring
Joshua Barney had stirring career.
He was born in Baltimore July 6, 1853.
and died in Pittsburg December I, 1915
He went to sea while child When the
revolutionary war came on he was aP-
pointed masters mate Of the Hornet and
was promoted for gallantry in the ac-
ice in the brig Tender. the Sachem. and
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-03-08
3lN(NETS FIGHT TO SAVE THE NATIONAL CANTN
Old Spring on The BIOdGnSDurg Road
Where the Gallant Commodore, With
q Handful Of Americans, BOttIGd TO
BOr the British ADVANCE on Wash
ingtOn in The War OF I0I2.
MERIcANs will some day build a

A MERICANS will some day build
II monument TO the memory Of
Commodore Joshua Barney. and
they will build it at Barney's Spring. a
wayside we'll on the Bladensburg Road,
three miles northeast OF the city. This
spring marks the place where Barney.
with Eve guns and 300 sailors and
marines. fought 10 bar the entrance of
British troops to Washington, August
p. 1914. Barney and his men from the
Chesapeake fotila gave 10 the British
practically all the opposition they en-
countered from the moment they left
their ships az Benedict till they marched
through Washington. II all the troops
Of the United States. drawn up between
Bladensburg and Washington. had fought
as Barney's men fought. Washington
would not have been taken The spring
is on the east side OF the road. few
hundred yards northeast of the grounds
of the District Reform School. It is on
the farm of Colonel Reeves. and nearly
opposite his dwelling house. 1t is on
piece OF high ground. which commands
a view OF a valley through which runs
a little brook that traverses the dueIing
ground OF BIadensburg. the place where
Commodore Decatur was killed by Cap
tain Barron.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-03-08

The Americans first line Of battle
across the Washington and Georgetown
roads at Bladensburg bridge had given
way in disorder. The British then
moved on till they encountered the sec
Ond line. mile and a half nearer the
city. The extreme right of this line was
held by BealI's Maryland regiment and
Kramer's battalion Of Maryland militia.
On their LEFT was Barney, his guns plant
ed in the road and at the spring.
Americans Reserved Their Fire.
Barney, in his report Of the actions.
says that at length the enemy made his
appearance on the main road in force
and in front of his battery and on com
ing in view OF the guns. made a halt.
I reserved our FIRE" says Barney. In
few moments the enemy again adj
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-03-08

| think or moth that measure over ten
| inches in breadth? Or OF another that is
so small that the minute feathers OF
/ the largest moth arc the size OF this
little moth itself? Yet North America
! furnishes one variety. the Erebris strix.
/ that sometimes attains a breadth Of If
/ teen inches. This moth lives in the
/ Southern states and along the Mexican
border
Big Names for Little Things.
Somehow the scientists have managed
to load the least of things with the
greatest burden in names. LithOcolettes
desmodie1Ia is the infection which has
been placed upon a moth that is so small
that number OF them would look like
a pinch OF dust, and II an attempt were
made to mount one in the usual way BY
sticking pin through IL the specimen
would be destroyed
Other butterflies are known for some
popularity of structure or marking. II
we are now 10 think OF the Philippine
Islands as portion OF the United States.
and consequently as a portion OF North
America. we NAV consider the peculiar
feature OF the large specimens received
from the new possessions. The Philip
pine moths are peculiar In that each one
mas IN the center OF each portion OF the
wings. in the primary and secondary
wings. as they are designated. a bit OF
transparent gauze that is so hneIy
meshed that il looks like a bit of very
thin mica. The shape OF these spots cor
responds 70 the contour Of the wing. and
are sc glass-like that an old lady who
wrote 10 Prof Dysr may be excused when
she described this new species as having
looking glasses in each wing"
Pixies Peak is The home OF another odd
butterfly. called The Edwards butterfly
II is found only in the alpine attitudes
and may be observed by the tourist max
ing the ascent OF Pixies Peak. The m
per side Of this butterfly is an Indian red
and the under side is a grass green
When flying il is very conspicuous BY its
bright red, but seems 10 disappear when
II comes to rest among the rocks and on
the grass. when il becomes altogether in
visible. The Dogs Head is the name
given another butterfly from the fancied
resemblance OF the yellow spots on the
tC.v wing to the face and head Of a dog.
The swallow tail of the large butterfly is
the long extension OF the lower wing.
and he extensions OF the two wings look
like tie long tips on the tail OF the barn
swallow. At the first sight Of this species
TIE name Immediately suggests itself.
The majority Of people are accustomed
to think Of the bug man as a harmless
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-03-08
Where Barney Fell.

Close by the spring Commodore Barney
was wounded, receiving a ball in his
thigh. IT was a wound from which he
never recovered. Colonel Thornton.
commanding the left wing or the in
vading army. was wounded near the
spring; Captain Hamilton and Lieuten-
ant codd. OF the British army. were
killed. and Lieutenant SteveIy. OF the
Kings Own Regiment. was wounded. The
only serious losses to the invaders were
sustained in their efforts TO drive Barney
from the position assigned to him across
the Bladensburg Road and before the
spring
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-03-08

the South and West. when alarmed by
the approach Of birds or other enemies
projects the red horns. and it finds its
safety in the aromatic odor which they
give of when exposed.
While the swallow-tailed butterfly Is
the largest of butterflies. il is exceeded
in size by many specimens OF its cousin
the moth. The moth is also the least OF
the great order Of LepidOptera. Can you
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-03-08

horse waits FOR the meal. and II II is not
fortunate in it's selection OF locality ma
ture has given IT, a knowledge OF the
things on which the butterfly feeds. and
it has only 90 place itself near and wait
in certainty, for it seems as much part
OF the stem as the real leaves and twigs
which belong TO the flower.
The swallow-tailcd butterfly is per
haps the largest OF North American but
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-03-08

tCrGies- for il measures over FIVE inches
from Zip to tip of its wings and nearly
Tie same measurements Iengthwise OF
IT'S body. AS a caterpillar this variety
is given some protection. Tor it is fur
nished with a pair of concealed horns
which are placed in the head. which
may be thrust our al will The Orange
Dog. as il is called from its habit OF
eating the leaves of the orange trees of
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-03-08

Founders. the marines under Captain
Miller and some of my men acting as
Infantry The enemy was again cut up.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-03-08
0D 12H16 oVhIAn6NaA5ar 6a0q5 NV 02eazog


vanced. when ! ordered an 1S-pounder to
be fired This cleared the road. Short
Is after a second and third attempt were
made by the enemy to come forward.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-03-08

! wings. for then the bright upper side N
the butterfly is folded together and hid
/ den and the dull brown underside alone
is seen So carefully has nature created
this mimicry of a dead leaf that al
though the veins of the wing extend
/ from the body 10 the edges Of the wing.
and can be easily seen through the blue
4 the brown on the underside hides hese
/ veins and shows instead a heavy central
rib extending from top 20 bottom with
lateral and lesser leaf veins reaching
/ to each side. over all are duh and
moldy looking spots TO complete the
/ deception So like leaf does this but
] terfly become when at rest tina; il *
I lights among dead leaves it cannot be
distinguished.
American varieties mimic bits OF bark
moss spots on trees. and one moth.
when IL lights on the end of twig looks
as If IL were a broken portion OF a
moldy or half-rotten limb. BY the
scientists this imitation is called pro
tective mimicrv."
Nature not only provides for the pro-
lection OF the butterfly in the fully de-
veioped state. but has provided it. with
q
later development Of the Iarva In the
chrysalis f. is wound in silk OF wrapped
in dried leaf and tied close 10 limb.
where il has the exact appearance OF a
bit or grass washed into position by rain
and storm. when ia has emerged from
the chrysalis and is eating the yerdurc IL
is spotted and striped In harmony with
the bark on which il rests. Throughout
its whole existence the butterfly seems
10 be we'll protected
There is a remarkable thing in the
protective mimicry OF one species by an
other in the fact that the class initiated
is always the rarer variety and is ex-
ceeding few in numbers.
Disguised for Attack.
All the life OF the butterfly is not So
curity and peace for there seems 10 be
an adverse nature which has planted
dangers with the same skin that has
given 81 80 many projections. Protec-
tive mimicry and protective resem-
blances have their opposite pitfalls in
the aggressive mimicry" and in The
aggressive resemblance" which are
given the enemy Of the butterfly.
The "rearhorse" delights 10 feed on
the butterfly, but 10 is slow Of movement
and cannot secure its prey IL it's pres
ence is known. so nature has been kind
TO il. and unl1ind 10 the butterfly. by
giving the rearhorse a body and wings
resembling a tangled bunch OF half-dead
leaves and twigs. In quiet the rear
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-03-08
Practically the Only OppO-
SitiOn Encountered BY
COCRburn'S Soldiers WQS
at the Picturesque Wdu-
side WeII-ReCOgnltiCn
OF the Commanders
Brewery DV The American
Congress- - - - -

the Saratoga. When the State OF Penn
sylvania fitted OUT the ship Hyder Ally
for the purpose Of driving British pri-,
vateers out OF the waters Of the Della
ware. Barney was put in command OF
her He captured the British ship Cen
eral Monk and was made commander OF
the captive
Charged With Piracy.
After the war Barney returned TO
merchant shipping. and in 1898 was
taken by a British ship on a charge
OF piracy. He was acquitted. and in 1894
was given commission in the navy OF
France. wherein he served till $500.
when he returned 10 the United States.
In 1912 and 1913 he was a privateer. and
on April "a. 1914. was commissioned cap
tain in the United States navy and ap-
pointed TO the command OF the Chesa-
peake iotiIIa OF gunboats- The Chesa-
peake Bay was then full OF British ships
and descents had been made on Havre
de Grace. Frenehtown. Georgetown.
Fredericktown, Hampton. and many
other places in Maryland and Virginia.
He performed valiant service in several
engagements with the enemy. and when
Ross and Cockburn left their ships and
marched overland to Washington by way
OF Benedict. Nottingham. Marlborough,
Long Old Fields. and BIadensburg Bar
ney destroyed his lotilla. and with his
men and i've guns joined the army be-
fore Washington.
Barney's GallantTy Rewarded
For his gallantry in action at the
spring he was presented with a sword by.
the citizens Of Washington and th9.
Legislature Of Georgia gave him a vote
OF thanks
Commodore Barney's son. John Bar
ney. was a member OF Congress from the
Baltimore district of Maryland from
1925 to 1922. John Barney died in Wash
ington January 20. 1856. at the age OF
seventy-siX years
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-03-08

bat the invaders in the road were de
stroyed- They then crossed over into on
open field and attempted to flank our
right. He was there met by three 70
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-03-08
Saving to Growers.

The orange groves OF Southern Cali
fornia we're devastated by a PARASITIC
scale. and the examinations OF the en-
tomOlOgist disclosed the fact that the
groves of Queensland. with the same
scale. did not suffer They found that
The orchards OF the last named place
were protected by another parasite.
which fed on the scale. and thousands
OF colonies OF the parasite we're intro
duced into California orchards. and the
future OF that portion or the state Is
assured
The Coddling moth. which is the or
spring OF the pinkish caterpiller. which
worms its way through the apple. is es-
estimated as the cause OF the destruction
OF $5.O0o.000 worth OF apples yearly IN
the United states alone. yet the bug
man is successfully combating this
pest Nothing useless is or low" and
the pursuit of the entomoIogist pre-
serves for the citizens OF this country
nearly half a billion dollars worth OF
agricultural produce.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-03-08
Ordered Under Arms.

simon w"s sewing sacks. as usual. on
the Seventh Street wharf one day in
July. 1861 There was suddenly the
sound OF drums and nfes on the street.
and me provost guard surrounded the
pace and ordered every man TO "fau
i'm II was the 9Th OF the month. and
Gen. Juhal Early was in Maryland hurry
iHU on 90 Washington with about
Loo others, from the Wharyes and the
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-03-08

IONE Of the most interesting charac-
~ tcrs in the District Building is
Simon Leibrant, messenger. boot
black. evangelist and eX-defender of
Washington i'm the dark days OF JubaI
Early's raid. Simon is a mulatto. with
shrewd black eyes bent shoulders. and a
bald head upon which has shone the
suns of about mrs. ave summers. His
years have been allied with toll. and one
Of his boasts is that since 1872 he has
not taken a months leave from his round
OF exacting duties. COnscieutiousness is
one Of the traits OF Simon's character.
ard he takes pride in giving his clients
the best shine and in keeping his floors
and windows clcauest Of any i'm the Dis
trict Building.
Carried OF by Raiders.
simon Leibrant first saw the light on
Virginia plantation iu Lancaster coun-
~. The year OF his birth is unknown to
himself and probably none OF his kin
survives from those ante bellum days
when the pickauinnics played among the
cabins and poue and bacon were pIeuti-
ful Simon grew 10 be- a strong. active
boy. and be recalls wildly one spring
morning iu 1862. when General stone
man raiders pulled up al the Liobraut
plantation and all tine slaves were car
ricd on 10 the Union lines. IN due course
OF time the boy. with others. reached
Washington and was set 10 work on the
seventh street wharf making 'Eunuy
sacks in which 90 ship corn and oats to
the army in virginia. The negroes were
paid $50 week. at their option. or $40
a month. with board at The Government
rL.-.ru
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-03-08

kind of lunatic. and they look on his
pursuit with a plying liberation The
utility of his occupation is decided, and
Al once apparent. when we remember
that the Gypsy moth has devastated the
trees or the whole OF New England. and
spoiled the fruit crops for years to come
The bug man" furnishes US with the IN
formation OF the habits OF the moth. and
with the food and substances which viii
be his destruction. As as evidence OF
the faith put in his intimacy with the
moth we can look upon the millions OF
dollars spent by the Massachusetts Leg
islature is the extinction OF the pest.
according TO the advice given BY the en-
tOmOlOgist- Long ago an attempt was
made TO introduce clover into the fields
OF Australia for the benefit Of the stock
another. and in conseuenQCe. the clover
would not grow. and the effort was vast
ed. The botanists said that the pollen
was not transferred from one plant TO
another. and in consequence. the clover
would not seed. The bug man" was
called upon to supply the insect that
would transfer the pollen between the
the blossoms in its search for food. Al
his suggestion. the farmers began bee
culture in connection with their efforts
10 raise clover, and today the clover
grows luxuriantly. and Australia. in
stead OF being one Of the small shippers
of meats. now sends that product TO
Hongkong. Yokohama. London, and. dur
ing the war with Spain. was able 10
supply our troops with beef OF the best
quality.