davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington times., 1903-09-13
7 ERE is a story told on herself by
Miss Trotter, district visitor for
the Coal and Kerosene Club. and

ERE is a story told on herself by
Miss Trotter, district visitor for
the Coal and Kerosene Club. and
the terror OF the unworthy poor, since.
while she relieves their necessities, she
insists on a strict accounting for every
penny of association money that passes
through her hands.
Mrs. Mulqueen was out of work again
had been, in fact. ever since my last
visit-and a do,eful procession was
starting for the pawnbroker's with the
last Of the family bedding as / mount
ed the dirty stairs. The six Mulqueen
children, ranging from thirteen to three.
followed in their mothers wake with
pillows and comforters.
This won't do" said. Put chose
things back and let us see what can be
done"
I'm that weak / can't scrub foors,"
said Mrs. Mulqueen. with dark memories
of my former visits.
snOulu uol eApeCa YOU u "Oih un-
til you and the children have had some
thing to eat Now, here is two dollars
and half With good management that
should last you until you get work. I
shall come in again in a few days and
see how you are getting along"
My next visit surprised the bedding
once more on the road to the pawn
shop. How is this, Mrs. Mulqueen?" l
asked severely. Your rent is paid and
you had money enough 10 tide you over
for several days. You must have been
extravagant. Tell me how you spent
that two dollars and i half"
We'll, IL you must know" said Mrs
The Washington times., 1903-09-13

GCE HAD a queer experience the other
day." said the major to mis-
friend. as the two sat at the
club window, enjoying their after dinner
cigars. II was playing ball with that
shaver of mine and caught hot liner
on my wrist instead of my hand. Next
morning l couldn't write my signature
at the office and so I thought I'd go
down to old DR.. Browns. one of those
expert x-rayers, and let him examine IL.
"Of course, x-ray is a familiar enough
term to most of US, but I'll bet not two
men in every ten have ever seen
Roentgen apparatus in working order.
old Dr. Brown is quite a character,
frst-class physician and an excellent
chemist. He took me into his dark
room. and on the way we passed through
his laboratory. The doctor was wear
ing a long coat of some soft stuff. and it
caught on a tack in the laboratory
table. Just a minute, major. he said
TO me. and taking up an old thigh bone
he knocked IL neatly in. l couldn't
have been feeling quite well at the
time. for that grim tack hammer gave
me a turn.
.I used 10 know something about ply
sizes when left the Point, and 1 Fecog-
nized the Rhumorff coil the moment
saw It. But it looked sort OF strange IN
Browns dark room. Brown took up
an odd-shaped glass tube with two
bulbs and attached two ends Of the wire
10 IT.
JJm, ummm, ummmmm, sang that
current just as it does when the motor
mans hurrying up a steep hill. thin.
crinkly thread Of purple jumped from
one metal point of that bulb 10 the
other 1t was form OF the electric
current, but IL looked 10 me like tube
of fine glass that was always being
snapped and then put together again. 1t
cracked and sputtered like nothing IN
the world but an uncommon fat piece Of
The Washington times., 1903-09-13

Sanger distributes. too, the various de-
partmental tasks.
At present she holds the position of
third class cleTk at salary of 8, 500.
1t is rare to see a lady holding such
a high post in any Of the Government
departments, the chief clerks and assist
ants being. as rule. gentlemen.
An Excellent Accountant.
Miss Lillian A. Norton. appointed
from the Ninth district of Texas, June
12. 1886, Is employed in the Third AS
sistant's ONCE. She was promoted
from a clerk at s720 to a clerk at $500,
on July 1, 1887. On July IS of the fol-
lowing year she was promoted to a
regular clerkship at 81 900; August /.
1890. to a first class clerkship at s1.2G0.
and February 6, 1892. to a second class
The Washington times., 1903-09-13

~ NE of our Washington preach
ers told a story in his sermon
last Sunday which will bear re-
peating The sermon was upon self
sacrifice, and the story was practical
Illustration. According TO the recital
Luther Rice, connected with Columbian
College. was on a trip through Virginia
preaching and raising funds for the col
1ege He pulled up at nightfall at
Virginia plantation owned by Baptist,
and asked to stay ali night. The request,
OF course, was superfiuous, and the par
son and his horse were made comfortable
for the night. Mr.. Rice announced that
he must be up early and start on the
road to Charlottesville. twelve miles dis
tant. where he had an appointment the
next day.
In the night Virginia was swept by
snowstorm. There was more than foot
o. snow on the level. and the drifts were
four feet deep. The good people on the
plantation tried to dissuade the preach
er from starting out, as the roads were
impassable But go he would. plan
tation negro was sent across the country
for two miles TO break a road and move
a fence or two by way of a shorter cut
70 the Charlottesville road, and of went
the parson in his buggy following the
OK team. Several hours later the negro
returned and reported at the plantation
house that he had left the preacher at
the Charlottesville road; that there was
no track. and the snow seemed even
deeper there than in the fields. The
owner Of the plantation ordered his
horse saddled and went after the parson
with the intention Of bringing him back.
He rode several miles, when he met an
other man on horseback, Of whom he
ir ouired whether he had seen preacher
In a buggy driving toward Charlottes-
WILLIE. The man replied he had not. but
thar man answering the description
was a few miles ahead walking through
the deep snow breaking path for MS
horse and singing Baptist hymns.
II was afterward learned that EIder
Rica reached Charlottesville without any
mishap. kept his appointment. and after
describing what he had been through
lifted a big collection" for Columbian
College.
The Washington times., 1903-09-13
1t Was a Picnic.

1t Was a Picnic.
The Washington Railway Company has
several new conductors on the COLUMBIA
line, and the many annoying experiences
OF the position sometimes exhaust their
patience. One Saturday not long ago
mfddle-aged woman came out TO n street
to take the car. with five little children,
a big basket, and several small boxes 20
put aboard. The anxious mother was on
the way to Chesapeake Beach, and some
little time was consumed in loading her
children and provisions. The new con-
ductor, unused TO such scenes, was run
ming two minutes late and was in hur-
ry. Irritated at the woman's delibera-
tion he called out in a tone of voice not
calculated 10 be polite:
Step lively. madam; this car is two
minutes late and we cannot wait all
day"
as he went along to her seat to col
The Washington times., 1903-09-13

converse fiuentiy In the greater number
of them.
She has been successfully promoted
from clerk at $500 to a fourth class
clerk at 81 800 per annUm. attaining the
latter grade August Il. 1889. Not the
least important part OF her duties is
that which requires her to carry on
correspondence in French with the pos
tai administration OF Russian and Greece
on all subjects concerning money order
business Command OF the French
tongue, together with full knowledge
OF the postal laws of the three nations,
is required to discharge this duty prop
erly. She is required to decipher blind
addresses or indecipherabIe addresses
on money orders payable in the United
States or in any of the forty foreign
countries with which we maintain an ex-
change of money orders.
"The Blind Reader
Known throughout the whole Postoflce
Department as the blind reader" Mrs
Pattie L. Collins was appointed 10 the
Government service July 8, 1879, from
Mississippi. at a salary of $500. July 1.
1881, she was promoted to the position OF
= first class clerk at salary OF 81 200.
TO a second class clerkship at 81 400
on July Il 1884. and to a third class
clerkship at 81 500, July 25. 1885.
She seems to have an especial knack
for reading with ease addresses that
no one else can decipher- For this rea-
son she has been advanced TO a respon-
sible position fn the Dead Letter Once
Her knowledge is of great value to the
department, as no delay is more annoy
ing than that caused by inability to read
an address. Mrs. Collins duties include
large amount OF work in the Dead
Letter ONCE outside that of reading
blind addresses" No lady in the de-
partment is more popular or more efa-
Client
It will be noticed that all these ladies
occupy positions where special knowI-
edge is a vital necessity. This sort OF
knowledge is not to be acquired in a
day. and once gained It increases in
worth with every hour OF the employees
service. IN this respect these ladies
are on plane apart from the average
Government clerk, whose duties are for
the most part humdrum, unvarying. and
become almost purely mechanical in
time. For this reason the services OF
these ladies are OF peculiar value to the
Postofhce Department, and their loss
would hamper in no small degree the
smooth running OF that vast and compli-
Gated machinery which is required 10
move the mails.
The Washington times., 1903-09-13

clerkship at s1,4o0. Her ability as an
accountant was so marked that her sue
ceeding promotions were rapid. March
81. 1894. she was made a third class
clerk at 81 500, and November %, 1902,
a fourth class clerk at a salary of 81. 500
per annum. This position she occupies
at present
During her service with the finance di-
vision she has acted as chief of the di-
vision. managing the entire monetary
matters of that Office. Her knowledge
of the working of her bureau is very ac-
curate and complete. She is considered
one of the most efficient clerks In the
employ of the Postofhce Department.
A Finished Linguist.
Miss Rosa sewell. whose father was
Gen. Leonard Seweli, of New Orleans,
La, entered the Government service by
temporary appointment to the Postof-
fee Department on March 4, 1881 In
the following April she was appointed
to a clerkship in the Dead Letter Of
fee. and served in the foreign division
for long time She was afterward
transferred to the money order division
as a translator
Miss Sewell was born at Havre,
France, and her education in languages
began very early. This training stands
her in excellent stead today. Her duties
require her to translate letters received
from European governments written in
French, German. Italian. Spanish. Swed-
ish. Danish. and the Scandinavian
tongues. Her knowledge of these Ian
guages is thorough. and she is able to
The Washington times., 1903-09-13
EXPERT WOMEN CLERKS OF POSTOFFCE DEPARTMENT
O GennlW
in e6n NJ Pictures Go %

ments but by her steady rise in salary.
July l, 1880. she was made copyist at
SIS month and April I of the follow
ing year a clerk at $1,000 per annum.
In a competitive examination held two
years later she stood first and was pro-
NOTED to first class clerkship at 81, 200.
September 80, 1882, she was made a :ec-
ond class clerk at s1.400, which position
she retains at present.
For eleven years after her appointment
she acted as private secretary to the
Assistant Attorney General. She is now
employed in that branch of the Post
The Washington times., 1903-09-13

and their junks were captured or de-
stroyed by Pegram and his men, and
the piratical rendezvous was completely
routed. The British officer was pro-
NOTED for his share in the work. while
Pegram's services were recognized by
the Secretary of the Navy in a letter
merely stating that "the correspond
ence which had taken place on both
sides will be placed on file" Pegram
felt that his daring was worthy of more
than the letter he received, and he
chafed under il. II he had received the
thanks of Congress he would have been
better satisfied. When the civil war be-
gan Pegram was on waiting orders. but
he disappeared and later entered the
Confederate navy.
The Washington times., 1903-09-13

consists especially in her thorough
knowledge of the bond laws.
Miss Alice B. Sanger. appointed from
the Seventh district of Indiana on Aug
ust Is. 1894, holds one of the highest
positions in the Postofice Department
intrusted to any woman. She is prsc-
tically an assistant chief clerk. and a
large share of his duties fall to her.
One of the most important OF these fl.
the opening of letters addressed to the
department and the distribution of them
among the several divisions and bureaus.
For this work an intimate acquaintance
with the working of every part of the
vast department is necessary Miss
The Washington times., 1903-09-13
FOXY TANTALUS.

Sanding up to his neck in water. Tan.
talus made another attempt TO quenct
his thirst
The water flowed away from him. a:
before.
Its full of microbes. anyway. hs
said. with an effort to be cheerful
Chicago Tribune.
The Washington times., 1903-09-13
Life Worth Living.


Some Washington friends of DR.. W. P.
Mercer. of Elm City. N c.. are showing
a copy of the Raleigh Post" in which
the editor sympathizes with his friend
and patron for the loss of a stable by
fire. in which one fine horse and three
mules were destroyed. In the editorial
of the Post" the salve OF sympathy is
applied as follows:
Coming so soon after the terrible
hailstorm which destroyed his cotton
and tobacco crop a short time ago. II
does seem that the life of this good, ex-
emplary, most excellent gentleman is
being salted with fire. But his grand
character and noble virtues. like pure
gold passing through the furnace. have
emerged from the fires of adversely
with a purer luster and more resplen
dent beauty. and reveal in their brill
liancy the real worth and richness of
the mines from which they were dug.
And he could not be otherwise than
noble and true and polished and bril-
liant, for under the ministry of his
handsome and queenly wife, superb
specimen OF magnificent womanhood, and
under the influence of his charming sis
ter and attractive and fascinating
daughter, all that is good and noble in
human nature is brought out In its full
est and graldest development, for in all
our travels we have never seen love
lier home or purer or sweeter influences
than those which ennoble his life, and
make 1t so grand and symmetrical, so
resplendent and so beautiful"
The Washington times., 1903-09-13

lect the fares, still smarting under the
delay 20 his car, he asked sarcastically:
Are these children all yours or is this
Sunday school picnic?"
The woman, not at all ruffied by the
words Of the conductor. answer
ed him in a kindly tone. rich and mellow
with the accent of the Fatherland:
The kinder are mine, and 1 tells you,
sir. it's no picnic"
A car full of passengers heard the mild
rebuke and laughed heartily at the dis
comforture of the smart" conductor.
The Washington times., 1903-09-13
a Hazardo-s Tale.

A Washington teacher has contributed
examination question. better, she
thinks. than any of those reproduced in
our issue of last Sunday. The question
was: Spell and define the word hazard
GUS" One of the pupils. a bright little
girl, confusing things a little wrote:
''Hazardess, a female hazard"
The Washington times., 1903-09-13
Chosen by Mr.. Wynne.

In the latter part of April First As
sistant Postmaster General Robert j.
Wynne was unofficially requested 10
chose six OF the most expert lady clerks
from among the large number in the
Postofflce Department. Mr.. Wynne was
admirably equipped 10 make the selec-
department workers and their ability
He gave the question full, fair study, and
as a result came TO the conclusion that
the following ladies represented the very
highest degree of efficiency among the
women employees OF the Postofice De-
partment. The names are Miss Mary
H. Livingstone, of the Assistant At
torney Generals office; Miss Marie
Louise De Ronceray. of the Fourth As
sistant's office; Miss Alice B. Sanger. of
the chief clerks office; Miss Lillian n.
Norton, of the Third Assistants office;
Miss Rosa Sewel. of the international
money order division. and Mrs. Pattie
L. Collins, of the First Assistants
Office.
The names. records. ana photographs
of these six ladies are 10 be sent to the
ST. Louis Exposition authorities, who
viii incorporate them In the pamphlet
to be published by the Exposition. Mr..
JXrvnna's eboica of than is rapardad hv
everyone as high compliment to their
ability in view OF the efficiency demand
ed OF every postofice empIoye.
The women employees of the Postoffce
The Washington times., 1903-09-13

" HE moving Of the mails in these
days of intense commercial ac-
tivity is afquestion of vital i'm
portance TO the country at large. II
mail sacks begin to pile up on viii
lage way station the fact is heralded
abroad by all the great dailies in
answer to the popular complaint. For
this reason swiftness and accuracy in
q high degree are demanded of the clerks
in the Postofice Department. possibly
TO an even greater extent than in any
other branch of the Government service.
1t is safe to say that few departments
can show a greater number OF expert
typewriters, stenographers. accountants,
and the manifold kinds OF skilled labor
ers which the Government departments
take under their wing.
The Washington times., 1903-09-13

, NE of our Washington preach
ers told a story in his sermon
last Sunday which will bear re-
New-York tribune., 1903-03-08
SCHOOL CORNERSTONE LAID.

The cornerstone of the Manual Training High
School. at Seventh-ave.. between Fourth and Fifth
sts. Brooklyn was laid yesterday with appropriate
ceremonies. Michael J. Kennedy. OF the building
committee Of the Board of Education, spread the
mortar with a silver trowel presented by P. j.
Bremen the builder. On behalf OF the High School
committee John Green. OF the Board OF Education,
made a brief address.
In the masonry was placed a copper box contain
ing records OF the board. daily papers and an
American flag. AS the stone was set in place the
school children cheered.
The building occupies a space 200 by 200 feet 1t
will be entirely fireproof in construction. and the
exterior will faced with stone to the level Of the
first story windOwsills and above with red brick and
terra Gotta.
The building has been planned 20 afford proper
accommodation for the various branches OF man
ual training and the regular high school work and
care has been taken to obtain an arrangement best
adapted to the needs of each department.
The basement provides for the main floor OF the
auditorium. the gymnasium, with accompanying
locker rooms; several rooms for experimental labor
atory work. large dining and bicycle rooms
On the first floor will be the gallery OF the audi
torfum two large shops for woodwork. a library
mechanical and freehand drawing and nine
ClassTOoms together with large storage and stock
rooms and teachers and pupils retiring rooms.
a music room, physiological laboratory lecture
room, preparatory and instructors rooms and me-
chancal and freehand drawing rooms. The third door
will afford space for two b"lnEin@4 i&hnra farts@N
New-York tribune., 1903-03-08
CALL PRICE EX0RBITANT.
Property Owners Object to $500 Being
Paid for Plot in Windsor Terrace.

Application was made before Justice Rich, in the
Supreme Court Brooklyn, yesterday, for an order
setting aside the report of commission which
awarded s. 700 to the owner Of triangular plot
Of g142 square feet Of property. which is needed to
make connection between the PTOspeCt-aye- which
was laid out by the old city Of Brooklyn and the
Prospect-ave. which laid out by the old town
Of FIatbush. The property lies between the ter
mini Of the two streets mentioned and between
Eleventh-ave. and Terrace Place, in the district
known Windsor Terrace. The property own
crs, who will he assessed the amount Of the I'M
provcment, protest that the price awarded 10
Thomas McCann, the owner. is exOrbitant and ex-
cessivc. They declare that the ground Is fifteen
feet below the grade. and has for years been used
a dumping place by the Street Cleaning Depart
ment.
NJ. l.. FinneEan. counsel for the prOtestants, nIed
affidavits that the City's real estate expert had
valued the property at $l,1S2 and Mr.. Mccain s
experts at S25OO. He further declares that the
owner Of the property sold thirteen lots which are
100 in front OF 1t and near Prospect Park Tor
$4,000 last December. Thomas J. Murphy. Fiat
the real value of the land to he not more than 500
The commissioners fees and other expenses incl
dental to obtaining the land a,+48, making the
total $7.14S if the price awarded Is paid Inc
property owners the vicinity declare that SuCn
an assessment would be outrageous ano beyond
ali The commissioners in the case are John
b. Shandhan, James ]. DeVeTe ana r. CunzeF.
New-York tribune., 1903-03-08
THE NEW MUNICIPAL BUILDING.
Tramps Will Miss the Little Plot in
Joralemon-st. Which Is to Be Part of
the Site.

Scores of 'hoboes" and tramps. who have for
several years spert their days and nights in the
little plot of ground adjoining the Municipal Build
ing in Joralemon-st.. are the only ones who have
heard with sorrow that the city has appropriated
81 100000 to build a new municipal building and
courthouse on the site. Such a building is badly
needed as not only the courts but the various
city departments in Brooklyn have been asking
for more room for some time.
Borough President Swanstrom at first tried to get
500 600 for the proposed building. He failed in
this last year and was greatly surprised this year
when he found the Board OF Estimate and Appor-
tionment willing TO give him twice that amount.
Now he proposes to prepare plans that will call
vacant site. but also that occupied by the
present Municipal Building. and 10 be one of the
course the present building will not be disturbed
until half, Of the building is completed the
dard in the design Of the building So 0G0 has been
appropriated to be used in a competition among
The new building will be used by the County
Court, leaving additional for the Supreme
Court In the present courthouse, and the Court of
Special Sessions, the Department OF Health, the
Department OF Charities and the Police Depart
ment, all OF which now occupy rented quarters in
adequate and inconyenient.
Although the little breathing spot that is now to
pass away such is famiiaFy known as Murphy
Park, there seems to be warrant for the use OF
slowed. To the Park Department the plot Of
ground Is known as Municipal Park It has not
been In possession as long as has been generally
completed in 1878 the present park the front
lawn Of the old First Reformed Dutch Church.
one of the landmarks Of the city II was not torn
down until 1S95 The Polytechnic Institute is now
buit on the Livingston site Of the church plot, and
after the destruction Of the church. The plot con-
tsins Gs Of acre, and is valued at Ss5Joa
New-York tribune., 1903-03-08
AN INTERESTING BROOKLYN LEASE.

Anderson & Co. plano house, of No 80 FIIoa
St. have leased the building at No. SD Fuiton-s-
for ten years. the owner spending Sl5,o' 70 y
build. Before any repairs could be- ulude u Va
necessary according 10 the Building Association
OF Brooklyn. to place a fence I'm front ten -.
high. fer which permit granted ~ lNo NJ
Bureau OF the Building Association The Iel-'
wCs erected according to the rules of the asso
clatlOn, and a sign placed upon the building 1O-
tanning the following information. -
"On NTay 1st Anderson & Co viii occupy ta.'
entire building with the stock of Anderson Ft5go
ton Bros. pianos. also the Apollo Master ''
Player ,..- ,fght
Between the hours Of n and IhurslaS IN M
the fence and sign were taken down ", 2.ia~sd
known person or persons destroyed ana PlAI. -
inside the store. Mr.. r. p. Anderson oLeEs he
ward OF SlO0 for the arrest and conYleH0A y
rnlanraAnGR-