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

became the martyr Of the Boxer re-
volt
The Chinese envoy is very much the
same type Of man as former Minister
/ WI. whom he will ultimately rival in
popularity, being democratic in his man
ner and fond Of society. 1t woulc be
/ strange if ne were otherwise. however.
/ considering the opportunities which
/ have been open to him since he was Sc
Iected as one Of the I20 Chinese boys of
good family sent TO the United States in
I 1872 to be educated and learn American
ways. During his college days the pres
ent envoy was one of the crack anna
/ teur players Of the baseball mines Of
Phillips and Amherst and was also
some thing Of an oarsman. After his re-
turn to China the young man acted as
one of the secretaries OF the peace com
mission which terminated the Chino
Japanese war and then he went to the
Diamond Jubilee OF Queen Victoria,
serving as secretary to the envoy of his
government 1t was then that ne re-
eeived his English title. his right to use
which has been challenged by some Of
his feIlow-diplomats.
Madame Cheng.
The personality OF the mistress Of the
Chinese legation is always OF intense
interest TO large proportion OF
American women The wife of the
present minister died q year or two
since, but there are two women OF
high station in the ENJOYS house
hold-his sister. who arrived few
months since to preside over his house
hold, and his siXteen-year-old daughter.
The presence of aristocratic Chinese Ia
dies is yet something Of novelty in Of
fetal circles in the greatest of Repub-
lies. Up to the time OF President John
sons Administration no Chinese envoy
had brought his wife with him. and
when at that time the Minister Cheng
TsaO. q man OF sixty, did break through
the traditions of his race and bring to
Washington his pretty little bride of
twenty he kept her SO secluded anc al
lowed her so few privileges during her
five years residence here that she
might almost as well have been in her
native land so far as the curiosity of
Americans was concerned.
Madame Tsui Kno Yin. who actsn m l
panied her husband to Washington dur
Ing the Harrison Administration. was a
picturesque figure. but went little into /
society The wife OF Yang Yu. who i'm
mediately preceded Wu Ting-fang as 4
minister. was the first mistress of the
Chinese legation who adopted American
customs and became a devotee Of soci-
The Washington times., 1904-01-03

ETY. Then came the quaint little wife of
wa Ilng-fang. who. although she could
not move about as readily as her pred
ecessor. who being a Manchu. was not
aHlcted with tiny feet. became ire
mendously popular The sister AMI
daughter of the new minister retain the
costume Of their country. All their
dresses are fashioned from the Same
model, with scant skirt over tunic and
jacket. after a fashion set by royal de-
cree Many Of the costumes are of mag
nificent silk. richly embroidered. and all
are made by Chinese tailor who is
connected with thu legation
Children of the Legation.
Vieing with these young ladies as OBJ
Jects of popular interest are the voun.,
children Of the Chinese legation. There
are six or seven Of them. and a live
lier lot of youngsters could not be fou71
in many a days journey. The leader
OF the band is Arlu. the minister's cid
est son. and he has a worthy lfeu7er-
ant in Ardi. mis- younger brother When
these lads first came to this country
they wore the regulation Chinese dress.
but OF late Minister LANG has had them
attired in regular American sailor suits.
which he contends give them greater
freedom. The only concession made To
Chinese tenets is found in the sailor
caps. which bear the names of Chinese
men-Of-war. instead Of American naval
vessels The minister's sons are BY his
wish being taught not only the rudi-
ments of the English language. but ara
being instructed how to ride bicycles.
play baseball and indulge in all our
other Incompatible sports and athletia
pastimes. Arlu and Ardi have plenty Of
Playmates in the legation circle. ana
among them are the half-American chill
dren Of Yung Kwai. the popular secre-
taTy-interpreter. who some years ago
married New England woman
Minister LANG, who is much Ike
President Roosevelt in his fondness for
children. has great ambitions for his
motherless family. According TO his
present plan he viii. after his sons have
become familiar with the English Ian
guage, follow the example of WI Ting
fang and patronize the great American
public school Moreover. it is altogeth-
er likely that the interesting Juvenile
colony at the Chinese legation will be
augmented by fresh recruits from the
Orient. for Sir Chentung, although but
forty years of age. is the father Of sew
en- children Four OF the little folks were
left in China with their grandmother.
but they may come later TO join their
sister and brothers. the latter being re-
spectively nine and seven years OF age
The Washington times., 1904-01-03
AUTOS IN AFRICA.

A CAPE COLONY farmer during
~ the last few weeks has had as a
neighbor a visitor from London
who motors. says STRAY Stories" The
two have often met on the road. and
the farmer. afraid that his horses might
shy. has on more than on occasion held
up his hand
The motorist however. has paid no
regard TO these signals. The farmer
has been incensed at this conduct for
he thinks that the holding up of a
drivers hand should be taken by a
motorist as a danger signal. and that
the motoTist should draw up. The
farmer accordingly warned the motor
list, but no heed was taken
At the next Meeting of the pair the
farmer lifted . T file from his dOgcart
and fired at the tires, which burst with
loud report The motorist, who was
hurled from his machine is endeavOr-
ing to get the police to take UP the mat
ter.
The Washington times., 1904-01-03
First Glinpses of the Interior of the New
100000 Residence Recently Completed in
his City for the Imperial Chinese Govern
ment-Unique and Artistic Mansion =: :.

! in PelSin at the same time that Little
! China as it has been termed. has been
! in process of creation in Washington.
and we have also been spending on the
new residence for our minister on the
| opposite side of the globe the sum of
SlOdC0O-an amount just equal to that
which the Emperor Of Chisa has paid
out for Che new Headquarters for his
agents IN the city on the Potomac
There is the difference. however. that
whereas the plans for the new lega ton
4 buildings in PeiSn were prepared by
United States Government architects.
and one OF their number is now beyond
the Pacific experimenting the construc-
ton OF the edifice. the Chinese officials
paid a compliment to Yankee ingenuity
by employing an American architect TO
design their new establishment in
Washington. and left the entire con-
strucuon 10 American workmen.
Center Of Chinese Activity.
The building which will henceforth
be the center of Chinese activities and
interests on this continent is a three
story and basement structure. and prac-
tically covers a lot $50 feet square The
architecture is Of the EIizabethan tyne
and the exterior is Of red brick. laid in
Flemish bond, with white terra Gotta
trimmings. The sea green roof adds the
finishing touch TO a very effective color
scheme. The entrance to the legation
opens upon an immense hall which. with
It's white woodwork and red draperies
and upholstery, is marvelously effect
i've apartment over this hail is a
handsome dome extending for three sto-
ries to the roof and giving the effect
OF the buildings fun height in a mar
ucularly impressive manner.
The rooms which will be the scene
OF those teas ard receptions to which
cards are so eagerly sought by ALI Wis
itors to Washington are on the left
Of the large hall. and are very sna-
cious. At the front Of the building is
the drawing room. which is i'm tbe
Louis XIV style The decorations are
In yellow and harmonic perfectly with
the gold furniture. white woodwork and
rich green hangings. Directly In the
rear or this room Is the great ball room. /
In TINS apartment. as in that adioin- /
ing. yellow and white are the predor,i- 1
mating colors. but the hangings are a /
deep red Both rooms are filed with art
OBJECTS. which would alone serve to |
make this home one OF the notable
snow places of the capital There are
lakewood chairs and cabinets quaint |
screens. elaborate ivory carvings and
The Washington times., 1904-01-03

400 are leap years. So that, though 1900.
multiple of 400. was a leap year. 100.
1900. and 1900 were not leap years.
Same Old Year.
The year is now exactly as it was
after Gregory had corrected it, Even
after his correction. however, there re-
mains slight error The mistake is
so very small that it viii amount to
only a day in $500 years. The error
is one of excess. so it is proposed to
make the year A D. 400. otherwise a
leap year. common year. After that
the calculations are so minute thai the
length OF the year will so exactl5- cor
respond to the earth's revolution around
the sun that they will net differ more
than day In thousand centuries.
The Washington times., 1904-01-03
TIGERS POOR SAILORS.

A SCIENTIST has made interesting
IA observations as to the liking OF
different wild animals for the sea.
The polar bear, he says. is the only
one that takes TO the sea. and is quite
happy when aboard ship. All others
violently resent a trip on water, and
Vociferously give vent TO their feelings
as long as they are able
The tiger suffers most of all The
mere sight OF a ship makes him un-
comfortable. and when on board ne
whines Diteously. his eyes water con-
unually. and he rubs his stomach with
his terrible paws.
Horses are bad sailors. and otter per-
ish on a sea voyage. Oxen are heroic
In their attempts not to give way.
Elephants do not like the sea- but are
amenable TO medical treatment A good
remedy in their case Is a bucketful OF
hot water containing Si5 pints of whisky
and seven ounces of Quininc.
The Washington times., 1904-01-03

ruary. which has 20 days in ordinary
years and 80 every fourth year Be
cause of his Strengthening out the diff
ncuities of the calendar. and because n,
calculated TO within a fraction of q
day in each year. Caesar wa, deemed
worthy of a lasting memorial. There
fore the name of the month QuintfIfs
was changed to julius Augustus
Caesar, the successor Of julius. after
some victories by his armies. had a
month named for him. too. II so hap
pened, however. that the month named
for Augustus had only 30 days, whereas
that named for julius had 81. Augustus
did not like this. so he nad an extra
day tackled on to August. Thereafter
February had 2S days in ordinary years.
and 2S in leap year.
Reducing the Leap Years.
Since the time of the Caesars. how
ever, it has been found necessary TO
reduce the number OF leap years If
the dictionary were consulted for the
meaning of leap year. il would prob
ably read every fourth year" That
answer-though 1t would have done well
in Caesars time-is not correct now.
because the arrangements which had
then been arrived at made the year of
the proper length except only the frac-
ton Of an hour The year was. on the
average. S65A days long, whereas the
SUMS revolution is II minutes 10 seconds
less than that, This slight error might
have been corrected at once by a re-
duction in the number OF leap years.
But the error was allowed to grow so
that by a. ID. 1882. the year in which it
was corrected. it amounted to ten days.
The Washington times., 1904-01-03
y SOTE FACTS ABOuT LEAP YEAR AND WHAT IT MEANS y

Thirty days hath September,
April June. and November:
All the res have thirty-oue
Except the second month. alone
Which has but tweuty-eight in fine
IA Leap Year gives it twenty-nine.
" HOSE ladies who were sorelv dis
appointed when they learned that
4 the year 1900 was not a Lean
Year. although its figures were
divisible by four. may have no doubts
about 1904 II is a good. honest Lean
Year, and they may go ahead and
make their proposals without fear OF
finding them thrown into the discard
on account Of a technicality.
An Unfathomable Mystery.
Why every fourth year. except those
which mark the close OF the centuries
whose numerals are not divisibIe by 400
should be set aside for the exercise OF
''woman's rights" IN a certain delicate
phase. the strenuous efforts OF a re-
porter for The Sunday Times failed 10
disclose He last week consulted books
Of all sorts. astronomical. celestial. ter
restrial. books OF history. and books OF
love. He had several heart to heart
talks with pretty and attractive women.
and once or twice so lost his head IN
the course OF these condolences that he
came near taking advantage Of the few
remaining days Of 1908 TO forestaIl the
making use on the part Of his fascinat-
ing conhdantes OF the privileges that
became theirs on Friday. And vet no
knows no more now than he did when
he began OF the why's and the where
fores concerning this much valued
privilege. that comes TO the fair sex but
once I'm four years
They are welcome to Il, though, for II
The Washington times., 1904-01-03

to be subdivided into parts corresnond.
ing with her revolution round the earth.
The difficulties OF adjusting the moons
revolutions. or months so as 10 be to-
gether equal to the earth's revolutions
round the sun gave rise to February IT,
self. and 70 many Of the changes which
the month has undergone before it stood
with its present number Of DAYS.
Romulus' Division.
Romulus' division OF the year is the
trst European one known. and the ono
upon which our own division Is based
He had ten months, whose total length
was S0l days. How he patched M the
year with the odd days so as to make If
anything like correct is not known. To
remedy this mistake. which left sirtv-
one days unaccounted for. Numa Pom.
pilius, second king OF Rome. added two
months January and February. IAN
uary named after Janus. the god who
presided over the beginning of all things
was made the first month of the year.
February.
Februare, I'm Latin. means to exntate
In this month the expiatory sacrifices
were performed, and as the sins OF the
year were, very naturally. atoned for
after they were committed. February
was made the last OF the months.
Two hundred years after Numa Pom
pilius, February was brought by the
Decemvirs. for reasons best known 70
themselves, to its present position.
Although two new months had been
added namely, January and Februarv
ne year was not long enough vet.
Numa made his months to correspond 70
he revolutions of the moon, which made
The Washington times., 1904-01-03

often relieves embarrassment ~ tho cor,
the susceptible reporter experianoe,
when gathering material for his STORY. -
There were two Of them. But he viii
coyly await developments. now that 1ao4
with its golden possibilities. has dawn
ed Let all the ladies begin early n
avoid the rush. There are many bach
elors in Washington. too modest and
timid by nature to offer their large
hands and small fortunes to the maidens
OF their choice. There are also many
who don't know their own minds. also
many who have no minds to know If
the fair ones will only step forward and
pop the question In a gentle and con-
fding manner. a rich harvest awaits
them. Don't stand back. ladies': don't
stand back
A Winner Out.
As for the name leap year" It seems
to be misnomer since on lean year
February. the changeable month. does
not leap a day. but takes on one. How
ever. the most plausible tradition as 10
the origin OF the name is to the effect
that the law knew but 9s5 days to the
year. and that when. every four years
the 18th Of February appeared on the
calendar. IL was not counted as a dav
in the eyes OF the law, but was "Ieapt''
over.
The history OF leap year, however is
clear. and. moreover. very interesting.
Around the Sun.
AS a year is the time OF the earth's
revolution around the sun. It should
contain 3s5 days and a fraction OF a
day. The ancients. having great re-
spect for the moon. wanted the year
The Washington times., 1904-01-03

Where Sir Chentung, the New Envoy From the
Celestial Empire, Will Inaugurate an Era of
Entertainment-Comical Little MonqoIians
in His Interesting Household ~ ~ y -
The San Francisco call., 1904-08-06
The Dusk Witch.
De Dusk Witch cum when de sun go
down.
En- he prowl,
En- he proWli

De Dusk Witch cum when de sun go
down.
En- he prowI,
En- he prowll
En- he prowI,
He shake de limbs in de timbeh groun'
Till he wake up Misteh Owl
He draw his cloak cross de sunset skies.
En- he change de red to gray;
He blow his bref. en- de swamp mists
rise
Down deh wheh de brack mink stay.
Hush, hush, ma honey. yo' betteh keep
Who m det calm but Brer whippo'
De Dusk Witch cum in hood OBJ
En- he roaml
En- he roam.
En- he roam
He rouse Bre'r Cricket in de chimIy
clay,
En- de mole in de gahden loan.
He tech de stahs, en- dey tighten up,
De deSxdrops staht to shine
He max det moon lax a big red cup
Hung up on de dahk sky line
He wuk so swif' in de late twilight.
De Dusk Witch cum befo Mis- Night
De Dusk Witch cum when de day am
En- he flies!
En- he fies
En- he flies!
He sif dat san in your trundle bed
Till 1t seal yo Ill brown eyes.
DE brack owl hoot in de cypress bough,
En- de brown bat circle low;
De Dusk Witch cum foh All see him
now,
He doan min de walls noh do.
Dess close up yo' eyes, nah iii brown
He dassent take yo' fun brack mans
lap. Puck
The San Francisco call., 1904-08-06
The First SnbmarueS.

So many warships have been de-
stroyed by submarine explosions in
the Russo Jap panese war that each side
has repeatedly accused the other Of
using a submarine torpedo boat If
that should prove to be the case it
would be the first time such a vessel
has ever been successfully used in war
by any nation but the United States.
The first submarine vessel ever used
to attack a hostile ship in war time
descended into the Hudson River at
Whitehall, under the eyes Of Washing
ton and his staff, in September, 1776.
The British had attacked New York:
Long Island had been lost to them and
Lord Howe's fleet was anchored in
North River. David Bushnell, a young
engineer just graduated from Yale Col
lege, had invented a spherical copper
vessel called the American Turtle. in
tended for submarine use. 1t was pro-
PEELED by oars set in water-tight sock
cts. had a tiny coming tower and was
just big enough for one man. 1t had
an auger protruding through the ton
and the plan of attack was for the
submarine worker to drill this into the
bottom Of an enemy's ship A mine
was then to be detached from the ont
side of the submarine and fastened to
the enemy by the drill, a clockwork
set going and when the diver had es-
capped the explosion would follow.
Bushnell showed this machine 70,
General Parsons and to General Wash
ington, who approved. Ezra Lee. a
brave young sergeant, was detailed to
make the attempt and Bushnell taught
him to work the Turtle. At midnight.
September 6, he entered the little YES
sci and was towed out into the river
by rowboats. Washington and his
staff watched anxiously for the re-
suit.
The prime object of Lees attack was
the sixty-four- gun frigate Eagle. on
board which was Lord Howe himself.
Hours passed without an explosion and
at last when dawn came Washington
was convinced Lee was lost Just then,
however. barges were seen putting out
from the shore of Governors Island.
They went almost to midstream then
scattered and made hastily for shore.
The San Francisco call., 1904-08-06
Shattered Ideals.

As the car approached the corner
the stylish young woman in the sky
scraper hat arose and advanced toward
the rear platform. When opposite the
conductor she extended her daintily
gloved hand.
Il beg your pardon" she said in a
musical voice, but you overlooked my
fare. Here it is
The conductor looked confused.
Thank you, miss he mumbled,
glancing around at the other passen-
gers to see if he could ferret out any
Of the company's spoilers" She
seemed to read his thoughts.
"Oh, don't think that am going to
report you for carelessness. she
fastened. mo, indeed. You are
probably one of the most conscientious
employees on the road
The conductor actually blushed.
Thanks, miss" he stammered.
You are so busy looking out for the
safety of your passengers that it is
impossible for you to be collecting
fares all the time. These big cars
should have two conductors. Better
lose a thousand fares than have one
accident. Am 1 right?''
Yes, miss"
Your face is honest, young man. 1
never hesitate to tell a person this
when 1 am certain it is true. Always
remember that honesty is the best
policy
Gathering her slarts firmly, she
alighted and was soon lost in the
crowd. The conductor took a long
breath.
Talk about sensible women" he
CALCULATED for the benefit of the plat
fcrmites. well, I've been on this line
ten years and that is the finest speci-
men of the true lady I've ever met"
Then he looked at the "nickeP' she
had pressed into his hand 1t was
lead.
The San Francisco call., 1904-08-06
Russia S Scourge.

The London Mail gives this spirited
description of the nihilist:
At the edge of the pavement he
stands, IN the uniform of Russian
university student. smoking yellow
cigarette, and the carriages ply past
him throughout the hour of prone
made.
Princesses, men in the uniform of
ducal regiments, the splendor and
wealth of the capital of Russia file
along as though for his inspection and
his is the eye that weighs and ap-
praises them all by the standard of
the poor.
To look at him one would say the
fire of nihilism ran in a foul channel
He is meager, mean-chested, little Of
stature. with low brows and a wide,
loose mouth, representative of the
poor type, lacking in Drawn and
beauty, springing weedily from a
proftIess stock There is something
vapid in the bloodless pouch of the
cheek and the bonelessness Of the jaw;
nothing finishes with click: the con-
tours are not definite.
Ahi but you have not seen the eye
the eye that burns far back in its
SOcket, the poet eye InaI see Deatn
ride by on a white horse among the
careless guardsmen and ladies, the eye
that is dull to the material and kindles
only for visions.
In the lurking frenzy that inhabits
there, like genius or an obsession,
there is that which redeems the whole
unloveliness of the gross face and
body. as though the soul ran riot
while the flesh obeyed laws.
Madmen have such eyes, and great
artists, and the nihilist must needs be
Of the essence ( both. He is the
product of a need and an Inspiration,
the great need of the stricken Russian
poor, the inspiration of new knowI-
edge and freedom seen from afar.
The San Francisco call., 1904-08-06

A moment later came terrific expIo-
sion on the surface close to the Eagle
and the British fleet in CONSERVATION
slipped their cables and made out cf
the harbOr.
Some time later the top Of the Turtle
appeared above water. not far away.
Rowboats went out and brought her
in. Lee was found unharmed. He had
reached the bottom of the Eagle with
out difficulty, but had found it sheath
ed with heavy copper, a protection not
against man but against other sub
marine enemies. When he attempted
TO drill through this his vessel bounced
away and gave him no purchase. He
worked two hours at the Eagle and
then visited other vessels with no bet
ter luck. At last he released his mine
and started home. He came to the
surface close to the British barges,
then sank again and pulled for White
hall.
The Turtle was used again a year
later TO attack the Cerberus OF New
London. but. instead. blew up a
schooner lying near the frigate and
killed a number of men. That was the
first vessel ever so destroyed.
Though Fulton built a successful
submarine, none was used in war again
till the Davids were built for the Con-
federates. There were several of this
class, one of which blew up the HOu-
satOnic in 1854 Since then nearly
every navy in the world has expert
mented with submarines. Russia has
several on her list of war vessels.
France has. done the most with them
and has the largest number. more than
seventy. The United States has second
place in numbers and disputes first
place in fficiency.-YOuth's COmpan-
ion