davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-12-28
COMbATS old THEORY
OF HEAVENLY BODIES
Earth DwelleTs Can See No Stars Re.
curing More Than 1000 Years
to Transmit Light.

MADISON, Wis. Dec. 8.-Prof. George
c. Comstock. director OF Washburn OBJ
servatory and professor OF astronomy
at the University of Wisconsin. has
caused a furore among scientists in his
department by declaring that, according
10 exhaustive experiments made by him
for period OF years. the ideas held by
astronomers about the telescope range
Of vision and photography are enor-
mously exaggerated-perhapo 1900 times
Heretofore IL has been held that as
tronomers could see through their teIes-
coDes stars the light from which took
1000. coo years TO reach the earth. Prof
Comstock declares that il is. in his
opinion, impossible to see a star with
the best telescope in existence the light
Of which star takes more than loo
years to reach the earth
Modern investigation Prof Com
stock said in an address before a gath
ering OF scientists and students. proves
that the statement of the astronomer
who said a century or so ago that WITH
his telescope he could see stars from
which IL took the light 1000. 900 years TO
reach the earth was enormously exag-
geratcd. Modern astronomers claim TO
be able TO see stars from which the
transmission OF light takes 10000 TO $1,000
years, but l believe that we cannot see
further than the stars whose light is
transmitted in 1.0oo years. nor do l be-
lieve we will be able to get beyond that
distance"
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-12-28
Separated From Husband.

Lady Troubridge's mother, Mrs Charles
Quincy. separated from her husand
after the scandal which resulted in his
retirement from the old Quincy Bank,
and which necessitate1 the sacrifice OF
all his possessions and after the mar
rage OF her two daughters. one 10 the
Earl Of Dudley and the other 10 Sir
Thomas Troubridge. had been brought
about by Lady Henry Somerset and
Adelaine Duchess Of Bedford. respect
lively she secured a divorce IN this
country from her first husband and Is
now the wife of Colonel Jack Sraceys
OF the Scots Guards.
When Laura Quincy married Sir
Thomas Troubridge King Edward as
sumed the privilege until then regarded
as some what parental OF presenting her
with a check instead Of piece OF
jewelry by way of a wedding gift
Sir Thomas is the fourth baroneJ or
his line the first having been the we'll
known admiral who was the right-hand
man and flag captain Of Nelson at the
battle Of the Nile. The second baro-
net was likewise an admiral. and the
third-that Is to say. the father OF Sir
ThOmaS-Was famous Crimean soldier.
who left his right leg at the battle or
Inkerman, and sat composedly on a gun
carriage there to have II hewed OF by
the primitive surgical procedure or
those DAYS. Sir Thomas and Lady
Troubridge make their home at Gray
Friars a pretty place near Ascot
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-12-28
RAILROAD HELD UP
BY WOULD-BE WRECEER
Telegraph Operator Terrorized and Sig
mails in Every Direction
Disorganized.

CUMBERLAND, Md. Dec. "a f.
Grimes is in Jail at Kingwood. ". Va.
charged with holding up the Balti-
more and Ohio Railroad. Grimes at
tackled the telegraph Office at Anderson.
il is charged, holding up the operator.
j T. Cruise, with two ugly guns. and
breaking in, took possession of the
place. throwing the signals and block
ing the road both ways. Cruise wa
terrorized by Grimes. who, knowing
something about teiegraphy, it is al
legged, tried to manipulate the instru-
ment. TO the great danger of trains and
traffic on the road
Orders were finally pushed through
from Cumberland TO Tunnelton to ar.
rest Grimes. Special Constable J. O.
Herndon was dispatched on special
engine to Anderson. and in a few mo-
ments Grimes was in the clutches of the
law.
But this man had for two hours. the
trainmen say, delayed traffic and SO
mixed up orders and kilograms that
both trainmen and operators had been
afraid 10 make a move for fear that a
collision or some other disaster would
result.
Only one reason is given for this queer
hold up. The officers declare that
Grimes was merely sore on the Rai.
timore and Ohio Railroad Company TO,
some supposed injury it had done him
and that he sought this method to get
even.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-12-28
INCREASE IN EXPORTS
FROM UNITED STATES
Gain Is General Throughout the List
According to Bureau
Of Statistics.

Details of eleven months commerce in
tEs year 1903 have been made public by
the Department OF Commerce and La
lror through its Bureau of Statistics
They show an increase in practically all
of the great groups into which the Blu
reau of Statistics divides the exports
and in all OF the groups into which il
divides the imports. Agricultural
products, as a whole, show an increase
of s74.0O0.0o0; products of the forests,
SIC. 900. 600; products of the mines, 5000. =
coo; manufactures, 5000. 600. and miscel-
laneo1s articles. $2,OOO.O00. In the single
group. fisheries, is shown a slight de-
crease of a little more than S1.00O,0OO.
The figures for the month of Novem-
Der show marked growth in exports
and manufactures. the total for the
month being s34.O93 $50, against $3O,51S.512
I'm November OF last year Agricultural
products also show a marked increase
in the month. the figures for November.
1903. being STA. IL. DO, against s3,035, SIS
in the same month Of last year. The
increase in agricultural exports occurs
chiefly in cotton. of which the value of
the months exports is unusually high.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-12-28
POPE SENDS MESSAGE
To AMERICAN NEGROES
Holy Father Pronounces Special Bene-
diction Upon Catholics of That
Race in the United States.

NEW YORK. Dec. ga letter from
the Rev. Or. John f. Burke. director
Of the negro Catholic missions of New
York. was read by Father Thomas NJ.
O'Keefe. at the services yesterday. in
which the doctor told Of his latest inter
view with Pope Plus X and Of the
holy fathers special benediction and
good wishes for the American negroes.
DR. Burke was presented to the Pope
by Monsignor Kennedy Of the Amer
lean College. The Pontiff invited them
to be seated and asked the missionary
to relate in detail the conditions and
needs of the colored people. At the
close the Pope said:
Garry our love and special apostolic
benediction to the colored people of
America
DR.. Burke related how. during the in
terview. the great bells of st. Peter
rang out the -Angelus The holy
father. rising. said: Let us pray"
All those present knelt and gave the
responses, while the Pope recited the
Angelus.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-12-28
BIGGEST WAR FLEET
IN PACIFIC PORTS
Arrival of Evans Squadron of Battle
ships and Cruisers at Honolulu Great
Event for Islanders.

HONOLULU. Dec 20 (via San Fran
cisco. Dec. 2S).-TEe arrival on Nednes-
day of the largest fleet OF war vessels
ever seen in any port on the Taciflc
Ocean was a noteworthy event. The
fleet comprised three battlcships and
four cruisers of the United States Ash
attic squadron. which crossed the ocean
from Yokohama The battleship Ken
lucky was in the lead. followed by the
Wisconsin and the Oregon and the
cruisers New Orleans. Raleigh. Albany,
and Cincinnati. Coaling began as soon
as the Kentucky and the Wisconsin
reached wharf. It was kept up at the
rate of 100 tons an hour. and the coal
ing of the entire feet was completed at
noon today.
The entire feet reached here after
the long voyage without accident, and
with no repairs necessary. AS soon as
any one of the vessels had coaled she
might have started at once on the re
turn voyage. This exploit is regarded
as one of the most important that any
modern fleet has accomplished in time
of peace.
With the arrival Of the fleet Honolulu
boasted of three rear admirals and a
major general of the army The adj
mirals were Admiral Evans, I'm com
mand of the fleet; Admiral Cooper, IN
charge Of the North Pacific squadron
and Admiral Terry. in command of the
naval station at Honolulu. The major
general was Macarthur returning from
China to San Francisco. Many enter
tainments have been planned before tho
departure OF the fleet on December %.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-12-28

ancient claim was of itself a clear vi
olation of statute law, and those who
surreptitiously secured the payment
Of this bill for photography from the
appropriation added this Violation Of
a specific statute to their other in
fractions of law. These latter, as we
know, included a fictitious voucher,
known to be such; an illegal agree
ment with dealer to receipt for 5000
for which he had rendered no supplies
and pass it over TO a third party; a
false certificate by school official
that goods not received, and which
lie had specified were not to be deliv
cred, had been duly delivered.
Next there was the delay, in the
face of full notice that the statute o.
limitation was about TO run, until II
was too late to proceed under United
States law making the offense pun
ishable by both fine and impTison
ment at hard labor Then it was com
mitted to the Attorney for the DIS
trict, and passed into the hands of
the grand jury. There it developed
that the bill for photographs was for
1926, and the amount obtained by the
fictitious voucher was for 5000. The
question arose, what became of the
$74. Now the report is that the grand
jury allowed a new bill for an even
5000 to be submitted in place of the
long standing one for 1926.
Our citizens, it seems to us, have
right to know whether such trans
action has been added to the sur.
pIising list of brazen infractions o.
the law and neglects of prosecution
which already distinguish this case.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-12-28
No Respect for Learning.

In one OF his public Trades ne burgo-
master calmly informed the Municipality
that until science could invent and
manufacture a blade OF grass which a
COW would eat" he had no respect for
learning" he went on to advise the
people Of Vienna not to be fooled any
longer By doctors. who sought TO exist
on the credulity OF their more ignorant
fellow beings. and To remember that
shortly a second aqueduct would SUP
ply the city with an abundance Of fresh
pure water. which IL. after all. nature s
own medicine for all ills
Yet with all this the burgomaster is
rot only a power in the land as burgO-
master at Vienna. commanding a large
majority in the municipal council, but
is also one of the most Influential lead
ers I'm national politics. He is covered
with orders and decorations from al
most every sovereign IN Europe. and his
words are listened to with respect and
his recomnend a tons accepted II IL
said that the VienneSe doctors are row
hoping for the burgomaster to fall III.
IN such manner as TO stand in need
Of their services.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-12-28
The Voucher Case Again
Remarkable Action on the Part of tn.
Grand Jury Alleged.

Though our citizens are in a meas
ere becoming accustomed to surprises
in the affairs of our "well-governed
District"-this seems a contradiction
il terms, but we shall permit it to
stand-we cannot help thinking that
the sehool-voucher case, so called, will
give rise, in the minds of many tax
payers, to further reflections when at
tention is drawn to certain features
Of the case not heretofore touched
Upon.
The money taken from the school
appropriation for the year IN which
the illegal acts occurred was not for
a bill incurred by the Board Of Edu-
cation, but to settle a debt OF the
3ormer Board OF School Trustees
ysiich had passed out of existence.
Te use the current school funds oil
the Board of Education to settle this
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-12-28
COURTS AND CAPITALS
OF THE OLD WORLD
Vienns's Burgomaster Starts Crusade
Against Physicians-Says One Old
Woman Is Worth Ten Doctors.
b. the MARoUIsE DE FoNTESoY.

Nienna's burgomastcr. Dr. Won Lucger.
the intimate friend and crOny, as well
as political associate Of Prince Alloys
Liechtenstein. and who enjoys great
favor with the old aristocracy Of Aus
tria and Hungary by reason OF his in
tense animosity toward the Jews. has
now fallen foul OF the doctors.
He has publicly declared that in his
estimation IAN old woman Is worth any
ten doctors" and 80 effective has been
his denunciation Of the medical pro-
fession in the Austrian capital that for
about a fortnight there was something
In the nature of strike there on the
part Of sick people. That is to say,
there was for the space Of two weeks
a most remarkable decline on the part
OF the poorer classes in seeking medi-
cal attendance. and - the Central Hos
pitai alone there waS a falling or OF
SEQ patients per day. The doctors. how
ever. insist that since then TIE n..uber
OF their patients has been far larger
even than before
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-12-28
AFRICAN TRIBES REBEL
AGAINST GERMAN RULE
Great Namaqualand in Revolt-Report
That Whole Garrison Has Been
Wiped Out.

CAPE TOWN. Dec. ga general in
surrection has broken out among the
Bondeizwarts tribes in Great Namaqua-
land, German Southwest Africa. The in
surgents have collected in the Kara
Mountains
The Kara Mountains are in the south
eastern part of Great Namaqualand,
near the British frontier.
The Hottentot tribes i'm German South
west Africa are regarded as dangerous
fighters, their love OF hunting having
made them good 1narksrnen. They are
all armed with modern weapons, and
adopt Boer tactics, as the Germans dis
covered in the WITHHOLD war, which last
ed from 1892 TO 1895.
Even when the present outbreak was
confined to a small number of natives it
was realized that the work of repression
would be long and difficult, for the dis
trict in which the Hottentots are in
rebellion is wild and mountainous
Little definite news has been made
public concerning the insurrectiOn. Even
the date OF the massacre of the Ger
man garrison at Warmbad is uncertain
The first report. which reached Cape
Town via Kenhardt, was that the entire
garrison had been wiped out, but the
sources was that one officer and one
sergeant had been Killed and one private
soldier wounded. Later information, re-
ceived mostly from British sources,
made ii clear that the rising was more
serious matter than the German au-
thOrities were inclined to admit.
At one time IL seemed likely that the
revolt would spread 10 British terri
tory, but apparently the natives have
been careful not to Kill British subjects.
At Warmbad. II IS said, none of the Brit
ish settlers were killed or wounded. but
all were made captives.
The president Of the German Colonial
Association places the blame for the
rising on the policy adopted by the gov
eminent. For some years. he declares.
the natives have been favored TO such
an extent that the German settlers are
regarded by the Hottentots as Euro
peans of "A low order The farmers have
been unable to prevent continual thefts
of their cattle because they are for
hidden to arm their employees.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-12-28
WOODS ADMINISTRATION
IN MINDANAO ISLAND
Manila Press Defends His Policy as
Serving Best Interests of the
Moro Province.

Governor General Wood is a successful
administrator fo- several reasons first
Of which is due TO the fact that true
.Americanism prompts his every action.
lie has confidence in his countrymen.
who, appreciating this trust, give him
the benefit of their best knowledge and
experience.
Had Governor General Wood. In enter
ing upon his duties as the chief execu-
tive of the island of Cuba. been so shall
low and vain as to believe himself pos
sessed of the combined intelligence and
executive skill OF an entire nation of
peoDie, he would b4ve made a failure.
However. he had TIE wisdom to see that
there could be no breath OF character in
any government where there was no
breadth of action.
Following the policy I'm Mindanao
which has marked him as one OF the
most successful administrators in our
country's history. he called the bust
ness men of Zamboanga >tOgether and
requested them to form a chamber of
| commerce as means of expressing the
concrete opinions of the business men
of tic Moro province.
General Wood said that as the bust
ness men resident in Zamboanga had
|
doubtless formed opinions concerning
the best policy to be pursued in order to
insure progress and prosperity; thst he
desired to have their advice and coop
Grafton In all things looking to the best
interests of the whole people
This may read Ike a dream. but il is
| nevertheless. true
The second poins I'm favor of Governor
/ General Woods administration is due "a
the fact that he is not attempting to
work political graft Of any kind on
the American people. He is here solely
to do his duty unincumbered by politi-
cal ambitions which make so many men
dishonest and deaf to the voice of con-
science.
/ The Moro province is exceptionally
/ fortunate in having Governor General
/ Wood at its head in the transition period
! from military to civil government.-The
Manila Review of Trade.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-12-28
A Municipal Museum.
1t Might Be Filled to Overlooking With
Interesting Exhibits.
III politics.

1t is daily becoming more and more
apparent that one of the crying needs
Of the District is a municipal museum.
In no other way can the many curiosi-
ties of this "weh-governed" be pre-
served for ready reference. The list
of surprising and abnormal cases
grows so rapidly that the busy citi-
zens do not easily keep track of them
There needs to be a room, large
room, or, better still, a floor, devoted
to their preservation and full illustra-
ton. The new Municipal Building
viii afford all needed facilities for :,
time at least. When established cit
liens would be able, by occasional VS.
It's, to keep themselves informed, and
to teach their children the broad diff
ference which obtains between theory
and practice. There should be loud
call for this museum-so loud and
prolonged that our Commissioners
will hear and provide the necessary
rooms in their plan for the new struc-
ture.
As an example of what might APP
pear on the walls, ample room should
be provided for District accounts thar
have never been audited. The Treas
urer of the United States has Just
discovered dozen or so of this class
of venerable accounts that have never
caught the eye of an auditor or d
Commissioner. Some of them are said
to be gray with age. They were
opened a quarter of a century ago,
and, following what seems to be the
general rule, were never examined.
They probably belong to the class of
"never heard of before" which-is 4
large and growing one in our swell
governed" Naturally, Treasurer Rob
erts thinks it high time that some one
is designated TO balance these aged
evidences of District Indebtedness.
From this view our taxpayers viii
rot dissent.
But, by all means, let us have the
museuml There is already an abun-
dance of interesting material on hand
to start it; in fact, enough to COM
fortably Eli it.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-12-28
The Quincy Family.

Lady Troubridge. whose play. Mrs
OakIeIgh.' . is being treated with so much
derision by the London critics since its
production the other day at the New
Theater. in the British metropolis, is a
sister of the Countess Of Dudley, and.
like her. figured for a time as a sales
woman in a Regent Street nnodiste's es-
"a blishment also helping her mother,
Mrs. Quincy in the latter's unsuccess-
full venture as a rnilliner after he finan
cial disaster OF her first husband,
Charles Quincy
The Gurneys, one Of Whom has just
been assigned to duty at the British
embassy IN Washington. belonged to
one of those untitled county families OF
England which constitute the real Brit
ish aristocracy The founder Of the
family was Hugh lie Cournay. one OF
the Norman barons who accompa MED
William the Conqueror 10 England IN
1866. while among other ancestors was
Thomas - Gournay. who murdered
King Edws I'd III in such an appalling
manner by thrusting hot irons into his
body.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-12-28
ONE CORN CROP NETS
4,I54 TO THREE BOYS
Worlds Fair Distinction, in Addition to
the Pecuniary Profits, for Ener-
getic Missionaries.

ST. LOUIS. Mo. Dec 2S.-By culti-
waiting patch OF corn all last summer
three Missouri boys earned not only
the handsome sum of s4.154.52. but the
distinction Of having the fruit Of their
industry selected TO be one OF the
features of Missouri's exhibit at the
Worlds Fair. The commission viii
place their photographs in a place Of
honor in the Missouri Building.
The boys are John. George and Joseph
Christian. aged eighteen. sixteen and
twelve years. sons OF c. A. Christian.
of Tarkio. Atchison county. The work
was all done between May l and No
vember /. and the boys are now in
school.
The boys accepted an offer from Davis
Rankin, who is the most extensive cattle
feeder in the world. Mr. Rankin has
5000 acres Of land. and each year he
raises corn on fifteen 10 twenty
thousand acres.
When the Christian boys applied for
land on which to raise corn Mr.. Rankin
promptly t1riled over $40 acres and
agreed TO pay the boys y. cents for
every bushel of corn they raised.
Hitching six mules to 2 lister. the boys
went 10 work. This machine plows. har-
hows and seeds at one operation. They
worked like Trojans and soon the $40
acres were planted. Then the boys had
a breathing spell. When the corn bi,-
gan 10 grow another task was theirs.
Three times the growing corn had to be
cultivated. Again was a requisition
made on the Missouri mule and six were
attached to each Of the three two-row
cultivators. The weeds were kept down
and the soil loosened.
The grain grew and ripened. and when
November rolled around the harvest was
begun When the corn was gathered into
Mr.. Rankin's great corn bins it was
found that the boys had grown 1851
bushels Of grain. At u cents a bushel
this netted s4.154.52. and Mr. Rankin
gave them check for that amount
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-12-28
WOULD PURCHASE HOUSES
FOR AMERICAN DIPLOMATS

American diplomatists here are inter-
ested in the report that a bin will be
introduced at the next session OF Con-
gress providing that the United States
Government build houses for it's am
bassadors and ministers abroad.
The bill will be introduced. II is SAID,
at the instance of w. ]. Bryan. <Sraer
Democratic nominee for President. Mr.
Bryan was entertained in Berlin Satur-
day by United States Ambassador Tow
er. and he there announced that he
had been greatly impressed with tho
Importance OF this Governments repre-
sentation abroad and strongly advO-
Gated that the United States have per
dirlomatists at all the foreign capi-
tails.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-12-28
NEW CARNEGIE PLANT
FOR ARM0R PLATE

PITTSBURG, Dec. 2s.-The Carnegie
Steel Company expects to start It's new
armor plate plant next week. 1t cost
about 81 100000. and will double the ca
pacity of that department at Home
stead. The largest forging press and
heading furnaces in the world have been
built for it. A new machine shop has
also been built
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-12-28

son why no such announcement has
as yet come from Mr.. Hanna.
Mr.. Heath is not requested to ex-
plain these statements of his His
explanation might be worse than the
original statement. But it would be
interesting 20 have the Republican
managers explain what in the world
a man who behaves like that Is doing
I'm politics.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-12-28
TOO MUCH CHRISTMAS
KILLED THIS BOY

PHILADELPHIA. Dec 2S.-Christmas
joys proved too much for nine-year-old
Andrea Loscalzo. He lies dead at the
home Of his mother. Mrs Theresa Los
calzo, killed by overindulgence in holi-
day dainties. On Christmas Eve the
boy, according to his brother, ate a
pound and half of candy, a great
deal Of cake. fruit, nuts and pie. in ad-
dition to large meals at breakfast. din
ner and supper. Late on Thursday
night, after he had retired the boy
was seized with violent cramps, and all
DAY Christmas he remained ILL., He died
later.