davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington times., 1904-05-15
Curious Insurance Risks
Professional People Take.

has also been permanently insured for
SAC. 600 against total loss.
The condition made by the insurers ID
that the less must be due TO accident.
cold. or disease, and must not be tha
result of reckless or willfuI conduct.
In the same way as Paderewsh, Josef
He ffman is heavily insured according
to the special arrangements made by
some underwriters for pianists. Not
only is each hand separately insured
in his case, but every individual finger
has a special policy made out for it.
Not long ago he fell from his bicyeie
and hurt his hand so badly that he
could not play for several days. The
underwriters had, as a consequence, to
send him a check which ran Into four
figures.
Underwriters Are Cautious.
Under the circumstances. and with
the risks so considerable, IL Is not sur
prising that the underwriters are very
careful 10 see that their interests ara
safeguarded in every possible wy. and
one Of the things that they most insist
on is that the strictest medical precau-
lions against loss or injury shail always
be taken by the performers. This, how
ever, is naturally done by the latter
for their own sakes, apart from any
consideration of insurance
When on tour Nine. Patti has some
times as many as three special doctors
IL constant attendance upon her, who
understand to nicely all the peculiari-
ties of her delicate vocal cords and can
detect the slightest symptom OF any
thing going wrong with them and trear
them accordingly.
The Washington times., 1904-05-15

frequent complaint they are called upon
to relieve, and this operation, through
long practice. has become relatively
simple. To supply a missing arm or les
is merely a matter of subtraction and
addition-subtraction from the stock and
addition to the body. The color Of dolly s
hair can be changed with all the ease.
and more, with which the transforma-
ton is accomplished by Miss Gladys
Footlitas.
Wards Not Well Filled.
Just at present the wards are not well
filed. The close of the school term Is
approaching, and the children are pre-
Pc ring fer examinations and working
! away in sturd.y effort TO make good
shG wings iu their classes. The dolls ere
relegatod. for the time. to the shelves
o. the morse, .es. and maternal duties
are. for the time, forgotten or sus-
pended.
In such a condition the dolls find a
larger safety than is usually their por-
ton, for where there IS no fondllng There
can be little breakage. Dolly's eyes are
safe and her head receives few or none
! of its accustomed share of bumps and
The Washington times., 1904-05-15
The AlbatroSS--MOSt Polite OF Birds,
Never Tires of Making Graceful BOwS

sThere is no hard and fast order to
these antics, but many variations occur.
The majority of cases. however, follow
the sequence l have indicated. Some
times three engaged in the play, one
dividing its attention between two.
They are always most polite. never los
ing their temper or Offering any vio-
lence. The whole affair partakes OF
the nature OF a snappy drill, and is
more or less mechanical.
Occasionally one will lightly pick up
a twig or grass straw and present it TO
the other. This one does not accept the
gift. but thereupon returns the compli-
ment. when straws are promptly drop
ped and all hands begin bowling and
walking about as IL their very lives de-
pended upon 1t.
Ignore All Others.
II one stands where albatrosses are
reasonably abundant. he can see as
many as twenty couples hard at work
bowling and grooming on all sides, and
paying not the slightest attention to his
presence.
when walking through the grassy
portions of the island. have seen white
heads bobbing up and down above the
green. as solitary pairs were amusing
themselves away from the larger con-
gregations Of their kind. II walked
up to them they would stop and gaze
in q deprecating way, and walk of
bowling still. with one eye In my direc-
ton Having reached what they consid-
cred a respectful distance they would
fall TO and resume their play.
Should one enter a group OF alba
trosses which have been recently en-.
gagged in this diversion and begin 10 bow
very low. the birds viii sometimes walk
around in a puzzled sort OF way. bowling
in return. a curious fact which F. H
Won Kittlitz recorded as early as 1884"
The Washington times., 1904-05-15
FIRE ENGINE COST $1,000.

fire lighting Is a fad among the
wealthy business and professional men
of York, Pa, and one of the independent
companies there has just hat manufac-
tured at the local plant OF the Ameri-
can Locomotive Works one CT the finest
steam fire engines ever constructed. II
IL a machine of the first class and built
after the famous Amoskeag pattern. The
ordinary cost of a steamer OF this type
is s., 600. but this luxuriously equipped
and lavishly ornamented piece of appa-
ratus is so rich in costly embellishments
that a check for about $4,000 Will be ne
cessary to settle for H. Expense. how
ever. was not a matter TO be long con-
sidered by the company which ordered
the machine. Three members OF the
company are said TO have pledged Sl.000
each toward defraying the cost. 1t seems
that the company is determined 70 have
everything about its quarters in keeping
with the character Of the new machine.
A handsome and commodious new en-
CINE house is now being erected. in
which will be stalled three magnificent
coal-black horses. 10 be purchased re-
CARELESS Of price. so long as they are
perfectly matched and not married by
single spot of white. Three Black grooms
will be engaged TO care fer these ami
mails. The new engine is now ready for
shipment which is being delayed until
the building in which IL is 10 be housed
is completed.
The Washington times., 1904-05-15

~ ONE peculiar insurance risks have
become so common that they
~ cease to be curious. All cello
brated artists now avail themselves Of a
special form of underwriting. which is
carried on in their interests. either by
themselves or their agents. and the fig
ures concerned are usually large ones.
This is not so strange. for If. for in
stance, Paderewski lost one Of his fin
gers or great singers inimitable voice
were TO fail her, the financial loss would
be enormous and would not be covered
by any ordinary provision or form OF In
surance.
Kubelik Heavily Underwater.
None of these performers is more
largely underwritten in this respect than
Kubelik. who pay $500 annually as in
surance Of his bow hand alone. so that If
1t were at any time injured so as 10 pre-
vent him from fulfilling an engagement
he would receive $4,000 as compensation.
If his hand were totally disabled. so
that he could never play again. ne would
get $4,000. which would enable him TO
live in comfort apart from all the money
he has already saved
Paderewski's Precious Fingers.
Paderewski. the famous pianist. says
that his fingers are as precious to him
as his life, for he could never play IL
he lost any OF them. He makes insur-
ances from times TO time TO cover spe-
cial risks. as when ne is going on long
journey by land or sea, but. apart from
these, his two hands are regularly I'M
derwritten from year to year.
He pays the huge sum OF 1900 annu-
ally in this way with the result that If
anything went wrong with one of his
precious hands at any time. so that he
could no longer earn an income by his
playing, he would be paid $4,000 cash
down by the underwriters.
Can Draw Big Money
Besides this, ne is insured against
temporary disablement OF the fingers
either by disease or accident. and in
case OF anything happening TO prevent
his playing for a single week he draws
as rule sum of $3.50 as compensa-
tion. He has done so on more than one
occasion. The organizers Of his con-
certs, who often stand to lose more than
the artistSthrough any unfortunate hap
pening Of this kind. likewise, take the
precaution to cover all such risks. and.
according 10 one such agent. the amount
they insure for is usually about 5000 10
s, 500.
PATHS Costly Voice.
Nine. Patti has always been heavily
insured when singing. The usual amount
which she has had underwritten for her
has been 5000, for which $125 a night
had 10 be paid. and her voice
The Washington times., 1904-05-15
LLV TITH many ornithologists
N the word Laysan Is so
intimately connected with

LIV TITH many ornitholog1sts
NM the word Laysan Is so
Y intimately connected with
pictures of aIbatrosses that the two
have become inseparably associated"
says Walter X. Fisher. in the United
States Fish Commission Bulletin for
1903. Surely no birds can stand out
more wildly in our memory than these
splendid creatures, not alone on account
of their great numbers and remarkable
appearance. but more perhaps, from
the unusual charm and interest which
attaches to their personalities.
Given High Place.
Their large size and striking plum
age at once raises them to an exalted
place among all sea birds. a position
similar 10 that which tradition and
birds OF the land.
'"rhe Laysan albatross or gony Is dis
tributed all over the island, with the
single exception OF the beaches, which
on all sides except the west are colon
ICED by the blackfoot albatross.
The fiat plan surrounding the Ia
COON is their favorito habitat, and
found the young here in the greatest
numbers. There seems scarcely a tus,
sock OF the grass which covers the
greater portion OF the slopes OF the Is
land, but has an ungainly young bird In
it's shadow ready to snap at the intrud-
or with a show Of ferocity.
Object 10 Being Idle.
They have an innate objection &c
idleness, and consequently seldom stand
around doing nothing. but spend much
time in a curious performance, the
meaning Of which 1 am at a loss 10 ex.
2lain.
1T has been called counting, but as
the antics are carried on during tn,
The Washington times., 1904-05-15
What the War Has Done
to the Price of Can1phor

" HE good housewife who didn't
know about It before has sudden
i " found out that the japanese
are at war. She has also run up against
the fact that they use smokeless powder,
and that some Of the camphor that she
expected TO pack away with her winter
clothing, and with that OF Mr.. House
Husband. and that Of all the little
House kinder. has been used up in the
preparation OF that same smokeless pow
der. The good Mrs. House Wife watches
the progress Of events now with inter
est, and she hopes that the war VIII
soon ba over.
Imagines Many Things.
Ordinarily. when the time for the up
heaval-unpopularlyk known as the spring
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES along the good
housewife thinks that her cup OF trouble
IS full 20 the brim and running over. and
she doesn't go around hunting for more
worlds to conquer.
But this year-au on account Of this
one little necessity which time and ex-
perience have proved 20 be distateful 70
the festive moth-she Is ready 70 annex
Korea. and with dustcloth in one hand
and an empty eamphor box La the other
she Is prepared 10 march on 10 Man
churia. II by so doing she can help to
bring this war TO an end.
Encounters a Shock.
Think what It means to her? Just
when she was ready TO begin her vernal
overhauiing OF the eupboards and clothes
presses. where last winters furs and
overcoats and broadcloth gowns and
other garments In which the hated moth
finds rest and refreshment, are all fold
ed, preparatory TO being packed away In
camphor. she found that the cost Of that
pleasantly pungent substance has scared
away up to the tops of the tall timber.
When she went 10 the druggist for her
usual supply and he said TO her ''Sl-25 a
pound. ma'am," she gasped and clutching
the edge Of the counter for support. she
wanted 10 know why this cruelty. when
last year she could have bought all she
wanted for Is cents a pound
Forgets Spring Cleaning.
japanese war. ma'am: they're using
the camphor in the preparation OF
smokeless powder" the druggist told
her. and she promptly forgot about her
spring cleaning in her anxiety to bring
that war 20 an end and camphor down 10
a reasonable price.
When she had 50 far recovered from
her shock as 10 be able 10 go out again.
and her mind reverted 10 housekeeping
once more, she went from shop TO shop
20 see If peradventure she might not find
one guileless dealer who had not heard
OF the Japanese war.
But alas! she heard war news at every
The Washington times., 1904-05-15

large as herself by one kid-and-sawdust
arm. She got her treasure up in her
arms at last and tenderly presented it
to Miss Cooke. Across the upper por-
ton of the dolls face a green bsiadage
was tightly bound.
See" said the little one, dolly has
gone blind
It was quite true. for dolly's eyes had
retreated into her head, leaving only va
cancy in the spaces they had once
filed. The eyes OF the little mother
filled with tears. as she explained her
wish that dolly should be Inenie1-
She had ker wish gratihed-
Eyes of Blue Desired.
Another doll was brought in suffer
ing from a like complaint. The child
who brought il exhibited one of the lOs
eyes as n specimen. and desired that
others, If exactly the same hue. should
be inserted. The eyes were of light blue
certainly not very handsome, and Miss
Cooke decided she would try to improve
upon the original color. To this end
she seie s.ed the handsomest pair of OPP
tics in the collection, and carefully hal
anced them upon the weight. by which
the lids are opened and closed She
felt q modest complacency when she
presented the reJUvenated doll to the
owner, hue to her unmixed surprise the
child burst into tears
Her eyes aren't like Cousin Alice's, y
she walled. anG -efused to be conferred
or even still Until the Objectionable
eyes we're removed and replaced by an
other pair more suited TO her senfi-
mental fancy. The smile with which
she then rewarded everyone in eight
was sufEoieEt compensation for ali the
trouble she had occasioned. As for the
little maid herself, her troubles had al
vanished. Dolly had been given new
pair Of eyes, lust like Cousin Alice's,'
and she was supremely and entirely
content.
I'll the surgeons at the doll hospita
It doesn't make the least difference how
badly their patients are injured-theI
can be cured just the same The tota
loss OF eyesight is. perhaps, the mos
The Washington times., 1904-05-15
Daughters of Presidents
Have Had Their Hearts
GladdeEed.
Little Miss Cortelyou and
Her Unfortunate Lit
tie Dolly.
PathoS and Hunor Blend
in the Diary of Hos
pitfalls Life.

dents. This Is her holiday season, when
she finds repose from the arduous social
duties she was required to perform ear
Her in the year.
1t IS well she Is allowed this we'll
earned repose. for the time Is fast COM
ing when repose will be a thing far
apart. Within few weeks books viii
be thrown aside for a season and the
childish hearts will return. with renewed
devotion. to their old loves. Then the
wards of the hospital VIII be reused
into new activities and operations will
be performed every hour of every day.
1t viii be a busy time for the surgeons
and their stan IN preparation for it
they are laying in a fresh stock OF extra
eyes. legs. arms. and heads. with which
to round out the diminished personalities
of their patients.
Pathos and Humor BLEED.
Pathos and humor blend in tile ex-
perience Of the surgeons OF doll hos
pitals- There are some little mothers
who take their responsibilities very
seriously and who seem to be as deeply
grieved over some misfortune to their
fayorite as would be the case were the
doll live and sentient person. Others
do not.
There are vast differences among the
children who bring their dolls TO the
hospital" said the house surgeon. Some
are natural and childIike and, therefore.
attractive, and some are stisted and
formal and artificial and equally. as q
matter OF course. tiresome. One little
lady eyed a doll which had been mended
perfectly with real or affected scorn and
declared she would not be seen with il
on the street; another clasped a ragged
favorite in her arms and cried over its
return as would a mother over a re-
gained darling. You may &c sure that
the first type is not much to our liking"
Certainly a queer old shop, with dolls
innunerable on every hand and strange
instruments filing up the PAGES on the
wall. A long work bench Nhere the
operations are performed. wigs and ex-
ira limbs and eyes; here there are pots
of rouge for miladis faded complexion,
ard there diminutive shoes for her
dainty feet.
The place is one Of tears and laughter
and the outpourings OF the childish
spirit. Unknown as It is to so over
whelming a majority Of the people OF
Washington, there IS scarce a place
which possesses so real and live an in
terest. BY comparison some OF the show
points to which visitors are taken wax
dirnly pale. for here child nature is seen
in its perfection Truly. queer old
shop--this hospital for dolls.
The Washington times., 1904-05-15

r. OSSIBLY. also. Mr.. Cooke knows
r not the omnipresent gentleman
L. who. for a consideration. is will
The Washington times., 1904-05-15

turn One druggist offered her the cam
phor at the rate of 81 a pound BY this
time she felt that II was absolutely i'm
perative that she have some Of the jap
anese product. though any other year
she might have taken moth balls, cedar
shavings, or any other substitute. but
not this year.
This year the health and happiness
and well-being OF the family are con-
tingent upon the use OF camphur Ex-
tending her Inquiries further. she found
one dealer who offered to sell it for 30
cents a pound, and that was as far
down as any druggist would go.
Substitutes in Plenty.
Seeing her disappointment at every
shop at which she had made inquiries,
the clerk offered as a substitute a sort
Of camphor. It's a synthetic product, f"
she was informed at one place, "ob-
tained by the action Of some petroleum
product on the real camphor"
1t was obtainable either in crystals or
small blocks. and looks like camphor,
while Its odor is a cross between moth
balls and naphthalene, and sit was OF
fered for rs cents pound.
To a newspaper man who went in just
as one druggist was showing the SUBJ
stitute camphor TO the harassed house
wife the druggist said: Yes. we are
selling our camphor at 81 a,pound. Last
year il was 70 cents a pound, and only
a Few days ago we got SIPS pound
Much Lost by Evaporation.
1T isn't a profitable commodity for a
druggist TO handle. because so much IS
lost by evaporation. Now here"-taking
up four-pound package-'when have
carried package like this over one
] season TO another have frequently
found that the original weight had de-
creased by evaporation at least a pound
The greater part OF the camphoI
/ that Is sold at this time OF the year Is
used ordinarily for packing away IN
woolens- In addition 10 the campho:
oseC Ior this purpose a great deal is
{, hsumed throughout the year in the
/ preparation of spirits Of camphor and
| Gamphorated oils, which always have d
/ large sale.
Camphor Preventive.
LAS 10 moths. it's a mistake 70 think
/ thar camphor kills them. Camphor Is
useful only as a preventive against thr
/ invasion Of moths. and even then It IS
/ effective only when the garments II
which 1t is sprinkled have been thor
Oughly brushed and aired and FIRE Il
! from all traces of moths which may
nave gotten in during the winter.
The aroma which volatilizes from
| camphOr, from cedar oil from mott
/ balls. or any similar Substance used. a,
/ the housekeeper believes. to destroy
moths. does not XII moths, but is dis.
tasteful to them, And they keep away
on that account
The Washington times., 1904-05-15

her arms she laughed and petted and
crooned over 1t, just as a real mother
would over a. real child. That was ten
years ago and the child must now be
growing into womanhood but 1 don't
think it likely she has ever forgotten
that DOLL
During the existence of the hospital
there has been but one family IN the
occupancy Of the White House-the
pTesent-which has not been a patron
Mrs. Mckinley had no little daughters
with treasures that needed professional
attention. but Mr.. Cooke and his daugh-
ter have a wide sweep OF talent and
repair other things than dolls. The
CIevelaD.. children sent their injured
dolls. and Baby Mckee was also repre-
cented. There have been children and
grandchildren Of Cabinet officers and
Supreme Court justices, Senators. and
Congressman. almost without number.
The grandchildren OF the Chief Justice
are among the constant patrons. and
the little daughter of the Secretary of
Commerce and Labor and Mrs. Cortel-
you is the happy owner OF one doll
which has been a patient half a dozen
times.
A Gift of Mrs. Roosevelt.
The doll was given to little Miss
Cortelyou by Mrs. Roosevelt Christ
mas before last. and the child lavishes
upon it a wealth Of warm affection.
However. either she or the doll is IN
lucky and the creation of bisque and
sawdust has had rather unhappy time
OF it. First one thing would happen
10 it and then another; FIXTURES OF
great beauty and delicacy coul5 not re-
5ist successfully the impact of share
corners and eyes refused TO stay in
their places when the doll CHANGED TO
fall on the floor Of the nursery So
back the doll would come to the hos
pital. the distorted feature would be
restored 20 its original proportions or
the lost eye fixed again in its socket.
Then would little Miss Cortelyou de-
part in peace.
One little tot came TO :he hospital the
other day, Juggling doll almost as
The Washington times., 1904-05-15

huOW&
r. OSSIBLY. also, Mr.. Cooke knows
not the omnipresent gentleman
i who. for a consideration, is will
ing to show the tourist everything. ev-
erywhere. and tell him all about 1t. but
Mr.. Cooke. OF Cookies Doll Hospital, on
Ninth Street. But then. Mr.. Cooke has
had so many patients that in most in
stances he has forgotten the history OF
their cases. With the assistance OF his
daughter. who acts as house surgeon and
chief OF the staff Of nurses. he has been
treating the ailments and injuries Of
dolls for decade, and his practice has
been extensive. Dolls OF high and low
degree have entered the hospital wards.
and some Of them have come back four
or five times
No Operation Too Hard
Operations upon which surgeons In
other lines are wont to plume them
selves would not strike him as at all re-
markable. The removal OF brain or q
stomach Is nothing to him; he has re-
moved heads-and put on new ones. As
for such simple operations as are in
volved in the installation OF a new pair
of eyes or the addition Of a misplaced
ear or arm or leg. they are with him
matters of daily occurrence.
The hospital Itself. which Is UP two
fights of rather dark and narrow stairs,
would answer very well as q modern re-
production of The Old Curiosity Shop.
Dolls are ret its only inhabitants, for
the cabinets that are ranged around the
vars contain brlc-a-brac and old pieces
OF china and strange objects OF every
description. Perhaps there is not so much
room as there was IN the place OF
Dickens masterpiece. nor does the
bright and smiling young woman who
Genes forward TO greet the visitor look
much ike little Nell" Otherwise the
resemblance IS strong.
'.Ah. yes" says the bright and smiling
young woman, when the visitors bust
ness has been stated, I'VE have dolls of
every description. brought to US by per-
sons Of every class and degree-and
every color. We have dolls that are
very valuable and others that have
had no wealth bestowed upon them.
The Washington times., 1904-05-15
Surgeon Thinks Nothing
OF Performing Marvel
Gus Tasks,
Shattered Treasures Are
Made Into Things of
Beauty.
Modern Surgical Tri-
umphs Are Matters OF
Daily Occurrence.
Dolls without fingers or noses or toes.

Dolls without fingers or noses or toes,
Dolls having numberiess physical woes;
One without treSses 10 cover her head,
And one that got hurt when she fell out Of
bed:''
TWO yawning holes. where black eyes once
glinted,
And smudges on cheeks that once were rose
tinted;
Big dolls, whose hfe-blood-of sawdust-is
splitting,
And little doll soldiers. who'll do no more
drilling;
Dolls having numberlesS physical woes
Just where they come from, the Lord only
knows
The Washington times., 1904-05-15
PATHS Costly Voice.

PATHS costly VOICE.
Nine. Patti has always been heavily
insured when singing. The usual amount
which she has had underwritten for her
has been 5000, for which SIPS a night
had 10 be paid. and her voice