davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington times., 1906-05-12
RAILWAY SURGEONS COMPETENT.

To the Editor Of The Washington Times.
In an editorial captioned, The Free
Pass" which appears in The Washing
ton Times of this day. there occurs a
reference to the local surgeon who
at every town where trains stop is kept
on the rolls and given a pass in ex-
change for his occasional services and
his political pull"
This is unjust TO hundreds of excellent
surgeons who are employed by railroads
in the United States. 1t is far from
correct to generalize 10 the effect that
the railway medical service Of this
country has as It's basis the free pass.
Medical skill is by no means measured
by residence in cities rather than in
points where the surgeon employed by
a railroad is described as local" The
merest inquiry will show that ffrst-class
railroads pick with the utmost care their
surgeons from those whose entire time
Lhey require as heads OF great hospitals
down TO those in junction towns The
local surgeon may, in the event OF q
serious railway wreck find himself con-
IIonted with an emergency appalling in
the magnitude of possible loss OF life
and priceless in the opportunity for
preservation Of life by surgical skill
FROM a purely selfish standpoint IL is
20 the lnterSt Of the railroads to obtain
the best medical talent. Ignorant or
careless ministratiOn means damage
suits
AS rule. seldom departed from. rail-
roads pay to their surgeons the same
ices charged in general practice or ac-
cording 10 special railway surgery
schedule which is quite as generous. OF
course railway surgeons have been
granted the courtesy of passes. As a
rule they are too busy to have much
time for travel and If passes are for
hidden they win feel the deprivation less
than others.
As for political pull The physician
who sells political pull to railways
disguised as medical skill is likely TO
forget his professional duty in the face
OF political expediency. Such a surgeon
might easily prove - treacherous in q
damage suit and for this reason rail-
roads invariably seek the man whose
great qualifications are his professional
zeal and his high sense of duty 10 the
railroad and to the patient which it
places in his care. Your reference in
this editorial is unfortunately a rehec-
ton upon a class Of medical men who
almost without exception stand in the
highest rank OF their profession
Very truly. ROBERT H. PATCHIN.
Washington, ID. C, Nav IL 1906
The Washington times., 1906-05-12
HERBERT SPENCER

The pattern Of his drawing-roorn car
pet began to fade when il had been
down only few months. 1t consisted
or rather had consisted. of clusters of
blue flowers on a drabbish ground Nov
with the principal color gone, il had be-
come far too duh for the taste of that
lover OF brightness He therefore con-
ceived the unique idea of having each
hover stamped over with red ink For
this purpose he invented a small tin
tray, which was made so that il stood
quite fiat on the floor to prevent any
possibility of the ink being spilled or
dropped about. Bent in il We're little
wells about as large round and twice
as thick as halfpenny. These depres-
sions were filled with the liquid.
THE seamstress-whom he was AL
ways glad of an excuse to emplov he
cause she was so hard working and so
poor-was soon set to carry cut his nIan-
Down on her knees she had to 20. and
as she was decidedly stout IT was no
light task With a cork cut the exact
side and dipped in the ink she pressed
firmly down on each flower, thus leaving
il as il covered with red cherries No
wonder IL took her over a week work.
ing all day, for the carpet was from p
to 30 feet long and proportionatelv
wide Life OF Herbert Spencer in Har-
per's Magazine.
The Washington times., 1906-05-12

monument to graft ''crumbled like
playhouse OF cards. Is a San
Francisco paper puts it, and other
municipal buildings Jared little bet
ter, all bearing the stamp of an un.-
mistalable dishonesty" The Fed
eral buildings, exposed fully as
much, were practically unharmed.
There had been no graft in the
making of them.
This would be a good time for
San Francisco to shake off boss rule
and clean up its municipal govern
ment as well as its Uttered streets.
Here is the opportunity for it to
become one of the best managed
as well as one of the most beauti-
full of American cities.
The Washington times., 1906-05-12
Earthquake Uncovered Graft.

One of the startling results of the
catastrophe at San Francisco was
the uncovering of the looting that
has for years been practised by
the political machines" of the city.
They thought their stealings had
been hidden until long after their
own deaths, but nature IN one awful
instant shook away the coverings of
their rascality and exposed their
colossal system of graft in all its
nal1edness.
The chief revelation came with
the destruction of the City Hall.
1t may be remembered that the
original estimates for that building
provided for an expenditure of
81, 100000. The cellars were hardly
made before that was all gone, and
when the hall was completed S.
900, 900 had been spent. The politi-
clans excused that on the ground
of the buildings splendid construc-
tion, but when the earth quivered
on that fateful April is, the costly
The Washington times., 1906-05-12
FERRIS WHEEL AT ST. LOUIS
DESTROYED WITH DYNAMITE

ST. LOUIS. No, May 12-The Ferris
wheel at the Worlds Fair Grounds has
been wrecked by a blast of dynamite.
The monster wheel is now only a tar
glcd mass of bent and twisted iron rods
and pillars.
Mrs. w. G. Bennett. wife of the super
intendent of the Chicago House Wreck
ing Company, touched an electric button.
there was a dull boom, and the great
wheel fell in ruins. The three-inch steel
truss rods were bent and twisted. the
iron columns broken, and the rim of the
wheel smashed together and the heads
of the bolts snapped off
Forty sticks OF dynamite were touched
off in the foundation this morning. but
the explosion merely blew out portions
of the concrete, not causing the wheel TO
tOpple. The drillers began work at once
10 put in the much larger charge, which
brought down the wheel and structure
weighing 400 tons.
The Washington times., 1906-05-12
Marion Crawford's Tower Workshop.

Years before the Villa Crawford. at
Sorrento. became a tourists shrine
the proprietor used TO write his novel
in an octagonal room at the top Of the
building, that peers across the bay OF
Naples toward Nesuvius. OF late years.
however. Mr. Crawford has removed
his workshop 10 a picturesque ruin
eighty or ninety miles south OF SOr-
rentO. on the Calahrian coast
The ruin Is that Of one Of the watch
towers erected centuries ago by
Charles Y against Saracenic invasion.
Ii rears its head upon a bold headland.
IS two stories I'm height, and has walls
eight feet thick
Every summer. on board mis- yacht,
the Aida. Mr.. Crawford cruises south
along the Italian and Sicilian shore
This yacht, by the way, was once the
New York pilot boat Ezra Nye, which
the author purchased in America,
sailed across the Atlantic. refitted and
rechristened with the name Aida Dur
ing his voyages in the Aida he ac-
cUmulated much material which finds
expression in Southern Italy and
Sicily and The Rulers Of the South"
y favOrite stopping place OF his was
a beautiful little landiOcked bay on
the Calabrtan coast overlooked by an
ancient over That tower is now his
workshop and he rents IL for S25 q
wear.
The Washington times., 1906-05-12
WIDTH OF STREETS
TO BE UNCHANGED
This Is Hope of Business
Mems Association.
REASONS ARE OUTLINED
Would Be False Economy to Narrow
Any Roadways in the District, Says
Report Of Committee.

The Business Mems Association
adopted the report OF the committee on
public improvements Of the District Of
Columbia last night IN which the com
mittee is unanimously opposed to the
plans OF the District Commissioners
TO narrow streets and roadways with
in the limits Of the District
1t was the evident intention" the
report Of the committee cites. "of
Congress as far back as 1870 10 estab-
lish a minimum width for the road
ways OF the thoroughfares Of the city
OF Washington with a view OF preserv--
ing the width OF streets for the com
merciaI interests and convenience of
the public.
If the action Of Congress limiting
the minimum width Of rOadways thir-
ty-six years ago. when the population
OF the District was 10000. it is the
opinion Of your committee that IL is
neither reasonable nor wise on the part
Of our present city authorities TO re-
duce the width Of roadways now. when
the District has a population Of 323.-
009
In reducing a roadway one to FIVE
feet as has been done in many in
stances and adding this 10 the width Of
the sidewalks, the usefulness of the
roadway is impaired without any re-
sulting benefit TO the sidewalk. for the
reason that the addition TO the side
walk is between the trees and the curb
and cannot be used by pedestrians
owing to the fact that lamp posts.
fire plugs, telegraph poles, etc. obstruct
the pathway
The claim made by our present au-
thorities for their policy Of narrowing
roadways is economy It costs less to
pave thirty feet than il does thirty
five feet. but TO this gain must be add
ed the cost Of rebuilding the catch
basins. sidewalks paved and many eX-
peuseS incident to changing establish
ed lines. while the wear and tear on
the narrow street owing to travel be
ing compelled 10 follow a comparative
= beaten path Will result in much
g eater expense in maintaining the
roadway in proper repair.
We recommend that the association
heartily indOrse the position taken by
the Northeast Washington Citizens
Association in its contention against
the narrowing Of any Of the roadways
or our streets and avenues, and that
we vigorously oppose any legislation
that would give our District officials
authority to inaugurate such a policy"
The committee also recommended
that one OF the creates and most
urgently needed improvements to the
District was the reclamation Of the
Anacostia flats In the report Y. Bald
win Johnson, chairman Of the public
improvement committed indicated that
they would strenuously urge in the in
tereSt of the entire District and of the
health of a large population, that Con-
gress take speedy action in this mat
ter.
The Washington times., 1906-05-12
EASTERN HIGH BOYS
WINNERS OF DEBATE
Victory Over Central Gives Them
Washington and Philadelphia
School Championship.

Eastern High School won the cham
pionship debate between that school
and the Central High School yesterday
upon the proposition, Resolved. That
the Chinese exclusion act should be re-
pealed-" Eastern argued the negat' %
of the proposition.
This debate practically gives to East
ern High School the championship of
the Washington and Philadelphia High
Schools. since Central has defeated the
champions of the Quaker City on the
rostrum. Western had already gone
down in defeat before the. boys fro m
Capitol Hill.
The speakers for Eastern were Zane
Pyles. Daniel B. Priest. and Samuel
Bryan. while those who composed tee
losing side were Fred H Koschwitz, a.
b. GiHhlan. and E. o. Schreiber
The judges were Representative j.
Adam Bede. Prof. w. r. Vance and
PROD. J. W. Gore.
The Washington times., 1906-05-12
The Senate'S School Inquiry.

The local school system has moth
ing to fear and may gain much from
such an inquiry as has been author
lied by the Senate. By it the gsoI
points of the system, and there arc
many, should be emphasized and the
bad points disclosed TO the COM
munity which has an undoubted
right TO know what they are.
1t should be noted that this pro-
posed inquiry is the first which has
been designed to. cover the whole
subject. The Board of Education
has, from time to time. investigated
particular acts of officers and teach
ers; but as many of its own acts are
the subject of strong adverse criti-
cism it is manifestly not the agency
to which the community could turn
for satisfactory investigation The
Board of Trade did not even under
take an examination into the pres
ent condition of the schools. The
Business Mems Association, through
its committee on schools, voted ex-
plicitly not to inquire into the man
agement of the system. The sub
committee of the House Committee
on the District of Columbia stopped
with an examination into the
scheme of organization and the re-
view of one particular proceeding
by the Board of Education.
That is the whole record of the
proceedings had by the several
bodies to which the Capital has
looked, or had a right to look, for
findings to quiet its continued un-
certainty and apprehension regard
ing its schools. An impartial and
complete investigation has been
needed for year. 1t is sincerely to
be hoped it can be had from the
Senate.
The Washington times., 1906-05-12
Illustrated Green's History Reissued.

The special illustrated edition Of
Green's short History Of the English
People" IN four volumes, has just been
reissued by the Harpers. and is now
on sale at all book stores. Among the
hundreds Of Illustrations that dis
tin@uish the work are portraits, maps.
reproductions Of photographs. medals
famous paintings, and drawings from
old manuscripts. with = series Of very
beautiful full-page plates showing in
all the original cOlOrs various highly
illuminated pictures from rare manu-
scripts mlsSals. etc. The value Of
these Illustrations is enhanced by a
series Of explanatory notes prefacing
eaCn volume.
The Washington times., 1906-05-12
'The Jungle" in England.

The Jungle" has made a profound
impression IN England. where it has
gone into a second large edition The
press praises il highly and gives it much
space The London Evening News critic
says 1t is worthy of Zoia. adding Il
doubt IL lola ever wrote Al4 ythinS quite
so haunting, quIJe so vivid The Man
chester Guardian declares that II
makes a memorable appeal 20 the con-
science and the mind and Is "a remark
able novel"
Practically all the English papers
compar. il TO ZOla. and regard II a not
able piece Of literature. The Glasgow
News devOtes a third of a page to
review. headed sinful Chicago The
Jungle" has moved many OF the British
writers TO write scathing criticisms OF
conditions in Pa ckingtOwn. Chicago. The
London Lancet once declared these con-
ditiOns "a menace 10 civilization
1t is interesting 10 add that The
Jungle" has been brought out in all the
Engiish-~peaking colonies. second edi-
tions having already been printed for
Australia and Canada
The Washington times., 1906-05-12
Mcclure and Phillips Part.

s. S. Mcclure. president % TIE Nc
Clure's Magazine and OF the book pub
fishing firm OF Mcclure. Phillips < Co.
has purchased the interest formerly held
by John S. Phillips In both concerns. and
now controls the entire business. In the
place OF Mr.. Phillips as treasurer OF
each concern, Oscar w. Brady. the sec
retery. has keen elected treasurer.
The purchase by Mr.. Mcclure Of the
stock Of Mr.. Phillips confirms rumors
which have been current for sCT1e tiue
that there was a split IN the firm in re-
gard 10 the management and the edi-
torial policy OF some of the publications
It Is understood. although not positively
confirmed, that MIR. Phillips VIII soon
establish "A new magazine. having with
him such writer's as Ida n Tarbeu. Lin
coin Steffens, ard Ray Stannard Baker.
who are all now associated with Nc
Clure's Magazine.
Mr.. Phillips has confirmed the sale of
his stock, but added that the action was
purely friendly. II was perfect ed
Thursday. he said. He refused 70 say
how much' stock he had held and what
he would do for some time. but when
asked a bout the starting Of a new mag
aZine nc hesitated, and finally said:
4 have considered such an idea. bat
have not fdliy made UP my mind"
''Will Miss TarbeH and Mr.. Steffens
and Mr.. Baker be associated with YOU in
such magazine - he was asked.
IF I begin one they Will be associated
with me, without doubt
1t is understood that the trouble
among the writers first started after
President Roosevelt made his allusion 10
the trust expOsers in monthly magazines.
Mr. Mcclure, II is understood. has been
averse 10 the publication Of such eX-
pOsures. while Mr. Phillips and thOsy
mentioned with him. who have written
such articles. are said 10 be in favor Of
them II is understood that he VIII con-
unue at the head of the magazine and
mat NlJter Binner- one Of the editors.
VIII become chief editorial writer and
nave charge OF the editorial policy
Trust exposures, II is believed. viii not
be continued in the magazine
Robert Mcclure. brother OF S. s Nc
Clure. and an officer Of the Mcclure
Phillips Company. has purchased Public
Opinion. and viii edit that magazine as
q weekly from the Mcclure Offices.
The Washington times., 1906-05-12
Cargoes of Literature.

Prof. Walter Raleigh. who is to write
the life Of Shakespeare for the English
Men Of Letters series, has recently
brought out e brief but exceedingly in
teresting volume on The English Voy-
ages Of the Sixteenth Century" The
first part Of this volume is devoted 10
THE NOyagers, then follow extensive
chapters on Richard Hakluyt'' and
The Influence Of the Voyages on Poetry
and Imagination
This last essay is all the more inter-
eSting because we have seen the infiu-
ence eXerted upon literature IN our own
day. as an outgrowth Of the Spanish
American war and the contest in the
Philippines. The text of this volume
was first printed as an introduction 70
the Limited Edition OF "Hakluyts Voy-
ages" recently published by the Mac
milan Company in twelve volumes: 10
now appears. IN revised form, in a vol
ume by itself.
The Washington times., 1906-05-12
Clara Morris Stage "reminiscences.

A volume that rivals in its interest
for stage lovers the famous autobiog-
raphy OF Joseph jefferson. is The Life
OF a Star" by Clara Morris. which Nc
Clure. Phillips & Co have Just pub
Hshed- For nearly a generation the
foremost emotional actress on the stage.
Augustin Doly's leading lady, hailed as
Americas DRAMATIC queen from New
York 10 San Francisco, Miss Morris had
a life full 20 the brim with experiences
and notable friendships. and with this
wealth Of experience she combines a
faculty for story writing. quite as
marked as her ability as an actress.
The volume contains innumerable
anecdotes Of such people of the stage
as Wallack. COghlan. Irving. SalvinI,
and people prominent in other walks Of
life. such as Garfield. Mckinley. Henry
Bergh. etc This volume supplements
Miss Morris earlier book Of reminis-
cences life on the Stage"
The Washington times., 1906-05-12
President Tyler as Wooer.

IN his "RecoIIections OF Thirteen
Presidents" John s. Wise has an in
teresting chapter on John Tyler in
which he tells now the President one
day took the Hon Heur- A Wise, the
authors father. driving ana cOnfided 70
him that ne was in love with a beau
ttful young woman, WhereupOn Mr.
Wise told him the following story
An old gentleman in south side
Virginia called his house servant
TOney into conference about his pro-
posed marriage 20 q young girl She's
too yOur t1r you, MarsteT.' was his
blunt Te5..v- -NOnsense,' said the mas
ter iuCtSEEr:cly; I'm not too old for
any girl 1Cuey. I'm in my prime
" eS. 81 responded Toney. I
knows rr- IL in yO' prime. But dat
ain'U = .-esriCn- When she is in her
prt,,.C WL-- E.u yO' prime be-
The Washington times., 1906-05-12
Home Of Robert Browning Sold.

The Palazzo Rezzonico. in Venice.
where Browning died in 1889. and which
has Tor many years been considered Al
most holy SPOT by admirers of the
Foet. has recently been sold for the con-
siderable sum 1f $4,000 The palace is
considered one Of the handsomest in
Venice II contains a fine cefline. by
Tlepolo. two splendid statues by Ales-
sandrO NittOria. and a bedroom cele-
brated for its size and beauty.
The apartments known as the POue &
rooms CfrOm Eugeuius ", who belonged
10 the ReZZOnicO family have also an
interesting modern literary association.
Tor II was there, some two years ago,
that Mrs Humphrey Ward wrote The
chapters in The Marriage Of William
Ashe" where the scene is laid IN Venice.
The Washington times., 1906-05-12
..Piecesn to Speak at School.

DAYS ard Deeds" is the title OF a COM
pilation Of verse TO be brought out by
the Baker & Taylor Co, and edited by
Burton r. Stevenson, author of some
very exciting mystery stories The book
represents a very careful selection OF
poetry bearing on the important days
and events Of American history, and has
been worked out by Mr. Stevenson as a
result Of the great difficulties which he
encounters in his capacity as librarian
OF the public library ct ChllicOthe Ohio
There is, fhe reports, an Unsuitable de-
mand for appropriate poetry for recita-
tions at school and public exercises
which he has never been able to satisfy
with any existing book or books.
The Washington times., 1906-05-12
A Jefferson Greed.

Francis Wilson has placed opposite
the first page OF his new book. Joseph
jefferson. "reminiscences of a Fellow
PLAYER" these two quotations from JEFF
ferson's own words. which give the
spirit of this delightful book better than
any comment could:
4 have devoted all my life to acting.
and l stand today in awe OF its great
ness
My boys sometimes get discouraged
and I say 10 them, Go out and do
something for somebody. Go out and
give something tC anybody: II II is
only a pair of V-Colen stockings 10 a Door
old woman. It will take you away
from yourselves and make you happy q"
The Washington times., 1906-05-12
COLLISION WITH WHALE
Is NARROWLY AVERTED

NEW YORK, May 12-Captain Foster,
of the hshingboat Angler, today, at the
Battery, reported that while passing
Long Branch he sighted a whale about
sixty feet long The Anglers course
was changed just in time TO avoid a col
lision. The whale seemed TO want a
collision and again crossed the boats
bow. The Angler got away. If the bait
had not run low IL is possible a sea ser
pent might have accompanied the
The Washington times., 1906-05-12
THE Struggle for Self-GOverumeut -

-t5es-N @N@ Hur -
The articles on the political situations
in representative States contributed b1-
Mr. stenens 10 McClure's Magazine
have been gathered in a volume s,6
are TO be published May 9Th by ATcC,1,1-s
Philips K Company, under the tftIc -
Il he Struggle for -CiovernrSSea,1,+ =
The subtitle Of the volume stafes +ts+
II is AN attempt to trace Arne-{ce5S
political corruption In six States. 0-ifb
a declaration 10 the Gar Mr.. Sfefens
has also recorded the rise OF the de-
mand for good and clean governments
that is sweeping all over our country
and. taking Ohio. New Jersey. Rhode
Island, Wisconsin. Illinois and Missouri
as examples. he shows the steps bv
which the people are beginning 10 vrrest
tae governing power from the hands
or political bosses.
II IS a stirring story and one full OF
encouragement. for years spent in in
FesJlgatlon Of reform movements IN all
parts OF the country have made Mr..
StsHens more able than anyone else 10
tel the bright story OF the revolt OF
eIiHEhlened citizens and the progress to-
alu ealu Dellerment- These articles are
sure 20 prove a powerful stimulus 10
the right kind Of citizenship.
The Washington times., 1906-05-12
Washington Contributors.

Three cOntri JutOrs 10 the June issue
Of Lippincott's Magazine are residents
Of Washington Two in a Fog" a
complete novelette,. is by William II
Babcock, a Washington attorney. In
the Court Of Last Resort" Is a strong
short story by Col Willard French. L.
;. a. now stationed in Washington
Peter O'FOrus' is a humorous Irish
story by Margaret Sullivan Burke-a
Washington woman.
The Washington times., 1906-05-12

The Senate has stored up plenty
of work for itself in the month or
thereabOuts that is supposed to re-
main Of the session. 5ust think, for
instance, of the amount of talk that
can be INDUCED apropos of canal,
free seeds, and Santo Domingo.
The Washington times., 1906-05-12
IN THE BOOK WORLD

ne mas ever been or this side Of the
oceah and his visit here IS only for a.
Nv weeks He intends 70 20 to Chicago
81" l.sIhsps as tar West as Denver and
20 s. ,Nl2gtTa Falls before he leaves
- ~. y elIs object is not SO much TO
5l.l-'l material tor fiction as to investi-
-, sst.,o,5,ete.. ,,Jete.. conditions in New York and
- 'oNt lhe country. and he viii
wrlte a series OF articles on the results
England. S0uii-S ~