davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-05-28

patience of Job and seems never-ending. IL
they lag back for a moment 1t needs only
the commanding voice Of the driver to make
them fall into their regular walk once more.
There has been. year after year. consider
able talk of a proposition to turn the canal
course into railroad bed, in order that the
Western Maryland railroad may enter
Washington by a direct and picturesque
route. In fact, 1t is understood that the
Western Maryland now has control Of the
canal stock Be this as it may, there APP
pears at present to be no danger OF the dis
appearance of that historic old waterway
which George Washington surveyed and
which was one of the first of its kind IN
the new world. The canal, of course, has
seen its glorious days. That was in the
prime Of Georgetown and Alexandria as
trade centers. Now the railroads in Mary
land and Virginia have changed all this.
But if the canal could speak it might say in
pride:
Railroads may come and railroads may
60 but l go on forever
Still. the progress Of the future win
doubtless bring about the end Of the old
waterway some day-though when no ono
can say.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-05-28

shelled amphibious creatures. swimming
suggishly on their way. Four mules are
taken with each boat that makes the jour
ney continuously. Two rest in the narrow
stables in the bow. while the other two
draw the boat at an easy walk. Indian file
they go, ever urged on by the little whip of
the driver or by the sound Of bells hung
around their collars.
The men likewise take turns working on
the towpath and resting on board the boat.
The quarters of the family are always in
the rear. There in a little cabin they cook
eat and sleep. Sometimes, it should be
said, if the weather IS fair and warm, the
men. and occasionally the women, stretch
out on the roof of the cabin, over which an
awning is spread aud sleep there.
In the center of the boat is another
'Compartment''-for it is scarcely large
enough to be called anything else-and here
the feed for the mules is kept and also
whatever tools and implements may be nee
essary on the journey. The cargo Is car
ried in the body Of the boat in two larger
compartments divided by the central store
house When the boat IS loaded it sinks
deep into the water, and care must he
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-05-28

taken to keep 1t squarely in the center of
mud.
For those members of the canal boat
mans family who do not assist in driving
the mules the life is a lazy one. This APP
plies, of course, only to the women folks
and the babies for the smallest boys who
are able to walk and carry switch are
taught to be drivers. The women do the
cooking and sometimes help with the steer
ing. This latter task does not require the
expanding of much energy, as the steers
man has only to lean back comfortably
against the tiller and occasionally move 1t
to the right or the left. 1t does require,
however, no little skill.
One who is not acquainted with the bust
ness might think that it would be a re-
markedly easy job to steer a canal boat
which is drawn steadily ahead by a rope
from the towpath and has but one channel
in which to go, and that always in front
But let that person take the tiller on such
boat and try TO keep it in midstream ,
set him see how difficult 1t is to counteract
the pull of the rope, which is fastened near
the center of the boat and pulls her head
always toward the bank opposite the tow
path. Let him attempt to pass another
boat in the narrow stream, or to success
fully round some sharp curve in the course
1t is ten to one that the big, sluggish craft
will gain Roadway in the wrong direction
before he is fully aware of what is going
on, and that she will go plum into the mud
or on a rock next the shore, if, indeed. she
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-05-28

present war in Manchuria there have been
only fourteen gagements-eXcluding the
siege of Port Arthur-important enough TO
receive name.
'Au of this has an important bearing in
the interest of humanity. In struggle be
tween two nations one or the other y.e.uS
for the same reason that one of Two armies
on the battlefield yielGS-from the moral Ge-
preston produced by the physical evidences
of loss. This depression is the greater
when all these physical evidences are CEN
tered at one spot which heretofore was
also the one center of hope.
AT the recent battles of Liaoyang and
Mukden the opposing commanders were
separated by a distance of from twenty-five
to thirty miles, each of them being at least
twelve or fifteen miles IN rear or MS own
line If the main reserve of the victorious
side were as near as it could be 10 the point
at which the opponent first began 10 yleId,
it would require them several hours Of IA
tiguing march to reach that point Long
before this was done the enemy was able TO
begin a fairly orderly retreat. This is a
condition which may be assumed TO con-
tinue in the future, and IS another of the
many reasons why the perfection OF mOdeEn
arms has shown in their enormously in
creased range a decrease in the percentage
of loss that would otherwise be expected.
You will note that in good many of
modern battles much of the loss has been
due not so much to the power of the weap-
onS as to a lack of appreciation of that
power on the part of those who used them;
that Is to say, much or the loss was pre-
ventable. In the Franco-PruSsian war each
side found itself for the first time in the
presence of an enemy armed with the
breech-loading, rapid-fre rifle Each side
began the with formations adapted to
former weapons, and lost accordingly. So
a. the war progressed the same results
were accomplished with a decreasing per-
centage of casualties In 1877 the Russians
attacked the Turkish positions at Plevna in
formations not much different from those
employed a Borodino. At Port Arthur Gen
Nogi'S men found themselves shut out from
that object of their most intense longing,
which they had captured from a very Diff
ferent enemy in twenty-four hours ten years
before. l think It safe to say that 25,0UO
out of the total loss in the seven months
siege of Port Arthur were uselessly lost in
learning that success depends not upon the
reckless bravado of the soldier, but upon
the scientific adaptation of the means to
the end by the general.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-05-28


x x
Gen. Bliss then cites historical facts to
demonstrate that the percentage of casual
ties in battle, other things being reason
ably equal, decreases in proportion to the
perfecton-length of range. accuracy and
| inherent destructive character-of the mill
tary weapons employed. He traces the de-
velopment of this law from about the time
when the increasing perfection of firearms
caused such weapons to displace the hand
weapons of medieval and ancient times, and
| gives statistical tables of losses in the prin-
cpal battles fought from the beginning Of
the seven years war in the eighteenth cen
tury to and including the battle of Mukden
in the twentieth century.
In the twelve principal battles Of the
seven years war the average losses We're:
NictOrS, IA per cent; defeated, 10 per cent.
At ZorndOrf the PrussianS lost S3S per
cent and the Russians 42.9 per cent. AT
kunersdOrf the PrussianS lost 43.4 per cent.
During the Napo!eonic epoch an average
Of twenty-five battles gives VictOrs Il per
cent loss, defcated.19 per cent. AT Aspern
the French lost 4G.S per cent.
The average loss in four principal battles
in the Crmea was: For the vetors 10 per
! cent for the defeated Il per cent. At In
| hermann the Russians lost II per cent
| The average of four principal actions in
! the Franco-Austrian war of 1889 gives for
! the victors per cent loss, for the defeated
/ 50 per cent.
| In the twelve principal battles of the civil
/ war the losses of the Union army amounted
| TO 1914 per cent, and of the confederate
/ armies to 1916 per cent
The average of six principal actions in
| the Austro-Prussian war of 1866 gives for
! the victors per cent, for the defeated 8
| per cent
The average of eight principal actions of the
first period of the -Prussian war OF
| 1870 gives for the Victors 10 per cent for the
defeated per cent. The heaviest loss in
| any one case was, for the Prussian % per
| cent The average of three principal &C
| tions In the second period of the Franco
German war gives for the victors % per
cent for the defeated 3.5 per cent.
In fourteen battles in the present Russo
| Japanese war Excluding the siege of Port
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-05-28

Another instructive point to note is that
with the tendency of decrease in percentage
of loss there is a tendency TO increasing
concentration of energy on the battlefield
as represented by increased numbers of
cOmbatants. and the strange fact is that
this increase in concentration of energy Is
Itself one of the causes of decrease III loss
In a battle there may be an exhibition OF
more or less destructive energy over miles
Of front, while the real work is being done
perhaps along a line of 100 yards.
Through the NapOeOnic wars and the
Franco-Prussiau war the tendency has been
to concentrate increasing numbers of men
upon the decisive battletields of a war with
diminishing percentages of loss, until we
come to the recent battle of Mukden, in
which the victorious Japanese lost i per
cent, and the percentage of loss of the de-
feated Russians was less than that suffered
by one side or the other in numerous bat
ties of our civil war.
Again, this concentration of energy results
in less percentage of the total death loss
in a given war. The one important respect
in which the civil war in America differs
from all others in modern times is the
wide dispersion of energy over an enormous
theater. In other wars each nation has
combined all its power in one army operat-
ing on one line against one hostile army.
The eliminating decisive defeat for either
ends the war. The law of mechanics holds
true in such q caSe-the concentration or
power is accompanied by the minimum
waste of Material. In the Crimean war the
allied armies lost 80 per cent killed and
died of wounds in the war of 1866 the Aus
trian army lost 90 per cent: in the Franco
Prussian war of 1STU-TI the Germans lost
81 per cent All of these wars represent
concentrated energy In the American civil
war, which represented dispersion, the
Union armies lost ~ in killed and died OF
wounds and the confederates lost over per
cent. And there is no reason to suppose
that the present Russo-Japanese war will
show a departure from the law.
In the civil war there were regimental
losses at critical parts of the field of be-
tween so and so per cent and we have no
reason to believe that there have been any
greater losses in the war in Manchuria. The
maximum loss in any brigade composed of
several regiments was between 60 and 40
per cent, and the maximum loss In di
vision of several brigades was between 90
and 60 per cent.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-05-28

does not ram a passing boat or perchance
so swing as to cut a towrope.
Travelling night and day, a canal boat
makes the trip from this city to Cumber-
land in about two days and nights. The
most time is lost in passing through the
locks there being seventy-nine of these on
the way. representing an elevation of $50
feet. The lockman is notified of the APP
proach of a boat by the blowing of a horn
or the peculiar call of the captain. In
places where six or seven locks are close to-
gether, such as Seven Locks and Great
Falls, there is a wire pulley communica-
ton between them, by which the lockman
ahead is notified that a boat is coming by
the ringing of a bell IN his house. He
rushes out and Immediately prepares the
lock for the entrance of the boat, if 1t is
not already prepared. Keen observers and
all old hands the canal can tell what is
going on some distance away by the rising
or falling of the water. The emptying of a
lock to let a boat down sends a long, even
swell to the south and causes an almost i'm
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-05-28

But it is needless to multiply eXplana-
tons of the sadly obvious fact that. in spite
Of the apparent increasing dead!iness of
military weapons. nations still can and Will
wage war. And when they do fight it is not
only, as was once the case, with the best
appliances of their own, but also with what
ever is afforded by an alien civilization
Men who in their youth fought in body ar
NOR and with the two-handed sword and
the bow and arrrow-these same men are
now fighting with every explosive product
of the chemists laboratory, and have the
telegraph the telephone and the electric
seirchlight on their firing line The rat on
al hope of universal and eternal peace does
not lie in the material products of our Yves
ern Christian civilization. Nations that
borrow our dynamos to light with electrie-
ity the temples of their gods also born go
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-05-28
a lOkELI PlA1ER

perceptible advance of the water in the
upper level.
One characteristic feature of the canal
boatman and his family is their hospitality.
Ordinarily they do not carry passengers for
a compensation. being merely in the freight
business, but there is scarcely captain
who will not welcome on board his craft
some stranger who may wish to enjoy the
pleasures Of loafing through beautiful
country for a season. He may accept some
little present for his child, or enjoy treat
to something good TO eat or drink, but that
IS left entirely to his guest. He usually
plays the host as well as the finest south
ern gentleman.
The crews are composed for the most part
of white men. Once in a while one sees a
colored hand who assists in the steering or
driving, but they are not many. There are
several freaks on the waterway, such q 5
steam-propelled boats and horses: but they
are few and far between, the stanch old
mule being good enough for the work. And
the patience Of those mules! 1t is like the
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-05-28

cavalry and artillery of both Russia and
Japan have been doing all those things 50
c-,d-l\ proved TO De Phys-eaHy ana iho'"'4S
r,,-1 Sc .i,.,,. ,,,,,,,r am, a1,,,.s
has been So. the picture presented by Prof
Bloch would if true, be still more terrible,
out we DO not often stop 10 ihHK WhaI ji.e
~ iti POI 81 .1 hd r.
- - - t ''',' d5d n var
- - ~ i,,,,,.,i,,,t1 HE Ind
.-o-t,.r "a - -. 1,frji,. a,d
80, III ,, t,,ii5 ~, b MT the
= - - az ~ ,,.I,,li acromn,fsh
- .t - I,,.. w.. r,'.,.l,,,.,h a,,nee
- ~ ,,,' ,,,, f,. ,iIsl 70 10
~
..-rts error in Prof Rroor's assumntjons
80 -, -,
a9 ~ lle 'i'SN' Z" Nv f''''1' " ~
weapons on the Ddtt-ehtld Hes III Inc Id'IuIe
TO observe that under average conditions
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-05-28
Eandicraft VS.. Machine.
From the Reader Magazine.

FROM The Reader Magazine.
We need not rely upon the poets and
poetical historians for knowledge of what
the ''handcraft" civilization meant We
can study it, as it survives practically UNI
changed in the miserable novels Of Bohem-
ian and Italian and Spanish peasants.
where men and beasts rot together IN con-
ditions of sanitation that would not long be-
tolerated in any place where the machine
civilization has inaugurated its high and
ever higher moral and physical standards.
We need not go so far from home. To get
a picture of a prosperous handicraft city
of the middle ages. go to New Iorks East
Side, where are the fast-disappearlng
sweat shops that were transplanted from
"handicraft neighborhoods" of Europe.
The poets have it otherwise; and so do
those historians who like to paint allur-
ing pictures for their readers-and hate 10
grub for facts. But there Is the gFlsIy
truth Contrast the average sweat shop
with the average factory. No; contrast
the best sweat shop with the worst factory.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-05-28

our magazine rifles and high-pOwer field
guns. The peace that we hope for VIII
come when each civilization has absorbed
all that there is of essentially good and no.
bic in the other, and il viii then be the peace
which is born not of fear, but of love"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-05-28

STA and Japan. In spite of this revival, the
general law of decrease in percentage OF
loss accompanying perfection Of firearms
holds true. To sum up what has been
said in regard to this individual element
you Will observe that the principal differ
ence in this respect between an ancient and
ancient one the death grape extended
from end to end of the line. in a modern
one large parts of the two armies are sim
ply sparrng with each other, endeavOTing
to hold each other fast while the whole In
tensity of the struggle is concentrated at
perhaps one point.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-05-28

Finally, this dispersion of energy and its
attendant results is illustrated by the fact
that in our civil war there were 112 battles
properly so-called, and 1852 battles and
large and small engagements, while In the
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-05-28

Thompson's colt had swum the river to
get a drink.
the animal.
..The colt isn't rs big a fool as some HUI
4-37 tcires." he said. Look at the thou
as.s 81 outs people that go across the
t-at for a drink. Chicago Tribune.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-05-28

In chapter to prove that Russia did not
need "a navy Prof. Bloch said:
From the direction Of Japan there can be
no serious danger. The Amur territory Of
Russia is a vi derucss which Japan cannot
threaten. 1t is uncomfortable that she would
enter upon a war with Russia even though
she were possessed Of a prepOuderance OF
battieships."
On that point Gen. Bliss comments as fol-
lows:
well, that Inconceivable' war has now
been waging day and night for more than
year; the thunder of Japan's cannon and
inc tramp of her armies are now rever-
beFaung In the valley of the Amur, and dur
ing every moment OF this time the infantry,
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-05-28

far been less than that of any previous
great war"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-05-28

does not ram a passing boat or perchance
so swing to cut towrope.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-05-28

was % per cent, for the Japanese 4.6 per
cent. The heaviest loss in any one single |
- per cent; for the japanese at Sandepur,
ii per cent.
The Washington times., 1905-11-05
-Four Blocks for Every Order.

Of course did not know anything Of
the kind. anG I said so with proper
apology. After Edna had moved quick
" on her way 1 began 20 estimate the
distance between the kitchen and the
dining room. The apartment house ran
through from one street to another;
that was one block. Two flights of
stairs was certainly equivalent to an
other block There and back was four
blocks Edna walked four blocks for
every order she took She even did 1t
over once or twice before the order
was complete.
] had a habit of ordering nay dinner
and deciding afterward whether l want
ed q salad or not. That made an extra
trip not counting the inevitable extra
for dessert and coffee. \ possible twelve
blOcks-mOTe than half a mile TO serve
one woman. Edna had charge of three
tables. Presumably the people who sat
at them were as hard TO wait on as l.
Very likely more SO. My arithmetic
gave out before the task of figuring
Edna's pedestrian exercises in the
course of three meals a day seven days
in the week.
The Washington times., 1905-11-05
Life in New England Town.

With a little persuasion she told me
all about herself. She had begun life III
a New England factory town. had finish
ed grammar school. and had gone into
the mills as a matter of cours.e e when
she was fifteen The work was nerve
racl1ing, but not otherwise uncomfortable.
The pay was small for the first three
years; but before the strike Edna was
making So Il week. Her parents were
dead. and she lived with an aunt and
three cousins. all four of whom worked
in the mills in one capacity or another.
What was the strike about? Edna was
not clear.
She thought it had something to do
with a large bobbin substituted for a
small one. The matter dtG not a1ect
her department of the work at all. eX-
cept that the whole factory suffered a
reduction of wages She Joined the
union, and had week or two or plea
sura bic excitement. attending meetings
doing picket duty. and witnessing some
thrilling street riots.
Then the pinch came. Poverty laid
hold of them all. 1t was necessary to
md other work, and Edna, who had al
vyavs been of Il domestic turn of mind
resolved TO accept the advice so often
offered the factory girl, and become a
household worker. She wrote TO q
friend who had settled in New York
and asked her counsel. The friend re-
piled with a ticket to New York and an
invitation to visit her and look around
| wasn't paid anything the first two
The Washington times., 1905-11-05
THE LIFE STORY OF A WAITRESS

weeks, although ] learned the business
MY friend married an iron worker
said Edna. They have the sweetest
nat up in D5th street, simply lovely,
and I had such a nice time there. Then
took the place I told you Of. Ny
friend fell rick soon after that OF
wouldn't have stayed so long. I didn't
like TO bother her. There vas another
reason, too. Her husband had a bro
theF who used TO come around a good
deal while / was there.
He didn't want me TO do hOuSeWork
and when I told him that they
wouldn't allow me to have company at
the house he got mad at me. didn't
like to go to my friend after that Oh
yes, he's all right now but you don't
care anything about that
After my people left for the country
I got work in a dairy restaurant down
town. I had never waited before, and
in much less time. I began on s. q
week and ran up to s. But landi The
fines made a hole in that. You were
fined for everything IN that place. u
you broke one OF the heavy cups, 10
cents. The cup must have cost them
less than cents. If the ice melted on
the butter and the water ran over, YOU,
were fined The electric fans melt ice
terribly fass. You are fined fof talk
ing TO another girl or TO 3 customer.
7 don't know what y2u are not fined
for really. Then the laundry bills.
washed and ironed my own aprons.
but I couldn't do my shirtWa1sts.
was too tired nights. The fees at his
place were small They didn't begin tc
nav the fines.
The Washington times., 1905-11-05
Hard Work in Private House.

Il did work in a private house once,
said Edna. "It was last spring, when I
first came to New York. I worked in a
nice house near Central Park There
was sickness in the family, and they
stayed in town until the middle OF July.
From the time I went there in May. un-
til left when they did, I never was out
OF the house but six times. ] was not
allowed to leave but one afternoon in
two weeks-never in the evening.
worked harder than I do here. and no
one ever gave me five cents outside my
wages.
I was not allowed to receive my
friends and of the other help one was
a man cook. a Frenchman; one was a
colOred butler. one was a lady's maid,
who thought she was much better than
I; and there was. besides, a sort of a
hOusekeeper, who was a kind, middle
aged woman. l was chambermaid and
young girl. / had never spent a sum-
mer in town before and the confinement
nearly killed NE. But the worst was the
loneliness. l wouldn't work in a private
house again if they offered me $50 a
month"
Eighty dollars a month was evidently
an enormous income in Edna's estima-
tfOn