davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington herald., 1907-09-06
Fashions in penmnnshin

Everybody in Washington has become
familiar with the cramped and grabbed
system OF handwriting known as the
vertical, which was adopted in the public
schools few years ago as a substitute
for the old Spencerian system Of slant
writing At the time the change was
made there was general complaint that
public-schooI children could neither write
nor spell. and one Of the responses TO the
demand for reform was the adoption Of
the vertical system, which usually has the
merit of legibility, if no other. That
system has spread all over the country.
after the manner OF other pedagogic
fashions, but there is some evidence that
il may not be lasting. The vertical
system has been tried and found wanting
in the New York public schools, and It
is to be superseded by what is called
the free-arm style of penmanship.
Dr. William H Maxwell. suherintendent
OF the New York schools found that the
vertical system did not meet the de-
mands Of business men. who require that
their clerks shall write rapidly. leglbly.
and without fatigue Notwithstanding
the universal use Of typewriters, expert
handwriters are still needed in the busi-
ness world. Bookkeeping. addressing
envelopes, aud other phases Of commercial
work necessitate good penmanship. It is
OF some Importance. as everybody knows,
that the individual shall be able to write
his own name so that it can be read.
The free-arm system is believed to meet
the requirements of rapidity and legibiIity.
Writing is done by the movement of the
entire arm, without any motion OF the
fingers. One Of its advantages, says DR..
Maxwell. is that "one who practices il
can write all day without fatigue. while
when the vertical system is employed
the finger movements in an hour or so
result in cramps" The new system has
already been tried to some extent with ex-
cellent results It's method resembles
that Of expert telegraph operators. who
have practiced it for many years. Their
system Of writing grew up out Of the
The Washington herald., 1907-09-06
THE BOY BEFORE THE BAR.
Little story of the ChiIdren's Court
Full of Humor.

Humor and pathos alternate IN a start
ling fashion in the Children's Court says
the Delineator for September. Constant
contact with hard conditions has often
developed in the young offenders a stole
calmness, and the trails Of tears are not
SO numerous as one would expect
Coffee Schlinsky" is the euphoaious
name Of a youth who is charged with the
heinous 0ffense Of using a siing-shot In d
public park. He, IN fact. had aimed al a
sparrow and hit a peddler. and naturally
the latter was wroth. The judge explains
how dangerous II is to throw missiles in a
public place. Again. it is the lesson Of
the rights Of others and that the bigger
the crowd. the less are the rights of the
individual So often Is this lesson told
TO the youth that the city would sup
press and repress.
'Hc# did you come TO DO it?' the court
finally asks.
Now Coffee" belongs TO that large
class Of boys who in their eager search
for information devour eyerVthing read
able that comes within their reach.
Neither his father nor his mother could
read or write English, but Coffee" is
rapidly making up for any deficiency in
that direction.
Coffee squares his little shoulders
and looking the judge straight in the eye.
asks:
Didn't I read in the papers that the
bird season was open?
The Washington herald., 1907-09-06
OUTLOOK MORE CHEERFUL.
stock Liquidation Over and It's Ef-
feet SaIutary.

From the New York Journal Of Commerce.
Il IS evident that there Is a more cheer
fui look ahead as the autumn business
season opens than there has been during
the summer and the Mysteries Of the
stock market seems TO be subsiding. The
most hopeful sign is the disposition to
study the situation calmly and 20 accept
a more rational explanation Of its cause.
There is a general admission that the
stock market liquidation has run its
course and that its effect will be salu-
tary. 1t Is figured from the change in
quoted prices on the exchange that since
the beginning Of the year there has been
a depreciation Of stock values Of not less
than S3,oo9 0o0.000. but this is mostly a
shrinkage Of former imitation and has
been caused, 10 a relatively small extent
by loss Of actual value in the corporate
properties represented, even gaugiHg that
by earning capacity. There has been
some apprehension Of curtailment OF divi-
dends in the future. which has had its ef-
feet. and some fear OF impaired credit
but for the most part the selling OF stocks
on a declining market has been due 10
former expansion and large borrowing
and the necessity OF realizing while
money rates were high The protection
OF some holdings compelled the sacrifice
Of others and a process Of that kind under
restriction Of loans extends from one
10 another with collapsing effect.
The Washington herald., 1907-09-06
pnhiici,r and Aff,nitics-

In spite of the tendency of the Ameri-
can people to joke about their lax divorce
laws and although it is not unusual in
our society to find a grass widow intro
ducing her two husbands 10 each other,
or divorced man enjoying the society
Of a present wife and former one, still
1t is evident that we are not yet ready
for sucn cold blooded putting away of
wives for the sake OF ones "aiiinities"
as in the notorious Earle case in New
York.
It is all very well for man who
lays great stress on his artistic temper
ament' to say Il believe that we are
married before we are born through
heaven-directed afinities and that mar
riage continues after our death. Believ-
ing this. 1 came to see that my wife
was not my affinity" The general pub
lie is not likely 10 see II this way. We
have been a little careless. perhaps. in
excusing too much TO the artistic tenn
perament. There are historical cases OF
some such swaps as this one which has
just taken place tn New York. about
which the world did not raise much to-do.
There was the case, for instance, of
John Ruskin and Millais. There was
Robert LOUIS Stevenson and the divorced
wife of Mr. Osbournt and there have
been others Of the same sort. But If
such a tendency is TO be encouraged it
would mean Tobbing marriage Of all Its
sanctity, the ruin Of a civilization which
has been building for thousands Of years,
the annihilation Of the family and the
disruption Of society. No one can ap-
prove the frenzied mob that beset the
man who had shipped his wife and child 10
Europe, and nearly beat him to death,
but after all that is more nearly
correct expression OF the public's opinion
regarding his ofense than any that Is
likely to be expressed elsewhere.
The Washington herald., 1907-09-06
The Control of Railroads.

Prom the London Times
Though President Roosevelt speaks Of
legislation which he calls drastic, ii really
amounts merely TO placing American rail
ways under the control which Parliament
exercises here. No railway in this coun-
try can issue fresh shares OF bonds with
out parliamentary sanction, but any man
who controls an American line can do
as he pleases. Perhaps the best way 10
discount the interested clamOr about the
Presidents attacks upon property is 10
remember that he is only trying 10 place
railways in the position which they have
always occupied in this country, com
pelling them. for example. 10 obtain the
consent of the Interstate Commission be-
fore watering the capital by new issues.
The Washington herald., 1907-09-06
Reform Rampant!

When Reform. with a big r, recently
hit Texas, 1t landed with a bang and
whaCk that shook the Lone Star State
from center 10 circumference and Jared
loose sinners from the Panhandle 70 the
Rio Grande in numbers too numerous 10
mention and too startled to slap back.
Sitting as steady in the boat as the dis
tressiug circumstances would permit and
fighting with manly courage wasted en-
tireIy upon the desert air, Col George
Bailey-the Houston Posts well-known
nature fakcr and hot air dispenser-bat-
tied against the onslaught IS best he
might Day in and day out he manufac-
tured yarns about Grand Old Texas
yarns out Of the whole cloth and calcu-
lated TO put Ananias TO blush, but all 10
no avail Texas got a big walloping at
the hands Of Reform, and stands to-day,
despite the wonderful and couscienceIess
Bailey, rehabilitatod, regenerated, and
thoroughly renewed!
Why, you can't take a drink on a train
in Texas these sad and depressing times
without subjecting yourself to humilating
arrest at the hands of some officious Off
Ger Of the law clothed IN a little brief
authority. A Kentucky gentleman-of all
soiourners therein-was brazenly held up
recently by a hireling OF the government
between San Antonio and Houston and
compelled to fork over ten large dollars
because he attempted to wet his whistle
inside q smoking car and, with customary
Blue Grass courtesy. waved a general in
vitation to the other passengers TO have
one" with him. Not only is this true. but
from FL PasO to Texarkana, the poker
player is on the run, the faro expert has
nowhere 10 lay his game and the three
card monte professor is filled with woe.
Bed sheets. by legal enactment must be
kept in all hotels. and then not less than
nine feet long and seven feet wide. Bowie
knives are abolished and slx-shooters re-
duced to mere pop-gun dimensions. Even
broncho- busting bids fair to become
mere mollycoddlish pastime!
Grand Old Texas" indeed. Who rec
ognizes the land Of Sam Houston and
Davy Crockett IN this new picture?
Where is the fearless and free" senti-
HtNht Nhoi hiiiNA Non luui4uCu al VI
Texas greatness? Can't take a drink on
the train; can't carry "a ''wcepon' for
emergencies; can't sleep without crawling
in between such civilization nonsense as
sheets; can't indulge In a friendly game
Of draw without putting up the shut
ters and fixing" the minions Of the law
that hang about ike buzzards
Shades Of the Alamo, What has come
over Texas? II Reforms prowess is thus
established, where lies the land that dare
give it pause? With Texas-''Grand old
Texas'-rrostrate. down and out, where
shall Reform-with a large R-fnd other
worlds TO conquer?
The Washington herald., 1907-09-06
FRYING OUT THE FAT.
Art of Raising Campaign Funds Re
duced 90 n Fine system.

from the St. Louis Republic
What the late Senator ingalls,. OF Kan
sas. called frying out the fat" Of the
benefeiaries OF Republican policies ex-
planned itself as putting them Under
strong political pressure to compel them
70 contribute to Republican campaign
funds. To this. as an explanation Of high
prices, We have now added the detailed
history Of another and similar method Of
meeting the supposed exigeDcies OF
political campaign" AS the whole sys-
TEN Of Republican favoritism for those
who are now charged with forming trusts
rested on the false pretense Of making
possible higher wages for American
labor" one OF the means by which the
benefciaTies of the system were COM
PEELED TO purchase peace was by making
an advance OF wages on the representa-
ton that 1t was necessary for campaign
purposes. After the close Of the cam
paign, they were under no compulsion 20
prevent them from cutting wages again.
The point of their defense is that having
been compelled TO purchase peace, AT
heavy outlay for the purposes Of the
campaign they found it inconvenient to
recOup themselves except at the expense
Of the public.
This is in brief a political history OF the
system and its results II subjects its
benehciaries TO systematic extortion. II
naturalizes graft at wholesale. Ii COM
pels the purchase of peace" by threat
Of permitting reform. and if this fails TO
bring the result expected it offers other
opportunities for "p1ciaeation'' by threat
oning the enforcement OF law and the
restoration Of justice.
The Washington herald., 1907-09-06

necessities Of their calling, which de-
manded rapid, accurate. and easily read
penmanship. and it is strange that teIeg-
raphers' script has not before now at
tracted the attention OF the pedagogue.
Though Of comparatively recent adop-
ton In the public schools, the vertical
system Of handwriting is not new. Ii was
in vogue a half century ago, and was
superseded by the well-known Speneerian
system for precisely the reasons which
have led Supt. Maxwell 10 abandon it,
DR.. Maxwell says the Spencerian system
had its advantages over the vertical, bat
was attacked by doctrindires on the
ground that il trained children TO assume
constrained positions. Now the fashion
has begun to change, and presently we
shall see children once more taught to
write slant-wlse, but with less constraint
of the fingers and more ease and fiuency.
An Indiana minister says that every
body in this country will be perfectly
happy five years from now" Still, we do
not see how all Of the teams can win the
pennant
The Washington herald., 1907-09-06

q doctrines. We deem every gTatnitous blow aimed
At Bryan, the man. By Democratic newspapers 20
reflect a mistaken policy. II We don't believe in
what Bran teaches. then fight his doctTiucs-and
let him stand OF fall with the fate Of his doctrines
At this imclure We want a prO-Dcm0cTatic and not
an anti-Bryan movement. II the former involves
the latter. 50 be IT, But don't put the cart before
tho horse II is needless 20 take up cudgels against
any individual Democrat. Virginia should fight and
the South should dght for the supremacy Of whole
party doctrinGs let the chips fall where they
may So far As the News s concerned, it has
pUrposed to inauguFste principle movement aud
not one having paramount relation to the political
fortunes Of any man or set Of men in the United
States"
We think It would be exceedingly dif1-
cult TO assemble a Democratic convention
in Virginia OF any other State that would
be able 10 frame a platform without con-
sideration of It's effect upon the fortunes
Of particular Presidential candidates. II
the declaration of principles were prejudi-
cial TO Bryan. as the News conceives It
might be- the movement which led 10
such a declaration would be an anti
Bryan movement. no matter how skill
t0lAg us NAbIONtlS AilShL uAAtlikL ~
conceal its purpose It is qui5a possible
so to maneuver a principles movement"
as to make it in effect movement for or
against some known candidate and it
would be practically impossible to adopt
a declaration Of principles totally unin-
fluenced by personal considerations. The
only alternatives before the Democratic
party are the acceptance or rejection Of
Bryan and what he stands for. Every
Democratic convention, whether called
early or late. will be confronted by these
alternatives. The decision may be one
way or the other. but It is not likely to be
an impersonal one.
Anyway, what the use Of preparing
Procrustean bed Of principles and then
advertising for victim to lie on it? Has
personality nothing to do with party lead
ership. or is party success likely 10 be fur
thered by the deliberations Of an assem-
bly, Of doctTiuaires? Are issues made by
party conventions. or merely recorded by
them? The great popular movement
which has swept both parties away from
their ancient moorings cannot be stemmed
by formal resolutions.
The Washington herald., 1907-09-06
Our Real Financial Trouble.

From the Dallas News.
In spite Of interested efforts to make Il
appear that the corporation policy Of the
administration is al the bottom Of Wall
streets troubles" says The Washington
Herald. 'the consensus OF balanced judg-
ment is that Industrial and commercial
enterprises are suffering more from a real
lack of available capital than from regu-
lative legislation" Whatever trouble
there may be is confined largely TO Wall
street Capital lends Itself TO spectators
only when it can find no legitimate en-
plOyment, and II the spectators are suf-
fering a shortage It IS because Of an ex-
pansion Of commercial and industrial
needs. In some respects, the wailing Of
the Wall street spectators is the visible
sign of the countrys health and happi-
ness.
The Washington herald., 1907-09-06
A LITTLE NONSENSE.
PREpIcEsTEp pABuLuss.

The curfew tolls the knell Of parting day;
The lowing herd winds slowly, two by
two
Why do I hand you out this ancient lay?
Because it's better verse than I can do,
'TIs sweet 70 hear the bellboy's honest
bark
Bay deep-mouthed welcome as we reach
our fiat
These lines contain the true poetic spark;
I wish that 1 could write as well as
that.
Kind hearts are more than cOronets. you
know.
And simple faith is more than Norman
blood
Mere man desires but little here below,
But certainly he wants his poetry good.
The lions roared with horrld laughing
jaws.
Perhaps you likewise roar at this. my
scTeed.
Why do hand you out this stuff? Be
cause
It is the kind Of verse you ought to
read.
The Washington herald., 1907-09-06
Greatest Confederate Admiral.

II was thirty years ago this month that
Admiral Raphael Semmes died at Mobile
Ala. after one Of the most adventurous
and brilliant Of careers. He was a native
Of Maryland. born in Charles County.
September q. 1SC9. He received his war
rant as midshipmsn in the United States
navy when he was seventeen. though even
then his affection was about equally divid-
ed between the navy and the law. He
was always an authority on admiralty and
International law. and had he stuck to
that profession those who knew him be-
Ieved that he would have attained front
rank amid the great lawyers and jur-
lists At the outbreak OF the Mexican war
he was promoted fag-neutenant OF the
Gulf Squadron. and at the siege OF Vera
Cruz commanded one Of the batteries
Early IN 1861 ne threw in his lot with
the Confederate navy. and il was ne who
fitted out the Sumter the COnfedera-
cy's first war vessel. In 1852 he went 20
England, and shortly, with the rank Of
captain. assumed command of the famous
Alabama With this fast ship, wonder
fully handled. he captured over sixty
United States merchantmen. II was In
June, 1864, that he fought his famous duel
with the Kearsarge of Cherbourg.
which resulted in the sinking Of the Ala
bama- For this fight he won his pro-
motion 20 the grade OF rear-adTiral. At
ter the war he took up the law again,
and was elected to a judgeship, which.
by AAder OF President Johnson. he was
not permitted 10 assume. lie then went
into the newspaper business. and devoted
himself to authorship, his most note
worthy book, which is still standard,
being The Cruise OF tile Alabama and
the Sumter"
The Washington herald., 1907-09-06
THROUGH TWILIGHT WAYS.

Through twilight WAYS and ,oiling days.
Through dreams Of summer. aUtJmn's haze.
Through Junes q rose and wintTy SHOWS, '
The heart Of love a-smiling goes,
A-smiling goes. a-Gmiling gees.
The heart Of love a-Smiling gOes
Through strife and care ard dark despair.
Through shadows drifting here and there,
Through JOY and gleam ard dancing beam
The heart Of love 10 lands of dream
To lands Of dream a-smiing goes,
Tie heart Of love s-sniling eoesl
Through twilight ways she comes 20 meet
The lips that sing love- message sweet.
Through twilight ways to loves sweet lays
They walk in love through twilight ways,
Through twilight ways they smiling so.
The hearts Of love a-smiling gOl
Baltimore Sun.
The Washington herald., 1907-09-06
Reason for 1t.

Goodness" exclaimed Mrs Subbubs,
arriving home from church. "the minis
ter gave US nothing but fire and brim-
stone to-day"
Il thought he would" said her husband.
II saw their servant girl going down 10
the station with her trunk just after you
started for church"
The Washington herald., 1907-09-06
THE KID.

Gee Whizi il seems to me that skO0i
Has Jest been out week CT 50,
NOW it's a-gCttin Teddy. th0W.
To start agen-this wiTld OF cToOl
An tuf or boys as ;Ga can be-
There's chores to DO an grass 70 cut
An DO one else 20 do it but
The kid an that Of course Is me.
Still could stand this wirld Of Wo
An do mi chores an not get sore
If to that sko0lhouse never mOar
I'd hRff TO take mi books an go;
An lie be nifty hapy when
TO be & CRATE big man ! gToW,
Because i've thawt It out and know
lie never have no trubbles then.
~-Kansas City Times
The Washington herald., 1907-09-06
Genesis of some Reforms.

From the Savannah News
Isn't it fact that reforms, or rather
alleged reforms. are suggested and advo-
Gated by politicians. not for the purpose
Of doing something for the good OF the
people, as they allege, but to advance
their own selfish purposes? They hide
their real purpose under their protesta-
tions Of reform. They pretend to be serv-
ing the people when. as a matter of fact,
they are serving their own selfish ends
The Washington herald., 1907-09-06
Preseribing Principles for a candidato

EiSSSilolHs PTlnclpIeS Tor Candidate
The Lynehburg News. q paper owned by
Representative Carter Glass. Of the Sixth
virginia district recently proposed that
lhe Virginia Democratic convention be
called together at an earlier date than
usual, Tor the purpose Of proclaIming a
set OF Democratic principles about which
the Democracy OF the nation could rally.
In view Of the unsettled state of Demo-
cratic opinion IN the North and West #
was urged that the Democracy of the Old
Dominion take the lead IN procla!uing
true Democratic principles in the hope
that the South would follow the lead and
perform the great service OF saving the
Democratic party from hopeless chaos
and perhaps a hapless dissolution. This
proposal having been Interpreted in GER
tain quarters as a movement intended TO
forestall the nomination of Mr.. BRYAN
the News was asked by the Richmond
Times-Dispateh for a more definite ex-
preston as to the object OF the move
ment
In reply the News diselaims any pur-
pose OF furthering the "Southern-man
idea" or Of heading of Mr.. Bryan's aspi-
ratlons. Still. if the early convention
should adopt a declaration Of principles
contrary 10 those enunciated by Mr.
Bryan. then the Nebraskan would be
ruled out Of the equation as a Presi-
Dental possibility The News thus elabo-
rates its position:
we dsem it the height Of unRisdom To allow
considerations q men 70 becloud tie importance
The Washington herald., 1907-09-06
Mr. Fairhanlss, sncramento speech.

From the Philadelphia Public Ledger
We should not expect Mr.. Fairbanks
to speak upon present-daY conditions in
any different tone from this. 1t is en-
tirely in accordance with his conserva-
tive and peace-loving disposition. The
noteworthy thing is that he should ex-
press himself at all. 1t seems to indi-
cate that he thinks the time prOpitiOus
10 bring himself a little more pTomi-
hently forward as a representative of
the conservative view. q
The Washington herald., 1907-09-06
The FnithfuI stilIing..

From the Louisville Courier Journal
The President says Public Printer Still
lings VIII not be dismissed, as he has
discharged his duties with courage and
efficiency" II would be the most un-
kindest cut to go back on Sullings. Didn't
he stand by the President in the simpli-
fed misspelling business?
The Washington herald., 1907-09-06

By the aid OF the Legislature Of Massa-
chusetts, Boston has been able 10 get
its Eas problem entirely divorced from
politics. Two years ago all Of the gas
companies in Boston were consolidated.
The fact Of consolidation limited the COM
bined capital 20 3l5,i2l,6 SEQ and limited the
dividends 10 be paid on this amount TO
per cent This was with gas selling at
80 cents per 1000 feet. With every reduction
Of cents per 1000 feet 10 the consumer,
the gas company Is allowed to add ] per
cent 20 its dividends. and as il IS now
furnishing gas az ~ cents per ]. 600, fl is
paying a dividend of per cent The
whole plan irpels the gas company to
furnish gas at the cheapest possible price
% its consumers, so that 1t may legally
distribute It's earnings in dividends.
The Washington herald., 1907-09-06
Very Likely.

You're a queer-looking thing o want
20 fight with me- said the young bulldog.
contemptuously; you're not I'm my class"
Perhaps not replied the porcupine,
quietly. but I think I can give you q few
points
The Washington herald., 1907-09-06
ImnntIent of DELAY

Was papa really angry?" asked the
dear girl
Angry" replied her lover, well, I
should say. l came to the point right
away and told him we intended to be
married in the spring"
And what did be say2"
He said. What? Why not at once?' q"
The Washington herald., 1907-09-06
Removable Regulation.

From the Kansas City Times
The President set the pace" by discard
ing his straw hat September / But that
does not mean that he may not slide back
the next real hot day. Mr.. Roosevelt is
pretty rational about his personal COM
forts