davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington times., 1904-01-03

Capital. however. was enough They
first destroyed the bridge but this was
OF no particular value. for the river
was then at many points entirely ford
able. All histories-at least all Ameri-
can histories-contained graphic ac-
counts Of their vandalism. They burn
ed the Presidents house and forced
President Madison 10 take a hasty de-
parture. leaving a richly equipped din
ner table with all its epicureah con-
tents undisturbed In that one days
possession Of the city they accomplish
ed a great deal Of downright vandal-
ism. They burned the Treasury Of
fee" and set fire TO the Capitol and
claimed in their official reports to have
destroyed the old navy yard. but the
commandant. Captain Tingey. outwit-
ted them and burned the station him
self to prevent il from falling into this
hands of Admiral Cockburn. who had
The Washington times., 1904-01-03
:. SOME TERSELY TOLD FACTS :.

or educational institutions an increase
of A per cent in the last ten years; the
capital of these establishments is SlO.-
900. 900. an increase of 81 per cent;
$4,000 wage-earners, an increase of %
per cent: 81, 32S, 600 in wages. increase
% per cent; $1,000. 100000 miscellaneous
expenses, Increase of 60 per cent; $780,
100000. cost of materials. increase AZ per
cent; s13,O1s. 252,OO value Of products. in
crease Of 80 per cent
Buenos Ayres has the largest opera
house in the world.
There are 124 establishments for the
manufacture of starch in the United
States with capital of Sll,672, 900 in
vested. They make SOo.OOO,OOe pounds OF
starch year, two-thirds Of which is
made from Indian corn.
Russia suffers terribly from forest
fires. 1t is not unusual for fire 70 clean
out 10000 acres of forest per year.
The COW tree Of Venezuela gives off a
most excellent sap very closely resem-
bling animal milk in its chemical ma
ture.
India has nearly 20.OOO.OO9 acres in rice.
100000 in wheat. 5000 900 in other food
grains. 100000 in sugar cane. 25l 900 in
tea. 100000 in cotton. 100000 in indigo.
g00 O0a a., fcbarrn
Three-fourths Of the sa~ths surface
is unit for cultivation on account OF
mountain ranges. deserts. swamps and
barren grounds
Florida produces hfty-six varieties of
oranges and has a crop Of from 1000 OOC
to 100000 boxes a year.
IL is estimated that $500 squar,
miles. or nearly one-hnh Of the total
area Of Indiana. is most excellent coal
land, with the beds not lying over eighty
feet below the surface.
The French Academy was founded by
Richelieu in 1885, was abolished i'm 1888
revived and made a useful body by Ma,
poleon I'm 1903 Membership 10 it is the
highest literary honor in the world. The
members receive salary OF 100000 q
year and fee Of S3S7 for every meeting
they attend.
one OF the largest books made in re-
cent years is that one owned by tho
King OF England. II is eighteen inches
thick, and weighs sixty-three pounds
The Washington times., 1904-01-03
Searching for a Cloud.

cabin OF the Eastern branch rerryman
was passed by. The enemy swarmed
All around it. but molested neither the
house nor the boatman and so 1t stood
with some Improvement as to size until
within a few davs ago. and Nose who
knew it as they passed it on the roads
then viii know II now no more forever.
English soldiers did burn the house
of Mr. Robert SewaIl, from behind
which gun was fired at General Ross
and klled the horse upon which he
was mounted The houses built for
General Washington on the brow OF
Capitol Hill were put to the torch. as
well as the large hotel belonging to
Daniel Carroll. at DuddingtOn and
others and the ropewalks of Teach.
Ringgold. Teach. & Co. and OF John
Chambers.
What the enemy did do when they
crossed the Eastern Branch into the
The Washington times., 1904-01-03

IT. HAT there is no accounting for I
the eccentricities of lovers IS suf- |
fciently proved by the odd !
methods in which many of the
worlds great men have wooed and !
won their wives.
When Schumann. the famous COM
poser fell head over heels in love with
Clara Week. his masters daughter. his
path Of courtship was by no means one
OF roses for Herr Week had no wish
to see his only daughter the wife Of a
penniIess musician. and he forbade the
young lovers to hold any communica-
ton with each other. But love laughs
at parental frowns. and. as Schuriann
could not even write to his lady love.
he poured out his soul to her in Sc
ries of Letters to Clara" printed in
musical journal of which he was editor.
When the time was ripe for settling has
destiny ne made music the vehicle of
his passion, and actually proposed to
Clara on the piano under the very nose
of her father, without a single word
being uttered. and received her joyful
assent through the same medium.
Edison's method of wooing was no
less eccentric. One day he strolled into
one Of his workrooms and stood behind
the chair OF a pretty operator, who was
absorbed i'm her work. When the girl
glanced round. and. looking shyly up
at him. said: II knew It was you. Mr..
Edison; I always know when you are
near" he answered, TO her amazement,
I've been thinking a great deal about
you lately. and, if you are willing 10
marry me. 1 would like to marry you"
A month later the pretty employee was
promoted to a Partnership" which she
has never regretted.
Spohr won his wife with equally dra-
matte suddenness. After playing a duet
at court concert with Dorette Scheid-
Ter a beautiful and gifted harpist. and
while the tumult OF applause was still
ringing i'm their ears. he said to his
companion. shall we play together thus
/ through life?" For answer the lady
burst into tears and sank into his
arms
! One day when DIR. Dawson. an elo-
/ quent preacher of a century ago, called
| 20 see Miss Corbett. wealthy admirer
] OF his oratory. Cor whom he had con-
ceived a not altogether platouic affec-
| ton. he found her reading the Bible.
! Stealing up behind her he looked over
/ her shoulder TO see what she was read
4 ing when without showing any rccop
| milton OF his presence, the lady's fore
The Washington times., 1904-01-03
" TI-O

At this juncture the attitude of the
tall. gaunt man changed. as did the
tones OF his voice and his very express
sion. Thrilled as l was by The story
was startled at the transformation.
The low monotone changed to one Of
dramatic expression. He ceased adj
dressing me and seemed to speak TO
those his quickened memory mad
wrought into living. sentient beings.
Fools, Fools, You in the valley be-
low" he brake forth DO YOU not
know that / am here chained. Tantalus-
like, dependent upon your activity to
save me from a most cruel. most unjust
death!
"Oh, how that guns muzzle presses
against my back. Charge, charge. you
towards. and set me free,
..The sun is mounting higher. higher.
No welcome cloud to shield me from my
fate. The shadows shorten. shorten
Nv nod ling head reflected upon the
ground seems eager TO kiss my feet
The Engagement Opens.
"a movement in the valley A shot.
An advance. A cannon behind me
beIches forth; it's sound unnerves me
completely. and / shudder and weep.
My fortitude is leaving me. but l thank
God the miscreants who have wrought
my Undoing have others to engage their
attention. and so do not note my grief.
The revOiutiOnists are moving up on
the run. I hear hosrse orders. a clat-
tering of accouterments marks their
nearer approach. but now they are lost
10 my sight in the sleeps below the
plaza. The fire slackens. Have they re-
treated? Are they beaten off?
Not yet, not YET ! hear them more
distinctly. A suddea movement OF a
company near me attracts my attention
All. they are on the plaza and shooting
right toward me-
The minutes fly. Above the clamOI
Of the battle / hear the cuckoo. FIT
teen minutes more. The padre gives me
his blessing and seeks the shelter OF
the mission house. The bell in the
church tower clangs it's discordant. pre-
vious peal Seconds now. seconds Bull
lets rattle about me. / tug at my chains
but their cruel links bind me tightly e
my fate
The Washington times., 1904-01-03
FAT MAN AND ELEVATOR

A CERTAIN Washington business
n man Of extensive girth, who is
always in hurry, came in blow
ing the other day to the ground floor of
the well Of a downtown elevator He
noticed with Impotence that the car
was not I'm sight Upon coming up
closer to the iron grating he saw that
the drop-cord was moving in way TO
indicate the approach OF the time-sav-
ing lift. As he turned away he caught
sight Of man in the hallway, who
was taking charge of battery. a coil
or two of wire. and few other ap-
planes Of the practical electrician
Suddenly a distressing thought came to
the fat business man.
Anything the matter with the ele-
vator?' he asked in alarm lis 1t run
ning2"
"Oh. yes. it's running" the electrician
cheerfully replied with a glance toward
the questioner, which took I'm that part
Of his rotund body where his waist
should have been. Its running If you
wish 10 risk IL. It's condemned"
Now this business man OF 243 pounds
I Is n )ted for his conservatism. He never
goes into anything-and this general
poliy OF his applies especially To an
elevator-unless he is convinced before
| hand that it is safe. So. with mingled
feelings of thankfulness that lie had
/ been warned in time to save risking
| his life, and of sorrow over the pros
pect OF walking up six long flights of
| stairs, he began his pufhug climb. Upon
/ every one OF the floors ne came TO, he
saw the elevator going either UP or
| down well supplied witt passengers, and
| each time that he caught a glimpse of
/ the dangerous car he complimented him
! self upon his carefulncss. and was ready
/ to hear a fearful crash at the bottom
/ of the well. Upon the top floor where
! ne was TO transact his business. the
/ head of the firm anxiously inquired If
/ he were suffering from heart disease.
| and led him 10 a chair.
! Wher at length the newcomer recov-
| cred has breath, he explained the cause
I of his trouble.
why" burst out the head Of the firm,
| turning his face from view, that cleo
! trician's the biggest jo-jOlSer i'm town.
/ That ei-eleVator's all right.
The Washington times., 1904-01-03
ANTIQUATED LANDMARK RECENTLY DESTROYED BY FLAMES

attention, though. to some Of the ac-
counts of the invasion and capture Of
Washington as related by Major John
l. Williams. OF the Columbian Brigade,
In the war OF 1872. The enemy had pos
session OF this city for single day only.
In that time they wantonly destroyed
the public edifices having no relation in
their structures TO operations of war
NOR used at that time" as Major Will
liams recalled, for military annoy
ance." Some of these edifices were cost
ly monuments Of taste and Of the arts.
and other repositories of the public
archives. mot only precious 10 the ma
ton as the memorials of it's origins and
early transactions. but interesting 10
all nations as instructions Of the gen
eral stock of historical instruction and
political sciences
On the road from Bladensburg 10
Washington. while several edifices were
burned by the British. the little log
The Washington times., 1904-01-03
Warning of MONDAY.

old man who had a ferry line across
the river, no one seems to know aught
OF that history. It was near the bridge
over the river at its lower part. and
as there is no evil that does not rebound
to somebody's welfare, the old boatman
who was sheltered by it's log walls found
his business more profitable when the
red coats fired the bridge than il had
ever been before. Still It was a land
mark even II there was nothing to ex-
cite any wonder about its antique ap-
pearance.
The little old structure did serve to
call attention to the triumphant march
Of General Ross soldiers. as they
rushed, fiushe5 with victory, upon the
Capital. though in none of the authori-
tative histories of the siege and short
lived capture of the town does IL bear
mention. 1t must have had its ups and
downs as all Anticipated structures have
but they have been forgotten. 1t calls
The Washington times., 1904-01-03

81 can stand no more The limits OF
human endurance have been reached. I
faint. The waves Of the sea OF oblivion
engulf ma.
'sueitato. hernano; aqua, Pronto.
brother. loose him; water. quick,F I
hear as la a dream. voice ~av
struggle to collect my faculties. 7 am
borne of distance in the shade. and
am tenderly laid or the grass. water
is thrown in my face. and 7 breathe
more freely. although my head Is vet
in wh.rl.
Brother says the same mice
wake up: We nave saved you. shot
the sun glass of myself. and you were
between the two fires for an hour. but
YOU were unconscious
The revolutionists had captured San
Miguel. and saved my life."
His animation ceased as suddenly as IL
had begun. and the tall gaunt man
gazed moodiIy. into space. hts arms out
stretched over the arms Of the chair. his
hands the while beating a nervous tat
TOO. The recital Of his terrible expert
ence had stirred me as I am seldom
stirred. and was at a loss how TO
thank him
Eclipse of the Hero.
A moment or two elapsed. and two
men entered the lobby. gave the room
a comprehensive sweep with their eyes
One was as tall as my companion. with
a breadth Of shoulders betting an ath-
lete. the other small but professional
looking. with a keen gray eye, a broad
, square jaw. and the power Of initiation
apparent in his every look and gesture
The latter let his glance fall upon my
companion. touched the arm Of the one
who accompanied him. and both strobe
hastily 10 where we sat, each Selling an
arm OF my hero of San Miguel
Come. joe, said the professional
looking man. mo scenes now: we've
concluded TO give you back yoH= COM
mand If you will go quietly with us.
MY companion had escaped from St.
/ Eliza eth's. He had been a naval ca
det. was stricken by the sun when about
/ 10 graduate. and had never been out Of
/ the country in his life. save on the Gus
/ tomary cruises Of the cadets. He had
never put foot on the shores OF South
! America.
The Washington times., 1904-01-03
d GREAT MEMS WOOlNGS D D.

finger rested on the words of Nathan
to David: Thou art TIE man Even a
less marked hint would have been SUI
hcient for DIR. Dawson. and we cannot
wonder that Miss Corbett soon changed
her name.
DR.. Alternately, the famous physician
was as ABRUPT in his courtship as in
his treatment Of his patients. When.
after a single meeting, he decided that
Miss Anna Threifall would make a de-
sirable life partner, he promptly wrote
TO tell her so in a direct. businesslike
way. He told her frankly that he was
much too busy a man TO have time 10
spare for love-making." but if she was
willing to marry him she might let him
know The answer was favorable.
GainsbOroughs wooing was made al
most absurdly easy for him. He had
completed portrait of Miss Burr. a
charming young lady of sixteen sum
mers. when his fair sitter was so de-
lighted with her presentment that she
more than limited that while she took
original Gainsborough did not decline
such tempting offer
For constancy it wound be difficult TO
find a rival for Jeremy Bentham- In
early manhood Jeremy Bentham pro-
posed for the hand of a young lady.
who promptly refused him. Forty years
later he renewed his offer with the same
result. and. still Loyalty cherishing his
love in old age, he proposed again At
the age of eighty in touching letter.
in which he wrote: "Since the day when
you presented me with the flower in The
lane. not a single day has passed in
which you have not engrossed my
thoughts.
Probably no gallant who ever laid his
heart at fair lady's feet was more
undecided than Lord Byron. when ne
wrote the letter which committed him
| to his unhappy marriage with Miss
Milbanks. He had just proposed to an
/ other lady. and as he held her letter
OF refusal in his hand he said to a
| friend: 1T seems that ii is to be Miss
| Milbanks after all; / will write to her..
| He sat down and wrote the "fata
/ letter" handing it to his friend for-pe-
rusal. "A very pretty letter" the friend
! remarked. after reading it. 1t is a pity
| that IL shouldn't go"
Then IL shall goi" exclaimed Byron,
and thus opened one OF the most tragic
/ chapters Of his checkered Hfe-stOrv.
Grave political crises always engendei
danger for their principal figures. Tn.
! known 20 the public our foremost states
The Washington times., 1904-01-03

men are Swallowed. From the outbreak
of the South African war. says a Lon
don evening journal. M Chamberlain
has been followed day and night in
his walks abroad by a skiIlful and pow
erful emissary of Scotland Yard. A
man of Mr.. Chamberlain's spirit does
not like it. but there are other minds
slider. Mr.. Gladstone hated the iGea OF
a bOdyguard, and had to be protected
secretly. The accident is not infrequent-
" better safeguard than the sleuth-
hound. Mr.. Gladstone. by popping across
the Horse Guards and into his house
by the garden entrance. escaped unwit-
tingly a man who was awaiting him with
a loaded revelover in the main street.
Mr. Forster preserved his life by de-
parting. quite by chance. from Dublin
by route contrary TO that chosen.
Our leaders know the dangers they
run when excitement is high. DisraeH.
brave as lion, expected to be assas-
sinated Letters he received babe him
anticipate such an end. A laboring man
hobbled up to him as he walked through
Wycombe with Lord Ronald Cover. Il
thought he was going TO stab me-" said
the premier. without a tremor in his
voice. as the man passed on. Napoleon
might naturally have been expected TO
carry with him throughout the twenty
four hours his famous ''two-in- the
morning courage. He did so. The
late Lord Tennyson knew the niece OF
man who raised his muszet to fire
az the Emperor as he passed along the
corridor of his palace. Napoleon Just
turned and fixed his great eagle eve
upon him in such a terrible fashion THAI
the youth. paralyzed with fear. trem-
bled from head to foot. almost swooned
away. and let his rifle drop with a cIsng
/ 70 the ground. No rOtice was taken OF
this incident The man OF iron. Bis
marck. was as little moved by an at
/ tempt 10 take his life. He wrote brief
/ account OF il to the Emperor. greeted
his guests as If nothing had happened.
\ then whispered to his wife Il nave
been shot at. my child. but there's no
harm done. Let's go to dinner"
Mr.. Gladstone used to say that a man
who was once about to fire at him dared
not TO do so because Of his-dr. Glad
stone's-resemblance 70 the denlented
ones father. But Lord Aberdeen re-
members an occasion when, willy-nilly,
the veteran had TO cast aside faith in
such adventitiOus aids. on the night OF
O'DOnnelrs execution for murder the
Gladstone house was surrounded by po-
lice and Lord Aberdeen himself drove
the premier's carriage with the late
w. IL. Gladstone for footman.
The Washington times., 1904-01-03
FRANCE INITIATES AMERICA

lie Journal" Paris deplor@s the fact
that French commerce is slowly losing
its markets. not only in the basin Of
the Mediterranean. where IL once was
virtually without competitors. hut in
Asia and the new world. The article
ends by calling attention to the example
OF the Americans. who have suggested
a floating exposition TO exhibit their
merchandise In Pacific ports and states
that NJ Louis Olivier. secretary OF the
Revue Genereale des Sciences, Paris, has
taken avantage of this idea by equip
ping steamer as a floating museum.
which Will visit the important CONNER
cial centers OF the Levant.
The Washington times., 1904-01-03

NJ AIDE to give way to the march
I'M Of events and in the order OF
4 keeping step in the progress
sive era that is shedding its
Influences over every section of the
District OF Columbia, a little old log
building that existed long before the
Incoming Of the last century and which,
with some improvements made during
the early part of that century. had its
manifold. was recently destroyed. The
little old structure was at, one time the
property OF a gentleman named Garden,
and was located on the Eastern Branch
of the Potomac. on the road by which
the British forces came on their
invading march TO Washington after
the defeat of the American forces, I'M
der General winder, at Bladensburg, in
August. 1914
The house is said to have had a his
tory full OF interest. but beyond the
fact that it was the habitation OF an
The Washington times., 1904-01-03

z was a tall gaunt fellow. whose
Fl Texas scmbrero shaded a pair
4 L OF giittering eyes. and whose
massive. clean-shaven face was
alternately repulsNe and attractive to
me as 4 half furtively watched him
while seated in the lobby Of a downtown
hotel where ! was waiting 10 meet a
friend who was 10 stop over an hour or
TIVE on his way North.
When his eyes were averted I noted
that he was not stin for the smallest
fraction Of a second. His large. we'll
shapen hands. with their long. bony
fingers, would be ciasped and unclasped
iacessantly, his feet would shift 20 and
fro without pause the right leg would
be thrown across the left knee for an
instant. the position would be reversed.
the feet would both be placed on the
floor. then one les thrown over the arm
Of the huge chair in which he sat. and
50 on continuously. until ! was posi-
tirely nervous
With a quick motion he arose and
waIked to where 1 was seated. and said
abruptly
You appear TO be waiting for a
Il am ] replied. laconically.
A Philosopbic Reflection.
And waiting IS at best a tedious thing
at it's worst it can be an ordeal which
viii leave an impress on ones mind i'm
possible 20 eradicate
His voice was as peculiar as his gen
eral appearance-well modulated. but
sounding as though he suffered from
some affection of the vocal chords. But
] Rad some little time yet to wait. and
WIS not at all averse to listening e
philosopher or fool If he could but en-
terrain ne between whites; hence ] re
joined
rs that an abstraction. or the result
OF experience
1T is both for me. but the abstract /.
swallowed up in the concrete"
May ] make bold TO inquire how
sir2' I asked. my curiosity aroused
You may" he replied. And If yol
have a few moments to spare | viii
read you a page out of a somewhat
eventful life history. in the connection
The Washington times., 1904-01-03

which may interest you. Truth to tell.
sir. ] am lonesome. and am dwelling in
the pasta dangerous conjunction. sir.
dangerous conjunction. the latter
gravely and impressively
After a moment of silence he leaned
slightly forward. half facing me. clasp
ing his hands In front Of him. and in
monotone recited rather than addressed
to me the following:
A Page Out of a Life History.
I was always restless sort Of fell
low. with n strong desire to see DIS
much Of the world as possible. and had
the means wherewith TO crafty my de-
sire. once | was travelling in South
America, and was in the interior Of San
Salvador during one of the perennial
in-American uprisings or rebellions-
at San Miguel a fortified city. As the
emeute in question had started in one
extremity of the republic. l thought IT
safe to linger a while I'm the quaint old
Spanish town, as I was enamored of its
quainter monastery. mission house. ca
thedral. and nunnery.
"One day. while idling about the
fortress a singular continuance engaged
my attention. Upon the plaza was a
smooth-bore carondelet of ancient pat
tern. ABOVE the Dreecn OF winch WIS
suspended a lens in such manner that
a. noon the suns rays were focused at
the nipple automatically firing the gun
which indicated that midday had ar
rived and the time Of the siesta was at
| hand
Il stood idly by as noon approached
/ to note the explosion, in a sort OF
/ reverie. l remembered afterward that
/ a cuckoo clock I'm the commandment S
/ house hard by struck the hour full
fifteen minutes before the proper time,
and the deep-toned church bell tolled
its maximum of strokes at least five
minutes before the sun reached the true
meridian.
Warning of MONDAY.
AT last the sun reached the zenith
and the ancient piece beloved its warn
ing. the hills about the town catching
up the sound, the report reverberating
for full minute before the echoes
sullenly died away in the distance.
Il wandered away and about the city
idly and carelessly. 1 was quartered al