davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-04-30
GARRETT SCHOOL.
BY Miss Lewis, Principal.

Garnett school was among the first in this
city to take up the matter of flower and
vegetable gardening. Early in February,
1902 an effort was made to interest the
pupils in this work.
Talks on the value of improving and
Identifying the surroundings were given
and pictures showing the results of such
work in other places helped arouse inter-
est Soon quite degree of enthusiasm was
manifest and in early spring outdoor work
was begun with a will. We took as our
own that resolution of Ruskin's. We will
try to make some small piece of ground
beautiful, peaceful and fruitful"
Our first efforts We're directed to flower
gardening Two circular beds each fourteen
feet in diameter were opened, the clayey
surface TO the depth of foot being hauled
away in toy express wagons and the space
filed with good soil brought from wherever
1t could be obtained, in the same way.
a visit was now made TO the Agricultural
Department, where we were furnished with
some over and vegetable seeds, and met
gentleman who became so intereE ted In our
work that he visited our schoOl, gave
lesson to class of boys on the nature and
preparation of the soil and directed the set
ting out of one OF our flower beds. This
greatly encouraged us. and more requests
for seeds were received. Already one hum
dred and twenty-five of our number had
begun home gardens, and practical
answer to the many questions as to the
care and treatment of certain plants veg
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-04-30

the main barbettes, there is q continuous
wall OF 6-inch Krupp armor which Is pierre
ed by gun ports on each side for the ten
6-inch guns, which are mounted on the
main deck. Above this armor belt on the
upper deck at the four quarters of the ship
are four 6-inch guns mounted within case
mates of G-inch armor. The four 12-inch
guns are carried in two barbettes of 14-inch
armor. protected by hoods or light tur-
rets, with sloping armor ten inches in
thickness in front and with vertical armor
eight inches in thickness at the sides and In
the rear The twenty 3-inch rapid-fire guns
are mounted as follows: Two forward and
two aft on the main deck: four on each
broadside on the upper deck between each
pair of 6-inch gun casemates: four the
roof of these casemates. and two on the
forward bridge and two on the after bridge.
There are also a dozen 3-pounders and 21s-
Founders carried the superstructure
bridges and lighting tops Four S-inch SUBJ
merged torpedo tubes provided, one on
either beam in the wake of the forward
barbette and one on either beam in the
wake of the after turret The ship is driven
by engines of 6.4C0 horsepower at a speed
of 1876 knots an hour. She carries normally
700 tons of coal. but is able to stow 1,Jco
tons. An interesting feature Is that no
less than 4.60o tons of armor are worked
into this ship.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-04-30
TAYLOR SCHOOL.
By Miss G. s. Silvers. Principal.

%
''Oh! did you ever in your life see any
thing so beautiful" said little boy to
teacher as they stood beside one of the
flower beds in the yard of the Taylor
school; and to one who loves nature and
children there certainly could be nothing
more beautiful than that gorgeous mass OF
fragrant blossoms and the delighted faces
of the children bending over them.
Last autumn. when the superintendent
asked US to undertake the work, we did so
with reluctance for we felt that it would
be added burden upon those who were
already overtaXed. but such has not proved
to be the case, for we have been repaid
d hundred-foid for any efforts we have
made. and from the time when the first
crOcus appeared and the little first grade
child came running to his teacher crying
excitedly, "Oh come, the beautiful flow
that has come up"' until it's present
state of perfection the garden has been
source of constant delight.
The harder work of preparing the beds
had been done the previous year so we
had only to spade them up and put In a
load of manure to make them ready for the
bulbs
Each child was asked to bring one bulb
for the garden and universal was the
response. that not a single child was un-
represented. Through the generosity of a
local scotsman, penny purchased a tulip
and crocus. SO we planted more than 600
bulbs in two long beds, one in the girls
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-04-30
MADISON SCHOOL.
BY Miriam J. Austin, Principal.

~
Both the teachers and pupils of the
Madison school, in the northeastern section
OF the city, are very enthusiastic over the
prospects of their flower gardens. We
nave encountered many petty difficulties
and annoyances in this work but owing to
the enthusiasm of the scholars they have
all been overcome.
The Madison school being on a terrace it
is, of course, surrounded by made ground
consisting mostly of gravel and clay Sew
erai previous attempts had been made by
the janitor to grow flowers, but without
success. The school board had promised
US some rich soil, and as the season was
getting late it was concluded to begin the
work at once in order to be ready for this
soil as soon as it was delivered.
The ground was divided among the diff
ferent grades, with the understanding that
each grade was to care for it's own plot
or garden. This was done in order to
stimulate a friendly rivalry among the sew
eral grades and the scheme has met with
great success.
After each grade was assigned it's quota
a trench eighteen inches deep was dug
around the entire building. The earth taken
from this ditch removed by the boys of
the school, and used to fill holes and bitches
in the neighborhood. But although the
trench was ready the soil promised by the
school board had not been delivered, nor
could it be obtained in time for us to plant
bulbs, it necessary to look
around for substitute.
The boys at once set to work gathering
all the dead leaves to be found and even
after these had been mixed with some soil
the trench was stlll far from being filed.
A conference was held. and it decided
to buy some street sweepings from the city
street sweeping wagons at 10 cents a load.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-04-30

solved to make raid on the dwelling of
the debtor. She marched to the place with
five of her strongest and most aggressive
girls. When the debtors door was opened
the besieging party rushed in, bowled over
the servant, and took possession of the fat.
The Improbable customer showed fight,
but she was overpowered, held down and
tied by the five strong and aggressive girls,
while the head dressmaker opened a ward
robe and searched it diligently for money.
She found some bundles of bank notes.
and. abstract!ng therefrom the amount OF
her unpaid bill. 3o0f.s she ordered the
bad customer 10 be released from her bonds.
The raid. or siege, did not pass off without
notice. The concierge of the house had seen
the storming party ascend the stairs. and
wondered what il was all about. Then she
heard loud talk and scuffling in the fiat
entered by the determined dressn1aker, SO
she resolved to send for the police The re-
suit was that the besiegers had to retreat,
and their leader obliged TO disgorge
the money distracted from the wardrobe.
The debt VIII now have to be recovered by
more lenient means. and there is a case
against the determined dressmaker and her
staff for violation OF domicile.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-04-30
THE "CHILTERN HUNDREDS"
An Ingenious Constitutional Fiction
Practical in England.

From the London Quarterly Review.
Government Is full of make believes"
One of the fictions of the English system
Is that a member of parliament cannot re-
sign his seat But although he is not al
lowed TO resign, he may nevertheless retire
from parliament at his pleasure. He asks
to be appointed steward of the Chiltern
Hundreds. 1t is the theory of the British
constitution that when member of parlia-
ment accepts office under the crown he
must obtain the consent of his constituents
Thus his seat is vacated. and he must be
elected again after his appointment II he
wishes to accept the new office.
A member who wishes to retire from par
lament applies for this nominal Office of
steward of the Chiltern Hundreds. Is APP
pointed. thereby vacates his seat, and then
Immediately resigns his stewardship. so
that the situation Is vacant for the next
member who wishes to retire.
A crown steward Is custodian of one of
the manors, hundreds or honors belonging
to the royal demesne The manors were
Anglo-Saxon townships. and hundreds
were collections of townships within given
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-04-30

under difficulties. At some former time the
girls playground must have been a city
dump, for the subsoil consisted Of ashes,
bricks, pieces Of old tin. and plenty of
stone. At first we felt that to do anything
at all would be an impossibility but our
boys shouldered the responsibility dug out
the poor soil to quite depth and brought
from somewhere good clay, sand and leaf
mould to take its place. At first each school
was allotted a plot. and in 1t planted any
thing 1t chose. Last fall, however, we con-
sidered the advfsabflity of general scheme,
and now while each school keeps and cares
for its little garden. there is a harmonious
whole, rather than scattered effect. We
planted several hundred bulbs-hyacinths,
tulips, jonquils and crocuses. and now we
are rewarded by many very beautiful bios
SONS, over which the children hang ad
miringly at every spare moment, hailing
with delight the advent of each new flower.
When the school bell rings a passer-by
would think we had our gardens planted
with a border of bright and happy chill
dren!
AS soon as our spring blooming is over
we have planned to put in vines to cover
the ugly white-washed fences, next row
Of gorgeous red and yellow cannas. then
scarlet sage, followed by a mass of zinnias
and marigoldS, with a deep border of dwarf
nasturtiums, while on the very edge we
have already planted row of wild violets,
for their rich green foliage. A fence corner
of this same garden is to have in addition,
several castor oil beans, and sunfower or
two. to give height. We have taken up the
boards which confined the garden, and have
made the line of division from the play
ground rather irregular. Last year several
young trees were placed In the yard, and
about these the little children have planted
morning glory vines. to run up and cover
the wooden tree boxes. We have started
some japanese ivy on the side of the
building which promises to make a rest
full green wall for US some day.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-04-30

shire. The abuses perpetrated by these
stewards led to the reduction of their num-
bers, until finally, under Charles II. nearly
all the stewardships were abolished
One of the few crown stewardsh ps which
survived was that of the three Hundreds of
Chiltern, in the county of Bucks. Through
this region pass the Chiltern Hills, From
the earliest Norman times this property has
been I'm the hands of the lord the king"
In 1850 the ingenious constitutional fic-
ton which is noted above, came into prac-
tice. In that year the stewardship of the
Chiltern Hundreds was conferred upon
John Pitt, M p, solely that he might vacate
his seat. 1t has been constantly in use for
that purpose ever SINCE and the stew ard
ships of the other crown manorS have been
applied in the same way at various times.
1t is disputed question whether the
stewardship can be refused to any appli
cant, although it was refused to one men,
Der half century ago. Perhaps the right
to resign will soon be granted without re-
sort to this ancient fiction.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-04-30

| Ten loads of this were purchased, the
amount being contributed by the teachers.
In order to make these sweepings fit for
planting the best soil obtainable was
brought by the boys from vacant lots in the
vicinity of the school, and this was mixed
thoroughly with the sweepings and leaves.
The children contributed money enough
to buy SI5 bulbs, and the day before
Thanksgiving was selected planting
day" And on this day it was pleasure to
see how delighted the children were. as
large and small, with bulbs In hand they
marched out to plant them in their respec-
tive gardens. About a week after the
planting the rich soil from the school board
arrived, and this the boys spread over the
entire grounds
And now that the signs of spring have ap-
peared it is with eager faces that the chill
dren watch as each new shoot bursts
through the earth and raises its tiny head
above the ground.
1t may be asked, does all this work pay?
I need only say in reply: Pass the Madi
son school at recess or before school hours
and see the groups of admiring children of
one grade comparing the progress of their
garden with those of others.
We intend to plant shrubs and permanent
flowers fast We can get them, but
this will take time.
To the good work and enthusiasm of the
teachers and pupils is due the success of
this enterprise, and to these the principal
feels very grateful
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-04-30
DENT SCHOOL.
By Alice p. Stromberger, Principal.

Dent School, third division, beautifully To-
Gated on the corner of I'd street and South
Carolina avenue southeast, began its schoo.
garden in October, 1908.
Having well-panned lawn, ii was de-
termlned to beautify 1t. Designs for beds
were made by the pupils. beds laid out
and the soil enriched for bulbs. which were
placed in the ground in November. Spring
gave US fine display CT tulips. The teach
ers and pupils wanted a vine-clad building
Japanese ivy was procured from the Nor
NAL School greenhouse. This was planted
In the spring Of 1904, and has begun already
to cover the prosaic brick walls.
The fall of 1894 found teachers and pupils
enthusiastically ready to continue the work
so feebly begun the previous year Beds
building, apportioned to each grade begin
ming with the kindergarten. Bulbs were
planted early in November. These were
provided by the teachers and pupils. and
selected so as to give a succession of bloom
during the entire spring. The southeast
end of the lawn was dotted with crocuses,
white tulips. jonquils and hyacinths were
placed in the beds. A friend presented the
sixth and seventh grades with three hun
dred and fifty pansy plants, which were
set out in November
The bulbs began to greet US early in
March. making US glad March 10 with
our first crocus, followed the next day by
our first pansy. Tulips, jonquils and hya-
cinths FASTENED to take their places with
IlltlI lluTe lOi NdTu Sisters Our winter
wait has been rewarded by several weeks
of beautiful bloom
Spring work was ushered in by another
donation from the same friend who gave
the pansies. Twenty-seven varieties OF
perennials having been presented. they were
Immediately set out and bid fair to per-
manently beautify our grounds
Our neighborS have become interested in
the garden. and from them several dona-
tons of shrubs and vines have been re-
ceived.
A plan for beautifying the main entrance
is under contemplation. Red ramblers have
been planted each side and being
trained to arch over the main entrance.
All work of preparing the beds and plant
ing the flowers is done by the pupils (n-
Guiding the kindergarten tots) supervised by
janitor and teachers.
Bulbs will be replaced by plants that will
produce blooms until frost.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-04-30

winter made a beautiful border across the
front lawn that was one of the bright spots
in the neighborhood throughout the summer
and fall The asterS, nasturtiums and
cosmos all helped to improve what was
originally very unattractive yard.
This year the teachers hope to secure
better results, having last years founda-
ton upon which to work. They intend to
have all kinds of plants and vines, TOO.
wherever vine will grow. hoping in this
way to cover all unsightly objects. May
their example be followed
The influence of thi sworkis far reaching.
I think 1t gives the pupils not only some
object lessons in gardening, but teaches
them to love the beautiful. Surround
child with what is attractive and pleasing
to the eye, will he not naturally acquire
distaste for what IS ugly and coarse? He
Will learn to appreciate the real beauties
OF nature and consequently make more eff
fort to surround himself with objects OF
beauty and refinement. If We accomplish
nothing else, and succeed in this, l think
we will have done much.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-04-30
sMALLWOOD SCHOOL.
By Charles Johnson, Principal.


The school garden at the Smallwood con-
sists of a strip four feet wide along three
sides of both school yards. The cultivated
area is 1,O54 square feet. Each class in
the building has a plot of ground which 1t
endeavors to make the most beautiful and
most luxuriant of all.
Last fall each school planted bulbs, one
thousand in all. These are blooming at
present. In the fall several of the boys
were granted the privilege of making cut
tings for a privet hedge at the Normal
School greenhouse on the grounds of the
Department of Agriculture. These were
planted two weeks ago, either side of the
unsightly board fence separating the two
yards. In time it Is our hope to abolish
this partition fence a hedge replacing it.
We are indebted to the botanic gardens
for number of Towering bushes and vines,
which have been planted between plots and
in the corners of the yard.
When the bulbs have finished blooming,
seeds for flowers and vegetables will take
their places.
Great interest is being manifested in the
gardens by both teachers and pupils. The
pupils seem to feel an individual ownership
in the little plots. Now that the flowers are
in bloom / notice a much greater respect
for the gardens. They realize more now
the beauty and satisfaction in growing
things. The present success is a mere be-
ginning. We hope to realize greater things
in the future.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-04-30

some sort of drainage was necessary. so We
made a gutter of stones taken from the
ground. The flowers grew luxuriantly and
rewarded our arduous efforts Their
growth exceeded our utmost expectations,
so when school closed our little garden was
in very fiourishing condition. We left it
in the care of the janitor and such of us
as lived near.
In the fall when we returned to school
imagine our surprise and disappointment to
find our garden absolutely gone. No trace
of the beautiful flowers in which we had
taken much pride existed. In their place
were heaps of sand, clay, stone and scraps
of building material. Repairs and ad-
ditions had been made to the school during
the summer. The contractor had driven his
heavy team over the garden. and after
dumping his rubbish upon it, had covered it
all up with about six inches of clay dug IN
excavatng for foundations.
I'VE were utterly discouraged and dis
heartened. but in the spring of the next
year we tried again in the northern end OF
the yard but the adjacent buildings gave
so much shade. that this place was fail
ure. Then we turned our attention to the
old place. but found a new trouble. The
alley has been paved twenty inches
lower than the school lot. The old
fence is badly rotted, especially at the
bottom, 50 that every rain washes our
soil into the alley Under such conditions
Ii is impossible to make success OF
garden. The only remedy is brick wall
which will retain the necessary soil. We
are ready and willing to do anything in our
power. but we cannot build a permanent
brick wall one hundred feet long, so we
ask for your assistance and encouragement
to the extent of having brick retaining
wall built across the end of our yard, and
we will show you what a fine garden we
shall have. Yours respectfully,
CHARLES DITTMAN,
Seaton School.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-04-30
TOGO'S MIGHTY MIKASA
INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT THE
GREAT FLAGSHIP.

Among the personnel and the war ma
terial OF the Japanese naval forces that
have been thus far engaged in the Russo
japanese war the most conspicuous units
have been Admiral Togo and his great flag
ship. the Mikasa, says the Scientific Ameri-
can. Just as Port Arthur is the center
and most important objective OF the naval
war. so the Mikasa is the central point
around which revolve the various ele-
ments battleshi2s, cruisers, scouts, gunboats
and torpedo boats. In fulfilling their va
riOus duties in the campaign What the tent
of the ranking officer and the headquar-
tiers stan is to an army IN the field the
admirai's cabin of the Mikasa is TO the
fleet OF ships whose operations extend
from Vladlvostok to Port Arthur and from
Niuchwang to Nagasaa<i. 1t must not be
supposed that an admiral of a feet always
selects the largest or most formidable fight
Ing vessels for his flagship. Sometimes. as
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-04-30

yard, the other in the boys, and as not one
failed to blossom, we have had "a host"
not only of golden daffodiis," but of tulips,
hyac1nths and crocuses as well.
Strange as 1t may seem the boys are even
more enthusiastic than the girls, and we
have only to suggest that the garden needs
spading, raking watering to have more
volunteers than we can use.
Each school has its own portion of the
bed, but boundary lines have been forgot
ten, and parents and little friends are
brought in to see ''our garden" each child
taking as much pride in the flowers he
didS:.ot plant in the ones that he did.
and not single blossom has been plucked
We have also planted golden glow. crocus
hydrangeas, forsythia, spiraea and lilies of
the valley, SO we hope for a succession of
bloom. and when the unsightly board fences
have been covered with vines and the fall
an autumn garden which will rival our
spring garden in beauty and the pleasure 1t
has given to teachers and pupils.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-04-30
on N--o ASe"i -

etable garden was started in the rear of
our school.
here indeed was work. Stones and CLAW
mao Tor SO long been In possession of the
surface that a stout resistance to their dis
!ougnent was made, and for days the en-
tre noon recess was given to getting the
ground IN shape. BY May 10 the seeds
were planted and before the close of the
term our crops were fiourishing
They were tended during vacation hv
pupls under the direction of teachers, and
IN the fal there was a public exhibition.
which was commended
Each year since we have added to our
space and improved upon the distribution
OF our work, so that all pupils are reached
In practical way.
our space is divided into eight plats, each
fourteen by twelve feet and separated by
walks Two rect in width. One Of these is
assigned to each school above the third
grade and varied crops are grown
Our home garden work has been success
1ui, and for the past two years we have re-
ceived a result, vegetables that wound
do credit to any grower.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-04-30
Collecting a Debt in Paris.

Paris CORRESPONDENCE LOndoh IeIesrAph.
Dressmakers. headed by their mistress.
who keeps an establishment in the Rue
d Amsterdam. laid siege yesterday to the
fiat of woman who had neglected to pay
for costumes supplied. 1t was a bill for
ELI. and. as the customer was deaf to APP
peals for the money, the dressmaker re-