davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-03-24

building, located by Andrew Jackson, filled
with money by William Mckinley and sand
blasted by Levi Shaw. Mr.. Shaw also had
a scheme for painting the Capitol pink, but
lacked the necessary authority.
THE bills in the treasury, If placed end
to end, would reach fourteen times from
Washington to Teheran, Persia, with
enough left over to make a green bow for
the shah's whiskers.
within the treasury is a pair of scales
so delicate that if blank scrap of paper
be weighed and then initiated and weighed
again the scales will register the increase
During a careless moment, the custodian
of the scales attempted to weigh the full
name of the late Russian prime minister
and the delicate balance was wrecked be-
You'd repair.
Pennsylvania avenue, ladies and gentle
men, one of the most famous streets in the
world. 1t was built with the Capitol at one
end and the treasury at the other SO that
the members of Congress might look out of
their windows, straight up the avenue, and
receive patriotic inspiration.
Straight ahead, the Capitol, known local
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-03-24

and others, and on several occasions within
the last few years the practice has been
denounced.
The police, too, both in France, Germany
and other countries, make a considerable
use of the post office. Detective inspectors
specially detailed to the post Office travel
about and watch the correspondence of sus-
pected persons. They do not scrupe to
open it whenever they think necessary.
During the reign of the late King Alex
ander in Servia the Black Cabinet was the
direct means of leading to the sudden ar
rest and. only too often, to the mysterious
deaths of a number of people. Even at
the present time in Servia, under King
Peter, the bureau is still an important in
strument in the hands of the authorities.
In Italy the same procedure is observed
not so much for political reasons, but for
the detection of anarchistic movements,
and many plots against royalty have been
nipped in the bud, thanks to the vigilance
of the secret service men operatin the in
stitution.
The work requires both science and
skill" explained the diplomat. When it
is desired to open ordinary envelope
the flaps of which have been sealed down
with gum, the operation is a very simple
one. The envelope is placed, with the ad
dress downward, on a table The narrow
end of tapering stick something like the
orange stick used for mancuring, is in
serted under the flap in the top left-hand
corner. \ gentle pressure is then exercised
and the stick is turned slowly downward
with screw-like action. AS it moves it
separates the glued edge from the paper
below, and with each turn this gummed
edge is raised until the middle of the en-
velope is reached. The stick is then ma
neuvered on the lower side of the flap,
which in nearly every envelope is only
lightly gummed, and, therefore, is more
easily separated than the upper or glued
side of the flap. Once the flap is undone it
is pulled out, and it becomes an easy mat
ter to handle the contents of the letter.
However, as 1t occasionally happens, es-
pecially today, when inventions for auto
| matte sealing of envelopes are counted by
the dozen, negative skill is had recourse to.
Where the inventor tried to produce a
fastener that will fasten, the secret service
man tries to unfasten the fastener, and
usually succeeds. In the case of regular
envelopes so strongly sealed that there Is
danger of tearing the paper, recourse is
had to steamng the envelope over kettle.
The kettle used, 1t must be remembered, is
not an ordinary one, because the latter's
spout is too short. Specially constructed
ones, with long and narrow necks, are
used. and the envelopes are held in proper
position by a spring
"In dealing with a letter sealed down
with sealing wax a long, very thin and
| flexible steel blade is used This is heated
sufficiently for the purpose, and is then
deftly passed under the seal until 1t is lifted
from the envelope. 1t then becomes a COM
paratively easy matter to open the envel-
ope by proceeding as before. When the
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-03-24
True Snobbishness.
From Harper's Bazaar.

Untold depths of snobbishness among
free-born Americans seem to be revealed
by a recent incident that is worthy a place
In literature. A wealthy and cultured family
of good ancestry, but who did not happen to
figure as social leaders in certain city, re-
ceived invitations for wedding among
people whom they knew very well, but
whose social aspirations were rather more
pronounced than their own. The gift Sc
lected for the bride was beautiful and ex-
pensive clock. 1t was bought at one of the
best shops, 'and the cards of the givers were
left to be sent with the clock at a certain
date Time passed, the wedding came off,
but no acknowledgment reached the people
who sent the clock. The clerk remembered
shipping it with the cards. but nothing
further was known until a mutual friend
Of the two families was moved to make in
qufries of the brides mother. This lady
seemed to be a little vague about 1t, but
1t eventually transpired that the ambitious
young bride had removed the cards of the
donors, and had substituted that of con-
spicuous society leader with whom she hap
pened to have the merest calling acQuaint-
ance.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-03-24
Peasants Garry Food to VII
1age Churches to Be
Blessed.

grave and temporary fountains ranged
near 1t.
During the whole of Saturday afternoon
thousands of the faithful pray by these
graves and the crowd is so great that 1t
often takes half an hour to walk from the
entrance of the church to the grave No.
body enters without giving something for
charity and incredibly large sums are col
lected on these occasions. At evensong the
o'clock, when some authorities say Christ
rose. The churches are crowded to suffo-
cation; all press round the grave and the
high altar, where mass is celebrated.
When the supreme moment arrives and
the Resurrection words are spoken by the
priests, the people, almost frantic with
excitement, press around the sepulchre
singing Easter hymns and holding lighted
candles in their hands. The body of Christ
has been mysteriously removed-only the
white-robed nuns remain. The crowd falls
on its knees, still singing, till the sounds
Of the voices are heard in the streets and
people pause, awed by the thought of the
Resurrection. The scenes on these Easter
ewes are most impressive-the organ is
human voices all singing. in unison, the
bells can scarcely be heard-the brilliant
lights, the white nuns, the glittering affairs
and brightly robed priests, all this sur
rounded by atmosphere of eastern color
and fanaticism, presents picture that the
more advanced and skeptical nations of
the west cannot produce.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-03-24
Struck by Lightning,
Lives to Tell Tale

To be struck by lightning and live to tell
the tale is the unusual experience of Mr..
c. Fen Keys of 627 G street northwest. Mr..
Keys bears no outward evidence of his
contact with the electric fluid and is really
none the worse for the collision. He has
been for thirty years engaged in the light
ning-rod business and in all that time he
has met with but one accident.
Last fall Mr.. Keys was in charge of an
exhibit at the Rockville fair, when he re-
ceived an order for the immediate cree
1ngs in Montgomery county. One building
was soon. 'rodded'' and Mr.. Keys and his
assistant were about to begin the connec-
ton of the joints when heavy storm broke
over them They took shelter in a barn,
but While the storm was at it's height Mr..
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-03-24

Keys suddenly remembered that some Of
the rods were still connected with the coils
on his wagon. Vivid flashes of lightning
Were coming every minute, but deciding to
cut the connection with his wagon he called
his assistant and ran from the barn.
moment later he had caught one of the
rods and was in the act of cutting it when
there was binding flash, accompanied by
a crash of thunder, and the assistant, just
emerging from the barn, saw his employer
hurled through the air. Terrified the man
ran toward the farmhouse calling for help.
The people of the farm responded and to-
gether they returned to find Mr. Keys,
not dead, but struggling to regain his feet.
He was assisted into the house and in q
day or two was entirely recovered from
the terrible shock
No more lightning rods for me when
there is a thunder Storm" said Mr.. Keys
In relating his experience. 81 feel no i'll eff
fects from the stroke received, but" he
added regretfully, at ruined a fine watch I
was wearing and it has never kept good
time since. had just caught up the wire
cable when the flash came. Quicker than
thought I felt as II thousand red-hot
needles were being thrust into me all over.
My legs and arms seemed to swell until the
skin was stretched. Then felt myself
sailing through the air. I was unconscious
when / hit the ground"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-03-24

that one hour on the rubber-neck wagon
than in the whole previous course of his
existence.
Local people make a big mistake by not
taking the trip. OF course, it seems sort
of foolish for a man or woman born and
raised right here in Washington, to climb
to the dizzy heights of a rubber-neck car
and sit with folded hands while the man
with the megaphone hands out noisy tab
loids of information. But the trip is well
worth the trouble and the price. The mega
phone man knows many things of more
than passing local interest and he isn't
chary of telling them, either.
Here are some of the things he handed
out, during the whirl around the city:
I'VE are now leaving the corner of 14th
and G streets. in the business section of
Washington. The corner on your right was
formerly occupied by saloon Now a life
insurance company has the premises Sew
eral other sections are degenerating in the
same manner.
ION our right, the United States Treasury
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-03-24

Sixteenth street, home of some OF the
rich and naughty. The blacksmith shops
and shoe repairing emporiums nesting
among the palaces of wealth are charac-
terstic of Washington at its best. Note the
pickaninnies writing their names in char
coal on the white marble front of the house
to the right. Note the pleased expression
on the face of the society queen who is
watching them from the window
Massachusetts avenue, the home of the
rest of the rich and naughty. The house
to the right is famous the world over In
Europe even the most wonderful structures
are built In only one style of architecture.
This house is built in seven and it is
pected that several unclassihed varieties
may be found any day. The front is Queen
Anne, the back Mary Ann, and the rest a
composite of early Roman, middle Egyp-
tian, late Assyran and modern Indian.
ITO the right the palatial residence of
Thomas F. Walsh. built at a cost of $1,000
900 and occupied by the owner as penance
during Lent.
Ahead and further along, palatal resi-
dence of Larz Anderson, built at a cost of
$3,500,O00 and occupied by the owner when
he can't think of anything else to do.
Connecticut avenue, parade ground OF
nurse maids, policemen and the near-great.
Once the real thing, but fallen from its high
estate and now given up largely to real
estate offices, grocery stores and manicure
parlors. Some of the cave jewellers still
live along here.
Home of Vice President Fairbanks The
long line of visitors coming out of the door
to the left have just dined with the vice
President. The long line entering the door
to the right are lust about to dine with the
Vice President. Mr. Fairbanks is a candi-
date.
ITO the textbook notwithstanding Of
War Taft starting for a horseback ride in
Rock Creek Park. Note the hopeless ex-
preston on the face of the horse.
Fourteenth and G street once more, la
dies and gentlemen End of the route--Au
out! l. c. n.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-03-24

Thursday and Saturday service But men,
bers of Congress are always unreasonable.
THE northeast section of the city, ladies
and gentlemen. 1t was originally intended
that the city should extend entirely in this
direction, but the real estate operators put
prices too high. Nowadays the real estate
men put the prices higher still and then
sell the land to the government
Ahead and to the right the historic Long
bridge, on which Washington crossed the
Delaware. 1t was removed to Washington
in 1912 and used continuously until 1906
when Congress- in a fit of extravaganza, de-
cided to replace it, notwithstanding the
structure was as good as new.
ITO the right, the new union station.
Congress refused to authorize the local
street railway companies to extend their
tracks to this station, believing that the
people of the District needed the exercise.
THE home of Representative Babcock of
Wisconsin, chairman of the House District
committee and defender of the street car
system of Washington. Mr.. Babcock owns
an automobile and two carriages and thinks
the travelling public is well looked after.
"B street, ladies and gentlemen. The
bronze tablet in the pavement slightly to
the left gives the date when the asphalt
was last cleaned.
Straight ahead, f street, principal bust
ness thoroughfare and board walk of WASH
ington, parade ground of the local Johnny
and native habitat of the peek -a-boo shirt
waist
ITO the left, the Executive Mansion, bet
ter known as the White House. The origi-
nal building was much smaller, but two
coats of white paint every year since 1872
have filed it out some.
THE chicken runs to right and left of
the main building, with the German sum
mer garden effect on top, were added sew
eral years ago and are considered as
splendid example of what a truly great
firm of architectS can do when they get
down to business.l The iron fence around
the grounds is made of metal from confed-
crate guns captured at the first battle of
Bull Run.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-03-24

on one railroad ticket. And those who have
been here before will be very glad to stop
off again, their way back from the eX
position, for the immediate vicinity of the
big show is not laid out by nature with a
view to the comfortable assembling of peo-
pies there during the dog days.
This idea that Washington will get the
overflow from the James.own festivities is
so fixed in the minds of local folks that
down in the boarding house belt, instead of
storing the family plate and the krupp
china, as is the custom about this time in
every other year, additional stocks of both
are being laid in, the near-lace curtains
have received an unexpected springgoing
over and the Furnished rooms with board
signs have been renewed.
But the food belt will not reap all of the
overflow harvest by a lo1g shot The
Capitol guides expect to be busy from early
spring to late fall, every catchpenny device
in town will be worked to the limit and
last, but by no means least, the rubber
neck wagons will get their share.
The rubber-neck wagon-"the greatest
civic educator of modern times'-so Mr.
Somebody or-other called the sightseeing
electric coaches that circle the city, laden
with wide-eyed tourists three or four times
a day. And Mr.. Somebody-or-other wasn't
far wrong. For the observing person with
an average memory can soak up more as
sorted information in a trip around town in
one of these vehicles than in a month S
study in the best library on earth. One rea-
son for this is that good deal of the infor-
nation handed out through the megaphone
isn't to be found anywhere else. The OBJ
serving person may be peppered with facts
that he can't classify and will not be able
to verify, but they facts just the same
rubber-neck facts-and stretch and con-
tract at the will of the man with the mega
phone.
A Star reporter made the trip the other
day-just to find out what it was like, and
although he has lived in Washington most
of his life he learned more weird things in
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-03-24
Hints for Hair Dressing.

Ihere is no better conserver Of youth, no
more potent charm to attractiveness of ap-
pearance, than pretty hair well arranged
to frame the face becomingly and to secure
the silhouette that suits best
Changes in the style of hairdressing
should be carefully considered by any
woman who cannot afford to take chances
of detracting from her appearance. Once
the becoming arrangement is found 1t is
usually well to keep to it, with only minor
differences in ornaments
Women whom one meets after an interval
of several years. who "have not changed a
bit" are apt to be wearing their hair pretty
much as they used to do. or else have mean
while learned the art of so dressing the hair
that they have nullified those marks which
time Is constantly engraving.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-03-24

WARSAW, March Is, 1917.
VERYBODY has heard of the Rus
IL sian Easter, with it's greeting
"Hristos. Voskres!' Christ is
1 risen) and the kiss on each side of
the cheek which accompanies it..
But the Polish celebration of this great
feast of eastern Europe-greater far than
Christmas or the New Year-is far less
known, though equally quaint and interest
ing in many respects.
AS in Russia, there is much gorgfng as a
called, when many people eat no meat for
forty days, and even eschew eggs, butter,
milk and all but purely vegetarian food.
Some eat nothing at all on Good Friday,
spending the day in church, where the
priests make collections for charities and
the poorest beggars give their mite.
Early on the Saturday priests and people
prepare for the resurrection" and the
Pole must be poor indeed who does not
buy or beg something for this festive sea-
son. Even the peasants save up for some
eggs, huge loaf of bread sausages,
cheese. ham and "bahka' Ga kind of
cake). Those who can afford sucking pig
and plenty of vodka are thought lucky and
looked up to for the rest of the year.
When these things are cooked the family
tramps with them to the nearest church
across the newly thawed fields the old
ones taking the ham and pig, while the
youngsters follow, single file, with the less
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-03-24

costly viands. Crowds of them group
themselves round the church porch, the
men in their white coats and the women
in their brightly colored skirts white kerr
chiefs and high bootS-put on as they enter
the churchyard. Soon the priest comes out,
says a prayer, sprinkles the peasants and
their food with holy water, tells them not
to drink too much and let's them go home,
where they put the feast on the table,
with paschal lamb in wax or sugar, and
look longingly at it till the morrow. Then
they generally eat and drink such lot that
their dfgestions, weakened by the long fast
cannot stand it, and groans and cries are
heard on all sides of the village by Mon
day morning.
Those who are able to move souse their
neighbors with water-an old Sclavonic
custom, by which the peasants in spring
wash off the dirt accumulated during the
winter. In the towns this amusement is
confined to squirts and hose but even
Their those who venture in the poorer
streets on Easter Monday are sure of
soaking. In the towns, too, the "Sven-
coma" or Easter feast, is blessed at home.
Priests spend the early afternoon of Sat
urday IN the streets, whence those who
have laid their Easter tables call them in
to consecrate the food. Every table is sup
piled with holy water brush and a stoap.
The churches are crowded from Saturday
till Sunday, for the feast of the Resurrec-
ton is then celebrated. large wax figure
of Christ is placed in a side chapel and
surrounded with plants, flowers and palms.
Four nuns dressed in white kneel around
1t. The grave is lighted up with hun
dreds of wax candles, and as each parish
wishes to have the best resurrection, the
rich churches spare no expense. Marble
and other costly stones are used for the
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-03-24

WASHINGTON, the national
capital is a show town all
NM the year round, but it is just
wv about now. when the chill
blains are fitting and the
spring sap is loOsening up for a fly
ing start that the tourist season really
begins. From now on until the au-
tumnal frost trifles with the pumpkin and
the farmers wife heralds the approach of
winter by staying in bed o mornings till
as late as half-past four every incoming
train will be laden to the bundle racks with
human Interrogation points.
This has been the case, more or less,
every wear of late Old General Prosperity,
after long period of retirement, suddenly
decided to quit hiding and to go out and
get acquainted with folks In consequence,
his visiting list is Il good deal more extern
sive lust now than it has been in long,
long time He had hard work in making
himself known in some sections of the coun-
try where his last visit was such ancient
history that it had been forgotten by even
the Oldest inhabitant but the General is
persevering cuss and finally succeeded in
getting on some sort of footing with al
most everybody.
And now the Generals asquaintances,
new and renewed, usually turn up at the
national capital every and so long to
look things over, take squint at the town
from the top of the Washington monument
roam through the various departments and
show buildings and return home. to add
more souvenirs to the collection on the
-what-not" and to chew the cud of pleas
ant memories until the family bank roll
grows big enough to warrant another jour
ncy.
1t is safe bet that this year the rush
will be more pronounced than ever. Mighty
few of the visitors to the jamestown ex-
position will return to their homes without
handing Washington some of their spare
time and money. Those who have never
been here certainly will not miss the chance
of dOubling-up on Pocahontas and George
Washington and taking in two big shows
one temporary and the other permanent
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-03-24
How Information Of a Con-
fidential Character is
Obtained.

- y OW government officials and secret
service men can obtain informa-
ton Of character absolutely ~.
II confidential Of kind essentially
known by two persons is a ques-
ton frequently asked. In former years in
foreign countries this work was in the
hands of a few trusted employees, who
worked in unity in a room or suite of rooms
known as the Black Cabinet" AS an in
stItution il existed in every European
country. Its influence and successes in
creased according to the position held by
the government which maintained it.
The Black Cabinet said a diplomat
few days ago, in telling of this institution,
lis a room set in central, or general,
post office. where the correspondence of
certain people in whom for some reason or
other previously discovered the powers that
be are taking a close interest Is opened and
read. Though few governments acknowl-
edge the existence of black cabinet con-
nected with their postal and police service,
II is nevertheless a fact that these spying
institutions are not myth, and are sup
ported by funds appropriated in favor of
the police department or the postal service.
For instance, Russia and Germany are two
countries whose black cabinets are wonder
full parts of successful policing. Their or
ganization and work are in the hands of
trusted members. especially detached for
the purpose from the general ranks.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-03-24
To Clean Brass Goods.

Brass tea kettles, or. in fact. any article
of brass, with the exception of Benares
ware, can easily be cleaned in the following
way: First wash the brass We'll in suds
made of equal parts of ammonia and water
with soap. This will remove all dirt from
the article leave it free from grease, and
give 1t semi-polsh Then an extra pol
ish may be put on with a good brass polish
says Womans Life. II the brass looks
hopelessly furnished any good powder that
is used for cleaning silver or brass, If mois-
tened with vinegar and applied vigorously,
will remove the tarnish and leave shiny
surface.