davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington times., 1903-05-10
A NEW WAY TO REPEL BURGLARS.

not open the door, thinking that proba-
bly, he would set tired of knocking and
go away
"But this little plan didn't work the
way she hoped Instead. Mr.. Tramp evil
IDENTIFY supposed that there was no one
in the house and that he might take
the chance of breaking in and trying 10
steal something for future reference. He
gave the door a couple of hard kicks.
That didn't work. Then he coolly
reached into his back pocket, drew out
chisel. and set to work in real earnest.
For a moment my wife was a pretty
badly scared woman. It was only
question of time. and short time at
that, when the door would give way
Then the tramp could enter. What
would he DO next? 1t was a question to
make a lonely woman mighty nervous.
But my wife certainly has more than
her share of ingenuity. In this emergency
she remembered that an incandescent
electric light globe explodes with a con-
siderable noise when it is broken. So she
went through the house and unscrewed
dozen of the incandescent light bulbs.
Then she took her stand directly above
the door the tramp was working at.
pushed up the window softly aid began
her bombardment.
The Washington times., 1903-05-10

cites of carbon, diamond transparent
and black, graphite and amorphus car
bon.
True diamonds have thus been OBJ
tanned from the Arizona meteorite, and
they furnish seemingly absolute proof
OF the meteoTic theory. Under atmos-
pheric influences the iron would rapidly
oxidize and rust away, covering the ad-
jacent soil with red oxide of iron. The
meteOric diamonds would be unaffected
and would be left on the surface, to
be found by the explorers when oxida-
ton had removed the last proof of their
celestial origin.
In the records of the Smithsonian
Institution we find the following: ITO
the modern student of science there IS
no great difference between the com
position of our earth and that of ex-
terrestrial masses. The spectro-
scope reveals the elementary compost
ton of the earth and the stars to be
one and the same. Not only are the
same elements present in meteorites,
but they are combined in the same way
to form the same minerals in the crust
of the earth.
The Washington times., 1903-05-10

broad plain over an area about five
miles in diameter were scattered 1000
to 1000 masses of metallic iron, the
fragments weighing from half a ton to
a fraction of an ounce. There is little
doubt these masses formed part of a
meteoric shower. although no record
exists as to when the fall took place.
Curiously enough. near the center where
most of the meteorites have been found
is crater with ragged edges, three
quarters OF mile in diameter and about
coo feet deep, bearing exactly the ap
pearance which would be produced had
a mighty mass of iron or falling star
struck the ground, scattering in all di-
rectfons. and buried itself under the sur
face.
DR.. Foote, in cutting a section OF this
meteorite. found the tools were injured
by something vastly harder than metal
lie iron. He. examined the specimen
chemically and soon after announced 10
the scientific world that the Arizona
meteorite contained black and trans
parent diamonds. This discovery was
verified by Prof. FriedeI and Noissau,
who found that it contained three vari-
The Washington times., 1903-05-10

boring the holes, while the smaller
masses disiDtegrating in their fall dis
tributed diamonds broadcast.
Bizarre as such theory may appear,
the fact of the heavens raining dta-
monds is not impossible In 1876 a
meteorite fell in Hungary. the Ava
meteorite,' which was found to contain
graphite in the cubic crystalline system.
G. Rose thought the cubic graphite was
produced by the transformation of a
diamond. Long after, the prediction was
verified by Weinscbenk, who found
transparent crystals in the Ava
meteorite. Mr.. Fletcher has found in
two meteoric irons, one from Youdegin,
East Australia, and tEae ether from
Crosby's Creek. United States, crystals
absolutely similar TO those In the Ava
meteorite. In 1886 a meteorite falling
in Russia contained. besides other con-
stituents, about l per cent of carbon
in light gray grains, having the hard
ness of diamond and burning in oxygen
TO carbOnic acid.
The most striking confirmation of the
theory comes from Arizona. Here on
The Washington times., 1903-05-10

That was about all as far as SIR.
Tramp was concerned. The first bulb was
aimed at his head II missed his face
by half an inch. struck the chise1 he was
holding in his hand and exploded with
report like a pistol shot. Then the rest
Of the miniature glass bombs began ex.-
ploding in all directions around him
He didn't wait TO investigate. He
struck right out for the high road, his
coattaiIs flying at right angles behind
him. his feet hitting the ground at
swift nace-the worst frightened tramp
you ever saw. A sudden and unweIcome
introduction to an earnest, energetic
bulldog wouldn't have scared that tramp
half as much.
after it was all over my wife broke
down and had a good cry. But she soon
got over her fit of nervousness, and when
came home she was feeling mighty
proud of her achievement Now she is
quite heroine in our district. All the
women in the neighborhood have laid in
a supply OF these bulb bombs, and the
next tramp that tries TO break into a
house will think he has gone up against
miniature Santiago.
1T certainly takes a woman 10 dis
cover the real purposes of modern in
ventions," added the suburbanite
thoughtfuIly.
The Washington times., 1903-05-10
John Shores House.

Secretary Root declares that the mem
bers of the Rock Creek colony are
squatters. They Indignantly deny this
charge, and assert that they have served
the District by converting an unhealth-
full spot into a neighborhood which is
free from malaria.
John Shore has the most pretentious
home on the ground in dispute. Twenty
years ago he moved small frame office
building to the marshy ground. He al
leges that the Chesapeake and Potomac
Canal Company owned the land then,
and that the company's officers gave him
permission to locate his building on
their grounds.
The little Office building formed the
nucleus OF Shores home, and is now
surrounded by many additions. The
house is neatly painted, and flower
garden at the front door is inclosed by
a freshly whitewashed fence.
John Shores Claims.
People told me I'd kill my family
If moved down here Shore remarked
in discussing his home, but old them
that we might die in Mount Pleasant or
KaIorama Heights and that we'd take
our chances. I filled up the lot and
raised healthy, happy family. I've
The Washington times., 1903-05-10
McKINLEY'S FAvoRITE PLAY.

A n incident IN the life OF the late
y President Mckinley. which took
place a few months before his assassina-
ton, and which seems. in the light Of
later exents, a foreshadowing of that
tragedy, is told by Frederick Warde. ths
actor.
President Mckinley and Mr.. warde
were boyhood friends, and though their
choice of careers was widely different.
they managed 10 keep in touch with each
other and get together once in a while to
talk over old times in Ohio. While Mr..
Warde was playing his regular winter
engagement In Washington in 1901, he
acquired a habit of dropping in the
White House Sunday mornings for 8
little chat with the President
During one of these visits President
Mckinley asked him If he was nlaying
Henry VIII" Mr.. Warde replied that
the drama was not in his repertoire that
season.
Il am sorry said the President. for
it is my favorite play"
Mr. Warde expressed some surprise at
the choice. saying that in his opinion tie
genius Of Shakespeare had been too
greatly hampered with historical facts 10
make Henry VIII great drama
- like it." Mr. Mckinley continued.
because II contains a passage that l
have made my life's motto" And ne
quoted from Wolsey's famous soliloauy:
Let all the ends thou aim'st at be thy eountry's.
Thy Gods and truths
Mr.. Warde finished the quotation for
him
Then if thou falrst, o Cromwell,
Thou fal'st blessed martyr.
Yes" said the President. in a subdved
voice. as If a premonition of his end had
at that moment come to him.
The Washington times., 1903-05-10
COSTLY COURTESY.

- IRsT the tu' penny tub" Mr..
r Yerkes' underground electric road,
L and then the builders of the Lon
don road cars followed the American
example for providing straps to which
messengers in a car may hang. But IN
less the police and the magistrates are
also Americanized straps on tram cars
in London must remain unused, OF
chivalry in crowded cars must die hhe
following pathetic story was told IN
London police court recently:
man was sitting in a comfortably
full car when a woman entered and
broke the laws by hanging in pathetic
Desperation to the cad of strap Cal
Iantry supervened, the man rose from
his seat and relieved the woman from
the necessity of breaking the law, but
by doing so he broke it himself. Then
the policeman entered and all persons
standing were elected, and the man was
forced 10 walk home. On the way any
number OF crowded cars passed him,
which refused to take on any more per
sons, and he went on cursing the posi-
ton that medieval chivalry gave wo
men But his injuries were not over
yet. He received a summons and was
hauled before magistrate in a police
court, together with other offenders
who had stood in cars. The conductor
explained the situation and told how it
oner break the law. but it was all of no
avail TO him, The magistrate sentenced
him 70 pay a fine OF shilliugs and .
shillings FOR costs
The Washington times., 1903-05-10

that their rights should be settled IN
the courts before any action Is taken to
eject them.
Although Secretary Root did not see
fit to act on this suggestion, and in
structed the United States Marshal for
the District to eject the squatters with
out delay, it is presumed that the Sec
rotary believed that the squatters would
ask the courts to restrain the Govern
ment from ejecting them, and thus bring
the cases into court without delay.
Riparian Rights Involved.
The title to the property depends on
what the riparian rights of landholders
along Rock Creek are beld to be. w. L.
Browning, the law clerk in the Office OF
Colonel Symons. has looked into the title
of the land in dispute and expressed the
opinion that land owners along Rock
Creek east of Twenty eighth Street are
entitled to all the ground reclaimed
from the swamp.
The settlers against whom Secretary
Root is proceeding have land west Of
Twenty-eighth Street, and are believed
by the War Department to have no
rights which will be recognized by the
courts
The Washington times., 1903-05-10
DIAMONDS FAILING FROM THE HEAVENS
IAMoNDs from the skies. con

IT, IAMoNDs from the skies. con-
veyed to earth in meteorio
showers, is theory first
preached by Meydenhauer The diamond.
he says, can be of cosmic origin only,
having fallen as meteorite at late
period of the earth's formation. The
localities where diamonds are found
contain the residues of not very com
pact meteoric masses which may have
fallen in historic ages and penetrated
more or less deeply according TO the
more or less resistent character of
the surface where they fell. Their re
mains are crumbling away on exposure
TO sun and air, the rains having long
ago washed away all permanent masses.
The diamonds have been scattered IN
the river beds, while the fine light
1natrix has been swept away. Thus the
so-called volcanic pipes are simply holes
bored in the earth by the impact of
monster meteors, the largest masses
The Washington times., 1903-05-10
Mary Hughes Lives Here.

living in it twenty-five years, even If
the house amt very good
What It All Means.
The action against the Virginia Ave-
nue. tenants is to be taken for the pur-
pose of quieting the title to wide strip
of land which extends along the east
side of Rock Creek from I Street to the
river. 1t is alleged that many factories
and 5ther buildings along Rock Creek
are on land owned by the Government,
and the action against the Virginia Ave
nue. people is said to be only the begin
ming of a movement on the part of the
Government to get control of all this
property. which is to be used as a part
of the drive to be built along Rock
Creek
Knott & Mohler, A. L. Barber, Wells
& Barnett Sand Company, and John B.
Lord are other persons who are said TO
have possession of land at the end OF
Virginia Avenue which belongs to the
Government Most of the buildings on
the property are frame sheds used for
the storage of building materials.
The squatters were encouraged by the
suggestion of Attorney General Knox
The Washington times., 1903-05-10
FIRST NEWS OF WATERLOO.
EOPoLD DE ROTHsCHILD tel

7 EOPOLD DE ROTHSCHILD tells
this story of how the house of
RothschIld had IN its early days
beaten the English newspapers in OBJ
tanning important information, and he
related the true version of how the first
news OF the victory of Waterloo was
made known to his grandfather.
There had, he said, been many differ
eut accounts of the latter incident, but
the accurate one was that the news
came through the medium of small
Dutch newspaper. The Intelligence was
published in a single line: Great Vic
tory OF the English at Amsterdam
His grandfather. who was the owner of
some ships. told his captains that when
ever trey went anywhere they were al
ways to bring him the latest newspa-
pors. One OF these trusted captains ar
rived with paper announcing the great
victory. His grandfather Immediately
took the news 10 the treasury and gave
1 the information to Lord Liverpool He
did not tell him how he knew il, and his
news was secuted because the intelli-
gence had arrived on the previous day
that the British troops had been beaten.
AS to the siege OF Paris. Mr.. de Roth
news by pigeon post from his brother
in-law. who had been in Paris during
the whole siege. and they knew at least
fortnight beforehand that Paris was
about to capitulate He did not think it
had any Importance financially, but it
enabled them to send to Paris by a
trusted messenger q wagon load of pro-
visions. which was the first food to enter
the city when il capituIated.
As regards foreign news, it was indeed
wonderful how different the newspapers
of the present day are from those of a
quarter Of a century ago. When Mr.. de
Rothschild first went into the city they
were dependent on mysterious ztter,
Les petite papiers," which was written
by NJ. Tansky and was copied by his
clerk. He believed that the London
Times and one or two other papers
were in the habit of receiving this doc
ument which came TO the inhabitants OF
the city, and from that little letter the
foreign news vas elaborated ia the
greatest journals of the day.
The Washington times., 1903-05-10
John Shore, Who Has Lived Twenty Years On the F1drshdnds
Adjoining Rock Creek Declares the Government Should Look
Upon Him ds BeRefaCto Rather Than as a TesDdsser

become attached to the place, and have
improved the whole neighborhood. If
the Government drives me out, it'll
break up happy home.
Shore is much aggrieved by the order
of Secretary Root to eject the squat
ters, and declares that such action
would be base ingratitude on the part
OF the Government he served faithfully
during the civil war.
81 enlisted in the Forty-e1gntn New
Jersey in 1854. They wouldn't take me
earlier in the war because I was too
short" the good natured squatter ex-
planned. But they found that short men
could fight Just as well as long ones.
and John Shore amt got war record
that he's ashamed OF.
1T would be a fine thing for Uncle
Sam TO repay me for my services by
The Washington times., 1903-05-10

THERE is an erroneous idea that
one of the most painful of deaths
Is that Of falling Into the
clutches of a wild beast. That the idea
is erroneous was recently set forth in
the work of an English physician named
Crowther Hirst, the doctors conclusion
being based on data collected from men
who actually were in the clutches Of
wild animals. but who, though seriously
wounded. eventually recovered.
Even Livingstone. one of whose arms
was torn almost to shreds by a lion, said
that during the dread moment he felt
neither pain nor fear
Without exception the testimony Of
every other subject consulted was the
same as that OF livingstone, with the
slight difference that some OF them ex-
perienced fear Immediately preceding
the bite OF the enemy.
A British lieutenant, who was perma-
nently disabled owing 20 the attack of !
lion. said in answering the dotcor's
question: Not the least pain was ex-
perienced while the animal sank its
teeth into my flesh At the same time
1 was fully conscious the brute was bit
ing me. Entirely aside from the fact
that I recall actually seeing the great
jaws close upon my thigh. 1 was fully
possessed. even to the extent of
wondering at the absence of pain"
The lieutenant the doctor says in his
work, retained his presence or mind
through the whole proceeding. He drew
two cartridges from his belt and tossed
them toward a Kafir whose rife had
been emptied.
DR.. Neve. in the hospital at Srinagar.
Kaschmir, annually treated five OF six
cases of hunters who had been caught
IN the Jaws and paws OF bears.
Throughout his entire experience The
doctor does not recall one case where
The Washington times., 1903-05-10
THE MOTHER-IN-LAw TERROR
for the comic papers who
w have as mart of their stock in

MRITERs for the comic papers who
W have as part of their stock in
trade the old. old mother in-law joke
would no doubt be surprised to learn
how very old and widespread in super
stttion is this fear Of the mother-in-
law.
Scientists who deal in folklore, fas-
cinating branch of theology, have col
lected interesting data about mothers
in-law.
In the Punjaub a man shuns the shad-
ow Of woman or a mourner, but ne
means and groans If he gets in the
shadow of his mother-in-law.
In Australia they tell that malig-
nant mother-in-law stood over her
sleeping son-in-law so her shadow fell
across him. ana when he awoke the mis-
cradle savage almost died with fright.
It IS recorded that if native OF New
Britain should accidentally speak to his
mothcr-iu-Iaw suicide for both would
probably be the only resource to avert
the horrible calamities destined to fall
upon their houses. The most solemn
oath New Britain native can take is
q hope I may shake hands with my
mother-in-law If I am not telling the
truth"
Palsy and debility are, it is believed.
the smallest OF the evils that fail upon
the Uganda savage If he speaks direct
~, lace TO face, with his mOther-in
law. When converse between them can
not be avoided there must be a third
person as go-between or they must be
separated by closed doors.
One authority who lived with our In
dams Of the West tells that he once saw
an Apache brave of the bravest Chamber
along precipice. hanging TO rocks. in
imminent danger of dashing out his life.
desperate in his attempt to avoid meet
ing his mcthcr-in-law face to face
AT Vanua Lava, in the New HeDrides.
man must wait until the tide has
washed out the footprints of his wife's
mother II he must follow her along the
beach.
The Washington times., 1903-05-10
John.

throwing me out of my home. If they
try to put me and my family out they'll
find ME wrapped in an American flag
fighting for my rights.
Il would give the Government any
thing it actually needs. I'd give my life
fighting for it if 1t was necessary. but
a measly little strip of land down here
on the bottom don't mean anything to Il
big, rich government, and it means ev-
erything TO John Shore and his family
see by the papers that the officers say I
amt paid any taxes. They amt never
asked me for any. I'm willing to pay
taxes on the land
You can't make me believe that the
Government is going to force me off my
land and leave all the millionaire cor
porations along Rock Creek alone My
title is as good as theirs is, and I've
The Washington times., 1903-05-10
. UBLIC benefactors or squatters?
Washington has a little colony

along Rock Creek similar to
Captain Streator's army. which chung TO
stubbornly to its land on the lake shore
in Chicago a few months ago.
The Washingtoniaus who are on gov
eminent land have declared that they
own the property and will not give it up
without a struggle.
Secretary Root recently ordered the Of
f1cer in charge OF public buildings and
grounds to drive the squatters from
their homes, and the United States mar
shall for the District is under instruc-
tions to carry out the order. What will
happen when the Government attempts
to eject the tenants remains TO be seen.
Claim Twenty Year Titles.
The land in dispute lies at the west
end of Virginia Avenue. and is on the
east bank of Rock Creek, between I and
K Streets. 1t was formerly marshy land
Twenty years ago the squatters built
houses there. They have filled the
ground and alIege now that the Govern
ment is under obligations TO them for the
improvements. and should not think of
trying to wrest property from them
which they have improved.
The Washington times., 1903-05-10

done lots more for the Government than
they have
The Pioneer Inhabitant.
Mary Hughes has lived on the land in
dispute longer than Shore. 1t is twenty
two years since she moved mo III. lit
tie two-room shanty- she occupies. The
house has fallen into decay. The root
leaks. All the plaster Is loose, and the
floors are full of holes. which allow the
odor to enter the house from cellar
filled with water.
I've buried my old man and two of
my children from this house and I don't
want to leake it until I'm carried out in
a ccfin. ;" the old woman remarked tear
fully when told that the Government
had ordered that her home be removed.
"A person gets attached to place after
The Washington times., 1903-05-10


against tramps and bur-
glars" said the man who lives in the
suburbs in tones of justihable pride
t'and I'm not sure that other women who
are more or less alone might take a
hint from her Certainly her method
showed some ingenuity and a genuine
feminine adaptabiIity of means TO ends
Our house is pretty well fitted up
with electricity and modern conven
fences, but 1t is quite distance from
the nearest neigrbor, and there's no de-
nying that it is bit lonely during the
day So my wife has the habit of lock
ing the outside doors when she is busy
about the house. The other morning
she heard a knock at the door. and 1t
was a knock of a decidedly strenuous
character.
Instead of opening the door my wife
went to one OF the side windows and
peeped through the curtains to see who
was there. She saw a tramp. and
tramp of rough appearance at that. SO
she made UP her mind that she would
The Washington times., 1903-05-10
AN M. p. AS A BoATBU1LDER.

Colonel Saunderson. M. P. has a beau
tiful country residence called Castle
Saunderson, in County Cavan. He is
very fond of spending his leisure hours
In bodybuilding. He Is certified ship
builder. and models and builds with his
own hands his yachts, and likewise sails
them. The Kaiser has copy of Colonel
Sanderson's two-rater.-M. A. P.
The Washington times., 1903-05-10
BETTER LATE THAN NEVER.

The town of Ham. in France, possesses
an old lady of seventy who has just
learned TO read and write. Ashamed at
her advanced age of her complete ig-
norance, she went TO ne village school
master and asked him to teach her A
few weeks enabled her to master the
drudgery and she can now read the
newspapers and write an ordinary let
ter-London News.
The Washington times., 1903-05-10

& ny WIFE seems to have solved
IVA the problem of protection
= arainst tranns and bur