davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-11-04
WOMEN PROMINENT IN
GREAT BRITAIN'S AFFAIRS

ignorance. base selfshness and moral
cowardce.
Army and naval officers are the only
decent members of the richer English, but
they are getting worse yearly, and no won
der, for they are grossly betrayed. Parents
are not fools enough to trust their sons 10
the endless caprices of official fmpostors,
like the army council; whimsical war min
listers who make three bouleyersements OF
the army in five years. and cads who would
lie or cheat for the smile of some paltry,
simpering society dame"
1t should be said in all honor to the lib
eral cabinet of Sir Henry Campbell-Ban-
herman that while a few women and their
allies still rule the empire the rule Is not so
rampant as in the days of the Balfour min
istry.
Arthur Balfour, the former prime min
lister, commonly known in the smart set as
the Jelly Fish," is a society man. He is al
ways in a state of boredom. While bril-
liant thinker, striking speaker. a man OF
wonderful artistic perceptions and tastes,
re dawdles through life and scarcely took
seriously the hours of his prime minister
ship His favorite time for getting out of
bed is the afternoon. Balfour is man of
words, not deeds. Instead Of humping his
fist and calling q man q liar, as would q
vigorous American or Briton, Balfour
would fix an insolent. supercilious look on
his man and then. in his silky voice. say:
My right honorable friend approaches
perilously near the precipice Of termnologi-
cal ineXactitude.
1t was such a man with his languid voice
and his indolent manner. who left the open
ing for the wedge of woman's influence In
the affairs of the empire. The importunate
widow of Scripture was mot in 1t" COM
pared with the wives and women friends OF
recent recipients Of titles and honors. Bal
four literally shoveled out titles and honors.
He gave more in his few years of office
than any other prime minister in history.
His ministers followed his lead. Petit
coats ruled. and found the rule so pleasing
that they have continued it. Despite the
new. and in social qualification, a lower
grade Of legislator, the letters forged by
women are too strong to be easily broken.
AS In Balfour's day, so at present the
petticoat influence in the government is
stronger than any other influence. Sir
Henry Campbell Bannerman Is premier by
title. The Right Hon. Herbert Henry As
quith, PC, etc, chancellor OF the ex-
chequer, is really the governing head of the
liberal cabinet and Mrs. Asquith, formerly
Miss Margaret Tenant. the original
.Dodo," Yields the mighty but invisible
scepter. so far as the liberal party is con-
cerned.
In Balfour's time the woman who ruled
the cabinet was that exceptionally gifted
and brilliant diplomat, the Marchoness of
Lansdowne. She still remains the petticoat
power at the foreign Office, though the
Hon. Lady Hardinge is beginning to take
the reins.
At the war Office Lady st. Heller. for
merly Lady Jeune, continues her reign In
face of the powerful combativeness of Mr.
Haldane, the war minister.
The Countess Howe. until the day of her
recent DEATH had more to say regarding
the royal navy than the lords of the ad-
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-11-04

sitting three or four days before the hen
stops laying. AS each egg Is laid during
this period he rakes them to the nest which
| he has prepared for his mate.
AS soon the chicks appear they are
given over to the care of the hen. who
| makes just as great fuss over them as IL
she had done the Matching and cracked the
shell. This latter act IL done at the signal
| from the little beak within, by the pres
| sure Of the breast-bone in conformance
| with the ancient ostrich habit. For the first
eighteen months the youngsters are gray.
| spindly, fast-growing creatures Then
| they begin to change color, and 1t Is at
| this period that they call for the most
watchful care. as the mortality among them
| Is very great.
| When the plucking time comes the os-
triches are driven into stall and a long
shaped sack or ordinary stocking placed
over their heads. The plucker stands be-
hind the bird while removing the plumage.
| This is necessary. because the ostrich can
| kick a powerful blow but as 1t always
| strikes out in front and never behind the
| plucker finds it perfectly safe to stand in
| the rear.
| Only the ripe" feathers-such as are al
| most ready to be nodded and come out
painlessy-are plucked. The only feathers
| removed are those of the wing and tail.
| The ostriches seem to feel very keenly
| the disgrace Of having their feathers pulled
| out. They go about hanging their heads
and plainly showing chagrin.
| The value of the American feathers de-
| ponds the London market. In an Ameri-
can factory they will bring Is per cent more
| than the London price, plus the freight
| charges. In October. 1905 white primes
and blood feathers'-the most valuable
n
pound. 1t takes about 80 of these feathers
to weigh a pound. The white primes
and blood feathers are taken from the
males. well most of the white
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-11-04

America have grown larger than those first
imported. A full grown, fat ostrich will
weigh from 375 to 45O pounds. He will
stand eight feet high, but can easily reach
a height of ten or eleven feet.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-11-04

rOTHING but failure was predicted
\ for the project of ostrich farm
NJ ing in the United States when
the first lot of these giant
birds WAS imnnrtad from South
Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1906-03-17
PLORERS,

Ing calm weather will be 800 miles
more than the distance from Spitz-
bergen Strait across the pole aHd the
whole Arctic Ocean to Alaska. Be
sides the $500 pounds of fuel mention
ed, the ship will carry five men,
comfortable car to live in (Which is
also boat in case of need, food and
supplies for seventy-fye days. and a
complete sledging outfit ready fer use,
should it be necessary to abandon the
airship and take TO the ice.
IF at the worst our ship Of air car
rieS us only to the vicinity of the pole,
or two-thirds of the way to it, we have
an alternative method of travel by
which we may reasonably hope to com
plete our success and make our return
to land in safety.
"At no time will our airship be ont
Of touch with the surface of the earth
Our guide rope, SO called, but ia our
case a smooth, tapering line of steel, Is
to drag its lower end over the ice to
keep the ship at a fairly stable height
$50 to 200 feeO, the altitude most ia
vorable to wireless teegraphy, and to
maintain under ordinary csAditions
the vertical stability of the craft
wireless telegraph stations will he
established at Spitzbergen ans Ham,
merfest, Norway, 600 miles distant.
Further than this, wireless equip
ment will be carried in our airship,
and it will be our effort to seHd fire.
quent-if possible, carbohydrates to
the outside world throughout all The
time the expedition is in the Arctic re-
gions. even from the pole itself, should
we reach it."
The success of Mr.. Wellman's entire
campaign depends upon his ability to
procure really practicable airship.
He believes he has this in the aerial
machine which Santos Dumont has de-
signed. and which the young aeronaut
will himself guide.-Montreal Star.
Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1906-03-17

of Alaska rather than polar dash" "
although, II conditions are favorable,
he may enter the race for the pole.
The greatest interest, however, at
taches to the attempt to reach the
North Pole which Walter Wellman Is
to make in an airship now being built
for the purpose by Santos Dumont, the
young Brazilian aeronaut. Thirty
years ago the proposition would have
been considered as much a dream rs
one of Jules Verne's romances. 1t
would also then have been impossible
But is it impossible now?
NJ. Santos-Dumont is supervising the
building of the giant of the air which
is designed to carry both these intrep-
id seekers across the North Pole. 1t
is expected the airship will be COM
pleted In April, and that the start to
the northern -Spitzbergen-will
be made in July.
This airship will be monster ut
will be-" says Mr.. Wellman, 1.-The larg-
est practical airship ever built. 1t will
be 1856 feet long, and its greatest dia-
meter will be 40 feet. Its surface will
measure $4,000 square feet and its vol
ume will be 100000 cubic feet. In
fated with hydrogen, it will have II
total ascensional force of 1890
pounds. Seven thousand pounds will
be the weight of the ship and its equip
ment complete. leaving 5000 pounds
for cargo. The ship will be provided
with three motors, with combined
energy of 70 horsepower.
eff the winds hinder no more than
they help and there are no delays, this
ship can motor from North Spitzber-
gen to the pole in forty-five hours. The
airship will have an endurance capac-
ity in buoyancy sufficient to enable it
to remain twenty-five to thirty days In
the air. 1t will carry $500 pounds of
gasoline, and its distance capacity dur
Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1906-03-17
No0ooOoooA

That the twentieth century will wit
ness not only the attainment of the
North Pole, but conquest of the South
Pole as well, is common belief, and
each new Arctic or Antarctic expedi-
ton that sets out for the reduction of
these mysterious icy Businesses Is ex-
pected to succeed. With the rapid ad-
vances made during the nineteenth
century in every branch of human
knowledge, the great task becomes
less and less seemingly impossible.
There is a disposition to consider the
North Pole for instance, a good deal
nearer than 1t once was. The constant
additions to maps Of the polar regions
Is responsible for this feeling. The
area marked unknown" or "unex-
plored' is gradually becoming smaller
and the eve of the conquest of the pole
is evidently at hand The only ques-
ton to be asked is, Who will reach
the goal first?
At the present time Feary Is some
where in the ice in Smith Sound, or,
perhaps near the base in Grant Land,
from which he expects to make his
dash for the pole on sledges across
the polar pack. The only explorer in
the Arctics, he probably has had
years start of the next contestant in
the race for the North Pole. Who his
nearest competitor will be is a ques-
ton, for several Arctic expeditions
are being prepared, and next spring
Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1906-03-17
Population ofthe Philippines.

The density Of population in the
Philippines is 67 per square mile. The
Inhabitants are usually found on or
near the coast, except in the island of
Luzon, where about half the people
live in the two rich valleys in the in
terror. Only One-seyenth of the civil
lied population live inland, but the
wild peoples are confined almost en-
tirely to the interior In the archi-
pelago there are 1900 barrios or vii
lagos, with an average population Of
500 inhabitants. The average size OF
the barrio varies widely in different
provinces. A number of adjacent bar
rios form pueblo or municipal unit,
and thus there Is practically no rural
population. Three-fifths of the popu-
latiOn live in villages of less than
1000 inhabitants and 4 per cent in
towns of over 5000. There are four
towns with a population exceeding
10000 each, and 30 with a population
exceeding 5000. Manila is the only
incorporated city in the islands, and
its inhabitants number 21092S.
Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1906-03-17
CHAPTER XVIII

notwithstanding all Pelling's efforts,
the story soon got into the newspapers.
and, 1t being the dull season, was seized
upon with ayidity by the gossip purvey-
ors. 1t was 'dished' and "redished"
day after day, with numberless distor-
tons, exaggerations and additions. One
society journal had it that the beautiful
Miss NJ of M Park, in Exbridge-
shire, had attempted to poison her hus-
band, to whom she had been secretly
married only a month or two, in order to
become the wife of celebrated R. A..
with whom she had fallen deeply In love;
while another declared that the husband
presented himself at the altar with pis-
tolls, and, dragging his would-be success
scr outside the sacred edifice, insisted
upon duel there and then, and wound
ed him dangerously in the shoulder, and
that the unfortunate man now lay In
most critical condition, while the hus-
band had carried off his reluctant bride
q veritable prisoner, on board his yacht
for twelvemonth's cruise in the Pa
cifc.
At last Polling, annoyed beyond meas
ure at these absurd stories, decided to
lay bare the truth. With the assistance
of his lawyer, he drew up a concise state
ment Of the real facts, giving his own
and Pauline's name in full, but suppress
ing Jacks He carefully conveyed the
Idea that Pauline believed him to be
dead, and gave the circumstance to her
change of name as sufficient to account
for his not having discovered her exist
ence since his return from Africa. This
he sent to two of the daily newspapers,
and, thus Invested of all mystery, the
story lost its charm, and no longer af-
forded any interest
Polling sent one of these newspapers,
with his own letter specially distinguish
ed, TO Ethel by post. and the next morn
Ing he called in Buckingham street to
make matters clearer.
Ethel's frank candor once more over.
came the difficulties of the situation: she
stood at the top of the stairs with her
hands outstretched and her face bright
with friendly interest
Il have been longing to see YOU" she
began, warmly, as they entered the room
we have both so much that is wonder
full to tell each other"
| She looked at him steadfastly aA n,
stood in the light from the window. anC
what she saw in his face quickened hei
pulse with q sudden pity. but she would
not give way TO the impulse that urged
her to console him. She went on, a lit
tie hurriedly at hrst
II can see that your pleasant news Il
in some way mixed up with painful
thoughts; so, as mine is altogether pleas
ant shall speak first. To begin-pap,
came home last night. and he has brough
the most wonderful news: 1t Is like
fairy tale! ! don't suppose you know ye
that your wife is my cosin 1'-Captail
Peliing started at the words-'T knew
you would be greatly pleased. Ny faith
er is not really Mr.. MaIett-his tru
name Is Sir Godfrey Mailing. and he
Jour Wtfs's uncle. In some extraerdinar
Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1906-03-17

FREDERICK VIII. SraHlindr scuool,
for not until he was 10 years old was
the difficult question of his fathers
succession to the Danish throne finally
settled.
II was Frederick's curious fate to
see his younger brother and his own
son become reigning monarchs of
Greece and Norway respectively,
while he himself was still an helr-ap-
parent.
The new queen, Louise, is reputed
TO be the tallest and richest princess
IT. Europe. She is a handsome wom-
an. Of the blonde type, and reflects the
beauty of her famous grandmother
Desiree Clary, the bridesmaids daugh-
ter. who captured Bonaparte and mar
risd Marshal Bernadotte, who subse-
qusntly became king OF Sweden and
Norway.
The queen inherited large fortunes
both from Prince Frederick of the
Netherlands and Prince Charles OF
Sweden. Nevertheless. she and her
husband have adhered to the simplicity
characteristic of the Danish court,
showing the nation the happy specta-
Gle OF united couple living on terms
Of the closest affection and sympathy
Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1906-03-17
By CHARLOTTE M. BRAEMH

| Things quietly, you would have given a
good deal never TO have seen her at all,
and wished you had behaved differently
to Miss Mallett.
Jack jumped up, his face beaming,
and wrung Pelinge hand.
Il could not say il myself. but that
Is really just how it has been with me-
am not good at expressing my feelings;
but | know you are behaving very well
to me--much better than | deserve-and
thank you. And now what do you wish
me to doY'
Go right away for few months.
Write to me now and again. and | will
take care that Miss Mallett hears what
ever Is likely to be of use to you. Give
her time to forget the indignity you have
put on her and her love. | shall be
on hand In the character of benevolent
patriarch. and the moment | see signs
favorable to our plot | will bring about
meeting. The rest will lie with your
self.
How can | thank your
You owe me no thanks. Relieve your
mind on that point. What | am doing
l do out of my sincere wish for Miss
Malletts happiness. If you really think
you owe me anything pay 1t in kindness
to your wife after you are married Here
is luncheon. We will talk by and by
of your immediate plans"
When they had finished luncheon, and
Jack had left, Polling laid down on the
hard horsehair sofa, with his hands under
his head, gazing steadfastly at the cell
ing; and it was not until the evening,
when the waiter came to light the gas,
that he was reused from his deep rev.
erie. He then pulled himself together,
called for his bill, and having settled 1t,
went out into the wretched night.
When Pauline left her husband at the
church door she knew that her schem-
ing had been futile, and that she could
never again show her face at Mailing
ford; but it was not that which caused
her the agony of mind she was suffer
ing.
She had lost Jack The one pure, I'M
selfish cup of joy she had longed to taste
had been snatched from her lips at the
moment of raising. She was stunned
with despair.
She paced up and down the platform
at Charing Cross station, watching for
Babette and concocting plans for OBJ
tanning what ready money she could be-
fore the grand denouement came. She
knew her jewels must be worth at least
five thousand pounds. and, though some
of them were heirlooms, and others had
been bought with money obtained by her
dishonesty, she would not scruple to APP
ply them to her personal use. Then she
would draw at once two thousand from
her bankers. She would go and do this
personally lest they might scruple to pay
SO large a sum on a check. And 80 she
laid her miserable plans, refusing to
listen for one moment to the prompting
OF her better nature, which would even
now suggest her return to the husband
whose only sin had been his poverty.
Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1906-03-17
and summer may see some of them

and summer may see some of them
start.
The pole Is to be attacked from
various sides and in different ways.
Captain Jules e. Bernier, the Cana
dian. expects to follow the wreckage
of the iI-rated Greedy expedition, en-
tering the frozen polar basin north of
Siberia and sledging to the pole. DR..
Varcle, Frenchman, expects to fol-
low a course almost parallel to that
mapped by Peary. and will sledge
northward by the aid of mules, or bur
ros and dogs. Einar Mikkelsen, a
Danish explorer, hopes to enter the
Arctic Ocean from the Mackenzie Riv-
er, but his expedition promises to be
a survey of an unknown region north
Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1906-03-17
CHAPTER XXI.

FEELING paused and looked attentively
at the young man. He knew there was
not much generosity in giving Ethel up,
as he could not marry her himself dur
ing the lifetime of his wife, and, hav-
ing plenty of true manliness, he did not
mean to make any show of the misera-
Die pain that was gnawing at his heart;
but he felt he should like to know what
sort of man this was whose path he
intended to smooth for him as far as lay
In his power; and. while he thought of
this, the memory of Ethel's face. panied
and sOrrowful as he saw it when she
made to him her confession of love for
this Dornton came suddenly before him.
and he knew that the greatest kindness
he could do her would be to restore her
lover. Presently he said, abruptly:
you have nearly broken Ethers
heart"
Jack flushed furlously, and half rose
from his chair. Polling motioned to him
TO keep calm.
Il asked you to be patient with me-"
he reminded Jack. "My motive should
excuse me to you. The pith of the whole
matter is this-was the engagement be-
tween you and Ethel broken off In CON
sequence of your infatuation for my
wife, or had you ceased to care for her
before you met Pauline2 As man 70
man, | ask you for a truthful answer /"
Il can't for the life of me understand
by what right" began Jack, hotly.
For heavens sake. don't waste time
in splitting straws when so much IL at
stalker Polling said. impetuously. "You
can't understand my right to interfere ?
j win explain. | love Ethel Mallett as
] never loved, never shall love. never he
lieved 1t possible to love; and until this
morning | had the hope of making her
my wife some day. when she had had
time TO forget you. I think my love for
her gives me the right to do what can
TO secure her happiness; and believe her
happiness rests with you. I can't have
her myself. OF | do not think l could
be unselfish enough to give her up.
might but | don't think It, Now to re
turn to eur point-was your infatuatior
for my wife the only cause of the es
arrangement between you twoY
Jack was greatly impressed. as he IN
dersteed now why Polling spoke with 8,
much effort. and he felt touched by hi
devotion. Added to this was the feel
Ing Of shame that had oppressed hin
ever sinee his talk with Lord Summers
"Ccme-you needn't mind confessini
your weakness to me-" Polling went on
encouragingly. BLESS you, man. know
how Pauline can twist any man roun,
her finger If she likes to try, sur
pose she was smitten with you. an
spread her nets 10 snare you, and YOU
not seeing the snare. found yourself
enamored Of her without knowing no,
Il happened. And | dare say, IL III
truth were known. when the hrst ma
burst was over. and you thought on
Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1906-03-17
primitira po.tal racilitie..

The inhabitants Of the Island of St
Kilda have to rely upon a novel postal
conveyance. Letters are. packed In
cotton wool covered by tarred convas
and placed in a tin. The bundle Is
then attached to an inflated sheepskin
bag, acting as a buoy, together with n
wooden float with the words "St Kilda
Mail: Phase Open" roughly cut on It