davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Tomahawk., 1903-10-23
HeBelieved
in Signs

~sXIY1AT rot" said Mr.. Thompkins,
Wv standing still and gazing at the
front door of house he was passing.
"Come, DEAR said Mrs. Thompkins,
nervously. 1--WE shall be late"
"Why don't people try to be sensible
if not coherent?" went on Mr.. Thomp-
kins, gazing steadfastly at the door.
what is the matter?" asked Mrs.
Thompkins.
"Look at that sign above the bell"
said Mr.. Thompkins, pointing majes-
tically.
Mrs. Thompkins looked. There was
small brass plate above the electrical
button at one side of the door. The
plate said:
'Ring tile bell"
"Well,' said Mrs. Thompkins.
"Well?"
"Well," repeated her liege. ''Merciful
heavens, woman, are you, too, utterly
devoid of brains?"
moo, I think not" replied Mrs.
Thompkins, doubtfully. "Still, don't
see what you are objecting to-"
Remain here" said Mr.. Thompkins.
s'It is no use to waste explanations upon
you. I will show you, if you will but
listen to what 1 object. And I COM
mence forthwith with crusade I have
long contemplated.
Mr.. Thompkins moved majestically up
the steps of the house and proceeded to
ring the bell again and again. A house
maid came to the door and asked what
ne wanted. Mr.. Thompkins paid no at
tention to her and continued to ring the
DELL. The housemaid disappeared and
returned with her mistress.
what do you want?" demanded the
woman.
Nothing" said Mr. Thompkins, and
he again jingled the bell.
'Why are you standing there ringing
my bell?" asked the woman, looking
down the street to see if there were any
policemen near by who could take the
lunatic in charge.
ri am ringing the BELL" said Mr..
Thompkins, because the little brass sign
passing the house and saw the words
here, Ring the bell Although it is
causing me good deal of Inconvenience,
obey" And Mr. Thompkins continued
to push the button.
"But," said the woman in a tone of
voice which plainly showed she was fol-
lowing the injunction to always humor
crazy people, 'if you do not wish to
see anyone in my household why do you
stand there and ring the bell?"
"And why, if do not wish to see any
one in your household" said Mr.. Thomp-
kins, SHOULD brass sign be displayed
commanding me to ring the bell?"
"You are not commanded to ring my
bell"
"The brass sign, madam, says: Ring
the bell The phrase is apparently ad-
dressed to all who pass this way. If
you wish to command only those who
bell then change the phraseology of the
sign and do not leave it SO worded that
it appeals as command to all who
pass this way"
"I wish my husband were home"
snapped the woman. "He would kick
you off those steps,"
THAT depends" returned Mr. Thomp
lins, politely. Anyhow, have ex-
planned this matter to you, and il you
do not institute reform the fault is
not mine. Good day.
Idiot" hissed the woman.
Mr.. and Mrs. Thompkins resumed their
walk downtown Mrs. Thompkins had
gloomy fore ebodines. She saw that her
Iiege had started out to institute re-
form and he would not rest until he
encountered disaster.
They entered an art store, where Mrs.
Thompkins wished to look at some pic
ture frames. The next she heard from
Mr.. Thompkins he was Standing In front
Of the cashiers desk.
The Tomahawk., 1903-10-23
A Low Rate to Texas.

October Goth only, the NJ, X. & T. R'ywill
bal and Kansas City to Texas, Oklahoma and
Indian Territory at rate Of $500 for the
round trip, final limit November 10th.
Rate of $500 will also apply from
Cincinnati, $1,000 from Chicago. No
one can afford to miss this opportunity OF
seeing the great southwestern country in the
further particulars write George Morton,
G. P. Il +. A., M, K. & T. Ry., st. Louis, Mo.
The Tomahawk., 1903-10-23
A Doctor,s Retort.

Every doctor knows the man and woman
who cultivate the habit Of accosting him in
the street and in the guise of ordinary con-
versation try to extract free medical advice.
One such inquirer greeted an eminent physi-
clan with the remark:
II hear fish is an excellent brain food. Do
you think so?"
Excellent" was the reply, "but in your
case it seems pity to waste the tish."-Lon.
don Outlook.
The Tomahawk., 1903-10-23
Promoters OF Courage.

Spartacus-Women are great incentive
to manly courage.
Smarticus-That's right. Since I've been
married and had few tilts with my wife
the prospects of scrap with the meanest
man on earth seems like mere child's play
to me.-Baltimore American.
The Tomahawk., 1903-10-23

"De unluckiest man." sa ID Uncle Eben, "is
de one dat sits aroun' buidin' castles in de
air, when he ought to be pa tchin' de roof on
de summer kitchen. ."-Washington Star.
The Tomahawk., 1903-10-23

To Cure a Cold in One Day.
Take Laxative Bromo Quinine Tablets. All
druggists refund moneyifi it fails to cure. 25c.
The Tomahawk., 1903-10-23

I am sure Piso's Cure for Consumption
saved my life three years ago.-,.Mrs: Thos.
Robbins, Norwich, N. Y, Feb. II, 1900.
The Tomahawk., 1903-10-23


Mr. Thompkins pulled down the but
ton and let it go, and then as soon as 1t
was back in its original position pulled
it down again. He stood in front OF
the box working the button as fast as
it would work Soon uniformed mes
senger boy appeared and showed book
and pencil into Mr. Thompkins' hands.
"Whachy he demanded.
"Not a thing" said Mr.. Thompkins,
pleasantly, again pulling down the but
ton.
What did yer call messenger fer,
then" demanded the boy.
Because the sign over this box re-
quested me to do so, replied Mr.. Thomp-
kins.
"Ah, yer nutty,' said the wrathful
messenger. Cit me way over here an
nothin' doin'."
Another messenger boy appeared and
behind him another, and the face OF
still one more appeared at the door.
The first boy eagerly called to the later
arrivals to approach.
''De ole guy is BATS he whispered,
hoarsely, "clean dippy."
"Say, mister said the first boy to
Mr.. Thompkins, If you got enuff mes
senger boys here an don't want moth
in, wy cut it OUT
how many times must pull this button
down." said Mr.. Thompkins. 1T merely
commands me to pull the button and, as
I understand it, to keep on pulling it
indefinitely"
"Gee," said one of the messenger boys.
"Say, he's wearin' out de battery on dat
box. De manager will chew his ear off,
an he's got all de boys in de office over
here, too. Say, back pedle, old man,
you've had fun enuff."
Mr.. Thompkins only smiled and con-
tinued pulling down the button. The
first messenger boy made a rush and
butted Mr.. Thompkins in the stomach.
Another boy took him in the back. He
went down with crash and women in
walkers came rushing up as the messen-
ger boys piled enthusiastically On top
of Mr.. Thompkins, and one Of them
grabbed him by the ears and bumped
his head on the floor Mrs. Thompkins
tried to fight them off with her parasol,
but clerk restrained her. Finally po
liceman appeared and dragged Mr.
Thompkins away from the messenger
boys. Mr.. Thompkins attempted to tell
his story, but the boys insisted on telling
theirs first.
Go on, all of you," said the police
man. "You boys hustle back to where
you belong, and here, lady, you'd better
take this husband of yours back home
He oughten ter git too far from the
house. You talk about obeying signs.
mister" he continued, addressing Mr..
Thompkins Keep it up. There's a
sign out there that's just intended for
you" He pointed to sign which read:
"Take cars here"
But" began Mr.. Thompkins, feebly
Go on, now,' said the policeman
That's your sign. You're SO gay about
doin'' everything signs say, you do what
that one says. You take the car right
there, and do it quick, or I'll run you in. +"
And Mr.. Thompkins obeyed.-Chicaga
Tribune.
The Tomahawk., 1903-10-23

A thief loves honesty as hungry man loves
steak, and for the same reason that he feeds
upon tn. 0. Times-Democrat.
The Tomahawk., 1903-10-23

Same Old Bluff "Thi. precipice," e1-
planned the guide, ""is known as Lovers
Leap" "Same old bluff, eh?" remarked
the blaze tourist.-Philadelphia Record.
The Tomahawk., 1903-10-23

People whose nerves are on edge are IN
capable of cutting much Of fgure.-Chicag
Journal
The Tomahawk., 1903-10-23

You cannot reach the heart with the heat
alone.-Ram's Horn.
The Tomahawk., 1903-10-23

June Tint Butter Color makes top OF
the market butter.
The Tomahawk., 1903-10-23

Power dwells with observation-disclosures.
son.
The Tomahawk., 1903-10-23

Luck is important. But for luck, the foot
might never have any money to part with
D,,oi
The Tomahawk., 1903-10-23

George Sand: Vanity is the quicksand Of
The Tomahawk., 1903-10-23

"The suburban train No. AS, which "a
due to leave our station at 9:23 a. m.i
did not leave until 9:33 this morning."
said Mr.. Thompkins.
'This is an art store and not rail-
road depot" said the cashier, stif1iy.
The cook did not get home until one
o'clock this morning." continued Mr..
Thompkins, "and as a result breakfast
was half an hour late" 8 8
The cashier motioned convulsively for
the proprietor of the store to come to her
rescue. The proprietor walked up. Mr
Thompkins turned to him and said:
"The elevators throughout the build
ing worked badly yesterday, and the jan
itor on our floor did not sweep the cor
ridors.'
"Where do you think you are?' asked
the proprietor, gently Don't you want
to come back in my Office and lie down on
the sofa for awhile?''
\ Mr.. Thompkins pointed to placard
that hung in front of the cashiers desk.
1t said:
make All Complaints Here
"I am making all the complaints can
think OF" he said, pleasantly. The tele-
phone in our house"
tThat sign," said the proprietor. st1fiy,
"refers, of course, to complaints in re-
gard to our employees or to other mat
ters concerned with this store
"Then," returned Mr.. Thompk1ns,
might ask why doesn't the sign SO
specify?"
every fool ought to know that" said
the proprietor, sourly.
"Ah, yes," said Mr.. Thompkins.
every fool ought to. But, just the same,
you have no right to object if any yone fol-
lows the instructions you have here
given and makes all complaints as re-
quested. You have no right to COM
mand people to make complaints unless
you are prepared to hear them. l would
suggest that you Immediately change the
phraseology of that sign"
Mrs. Thompkins and the proprietor
managed to get Mr.. Thompkins outside.
But he was so worked up over his cru
sade by this time that Mrs. Thompkins
was only counting the minutes until the
catastrophe occurred. Mrs. Thompkins
in her desire to make her lfege forget
his crusade led him into department
store. They had no sooner got inside
than Mr.. Thompkins made dash for
district messenger call box, where
there was sign displayed:
::DioiisTRRiCT MEssENGERC GAIL BOX. !:
PULL BUTTON CLEAR DOWN
T.ES
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-11-28
NEARLY READY FOR VOYAGE.
Torpedo Destroyer Fleet Will Sail Soon
for Philippines.

Special Dispatch to The Evening Star.
NORFOLK, Va, November 2S.-All but
one of the torpedo destroyers composing
Lieut.. Chardler's feet, soon to start for
the Philippine Islands under convoy of
the cruiser Buffalo or Baltimore, are today
at the Norfolk navy yard. The boats are
not in as bad condition from deranged
steering gear as dispatches sent out from
Norfolk last night would indicate.
The Decatur, Lieut.. Chambers flagship
had broken link in her steering chain, but
this is repaired and the destroyer will re-
Hampton Roads.
The quadron Of the Barry's rudder ie
broken as the result of the destroyer back
ing too rapidly, and it may take three
weeks TO repair her. The Dale is in nc
trouble at all and simply came up to the
navy yard last night to get out of the
heavy weather that was prevailing In
Hampton Roads at the time.
The Chauncy, which is the lone member
of the frail little fleet to remain In Hamp-
ton Roads through the storm, has no trou-
BILE of any kind and is as fresh as when she
sailed away from the navy yard the first
part of the week.
Members of the hotilla crews in Nor
folk today express fear at the long trip the
destroyers have before them. They say
the frail crafts may make the trip to the
Philippine Islands, but there is no telling
in what condition they will be upon their
arrival.
Two barrels of mail for the fotilla, sen,
originally to Washington. reported here to-
day and were distributed among the men
Nearly every officer and man of the fiotilla
received a big batch of farewell letters.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-11-28
EMPEROR W|THDRAWS
Cup Offer for Transatlantic
Yacht Race.
ACCOUNT POOR HEALTH
CABLES DECISION TO AMERICAN
YACHTSMEN TODAY.
Advises That He Will Offer Prize to
Be Raced for In Sum-
mer of 1905.
ACCOUNT POOR HEALTH

| BERLIN November 2S.-Emperor Will
lam has withdrawn his offer of a cup for
| transatlantic yacht race in 1904, on ac-
| count of his health, and has substituted for
| 1t the offer of cup to be raced for In l9oo.
| The emperor, through his representative,
| cabled his decision to the American yachts
| men today, with his reasons for the post
| ponement.
Too Late to Have Yachts Ready.
These are that the prolonged period Of
| the emperor's recovery and the consequent
accumulation of all business has prevented
| him from receiving his yachting advisers to
arrange the details for a transatlantic
race until it was too late for the designers
and builders to have new yachts ready for
| a contest in the spring of 1904.
NEW YORK, November S.-Secretary
| Cormack of the New York Yacht Club
when shown the dispatch announcing the
change in time for the transatlantic yacht
race. said that his club had as yet received
no official notification of the original oHer
! by Emperor William, but further than that
| he would not discuss the matter.
Upton is Advised.
| LONDON, November 2S.-Sir Thomas
| Upton today received a telegram from LORD
| Lonsdale notifying him that as illness had
| prevented Emperor William from meeting
! his yachting representatives, 1t would now
| be too late to build boats in Europe and
make the suggested 1904 race success, so
| the emperor decided to postpone oner1ng
| his cup for transatlantic race until 1905.
Lord Lonsdale added that the emperor
| therefore. would not take advantage OF Sir
Thomas Liptons withdrawal Sir Thomas
replied agreeing with Lord Lonsdale that
it was now too late to make the proposed
race a success, and pointing out that there
fore it was quite useless for him to renew
his offer. the withdrawal of which had al
ready been accepted
Hopes to Enter Boat.
Sir Thomas Upton hopes to enter boat
In the race for the emperor's cup in 1906.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-11-28
SOLID BLOW At TRUST
Receiver for Shipbuilding
Company Will Stay.
DECISION MADE TODAY
JUDGE KIRKPATRfCK CKsUSTAINED
BY HIGHER COURT.
Held That the Appointment of James
Smith, jr., Was Entirely
Within Authority.

PHILADELPHIA. November 2S.-The ap-
pea! Of the United States Shipballding Com
pany against the decision Of Judge Kirk
patrick, appointing James Smith, jr., re-
ceiver for the corporation, was today de-
cided against the company.
The opinion rendered by Circuit Court
Judges Acheson, Dallas and Gray was filed
by the former. Judge Kirkpatrick's action
is sustained and the order for the receiver
is made permanent, or until the further
order Of the court. The opinion, in part.
follows:
Circuit Courts Opinion.
Upon the whole we are OF the opinion
that the bill presented = case Of which the
circuit court sitting in equity had jurisdic-
ton. and that the. appointment Of a receiver
was within the authority of the court
1--WE also think there was evidence to
sustain the findings Of the lower court and
to justify the order appointing receiver.
Whether receiver should be appointed
was matter largely within the discretion
of the court. In view of the special circum-
stances Of the case. Upon a careful ex-
pointing receiver and granting an injunc-
ton was mprovldently,anade.
Not So in Legal Effect.
''It was urged at the argument that the
decision appealed FROM was equivalent to
final decree. Although there is no as
sgnment of error to bring this question
before US. still 1t deserves present consid-
Grafton.
las we read the order. it was not in
tended to be finality and Is not SO in legal
effect. =
But to remove any pDsfSle doubt on this
point we will amend TIA order by striking
from the fifth paraghSphs tho concluding
words. and especiallysby the act of the
legislature of the state ox sNew Jersey en-
titled an act concerningy corporations. re-
vision 1S96'-and substitute therefore the
words, the receiver to be subject at all
times to the orders and directions of this
court'-and we will add. the foregoing order
to stand until the further order Of this
court"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-11-28
POST OFFICE PROMOTIONS.
Vacancies Filled by Clerks Having
Good Records.

One of the results of the scandals and in
vestigations in the Post Office Department
has been the promotion of some of those
employes not concerned in the general at
tempt at depletion of the funds of that
branch of the government service. E. w.
Lawrence of Vermont has been appointed
assistant attorney to succeed A. c. Chris
tiancy. resigned; r. NJ. Webster of Ken
tuoky takes the place of assistant attorney,
formerly held by Daniel V. Miller, whose
trial and acquittal on charges of conspiracy
and fraud was recently held in Cincinnati;
and William Frtsch of Ohio becomes law
clerk, stepping up to the place made vacant
by the advancement of Webster.
The promotions have just been announced
by Assistant Attorney General Robb.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-11-28
ON PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS.
Panama Junta Plans How to Spend the
S1O,OOO,OOO.

Mr. Varilla, the Panama minister. called
at the State Department today and had a
conference with Acting Secretary Loomis
concerning some financial questions con-
nected with the canal problem. 1t appears
that the junta has determined to reserve
every cent Of the s10,000,0O0 to be paid to
Panama by the United States after the
treaty is ratified for purposes of public i'm
provement. 1t is desirable that consid-
erable fund be made available at the ear
liest possible moment to carry on certain
urgent sanitary works and to provide a
water supply for the isthmian cities. 1t is
estimated that 100000 would suffice to
initiate that work, and the remainder of
the fund Of $40, ,O0O,0 600 could be invested In
United States securities or some other alb
solutely safe investment, where it could be
readily reached in case of need
The minister is going to New York to-
night to spend a day or two in rest, not ex-
pecting any developments as to the canal
situation in the meantime. He has been ad-
vised by his government and through pri-
vate agents that General Reyes before leay-
ing Port Limon for Washington sent to the
executives of nearly all the republics of
South and Central America what amounts
to a protest against the secession of Pana-
ma and an invitation to them to direct their
diplomatic representatives in Washtngto
to confer with him to safeguard the inter-
ests Of Latin-American. The same circular
has been brought to the attention of the
State Department. but 1t has not determin-
ed that any official notice shall be taken of
the matter. The response Of President Cas-
tro of Venezuela to this circular. strongly in
the negative as 1t was. Is regarded as max
ing 1t unnecessary for the United States
government to notice the matter further 1t
being assumed that the other South and
Central American countries will follow
President Castro's example In rejecting
General Reyes overtures.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-11-28
MITCHELL SCORES SOCIALISTS.
Resents Criticisms Of His Dining With
President Roosevelt.

Special Dispatch to The Evening Star.
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind, November 28.-
John Mitchell today, for the first time in
lis life, said what he thinks Of socialists.
he said what he did because he could re-
strain himself no longer against their petty
filings al him for seeing fit at different times
to be friendly with President Roosevelt and
certain capitalists. The last straw came
when he shown a dispatch from Potts
Vile, Pa, where last night several social
lists, among whom. 1t was said. were many
union miners, adopted resolutions condemn
ing Mitchell for dining with President
Roosevelt.
Mitchell read the dispatch and then said:
"Well, l don't care; it's matter of su-
preme Indifference to me what anybody
says, be he socialist or anyone else, about
my choosing my friends.
IF some one cares for me and I care
enough for him to dine with him, be he
President of the United States or humblest
laborer in the land, it is my own affair.
II choose my own friends without con-
sulting any one else. That applies to So
cialists as well as others, and I'm happy to
say that l count President Roosevelt one
of my friends
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-11-28
SAYS THAT WOOD KNEW
LIEUT.. DUNCIE TELLS OF HIS AT
TACK ON GEN. BROOKE.
Testifes Before Senate Committee in
Regard to the Much-Talked-of
Magazine Article.

In his testimony before the Senate COM
mittee on military affairs yesterday after
noon Lieutenant Runcie explained that he
had acted as the confidential adviser Of
General Wood for nearly two years and
that they lived together at Santiago. 1t
was while they were living in the same
house that Mr.. Ray Stannard Baker went
to Santiago in search of material for a
magazine article. A meeting was arranged
between the three men and a dinner fol-
lowed, testified Lieutnant Runcie, at which
was discussed the plan to have published an
article which would exploit the success Of
General Wood in dealing with affairs at
Santiago and draw comparison with the
situation at Havana unfavorable to the ad-
ministration of General Brooke.
Lieutenant Runcie declared that General
Wood asked him to write the article and
that he had done 80. The article was given
to Baker and published in February, 1890,
over the name Of Lieutenant Runcie. He
asserted that General Wood knew what the
article contained and that they had corre-
spondence about 1t as the result Of the
furor created by its publication. He offered
to produce copies of letters which he had
written to General Wood concerning his
own defense. 1t was not until after Gen.
eral Wood succeeded General Brooke that
the article was published. The effect was
severance Of the relations between the
witness and General Wood. Lieutenat Run
Gle then began the practice Of law at Ha-
vana and, according to his testimony, has
been there ever since.
The witness said that when the Secretary
Of War went to Cuba following the disclos-
ures to the War Department the suggestion
was made, either by the Secretary or Cen
eral Wood, that he be court-martialed for
writing the article, and that he had, in ef-
feet, invited the court-martial.
The committee informed Lieutenant Run-
Gle that he would be called again some time
next week. He left Washington last night
for Cleveland, Ohio. He is expected to re-
turn within three days and hold himself
subject to call of the committee His con-
nections In Havana make 1t necessary for
him to appear before the committee to testi-
fy concerning matters other than the writ
ing Of the magazine article. 1t Is said that
he has knowledge of General Woods order
for the arrest of Mr.. Rathbone and as the
agent at Havana for a Maryland bonding
company can give Information in regard to
Mr.. Rathbone's charge that General Wood
used his influence with the courts in having
his Rathbone's) bond fixed at figure he
declares to have been unreasonable.