davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington herald., 1906-12-23

No President of the United States, con-
fronted by great problems Of state. and
ambitious TO render good account Of his
/ stewardship TO present and future gen
eratons, has escaped the accusation of
trying to usurp the constitutional powers
conferred upon the legislative and judi
cial departments Of the government.
Upon the executive Office. charged by
/ the Constitution with the duty Of execut-
ing the laws Of the nation. and by Gus
tom with the duty Of recommending leg
islation, naturally falls the criticism of
those who disagree with the policies of
the party in power. Much OF this criti-
cism is i'll founded; a great deal Of il
merely III natured. Some OF It, however.
is useful, well directed, and healthful.
serving to remind us Of the.normaI bound
aries Of executive power and Of the
proper limitations which human expert
ence has shown should be placed upon
the exercise Of authority by those in
trusted with the reins Of government.
We have before US daily, almost hourly.
eXemplihcati0n Of the wisdom Of the
founders Of cur government in setting I'D
strain both the power of the people and
the power Of the Executive. It is true
that the balance has at times seemed. 10
be upset in favor Of the Executive.
It is true. also. that. contrary to
the expectations of our Constitution
makers. the people have often sought
the expression Of their wishes through
the President, UNFOLDING his hands as
against an inert and unrespOnsive Con-
gTess. thus reversing the constitutional
method Of effecting the popular viii. En-
dowed with great power and heavy re-
sponsibility at the very beginning. the
Presidential Office has seemed 10 grow
in the affections Of the people, until at
last the whole Federal system appears
as if concentered in a single person, our
national aspirations uttered by a single
mouthpiece, our future summed up in one
question. What is the President going
20 do about it?
But the constitutional check remains,
dormant perhaps. but none the less po-
tent. The science Of government was
not born yesterday. The da- ger Of IN
bTidled executive power was as well IN
derstood by Washington and Hamilton
and Madison as by the victims Of the
Caesars; as perfectly comprehended by
the trainers Of our Constitution as By the
barons who wrung Magma Charta from
a British despot That power may be
abused and that its abuse s5ould be
guarded against have been maxims of
political science for thousands Of years.
They are deeply imbedded in our polit-
zeal system, thanks to the sagacity of the
fathers, and they cannot be rooted out
of it, we hope, either by popular clamor
or by a headstrong and ambitious Ex-
ecutive.
We are steadily developing the scope
of Federal power, as Mr.. Root forcibly
reminded US, and in some directions this
power must grow, if the nation is to rise
superior to the gigantic force of organ
lied industry. commerce. and finance.
Such growth must inevitably tend to
aggrandize the Executive ONCE. We SHAH
The Washington herald., 1906-12-23
VIII Try Again.

Senator Carmack. whose term expires
with the close Of this Congress in March,
VIII take up the practice Of law at Mem
phis and await the next Senatorial cleo
ton in Tennessee, in the full confidence
of his friends that ne will be returned
10 the Senate. When his successor. "Fid-
ding Bob" Taylor. takes his seat Ten
nessee viii then be represented in the
Senate by men who live IN the eastern
part Of the State, Senator Fraziers home
being at Chattanooga. 1t has been a
custom time out OF mind in Tennessee
TO select Senators from different sections
Of the State, so that Mr. Carmack will
have the benefit Of whatever advantage
lies in the old custom. His popularity
IS still great in the State although il is
curious fact that the hostility OF Presi-
dent Roosevelt was just strong enough
20 be the determining factor against him
in the exciting race he made against
former Gov Taylor. Il is believed that
he enjoys the unique distinction of be-
ing the onlN Democratic Senator whose
defeat for reelection can be charged
ap TO the influence Of a Republican Presi-
dent.
The Washington herald., 1906-12-23
Henry lanes, Islander.

A correspondent appeals 70 us TO defend
her womankind from the SANDERS of
Henry James, who, IL seems. is coutribut-
ing series Of articles on the speech of
American women to a magazine which is
printed for the delectation of feminine
readers According to AIr. James. Amer
lean women do not know how 10 use their
voices. The sounds which they utter
CRATE upon his sensitive soul.
Il really seems a waste of time to take
Mr.. James seriously. He is one Of those
beings so unfortunately constituted that
he can see nothing good in his native
land. Born in New York, he has lived in
England for more than thirty years, and
his visits to this country have only afford
ed him opportunities for renewed fault
finding and criticism. In this especial in
stance. he waited until he was again in his
adopted home before indulging in his caus-
tic attack upon American women. The
very fact that he Tefrained from pub
fishing his observations until he was be-
yOnd the seas demonstrates the caddisb-
ness OF his nature. It seems strange. in
deed. that he finds an American publisher
willing to become the medium for exploit
ing his views
Mr.. James is slxty-three years cid. and
vet it appears that the serenity of his
soul is stiH disturbed because when he
was quite young some Boston schoolgirls
'ingenuOusly shrieked and bawled to each
other across the street" He remembers
distinctly that they "hooted and howIed. -
as he expresses il, land conversed at the
top of their lungs" Ergo. all American
women are shoUters and loud takers. and
when they are not deafening the world.
they articulate "as from sore mouths. all
mumbling and whining and vocally limp
ing and shutting, as it were. together"
IN fact, in the whole of his existence. he
recalls only two women who were really
careful TO use their voices 50 as to please
his critical ear Al the rest were in the
category Of the Boston schoolgirls and
therefore, not to be considered for a mo-
ment in comparison with the English
women, for whose grace Of speech Mr..
James cannot apparently fad adjeetives
sufficiently superlative. He yearns-we
use his own words-for the English
women. who possess a cultivated and con-
secrated instinct for the speech OF the
gentlewomen. According TO Mr. James,
there are no genuewomen in this country.
The women here are fshmongers, so to
speak. who shout their way through the
world, offending ears polite with their stri-
dent tones.
Way should our correspondent ask US
to defend her sex? The arraignment is so
The Washington herald., 1906-12-23
ROOSEVELT NO SUPERMAN.
French Paper Describes Him as Man
of Average Abilities.

of Average Abilities.
Paris CablegTam TO the New York sun.
The Liberte prints al editorial entitled
''Roosevelts Christianity in which IL
describes the President as no superman.
but man of average faculties. who is
nevertheless clothed in American eyes
with a species Of sacerdotal character,
which assures him considerable prestige.
He is an apostle of Christianity repre-
senting admirably that human religious
ness which is gradually being evolved
from the various religions coexisting in
the United States.
He is as sententious as a parson. His
discourses are constructed like sermons.
The Bible continually shows him how TO
impress the multitude The writer quotes
Mr.. Roosevelt as saying that Christianity
is the sole basis for a nations lasting
greatness.
The correspondent says that the Presi-
dent does not by this mean any special
creed but he wishes religious life prOpa-
gated under the most diverse forms This
state of mind is not. properly speaking.
piety, but liberalism, embracing every
form Of religion. Ii is the gift of COM
prehension granted sometimes TO children
and refused to celebrated scholars. The
Jansenists call it grace. The Americans
call it inspiration.
The Americans believe that all their
national heroes possessed it-LincoIn.
Emerson, Mckinley. and now Roosevelt.
It sums up the nations spirituality The
writer's objective in these remarks is
given in the final paragraph, which says:
1T is due to this tolerant, liberal Chris
tianity that Latin anu-clericalism has
not yet penetrated America. While men
Ike Roosevelt are at the head of the
government we shall have striking proof
that the wretched passions agitating US
are as yet unborn among his citizens"
The Washington herald., 1906-12-23

require the services OF courageous, in
dependent and well-balanced men In that
great position. But still more shall we
require that the constitutional restraints
upon Executive power shall not be allow
ed to fall into disuse. that rome Of the
agencies of government provided by the
Federal Constitution shall fail in the per-
Torrance Of their functions. and that the
due balance Of the ruling power shall be
preserved, to the end that no man shall
ever be able, in the Presidential chair, 20
subveTt the mechanism OF government
by personal impulses, idiOsyncTasies Of
will or Imperialism Of temperament as
distinguished from patriotic purpose.
The Washington herald., 1906-12-23
christmas and the Roekefellers

| John D. Rockefeller warns us all that
we are spending too much money. He
| forgets that Christmas comes but once
year
The people Of the United States are
entirely too prodigal Of what they now
have" Mr.. Rockefeller added in a news
paper interview. They are taking adj
vantage of prosperity such as has
never been excelled in this country We
are not laying up for the rainy day"
The oil magnate puts us all in the same
boat, with himself included. After
Christmas he viii begin TO lay up for
the rainy day SO shall we all. Mr..
Rockefeller viii then manage somehow
to learn where We have laid away our
nest egg. and when next Christmas
comes around we shall be about as hard
UP as We are now. Obviously. he has had
To buy Christmas presents for the grand
son that bears his name. The father of
this grandson In all probability will make
some moving remarks to his Sunday
school class to-day on how much better
il is 70 lay up treasures in the next
world than in this. Thus there is divi-
sion Of opinion on a great question In
the family. Both son and father agree
that the responsibilities Of wealth are
terribly bUrdensome, and that wealth
that is not managed wisely is dangerous
70 its owner and his less burdened neigh
bors
The elder Rockefeller holds that the
owners Of big fortunes are the mere
stewards Of the public Great wealth
may be a great blessing or a great
curse" he declares. THE possession Of
great wealth, as a matter Of fact. con-
fers only a stewardship, so that the
holder may do good TO his felIow-man -
year or two ago President Baer. Of
the Reading Railroad. went a little fur
TIER than this and declared that PROV
idence had ordained that certain men
should control the wealth of the earth
in order that it should not be put 10
improper use. The only difference be
tween the Baer view and the Rockefeller
view is that one perceives that the Al
mighty has conferred great riches upon
the chosen few. while the other holds
that the laws of the land have favored
the few. and that this imposes "a ter
ribie burden Of stewardship"
However. this is not the season TO dis
putc with the ROckefellers. the Baers.
et al over the methods Of acquiring great
wealth or the uses 10 which it should be
put Christmas is upon us We hope the
Rockefellers. the Baers. ct al may have
a merry Christmas. II they want to
lecture US. let them wait until We have
seen the stockings and the Christmas
trees stripped Of their gifts from Santa
Claus Tuesday morning by folks that are
happier than they are; 10y folks that are
not b0thering their heads a bit about the
size Of the great fortunes in this or any
other country by folks that are ricner
praise God. than any Midas whose
prayer that everything he touched might
turn 10 gold was answered,
The Washington herald., 1906-12-23
Ronanartism Redivivns.


What warlike visions are these con
jured up by our new Attorney General
Enmity oversee. foreign transports laden
with troops and munitions of war bear
ing down upon our defenseless shores. no
assurance Of peace but a big army. bic
navy, big guns along the coast; big ex-
penditures for militarism,
We are no longer isolated, says Mr.
Bonaparte, we are big and obtrusive;
we have a part to play in the terrible
drama of human destiny therefore We
are bound to awaken envy, distrust, fear.
to have enemies.
Perhaps it is all true; but why should
1t be true, and why should we venture
upon a career SO far from our national
purpose, so adverse to our former ma
tional ideals? Not so long ago We were
isolated and that was thought to be an
element of national strength, even from
the military standpoint. Mr. Bryce. the
new British Ambassador. who is cordially
welcomed TO this country because he so
we'll understands US, some years ago ven
tured the opinion. which Mr.. Bonaparte
doubtless regards as rather Anticipated.
that the United States has grown so
immense in strength that no European
power can constitute a danger 10 them -
But our naval experts thought we were
not strong enough without coaiing sta
tions, so we gathered in the Philippines.
Hawaii, one Of the Samoan Islands. Porto
Rico, a port in Cuba, and the Canal
Zone, with options on other outlying
strongholds Of the sea. And now. I'm ad-
dition 20 the mainland. which we had con-
sidered secure, we are obligated to de-
fend these distant possessions. which ad-
mittedly are insecure.
In former times we were not obtrusive.
Our policy was TO keep out Of other ma
tons business-it IS 30 yet. according TO
declaration made by the Senate the
other day, but perhaps that doesn't
count The part we used to pride our
selves on playing in the worlds affairs
was that of moral influence. and we used
10 observe with swelling b0soms the re-
fiex action OF our free institutions upon
the effete establishments Of Europe. Mr..
Bryce caught US in such a mood. and he
wrote Of our national aversion to the
bad order of the OLD World" ard of our
deep-roOted idea that "the true way for
the model republic to influence that world
IS TO avoid its errors and set an example
of pacific industrialism.'
Pacific indusTialism, indeed We're a
World-pover, Mr. Bryce, and when you
come over here again. won't you please
make note of it? Better yet. gather
material for another volume: The Amer
lean Commonwealth; Twenty Years Aft
er; A Study in the Imperialistic Develop
ment Of a Democratic Republic. With
Introduction by Charles J. Bonaparte" II
VIII not take long for Mr. Roosevelt and
his Attorney General to convince you
that your former work is sadly out Of
date.
The Washington herald., 1906-12-23
The Great Animal Onestion.

A clever artist ouces drew q picture
Of woman's head with her couture so
arranged that it represented an interroga-
ton mark. In other words. the feminine
/ creature is the worlds eyer-present ques-
ton. Some equally clever portrayer ought
! to weave another Interrogation mark
/ around Christmas. There is no other sea
son of the year which is so troublesome,
/ despite all its joy and cheer It everlast-
! ingly confronts us with the question,
What shall give?"
one would think that the answer could
easily be determined. There are stores
and stores. all Of them filled with the
most attractive wares. The newspapers
/ print columns upon columns of sugges-
tons, each advertisement containing a
catalogue which includes almost every
thing under the sun. The handiworker
and the artist combine to decorate and in
vent so as to appeal to varied tastes. It
would seem. however, as # the very null
uplicity Of things added to our perplexfty.
The mind becomes confused While We
are on the verge Of selecting a gift which
seems peculiarly appropriate. something
else comes within the range Of our vision.
and forthwith indecision reigns supreme.
The general result is that we finally buy
the article we did not want, and then we
are oppressed by the thought that. after
ALL it may be neither desired nor appre-
ciated
It is said that there are some remark
able persons in the world who deliberately
determine exactly the gifts they viii be
stow and then hold themselves most rig
orOusly to their programme, not allowing
themselves to be diverted either by the
seductions Of an advertisement or the i'm
portunities of the person behind the
counter. If such there be-and we confess
that they seem 10 US TO be mythical and
unreal-we bow down before them In adj
miration. They are of the stuff Of which
heroes are made. They deserve 10 have
their portraits hung in the gallery Of
fame and their names TO go down in his
tory along with other famous people.
Most Of US are of less sterner mold.
weakly wandering through the mazes OF
the stores and vainly endeavoring to
reach a decision. Indeed. the purchase OF
Christmas gifts is 70 the great majority
of man and woman kind nothing more
than shooting an arrow into che air. They
hope it viii hit something. but whether it
viii hit the right thing is question be-
yOnd their ken
Let us give thanks that the period dur
ing which we thus grope and search ex-
pires by limitation. We must make up
our minds before tomorrow night.
The Washington herald., 1906-12-23
A Pix" ia Virginia.

Joseph a. Graham. a native Of the
Eastern Shore OF Maryland. but who for
many years was editor Of the St. Louis
Republic has been East several weeks
on visit, a part Of which time he de-
voted 10 hunting in Virginia Mr.
Graham is a student of American folk
lore. and thought he was pretty well
acquainted with all of the most strik-
ing features Of the characteristic YER
nacuiars Of the country until he spent a
week in the Blue Ridge region In Loudoun
County. I'm the Old Dominion. There he
WAS startled TO discover that the ge-
neric name for any and all sorts Of con-
yeyances is fix" Whether the vehicle
Is family carriage of the latest pattern.
a buggy Of the most approved model, an
automobile. or what-not. in the vernacul8r
Of the Loudoun County Blue Ridge region
it becomes a fix
What sort Of fix did you come 10
town in?" one OF the F. f. VS. viii ask
another
Investigation reveals the fact that the
FIX in question is an ordinary vehicle.
i am curious TO learn, said Mr..
Graham. the origin OF this word in it's
application IN some parts Of Virginia,
can't find it In the dictionaries, nor have
been able % learn from Virginians who
use IL where il came from"
The Washington herald., 1906-12-23
A necIine in value.

From the Cleveland Plaindealer.
With hope in his heart the man
faced the lady at the door.
Are you the person who advertised
the loss of a $4,000 pearl necklace? %
he asked.
Yes, yes" the lady eagerly cried.
''Have you found it?'
Here it is, ma'am." And he handed
her the jewels.
Thank you so much" said the lady.
Here is IS for your trouble"
The mans face fell
Five dollars he hoarsely growled.
You are disappointed" said the
lady. "Well, I'll tell you what I'll do.
If you viii give me IS you can keep the
necklace"
Then the unfortunate man realized
that the pearls were paste.
The Washington herald., 1906-12-23
Nothing Doing.

From the Milwaukee Sentinel.
DO you allow children in your hat?''
she asked Of the janitor.
I'VE do, ma'am."
Small children like that to play on the
stairs?'
yes, ma'am. Most all our tenants
have children"
May L bring my little dog in the fat if
I want tor
mo objections whatever. ma'am."
May play the piano after IL O'clock?"
las late as you please, ma'am."
Cook onions?"
Certainly
u don't want it. I don't like that kind
of a place"
The Washington herald., 1906-12-23
THE INNOCENT BYSTANDER.
THE TWENTY-sIxT,.

I've washed my face an COmbed my hail
An not forgot to say my prayer,
An never jeTked or slammed the door
Nor gone a slidin' on the floor.
Because four weeks ago I knew
That Christmas day would soon be due
I'm waitin' for the twenty-sixt',
I've had a thousand chances where
7 might a yauked somebody's chair;
I've seen u thousand dandy ways
Where I might do some things 10 raise
The dickens. but I've had u wait
Till Christmas is wiped of the slate
I'm waitin' for the twenty-sixt'i
Three nights a week I've set an read
Until twas time 10 go 10 bed,
When ! was tempted strong to 90
An tease my sister an her beau;
Three nights week her beau has smiled
An said 1 am a model child
I'm waitin' for the twenty-sixt',
I've been the best boy in the school.
Learned everything an broke DO rule;
The teacher tells the other boys
To notice how I make no noise
An how I get my answers right
An how I always am polite
I'm waitin' for the twenty-sixt'i
I've gone TO Sunday school each week
An told why Moses was so meek
An who was Cain. an all about
The way Cola got knocked out.
The teacher Sunday told my ma
I'm the best boy she ever saw
I'm waitin' for the twenty-sixt'.
An yesterday q man went by
Who wore a plug hat two feet high;
I had a SNOWFALL, an / itched
An squirmed, an all my fingers twitcheC
To sock il one. but / did not:
A boy must sacrifice a lot
I'm waitin' for the twenty-sixt'!
o, Christmas comes but once a year
But it's a long time gettin' here,
It's hard 20 do just what you should;
It's hard 10 keep on bein' good
When wall-eyed Walter King comes by
An yells: Fight mel You dissent try
I'm waitin' for the tweaty-sixt',
The Washington herald., 1906-12-23
THE DAY BEFORE.

IT'S the day before Christmas. the clerks
are worn out. the shoppers are nervously
rushing about. the postman comes in with
a song on his lips, the bellboys and
walters are looking for tips;
The grocer is glad as he counts UP his
cash. the Office boys move with leap and
"a dash, the janitor coos in tone low and
sweet to inquire if the fat doesn't need
some more heat.
But o, in the kitchen we center our fear
as slowly but surely does Christmas draw
near-Our gifts for the cook viii take most
of our pay and still we are wondering il
she will stayi WILBUR NESBIT.
The Washington herald., 1906-12-23
Owns the biggest Salt WING.

Hon. James +. McIlhenny the Louisiana
Democrat recently appointed a member of
the Civil Service Commission By Presi-
dent Roosevelt. who met him first as a
private in the Rough Riders before the re-
doubts of Santiago, IS not only one Of the
proprletors Of the only concern in the
world that makes a sauce of earth-wide
popularity, but he also owns the biggest
salt mine on the planet. His salt mine is
situated on Avery Island just off the
coast of Louisiana, and its raw product is
said to be practically ready for market
just as it is taken from the bed Mr.
McIlhenny, who is not yet forty years
old, has had a marked taste for politics
for a long time. He resigned the Office
Of State senator in order to accept the
Presidents call 10 the Civil Service Com
mission. AS he is a bachelor. rich, Of fine
breeding and education. good looks, and
thoroughly Injured 10 the ways of the
world. il is expected that he viii be one OF
the beauX of Washington, and will be
much sought after by the dowagers of
society. Whether he cares for that sort
Of social life is not known, though il is
known that the leaders Of Washington $
smart set are preparing to give him
royal welcome to their circle. 1t is said
that Mr.. McIlhenny is so devoted to
books and to the study Of public questions
that he may immune himself in his
library this winter, instead of participant
ing IN the social gayeties Of the Capital
If he does adopt this course. he viii
cause disappointment to a large number
of women who are hoping and planning a
brilliant social career for him here.