davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The broad ax., 1904-08-27
HOW SEEDS cERMINATE.
Writer Describes Method by Which
Plum and Apricot Tree Enter
On Stage Of Life.

'HThe method by which a plum OF ap-
Ficot- tree makes its entrance upon the
stage Of life is interesting" says Pear
sons. The hard shell Of the plum stone
splits It into halves through the siren
uOus power Of the embryo within. Out
Of the kernel the little root emerges and
grows fat, while the nutty kernel also
divides into its halves, and each grad
ually transforms itself into thick fieshy
green leaves which show above the
ground, while between these peculiar
leaves two pretty, bright, ordinary
pairs Of green leaves above ground-One
pairs Of gren leaves above ground-one
pair fat and full Of food, which they
keep passing on to the plum infant, the
other pair thin and delicate, but daily
growing stronger to take up the task Of
manufacturing food, not merely handing
on stores. so that the plant may grow
and flourish when the stores are fin
Ished."
The broad ax., 1904-08-27
EFFEcTs 81 EVIL Temper.
The Nan or Woman Who Il sWayed
BY Passion Il Bound 10 Be
Loses Always.

One Of the most desirable things IN
life is TOR every person to learn TO
control his temper. There Il seldom
anything TO gain, but rather everything
to lose, when one permits himself to
be swayed by passion under any cir
cumstanee. Il Is thus that friends are
lost, enemies made, bad situations sg-
graEated, endless misery created and,
occasionally, the direct tragedies en-
acted. OF course there are times when
one may derive for the moment q GER
tain enjoyment in license of expressing
exactly what he feels, but most surely
must II be followed by q reaction Of
regret Indeed, II a serious person, the
probability is that on becoming calm
again, afteg the it has passed away,
he win be ashamed of his foolish con-
duct and the disgraceful exhibition he
made Of himself; he will realize, down
in his heart, that not right away, II
ever again, can he occupy as strong a
position, socially, as before the out
burst In truth, having behaved like
a fretful, peeVish child, he has to q GER
tain exteht forfeited his title to man
hood and the place Of q man. More
lamentable still, a fiery tempered wom-
an who makes herself disgusting and
hated In a neighbsrhOod, in society or
in public, is a terror to her family.
There are few things sadder to con-
template than the skeletons hidden in
the household closet. To live thus from
day to day is like having the finest gar
dens and vineyards located on the slope
Of volcano, and never know when the
burning lava may pour through them.
When because Of the uncertainty Of
domestic life one exists in dread as to
what the next hour may bring forth,
he or she is really to be pitied-Epit-
omist.
The broad ax., 1904-08-27
ART OF -PIcKLINo STEEL.
Process First Tried in This Country
at Williamsburg Bridge in
New York City.

The picking of structural steel was
probably first done In this country in
connection with the steel flooring Of
the Williamsburg bridge in New York
city, declares Engineering Record.
The specifications for the 11-inch chan
nels on which the paving blocks are car
rico required them to be cleaned and
painted with pure linseed oil while still
hot from the rolls. When 1t came time
TO execute the work these specifications
were changed so as to permit the metal
to be cleaned in picking baths, which
has long been done to a considerable
extent in Europe. In the case Of the
channels for the Williamsburg bridge
the shapes were first boiled in a ten per
cent solution Of caustic soda to take
OF grease, and were then rinsed in boil
ing water. Afterward they were dipped
into a boiling ten per cent solution Of
sulphuTic acid until all the oxide was
removed. After being rinsed in boiling
water they were dipped into a boiling
ten per cent. solution Of carbonate Of
soda to free them from any trace Of acid.
Finally they were rinsed in boiling wa
ter, dried over steam pipes and then
treated by the Sabin process Of enamel
ing.
The broad ax., 1904-08-27
-ossY." THE QUEENS KITTEN.

sisters have to 'confne their activities
to the other rooms in the royal dwell
ings.
Edward VII. hates cats and il he had
his way Sandy" would not long have
the privilege supposedly reserved for
his kind-of looking at a king" but
the liberties that her royal husband de-
manded for his Jack" the queen now
demands for her pet II the king has no
love for Sandy" however, the feeling
seems to be fully reciprocated, for the
queens fayorite will not come to his
side Of the table at any price, and gen.
orally makes himself scarce when the
king is about
Sandy" as well as Monarch" and
"Ossy," the two cats-also Persian
which come next to the favOrite in their
mistress affection, sat for their photo
graphs at Buckingham palace recently.
They also have sat at Windsor and
Sandringham to Louis Vain, the great
cat artist, who declares them to be abCu-
the best and most patient sitters he ever
has had. According TO the lowest esti-
mate the royal cats now number5O. Her
special pets are always in residence
where the queen is for the time being.
They have a groom all to themselves;
they have a bath every morning and
their toilet is carefully attended to twice
day. On the slightest sign Of illness
the royal wet" Is summoned, who
makes q careful diagnosis, and the re-
suit Is Immediately communicated to
her majesty. There is a specially pre-
pared room called "the cat hospital" IN
the stables attached to Buckingham
palace, and here pussy reclines-When
indisposed-in q bed sufficiently luxuri-
Gus for the baby Of marquis. Its tenn
perature Is taken and the stethoscope ap-
piled as regularly as IL the fate Of an
empire were depending on the cats ex-
istence
For her cats, when in health, the
queen has prescribed diet Of fish and
milk, and as she is quite unwilling to
trust the discrimination Of the ordinary
London milkman as to the quality Of the
latter, the royal cats are fed on milk
which comes fresh from Sandringham
every morning, while a fshdealer Of re-
pute Is intrusted with the supply Of the
fish known to be the best for feline con-
sumption. When the queen first took to
cats she knew nothing whatever about
their tastes or habits. She was also ig-
nOrant Of the points Of the different
breeds, but Louis Vain, whom she had
presented to her for the purpose. was
able to convey so much information that
now the queen can discuss cats with the
greatest expert In Europe.
Among other fashionable cat eultiva-
tors may be mentioned Lily, duchess Of
Marlborough, the duchess Of Wellington
and Viscountess Maitland, each Of whom
has a more OF less elaborate "cattery."
There Is a lot Of money made out Of fan
cy cats. Five hundred dollars Is no un-
common price to pay for one and some
have fetched as high as $500. In con-
sequence there are not a few women in
English society whose devotion to aris-
toTatie tables Is purely, though for the
most part secretly, pecuniary one.
The broad ax., 1904-08-27
WOMEN DO THE PROPOSING
In the Islands Of Torres Strait the
Girls Go Counting and Also
Pop the Question.

How would you like to live In q land
where the women have the privilege
to propose not only one year out Of
every four but every year?
In Torres strait, between the north
ern extremity Of Australia and the
southern extremity Of New Guinea,
there is a labyrinth Of small islands
and coral reefs, so complicated and
dangerous, IL is said, that Torres, the
original discoverer, required three
months to get through.
These islands are inhabited by q
Melanesian race Of the Papuan type
inhabiting New Guinea, among whom
1t is not only permissible but obliga-
tory for women to propose. In fact,
Prof. HaddOn, who first visited the
islands and made a careful study Of
the customs of the islands, says that
among them it is considered as bad
taste for a man to make a proposal
Of marriage as II is for q woman
among US TO propose to a man.
On the island Of Tud, when q boy
grows into manhood, one Of the les
sons his parents are careful to teach
him Is: You no like girl first If
you do girl laugh and call you wom-
an"
The way in which a young woman
opens and conducts a courtship with
the man for whom she has taken
fancy differs widely from the most
approved method adopted by the leap
year girl In America When the is
land maiden becomes enamored she
sends a piece Of string to the S'"'~
Of the man she coVets, which is a sign
that she loves him. The sister then
says to her brother: Brother, have
good news for you. A woman loves
you" He asks who the woman is,
and, II willing to go on with the az
fair, tells his sister to ask the girl
20 keep an appointment with him at
some designated spot st the appoint
ed time they meet and talk the matter
over. The betrothal often is made at
the first meeting If both parties are
satisfied.
When q man and q woman begin to
keep company" he is branded on the
back with charcoal, while her mark
Is cut into the skin, because she
asked the man" They are expected
to get married, but II they don't, moth
ing can be done. II It is the man who
is unwilling he Is given a sound
thrashing by the girls father and
friends.
After marriage, in spite Of the fact
that the girl did the proposing, she
becomes the property Of her husband.
She even is 50 completely in his pow
er that he can, II she should offend
him, kill her with impunity.
The broad ax., 1904-08-27
ALExANDRA's MANY CATS.
Dogs Have Been supplantsd in the
Affections Of EngIish Queen
and Her Followers

To all except the favored few who
are on intimate terms with Queen
Alexandra II came as rather a sur
prise when on her arrival in Ireland,
awhile ago, the queen was found to be
accompanied by pet cat. Heretofore
dog Of one breed or another almost in
variably has been numbered among her
travelling companions, and It was
known generally that besides being
fond Of bOw-wows, she bred them ex-
tensively and was the owner Of about
the most luxurious kennels In England;
but she never has been suspected Of any
special liking for cats. Now, however,
these animals have almost entirely sup
planted dogs as recipients Of the
queens attention. Her kennels we're
the royal lady's delight, but when she
discovered that all sorts Of folk were
copying her in this direction, she decided
to stop breeding dogs and 90 in for cats
instead. True to her customary policy
Of thoroughness, the queen now has q
small army Of the best breeds, and II any
Of the royal residences contain a mouse
the creature must be a veritable DeWet
Of it's kind.
The queen has six particular fayorites
among her cat family, but valuable
Persian enjoys her special affection.
This Is "Sandy"-who is so named be-
cause he first saw the light at Sandring-
ham. For several months her majesty
has never travelled without him, and he Is
as fondly attached 10 his royal mistress
as the celebrated Irish terrier Jack"
was to the king in his most affectionate
moments. SANDY" is privileged to dis
port himself in the dining apartments
though his less fortunate brothers and
The broad ax., 1904-08-27
THE BROAD Ak,

Is for sale at the following news
stands:
The AfrO-American News omcs,
3104 State Street.
Alton H. Blake, shoe shining parlors,
25Os1k State street.
J. G. Campbell. cigars, tobacco and
fancy groceries, 471O State street
A. F. TerValon's Cigar Store and
News Stand. 2s2s State street
Edward Felix's Cigar Store, 8ss
sOth street, N. E. Corner Armour Ava
7. B. Halls Cigar Store and
Laundry once. 2s1 2sth St
Turner Williams Cigar ana NsWs
Stand, 1903 Armour Ave.
Mrs. 3. Williams, Cigars. Notions
and News Stand, 1864 State street
Frank II. Hart, S5+31st street, CT
gars, tobacco and Laundry once.
Mrs. W. H. Moore, 1912 State street.
cigars, tobacco and news stand.
C. J. Chambers and Company. deal
ers in fine cigars. 1858 State street.
Mrs. E. F. Early, groceries and no
lions. 1898 State St
The Stationery, 1910 State street
P. 8. Hotehkis's Cigars, Notions and
News stand. 1S1 W. 5ist Street
Isidor Jacobson. cigars. togaeco and
stationery, s14s State St
WoodfoTk ana Mitchell Cigars. To
bacco and News stand. l0o2 State
Street
News items and advertisement1 -
e these places Wnl and their va
into the columns q Ths BroaA An
The broad ax., 1904-08-27


Of the Potomac into Virginia and fed
eral troops crossed and recrossed it by
the thousands during the four years Of
civil strife.
The old structure was mentioned BY
Dickens in his American notes and It
suggests a story still told In Washing
ton to illustrate some Of the peculiarities
Of that noted author. During Dickens
last visit to the United States he was en-
tes tanned and lionized by Washington so
ciety, but at times was inclined 70 be
little snobbish and to sheer at the
Americans. At : reception he was in
trOduced to q gentleman whom he
treated rather cOolly. The next day
this gentleman was sitting on the rail-
ing Of the long bridge with shotgun
looking for ducks. Dickens In his pere-
grinations about the city, went out on
the bridge and met the gentleman. The
latter. remembering the Englishman's
manner the night before, simply looked
at him and went on hunting ducks
Dickens was a little chagrined, but sup
posed the man had rot recognized him.
Finally he turned to the hunter and
said:
81 say, this view reminds me Of
scene in David Copperheld."
The hunter turned impadently aud
retorted: Look here, Dickens; you
can't spring any of your novels on me
to-day. I'm out after ducks"
This bridge Las been used for rail-
road ard passenger trafac. A new
railroad bridge which is more than
twice the height Of the old one from the
water level has been constructed, and in
a few weeks will be open to traffic. A
new wagon bridge will then be erected
above the railroad bridge, andwhen II Is
completed the old Tong bridge" will be
destroyed.
The broad ax., 1904-08-27

put on display in the department at
Washington. The first picture was de-
signed TO call attention 10 the neat
beautiful and clean little ONCE which
the postmaster had secured. His pride
was commendable, and Chief Clerk
Conrad thought It deserved recognition.
He had no idea Of the trouble he was in
viting. The photograph idea took more
rapidly than vaccination, and for the
past few months pictures have been ar
irving by the dozens and scores They
are of all sizes from blurred dntype to
a beautiful photo engraving, and rep
resent post omces In every section Of the
country from Alaska to Mexico.
81 don't know where this thing Is go
ing to stop" says Mr.. Conrad. Il think
we now have on file one or two pictures
Of every post ONCE In the United States
except those in the big cities. The latter
viii be along presently, suppose, and
the big towns VIII vie with each ether
as to the number and beauty Of the pic
lures they VIII send Of government
buildings. If this keeps on We will have
to secure q separate building to hold the
photographs"
The broad ax., 1904-08-27


colleagues. He Is 81 home on any po-
Iitical subject, and can talk to any sort
Of an audience. He prefers finance,
however, and doesn't much care Wheth-
er he is discussing the subject before a
body Of Wall street fnanciers or ex-
planning the money system Of the gov
eminent to q crowd Of western farmers
at q harvest home.
Mr.. Shaw is the unlIkliest man
in the cabinet. He is about the last Of
that distinguished body Of men who
would be picked out as the best political
speaker. As he likes to express 1t in his
homely phrase: you cannot always
tell from the looks OF a toad how far It
can jump" So the stoop-shouldered
shambling-gaited, Iowa country banker
is deceptive as to his abilities. The sec
rotary is in close touch with the soil
and draws many Of its similitudes from
the simple life and occupation of the
farmer. He Is a natural-born story
teller, and his knowledge Of common
people their lives and tastes enables
him to point his tales In the most ef-
fectiVe way. He has the faculty Of
thinking quickly on his feet, AAd is sharp
at repartee. Although his speech is at
times quaint, there is no flaw in his
grammar, and his English wiz pass mus
ter with the most exacting.
Like many Of the western statesmen,
Secretary Shaw has ths lincoln habit
Of clinching point IN an argument with
a story. He has a new story every cab
met day and when IT comes his turn
to discuss matters of his department the
rest Of the cabinet members lean back
in their chairs, knowing that they viii
hear matters Of finance elucidated by
witty and humorous tales.
The broad ax., 1904-08-27
London,s New Crazs.

Fashionable London society has IN
vented a new craze IN the shape Of
''War dinners" served IN the latest
styles Of Russian or japanese cooking
and cooked after the methods Of those
countries. From a astronomical point
Of view, the Russian dinner. with fits
vodka, Is perhaps the most successful.
as the japanese cooks serve up some
weird dishes which no sef-respecting
European would touch under ordinary
circumstances, and the diners must sit
on the floor. Fashion Is, however. a
taskmaster, not q servant, and fashion
DEGREES that whoever wishes 70 be smart
must eat thess dishes no matter how
they taste.
The broad ax., 1904-08-27
WOMEN IN PAcKINo HOUSE,
Fair Sex Have Invaded Great slaugh-
tsring Concerns and Now Two
thousand Are Employed.

Tie number Of women in the Chicago
stockyards has almost doubled in the
past year. At the present time 1000
women are employed there. II Is true
that a little less than half that number
are engaged In the revolving work de-
scrfbed, the majority being employed In
painting and labelling cans, wrapping
and packing soap and butterine. To such
work the butchers make no objection.
But the number engaged In the less pleas
ing occupations Is gradually being In
creased. Last summer the sausage max
ers at the stock yards went on strike.
The strike was not sanctioned by the ma
tional officers Of the organization, and
when the men refused to return to work
the packers proceeded to I'LL their places
with women. The union could not OBJ
Jet. The men had struck without au-
thoFity. The women are at work to-day.
filling, linking and trimming sausages.
The men are seeking work. What wages
the women are being paid is known only
to themselves and their employers.
They are Lithuanian peasant women.
Few speak the English language.
To organize them would be practically
impossible, even were 1t advisable, which
the union officials do not believe. But
at frequent intervals few men are laid
OF and a few more women hired. Can
the union stop the innovation?
The broad ax., 1904-08-27
BANNERS AT CHINESE BURIAL
Rich and Important Oriental Is Laid
Away with Much Pomp and
Splendor.

When q rich and important China
man dies his funeral Is conducted with
much pomp and splendor. His friends
and relations, instead OF sending
wreaths, send innumerable banners.
These are made Of white silk, with in
scripions beautifully worked in black
velvet, and express the senders' good
wishes to the deceased himself, or to
the members Of his family for many
generations. On the day Of the fu-
neral these banners are carried by hired
men, who are all dressed alike for the
occasion. After the funeral, which
lasts several hours at the cemetery, Is
over, the banners are all brought back,
and eventually grace the rooms Of the
late Chinaman's house.
The broad ax., 1904-08-27

.nea, &c their need is fully recoeoIZeS
-out TIE old-timers DO object to TIE oc-
eupancy Of this particular square bv ~.
government One Of its most interest
ing mansions Is the old Blair house.
MHien vas owned and occupied BY Frap-
els z. Blair, who edited the Globe fbs
oncial organ Of Jacxson's administra..
uon- When Blair lived there the bousa
was the rendezvous Of such lannon's roer
e Thomas H.s Benton, Martin van
bafen. Levi Woodbury., Silas Wright
ana others. The historian, George Ban
croft when he was secretary M the
navy during the Polk administratIop
occupied this house.
Montgomery Blair had this as his cir
residence from 1854 to the time Of his
death, and It is said that Col. Robert n
Lee had, at dinner given him by M
Blair In the spacious old dininR-room.
told Of President Lincoln's desire that
ne should accept the command Of the
union army at the outbreak Of the civil
war.
Right near the Blair mansion is the
nome OF the late Gen. BeaIl, Of Mexican
war fame, and not far away is the house
IN which the late Admiral Porter died.
Other houses Of less note, but still hav-
ing memories Of the olden time clinging
70 them are included In this square. Dr.
agonally across from the Blair house Is
an old, four-story building now used as
a shOD where uphOlstaFv and furpJfs,r.a
are repaired, which for many years was
the ofieial headquarters Of Gen. Winfield
Scott
The broad ax., 1904-08-27

Sefense of the coast it should be OPP
Grated by the coast artillery as an aux
Hilary Of the fortihcations on shore.
II the new drill regulations which
have been issued for the coast artillery
are a guide. then there Is q real navy as
signed to the coast artillery known as
the floating defenses." None Of these
vessels are seagoing, but they consist OF
monitors, gunboats, scout ships, tor
pedo boats and patrol boats. The coast
defense ships are to supplement The
shore defenses where the latter do not
give adequate protection by reason OF
the width Of the approaches or the near
ness OF the harbor to the sea.
Scout ships are employed to patrol on
shore and to discover the approach Of
tbe enemy and to signal theinf0rmation
10 the shore station. Torpedo boats are
NEEDED at the Notifications to meet and
rspel attacks which may be made by the
enemy's torpedo boats Submarines
A. ~ maneuver outside Of themins field
aeainst large ships. prior to and during
fhe attack. Patrol boats are needed IN
eorgy weather to guard the mine fields
ne eosst artillery has not been given It's
fesf ss yet and the question IS to Eheth-
- these ships should be under the coast
arfIuerv or under the naval establiEh-
ment has not jet been determined.
The broad ax., 1904-08-27

obscure town in
the southwest has
sent a photograph
of his little office TO
the fourth assist
ant postmaster
enc ral. Chief
Clerk Charles A.
Conrad displayed
the photograph in
lis Office here in
Washington, an d
that has started q
rage among post
masters through
out the country to.
have their Offices
The broad ax., 1904-08-27

about to disappear.
There will be no
tears shed over it's
departure, oW
ever, as for almost
half a century 1t
has been a menace
to the city. This Is
the c eleb rated
'1ong bridge" that
occupied so promi-
nent place during
the civil war. Il
was called the
gateway to the
SOUTH" as across Il
The broad ax., 1904-08-27

a navy Of its OWL
Most naval officers
have supposed that
the control Of sub
marine boats en-
ployed in warfare
would be entirely
under the naval es-
adjustment in
stead Of being part
Of the equipment
of the artillery
corps The army,
on the other hand,
has eontended that
as the submarine
The broad ax., 1904-08-27
No One to Take oRsnss.

Fuller understand you said I
looked Ike q monkey What-do you
mean BY saying that?
Waller-Oh, it's all right; no harm
done, you know. There wasn't any
monkey within hearing when said It
STRAY Stories.
The broad ax., 1904-08-27

Treasury Leslie II.
Shaw. There may
be more polished
orators, like Sec
rotary Taft, Attor-
ney General Moody
and Secretary Of
State Hay, but
when Il come 8
right down TO cap
uvating an audi
ence and entering
into the give and
take repartee Of
the political stump
Secretary Shaw is
The broad ax., 1904-08-27

Seeding Female Ito husband No. A.
on. Il you only knew the difference be-
tween you, wretch, my FIRST hus-
bandl
Husband DO know the differences.
he Is happy now that he has left you.
and I was happy before got you
Chicago Journal.
The broad ax., 1904-08-27
How About ThisP

The London Express learns that eft
II proposed In America that the pre-
Ok Mr. should be abolished by act Of
congress, and every man should be
known by his trade OF profession, as
Draper Jones or Attorney Smith
The broad ax., 1904-08-27
Restaurant on Shin.

Passengers on the enormous new
steamer now being built at stettin
for the Hamburg-American line, viii
be allowed, II they prefer, to pay for
the passage only, taking their meals
In the restaurant on deck.
The broad ax., 1904-08-27

Mrs. smith-Hays you named your
twin girls, Lucy?
Lucy-Yessum; We'se done mama
'em 'FIops'm" an "Jeps'm." Power
full pooty names. Dave, NY OF man
he done got dem names outsn de
rivah colyum.-Cincinnat CONNER
cial Gazette.