davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington times., 1904-01-31

these two great days. The religious
let them pay reverence TO heather gods.
so they hit upon a happy expedient. In
the place Of Fehruus' Day. they appoint
ed feast Of the church called Candle
mas. and Lupurcalia was changed TO
St. Valentines Day The people. how
ever. stiIl persisted upon processioSs and
burning candles on the day. and the
drawing of names. so the priests wink
ed at the customs, but from that time
on the days had new meanings.
The Scriptures say that forty days af-
ter the birth Of Christ the Virgin Mary
took the infant Jesus TO the temple and
Simeon took the child In his arms and
prophesied that he should be a light
unto the Gentiles. and the glory Of
Israel" Taking Christmas az the birth
day OF Christ. the day he was brought
TO the temple would have been Febru-
ary q The church chose 20 celebrate
this temple visit rather than keep a
heather goddess festival. The new feast
day was variously called ST. Simeon
Day. Wives Feast Day. Publication
Day. ana Christs Presentation. Grad
ually these were superseded by the
name which yet prevails in Catholic
and Episcopalian communities. which is
Candlemas Day.
IL received the name candiemas be-
The Washington times., 1904-01-31
MUSIC AS TAUGHT IN WASHINGTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS
A Little Chat With Miss Bentley, Who Has
Charge of the Department Devoted to Teach
ing the Young Idea How to Sing" ~ ~

At first the singing was Of the most
taught in a mechanical manner They
sang their scales and learned simple
little pieces in which there was plenty
of notes but no music The singing
hour. or period" as it is called in the
schools. was not marked by any par
ticularly interesting features. Those Of
the pupils who were natural musicians
found nothing in it to entertain them,
while those who were not were bored.
Reign of Miss Bentley.
With the coming Of Miss Bentley the
whole course was changed. She in
jected new life into the system. with
the result that singing is now a most
popular branch with the pupils, who
welcome the singing hour as they do re-
cess Miss Bentley is from New York.
She has studied for a number of years,
and. in addition to pronounced native
talent. she is equipped with an excellent
musical education and training. She has
ideas of her own in regard to the teach
ing of music to a large number Of pu-
pills. and they are so good that she has
come TO have her own way absolutely
in the conduct OF her department.
Miss Bentley has under her sixteen
assistants. ten for the white schools and
six for the negro schools. An assist
ant director. Miss H A. Gibbs. has
charge Of the work in the negro schools.
Those who assist Miss Bentley in the
white schools are Z. s. Tracy. Mrs. c.
V. Byram. Miss ]. f. Tabler, Miss c. A.
Johnston. Miss X r. Keene. Miss
Miriam Bangs, r. S. Sliney. Miss Julia
B. Stromberger and the accompanist.
Miss Saline T. Mason Those in the
negro schools are. in addition to Miss
Gibbs. H. F. Grant. John t. Layton.
Miss Lola Johnson. Mr.. McJames. ]. e.
Wormley and Miss Mary Europe. ac-
companist.
Like a great many persons who have
achieved success. and whose work is
still going forward and improving day
by day. Alys E. Bentley is very modest.
1t is difficult to get her to tell any
thing about herself. and in answer 10
the most direct questions concerning her
study and training. she returns evasive
The Washington times., 1904-01-31
A "Cb1neSe War; of Barbed Wire
On the Canadian Boundary

"T HERE the notion arose that a
NV Chinaman can't climb barb
ed-wire fence is hard to under
stand. but that he is believed TO be in
capable OF it is indicated by a bill re-
Gently introduced in Congress. This
bill provides that a barbed-wire barrier
be constructed along the Canadian bor-
der with electrical warning connections.
to make the smuggling OF Chinese into
this country more liable to detection.
and il is proposed TO make use Of the
same plan along the Mexican border.
Since the barbed-wire fence has been
subjugated by womankind in the coun-
try and now offers no obstacles to her
onward march, not even snagging her
petticoat as she proceeds lightly over it
close to the post. her clothes wrapt
tightly about her limbs. there is no rea-
son why a Chinaman cannot go over
any barbed-wire fence that could be
constructed. He can put his blouse in
side his trousers. Then. there are other
ways 10 circumvent. or. more exactly.
to elude. barbed-wire fence by going
between the strands. Every weIl-in-
formed person knows that by placing
the foot on the lower wire and lifting
the one above it with the hands, an
aperture is made. through which per-
sons of ordinary bulk may pass without
so much as touching. 1t requires two
TO make this breach. so every Chinese
blockade runner viii need a pal
1t Is rather myStifying that such eX-
traordinary pains should be taken TO
keep Chinese out of the United States
when the easiest method of eNctusiOl.
would DC simply to order all OF them
The Washington times., 1904-01-31
Drank Poison In Court TO SAGE
Woman oAocused of Nurder

~ RIG. CEN. LEONARD w. COLBY,
X who is under charges in connec-
IL tion with alleged misappropria-
tion OF funds belonging TO the Nebraska
militia, has figured In the public eye on
several occasions. He is inOrdinately
fond Of show. Many years ago he bought
the white Arabian stallion which was
presented 10 General Grant by the Sui
tan Of Turkey. This spread his fame
abroad throughout the land, and the
horse became the center Of attraction in
every parade in which Colby took part
and he missed few west Of the Mis-
souri, River.
But Colby's greatest claim to notorietv
rests on the fact that he IS probably the
only lawyer who ever swallowed deadly
poison IN order 20 obtain a clients ac-
1uittal. At this time he was a struggling
lawyer In Beatrice. Neb. He was called
upon to defend a woman accused Of
killing her husband by poisoning him
with arsenic. The evidence was practf-
cally conclusive, and there was hardly
ecutiOn. The husbands body had been
exhumed. the stomach taken out. an
alyzed. and the poison found and placed
in bottle There was indubitable
proof that the woman had admin istered
the poison. and General Colby did not
contest this point. He merely laid stress
xOn the contention that the man had died
from natural causes, and that the
sufficient 10 cause his death. on this
point however. his expert testimony
was rather weak. and he had to impress
the jury By some other method.
COlby's office was I'm building adioin-
Ing the court house. When he entered
the court house after the noon recess
to make his argument for the defense
he appeared little bit more nervous
The Washington times., 1904-01-31

posed to work IN a lawyers office. but
he had way of reporting there about
In the morning and then going out and
staying all day. Sometimes his family
would not see him for two or three days.
AS he was getting no pay from the law
yer. but was simply reading law under
him. he did not lose his job. Still. he
was doing nothing and his family was
worried. The idea was that ! was to
pick him up as he left the Office that
morning and stay with him until he
went home. He was pointed out to me
by a member of his family as he came
to work. and then / was left to handle
the case.
1T was an April day, and the weather
was quite warm. The sun was shining
hot when we started out. and l was
wearing a brand new white flannel
suit. which 1 was very proud Of As
soon as my man came out OF the
lawyers office. which was oD f Street
northwest. between Fifth and Sixth
Streets. 1 started after him. IT was
then about 10 o'clock. First, he went
along Street, and then down Ninth.
few blocks down he went into a
saloon and stayed half an hour. When
he came out / could see he had been
drinking good deal He came back
TO Street and walked up and down
an hour. / followed him on the other
side of the street. Every now and then
he would stop at a saloon and take a
drink. Then he went down TO Penn
sylvania Avenue and walked up and
down until about 2:SO o'clock. going into
The Washington times., 1904-01-31
"Our Idea is to Create Musical Atmosphere and
Imbue the Pupils With Love OF Music-a
Love For the Best Music" X * * .x

done IN the past year and thus far in
the present session Teachers ard mn
pills alike seem to take an intense in
terest in the music, and when that con
dltion prevails there is no way Of stop-
ping progress"
Daily Work in Graded Schools.
In the graded schools music Is taught
daily. the opening period being devoted
to singing Every teacher who quail
ies to teach in the graded schools must
pass an examination in music and must
be able to teach the little ones under
her In the high schools there are two
singing periods a week The girls and
the boys each have period when they
sing by themselves. and once a week
the whole school sings together The
girls are divided into two sections. each
section having different part. as are
the boys. and when they sing together
there are four parts to the chorus.
Pupils Enjoy Choral Singing.
1t is most pleasant TO hear "a the
pupils In one Of the high schools sing
ing together. They all seem to enjoy
it thoroughly. and to enter int1 the
spirit Of their songs as II they were at
recreation instead OF doing part u the
school work. They sing the best music
from modern composers. az well as the
best standard compositions OF the highest
class. Among the compositions the high
school choruses have done recently are
the Pilgrims Chorus" from Tam
hauser." Handlers Largo" ard ''The
Glory OF the Lord"
A most important branch OF the work
conducted by Miss Bentley and hsr as
sistants is the instruction OF &c normal
school students. for music in the normal
school means the training OF teachers to
carry out the instruction OF music un-
der tre N followed in the graded
scho They are first given instruc-
ton in the development of the voice;
then they acquire acquaintance with a
vast number of children's songs and are
taught the Interpretation Of children's
songs and methods in teaching. Fre-
quent meetings Of teachers in the music
department are held in order that the
work throughout the schools may be
uniform.
The Washington times., 1904-01-31

The only way to settle this dispute is
to delve back into folklore and myth
ology. when it is really seen that Feb
ruary 9 is the true grounding day. But
II is quite easy to see how the people
have become confused in their dates.
Our ancestors were in the habit of keep
ing two high old feast days during the
month of February. They borrowed
these festivals from the Romans, who
conquered England about the time OF
the birth of Christ The first feast was
in honor OF Februus. mother OF Mars,
and the second was in honor of Lupur-
culus. which occurred on February 15.
There was much feasting on both these
days, end the celebrations were as
sumptuous and as lively as possible for
the roistering participants to make
them.
Februus' day was considered the turn
ing point Of winter and on that day a
great quantity Of candles were burned
At Lupurcalia It was thought that birds
and animals mated and the custom OF
drawing names whereby single men OBJ
tanned wives was widely prevalent. The
feast was in honor Of fertility and II
was thought that unions formed on that
day were particularly fruitful ones.
But when Europe became Christian
lied the masses of the people were de-
termined to keep up their feasting on
The Washington times., 1904-01-31

than usual. but this was attributed to
the highstrung temperament that seems
characteristic of the born orator His
speech was eloquent and the peroration
dramatic
Gentlemen Of the Jury" he said. in
summing up, u contend that the poison
my client Is said TO have admins
tered 10 her husband was not enough
to Kill any man, 20 say nothing OF one
possessing his constitution. He died
from some other cause If that poison
would have killed him it would kill
me-"
He picked up the bottle Of poison from
the table before him
There Is not enough poison there to
XII kitten. l wiz prove TO you that
there Is not enough TO Kill man."
Before anyone could prevent him he
pulled out the cork, threw back his
head, and drained the bottle. Then he
stood before the jury, his black eyes
flashing, and thundered out:
Gentlemen VI the jury, II this pois~
Kills me you can convict my client, b
II hye-as / Ahall-you will have
bring in verdics In her favor"
the twelve men I'm the jury box he
walked rapidly out of the courtroom
TO his office, where he locked himself
in. in twenty minutes he was back IN
IL took the jury soout three minutes l.
bring In a verdict OF acquittal
A few days afserward IL leaked out
that General Colby had a doctor IN
his Office and that the physician had re-
moved the poison-enough TO have killed
ten men-with a stomach pump. OF
course. there was an uprOar, but the
law says a prisoners life cannot be
twice placed in jeopardy. And then, as
a wise old lawyer suggested, Colby had
destroyed the only evidence upon which
conviction could be secured In event OF
another trial
The Washington times., 1904-01-31

answers and inevitably turns to the sub
ject Of her work. The school authori-
ties. however. haven't the same reti-
cence regarding Miss Bentley that this
accomplished young teacher has about
herself, but are loud in their praises
of the work she has done and is doing.
From Superintendent Stuart down 10
the heads OF the rooms in the graded
schools and the assistants who work
under her. everyone sought to impress
upon the reporter for The Sunday Times
that the whole credit for the present
high standard that prevails in the mu-
sical work Of the public schools is due
10 the personality and the capability
of Miss Bentley
What Miss Bentley Says.
Upon the strength OF this high praise
the reporter sought out Miss Bentley.
with a desire TO have her confirm some
Of the statements that had been made
concerning her and her work. He asked
The Washington times., 1904-01-31

ing TO discuss the question from this
viewpoint as she was unwilling to talk
about herself.
The main object Of our endeavors,"
she said. "ls to develop in the pupils a
thorough appreciation and understand
ing of music. With so nlsny pupils it is.
OF course. impossible to develop indi-
vidual voices and we make no attempt
to do so. our idea is 70 create a musi-
cal atmosphere and imbue the pupils
with a love of music a love Of the best
music. OF course our work IS entirely
choral work.
How They Are Taught.
Music in the schools must recognize
as its mission the elevation OF the
masses OF pupils to high standard Of
musical appreciation. The best natural
talent will then not be dragged down,
but stimulated. and those pupils who
have little or no talent will be bene-
'dted through good association. In every
grade the hearing aid singing OF a
The Washington times., 1904-01-31

great number of songs. covering a wide
vnriety of musical expression and
chosen always with view to
their musical worth. is the fore
runner of the technical study OF music.
The children in the lower grades come,
through natural experience in song, to
recognize symbol records OF music or
notes, as stepping-stones to the inter
probation Training IN sight reading iIas
come to be not the end. but the means
to an end. and Is recognized ss such
by the children In every grade. They
soon learn that they can get along much
more quickly and easily by knreTing
how to read at sight. and they Ihck
it up very rapidly.
Every effort is made to encourage
the child's desire to sing. for upsn this
desire our whole system is practically
based. They first learn by mere imi-
tatlon. then they are made faniliEI
with the notes Of song already learned
by ear. and then made to learn new
songs by reading at sight They are
encouraged to take their singing looks
home with them. which is not only I'm.
proving to the children themselves, bui
is also the means Of widening the IN.
fuence Of our musical instruction.
To Stimulate Interest.
sTo further stimulate their interest
large choruses are formed toward th'
close Of the school year. when the chill
dren from several schools sing together
This work is most successful In the
high schools. where several hundred pu
pills sing together regularly Throughout
the school term. In every grade ther'
has been an effort TO widen musica
experience by hearing tine best music
Again. through the nature OF condi
tions, this phase Of the work finds it.
best expressions in the high schools
1t has not been difficult to enlist tn
interest of artists OF high musica
standing. and many recftaIs have beer
given by them at the high schools
Among those who have given us tn,
benefit OF their talent are Oscar Carries
sen. Charles Rabold. Florence Holtzen
Janet Spencer. Walter RummeIl. Stan
ley Armistead. and Mr. Fabian. We al
feel very much encouraged by the worl
The Washington times., 1904-01-31
Le1f-Randed Penmen
Not Wanted as Clerks

~ Ew people know that the heads
- of the several departments 81 the
L Government in washingtos,, are
entirely willing to overlook bad
penmanship on the part of a really good
and industrious clerk, but II is the man
or woman who writes with the left
hand at which the balk is made The
dead-line IS drawn just the moment il
is ascertained that a clerk is Ieft-handed
and he is forthwith informed that 4 1t
is his desire to continue in Government
service it will be necessary for him to
write with his right hand. This infor-
nation is always a bitter pill for TIA left
hand pen holders. but there is nothing
10 be done but begin to write with the
right hand or throw up the job" and
few are anxious 10 quit Government
service even for this cause. No matter
how perfect a hand the left-hauded
clerk may write there is no alterns tive
but to learn to write with the right
hand. and sometimes II takes months to
get 10 the point. where even a legible
hand is written by the clerk who is
But during this period Of making the
change the chiefs are easy and patient
and make the work as light as possible
on the unfortunate clerk
One Of the best men in the Department
of Commerce and Labor began his career
in the Bureau of Statistics He had
left a proofreader's desk in the Govern
ment Printing Office to acceSt the clerk
ship in the bureau. He began 10 write
with his left hand and he almost threw
a nj when the chief told him to nut
the pen in the right hand. that left
handed penmanship didn't go. Then it
was that he wished he was back in the
big printery. where an- kind Of '.hand-
writing passed muster. just so the cor
rect marking was made on the nroos
and was plain enough for the compost
tor to decipher.
The Washington times., 1904-01-31

/ to go home. and fix a date for then, to
be gone. The Chinese exclusion acr IS
IN fact, a subterfuge and an evasion
IT The object Of anu-Chinese .legisla tioD
entering into competition with Ameri-
can labor, why is there so much beat
ing about the bush? Why not have an
exclusion act that excludes2
Mr. Wong Kai Kah has dwelt so ,alstch
on the various phases OF Chinese e1-, In
sion with a particular i1siSte0cv EoTt
tainty as TO whether he were NOT sc.S-,s-
thing OF n missionary against the chi
nese exclusion act as well as commits
Sloner 70 the Worlds Fair. But A
/ barbed-wire fence would be no Nor, ,f-
tective than the present 'slazey" ex-
The Washington times., 1904-01-31
g Cards
IRE Manufactured

sUFAcTURER is authority
IA sor the statement that 12,5oO.oOo
L \ packs Of playing cards were sold
United States last year. These
cards were made in thirty-eight fac
tories, fifteen Of which are in New
York. That city is the second, II not
the greatest, card center in the world
The rivalry between It and London is
close. London produces about 1000. 900
packs and New York about 1925, 900
packs annually.
The playing cards made in America,
and especially those made in New York
are the handsomest. the most durable
and convenient known in the trade The
European makers are satisfied with old
styles and methods. The average pack
OF cards in London, Paris. Madrid, VI
emma and Berlin is much the same to-
lay as It was in the beginning OF the
last century. Those made In this coun-
try show Improvement from year to
year. American manufacturers were
the first TO introduce the rounded cor
ners and the "'squeezer'' and the eiabor-
stely designed backs and the elastic
satin glaze finish which makes new
cards so handsome and increases their
durability.
The material used for making the best
cards is the finest linen paper. while
for the cheaper grades wood pulp is
used. All the cards are printed and cut
on rapi' running machines and costly
printing nix, dye and gold and silver
leaf are used 20 color and decorate the
faces and backs OF the goods PLAYING
cards range in price from 5 cents to ST
and more q pack The American mar
ket is a curious one. Comparatively
,ew persons care 10 buy the cheapest
qualities which sell the best.
The Washington times., 1904-01-31
He IS ffr. Groundhog. and He Is Due
:. TO Have His Sau on Next Tuesday :.

he is able to foreten the weather sew
eral days aheae When his sagacity
tells him that an early breakup is at
hand he frisks about the opening of his
den. When a reactionary storm period
threatens he pops into his hole again
and goes to sleep. not reappearing for
weeks.
st. Valentines Day.
And the transfer Of grounding day
with a part of the people to Valentines
Day, twelve days later? Analogy again.
In non-ritualistic Protestant commuid-
ties candlemas day ceased to be OBJ
served BY an easy transfer the old
feastings and traditions were passed on
to Valentines Day. which was long a
day OF much mirth. Hunters and ram
blers would observe the grounding. tax
ing one year with another quite as Of
ten on Valentines Day as their candle
mas brothers would on the I'd OF the
month. And whea traditions were hand
ed down by word of mouth instead of
being fixed in black and white. it was
an easy matter to confound the traGi-
tions belonging to a day that had ceased
to be observed as belonging rather to
the festival yet commemorated.
And so it remains that the real ground
hog day is February ?. a relic OF heath
enism 1900 years before our days.
The Washington times., 1904-01-31
oA Detectfves s Story of His First Experience

GeT SHALL never forget" said a
well-known local detective to a
Times man few days ago. the
first time 1 was given any detective
work to do. I was only about eighteen
years Of age and / thought II l could
only get put on some big case ] could
make a name for myself throughout the
whole country. / saw my picture in
all the yellow journals as the greatest
detective OF the age Then 1 got my
first job
II was employed at a private de-
tective agency that took nothing but
legitimate cases OF a decent character
as the best O. the detective agencies
all Dc carry messages back
swer questions when
ia u that sort Of thing
go 1 had never had
do. Then, one day
0t eau called me up
d some shadow
r ta My head and my
ae feet each and
I rrc essionaI air and
wsitc5 me what was
wa tc.
- man who be-
longe q prc ,miIy here in
wasi -tu - pas Inclined tc be
wild, ed TO get a
line on r..r He xuoe s,,n-
The Washington times., 1904-01-31


\ hog and his prophesying power
They avow with great solemnity that
this little animal emerges from the
nest at the bottom OF his winter quar-
ters on the morning OF February and
takes a look about him. II on that
auspicious morning he catches a glimpse
of a black shadow behind him he makes
all haste TO be back in his warm nest
Of leaves for another nap OF six weeks.
If. however. the skies are cloudy and he
fails to see even the faintest show OF a
shadow he makes preparation for his
spring work. shakes Off his lethargy,
and begins to live cnce more.
There are n great many people who
believe in the gronndhog and grounding
day. and they watch the day with great
anxiety. especially when coal is dear,
so they will get some idea of Just about
how much more money they must spend
before they begin to buy ice instead OF
fuel All believers in the grounding
agree as to his manner Of foretelling the
weather. but they do not all agree az
10 the time when he appears. Some
tenaciously cling to the idea that the
little animal makes his survey February
?. while others as tenaciously hold that
he comes up to take n weather squint
February IA, or on st. Valentines Day.