davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Ely miner., 1903-01-02

appear out of place in one of the busi-
est districts on the face of the globe,
where every inch of available space
below and above ground is utilized.
Ten years ago the erection of a build
ing of character like this in down
town street teeming with commercial
ism would have been regarded as un-
businessike and a sheer waste of Office
space that might bring in fortune
annually.
But within the last few years art
and architecture have made great ad-
vances, and business men have arisen
above the sordid lines of barter and
recognize that something more is due
to the growing sentimentality and re-
finement of the people than tall and
dreary rows of buildings, erected with
the sole view to the rentals they will
earn.
The Chamber of Commerce resem-
bles more than anything else such a
temple as the ancient Greeks erected
in gratitude for favors bestowed
upon them by their gods. And it
might be rightly called temple-a
temple reared as tribute to the ge-
MUS of commerce. Like the temple
of the Greeks it is filled with the
choicest paintings. But these do not
represent art alone. They are the
portraits of the men who laid the
firm foundation of our comm ercial
greatness, and they mark long chain
of historic events from the days whenI
our country was weak colony to the
present time of its grandeur.
When we understand the scope ofthe
chamber of commerce we can scarce
ly realize it's small beginning. Yet its
growth has but marked the growth of
the country that it represents, and If
New York has to-day erected temple
to the god of trade, she has done so
in name only. 1t is not so much to
commercialism that the monument
has been raised. 1t is rather trib-
ute to the mighty nation that has
made commercialism possible. There
is touch of the romantic as we'll as
the practical interviewer in the eX-
pansion of this chamber of commerce.
There is much of the historic. From
the day of it's inception-April 5, 176S
it has been linked inseparately with
the story of the nation. No great
movement = financial, political or
charita ble-has been inaugurated and
executed that does not bear in some
The Ely miner., 1903-01-02

form or other the traces of it's handi-
work, and in many instances the sue
cess of important national undertake
ings was due directly to the patriot
ism, activity and sagacity of its mem
bers.
Unlike the clearing house for
banks, unlike the great exchanges,
the chamber of commerce has never
had any precise or limited function.
1t might most properly be called a
clearing house of ideas, where the
highest intelligences of the business
world pass in review. the important
commercial events of the day, make
the debts and credits of theoretical
and practical trade and certify the
balances on the ledger of commercial
integrity. In a word, it stands for
the best that is offered to us in the
ethics of business. In it's first dec
laration of principles it avowed it's
purpose to promote and encourage
commerce, support industry, adjust
disputes and procure the passage of
such laws and regulations as might
be found necessary for the benefit of
trade in general. But it has gone
farther than this and has become so
much a part of the country that it
must be considered as national in
stitution rather than belonging ex-
clusively to New York.
This much for it's purposes. AS
| for it's historic worth, we haye but
| to turn back to it's very first meet
ing in the little building, still intact,
known as Fraunces Tavern, in the
hall of which Washington bade fare
well to his troops on the day the
British evacuated New York.
AS for the sen timental-it may be
seen in the long list of charities and
| the patriotism of the members.
| When the civil war broke out $S,000,-
600 were subscribed for the United
States at one meeting. Since 1858
the bequests for charitable purposes
have amounted to nearly $3,OO0,0oO.
The record is one of which John
Cruger and those other stalwart
American citizens with whom he was
associated might well be proud.
The most sanguine of them could not
| imagine the powerful nation of a
continuous people of the same Ian
guage, lineage and laws stretching
| across the continent from the Allan
tic to the Pacific. But is il more
wonderful than win be our advance
ment in the next 130 years of the
republic? May we then be proud of
our record for commercial probity
as well as for commercial greatness.
FREDERICK BOYD STEVENSON.
The Ely miner., 1903-01-02
BELONG TO HISTORY.
The Doings of the New York Cham
Der of Commerce.
Predecessors of the Men Who Have
just Dedicated New Temple to
God of Trade Were True
Patriots.
ESPECIAL New York Letter.]

EHF JOHN CRUGER, the first pres
M Il ident of the chamber of COM
0 merce of the state of New York,
could stand in Liberty street to-day
and gaze upon the magnificent struc-
ture of white marble, the first home
that the organization has owned since
it was inaugurated 13O years ago, his
widest dreams of the commercial ad-
vancement of his country would ap-
pear prosaic and insignificant. 1t is
a long cry from 1902 to 1868, but when
we consider the wondrous progress
made by the United States compared
to the pace of other countries, the
span of years seems like a thousand.
The palace that has been reared in
Liberty street is in marked contrast
to the humble structure at the south
east corner of Pearl and Broad
streets, which was the first meeting
place of the chamber Of commerce,
but the difference between the two
buildings is by no means so great as
that between the struggling city of
$4,000 inhabitants and the mighty
metropolis verging on toward 4,Oo0,-
900 souls.
We can picture to ourselves this John
Cruger, with his high forehead, his
long curls, smooth face, black velvet
coat and white ruffle-more like a
poet than a merchant. We can un-
derstand the conservatism with which
he and 10 of the leading citizens of
the city met and organized the cham
Der of commerce. If we will we may
follow those stirring early events
step by step; through the dark years
of the revolution when the founda-
tion of the little republic was totter-
ing; through the periods of CONNER
cial depressions; through the long
days of civil strife on to victorious
peace at home and abroad. From
the dull and dusty archives of this
The Ely miner., 1903-01-02

and was negotiated for the sole pur-
pose of checkmating any forcible at
tempt which Russia might make to
get hold of the kingdom of Korea. 1t
was feared at Toxic that should Russia
establish itself in the so-called 'Her-
NIT Kingdom" Japan itself would in
the end be reduced to the humiHating
position of vassal state, or have to
fight for her independence under most
adverse circumstances. But events
have proved that, at the present time
at least, Russia does not care SO much
for the suzerainty over Korea as for
the absolute control of Manchuria,
probably the richest province of deca-
dent China; and to secure Japan's si-
lent consent to the occupation of that
country, which an English diplomat
has not inaptly called "the nabob's
vineyard of the east" the ST. Peters,
burg government has given positive as
surance of the mikado's personal rep
resentative that the czar has no inten-
! ton whatever of encroaching upon
Japanese rights in the premises.
And in order to make it's assurance
doubly acceptable Russia climbed
| down on the Kamtchatka fishery dis
pute and voluntarily continued, in po-
lite Difference to Japanese representa-
| tions, to grant fishery licenses to Jap
anese subjects fishing along that coast
for another year; and this policy, it
is intimated, will be continued indeh-
| nitely, not only in regard to the KANT
chatka fisheries, but to those of Sagha-
lien also.
1t has been said that there is no
] friendship in international relations
| that the enemy of yesterday becomes
! the ally of to-day. This seems to apply
with particular force to the present
Russ o-Japanese status, because year
ago no two nations on earth were more
antagonistic than Japan and Russia.
| Whether the unscrupulous Muscovitf
| or the shifty mikado will come out vic
tor in the great diplomatic game which
is now attracting the attention of tn.
| world remains to be seen. Certain it
is. however, that England, which a
short time ago prided itself upon the
| conclusion of an offensive and defens-
| i've alliance with Japan, for the time
being is the deuce in the diplomatic
card pack. And the shameless nom
chalance with which the japanese ma
ton has gone back on Great Britain,
| which stood by it in the hour of need.
shows that it's arrogance is exceeded
only by it's ingratitude.-
In the end Japan will find that
it must depend upon England for
the maintenance of its position as a
great power; because as soon as Rus
| sia has assimiieted Manchuria it must,
to make its position secure, obtain
| virtual control of Korea and its coast
= line. g. W. WEIPPIERT.
The Ely miner., 1903-01-02

(First Home of the New York Chamber
of Commerce.)
money, and as far back as 1856 we
find it objecting most strenuously to
the proposition to issue paper cur
rency and make it legal tender.
Foreign countries have no cause to
wonder at the commercial supremacy
of the United States, if they will but
pause to consider the enterprise and
the industry of our people. The ear
liest chamber of commerce that Great
Britain could produce was that of
Glasgow, in 1888, at which time our
merchants were we'll advanced on
those plans for the extension of trade
that have placed our ships and our
goods in every port in the world.
The new Chamber of Commerce
building, which was dedicated the
other day in the presence of Presi.
dent Roosevelt and eX-President
Cleveland, is in strange contrast to
its companions, the dingy sky
scrapers, pushing their roofs toward
the clouds. 1t is but four stories
high, and, at casual glance, would
The Ely miner., 1903-01-02
mingled the subtiety of Richelieu

with the astuteness of Bismarck.
Ito's principal opponent is Count
Okuma, leader of the progressist
party, who is radical in politics and
conservative of traditionary ethics
and religion. He was at the head of
the government for several years,
but was finally forced to resign by
Ito, who formed a coalition with
Hoshi Toru, leader of the radicals,
Okuma. The present cabinet is head
ed by Count Katsura, one of the
heroes of the Chino-Japanese war, a
charming man, who believes firmly
in the divine rights of kings and adj
vocates no policy which is not sane
toned by the mikado. How much
longer he will remain in office is eX-
ceedingly problematieal, as the fol-
lowers of Marquis Ito carried the
parliamentary election last August.
Should Gen. Katsura submit to the
dictation of Ito it is probable that he
| will be allowed to remain in office,
as the old leaders majority is not
| large enough to make his party ab-
solutely independent.
That Marquis Ito is again DOM
inant factor in japanese affairs is evil
| denced by the pro-Russian tone of the
Toxic press, which was decidedly pro-
British until a few weeks ago. The
semi-official Japan Times, for years am
anti-Russian organ, recently said in
| leading article: Nothing can be no.
bier in human achievement than tri-
umphing over prejudice for the sake
of truth and burying the past for the
sake of promoting the general peace
and progress of the world. Suppose a
permanent bond of genuine friendship
is established between Japan and Rus
sia, and that, once that bond is tied,
Japan succeeds in making allies Of
England and Russia? Whether realiZ-
able or not, this is dream worth
dreaming" To this the Nichi adds:
"As matter of fact, the government
of Russia is fairer in its treatment of
| the japanese than is the United States
or several of the British colonies"
These journalistic utterances reflect
the voice of Marquis Ito, who, ever
since the close of the Chino-Japanese
war. has favored closer commercial and
political relations with Russia, and was
instrumental in arranging the recent
visit of Prince Komatsu to ST. Peters
burg. The Anglo-Japanese alliance of
last year was likewise the work of Ito,
The Ely miner., 1903-01-02

goes, the description certainly holds
good, but the other statements are
utterly without foundation. The
Japanese are the aristocratS of the
eastern world and have an overween-
ing opinion of their power and in
telligence. They have adopted occi-
dental customs and reorganized their
army and navy after the most APP
proved western methods simply be-
cause they realized that in order to
be recognized as one of the worlds
powers they must be prepared to
meet other nations on a footing of
equality, so far as war equipments
are concerned.
For the same reason the japanese
government has endeavored to inf1u-
ence merchants and manufacturers
to adopt modern systems of trade
and commerce; and in all the large
centers of the island empire factories
are run which, as far as machinery
goes, compare. favorably with the
manufacturing plants of the United
States, Great Britain and Germany.
Steamship lines have been subsidized
by the parliament, reciprocity trea-
ties have been negotiated and coast
wise shipping has been developed.
In their intercourse with foreigners
the japanese of every caste have dis
played courtesy and consideration
and have thereby been enabled to
get hold of countless trade secrets,
the possession of which has made
the nation an important factor in
the export trade of the world. Jap
anese officials were sent abroad to
familiarize themselves with western
ideas and customs, to study the COM
mercial and political conditions of
the countries in which they So
iourned and to establish connections
in the financial centers. Youths
were enrolled as students at Euro
pean and American universities and
military and naval schools; and in
the short space of Is years Japan,
once considered one of the dark
countries, blossomed forth as one OF
the most progressive nations on
earth.
But in their domestic relations the
people of Japan still cling to ancient
The Ely miner., 1903-01-02
EXTERIOR OF PERKINS HOUSE.

flowers of the choicest varieties.
The music room, finished in Moorish
style, is particularly beautiful when
it is illuminated by numerous ori-
entail globes. Concealed within these
opalescent swinging lamps are cleo
beautiful as to be beyond vivid de-
,scription.
Senator Perkins is quiet man, un-
obtrusive, unpretentious and always
$50. greatly interested in his work as
statesman and business man, that he
does not give much time to society
events and functions, but he is very
proud of his home, and proud of his
wife and daughters, as he has good
reason to be, for they are creditable
to him in every way. The senator
is 63 years old, but does not look it,
because he is so sturdy and strong.
He was born in Maine, reared on a
farm, and when only 12 years of age
went to sea as a cabin boy. He
followed that Mailing and became a
sailor, shippingA before the mast in
1855 on a vessel bound for Califor-
MIA, and landed at San Francisco,
where he resideoA for many years.
He became a merchant, afterwards
engaging in banking, milling, mining
and the steamship business. During
the past 25 years he has been oper-
ating steamships on the coasts of
California, Oregon, British Colum-
bia, Washington, Alaska and Mexico.
Ee was state senator eight years,
The Ely miner., 1903-01-02

tradition. The constitution of the
empire, now little over 13 years of
age, does not satisfy the democratic
leaders, because it keeps up the time
honored fiction of imperial and per-
sonal sovereignty, and totally ig-
nores the rights of the people at
large. Somehow the nation has
never managed to rid itself of the
influence of the Marquis Ito, who has
not inaptly been called the creator
of modern Japan. He has main
tanned his hold by advocating far
reaching reforms in social conditions
things which touch every individ-
ual nearly. But in the conduct of
political affairs he has been ultra
conservative, has insisted that the
cabinet is responsible to the en-
peror and not to the parliament.
ridicules the old-style religion and
has been an unwavering advocate of
the adoption of western ideas. as a
political manager the old marquis is
without peer, and in the conduct OF
the foreign affairs of the empire has
The Ely miner., 1903-01-02
THE PERKINS HOUSE.
One of the Most Pretentious Man
s.ons ir Washington.
1t Was Built by the Late Senator Phil
etus Sawyer, of Wisconsin-Has
Been a Gay Place in
the Past.
Especial Washington letter.

ElHERE is an oasis in every des-
ert, resting place for every
"a weary working man, home
for une rich and the poor. There is
no place like home. 1t is the oasis
in the work-a-day desert, the resting
place alike for pauper and million
aire.
Senator Perkins, of California, has
been working man all of his days,
and is now as busy worker as there
is in either branch of the congress.
While other statesmen are yet in
their beds, Senator Perkins has his
breakfast. Almost nobody gets to
work here earlier than nine o'clock
in the morning, but Senator Perkins
starts for his office every morning
at half-past seven o'clock. Begin
ming at the bottom, he has patiently
and diligently climbed the ladder OF
accumulation until now he is one of
the millionaires of the senate.
Too good home cannot be provid-
ed for such man, and his colleagues
do not envy but congratulate him
upon his home in the national cap
ital-one of the most commodious
and comfortable of all the homes in
this city. The house is brown
stone mansion which stands upon an
angle formed by the intersection of
Il street, Nineteenth street and Con-
necticut avenue. 1t has an outlook
on all three streets, commanding a
particularly fine view of Connecticut
avenue, the thoroughfare of the rich
and eminent. Ten years ago Senator
Sawyer, of Wisconsin, built this
home for himself, after a long and
honorable career as a working man.
He told the narrator that the house
and furnishings would cost upwards
of 100000.
Every inch of the Perkins home is
frst-class material, fashioned by
first-class artisans. It's location is
the center of the fashionable por-
ton of this city. Mrs. Perkins and
her daughters entertained all last
winter with lavish hospitality, and
will do so again during the coming
social season. The young ladies have
become leaders with whip and spur,
their long country riding parties be-
ing well known along all of the roads
leading into Washington. They are
also devoted to golf.
Then the handsome drawing-rOom
will receive the wealth and fashion
of this city, and the spacious dining
room will welcome the most beauti-
full and brilliant women and the most
eminent men in public and official
life, and again the music room will
resound with mirth and >lnelody, for
this is also a ballroom, where youth
and beauty meet to chase the glow
ing hours with flying feet. The
-drawing-room is furnished with
Louis XIV. mahogany. The uphol-
STEERING is of satin damask, of deli
cate tints, hand-embroidered with
sprays of wild roses. The ceilings
are frescoed in delicate colorings,
and a deep border of La France roses
extends around the walls, painted by
the skillful hands of a true artist.
The gray-green hangings are lined
with softest rose color.
The dining-room is also furnished
in mahogany of massive design, the
table being always adorned with
The Ely miner., 1903-01-02
PEACE PARTY ON TOP
Japan's Relations with Russia As
sumo Pleasing Aspect.
War Cloud Dissipate d by Mutual Con-
cessiOns-Ito's Master Hand Ap-
parent in Harmonious
Adjustment.
written for This Paper.1

ESTIMATES placed by European
i and American writer's on the
- character of the japanese as a
nation are usually distorted by a
truly surprising shortness of vision
They are described as an initiative
race, polite and devoid of pride and
AS far as politeness
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-08-07

4 special dispatch to the Boston
Herald from New York says: "A move
ment that will revive once famous in
strumental organization of New York
the Symphony Society founded by the
late DR.. Leopold Damrosch, and which
will doubtless lead to war upon the
veteran Philharmonic Society mas
been inaugurated. 1t is significant
that the Philharmonic, which rejected
recently the offer of a fund, with a
string to it, subscribed largely through
Walter Damrosch's friends, will see its
rival have as its conductor Mr.. Dam
rosch, and that it's business interests
will he closely looked after is shown in
the fact that Mr. Daniel Frohman has
been elected as the resurrected Sym
phonx Society's president. The orches-
ira will begin its season in Pittsbure
under Walter Damrosch about Nov. II
and will make it's initial bow before a
New York audience Nov. %, in Carne-
gle Hail. Five concerts will be given or
Sunday afternoons. welcome nova.
ton in November and December.
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-08-07

There's lots of work ahead for the fish
batcheries Of Maine if they would keep
up the supply of fish in the various
lakes fre1ue pted by Augusta. This
statement is true, providing that ali the
fishermen, who go fishing, have good
luck. Take it almost any morning as
one comes down street and he is certain
to meet many 4 man armed with rod,
reel and bait, some have more of the
latter than do others. Ask them where
they're going and they'll say "fshin'.'
At noon, it's the same thing and along
the latter part of the afternoon-from
to 5 o'clock, you see it again. The
strange part of it all is, that you don't
meet any Of them coming back, so as to
see the string which they brought in
| Meet them down town, next day, and
| they'll tell you all about the big catch
they made. Surely, ''fishin' do be a
great sport"
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-08-07

They do say that a certain Augusta
man. who went out to Togus pond fish
ing the other day, is having lots of
trouble explaining to his friends that he
did not spoil q boat. 1t seems that he
got bite and hooked the fish solidly.
Upon getting his catch to the top of the
water he was astonished and made
angry to find that it was an eel. Now
this particular gentleman has a long
standing adherence of cells. He didn't
want to take it into the boat. He
thought it would be better to cut the
fish free without taking it inside the
craft. Instead of laying the edge of his
knife on the line where it layed over the
top of the Goat's side, he tried to cut the
head from the fish, by jabbing at it.
Those who were with him, say that he
nearly cut hole in the side of the boat,
before he discovered that there was an
easier method of accomplishing his
purpose.