davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-11-06

Earl Corson Of Waterville, was in town
4 few hours Thursday.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-04-12
TIE HOTEL CLERKS TROUBLES

prominent another guest hurried up 20
the desk and wanted ne to 90 out and
get his laundry. which had been sent out
this morning. I could not do that. and
then he became angry
Just then a woman approached The
desk and asked me If Mrs Stuyvesant
had teiephoned for her this morning
Vow. you know I should know all about
the telephone and should have been able
TO tell her at once. Because I asked
the telephone operator. she became very
Indiguau. and told me it was wonder
hotel clerks could not remember such
little matters and politely Informed ms
she would inform the manager.
while she was giving me section
of her mind. another guest hurried Up
10 ths desk and told me be was dis
satisfied with his room and wanted
another ar once. AT the time the hotel
was packed TO the limit and another
room was not available. ] asked him
what the objection vas 10 the room
he was assigned He said. Wei. 7
like TO look out on tha street. ana he
room / have faces the side street.
want 20 fe to-diEI CT i-E40Ss IVA ID
Avenue-' The funny part OF that man 3
kick was he arrived after night. and
was called at daylight this morning. He
viii be out all day. and The chances
are he viii not occupy the room half
the tine ne is here
AS you came into the lobby. however.
he straw 10 break the cameTs back
was placed uDoa re. a woman asked
me if she could not keep her pet dog
in - aarlor. She said he barksd and
annoyed her while she slept. and she
would like TO have him kept at some
place remote from her room told
her it was impossible TO use the parlor
for the keeping OF dogs. Well said
she. 4 would have YOU understand my
deg is a good biz better than any hotel
clerk ever saw. and much better than
the run of guests you have in this ho-
tel" If she had been a man, there
would have been a fight.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-04-12

who has been presented to him when
ever the opportunity occurs Al q re-
cent reception which the King attended
his majesty saw a man in the crowd
whose face was familiar to him. but
whom he could not place for the life
OF him. Selling q favorable opportunity
the genial monarch said TO the man.
Your face is very familiar to me. ana
sure that I have met you before; but.
really. you must pardon me, 1 cannot at
this moment recall your name. The
man. who was the Kings tailor, replied
in some embarrassment. I made your
breeebes, sir All. yes. certainly re-
piled the King; Major Brooches, to be
sure. glad to see you. major.
The utter absurdity. improbabiIity. and
even imp5ssibility Of the story does not
ia the least detract from its popularity
It is now being used In newspapers
Throughout the length and breadth OF
The ,anC, and is fourjshing n The United
Kingdom from Lands End TO John O.
Groat's. II is due 10 appear iU the Ger
man comic papers in about four weeks
and be copied back again into papers
by which time the French and Italian
funny papers VIII have taken il up.
The prTiOdiCilg OF This story appears
to he about twenty five years and its
visibility q year and q half, roughly.
On the occasion OF it's present visit IL
was first observed in the Middle West
and il probably viii be last seen IN
Australia and \eW Zealand. On the oc-
casion OF its last appearance. twenty
FIVE years ago. the story began. when
General Grant was President he one day
observed az one Of the public recep tious
q Jhe White House" etc There are
records OF the story having been visible
in his country twenty-five years before
that. namely, in 1873 and probably. if
a search were made, T. would be found
also 10 have been seen in ether parts OF
me world IN 1888 The story began
Gen Zachary Taylor upon one occa-
sion. ete. Going back another twenty
I'VE years Wa md That in 1928 the story
was shining with remarkable brillianey
and beginning, General Jackson, az is
well known, etc.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-04-12

q oMEB0DY has said that there are
really only seven primal jokes, all
others being notifications Of these. This
IS often repeated as being fact. Il
is not. There are more than seven As
the world grows older new jokes nov
and then are born. The appearance Of
new Joke is as infrequent as the dis
covery Of a new star, but It does occur.
It is a fact, however, that. once born
a Joke never dies. It may disappear f2T
3 while. but in due time IL IS sure to
return. A thing worthy Of attention IS
the fact that Jokes have a certain pc
riodtcitv. like comets. A joke appears
feebly at first IN one OF two newspapers
or magazines. then is told by one or Two
after-ainner speakers. It IS seen stimuli
taneously at widely separated pisces,
nerbaps being told at a dinner in Sen
Francisco. at the same time that il was
being printed in a London newspape--
Gradually it increases in visibility, IA
I'll r. is printed in every paper IN 'ae
world. and told at dinners from Pekin
10 Kalamazoo. After this IL slowly re
cedez until It has entirely vanished, ard
is neither heard nor seen again until BE
allotted time Of its periodicity, when IL
again bIazes across the frmamenI Of
humer.
where the soke goes 10 when it dis
aDpears is a mystery as deep as where
the comets 20 TO when, after shining for
a time IN our heavens, they wander forth
into the vastness OF space. anyone who
viii read the publications OF the day
can ind some new joke which he VIII
remember TO have seen or heard years
ago. II he can establish just how long
ago it was that be saw the joke last he
viii get some idea Of its peTiodicity. A
story which Is now going the rounds is
as follows:
King Edward is noted for his gen
iaflty and bis reluctance TO wound any
one by seeming 10 forget him. He is
extremely careful to speak 10 everyone
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-04-12

GGIXT HEN first aspired TO be q no
w tel clerk was sure the occu-
patton was one OF the most desirable
position in the list of mems employ
ment- Since that time I have found
so many obstacles 10 disDrove the
first opinion 7 oftenumes get despoBdent
and wish I were enc of The white wings
on the street"
So spoke one Of the brightest young
men who stand behind the hotel desk
in a certain Washington hotel Al the
time he seemed thoroughly disguised
with life, and the air bore deep blush
hue about him thus indicating there
had been storm brewing, a Times
reporter Glanced into the lobby al that
moment and TO him the despoudent clerk
told his story Of ill-f0rruHe He said.
one never knows this world until he
has stood behind The desk OF q hotel
and Listened to the complaints Of the
travelling public Little things that to
you and me seem insignificant serve a.
mountains 10 merry travellers. and they
never seem satisfied unless they are ar
The desk pouring out tacir tales of woe
Particularly has this fact been i'm
pressed upon me within the past hour.
and have notion to don my coat and
nat and walk out
About an hour ago. q dapper young
fellow walked up 10 the desk and com
planned that his dress suit case had net
arrived al the hotel He had registered
five minutes before that and seemed 10
think his baggage should have bee4
here when he stepped out of he car
riage, 1 told him IL would soon be here
but ne growIed and then had the nerve
TO ask me to so down 10 the station and
hurry it up OF course / went? Well
/ guess not.
Because refused. he created a scene
and told me the next time he came 10
Washington he would stop at another
hotel. While he was making himself
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-04-12
Secretary of the Treasury Paying OF.

necessarily must in q government that
is not troubled with foreign relations.
There are three police commissioners.
who have charge Of the policing Of tho
country; under them a chief of police
and two policemen.
The Jail No Joke.
The Jail is very real affair. with
barred windows. shackles. and bread and
water. ANY citizen who is caught vio-
iating the law is straightway cast into
the lookup, and remains there unless
he furnishes bail or collateral until he
is brought up fer trial
Court is held every Saturday, and all
cases arising during the week are tried
then. The judge is a very Daniel"
He is said to be pessimist of pessi-
mists. except when he is on the bench.
Then he throws aside all personal consid-
erations. and balances the good against
the bad, with a business that has made
many experienced lawyers visiting jhe
Republic open their eyes in surprise
He is reputed never 10 have made a mis-
take in decision
A case for assault. recently came up in
court. The evidence was strong against
the prisoner, and he was sentenced TO
a fine of $3.5o or fifteen days in the
workhouse.
.ewfu you pay2" asked the Judge
Haven't got it, answered the pris-
ner.
Fifteen days, said the judge,
Next
As it CHANGED. the next prisoner. on
the list was a little fellow charged with
Iaziness. and arrested as a vagrant. He
was convicted. and the judge announced:
$50 or three days in the work
house
"Ain'e got it." replied the prisoner
with quiyering lips. but bearing up as
bravely as he could
The judge. reIenting. said:
Paid Feuow-PrisOner's Fine.
Is there anyone here who is willing
to pay the prisoners hne2"
There was silence in the court room
for moment. and then the prisoner who
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-04-12

had just been sentenced to fifteen days,
drew the money out of his pocket.
Here it is" was all he said
The visitors who were present, de-
cIared that any form of government that
teaches boys such self-saerifce and man
Illness is TO be encouraged
Though the boys are arrested by boys.
tried and convicted by other boys, there
is a strong sentiment against tale-bear-
ing, even on the witness stand One
youngster was arrested for being or
the roof During the trial the prose
cutting attorney said to a witness: Did
you see the prisoner on the roof
'Well-er-I saw part Of him" was
The hesitating reply.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-04-12
At Work on the Cooperative Farm.

Many knotty legal problems arise for
the boys to decide AZ present they
are trying 70 untangle a bad serape into
which the government was brought by
neglecting TO elect a president on the
day set by the constitution. Presidents
are elected every six months. When
last election day came round the po-
Htical parties-the Good Government
party and the Grand Old party-were
fighting among themselves about who to
put up fer candidates, and the day
passed without the election taking
place. The citizens awoke the next
morning 10 find themselves without q
president since then the vice prest-
dent has been acting as chief executive
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-04-12

which viii occupy the morning, Senator
Lodge viii, in the afternoon. deliver an
Grafton on the encampment at Vallav
Forge Public speaking viii follow and
other pleasing features VIII make up
the hours Of truly eveutful day
To every American these grounds at
Valley Forge, where the brave CONT
mental troops endured their frightfuI
sufTerings aud priyations, which will
again be called into public view by this
monster celebration. are hallowed by
the most sacred associations of the
struggles at that vital reriod Of our
countTy's history.
The battle OF Brandywine opened the
way TO Philadelphia for the British. Who
entered the city on the 2Gth of septem-
Der. 1871. The 18th of December fol
lowing the American army went into
positions at Valley Forge.
On that cold wintry journey 10 Valley
Forge Mr.. Losing the historian. re-
lates how Mrs. Washington rode behind
her husband on a punon. He was on
his powerful gray charger. and accom-
panied by a single aide-de-camp. fol
lowed he last remnant of the army that
left the encampment at White Marsh.
Six Months Of Suffering.
Washington occupied the Valley Forge
headquarters To- SIX months, until June
-, IT'S. Undoubtedly these we're the
most trying and memorable days Of the
Revolution.
The building selected by General
Washington for his headquarters. and
which now remains as at the time he
took possession of it. was erected by
John Potts in 1853 and occupied then by
his son Isaac. He and his son had a
forge upon the creek. about half a mile
above its mouth. and made their home
there. The name. which has become
historic, he'd its origin ia the craft Of
It's owners About two months before
the American army encamped there the
British burned the forge.
After the close Of the Revolutionary
war the wooden factory which now stands
there was b6llt Before the Revolution
william Penn used 10 own land right
about where the American army was en-
camped- To his daughter Letitia he
gave a grant Of a manor close by.
Washington's camp was laid ont upon
the plan of a regular city and surround
ed by intrenchments, the place being
well chosen strategicaIly-
To be sure 1t was barren of shelter
and comforts, and though a town would
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-04-12

officer. and all the legal talent of the
community is trying to decide whether
it would be constitutional in such an
exceptional case TO hold on election
now.
The Brave Standing Army.
Every boy is a born soldier, and the
boys of the republic are TO exception
The republic boasts q standing army
some thirty boys. They ere
regularly enlisted. drilled. and have real
guns. The regulars are good soldiers.
as they have proved on several oeea-
sions. One dark night the sentries were
the Jail is a gloomy cemetery. a phase
ghostly enough TO make the frnest
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-04-12

HJHAT now promises TO be one Of
Wy greatest patriotic celebrations our
country ever has witnessed, viii take
place on the 18th esJune next at the
old historic headquarters Of Washington
at Valley Forge, Pa, and on the his
torlc blood-stained encampment ground
surrounding. the occasion being the
125th anniversary OF the occupancy and
evacuation Of this most celebrated camp
ground Of the Revolutionary war.
President Roosevelt viii attend the
ceremonies. The governors OF all the
states wiI be present The PennsylTa-
MIA National Guard win be on hand as
well as large body Of United States
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-04-12

regulars, besides delegations from patFI-
otto societies all over the union I. is
estimated that IN the neighborhood Of
20O. 600 persons viii take part, making
this celebration the most magnificent
testimonial 10 the heroes Of 1916 in. the
annals of our history
Many prominent persons viii serve on
the reception committee, and nothing
but Sickness OF death VII detain the
governors Of the thirteen original thfr-
teen States from taking part in this OBJ
servance.S 50 they have written.
After an address by President Roose-
welt, followed by a splendid review OF
the large numbers Of military present,
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-04-12

Valley Forge, almost alone Of ali historic
places OF America remains in essentials
the Valley Forge of Washington's day
The old forge itself, which WAS built in
49, and destroyed by the British in
1871. from which the valley took is
name, was burned down a few years ago
for the second time Nearly all ire
other landmarks remain.
Indeed. no one who has not visited
Valley Forge has the slightest idea 81
the extent of The relics and reminders
of the revolution which stiu exist there.
The earthworks as they stand today. are
six and eight feet in height. and several
miles in length while the old forts
known as Fort Washington and Fort
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-04-12
ON TO BE HELD AT HISTORIC VALLEY FORC

Huntingdon are still plainly marked out,
as well as the headquarters Of Lafay-
cite. Knox and Wayne.
Gettysburg Of the Revolution
Valley Forge was to the revolution
what Gettysburg was TO our civil war.
True. no battle was fought at Valley
Forge. bat It was the crucial test of the
power of the coIonists TO maintain heir
war for independence. as Gettysburg was
he crucial test OF the power OF the
North 10 subdue the military power OF
rebellion, and both should be preserved
as shrines for the worshipers OF freedom
from every state IN the Union and from
every. country in the world
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-04-12

Practical WORKINGS OF the
Miniature Republic ct
Annapolis Junction, Now
Enjoying lis Fourth Year
OF sovereign Inqepen-
dCnC6. D. D p. D. D

IT HE smallest nation on earth. and
one of the most ideal. is the Ma
tionaI Junior Republic. where
every citizen from president to police
mas must work OF starve. Sixty boys,
varying in age from eleven to eighteen,
are settled on a farm of some 140 acres
in Maryland near Annapolis Junction,
and are as complete and foreign a ma
ton as though they We're deposited on a
desert island in the Southern Pacific.
Their government is substantially the
same IS that of the United States. There
is a president and his cabinet, consisting
of a secretary of the treasury. secretary
OF state, secretary Of war, and attorney
general The little country is entirely
surrounded by land, and the necessity
for a secretary Of the navy is eliminated.
The older heads who run the institu-
tfon. but who rarely interfere with the
boys government. consist Of a super
intendent, H. E. Stuart; an assistant
superintendent. i. MateTn; farmer,
and a school teacher.
The republic is run on the basis of
work The citizens must work, one and
ell, or go TO Jail or the workhouse.
Each citizen pays for everything he gets,
including his board and lodging and
clothes. These are all paid for by good,
solid work. represented in the currency
OF the republic which is paid TO the
workers once a week.
# a citizen refuses to work and per-
sIstently remains idle, he is sent 20
the workhouse. and the proceeds Of his
work 90 TO the government. In this
miniature state every one must help
himself. The government refuses to
oountenance benevolent societies, which
would encourage laziness.
Token Money Used.
The money of the republic is made Of
aluminium. and the various coins, rep
resenting a dollar, half dollar, quarter,
and dime, are about the size of the
United States coins of the same denomt-
nations.
It is a rule Of the institution that any
boy who is thrifty enough to save his
money while remaining in the republic
can have It redeemed if he leaves with
a certificate OF good character, with real
American money
A Court of Last Resort.
There is. of course, a power behind me
throne. a supreme court 10 which a
final appeal can be made, II the boys
fud the problems too tough for them 10
soIve-that IS, the board OF directors.
1t is a matter of record, however, that
IN the past four years, since the estab-
Iishment of the Junior Republic, such
an appeal has only been made in three
or four cases.
The police department holds an i'm
portant place IN the government, as it
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-04-12

ed, and when enc rned for
The construction the eont. be let
and the church viii become a power in
the state
The republic IS made up Of boys whose
parents cannot manage them. boys who
have strong wills and who would other
wise have to roam the streets or go 10 d
reform school. These boys. thrown
among their own kind, quickly learn the
force Of public opinion and that they
must conform 10 the laws. They find the
jail is no joke For nearly four years
the Institution has been established. and
during that time large number OF boys
have learned 20 become law-abidfng
citizens and have proved the value OF
their training in the outside world. No
boy that has gone ont from the republic
with certificate OF good standing has
ever proved a baekslider
Friends in Washington.
Additoaa interest IN the Republic
has been used in Washington By the
organizati IunioEzAasge among
the girls or meet
ing for the pun = Sz 60 - on was
held at 1907 Ma saehusetts Avenue. at
which Mrs. Archibald Hopkins and
George A. c. Christiancy. trustees OF
the National Junior Republic. explained
the purposes Of the institution
The officers elected were: President,
Miss Alletta Van Reopen: first vice
president. Mrs. Gilbert Grosvenors sec
ond vice president. Miss Katherine
RidgeIy: thiiy vice president, Miss
Edith Miller; recording secretary, Miss
s L. Tyler; corresponding secretary,
Miss Eleanor X Sewers The executive
committee is composed OF the officers
+ of the association and Miss Marion Dali
and Miss Maud Ely
Baltimore Junior League
The idea Of a Washington Junior
League was suggested By the Junior
League of Baltimore. which has for the
past two years been Of great assistance
TO this worthy institution. where boys
are taught the most valuable lesson IN
/ Hfe-to govern themselves. In addition
70 the junior leagues. there are senior
+ leagues in Washington and in BaIti-
/ more 8frs. Fairbanks is the president
o. the Senior League Of Washington.
( The purpose for which the Junior
/ League was organized is 10 aid the
maintenance Of The Republic and help
+ brighten the lives of the sixty-odd young
I republicans The Junior League pro-
poses TO give an entertainments shortly
/ the proceeds OF which viii go to help
pay the running expenses Of the re-
public The exact form OF entertain
ment has not yet been determined. Il
will probably be a bazaar The Menu
bershlp OF the league now numbers
/ more than hfty-
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-04-12

from surprises or attacks was near
enough to protect the country that lay
between, being a constant menace to the
city.
Many Natural Advantages.
Then again. the spot had its natural
advantages. which the military genius of
Washington was equal to turning to ac-
count The banks OF the SchuylkiI
which bend here to the eastward. were
deep and precipitous. the Valley Greek
cutting its way through a deep defle at
right angles with the river forming a
natural boundary on the west.
At the entrance to that deflIe was
Mount JOY. which threw out a spur. that
running parallel to the river about
mile. turned at length northward and
met its banks. On the one side this
ridge inclosed a rolling tableland, on the
other b sIoped sharply to the valley.
Along the crest of this ridge a line OF
intrenchments was thrown up and on the
shoulder Of Mount Joy a second line CIR
died he mountain and ran northward TO
the river. a redoubt on the east side
commanded tie valley road and Eher re
doubts commanded the approaches Of the
SchuyIkilL
There were II. 09S soldiers in the field
at the time Washington established his
encampment But because OF desHtu-
ton and Illness, 2,S9s were unfit for
duty
Weeks and months of terrible suffering
were spent in the dreary huts which the
men erected 10 shelter them. They were
sadly in want OF food. clothing. blan-
kets. and fuel And worse than all Of
these disease added 10 it's terrors TO
those of famine and cold. smallpox being
one Of the dread visitors that invaded
the Gang
Facilities for transportation being
scarce. such supplies as could be pro-
cured had either to be carried on the
backs OF the men. OF else hauled in
carts valich they improvised.
The Army in Desperate Straits.
Things became so disastrous that
Washington finally wrote to the Presi-
dent Of Congress. saying that unless
some change took place in the commits
sary's department. his army must in
evitably be reduced to one or the other
of three things, Starye. dissolve. OF
dispense. in order TO obtain suhsis-
tence in the best manner they can"
In the midst OF this trying situation,
Mr. Potts, who was himself pious
man, came upon the commander Of the
American armies on his knees in The
large grove not far from headquarters,
His back was turned toward him, but he
could hear the sound of Washington
voice quite distinctly.
Prayer in the Woods.
Mr. Potts went on with some caution
but no sooner had he reached home than
in the fullness OF his heart he broke