davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-09-16
A District Official.
Does Mr.. Beckett Think the Taxpayers
Owe Him Living7

There is something almost ludicrous
in the plea made by Property Clerk
Beckett for an advance of salary be-
cause of the increased work which
will be the result, he says, of inviting
bids hereafter for furnishing supplies
to the District government, instead of
purchasing them, as heretofore, in the
open market. Mr.. Beckett, we very
much fear, belongs to a class of off
Gals who fondly imagine that the tax
payers Of this city owe them a living,
and who believe that they are sadly
overworked and mueh-abused individ-
uals, whose great condescension in
holding down a three-legged stool in
a public Office should render them i'm
nune from criticism.
What does the record show? 1t
shows that Mr.. Beckett purchased
supplies for the District from favor
ties, amounting in value to thousands
of dollars, without inviting bids and
without, as far as we are able to see.
going TO the trouble even of ascertain
ing what the market price of the COM
modify was he sought to purchase. In
his easy-going, good-natured and ac-
eommodating way he handed over the
taxpayers money to contractor un-
der a verbal agreement without a
thought of the obligation he was un-
der to protect the interests of the Dis
tr1ct. He paid, without so much as
whimper, 25 cents a pound for butter
when the best quality of butter in the
market was quoted, both in New York
and in Baltimore, at 20 cents. In fact,
he probably paid % cents for an ar
ticle which could have been purchased
BIZ him for ID cents, inasmueh as II
is not likely that tie inmates Of Dis
trict institutions are fed on the best
the country affords.
What he may have done In other
directions We don't know as vet. But.
Judging from this one case, we should
not be surprised to learn that an equal
indifference to the interests of the tax
payers marked all his official trans
actions with contractors.
Should such an official be rewarded
by an increase Of pay? We think
rot. We believe, on the contrary, that
such indifference TO the interests Of the
public should meet with the sternest
sort of rebuke. An official who has
90 higher conception of the duties he
owes to those who pay his salary than
Mr.. Beckett seems 10 have has, in our
opinion, outlived his usefulness. He
ought to resign. But we have no idea
that Mr. Beckett will. He evidently
is not 'built that way" He himself
furnishes his measure when. OF top of
O fragrant exhibition of inefiieiency, he
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-09-16
Log Cabin PHILOSOPHY.

Preachin' IL lots easier dan plowin'. yit both
Of EN- helps dc worP in de hans er de right
man.
Satan has done quit gwine roun' lax roarn'
lion. He now fools you in de habit er de lamb
what bein' led ter de slaughter.
Riches not only takes wings but ever thing
else il kin Jay hans on
DE 20 man cries, en- de Lawd hears him: but
sometimes he has ter boiler powerful loud.
- de angels weeps over de sins er mankind.
DE- handkerchief factories up dar mus be gwine
day en- night.-Atlants Constitution.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-09-16
A banning Secret Report.

From a high authority IN England 1
hear that Lord Elgin and the members
of the royal commission of inquiry into
the conduct of the recent Boer war.
and into the shortcomings OF the war
department IN connection Herewith,
have in addition to their sensational
public report, framed private note 10
the premier criticising in the most Wig
orOus language the principal reforms
which have been introduced at the war
department since the close of the war.
The note is said TO be of such a
character that II could not possibly be
published, although IL is understood 20
represent the most important fruits OF
the work of the commission, and is even
more damning for the present secretary
OF war. St. John Brodrick. than was the
public parliamentary report with regard
10 his predecessor in Pail Mall. Lord
Lansdowne. now minister of foreign af-
fairs. Indeed. there is a strong prob
ability that both OF these statesmen may
be forced out of the cabinet by the
revelations of their gross incompetency
by Lord Elgin and his fellow commits
sioners
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-09-16
In a Lighter Vein.
She Knew Him.

''Your husband. madam said the chief Of
police. ''has been arrested on the charge of
arson"
What's that meang' demanded the woman.
cit means that he Is accused Of starting the
fire az his place Of business that"
NONSENSE! I've been married 10 that man
twenty years and he never would start the fire."
Philadelphia Press
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-09-16

asks for more pay. In doing so he
probably is not aware that he insults
the intelligence of the taxpayers
fact, adds insult to injury. Really,
were it not so serious a matter we
should be tempted TO exclaim: at is
tC LAUGH -
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-09-16

Some cautious person writes to a
New York newspaper about the danger
that young men, reading the books of
Wyckoff. Josiah Flynt, and Friedman
about the lives OF beggars and tramps.
will be tempted TO try the joys OF the
road If there are young men foolish
enough TO try the experiment they prob
ably need IL
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-09-16
The Drift of Public Opinion

Philadelphia Inquirer; When asked TO explain
why he parioned the brutal murderer Of a four
year-old girl in Breathitt county. Ky. Governor
Beckham, who is a candidate for reelection.
sIys that the tariff must be revised.
Butte Intcr-Mountaiu: Tom Johnson's
speeches make it clear that his unselfsh pur-
pose is TO smash the trusts and repeal the tariff
laws and establish a new policy in the Philip
pines just as soon as he has been elected gov
ernor Of Ohio
Pittsburg Post; The President asserts that he
knew nothing about Mr. Payne's appointment q
a successor 70 Miss Todd 10 suit Senator Alice
in Delaware. BUT did ne know anything about
his own appointment Of District Attorney ByTne.
twice rejected by the Scnateg
Boston Herald: II Is said thar the best thing
Mr. Latimer can hope for as the result Of ju-
himself in his glove contract is fine Of a few
thousand dollars This he could easily pay. but
the verdict would be a mighty inconyenient
thing 20 carry into an election canvass.
Philadelphia North American: Yes; as Cover.
nor Pennypacker AYERS, he Is
a ri,ler by inheritance
lie IS also
A governor by convention iugglery.
murzier by wounded vanity
bug hunter by instinct,
And
A Jest by natural bent
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-09-16
Crude Work.

eyes, ! stll have the first dollar I ever
made" said the grayhaired passenger.
'The ideal" exclaimed the travelling acquaint-
ance. "And how did YOU keep II 80 long?'
1T was very imperfect. being my first, and
I'd have had trouble in passing it."-Perth
IN. b. News,
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-09-16

w. 7. Stead is on the warpath about
the Macedonian atrocities. and he says
that the blood of cannibals in the South
Sea Islands would boil to hear of them.
Maybe it would. but it has always under
stood that cannibals were more given TO
boiling their victims than their blood.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-09-16

The photograph with photograph at
tachment has now been invented. It
ought 10 be suppressed. Imagine the
lot OF a man three times married, with
the photographs of three mothers-in-
law in his family album discussing his
adairsi
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-09-16

The talented young college graduate
can now take his choice between writ
ing milliners' advertisements or his
torical novels. They both need about
the same sort of literary skill.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-09-16
stepping Stone 10 promotion.

AS a reward for these services he was
recently promoted to the post of min
lister at Copenhagen, which by reason OF
the close relationship existing between
the reigning houses of Russia and DEN
mark. is not only looked upon as par
ticularly agreeable post, indicating con-
fidence and marked favor on the part
of the two royal families, but also as a
stepping stone for speedy promotion.
Baron Isvolsh has a charming young
wife and some pretty children. to whom
he is devoted. II he is chosen to sue
coed Count Lamsdorff. it will be be-
cause of his profound knowledge and ex .
perience Of the political situation in
Japan and China. as well as in the Bal
kans. where he spent a portion OF his
diplomatic career. He is a quiet man.
with the most charming manners. inspir-
ing belief In his sincerity, hating noto-
riety and making friends everywhere
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-09-16
o. Promise Me.

Mr.. Thirdfoor- What's that girl singing9
Boy-"oh, Promise Me- sir.
well. for goodness sake, hurry downstairs
and promise her whatever she wants, and charge
II 90 my account. Boston Globe.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-09-16
The Sin of 1t.

Foozle- Do you think it wrong to play golf
on Sunday
Niblick-I think il wrong TO play such
game as you do on any day Of the week
Boston Transcript.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-09-16

A woman who saw her children fall
into the East River the other day i'm
mediately jumped in after them. regard
less of the fact that she could not
swim There are many people who seem
to think that the mere presence in the
water Of another person unable to swim
is of material comfort to one who is
drowning
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-09-16

Elder" Dowie purposes distributing
Leaves of Healing in Wall Street
They ought to be a soothing cataplasm
for those brokers who were caught in
the recent bear squeeze.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-09-16

A New York police captain. trying to
get on a car. was thrown down and
dragged several blocks. He will be like
ly TO take especial interest in women
who fall victims to the street car sys-
TEN, after this.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-09-16

The only possible explanation of the
fact that the story of Ulysses was made
into a serious drama before it was used
in a musical extravaganza is that the
writer's of modern light opera probably
never read Homer.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-09-16
DAILY Calendar of American History.
September 10.

1776-British repulsed at Harlem
Heights, n. Y.
1S62-Capture of Munfordsville. KY, by
Confederates under Brsgg.-Bat-
tie of Antietam. Nd.
1S93-Cherokee reservation. Oklahoma
Territory. opened for settlement:
about 100 600 persons make a rush
for 5000, 900 acres.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-09-16
Hustle.

What's the use q viewing matters
In pcssimis;ic mood?
II your doll is stuffed with sawdust.
Turn il into breakfast food.
brooklyn Life.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-09-16
Count Lamsdorff's New Post.

Count Lamsdorff. in the event of this
appointment being confirmed. will prob
lister of the imperial house. for which
he is prominently fitted. having spent
hts entire career since he entered the
government service as a mere youth in
the immediate encourage of the impe fal
family. II is precisely owing to this that
he has never had much experience of dip
Iomatic work abroad, and his knowledge
Of foreign statesmen and situations IS
only such as he has been able to obtain
while in the suite of the present EN-
peror and his two predecessors. all
three of whom have been very fond Of
him. looking upon him as an old and
tried servant
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-09-16

sity of Chicago has discovered a food
warranted to make people grow. There
is still hope. 1t seems. for Mr.. Sulloway.
OF New Hampshire.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-09-16
That's WHY.

"Never did see cullud angel in de pictur
books, did your
Never did"
''Well, what you reckon is de reasong'
''Dey gifts 50 skecred de devil will ketch
'em on Dc way dar, dat dey turns white."-At-
lanta Constitution.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-09-16
Distinction and Difference.

man who breaks his word we call
A liar most pernicious;
woman does the same: we say,
why, she is 50 capricious.'
San Francisco Bulletin.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-09-16
SO Sorry.

''what makes YOU SO sad, Birp'
'Tm sorry for de people in dis town Ev'ry
place go dey tell me dey amt got a ting
IN de house to eat."-St. Louis Lumbcrman.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-09-16
Telling Fish Stories.

odd you have good time dshing?'
"Oh, fair, fair" replied the candid man.
But we had better time lying about it when
we got back. "-Chicsgo Post
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-09-16

One might think. after reading the
stories of Turkish slaughter. that Gen.
Jake" Smith was leading the Sultan's
forces in Bulgaria.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-09-16

One Delaware postmaster has escaped
becoming the subject of controversy be-
tween the Addicks and anti-Addicks fac
tions in that State by committing sui
eide
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-09-16

Perhaps Vice Consul Magelssen is as
safe in Beirut as he would be in this
country. II he were to land IN New
York today he would be shot-snap shot.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-09-16

woman with a hustle is prima facie
that figures sometimes lie.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-09-16

Mine be room whore tickers are;
A big, stone palace here and there;
A large and dark four-plunk cigar
And poker tables everywhere.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-09-16

For me no cot with spreading vine.
No quiet SPOT by Hill or shore.
with strenuosity in mine.
! ask for only four years more.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-09-16
Poor Mississippi!
A BLACKBOARD to Occupy the Chair of
Governor.

Governor.
We drew the attention of readers
of The Times, the other day, to an
article which appeared on January
10, 1903, in the Commonwealth"
paper owned and edited at that time
by Major J. X. Vardaman, the Demo
cratic nominee for Governor - and
therefore the future chief executive
of Mississippi. An extract from this
article was as follows:
1t is said that men follow the bent Of their
geniuses, and that parental influences are often
potent in shaping thoughts and ideas in after
life. Probably old lady Roosevelt. during the
period Of CESSATION. was frightened by a dog
and that fact NAV account for the qualities Of
the male pup which are 50 prominent in Teddy
l would not do either an injustice but am dis
posed TO apologize 10 che dog FOR mentioning it.
A great many people seem to have
doubted the authenticity of this ex-
tract from the Commonwealth" They
aid not think it possible that any man
could be such brute as to utter these
words, or that any community calling
itself civilized could sink so low as to
bestow upon the man responsible for
that utteranee the highest Office within
the gift of the people. 1t seemed, we
confess, incredible.
But the Commonwealth not only
admits printing the artiele-it actu-
ally glories in it. II sends us a
marked copy of its issue of Septem-
Der II, from which we quote in full
the following:
LET THEM RANT.
The Republican press Of the North, taking
for granted all the mean things said against
Major Vardaman by his opponents was true,
is doing the grandstsnd act 20 perfection The
Washington Times "a Republican, negro-loving
Sheet, in a recent issue, calls Major Varda-
'blackguard," and to prove its asser-
ton uses an extract from the Commonwealth
concerning the Indianola postofice affair, and,
following the bent Of its genius''-or some
body else's genius-it ingeniousiy changes the
word prenatal" 10 parental and seeks TO
make it appear that Major vardsmsn was at
lacking the Presidents mother. This has been
denounced as UNANIMOUSLY false time and again.
but it seems to have no efect-the article
must be changed and stay changed to suit the
infamous purpose Of furnishing a slight text
for abuse Of Major vardsman
But II is useless TO note at length the ram
bling distribes Of abuse from the Republican
papers. Let them rant lie printed by them
is a lie still-it cannot be changed TO truth
even for partisan purposes.
The Washington Times and papers Of its TX
would defend the President, no matter what he
might do, but can have no effect on Major
Nardamsn OF his policy. He doesn't expect or
desire their good opinion. He would be I'M
worthy TO be governor OF Mississippi If he did.
Comment would seem superfuous.
Poor Mississippi
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-09-16

Mine be a rod. a shady nook.
foamy trout stream roaring past,
And every time ysnk my hook
A speckled beauty good and fast.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-09-16

want no cot beside a hill;
a platform I would have, and there
Each morning I would talk and still
At night be ohurning up the air.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-09-16
Some Wants.

From the Chicago Record Herald.I
mine be a co; beside the hill;
beehive hum shall soothe my ear;
willowy brook. that turns a mill
With many fair shall linger near
Samuel Rogers
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-09-16

Mine be roost far out OF sight.
With men OF straw set round about,
And there from morning until night
I'd knock them down and drag them out
ID. B. II.
Let him who wants one have a cot
Where bees hum through the sleepy day;
For me ut least a winning yacht
With which to take the cup away.
Sir T. L.
The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1903-09-03
Pressure Test of Small Tubes.

An experiment tried by an English
naval engineer to test the strength Of
the small tubes in water tube boilers
showed that they resisted the pressure
far beyond any that they could be sub
jected to in actual use. A copper tube
of one inch outside diameter was
plugged on both ends and a guare
fastened on. 1t was set over a black
smiths forge and steam raised to 1000
pounds per square inch. when it burst.
This tube was 0.07 inch thick, the ten
sile strength of the metal being only
six and half tons per square inch.
A steel tube of one and a quarter
inches diameter coiled into a circle of
six inches diameter and O.7O4 inch
thick stood 478S pounds per square
inch before bursting. Through defects
in the material they sometimes give
way at 800 pounds per square inch.-
Iron Age,
The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1903-09-03
Island of st. Helena

st. Helena, the island prison Of Ma
poleon l., is suffering from hard times.
The only newspaper published there
advocates the conversion Of st. Helena
into a sort of penal settlement as the
only mode of salvation. st. Helena
had an extraordinary boom Of pros
perity during the South African war,
when thousands of Boer prisoners We're
isolated there Now there is no market
for the local beef and vegetables and
the agriculturalists are in despair
The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1903-09-03
TOMATO CULTURE IN THE SOUTH
Attains Its Highest Degree of Perfection
in Mississippi.


Attains Its Highest Degree of Perfection
in Mississippi.
The place where tomato culture can
De said to have attained its highest Ce-
gree of perfection is Crystal Springs.
Miss, and the methods employed by
the growers of that section can be
advantageousiy followed by every gar
dener, IL not commercial grower. The
unusual feature Of the system con.
sists in pruning the plants, and the plan
has been followed by the writer in
his hbme garden since 1895, when he
learned Of It IN the Florida winter to-
mato section.
Coincident with the appearance OF
the third leaf Of young tomato plant
will come . sucker or branch; and as
the plant grows, additional suckers
will appear in the aXil OF each leaf
until vigorous plant will have twenty
Or more branches, the larger ones hay
Ing branches OF their own, and the
whole plant spreading over an area of
ten or twelve square feet Such a
plant, OF course, requires an immense
amount of soil nutrition and moisture
to support in foliage. The Crystal
Springs planters set their tomatoes
somewhat nearer than do ordinary
growers-as close as three by three and
0ne-half feet-and when the first
sucker is two inches long it is pinched
out, as are likewise all suckers appear
s,,o
gins to fall, light pine stakes are driven
in the ground and the plants tied to
them with ordinary cotton strings.
The tomato is then trained up this
stake, requiring three Or four tyings.
until it reaches the top, four feet from
the ground. Then the bud is pinched
cut. This gives a plant with about
twelve or fourteen great leaves four
times the size Of the ordinary tomato
leaf, and five or six clusters of mag
nificent, perfect fruit. The patch now
looks like a diminutive orchard loaded
with fruit. Bushels of ripe tomatoes
are in plain sight as the eye wanders
over the field. Under this method there
is no danger of tomatoes rotting Or
mildewing; they ripen seven or eight
days earlier than if the plants are
left to their own devices or stalked in
the ordinary way, and it is practicable
to get through che rows at any time
f'nd keep down Objectionable weeds,
and perhaps the most important, the
plants having comparatively small
leaf surface fer Transportation do not
require nearly so much moisture to
mature their fruit.
If somewhat bushiex plant is de-
sired, the vine can be trained to two
instead OF to a single stenA-Scientiflc
American.
The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1903-09-03
And Such is Fame

A short time age some men were
seen in Pine street, near the Sub-Treas-
ury. 'How's that for an equalized
political QUARTET" remarked veteran
newspaper man to a well-known dry
goods merchant who has lived in this
city ever since he was born, siXty-two
years ago. ''Who are they?" was the
merchants rejoinder. Face of the
small map is kind O. familiar" The
newspaper man collapsed. The quar-
tet were Alcnzo B. Cornell, once Cover
nor; William +. Sheehan, once Lieuten-
ant Governor; Hamilton Fish. twice
Speaker Of the State Assembly, and
the "small man" was once Secretary of
War, Dan Lamont. OF course, now,
Fish is United States Assistant Treas
urer and will be known for while,
for he Is now again a man Of to-day.
Quite recently United States Senator
Tom Platt was seen shaking hands
heartily with white-haired gentleman
on Fifth avenue. Everybody knew
Platt, because he is a man Of to-day.
sThat's Edward Murphy, Jr, Of Troy"
remarked pasSer-by, pointing to the
white-haired man. No person remem-
bered that he was Chauncey Depew's
predecessor as the United States Sena-
tor from this State. 1t happened one
evening that three men were at the
same theatre. No one in the theatre
but the manager knew who they were;
no one recognized them going into the
theatre or coming out with the crowd.
Yet they were former Mayors of New
York-Ely, Grant and Van Wyck, the
latter being only out of Office eighteen
York Press.