davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington times., 1906-05-06
The Dean of the PiLntR

This was Capt. Thomas G. Ross, Of
the steamer Charles Manchester, the
dean Of the Potomac river shipmas-
ters, whose kindly face, bronzed and
weather-beaten, is known TO thou
sands of Washington pleasure seek
ers- The book to which his thoughts
had just been directed was the time
worn log 20 him Of almost priceless
value, Of the fleet dispatch carrier
of civil war fame, the staunch tug
Keystone, pilOted by Captain Ross
through four years of that struggle.
The first propeller boat to ply the
waters of the Potomac IN the service
Of the United States Government. Il
became widely known as the "Old
Keystone. SCARED as It was by the
minnie ball Of the Confederate rifle
men lining the southern banks Of the
lower part OF the river.
Captain Ross, who comes Of a
family Of famed sea captains. being
the fourth generation to follow this
calling. was born at Salem, n. J., in
1880. There he spent his childhood
and school boy days and learned
from the lips Of his father and
grandfather Of the early struggles OF
American shipmasters to gain recog-
milton among the maritime powers
of the world. America was young
among the shipbuilding nations then,
and the era Of iron vessels and
ocean greyhounds" was not ebgun.
As this veteran shipmaster de-
scribes the period, I'VE were only
emerging from our swaddling
clothes" The school Of the shipmas-
ter was hard and rugged and the
experience gained by them was
through a course OF cuffs and blows.
His father, Richard Ross, climbed
up through his school Of adversity
and severity and was known from
the Jersey coast TO the shores Of
Maine. To Capt Richard Ross. as
bluff and fearless a seadog as ever
lived. fell in 1857 the honor Of COM
manding the first tug ever built In an
American shipyard, that Of William
Cramp < Sons, the famous PhiIadel-
phia firm. This tug, the Sampson,
remained in service until its type be-
came obsolete.
The Washington times., 1906-05-06

rubies, suitable coloring substances be
ing added 10 the mixture before fusing.
Fakers. particularly in the West. find
an easy market for such gems, some
times selling them actually by the
carat TO contribute an additional sug-
gestion Of preciousness to their wares.
Where the swift Idar flows into the
Nahe. a tributary of the Rhine. are 10
Gated in a beautiful valley the town Of
Obcrstein and Idar. the inhabitants Of
which. ever since the fourteenth cen
tlIry. have subsisted by cutting the rare
and wonderful agates found IN the hills
Of that neighborhood. Not only agates.
but topaz. amethyst. carnelian. Jasper.
rock crystal and lapis lazuH they cut.
the value OF the output amounting TO
more than S1.o00.O 90 annually. But the
The Washington times., 1906-05-06

General Hooker. who had been
IN Washington TO consult with
President Lincoln. wished to return
10 his command with all possible
speed, a report having come from
the front that battle was impend-
ing. Captain Ross was directed 10
crowd on every pound Of steam IN
an effort to reach Aqua Creek, IN
the lower Potomac, within a GER
tain time
The Keystone was Just abreast OF
Alexandria when a small boat con-
tanning three boys Of tender age
was seen directly in the path OF the
speeding dispatch boat. To stop
or 10 change their course meant
the loss Of precious minutes, while
10 leave the frail craft 10 the mercy
OF the tide or 10 passing vessels
must surely mean the drowning OF
the boys. Fighting joe" Captain
Ross tells. took in the situation at
a glance and Immediately ordered
him 10 bring the Keystone 10 a
stop. This he did, and the boys.
who turned out to be thoroughly
frightened little rebels. were taken
aboard. to be the especial charges
of the general until he bid them
good-by at his destination.
The Washington times., 1906-05-06

glassware white quartz sand is employ
ed; for paste this material is mixed.
half and half with powdered rock
crystal. Then carbonate of soda, cal
cined borax. ssItpetre and red lead are
added in due proportions. and lead mass
is fused by heat in a crucible, being
finally permitted TO cool slowly.
Upon the care taken in the details OF
the process depend the density. trans
parency and beauty Of the paste which
when the stuff is cold. is ready to be cut
up into pieces suitable for preparation
as diamonds. Such preparation con-
sists Of cutting. with the help OF a wheel
and diamond dust. much in the same
way as real diamonds are made ready
for the market The artificial gems thus
made-the best Of them that is to say
The Washington times., 1906-05-06

on some dark, stormy night, when
the world OF stars was shut out en-
tirely and few creatures save the
wakeful sentinels on the north
bank OF the Potomac were abroad.
and landed at some secret cove
far down the silent river. Here
they left the protection OF CAPTAIN
Ross and made their way as best
they might. through swamp and
morass. to be swallowed up in the
Confederate ranks in their perilous
duty OF gathering information Of
the movements and disposition Of
the enemy. This al times was
fraught with unseen dangers. for
Confederate pot hunters" as these
keen-eyed marksmen IN gray we're
aptly named. awaited their coming
from their hidden stations along
the south bank Of the river. their
shots whizzing through the air and
shipping the twigs from the trees
overhead as the Keystone stole
silently to the shore TO land its
precious freight
The career OF THIS veteran ship
master was marked up TO the close
Of the civil war By many stirring
scenes and perilous enterprises. but
az no time, either then OF since. did
he ever lose OF have seriously in
jured q ship under HIS command.
From the time he left the pilot house
Of the Keystone until today. when,
as the commander Of the Manchester.
he exercises guardianship over thou
sands Of human freight, his record
as a captain has been as a long
string Of unbroken successes.
Turning over the pages Of the old
log kept by Captain Ross when IN
command Of the steamer T. V. Ar
rowsmith, but one entry IS 10 be
found that tells Of an accident, and
that only an Insignificant one. II
happened IN the winter Of 1880. when
great foes Of ice covered the surface
or the Potomac from Gergetown n
the Chesapeake. and was one over
which no officer. no matter what
may be HIS skill, has control. The
words OF the old log, recalling to the
memory OF this veteran an incident
always catalogued by shipmasters as
among the sorrOws Of the sec. ."
reads; Steamer Arrowsmith Ieav-
ing White House landing broke her
driving crank Steamer J. II. ThonD-
son took our passengers aboard. Was
towed to Washington by tug Poto-
mac for $50. Amount OF damage
$780, loss Of time y days"
The Washington times., 1906-05-06
Born Under Luc6V Star

In HIS time he had IN turn tha
command OF the Tigress. the Wake
field. and the Arrowsmith, all Ike
the names Of dear and familiar
friends TO Washington river travel
ers; and the story has been ever the
same. All this. Captain Ross at
tributes 70 his lucky star-a star
which. he says. though IN his life he
has-Aeard the whlz Of rebel bullc+s
faced the dangers OF fire ard Of the
sea, has never failed TO send don,
It's hstle ray Of light to c1ido hts
watery path. A trend Of fataIisn, tbis
hints at which Captain Ross makes
no pretense OF denying 40 man h
says, can long follow the sea and
feel the deep. awe inspiring fnfUenca
OF the moon and the stars. and ~
the elements on the traveller. sbroud-
ed as they are IN mysticism. witho,r
surely knowing that after all va
are guided IN our moves by soma
great. omnipitent power-the lands
man no less than the sailor.
Thirteen years ago Captain Ross
entered upon his service with the
Manchester, succeeding Captain Blaks
as commander upon that beloved
officers death. Since then he has
guided that vessel safely through
sunshine, rain and storm and has
yet to see the day when the stanch
ship has failed to respond TO his
hrm grasp OF the wheel.
Any day you can see the erect
sprightly form and genial, weather
beaten face Of this sole survivor
among the old-schooI Of shipmasters
standing somewhere on the white
decks or at HIS post IN the pilot
house OF this steamer. Full six
years passed the allotted threescore
and ten Of his life, he has but TO
see another year to celebrate his haIf
century as a ships commander. Few
captains have seen more stirring
times than he, and none can excel
his record.
The Washington times., 1906-05-06

Hooker, Burnside, Sherman and
Sheridan at the front.
In the darkest hour OF the strug-
gle. as General Mcclellan waged the
Peninsular campaign. striving vainly
to hurl back the Confederate hosts
defending Richmond, Captain Ross,
with the little keystone, steamed
back and forth between the James
river and the Capital, with dis
patches telling Lincoln and his Cab
met OF the progress of the fighting
army. At times this doughty little
vessel was the only connecting link
between the struggling army at the
front and the seat Of the Govern
ment at Washington. How we'll, then.
can it be said that Captain Ross
held in his keeping the tidings OF
the war upon which often rested the
fate OF the Union.
Good or I'll, these messages always
reached their destination in safety,
and to those silent watchers here.
the sight of the keystone. as she
hove IN the turn of the river above
Alexandria, was always a welcome
ono
The Washington times., 1906-05-06

class counterfeit diamonds. which some
times sell for SO or more apiece They
are cut by skilled diamond cutters.
almost as carefully as real diamonds.
and TO the casual eye they are just
about as brilliant So much depends in
this sort Of work upon the correct util-
ization Of optical principles that a per-
fcctly cut paste gem may actually
have more fire and beauty than a poor
ly cut real diamond.
You may put it down as a fact that
most OF the diamonds actresses lose are
in reality paste. Sometimes an addi-
tional brilliancy is lent TO them by in
PRODUCING little silver In the setting
at the back of the stone. The same
sort Of lead glass. I might mention. is
used for making artificial emeralds and
The Washington times., 1906-05-06
Master of the Kegstons.

Capt Thomas Ross, who lives now
as the oldest in point Of years and
service among the Potomac river
shipmasters, took out his first II
cense as a full-iedged master in
Philadelphia in 1857. For several
years he remained in service on the
Delaware river as an inland naviga-
tor. where he became known as a
cool and fearless commander in time
b Of storm or stress When in 1861 the
Government purchased and commits
stoned the Keystone as a dispatch
boat. 10 undertake the hazardous
service Of carrying messages and
spies 20 the various points along the
Potomac, Captain Ross was offered
tha command Realizing full well the
Government service offered fewer
rewards than service with private
owners and was beset by greater
dangers, he yet unhesitatiagly cast
his fortunes with the auxiliary Of the
navy. then hard pressed for cool.
daring and efficient commanders. His
hardihood and skill became at once
apparent, and he has never regretted
the step.
That year the keystone began its
active career. not to be interrupted
until the close Of the great struggle.
The important disDatch work was
directly under the supervision of
General Rucker. then quartermaster
general Of this department. from
whom Captain Ross was directed by
the Secretary Of War to receive his
orders. There followed four years
Of perilous, nerve-racking service,
fraught with danger at every hand.
when friend and foe looked alike,
and when messages at all hazards
must be taken TO Mcclellan, Grant,
The Washington times., 1906-05-06

possess considerable briiliancy and fire,
so that any person not an expert would
be likely TO be deceived by them.
Millions OF these imitation diamonds
cut in France. where the manufacture
Of them is a great industry. are impors-
ed into this country annually for use in
cheap jeweiry. The ordinary ones cost ;
cents apiece Wholesale. and are set -.
plated pins. rings and brooches at Prov
idence and Attleboro. r. I. Several big
factories in those cities are kept busy
at this sort OF work. employing hun
dreds of men and women the year
around. Rhode Island. indeed. turns out
most of the cheap jewelry sold in the
United States.
From the same kind OF paste but
Of superlative quality. are made high
The Washington times., 1906-05-06
"FIghtiHg Joe" Hooker.

One of Captain Ross frequent
charges. in his work of conveying
Federal officers TO their various
commands. was Gen Joseph Hook
er. then in command with General
Burnside at Fredericksburg. That
Fighting Joe" was. when not
charging a breastwOrk or leading
a storming party. man with a
tender side, with sympathies 10 be
moved by weakness or distress. is
shown In story told by Captain
Ross of an incident in his assOcia-
tion with the hero of Lookout
Mountain.
The Washington times., 1906-05-06

ed for the fateful news he carried.
When the. commandant broke the
seals and realized the portent Of
the dispatches, his face. Captain
Ross tells. became ashen. He knew
full we'll that If their meaning be-
came reality. the shot from the
twelve-pounders of the fort would
be as useless as hailstones against
the impenetrable sides OF the Con
federate ram and that Washington
would be at fits mercy
But. as is familiar TO every
schoolboy and girl, Fort Washing
ton, as far as the MeTrimac was
concerned, was never required TO
test its guns. Bright and early
the next morning, while the smoke
of battle hung heavy over Hampton
Roads and the waters of the Ches-
The Washington times., 1906-05-06

apeake Bay larped the smoldering g
hulk Of the once gallant ship Cum
berland. another kind OF craft ap-
peared TO grapple in a death strug-
gle with the ironclad NerTimac 4
little ironclad, too, this Monitor
the product Of John Ericsson and
the fighting strength OF Captain
Worden, it turned the tide of the
war
The Washington times., 1906-05-06

most curious part Of their business con
sists in supplying agates for tbs Af-t-
can trade. which. IN order to satisfy
the exacting taste Of the native chiefs.
must be carved IN peculiar forms.
II you would have evidence OF ths
extent TO which artificial gems are
worn. particularly 'dianonds,' you have
only to take notice OF the number OF
shops on Broadway IN New York which
ere devoted to tho sale OF this class OF
goods. At intervals. when business Is
dull. they attract custom by tremendous
cuts IN prices. But the profits on Jew
eIry OF this kind are usually 50 enor-
nous that such reductions are not ruin
Gus. a considerable margin OF gain be-
ing left even when ths dealer markE
down his goods 300 or 4oc PER cent"
The Washington times., 1906-05-06
News of the Merrimao.

What Captain Ross considers one
Of the most trying periods Of his
career came when he was directed by
the War Department TO convey TO the
cOmmandant Of Fort Washington,
The Washington times., 1906-05-06
Carried Many Spies.

Federal spies, too, we're entrust-
ed 10 the especial care Of Captain
Ross, to be spirited down the river
The Washington times., 1906-05-06

the sheltered wharves along the Po-
tomac. his gaze following the golden
orb Of the setting sun and seeming to
call up memories Of bygone days.
Two clear gray eyes peered out from
under shaggy brows, kitted and
thoughtful. giving him the appear
snce of one seeking to lift aside the
veil OF years and extract :heretrom
the luxury of cherished memories Of
a time when life lay all before him
and his cup of youth ran full High
hope and youth were linked together
then. ambition and unrest stirred his
heart; and today, as the evening of
life was on him, he seemed to be
beckoning that time TO live again.
He had just turned the last page
Of a well-worn book, thumbed and
yellow with age. The writing was
dim and faint, but, as the calm. ret
respective face seemed TO tell, each
word and line brought into life the
Invisible comrades Of the past-the
past he would have with him again.
lust then the ring Of the ships
bell. clear and sharp, sounded on the
twilight air, breaking upon his rev.
erie and calling TO his mind duties
yet 70 be done.
The Washington times., 1906-05-06

"They are advertised as made out OF a
variety Of materials-even to quartz
crystal made with a solution OF diamond
dust in hydroiuoric acid; a total impos-
sibility by the way-but there is nothing
for the purpose like the good old French
paste What is it? Why. nothing in the
world but fine quality of glass. with
a large percentage OF lead as an ingre-
dent
But the processes employed in max
ing this kind of glass must be conducted
with the utmost nicety in order that it
may have the requisite brilliancy and
hardness, whereas for the best table
The Washington times., 1906-05-06

Fully nfty years ot storm and strife,
Have lined this sailors face
He stands today at the head Of his kind
In a captains honored place.
The Washington times., 1906-05-06
vrNERARTE 49,, =,

VENERABLE man stood
yesterday afternoon on
the forward upper deck of
a stanch, white-coated
rto,,,,o -, -. -
The Washington times., 1906-05-06

diamonds are
worn much more generally
than most people suppose.
said a dealer in jewelry.
The Washington times., 1906-05-06

PAGE SEVEN
The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1906-11-07
FROM YOUTH TO AGE.
Shrubs, Herbs and Flowers Go as
Forest Grows Older

In its youth, the spruce forest offers
an inviting home to Towering plants.
both shrubs and herbs. The soil Is
moist and rich, consisting in large part
of decaying leaves and twigs
The shade, though nearly uniform,
is not dense, and flecks of sunshine
appear everywhere in It, The light is
not strong enough to produce tangled
underground, but well-developed
growth is found everywhere except In
the most shaded spots.
The layer of shrubs and bushes con.
sists largely of the mor"tain maple.
rose and ninebark, among which are
scattered birches, gooseherries, rasp-
berries and viburnums. In spring the
ground is carpeted with strawberries.
Along the brooks white and yellow
violets are common, and orchids are
scattered here and there. In the sum
mer flowers are abundant, gentians,
bluebells. goldenrods. daisies, colum-
bine and painted cups vying with each
other in giving color to the mass OF
green. In the shadier places, low ferns
abound, while the moist soil of the
shadiest hooks is clothed with MOSES
and lichens.
AS the forest grows oil =, the shrubs
are the first plants to Sappear be-
cause of the increasing shade. They
are followed after a few Nars, first by
the taller herbs and then " the others
until only those flowers that require
little light are left. Even these persist
only in more open spots, and finally
disappear as the shade becomes uni.
formly dense
A mature forest. 200 years old or
more, rarely allows ever q stray san
beam to pass, and beneath 1t is twi-
light at monday. A few evergreen
pirolas blossom in scattered groups.
Clusters of the coral root are found
frequently in bloom, but this is leaf
less orchid that requires little or no
light
The ground is covered with dense
layer of brown spruce needles, which
furnish home for toadstools and cup
fungi. and in the moisture places, for
liehens and MOSES.
The forest has now reached its final'
stage. 1t may still persist in this
form for several hundreds of years, In.
deed, II 1t is not reno by an acct
dent, 1t Is difficult to set limit to its
age
In any event. forest can rarely live
1000 years, owing to the great v17ight
of the tree tops and the fact that de.
cay Is constantly weakening the
trunks.-St. Nicholas.
The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1906-11-07
LOOKS ON THE BRIGHT SIDE.
One Old Maid Not Willing TO Admit
Lot a Sad One.

First-However dreary the outlook,
as you wait for Prince Charming to
show up It is infinitely pleasanter
than some find II who sit up waiting
for their husbands to come home!
Second-As you read the divorce
cases, and the stories of deserted
wives and mothers, throw envy to the
winds and be glad that you missed
those mercies, anyway, as well as
whatever led to these EXAMINATIONS.
Third-A happy old maid is easily
possible, as is an unhappy Mrs.
Fourth-Be cheerful over the fact
that no man is afraid to be agreeable
to you because of your jealous hus.
band--and enjoy all the attentions
that come your way, from men, and
women, too
Fifth-If you feel bit lonely now
and then, look about among the eli.
gibles" Of your acquaintance and see
how many Tor how few Of them all
you would be willing to pour break
fast coffee with conversation for 300
times a year
Sixth-ReiG ice and he exceeding
glad that there is no one to smooth
his locks wish your sidecomb because
he doesn't know what the --- has
become" of his military brushes.
Seventh-Takc all the comfort you
can in the thought that on bargain
day" YOU d'l't have to get home at
a certain hour or minute on pain Of
refrigerating process IL your hus.
bands dinner Is late.
Eighth-Bc glad, too, that when you
go to the bnnk for a new supply of
the "needful' you are not obliged to
explain why YOU need it or what you
did with that last months five dol
lars" Not all men cough up as
readily as the cashier does.
Ninth-Rcmcmbe with gratitude
that 1T is never too late to mend
nor to marry, and be sure to keep
your mendiHg Tor marriage) basket
ever in view of the man whose cap
ture will maze you eternally happy.
Tenth-"lf at first you don't sue.
ceed," don't give up the ship. but
wisely deny defeat and do some more
until you make the lucKy run which
will enable you to choose whether you
will have 81 carly beloved wife of
-" carveG On your tombstone, or
merely Miss. IN. Y. Herald.
The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1906-11-07
THE FEMALE FORM.
Its Most Perfect Development Said to
BE Among Japanese.

famous German scientist who has
made a life study of the beauty of
women Of all nations considers that
he found the most perfect and har-
monious development of form among
the Japanese, says tho Boston Adver-
tiser. His ideal proportions differ
slightly from the standards of beauty
left us by the Greeks, and he gives
the following as his normal proper.
tons" of the perfect figure from aver.
aging the measurements of many:
The height should be seven and
half times the length of the face, and
the legs four times the length of the
head. The shoulders should be two
heads wide, ard when standing erect
perfectly developed legs should touch
at the knees, the calves and the an
kles."
Here, however, are some other
measurements which artists generally
recognize as standard for beauty:
The stretch of the thumb and middle
finger should just measure the length
of the face; the thumbs and second
fingers should exactly circle the neck,
while the thumbs and middle fingers
should exactly circle the level with
the shoulders; the perfect woman
should measure exactly her height
from the tip of one middle finger to
the other. while the arm hanging
down should reach exactly half way
down the side,
The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1906-11-07
RETIRED BALL PLAYERS.
They Are Found in All Lines Of Bust.
ness Life.

But when the Old bail PLACER has
done with the game OFT does not
mean that he has done with the world.
When have fielded my last ball will
practice dentistry. says Capt. (Dr)
Casey, in the Independent.
The old players who have long re
tired are in all sJrts of business.
Some are lawyers, like Johnny Ward
and Dave Fultz, some physicians. like
Cunning; Amos Rusie is working in
a lumber yard in Nincennes, Ind;
Mike Sullivan was on tho Governors
staff in Boston till he died, Charley
CANCEL the Bostons old catcher, is a
travelling 81 man Jim O'Rourke,
formerly c ,.a New Yrrks, is play.
ing ball to-dG. lie owns his own club
and grounds and has a son play on
the same team with him-Conn ut
State league. Roger O'Conner, o
New York's Old catcher is a large
property owner in Cincinnati. Buck"
Ewing is in business in Cincinnati.
People who remember Arlie Latham
will be glad to learn his fate. Arlie
was one of The greatest kickers ever
seen, the leader OF riots and plague
of umpires So they've made him an
umpire, and crowds now daily heap
contumely upon him