davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-12-13
Santa Claus
 ana The Burglar

IL was not an ideal Christmas Eve. Snow, followed later by slow drizzling rain as the temperature took change for the warmer, made the streets sloppy and the air damp and uncomfortable.
 A more or less bedraggled individual, who idly leaned against lamp post at the corner of a busy street and watched the Christmas shoppers as they made their way homeward with bundles and packages, was in a cheerless humor.
 It was fast getting dark. and the man to A casual observer, seemed to nave nothing else to do but while the time. But "Bill the Cribber" was not idle. with his slouch hat pulled down over his eyes. he watched the big policemen few feet away from him.
 Ordinarily, he would have been ordered to move -on-t there" But the blue coat had not noticed him, so busy was he helping ladies across the street. which had become a regular jam of trucks, cabs and street cars Just as the policeman step- ped forward to help a woman, who car ried a small crying baby and many bundles to cross the street. The idler saw his opportunity and he grasped it- a fat pocketbook. By feeling 1t as his fingers clutched 1t tightly, ''the cribber" was sure 1t was a good opportunity. The next moment he was lost in the crowd.
 "Thief!' and "Pickpocket"' screamed excited men, but the idler was feet-foot- ed. One man, apparently a workingman; pursued the thief, but soon gave up the chase
 Bill was an adept at losing himself in a crowd and his victim was novice in the finding game. Out of sight of his pursuer he sat on one leg, up against the wall hat in one hand and several pencils in the other hand, which he piteously beg ged the hurrying passersby to buy. As lie nursuer passed him, he offered him a mcneil but the man did not notice him in his haste. Bill laughed-a low chuckle of derision. The idea of being caught was amusing to him, he who had worked under Mike Donovan with the Cherry Street gang for four years. He had be- gun his career early, had learned the pickpocket's art in a systematic way. He had not been caught until he grew care less, and then if the gang had stood by him, he would not have gotten the four years sentence to the penitentiary. He had little time for thinking or old times while he was hungry and had the price of a meal. The owner of the wal let had probably gotten disgusted at the chase So Bill acrose from his cramped 1 position and hobbled off down the street. ] Fifty feet away, he dropped his crippled 1 gait and made across the street, where ! a % cent meal was offered by haring cleo tric sign. He went in and sat down on one of the lunch counter stools and told the waiter to put the whole layout to me- A steaming plum pudding caught his eye, and he finished a meal not exact ly according to vegetarian or health diet
 ISAaa hut 1t filled him anyhow.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-12-13

He said in the Senate, February 13, 1902. that since that treaty had been conclud- ed. public opinion here has advanced far beyond that phase," that "the people of the United States are now just as much interested in and as much deter mined to have canal through that isth- mus as they were In .1S4s; but the people of the United States have recognized and the world has recognized, that this canal must be built under the auspices and suo- stantial control of the United States Gov ernment."
 Senator Morgan at the same time in or der to show the attitude of Great Britain cited what the Earl of Malnsbury said in a letter to Lord Lyons in 1859, CFebruary 15), as follows:
 "The Government of the United States need not entertain any jealousy in respect to any supposed design on the part of this country with reference to the transit routes between the two oceans. Her Ma Jesty's Government desires only that such routes should be promptly made and effi- ciently maintained for the general bene- fit of the commerce of all the world; and they are perfectly indifferent by what pri- yate agency those ends are accomplished. They seek for British commerce no ex- elusive advantage. but they certainly ex-
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-12-13

Grenada 1t evidently was to gain our assistance in the defense of the Isthmus, which had become tempting prize to European aggression.
 Passing to the broader ground. MT. Central American States, that none of them would be permitted to close the gates of intercourse on the great high ways of the world, and justify the act by the pretension that these avenues of trade and travel belong to them and that they choose to shut them, or, what is equivalent, to cucumber them with such unjust relations as would prevent their general use." And this Is just what Co., lombia did by its flat refusal to consider or ratify the treaty which had been con- cluded between that Government and ours for the construction of neutral canal by our Government.
 Senator Morgan went further than MT. Cass when he declared the Senate should resolve that Great Britain had no right under any circumstances to embarrass the right of exclusive ownership of a ship consent of the local sovereignties in which 1t is located. The Senator declared that ito this complexion 1t must come at last and we should at once march to this con- clusion and sweep off the incubus of the CIayton-Bulwer treaty"
 Recognized by Other Great Powers.
 Happily for the commercial interests and general welfare of the whole world Great Britain, France and Germany have
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-12-13
A Dramatic Incident in An Humble Home On ChriStmAC Eve.
BY GASToN TROY. ~ % 4 &s &@ @M@ @

After paying for the first sure enough meal he had had in two weeks, he walked into the street and boarded a passing suburban car. He had no definite desti- nation, but he did have definite plan for nights work. Nobody would be think ing of burglars on Christmas Eve. There were too many hopes and expectations of the next day for such inharmonious thoughts, and the night-disagreeable, as 1t was, suited his purpose. Yes. he felt like cracking crib tonight, undisturbed by the police. The spirit of his former shady life brought up in his mind by his recent little touch' made him crave that peculiar excitement and intrepid feeling, which becomes the joy of living to a professional burglars life.
 He was getting out of the city proper. The car was passing through a residence section of the poorer classes. The con ductor called "64th Street" and the car came to a stop. Aimlessly he arose and followed the several people who got off the car. He preferred walking anyway. It was too light in the car and he felt uncomfortable in the gaze of the pas sengers.
 ''The cribber" walked slowly through the street. his hands stuck deep in his trousers pockets. in one of which his fingers toyed nervously with a skeleton key. He took the key from his pocket and looked at 1t fondly. It was the same old key he had used when he first be- gan operations on key holes. When they searched him in the detention room of the police station, they had taken the key along with the other contents of his pockets and placed them in a package bearing his name. He did not see 1t again until the day two weeks ago, when he was released from prison. He was called Into the Wardens office to get the custo- mary railroad ticket and the $5 gold piece given every released man when he goes forth from the penitentiary free man and he was handed this package. He had never forgotten the key, but the hope of ever getting it back had not been cherished in his mind.
 With these thoughts ''the cribber" turn ed into a side street and walked on com pletely absorbed in his reverie. He wondered if the deftness of his nngers had been lost during the time they haa become hard and knotty by daily contact with the hickory handle of stone breaker. He must find out and this was his first opportunity since he had gained his freedom.S ,- He stoped in front of low. little house and noiselessly crept over the small III kent flower beds that covered the plat of ground that served as front yard. He nearAd through the broken shutters into tbe rooms on the side of the house. By the aickering light of fire in the grate' he saw something that brought to him the memories of other days. A bed stood at the opposite side of the room, and ID 1t, two children were sleeping-a golden haired little girl of six or seven yeaF1
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-12-13
THE ISTHMIAN CANAL
Continue. from Page TwO.)

Noo0tlnue@ rom EeB0 xWo.l
 trust eor mankind to be removed from the chance of domination by any single power, nor become point of invitation for hostilities or prize for warlike ambi- eion- An engagement combining the construction, ownership and operation or such q work by this government. with an offensive and defensive alliance with the foreign State whose responsibilities and rights we would share, is, in my judgment Inconsistent with such dedication to uni versal and neutral use. and would, more over. entail measures beyond the scope of our national policy or present means. The lapse of years has abundantly con nrmed the wisdom and forethought of those earlier administrations, which long before the conditions of maritime inter- course were changed and enlarged by the progress of the age proclaimed the vital need of inter-oceanic transit across the American isthmus, and consecrated 1t in advance to the common use of man. kind by their positive declarations, and through the formal obligations of trea- ties. Toward such realization the efforts of my administration will be applied, ever bearing in mind the precepts on which Mir. Cass, who. while Secretary of State in 1858, announced that what the United States wanted in Central America, next to the happiness of its people, Is the security and neutrality of the inter- oveanic routes, which lead through 1t. - -(Pres. Mess. Vol. g. pp soe, s27-32S.)
 Senator morgan and His Labors
 Any discussion of the question growing out of the construction of an isthmian canal without bringing into 1t some ref erence to the large part Senator Morgan has taken in the controversies arising out
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-12-13

bonds and percentages of interest in order to get money to build it.
 The Senator from Vermont. Senator Morgan said, thought it was patriStic duty that he owed to the people or the United States, and especially to the az >ricuItural and industrial classes. that the tolls upon that canal, which no man present doubted will be built by some body should be placed at figure that was somewhat just toward American en- terprise. That was his motive, his only motive, and in the persistency of 1t, in n way that fs characte. istic of the man who is an upright and just man in his dealings but a strong man in his con yic,ion. he laid his hands upon this com pany an drought them into executive session and examined them against their will and promised them to keep tnelr secrets and he did keep them, until they consented that they should be laid before tho world"
 This statement, Senator Morgan said' was made in order to controvert the statement which had been industriousiy circulated that the Maritime Canal Com nanv had come to Congress seeking aid. Senator Morgan further said that the diff faculties the company had encountered were the making of Congress-that they were prosperous when the committee call ed them; that more than 1.000,oO0 had been raised and expended after they were called before the coni- mittcc, but afterwards they had no more credit with bankers, for the req son that the bankers expected the Gov ernment of the United States to build the canal.
 I have extracted this statement from one of the many speeches made by Sen ator Morgan upon this great question be- cause it is a brief. plain and, yet, very comprehensive statement of the history and condition of proposed legislation upon this project at the time 1t was made. have endeavored to state as briefly as pos
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-12-13

to change the relations or our Govern ment towards the construction Of this oA- nal through the Frelinghuysen-zavalA treaty by making the canal primarily a domestic means of water conmunica- ton between the Atlantic and Pacific shores" to be built and owned by the United States and Nicaragua. the former of the territory of the latter. Mir. Bayard was . Senator from Delaware when this treaty was consider ed In the Senate, and defeated. He op- posed it's ratification. He became imrnedi- ately thereafter Secretary of State under President Cleveland. Mir. Cleveland withdrew the treaty and never resubmit- ted 1t to the Senate. for the reason, among others stated by him that an en- gagsment combining the construction, ownership and operation of such c work, with the foreign state, whose responsi- bilities and rights we would share. was in his judgment, inconsistent with it's consscration to the common use of man. kind, which had been done by earlier administrations by their positive declar- ations and thre ugh the formal obligations of treaties.
 The legislation proposed by the bill to amend the charter of the Maritime Ca- nal Company. in the manner proposed. marked the dividing line in this great struggle, in so far as practical results are concerned. Our treaty relations with Great Britain with respect to this canal remained the same since the ratification of the Clayton -Bulwer treaty until they were changed by the Hay-Pauncefcte treaty of December, 1901.
 Senator Morgan favored the ratification of the Frelinghuysen-Zavala treaty. He warmly supported the Maritime Canal Company bill. He contended that the bill did hot conflict with our treaty obliga- tions under the Clayton-Bulwer treaty.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-12-13
Presents for Men.

In silyerware there are toilet articles SUI as talcum jars, cold cream jars, silver moun ed brushes, combs clothes brushes wnn brooms, fasks and shaving brushes
 Bath robes come in the most attractive Hui1 and the man who has none will surely oiS the sister or mother who gives him one.
 Gorgeous heavy silk mufflers, embroidsr' suspenders, neckties of white silk, linen or sl handkerchiefs and chest protectors are son of the things men must expect, as they gene ally put of buying them until after Christrns
 Other decorations for a mans den are ' h,deoua but picturesque Japanese mast swords and bayonets Panel decorations oriental design will surely please if they well selected. A wastebasket would not amiss, and one of the new corkscrews, witn horn top, silver trimmed, would be hishls ceptable.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-12-13
rha nawn of Christmas.

Christmas day begins in the middle ek Pacific ocean on the one hundred and eisatAsl naraIlsl of Iatt&ude and there ia where san Claus starts and ends his great and only 5o nay Of the year.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-09-08
SCOTTISH BEAUTY
TO BECOME A BRIDE
Lady Mackenzie Engaged to Officer
of HuSSarS.

EDINBURGH. Sept. s.-The engage
ment of Lady Constance Mackenzie, the
sister OF Lady Cromartie, TO Captain
Fitzgerald, Of the Eleventh Hussars, has
aroused the greatest interest In Scottish
society. The bride-elect is a remarkably
clever and original girl; a champion
swimmer (she has more than once car
ried of the swimming shield of the Bath
Club, a clever shot, a first-rate fisher
WOman-in a word. a modern Diana
Lady Constance is never seen 10 such
advantage as in her native Highlands.
1t is probable that the marriage will
take place, as did that OF her sister. in
London. from Stafford House
Lady Constance Mackenzie is a niece
of the Duke of Sutherland. One time she
and her cousins. Lady Castlereagh and
Miss Chaplin. were always chaperoned
by the Duchess of Sutherland, who gave
many brilliant dances for her pretty
quartet of nieces.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-09-08
Dinners.

General and Mrs. Corbin entertained
at dinner again last evening in honor of
their guests, the Earl and Countess Of
Shaftesbury. The handsomely appointed
table was attractively decorated with
white roses and chrysanthemums. The
Engineer Band was stationed on the
lawn outside the dining-room windows
and played throughout the evening The
guests were Secretary Hay, Secretary
Hitchcock. Secretary Wilson, Assistant
Secretary OF War General oliver; Gen
eral Randolph, and Mr.. and Mrs. Edwin
Gould. of New York. General and Mrs.
Corbin accompanied their guests TO
West Point today. After an inspection
of the Academy grounds the earl and
countess will leave New York for a
visit TO Canada.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-09-08

OF the many scenes that have taken
place on the old Potomac, none has
been gayer or more picturesque than
the one enacted on its historic waters
yesterday when the Washington and
Middle States boat clubs held their an
nual regatta Hundreds of boats glided
up and down the river or were moored
close to its shores. Now and then a
grim looking torpedo boat, carrying
aboard the representatives of the press.
darted friskily about-an incongruous
object among the dainty pleasure crafts,
resplendent in coats of fresh paint and
CAV with flags and pennants.
An ubiquitous tug, leaving in its wake
long trails OF thick. black smoke. was
an amusing feature of the day, nesting.
as il often did. beside the stately reye-
nue. cutter. or overshadOwing the pref
" little house boats. that tried in vain
10 escape from it's tormenting presence.
Pretty. hatless girls padded bright col
ored canoes. and milady, in fluffy gown
and picture hat. gracefully posed in
luxuriantly cushioned boats. An eight
Dared shell. manned by merry crew Of
college girls in natty white suits, added
much to the interest OF the occasion.
and a launch from the navy yard car
ried aboard another gay party of young
women. The Potomac Boat Club threw
open its ever hospitable doors, and their
many friends enjoyed the courtesy to
the fullest extent. The eager crowd
along its front greeted both victor and
vanQuished with equal enthusiasm, and
the capsized crew, that were rescued
from the water and carried ashore with
shattered she'll and splintered sculls,
were as heartily cheered as the ex-
hausted. but victorious. winner OF the
association single
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-09-08

alive, lac TO 1sc per Id; spring ducks,
1sc TO zoe; alive, Ice per h.; turkeys.
dressed, Ice; alive. 13c to 15c per ID; ca
pons. Soc per h.: roasting chickens. ISc
per ID; fowl. 15c per h.; reed birds, 75c
a doz; squads. zoe apiece; plover, 3Oc-
Csc apiece
DRESSED MEATS-VeaI, I2ke to 15c
Id; veal outlets. zoe TO Csc per Ib; spring
lamb. 1Sc to zoe per ID: lamb chops, 121sc
to 25c per ID; mutton, Isc to zoe per ID;
beef, 1Oc TO zoe per h.; pork. I5c per
h.; steak, round. 15c; slrloin, 15c to
zoe; porterhouse. pc to Csc; calf liver,
Zoe per H.: beef liver. SC TO 10c per Id. I;
lamb liver, 10c.
FTSH-Bluefsh and butterhsh, 12ha
to 15c per h.: sturgeon, I5c per 10. f;
Spanish mackerel. 25c per H.: rock
fish. 15c to Csc per ID; soft shell crabs.
Toe 10 81 a doZ.; hard she'll crabs, z9c
and 20c doZ-; clans, loo a doz.; 40c
quart; S1o0 a hundred; haddock,
&c to 10c per lb- cod, 10c per h. !:
salmon trout. I23zc per h.: sea trout.
SC per h.; sea bass, 15c per h.: foun-
ders. Sc and 10c per b.; Kennebee
salmon, zoe ID; perch, 10c to 125zc per
ID: tailors, 10c per ID; cells, Zoe per
lb-: halibut, zoe per h.; spots. Toe per
lb; lobster, 20c-25c per lb; crab meat,
25c-30c a quart; pompano, 25c per ID;
Newport haddock. 10c per ID; shark, Csc
apiece; carp. Sc to 10c per lb.; hogish,
SOC z dozen. Moonfsh. Zoe TO I21zc per
lb; fiukes, 10c per ID: Potomac Bass, 25c
a pound; oysters. 30c to Soc a quart.
pike, 15c per pound.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-09-08
WEST POINT CADETS
ALLOWED TO SMOKE
Pipes Permitted, But Cigarettes and
Cigars Still Barred.

Pipes are no longer barred from West
Point. Hereafter the cadets may have
meerschaums and briars TO their hearts
content. and may smoke in quarters and
during recreation hours In the quad
rangle inclosed by the barracks.
Smoking on the sly Will be a thing OF
the past hereafter at the Military Acad-
envy. Colonel Mills, the superintendent
Of the institution. believes cigarette
smoking will be abolished by making ii
possible for cadets 10 get all the to-
bacco AID pipes they want at the supply
store, and with the consent of the Sec
rotary OF War he has raised the ban on
smoking
While il has been noticed that the
sudden freedom has caused an undue
amount OF smoking at first, the army
officers at the post are confident the
final result will be good Colonel Mills
hopes 10 lessen cigarette smoking by al
lowing pipes. for. with the latter easy
70 obtain and the former only TO be
imported with great difficulty, 1t is ar
gued that the smokers OF the corps will
grow fond OF the pipes. Neither cigar
Clues lOi cigars &c " St oblA Ct AaAC
store.
There was no rule more irksorne to
the cadets Than the anti-smoking reg
ulation, and those whose duty it was TO
report infractions have been known TO
go to the extent of "skinning' a smoker
because of tobacco odors detected In The
culprit's room. The victim of the report
used TO be placed on punishment
tours" or made TO walk for hours with
a gun on his shoulder for many days in
succession. and not long ago the corps
1.as given to understand that the prac-
tIce of secret smoking had reached
point where the authorities might expel
the next cadet caught IN the act The
punishment tours in each case were
accompanied by dement's, and with the
more incorrigible smokers ii often hap
pened that nearly all the leisure hours
of a term would be spent ION the area.
The only restriction on the pipe smok-
ers Is that they must do their smoking
within barrack limits.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-09-08
T0DAY'S RETAIL PRICES.

VEGETABLES-Tom 13c Il peck;
onions. 15c 4 peck; string beans.
sc to &c 4 peck; summer squash.
&c to sc; rhubarb. sc TO 1Oc; let
tuce. &c TO Sc bunch; celery, Sc
to 12c bunch; cucumbers, &c to SC; egg
plants, sc to Sc; eauli1ower, 15c to 25c a
head; beets. sc a bunch; cabbage, 21kc to
DC a head; sweet potatoes Sc to 15c 4
peck; peppers. 2 for sc; apples, 10c
Il peck; spinach, 15c "a peck;
cymling, sc to 10c: cooking apples, 10c
4 peck; lima beans. 15c quart; sugar
corn. zoe to 25c dozen; potatoes. zoe 10
35c per peck; parsley 1c to &c a bunch;
carrots. &c bunch; onions, loo u peck.
Spanish onions, 5e-10c
FRUIT-Pineapples. zoe to Csc; water
melons. 30c to soc; peaches, soc to 4Oc a
Il peck; selected peaches, 40c a
box; California plums. 10c box: can
taloupes. SC to 15c apiece: pears. Toe a
box; oranges, 40c to Coo dozen; Delaware
grapes, loo a box: apples. Csc to ..0c a
basket: bananas. 10c TO l2zc a dozen
Niagara grapes, 25c-30c basket; lemons
15c to zoe doZ; Concord grapes, 10c per
ID: new apples, l5c quarter peck; Sickel
pears. 15c a box; Bartlett pears, 10c 4
box, crabapples, Csc TO 40c u peck: dam
sons. soc a basket.
EGGS-23c to Zoe doZ.: butter, 25c 10
3Oc h.: American cheese, 1Sc to zoe per
lb.; schweitzer cheese, imported. soc
ID; domestic. zoe ID.
POULTRY-Chickens. dressed. Ice per
ID; spring chickens. 16c to 1Sc per h.;
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-09-08
Summer Resort GOSSIP.

Another interesting rumor afoat at
newport announces that Mrs. o. H. p.
Belmont, VINO owns the Marble House,
the bridal gift of her former husband.
w. X. Vanderbilt, has presented the
dwelling to his bride. Since her divorce
from Mr.. Vanderbilt and her subsequent
marriage, Mrs. Belmont has not occu-
pied the house, neither has she rented
II, nor would she sell it. though she has
received several handsome offers for II.
Society gossips that the gift to Mr..
Fanderbilts second wife was made
through third party, though no con-
firmation of the report Gsn be obtained.
The property is valued at 81 500. 900.