davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-10-07
A NcTn1 OF The "BLAcK HUN9RED"

the end Of year and a half the landlord
determined to have his furniture seized,
and called in the bailiffs for the purpose.
The tenant wrote several threatening let
tiers. of which, however, the landlord took
no notice Before the date fixed for the
sale of his tenants effects he was obliged
to go abroad, but left the case in charge
OF young lawyer VINO had his power of
attorney. When the day arrived band
Of ruffians called upon the lawyer, telling
him that he would be shot if the sale took
place; the bailiff was also threatened and
both gave in, satisfying themselves with
getting an eviction order out against the
restaurant keeper.
The evening had begun to close in before
the order was forthcoming. and the tenant
spent the day in threatening the lawyer
and the bailiff. When the order was ready
the bailiff, accompanied by the lawyer,
went to the restaurant to shut up the
premises and turn out the tenant. Both
had revolvers put to their heads as soon
taurant was crowded with rufflans who had
been brought there to terrify them. The
lawyer made his escape, however, and the
bailiff also, though the latter stayed till a
policeman and some soldiers arrived. But
the policeman gave the keys of the restau-
rant back to the tenant and went away.
Being now master of the situation, the
tenant, after treating his ruffians to I'M
limited supplies of vodka, began to take
away his furniture. regardless of the fact
that 1t had been sealed by the bailim.
Crowds Of riff-raff had now collected. and
spurred on by the promise of more drink
took the furniture into vans, which they
requisitioned by terror from a neighbor-
Ing furniture remover. When this was
done they began to destroy the premis es.
led by the restaurant keeper. who told
the blood from his veins and had grown
rich upon the work Of the proletariat.
In a short time the kitchen ranges
were pulled down and the Theoretically
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-10-07

nouncer of woe, even unto death. the re-
lationship determined by the nearness Of
| the cards to the face card OF the inquirer.
The two of spades signifies falsehood.
| treachery and trouble from deceitful people.
The three OF spades predicts a short jour-
I ney. or tears, according to the neighbortng
| cards. II the latter are red the little trip
! will be enjoyed, Il dark then come sor-
| rows tears.
Four of spades means a prison or a tomb.
| Sometimes It means widowhood-that In
| when hearts are near. and when followed
| by the four OF hearts indicates that mourn
| Ing will soon be laid aside for gown Of
second bridehood.
Five of spades foretells a shock-if red
cards lie near 1t. brightness and good luck
| follow; II dark one 1t means disaster.
Six OF spades means illness in ones
family, and If nine or ace follows it 10
serious.
Seven of spades. the mystic number. sig
mines a tendency to mysticism and means
spirituality.
Eight of spades is an uncanny card, that
| means trouble, woe and disaster. Nine sig
nifies a broken heart. Alone IL means Bit
ter disappointment, but If near the ace or
two-spot 1t indicates sorrow by death.
II the nine. two and ace range out at the
left Of the face card In the center the death
Of the sitter Is near.
When red cards follow the black IL means
that there is merely danger that may be
averted.
Clubs mean business. The nee 10 a bust
| ness document needing q signature-such
as will or deed. Stocks. bonds. mort
cages, contracts and notes of hand come
| under this head. The ace Of clubs also in
dicates a package by express IL followed
by red card.
To the theatrical person tho aaa Of clubs
promises a contract. as 1t ,Ss to a singer
or speaker. Two OF clubs promises Few
clothing. The three OF clubs means good
tidings from afar, ana the advsnt OF this
card Is followed by unexpected good news.
II It falls on the floor at your feet. even IL
you have been in the depths OF despair, ex-
pect good news.
The four OF clubs means a comfortab BILE
homo. Five indicates nice investment for
or by you.
The six OF clubs Is a most welcome card,
and when it appears expect fine business
offer.
Seven always indicates changes OF various
kinds and means that one must exercise
great caution. as new business opportuni-
ties are about to open up.
Eight Of clubs signifies certain marriage
based on business reasons. Nine Is termed
the booze card-meaning good-fellowship,
wine, woman and song; II next to the nine
of hearts it also means remarkable success,
but IL next to the eight of diamonds, loss Of
money.
Ten OF clubs signifies many good, pros
porous times near at hand: it also means a
large crowd Of people, but II next to the
death card, mourners
When four aces appear In the fortune 1t
signifies luck extraordinary, long life and
Joy to the end
Four kings pertend certain marriage but
II the person Is already welded there will
be a second partner.
-Four queens indicate a love Of sociability;
also luck at games.
When four Jacks appear hurtful gossip is
abroad
When the ten OF diamonds 10 beside the
two the foodtide OF fortune Is at hand.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-10-07
The Paris BouIevards.
From the London Standard.

From the London Standard.
When a Partisan talks Of walking UP or
down the boulevards he does not mean any
boulevard; he means those which lie in a
continuous line from the Madeleine, or per-
haps only from the Cafe de la Paix to, say
the Taverne Brebant-that is, less than q
mile and a han through the heart Of Paris,
past the terraces Of countless cafes and the
cleaning windows Of shops. 1t must not
be supposed because the boulevards have
changed. because the true boulevardier
no longer exists. that therefore they mean
nothing to Paris Very likely they mean
more: for certainly they are more crowded
than ever. only they mean something differ
emit. The cafes were clubs, although cub
life was unknown in France. and Is still
very little known. A man nearly always
went to the same cafe, where he was sure
of meeting his friends; he might leave his
pipe there and 1t was hung on the wals like
a private billiard cue; he would have his
letters sent there. and in time he would
procure prescriptive right to particular
seat Naturally. people of common interests
foregathered at the same cafe, and thus 1t
came about that there was q cafe for men
Of letters, another for politicians, another
for Theatrical people. another for soldiers,
another for sailors
But boulevard which no longer knows
Tortoni has indeed ceased to be a club in
order to be an international highway. It
was at Tortoni that that type Of the boule-
warbler, Aurelian School, used to invent the
mots which the next day would be oil over
Paris. Offenbach. Meilhac, Alfred Stevens,
the painter. who has just died. were Of the
company: men like Gounod and Dumas Ills
If they did not take a turn up and down the
boulevards at least once q day felt Ike
an Englishman who has missed his bath
The Cafe de Suede was used by actors and
actresses. No one went to the theater In
evening clothes except to the opera and the
Francois on subscription nights. There are
two reasons probably for the change in all
these practices. One is the increase in
wealth, and therefore In the outward and
visible expression of 1t, and the other is the
improvement in the means and speed of
transport.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-10-07

Copyright, 1906 by Jerome K. Jerome)
-HE argument of the late Herr
Wagner was that grand opera
the music-drama, as he called
it-included and therefore did
away with the necessity for all
other arts Music in all its branches OF
course 1t provides. So much l will concede
10 the late Herr Wagner. There are times,
I confess, when my musical yearnings
might shock the late Herr Wagner-times
when | feel unequal to following three dis
tinct themes at one and the same Instant
Listen" whispers the Wagnerian enthus-
last 10 me, 1.-The cornet has now the Brunei
hid motive" 1t seems to me in my then
state of depravity as II the cornet had even
more than this the matter with him. The
second violins," continues the Wagnerian
enthusiast ARE carrying on the WOtan
theme" That they are carrying on" goes
without saying; the players faces are
streaming with perspiration. Ihe brass,
explains my friend-his object Is to oulti-
yate my carts accompanying the sing
ers" ! should have said drowning them.
There are occasions when 1 can rave
about Wagner with the best OF them. High
class moods come to all of us. The diff
ference between the TedIif CidSS
us commonplace workaday men is the diff
ference between say. the eagle and the
BARNARD chicken. I am the barnyard
chicken. l have my wings. There are &C.
static moments when / feel l want to
spurn the sordid earth and soar into the
realms of art. i do fly a little. but my
body is heavy. and / only get as far as
the fence. After awhile l find it lonesome
sitting on the fence, and hop down again
among my fellows. Listening to Wagner
during such temporary .lilistnic mood
my sense of fair play Is outraged. A lone,
lorn woman stands upon the stage trying
to make herself heard. She has to do this
sort OF thing for her living-maybe an in
valid mother, younger brothers and sisters
are dependent upon her. One hundred and
forty men, all armed with powerful in
struments well organized and most of
them looking well fed. combine to make it
impossible for single note of that poor
womans voice to be heard above their din.
/ see her standing there, opening and
shutting her mouth getting redder and
redder in the face She Is singing, one
feels sure of 1t. One could hear her II
only those $40 men would ease up for a
minute. She makes one mighty, supreme
effort: above the banging of the drums
the blare of the trumpets. the shrieking of
the strings. that last despairng note is
distinctly heard. She has won. but the
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-10-07
WBIM P0IQ, kRQgEg fTNa kzl1ocEM RyER(-BY

up to man or woman In the street repre-
sent themselves as artisans out of work,
ask for money, and when 1t Is refused
take purse and watch by force. The VIC
TINS in such cases think themselves lucky
if they do not get a knife run Into their
bodies into the bargain, as the younger
members of the Hundreds are fond Of
practicing with stilettoes in this way. In
fact, there is now a tendency to substitute
the knife for the revolver in street attacks,
as no noise is made and the victim does
not feel the cut at first: thus the assailant
is given time to escape. Another favorite
way of killing a man in the street Is for
the assassin to catch hold Of the first wom-
an who falls in his way, link his right
arm through her left and fire at his victim.
The woman, who has not had time to real
ize what has happened, runs Off screaming
or falls; crowd collects round her and
the assassn's victim, while the perpetrator
of the crime escapes scot free.
X
Banks are closely watched inside as well
as out and when a woman is seen to take
out large sum of money man follows
her into the street and says, "Allow me to
take you home. madam. The times are so
troublous that You should not walk about
alone" If she agrees, he will walk little
way with her. and be joined by another
friend at a short distance, when both will
enter the house with her and rob her Of
her money. II she refuses to be taken
home" knife thrust Is the result, after
which the money Is snatched from her. 1t
rarely happens that thief of this kind Is
caught for most people prefer to give him
a wide berth when they see him running,
for fear he should fire Off revolver on his
way.
But the Black Hundred does not stop
here; 1t can be engaged" as It were, for
acts Of revenge. In some Of the large
towns in Russia there are offices In which
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-10-07
7NeT9y o. AReP 81 Ta1 BLACK H60RE2

q year or two and his landlord threatens
to eviot him, he will, II he is INSCRIPTIONS,
engage five or six rufflans to go to the
landlord with revolvers cooked and make
him promise not to send his troublesome
tenant nn rms 6no OF terri,
oially In the Polish towns, that the land
lord is lucky indeed who gets even a small
part Of his rents or can evict tenant
without having his property damaged. The
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-10-07

scenes which have been and still are be-
Ing enacted in Warsaw alone under such
circumstances appear incredible to those
who have not seen them. These scenes are
not confined to the slums Of the town, for
perhaps the most daring act OF revenge
perpetrated during the current year took
place in the best street in Warsaw, and In
good restaurant.
The keeper Of this place had not paid
any rent since he came into the house. At
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-10-07

one can, by paying various sums, accord
ing to the diff1culty of the deed. hire men
to kill Or injure any person he may name.
It is, in fact. only necessary to enter any
OF the pot-houses In the lower quarters Of
ruflans. armed with knives or revolvers.
and ready for any deed Of violence for
hxed sum Of money or share Of the
booty.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-10-07
Astonishing Story
Of Stolen Millions
Special Correspondence of The Star.

special Correspondence of The Star.
BERNIE, Switzerland September 20, 1906,
YER since the star Of Madame Hum
bert rose and set an uudeniable
glamour has attached to the fabulous
heritage" and to its mythical hundred
millions" The notorious Therese has found
numerous imitators, and now there has
arisen in Switzerland case which, In some
Of its features. is scarcely less puzzling
than that Of the once irresistible "coffre
fort"
In one respect the Swiss inventor either
by dint of finer quality or better luck, has
altogether outclassed madame, seeing that
his fable-if fable it be-has by long per-
sistence come to acquire some of the status
Of romance founded on fact" and has be-
come almost venerable by a tradition Of
sixty-six years Of litigation. Viewed with
the cold eye of suspicion, one may almost
wonder whether this amazing story from
Switzerland does not really throw some
light upon the Humbert fraud. reducing It
to the grade of merely clever adaptation.
The case has just been heard before the
civil tribunal OF first instance of the city Of
Basle, OF which the municipality was sued
by certain Herr Weber OF Munchenstein
for the sum Of twenty million dollars.
His case Is that In 1882 one Johann Peter
Thomann, planter In Lujan, South Amer
sum named. By a will properly drawn and
executed he left the whole amount, In the
absence of direct descendants, to collateral
relatives in the two half cantons of Basle
This wili 1t is alleged, was duly forwarded
by the South American authorities to Base
as also was the money-all in gold, and
packed in thirteen huge chests. which are
stated to have been stored in the cellars of
the municipal buildings. Herr Weber claims
that his wife Ia the direct descendant of one
Of the original 'collaterals.
It Is at this point that the marvellous be-
gins to appear. Without mincing matters
the astounding charge Is made. not only
that the councillors OF the 1882 period sup
pressed the will and divided among them
selves the whole of the treasure, which be-
came the bases upon which were built some
Of the largest fortunes In the canton, but
that poison and other forms Of murder were
used for getting rid OF persons capable of
throwing light upon the facts.
AS might be expected, the case Of the
municipal council Is that the story is
fable from beginning to end; that after
painstaking inquiry nothing can be found
to show tfbt Herr Thomann ever existed;
that there is absolutely no trace or record
of his WILL and still less, II less be possible,
OF tho thirteen chests filled with treasure,
The public archives are blank as to the
case, which dates back to the conflict which
ended In the separation of the urban from
the rural part Of the canton.
For Herr Weber 1t was complained that
he had not been allowed to cite q witness
who would have testified to the somewhat
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-10-07

nebulous fact that he had once met an
American who was familiar with the par
ticulars Of the Thomann bequest. Brushing
these and similar pleas aside, the court.
taking note Of the damaging circumstance
that Herr Weber had two years ago been
declared irresponsible for his actions. found
that there was no case to give Judgment
upon, and awarded costs to the municipal
ity.
Il
But this by no means puts an end to the
story or to its complications, which promise
yet to afford much entertainment. Though
declared a lunatic by one court, Herr Web
er appears to be under no disability for ap-
pealing to another. Indeed. counsel for the
city seemed to point out the way to further
litigation by suggestion that the ground of
action, if any exists, Is against the rural
canton. =
Anyway, Herr Weber has already taken
steps for keeping the ball rolling in the
higher courts, even to the federai tribunal
il necessary. He announces his intention OF
producing, among other witnesses, the
grandson OF man who was goodman to
one of the cantonal councillors Of 1892 This
witness will swear that his grandfather, on
his deathbed. revealed to him, as a deep
secret, that he had once seen some en-
ployes OF the cantonal council Of state de-
post In his masters granary a large chest
which was later found to be full Of Ameri-
can gold, ana that for sum OF money he
was sworn to secrecy which until at the
point Of death he had never violated.
But perhaps the strangest part Of this
extraordinary history, and one which
proves, at least, that legal fable can die
as hard a death in the Alps as elsewhere,
is that It has already been made the SUBJ
ject Of three actions at law. The first of
these was as long since az 1s41. when a
certain Herr Kolnen, claiming to be a col
lateral" sued the municipality for his
share Of the fortune" He was non-1lited,
and thereupon began such campaign Of
defamation against the authorities, whom
he denounced as brigands and assassins,
that q criminal prosecution resulted in his
being sentenced to term Of Imprisonment.
Another claimant appeared In 1850, and
third in 1859.
To Judge by present indications. there IL
considerable life In the story yet
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-10-07
Not Her Style.

From the Baltimore American.
Darling. do you love me stillr'
How can I tell dearest3 I have never
seen you that way"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-10-07
Judges and Criticism.

From the London Law Clerk.
No body of men needs a moro unsparins
criticism than does the judiciary.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-10-07

Also 1t was Herr Wagner's idea that the
back cloth would leave the opera goer in
different to the picture gallery. The castle
on the rock, accessible only by balloon in
which every window lights up simulta-
neously and instantaneously one minute
after sunset, while the full moon Is rushing
up the sky at the pace Of a champion
comet, that wonderful sea that suddenly
opens and swallows up the ship, those
snow-clad mountains. over which the
shadow of the hero passes like threaten
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-10-07

ing cloud. the grand old chateau, trembling
In the wind-what need. will ask the opera
goer of the future, OF your Turner's ana
your Corots, when for prices ranging from
a shilling upward We can have dozen pic
lures such as these rolled up and down be-
fore us every evening? But perhaps the
most daring hope OF all was the dream
singers, his grouped choruses, would even
tually satisfy the craving Of the public for
high-class statuary.
/ am not quite sure the general public
does care much for statuary. I do not
know whether the idea has ever occurred
to the anarchist. but we're myself organic
ing secret committee meetings for unholy
purposes I should invite my comrades to
meet in that section Of the local museum
devoted to statuary. ] can conceive OF no
place where we should be freer from pry-
ing eyes and listening ears. select few.
however do appreciate statuary., and such,
I am Inclined to think, will not be weaned
from their passion by the contemplation OF
the opera singer in his or her various
quaint costumes. And even II the tenor al
ways satisfied our ideal OF Apollo and the
soprano were always az sylphlike as she Is
described in the libretto. even then should
doubt the average operate chorus being re-
garded by the connoisseur az q cheap and
pleasant substitute for q bas-reief from
the Elgin marbles. The great thing re-
The young and gaddy pated the chorus mas
ter has no use for. The sober, honest, in
dustrtous lady or gentleman with q knowl-
edge of music is very properly his ideal.
The chorus always 'fascinates me.
watch 1t while 1t is on the stage In prefer
ence to following the principals. What I
admire about it chiefly Is its unity. The
whole village dresses alike. In wicked
worldly villages there 10 q rivalry. q COM
petition, leading to heartburn and teal-
ousy. One lady comes out suddenly on,
say, a bank holiday in q fetching blue that
conquers every male heart. Next, holiday
her rival cuts her out with q green hat.
In the opeTatic village 1t must be that the
girls gather together beforehand to arrange
this thing. There Is probably q meeting
called. 1.-THE dear counts wedding" an
nounces the chairwoman you will be all
pleased to hear has been fixed for the 18th,
at IL o'clock In the morning. The entire
village will be assembled at 1890 to await
the return of the bridal cortege from the
church and offer it's Fluctuations. Married
ladies' will, Of course, come accompanied
by their husbands. Unmarried ladies must
each bring a male partner as near their
own height as possible. Fortunately in
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-10-07

his resources. Whether he Is supposed to
be indignant because somebody has killed
his mother or cheerful because he Is going
out to fight his country's foes, who are only
waiting till he has finished singing before
attacking the town, he leaves it to the COM
poser to make clear.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-10-07
THE STAR OF
FORTUNE

POPULAR form Of entertainment
during fall and winter evenings Is
\ fortune-telling, which always
"A proves Of fascinating interest to
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-10-07

lot Of bullies." I have wanted to cry, "are
you not ashamed of yourselves? A 40 Of
you against one, and that one q still beau
tiful and. comparatively speaking, youngish
lady. Be quiet for a moment, can't you,
and give the poor girl a chance"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-10-07

SAW, Poland, September -, 1yUB
T late the prevailing distress In
Russia and the fact that the revo-
lutionary parties all employ ruff
fans to perform deeds of violence
have increased to an alarming ex-