davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-08-05

had patented 7s4 different contrivances, and
models of most of these are In the model
room, among them being his first talking
machine model.
The present model room Is rented from
the Union Building Company. Until about
twenty years ago the models were in the
main building of the patent office. 1t was
here that the valuable collection was nearly
destroyed by fire. Shortly after IL o'clock
on the morning of Monday. the oath of
September, 1877, an alarm OF fire was
sounded. 1t was soon followed by a gen
eral alarm. But little attention was given
to 1t until the rumor flew that the patent
office was on fire. Columns of smoke were
seen Issuing from its roof and a shower OF
flying cinders gave evidence that a serious
blaze had begun its work. 1t seemed al
most Incredible. however, that the fire could
do much damage to the beautiful building
in which 1t had started. Yet the fact that
so important a government building was
on fire created great excitement. So great
was the faith of the officials and clerks OF
the office In the security of the so-called
hre-proof structure that they gave less
heed to the blaze than others.
The model room comprised the whole of
the third story of the building Immediately
under the roof, which was Of infiammable
material. The fire is supposed TO have
originated somewhere about this model
room on the G street side Quickly the fire
gained Roadway, despite the faith Of the
force that 1t could not last long. For time
the exertions of the firemen seemed of no
avail and within the first half hour so
serious was the damage wrought and the
danger of more that help from Alexandria
and Baltimore was telegraphed for. The
Alexandria engine was speedily on the
ground and went to work at once. Balti-
more sent four engines by rail with re-
markable speed, and they rendered most
efficient and timely aid. Lines of hose
were run up the sides of the building and
under the roof. Holes were cut and foods
of water poured into the upper floors. Men
in the corridors worked hard to remove the
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-08-05
Big Fish in Hollow Logs.

From the New York Sun.
AT this time of year the men who are
working in the sawmiils along the Missis-
slppf river are somewhat puzzled to decide
precisely what their occupation is Some
times they think they are mill men and
sometimes they think they are fishermen
Cathsh seem to be the 'coons and pos
sums OF the river world. They take to
the hollow logs, which they find among
the rats tied up near the sawmilis
In June the men who work the logs up
10 the carriages which take them to the
saws begin to watch for hollow specimens
When they find one of that sort they are
pretty sure OF a big catfish hiding inside.
Al Burlington a large number OF fish
Weighing from three to ten pounds each
nave been taken In this way during the
last few weeks One black catfish weig hing
tnirty-eight pounds was caught about two
weeks ago.
The prize was an immense blue catfish,
four feet In length and weighing ifty-eight
pounds. The sawmfll fishermen were not
prepared for such a oIg fellow and he
Jumped clear through their net. He would
have escaped to the water but for man
with canthook. who dispatched the prize.
The fish netted his eaptors 81 when he had
been dressed and cut ino steaks
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-08-05
ELDERLY SALESWOMEN
IN THE LARGE STORES

the knowledge and the business wisdom of
the old clerk
And whore do you hide these old clerks
these elderly saleswomen?'
The manager smiled and looked over the
railing at the hundreds of busy clerks
below.
They are down there behind counters,
or over there at desks. The clerk of to-
day who is no longer young is so big In
dress. so alert In manner and so thorough
~ in earnest with her work that she does
not sit down to size up the fact that she is
no longer a girl. She does not deceive her
self as to her age but she deeeives you
She is not worrying. And why should she?
The woman clerk who has been with me
for nfteen years, say, knows that she has
our unqualified trust, and that so long as
she is able TO work no one Is going to
bother about her age The earning capac-
lily OF such woman varies from SIS to $50
q week"
The business manager of another store
one of the oldest in the city-said:
We have from forty to fifty clerks who
have been with US over fifteen years; some
OF them for nearly double that length of
time but we have had no reason to consider
them elderly. Sometimes O woman clerk
resigns after long years of service at lib
eral pay. but / do not cali TO mind any
one of them who ever came TO want ;"
This house, Incidentally. was the FIRST In
Washington TO put a woman clerk behind
a dry goods counter One of its earliest
and most popular employees was known TO
almost every woman in Washington as
Miss Maria" She was clerk of most
excellent worth. and when, after years of
successful service. time began To break her
fine constitution, the proprletors OF the
store could not have treated her with more
tender consideration had they been her
L.. ffa.xr= Itsaf. I'll.
life she Inherited comfortable fortune
Other old clerks. men and women have
been kept on the pay roll long after they
were practically unfit for the work for
which they were employed.
This house has never discharged clerk
because OF dull season. and. owing to a
Clerks Mutual Benefit Associa tion," or
ganized by the employees many years ago,
any member who Is III is eligible for a help-
ful sum for thirteen weeks OF every year
This association proved SO beneficial In it's
results that a similar scheme was adopted
by leading New York stores. and there is
scarcely a mercantile house In the country
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-08-05

He had scheme of making potash and
pearl ashes by new and improved
method. board consisting of the Secre-
tary Of State. the Secretary of War and the
Attorney General allowed his claim and
granted him certificate of patent This
was In $780, the year of the establishment
OF the patent system. Two other patents
were issued the same year, one on a ma
chine for manufacturing candles and the
other on flour and meal machine.
sewing machine models occupy six cases.
From the first successful invention of Elias
howe Jr.. the claims on which were al
lowed September 10, 1S48, the models show
the development through the years until
the complicated. but smooth-running de-
light OF the modern housewife is reached
Then there are the freaks, such as a pocket
sewing machine invented by woman.
whose idea was that 1t should be taken to
afternoon gatherings for use when con-
versation Jagged among the ladies, but
somehow 1t never very popular &C.
cording to Mr.. Gill.
The inventions Of wonderland there are
soodly number-have been grouped In
one portion of the room by the curator.
An interesting lot they are and one of
wnich women in general may well be proud
MOST or them are for household use, al
though the broader field has remarkably
been entered with success by women Mr.
Gill says that the blowing of cinders In the
mar OF woman who was riding on a rail-
road train was responsible for one inven-
tlon, OF which there Is a model in one of
the cases. 1t is engine with a cap to
Mt over the opening of the snokestack and
numes running downward and backward to
conduct the troublesome cinders to a hor-
rlble end beneath the wheels of the train.
The invention never saw light outside the
patent Office it is said
Abraham Lncoln's steamboat Is another
curious thing. The great war President
was much better In that capacity than as
an inventor. for his lifting bellows" are a
triumph of the impossible. He planned to
lift Mississippi or Ohio river steamboat
over shoals by initiating immense bellows
under her projecting sides and beneath the
water line. He failed to allow for the
terrible wear and tear of the driftwood ana
the snags and nobody was brave enough to
give his plan try
Up to February. 1904, Thomas A. Edison
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-08-05

Wv Washington answers this
question with cheerful prompt
ness: There are no elderly saleswomen."
The business manager of a leading de-
partment store Of the city gives moro than
one reason for her non-eXistence.
I'VE have women clerks who have been
with US for twenty-five years and who
must have been fully that old when we en-
gagged them but we do not think OF them
as elderly he said. Gray hair and
tlme-lines cut no figure in this store 1t
is efficiency that couuts-and that these
women are efficient is proved by the fact
that we pay them liberal salaries and put
them in charge OF departments"
You are referring to exceptions who have
achieved success. but what about the rank
and hle-the saleswomen who Just work
along until old age renders them Incapable,
and they have TO be discharged?"
Il am not familiar with the type" replied
the business man. Ike every other trade
or profession. for men and women alike.
there are unfortunate drones. human insists.
who would fail no matter in what line you
put them. because II Is their nature to- but
We are talking OF rules instead OF excep-
for us from youth TO middle age argues
her competency and our recognition OF her
worth"
Bat after middle age? When the day
comes that she IS no longer competent?"
suggested the reporter
She has her savings. think I am safe
III saying that the ma jority of women clerks
mot Young girls. nind-save, unless they
have others to support We employ hum
dreds OF young girls. as you see We are
careful IN our selections and take on, gem
orally, only such applicants as are between
seventeen and twenty years. The majority
OF them VIII doubtless marry, and some
VIII probably pass examinations and secure
government appointments. The others-al-
ways eliminating exceptiohs--w;ll work for
us Tor many years 10 come. Each year
VIII increase their value TO the hours be-
cause OF their knowledge OF the goods
they sell because OF their ripening jadg-
ment and because OF their ever growing
familiarity with the needs of our custom
ers. All this brings increase OF pay. The
young clerk may be keeneF of. eye and
quicker of motion, but she naturally lacks
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-08-05

records to places of safety, and firenen in
the halls of the model room battled with
the flames. The entire force OF the In
terror Department, so far as II could be
reached, was enlisted In the work of remov-
ing valuable papers and furniture. At the
height of the fire the scene was thrilling I'm
the extreme.
The crisis Of the fire came about 1 o'clock.
when the wind shifted and drove the flames
through the model room and through the
roof at the corner of Oh and G streets.
Suddenly the entire roof from 9th to Sth
street broke into flames, a distance Of a
square. Buildings across the street were
being soaked with water to save them from
the blaze. The ffremen and crowds Of spec
ators were driven temporarily from the
street, so intense was the heat. The wind
however, soon abated, and the flaming roof
fell in, thus preventing the spread of the
flames across the street. The work of the
fremen began to tell about > o'clock, and
then it was comparatively easy task TO
stay the destruction of the east end of the
north hall.
The model rooms on the north side OF the
building, with all their contents. were COM
pletely destroyed. and many valuable
models lost forever. Eighty-seYeu thou
sand models went in this way Several
thousand of these were of pending patents
and the loss of those was to the inventors.
Many rejected models were in the num-
ber and this loss was not serious But
others of great value were in the portion
OF the collection that was burned. Whether
or not this great and interesting collec-
ton Of mechanical devices of almost every
conceivable kind. after weatheTing all sorts
OF storms and escaping a rayshlug fire is
at last to be scattered cannot YET be said
but certainly every person who has
mechanical turn Of mind and is interested
in preserving tangible records OF the his
tory of the country VIII be glad If Score
tary Hitchcock decides he can save the
collection in its present form without going
contrary to the law of the land as laid
down by Congress at its last session.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-08-05

engine. 1t Is crudely constructed of BRASS
but serves to show, what in the dawn Of
steam invention, was a new principle in
mechanics-the cylinder and piston applied
to the operation of carriage. Many early
forms Of the typewriter are also to be seen,
as well as innumerable shearing devices
and other inventions Of purely industrial
character.
In this latter connection there Is one
model in nearby case which usually holds
the attention of the visitor. 1t is the old
est In the entire collection, a curious circu-
lar affair like table, with brushes arrang-
ed to operate upon 1t. 1t Is labeled Cloth
shearing machine. Samuel Dorr. October
20, 1892" Further along is another cloth
shearing machine, the work of this same
Dorr and patented in 1907.
But these models are not of the very first
patents ever granted in this country. The
man who had the distinction of securing
the first patent rights from this govern
ment was Samuel Hopkins. There is moth
ing In the records to show where he lived.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-08-05

- INCE the commissioner of patents,
Frederick l. Allen issued in the
Official Gazette recently a notice
49, that the collection of $4,000 mod
els in the old model room in the
Union. building on G street northwest. be-
tween 6th and eth streets, was either to be
sold or given away because Congress had
de .ided it was costing Uncle Sam too much
money 20 keep il, repeated protests against
dissertation" have been received by the
commissioner. The patent attorneys OF this
city held a meeting and appointed COM
nuttee TO call unon Mr. Allen and advocate
the retention of the models, If II can be
done IN any way under the law. Inventors
oil over the country have exhibited simi-
lar interest in the valuable collection. which
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-08-05

cited the wonder of mankind
/" by its rapid and giant strides
w very little attention has been
given to the study of the art
or healing that Is employed by dumb ami
mails. which. upon investigation, appears
to be as wonderful as that of man himself
Some discussion of this subject has been
INDUCED in at the John Hopkins University
lately and 1t has been suggested that the
lessons learned from the brute kingdom
may. in some instances, be profitable to
humankind If the principles exhibited are
accepted and followed.
1t Is believed that the dog has q valuable
secret for man in the treatment of wounds
with his saliva. 1t IL stated that the sa-
Iva OF the dog has a perfect bactericidal
and healing power. and there Is little doubt
in the minds of those who are now deving
Into the subject that this same agency is
a good antiseptic. Proof is apparent In the
prompt use of saliva upon his wounds by
the dog and his speedy recovery through
this treatment. 1t was a matter of COM
ment when this subject was first under
taken at the Hopkins Medical School, that
no bacteriologist had taken the hint from
the dogs lesson and engaged In experiment
tation along this line
That the dog possesses q marked surgi-
cal instinct is verified by numerous In
stances out of the commonplace. A Rev.
time in missionary work in northwestern
Canada, had among his dogs, of which
large number was necessary for drawing
his sleds. one Rover. This dog not only
attended its own wounds but actually per
formed the duties of surgeon to all of it's
fellows. Calls. wounds. frozen feet and
other like unpleasantnesses conseuuen.
upon the peculiar toll they had to perform
were systematically and successfully treat
ed by DR." Rover. He had one remedy
the amounting OF the afflicted part with his
saliva. Wherever She applied his remedy
the cure was speedy. It was noticed that
parts of the toes of the dog patients which
could not be reached by the dog doctors
tongue went unhealed. Mr.. Young says
that the Indians in admiration of the ca
mines wonderful learning called him Mus
keke Atm, meaning the surgeon. This
instance shows that the saliva OF the dog
when that animal Is In health and properly
fed has q powerful bactericidal effect
But the dog is not alone In the possession
OF this means for curing the various ills
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-08-05

IS the accumulation of all the years since
the establishment of the United States
patent system in 1890 Representatives of
museums and polytechnic institutions in
various parts of the land have requested
that, If the models to be given away.
they be allowed the privilege of caring for
some OF them.
SO great has the storm of protest been
that perhaps measures may be taken TO
retain the whole or very large part of
the collection. The matter is at present
up to" the Secretary of the Interior.
Probably no one knows the great value of
and singular interest attached to these
models better than Mr.. K. c. Gill, who has
been in charge of the model room for near
ly forty years and is said TO know the his
tory of every model. The arrangement in
building IS his and so is the labelling. The
vast collection is his price and he has
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-08-05
been very sad man since the commission
er's announcement of several weeks ago.


ers announcement of several weeks ago.
No matter what Is done with the bulk OF
the collection 1t is practically certain that
the models to which is attached historic
interest will be retained. They may be sent
to the National Museum, which would be
only too glad to get them. In this class
are the original Howe sewing machine mod
ell. the original model OF an electro-mag-
neuc telegraph instrument patented by
Morse in 1915 and the first model of a gas
automobile, invented by Selden. The mod
els tell the complete story of American in
vention. When a visitor enters the model
room on a tour of inspection Mr.. Gill
takes him first to far corner OF the up
oermost of the three floors and there In d
Hood of light, next big window, he points
to case number one. In it are the begin
ningS of things. model of Ell Whitney's
cotton gin is there, but this is not the one
made under the inventors direction. The
famous patent office fire of September "a
1877, destroyed that and the curator had
another made from the drawings. which
are. OF course. part of the records OF the
office. Another model In the first case is
that of the first patented steam railway
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-08-05
ART OF HEALING PRACTICED
AMONG ANIMALS AND BIRDS

to which his tribe is heir Cats cattle.
rats. mice and monkeys are all known to
lick their wounds when they can get at
them. and when they cannot do so they
endeavor to get their companions to per-
form this Office for them. If the queer
little worlds, which they know were pos
sessed of newspapers Ineligible to them
it would doubtless be true that they would
be frequent contributors to these columns
devoted to home remedies, and they would
tell IN glowing and convincing language
how they had tried this method with such
success that they would have no other.
The Johns Hopkins men who are in
curing into this subject now call atten-
ton to an incident narrated by DR.. James
Weir, in which large monkey figured.
The monkey scratched his shoulder badly
on a nall which projected from the side
of his cage. Immediately upon sustaining
the injury the queer creature went to a
corner and selected handful of clean saw
dust In place until the bleeding stopped
which was In but few moments The
sawdust was saturated with blood which
had dried and formed a most excellent
coating for the wound, protecting 1t until
entirely well.
1t should be mentioned that the dogs
medical instinct does not halt at the saliva
treatment. He is physician as web as a
surgeon. The dog that goes searching
around in the field with apparent aimless-
some most unattractive and unpalatable
greens is taking prescription taught him
by nature. The blades he eats are those of
the couch grass--which your physician
would probably designate on his preserip-
ton blank as tritis,um repens, and 1T per-
forms the offices of a purgative
Instances could be recited at length of
animal display of the medical instinct
Horses and even the less Intelligent mules,
eat clay when they afflicted with
stomachic disorder commonly designated
by the veterinary as "seurs." Cattle suf-
fering with eczema have frequently been
known to plaster an affected hoof and
joint with mud. DIR. Weir tells of a COW
which deliberately broke the Ice on a pond
In the winter and treated her itching joint
to a bath OF mud. The fondness OF the
domestic cat for eatnip is not condition
OF mind attendant upon the enjoyment of
absolute health. for 1t Is only when the
feline Is feeling somewhat under the
weather that 1t will seek the solace of
the soothing properties of this vegeta-
ton. Under such circumstances cats have
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-08-05

to day that has not a relief association for.
the benefit of It's employees.
x
Il DO not believe that the average elderly
saleswoman would thank you for your
solctude," remarked another merchant.
I'VE have women clerks who have been
with US ever since we first opened in Wash
ngton and that wasn't yesterday, but
am not prepared to admit that any of them
are elderly. We certainly have never dis
missed clerk, man or woman, for that
reason alone Young clerks, of course.
have The advantage of youth, but they
have yet to attain the sound Judgment and
the ability to sell with the discretion that
marhs their elder colleagues
Miss Jane Creighton was about the first
saieswoman to enter Washington store
She was clerk for Davis & Gather, whose
place stood on the corner now occupied by
kann's. When the firm went out of busi-
ness she accepted a position with Wood
ward & Lothrop, where she stayed until
her retirement and death. She was a wom-
an OF sterling worth and so thoroughly
popular that old-time shoppers of TODAY
will recail-unless they keep check reins on
their memories-the after-market crowds
that used to swarm In the shop taking
turns TO be waited on by Miss Jane"
She. herself had a fine scorn for the
Vanities of dress, and those who knew her
then can picture her now in untrimmed
Shitt ofau Josie ana Win her gray. hair
twisted in a small knot and pinned tight
at the back OF her head. She frankly adj
mitted that she dressed to suit herself but
she had rare gift of knowing. also. what
suited the style of each customer and her
decisions were law. Her position was q
unique one in those days and she accepted
1t with humorous philosophy. She thor
onghly enjoyed business life and proved
good friend and helpful adviser o~the
younger saleswomen who soon Joined her
in the store.
A small woman, with gray hair and dress
or waxwork neatness, who has been with
one firm since her childhood nearly forty
years ago. was asked II she knew anything
about elderly saleswomen.
We'll, / suppose l ought, but don't.
For myself. | feel that am learning ,aore
about my business every day. and that 1
can never know too muca. / suppose being
human. shall stop working some ay, ana
when the time comes. well, can afford to
play. I've known many clerks to leave
stores for one thing or another but | cant
remember any who were hurried AWAY be-
cause of old age. Some learn trades end
start. In business for themselves know
miiliners who have shops In villages and
small towns and make independent ssvi1,gs
Many clerks marry, some get go7n~nment
offices. and ! know others who earned