davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Cooperstown courier. (Cooperstown, Griggs Co., N.D.) 1902-1913, 1905-04-20
MRS. ELLA r. READER, THE WOMAN IN
THE SANTO DOMINGO CASE.
FROMTYPEWRlTER TO DIPLOMACY
Interesting Story Revealed by the Senates Failure ia
Pass Treaty with President Morales-Agreed to
Place Country on Sound Footing in Re-
for Important Concessions

Sprague company st the contract for
stopping the shudders.
Her Second Husband.
Miss Rawls was still in the employ
of j. G. White & Co. when, in 1901, she
met and was won by Mr.. Reader. His
career had been quite rs interesting
rs her own. He was born in New Zea-
land, British subject. He is rather
short. very dark, with black eyes and
mustache. He could pass as South
American any time. He was private
secretary to Sir Charles Evan Smith,
the British minister to Morocco, in
1892. In 1897 he became private secre-
tary to Sir West Ridgeway, governor
of Ceylon. Various circumstances
caused him to become familiar with
affairs in Peru, and while he was still
interested he met Miss Rawls in Lon
don and married her. Together they
have worked since then. and together
they now stand. Mr.. Reader has the
deep mind. Mrs. Reader the quick wit
They worked out great scheme of
mining improvement in Peru and in
terested the western copper million
aire, James B. Haggin. According t.
Mr.. Reader, he and his wife were to
have 10 per cent. commission for pro-
noting this scheme and, according to
the same story. the plans went through
beautifully, except that the 10 per cent.
was not paid.
The Peru financial arrangement is
said to have stopped threatened rev.
olution in that country.
Dealings with San Domingo.
This is the early history of the
Readers and brings them up to the
time they began their dealings with
San Domingo. Their statements re-
garding their dealing with President
Morales concerning treaty with this
country, and their relations with Will.
liam Nelson Cromwell. the well-llnown
New York lawyer, who played such a
prominent part in the Panama deal.
make interesting reading. 1t is said
that they are more than little sus-
picious that it was Mr.. Cromwell who
betrayed their dealings with the dis
tressed republic to the Washington
government and caused the bargain
they thought they had made to be
knocked in the head.
ut was in the fall of 1904" said Mr..
Reader, ''that one of the secret agents
of President Morales. located in the
city of New York. was a young man
named Perez a native of San Domingo.
"These secret agents, by the way.
who represent Gen. Morales in the
United States. principally reside in
New York. There are always more
than one, and they are called secret
agents because, although representing
the same government, they are nearly
always unknown to each other. The
reason of the existence of these secret
agents need not be stated here. but
they are considered necessary to the
The Cooperstown courier. (Cooperstown, Griggs Co., N.D.) 1902-1913, 1905-04-20

much that would amount to by this
time at compound interest at six per
cent. The Stevens family still lives
in Hoboken, though that historic town
is hardly considered s'smart" by the
set which claims that adjective. The
great house of the Stevens family on
Castle Point is still one of the most
conspicuous objects as you cross the
river or come down from Albany by
boat. The Stevens family, their build
ing of an iron-clad ram during the
war to give to the government. their
founding of Stevens institute to train
young civil engineers, were all made
familiar to crowded houses at the
semi-centennial of Hoboken last week.
In the old days the "Elysian Fields"
used to be in Hoboken; and on the
heights little above the village, Burr
and Hamilton fought their famous,
fatal duel. Now the place is chiefly
notable as the sailing place OF the
two great German steamship lines,
the NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. and the
Hamburg-American. Huge. bearded
officers, stalwart sailors, pale stokers,
are the most characteristic figures in
the streets. These big German lines
The Cooperstown courier. (Cooperstown, Griggs Co., N.D.) 1902-1913, 1905-04-20

had accepted everything. and had gone
SO far as to make out the telegram
appointing Mrs. Reader as his fiscal
agent and representative in Washing
ton. If he had not intended to complete
his arrangements.
President Morales also seemed con-
fused and unable to give satisfactory
answer"
AS to the cause of the sudden dis
continuance Of the negotiations and
the rejection of the treaty by the
United States senate. several explana-
tions have been given. Mr.. Cromwell
declares that he is not and has never
been interested in any San Dominican
affairs.
1t is the verdict of a great many
of the most prominent newspapers
that the Readers would have made an
utter failure Of their undertaking, tut
they have never been able to convince
the two daring promoters of that. Mr..
Reader declares: I'VE would have put
Santo Domingo on a new financial
footing. The country would have no
more trouble with foreign countries.
Its debts would have been attended
to and we would have arranged q
treaty with the United States"
The Cooperstown courier. (Cooperstown, Griggs Co., N.D.) 1902-1913, 1905-04-20


nrm that has ousted Morgan from the
honor of the first promoting bond
house in America, simply by superior
conservatism bear prestige in Wall
street that it would take much to
shake. All these houses have worked
greatly for charity. and a son OF the
elder Seligman Is professor in Co.
lumbia, uses his wealth in the most
enlightened manner and is an author
ity upon economics.
There is a beautiful touch in Edwin
Lefevre's Wall Street in McClure's
Magazine. William Mellen" is, of
course, John d. Rockefeller; George
Mellen" is William Rockefeller; 'Daw-
son" is Stillman, president Of the
Standard Oil bank. "Mr. Herzog" in
the tale is Mr.. Schiff, active partner
in Kuhn, Loeb & Co. When in the
story his young visitor asks only Mr..
Herzog's word that he would hold as
confidential a deal involving millions,
Mr.. Herzog replies: ut is all we ever
give" And it is quite enough. The
story represents Mr.. Herzog as put
ting half dozen foreign firms into
the deal, which involved blind conf
dence in matters that could not posi-
bly, be explained, for many millions.
Here again it is true to life. Mr..
Lefevre is by profession financial
editor. He has disguised the physical
appearance of his four financiers.
otherwise the men are shown as they
are, and the contrast is not unfavora-
BILE to the great Jewish banker.
The Cooperstown courier. (Cooperstown, Griggs Co., N.D.) 1902-1913, 1905-04-20


taxes. would it have cost $4,000, 900
an acre to date? No: nor for another
30 years to come! Yet that was the
price at which small bit of land sold
the other day. There were only 160
square feet of it, and it was known
as key plot" necessary to make
up q larger purchase, and the owner
could hold out for his price. The
pric. per square inch was above 81
per foot, $3.50. 1t would exactly car
pet the trea with 800 bills.
This is the record price for land in
New York. Some other records for
different parts of the city are inter-
esting for comparison. The Drexel-
Morgan people paid $500 tor part Of
the land upon which J. F. Morgan's
Office now stands. That also was Q
key plot" but the whole lite is now
worth $500 foot. The old custom
house site, a short distance away, is
worth about $500 a square foot. and
there are three-fourths OF an ecre of
it, making u total of nearly Slo,oOO,-
600; but the Rockefeller bank got it
from the government few years ago
for a little over 100000 and the
government has paid interest upon it
ever since by way of rent" though
congress recently adjourned without
appropriating the usual rent item. AS
the bank has also paid no taxes to the
city, the title not having passed to 1t
from Uncle Sam, it stands to make the
entire sum in profits out of the trans
action before the new custom house
can be finished.
There is plenty of land within half
mile of Wall street that is worth
5000 o foot, and 1915 was actually paid
for q small corner nearly four miles
north of the street four years ago.
Up to a year ago 800 foot had been
the record for Fifth avenue land, but
$500 has now been paid for q small
key plot" and about 5000 foot for
an entire plot In the Waldorf Astoria
neighborhood. The Astors could tear
down that great hotel now and get
for the bare land what it cost them to
rear the structure. There ID hardly
club on the avenue that could not
do the same. The Union leagne cor
ner, for instance. was bought In 1886
for $4,000. 1t IL now worth $500, 900
another problem in compound in
terest-or rather, it is not a problem
at all, as the land has earned its
charges right along. and more. Henry
Clews bought q house just north of
the Waldorf for $25O,OOO. lived In 1t
IS years and sold it for $75O,OOO. That
is enough to pay interest, repairs and
taxes all that time, leaving his rental
nothing at all. and still pay profit
of $4,000. ,
The Cooperstown courier. (Cooperstown, Griggs Co., N.D.) 1902-1913, 1905-04-20

came to her (she was then Miss Ella
Rawls) from the city. For reporting
the work of the Venezuelan boundary
commission she was endorsed. she
says, by the late William L. Strong,
J. Kennedy Tod, and others. Every
thing was prosperous for the young
woman who had come from the south
with nothing but ambition.
She went to London in 1899 and be-
came connected with the firm of ]. G..
White & Co. She had not wasted her
time in Wall street. The sultan of
lahore came to London. He had up
his sleeve the contract for the building
of the lahore railroad, costing $5.000,-
600. Miss Rawls met the sultan So
cially. J. G. White & Co. got the rail-
road contract. a.i r.-,, {
The tuppenny tube had been built in
London, but was troubled with vibra-
ton. There was a call for somebody
who could cure this evil. Miss Rawls
was associated with the sprague Null
tiple Control company. She took a
look at the vibrations. and in 1901 the
The Cooperstown courier. (Cooperstown, Griggs Co., N.D.) 1902-1913, 1905-04-20
TRIALS OF PAYING TELLER.
Is Expected to Redeem Counterfeit
Money and Pass on Rare
Coins.

"If the paying teller of bank never
cashed a check OF hit tap In the or
binary course of business. he could still
earn a fat salary" said the cashier of
one Of the city's biggest money deposit
cries. Its come to such pass that my
legitimate business is the smallest Of my
worries. l am, in brief, the victim of
the men, women and ahiidron. Tho think
they have dist krred bonanzas in rare
and valuable coin.
II doubt II one person out of 800
knows anything about what coins have
any value abose their face, but nearly
everybody is continually on the watch
for something of the sort that looks
promising. Any coin more than 20
years old comes in for minute inspection
many times day, passing out Of cir
culation for a brief space at frequent in
tervals until It's possessor for the time
being gets chance to bring 1t In here
to me-"
The paying teller paused in his IA
ment long enough to tell an old gentle
man that $50 confederate bills were
worth about ten cents peck, then re-
sumed:
"The v nickel without the word
cents is another much sought after
coin, worth just five cents. This is the
small boys pet. There has long been
a rumor flying about in urchindom to
the effect that v nickels are really flvc-
dollar gold pieces, only the mint made
a mistake and cast several bushels Of
them in the wrong metal. This mis-
hap, however. is not supposed to impair
their. value, as the government is
thought to be very anxious to recover
them, and will cheerfully pay i've dol
lars for all such delivered to me. An
other old-time favorite is the nickel
cent, as we'll as the silver half dime and
the two-cent piece.
''But this is not all. There seems to
be an existing belief among certain
classes that am legally bound to issue
good money for all counterfeit, plugged
or mutilated money. These Same peo-
pie imagine that have some sort Of Q
stand-in somewhere, where I can get
good, hard, shiny American money and
give it to them for any foreign speci-
mems they may guilelessly accept. They
go away with the notion that l an
swindling them when Irefuse to make
good"
The Cooperstown courier. (Cooperstown, Griggs Co., N.D.) 1902-1913, 1905-04-20
PRESIDENT AND q !.


One o'clock in the executive O0co -
Joining the white house. Ten Nen an
waiting in the small reception 1ooln. foe
the president has been emerged tDs -
hour or longer with two menbsn q ths;
cabinet. He has an appointment, too.
with several friends from distance loFi
luncheon ct the white house. \ tall.
military man has just entered the recep-
ton room when Bling" the door to the
presidents private once flies open. and
Mr.. Roosevelt steps out. writes Jackson
Tinker, in Public Opinion.
"Your name. pleased" he exclaims -
he comes squarely against the big mill
tary man.
This expression has the same effect on
the visitor as Attention" He straight
ems up another inch or two, and with
out the slightest tremor replies: Il am
the deputy chief Of constabulary OF the
Philippine islands,"
"Ah!" exclaims the president, II
am glad to see you. But am fearfully
busy and have not q minute now. have
some ideas about your work over there
and want to see you. When are you
going back?"
II must leave early tomorrow morn
ing for Frisco to catch the transport
back" is the reply.
II see. WE'LL will not have . min
ute to-day. See here, you can come back
to the white house tonight ct 1920
o'clock? We can have an hours talk
then undisturbed. Come right to the
front door and tell them who You are. 1
will leave word that am to see you"
Certainly" says the grim visitor.
Remember, 1920 tonight" is the
presidents last word to him.
Glow are you?" he exclaims. for now
he is grasping the hand OF a magazine
editor who has been his friend for many
years.
"And you?" to third from the south.
II was going to write to you. have
found you were right about that fellow.
He is not the kind of man 1 want, and
he cannot get that appointment"
"Hello! know what You want" to
another from New York. You want me
to go to that dinner of your club. Now.
nothing would give me greater pleas.
ure than to be with the boys, as you
know, but really cannot 60. have
declined 20 invitations to dinners In two
days."
Smiling all the time, but decisive and
brusque, the president disposes Of all ten
visitors In ten minutes. Then he goes
IN luncheon oud Aiccusooo n,,ostiOna NJ
state or administration policy with his
friends, as they dine with him and Mrs.
Roosevelt.
The Cooperstown courier. (Cooperstown, Griggs Co., N.D.) 1902-1913, 1905-04-20

Washington.-Imagin a treaty be-
tween two republics, one of them your
own, negotiated by a woman. Then
imagine her after the successful con-
clusion of the pact, controlling the
finances of the other party to the
agreement, paying its debts and v;r-
tually running the country. and you
have the goal for which one of the
'gentler SEX was recently striving.
One would almost as soon expect to see
Q woman seated in the presidents
cabinet as mixing in such interna-
tional affairs.
Would Finance a Republic.
Nevertheless had the plans of Mrs.
Ella Rawls Reader successfully ma
tured she would to-day be financing
the republic of San Domingo and at
tempting to place the country on good
terms with its neighbors; but when
everything seemed to be progressing
favorably her deal was rudely nipped
by the failure of the United States
senate to ratify the treaty which had
been prepared.
It was Just before the adjournment
of the special session of the senate
that Senator Morgan. of Alabama.
made public some interesting informa-
ton regarding the Sah Dominican
treaty and which has served to show
that Mrs. Reader. although practically
unheard of before, is without doubt
one of the most daring promoters Of
the day. She is woman with re-
fnarkably interesting history. Her
husband is Athole B. Reader, formerly
of New Zealand, Morocco and Ceylon,
but now a citizen of the United States
He has ably assisted his shrewd wife
in her undertakings.
Life Of Mrs. Reader.
Mrs. Reader is said to be 80 years
old, but she looks younger. Her COM
plexion is wonder; her figure is girl
ish. She was born in Marion, Ala. of
a family closely acquainted with Sen
ator Morgan and other statesmen.
At Is she married man named Phil
lips, who was clerk in candy store
in Birmingham, Ala. Their married
life was unhappy and they separated,
Phillips coming to Chicago. where he
committed suicide in hotel
Thirteen years ago she went to New
York to make a living as stenog-
rapher. Within three years she was
the head and sole manager of the
largest typewriting establishment in
New York, with 40 girls working ior
her. Her offices were besieged by men
who had important work to be don"
accurately. From an expert operator
she became superintendent of oper-
ators. In 1896, according to her story.
she was sought by Senator Scott and
Congressman Manley, then bossing the
Mckinley campaign, to take charge of
certain private correspondence.
After that. work piled In from Wall
street. Several important assignments
The Cooperstown courier. (Cooperstown, Griggs Co., N.D.) 1902-1913, 1905-04-20
American Monev in Eneland,


Were there no United States. would
English society be solvent? asks MAR
maduke," in the London Graphic. That
question has never yet been asked or
examined. Several millions have been
brought into our society during the last
40 years by American heiresses, and
an enormous sum has been received in
exchange for land, paintings, engrav-
ings, old furniture, works of art, jewels,
plate and books. Moreover, American
capital has been invested in this coun-
try mostly through the Intervention of
titled Englishmen, who, of course, have
generally benefited by the transaction.
Probably 500, 100000 have come to the
West End through these various trans
actions. Would the West End have been
bankrupt had that sum not been pro-
durable? -..-.... .ss.- .,-..
The Cooperstown courier. (Cooperstown, Griggs Co., N.D.) 1902-1913, 1905-04-20
house just as it

house just az 1t is, for historic rea-
SONS, and also not to disfigure the
beautiful park, not yet spoiled by SKY
scrnpers."
There was a time-it seems not 80
long ago-when this house was a
Mecca to politicians. Cleveland there
heard shrewd advice, which he did not
always follow. Lamont and Manning
were familiars. Andrew H. Green
lived there for some years. The place
was a wonder of books; there were
rare wines In the cellar. which Mr..
Tilden tasted, but did not guzzle. He
was discerning in the matter, too.
Men who called upon him received the
libations due to their degree of taste
and their capacity for appreciation.
One day Mr.. Tilden was absent
minded enough to have a visitor of
the beer grade shown in before the
traces had been removed of the pres
ence of a guest who worthily appre-
ciated Schloss-J ohannisberger. The
visitor was important in his way;
carefully Mr.. Tilden poured a tiny
glass of the precious liquid. HE swal-
lowed it as II it had been water" Mr..
I1lden afterward complained in his
querulous voice. SO like Horace Gree
leys. "And then he reached out and
got the bottle and poured himself an
other glass! And he wasted that the
same way!"
knew man who was made a park
commissioner because he had little
of this bottled sunshine and tho poll
ticians found 1t out-but tkat is an
other story, and one with which Mr..
Tlden had no connection.
OWEN LANGDON,
The Cooperstown courier. (Cooperstown, Griggs Co., N.D.) 1902-1913, 1905-04-20
No Alcohol Soar for SAGE.

Maybe Russell Sage was not aware of
it, reports a New York exchange, but
he made funny remark the other
day. He went into barber shop and the
boss, feeling honored at a visit from
such a noted man, opened a new and
fine cake of shaving soap. AS he pre-
pared to lather the millionaire's face he
said: This is very fine grade Of soap,
Mr.. Sage, mixture of cream and cocoa
oil, with dash of alcohol" Quoth the
old gentleman: "Alcohol, Ell? Well, re-
member am temperance man, so
don't put too much of it inta my mouth %
The Cooperstown courier. (Cooperstown, Griggs Co., N.D.) 1902-1913, 1905-04-20
Electric Ear for shius.

Ships will soon have ears-ears that
will hear the approach of torpedo boat
that the captain cannot see, or that will
hear the sound Of the fog bell or the
waves beating against dangerous rock
on a stormy night. These electrical
ears are more sensitive than human
ears, because the sounds they will hear
are sounds which travel under water
a medium which transmits sound better
than air. It is this superiority Of The
water as q sound-transmitter that has
brought about the new invention.
The Cooperstown courier. (Cooperstown, Griggs Co., N.D.) 1902-1913, 1905-04-20
The Old Tilden House.

aG N6IlO00l ArlS
club has bought
the old house on
Gramercy par k
where Samuel j.
Tilden once lived.
Tilden had q gar
d en- extending
through to t b 9
street behind, and
upon this the club
will put q History
building for rev.
enue, but it will
retain the old
The Cooperstown courier. (Cooperstown, Griggs Co., N.D.) 1902-1913, 1905-04-20
Outside Dogs Barred.

The Chicago Kennel club has sent
out notice for its coming bench show
that no dogs. other than those entered
in the show, will be allowed to visit
the building during the show, thus
spelling fond hopes of many people
who have always liked to "just take
Fido to the show and let him see the
other doggies." Guards will see to
it that no practical joker smuggles any
cats into the building.
The Cooperstown courier. (Cooperstown, Griggs Co., N.D.) 1902-1913, 1905-04-20
Clan Ban ON Sunday Funerals.

The ministers of Traverse City, Mich,
have adopted stringent resolutions
against Sunday funerals. They declare
that large floral displays are offensive
to good taste, that bands of music and
marching clubs are repugnant to the
mourners and that large funerals held
on Sunday are dissertations of the dap.
They advocate private funerals and will
do all in their power to avoid display.
The Cooperstown courier. (Cooperstown, Griggs Co., N.D.) 1902-1913, 1905-04-20
The Jewish Financiers.

UGH men as Mr..
Guggenheim, con-
sentative. shrewd,
kindly, splendidly
charitable, bear
the finest CONNER
cial reputation
that New York
can cite. Such a
house as the Selis-
mans, the Speyers
or the , great
Kuhn. Loeb e Co,
The Cooperstown courier. (Cooperstown, Griggs Co., N.D.) 1902-1913, 1905-04-20

make rather . point OF hiring ho9s
but large men for all the c6lspicuous
posts on board. Even the table stew
ards. who hardly need conspicuous
inches to carry soup plates, are apt
to be big fellows who have brought
from military service distinguished
air and fine physique.
The Cooperstown courier. (Cooperstown, Griggs Co., N.D.) 1902-1913, 1905-04-20

fers. quite as much as Of their own
commercial ability as individuals.
William Vogel was born IN Ger
many. came to this country just be-
fore the war, worked as tailor, ped
died goods on the street for a time
to learn English faster, came to New
York and opened a clothing shop ON
Canal street with a few hundred dol
lars-and the rest was clockwork.
The life of Meyer Guggenheim con-
tanned more of the romance of busi-
ness. He came in 1S47, a lad OF ~,
and peddled, among other things, shoe
laces and stove polish. He had the
stove polish analysed by a chemist,
which most peddlers would not nave
done, and made a better article at
less cost himself. That made money
fast. Later he did the same thing
with glue. Then he went into white
goods" and sent his oldest son to
Switzerland to learn all about them.
The firm became one of the largest
importers of embroideries and the like
in the country. The senior partner
EOC uOlu VI SOlIlc lulACS ia SSeOA SNAO
and discovered that there was appar-
emily more profit in smelling than
mining. He bought part of smelt-
ing mill, sent another son-there are
seven-to learn that business. and
then erected the finest smelling plant
in the world. He spent 81 ,250, 900 upon
it, because ii was not an experiment.
He retired from business in favor of
his sons 20 years ago. All over the
world the firm built smelters. It is
one of the great primary industries
of the day. The Guggenheims were
the last to go into the smelling trust
and they got their price. A career
like that has meant plenty of boldncss,
but never gambling. 1t has added to
the worlds wealth.