davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1907-04-14

Marie Casimire. Queen of Poland.
a curious pleasure in putting ON her
most gorgeous apparel and allowing
herself &c be d@enched to the skin,
Henry II of France loved to mas
qucr.tde as "a woman with painted
checks and frilIs and furbelows:
Charles y was ideally happy when
he introduced ten young thieves 10
tie Louvre. and watched them rob his
guests 81 their jewelry and swords.
while Charles Il Of Spain, curious
contrast To his successor Of today.
-ound morbid pleasure i'm going down
into the vaults Of the Pantheon, and
having ,te collins Of his royal prede-
cess0rs opened so that he might look
on their faces.
Charles VI of France was a great
lover of adventures and practical
Jokes On one occasion, we learn.
when the Queen ySls making q public
entrance into Paris. ''he himself went
to see the procession In disguise,
mounted behind one of his servitors.
his eagerness to enjoy the spectacle
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1907-04-14

panions. ''assaUltiuS passengers. hr1n-
iato the coaches of The mobiles. and
routing religious professions at the
point OF The sword Ivan ~ En-
Teror of Russia. took delight in lei
ting loose Wild bears in the streets.
shrfeking with laughter at seeing his
subjects ny for their lives and ar
setting children 90 hill one another,
and If one survived. "the amiable
monarch. il he was NOT too weary.
would STAY him himself. and would
laugh al this conclusion TO SO eN-
cellent Joke
Peter TIL IF Russia had such e.
craze for Wa that he used TO give or
ders fo- a hundred cannon TO be fired
simultaneousIy. 80 that he might en-
isv tho sensa tions Of battle Christina.
Queen of sweden. used 10 dress iG
rnaIe attire and make love 10 her own
subjects incOgnito. shocking them not
"A little by the holiness of her wooing
and on one coca sion she rode into
Hamburg habited as knight and
wearing a red scarf in Spanish fash
ion
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1907-04-14

and lost and now they had staked
their last on another turn OF the wheel
that finally stops at Sure Loss. They
lost Oh third time Two OF them took
il caHAy enough, treasured after a
search through the pockets OF all
three brought to light three car tickets
for the fare home. But the third one
went TO pieces obviously enough.
There was even the suspicion OF tears
in his weak blue eyes.
MY sister gave me that money to
buy matinee tickets for her. he ex-
planned 10 the others-at which they
laughed.
As the crowd left the grandstand and
the paddock and the betting ring. I
stood at the gate and watched them
file out. Against the high board fence
stood a miserable and wretched figure
OF a woman She was emaciated
Coarse black clothes covered her. and
her knifeIke face was almost hidden
by a black sun bonnet. She played on
an old fiddle as the men and women
who had been throwing their money
10 Sure Loss crowded past
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1907-04-14
His "Sure Tip Lost.

You who have seen a black cloud set
tie rapidly over the face of a sum-
mer EVENINGS sun and darken the
earth can appreciate how suspense
gave way 10 despair in that man s
face The transformation was not in
Simultaneous. 1t grew and strengthen
ed as the negro jockey forged his
horse TO the front. Then. suddenly.
like the swapping Of a wire. Ike the
bursting Of bubble. the despair gave
way 10 vindictiveness. The man had
haG his money on another OF that
legion. Sure Loss. lie ripped out
revolving oath. shriekinS;
XIII that black niger,
But no one heard him. Z doubt II
DE heard himself. The ''favorite" had
won The mans sure tip had lost.
and again the poor was impoverished.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1907-04-14

The Impoverished poor showered upon
Sure Loss
And it is no wonder that great and
strange things can be seen by the
observer az Bennins. This game in
which the helplessness of the outsider
is pajheteiC. offers unrivaled advau-
taees for the study of the human be
ius. 20 is the supreme lesson in the
psychology Of those who fall over each
other in their anxiety 10 do homage
10 Sure Loss
People do things of which they are
totally unconscious. They beat each
other on the back. and neither the
heater nor the beaten ever knows it
happened. They yell out absurd ex-
CARNATIONS of announcement to beasts
chat cannot possibly hear them. and
they groan imprecauons against
jockeys who would not care If they
did hear
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1907-04-14
No Thonght for Injured Ride.

Another time 1 saw a woman, mere
girl She had bet on steeplechase
happened to know which horse she
was betting At The first jump two OF
the others went down. and into that
womans face. which three minutes
ago had been like a flower. came an
expression OF pleased relief not
thought for the horses down in the
ditch, nor care for the riders strug-
cling 20 escape from the wilderness of
iron-shod noofs that beat the air
about them Under no other circum-
stances. perhaps. could that girl have
enjoyed mishaps to men and beasts.
glanced TO another section. where
sat group Of women on whose checks
and hair there were colorings of q
character TO cause distrust The
horses were off. but these women
showed no interest in the race untn
tines turned into the home stretch
Then without any agitation. they
leaned forward. saw the winner. con-
suited their programs and made a note
at their Iosses-or their winnings. as
the case may have been. or an ule
people al The track they were the most
HIaSa. the least concerned
Iu another place sat three youths.
clerks in stores in the city I judged
usem to be They had bet two races
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1907-04-14

ing. because society can AFFORD to use
~ as a sport. not as a desperate gam
ble and scramble for money. Smart
men and handsomely Eowned women
clambered into their automobiles and
we're whirled back TO town. smiling and
laughing. above the real ruin and sor-
row or the scene like bubbles on the
bosom OF a stream beneath which are
rocks and whirlpools.
That day I saw men-and women,
togo out OF that gate with the
stamp OF despair on their faces. IN
needing the lessons of ages. they had
become lessons in themselves. lessons
which others would heed no more than
they had needed other lessons. And
in the number were all ages. The
poor Of Washington was impover-
ished gain
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1907-04-14
LIZ the Same OId Game.

To those who take not the trouble
TO hunt these things out. il is aston
ishing. almost incredible. what people
will do To satisfy their mad desire 10
try TO beat Sure Loss. They viii
read volumes about the pity and the
folly Of betting the races. and then
they win make all sorts OF sacrifices
TO be able TO pat money on the horses.
horses about which they know moth
ing
There is man In this city who
saves mp every cent ne can scrape to
bet on the Benniug spring meet He
has done il five years. and he has lost
an he had every year. He gives up
his summer vacation every year be
cause of his losses. He viii have no
vacation this summer and yet he told
me me other CAY. with a grim deter
mination that would have been 4auda-
bile in better cause. thar he would
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1907-04-14

beat en- next year." such cases are
too numerous &c be reviewed.
Il is with such people that this
sport" is a passion. a noxious pas
sion that lowers their usefulness as
workers and infringes on their ideals
and ideas OF what life should be. They
are up against a proposition that, in
brief. is:
-'You can't beat the horses
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1907-04-14
Nothing DOIng fOr Beggars.

In her left hand. which was closed
about the neck of the fiddle she held
a tin cup for whatsoever charity peo-
pie might give her. / watched twenty
minutes. long enough for most Of the
people TO get away. and out Of the
thousands there not one dropped so
much as nickel in that begging
woman's cup Il is not productive OF
virtues. and charities TO get within the
maeIstrom of this national sport and
this national passion.
There was one class which went
away from the track that afternoon
happy and sailing. tt was society,"
for society lends its approval to rae
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1907-04-14
PLAY Others Tips.

Il Is a proposition that has been
demonstrated again and again. 1t is
the old, old old theory that fools and
their money are soon parted. 1t is
~ them city residents. who would not
know what TO do if a horse they drove
got a stone I'm his foot, viii risk their
hard-earued money 10 back their
fud ment OF what is the best horse in
race
Fhe odds against the man who bets
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1907-04-14
Playing the Ponies a
Passion That Has a
Deathhke Grip.
By JAMES HAY, JR.

is stupe7dou5 show-the crowd gathers at BenRng
where fortunes wax and wdne on the flash Of flying
hoOf
Whenthe flag falls at estdng post and the horses beat
out their hearts or the dusty EARTH the curtain that has hid
den human feelings rng up and the spectator is face TO
face with the great drama OF human emotion.
Self-coRtrOl vanshes away from the thousands whose
thoughts are Of their wagers Efutaton depression Oy
and despair written large on the sea Of faces for him
who watches to see.
The Of been called the national
measure is With Ome-thOse who
sport
with majority it passion
conception the
and principles
II passion in is embodied the people
which there often the Wild
ing ha can beat 'em I'll win yet"
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1907-04-14

and in the race was a horse ridden
by a cOlored jockey. It so happened
that the horse would have won If IL
had been ridden by anybody at all
He ran Ike the wind, and led his
field by FIVE lengths
Hanging on the iron railing Of one
OF the staircsses leading from the bet
ling ring 10 the graEdstand was a man
Of thirty years of age. The mask had
fallen from his face. his self-controI
was gone. and he showed his soul
He wore a deby hat that, in the case
of well-to-do man. would have long
since given way to a new one. His
cravat was frsyed- His coat and
trousers were, apparently. strangers
10 the preSeer's iron. He leaned far
forward, the railing cutting into him
at his waist His brow was w-rinkled
like corrugated steel. His nostrils were
tense and spread out as Il his breath
arrested by his agitation. held them
So His eyes followed the thin line
or color the jockeys. staring without
WinkinE
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1907-04-14

ND it is with this latter class
" that this story has TO do-the
~ class which already poor IS
made poorer by the ineNora bile
workings OF the gods of chance. the
class which Eluts the pawn shops as
il grows more impoverished, the class
which Eeedless of the experiences OF
millions. throws IT'S hard-earned dollars
into the ever-oDen lap of Sure Loss
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1907-04-14
Poorer CITY Today.

Washington has just had its spring
season of this fcverish devotion TO Surr
Loss. TO has seen its men journey
daily TO the track. winning sometimes.
but I'm the long run losing Tt has
seen this thing done again and again.
I'm spite OF the warnings of friends and
the lessons Of the past
It has had diuned into its ears the
constant query FOR the name OF -
winner" IT is today "a poorer city
than &c was before the Benuing races
began. for the --bool1ies. like vultures
who husband their spoils. have gone 10
other cities with the burnt offerings
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1907-04-14
Whom The Wash Falls.

stood in 'front.' of the srandstaud
AZ Benning one day shortly before the
meet closed A race Was being run,
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1907-04-14

4
out 81 sheer lieh. hearted
ness. .cbases his hat along crowded
cowes street. and revels i'm playing
practical jokes on his erandees, has
ma difficulty IN making good his
claim TO be the most frolics0me
sovereign in Europe although there
are several kings old enough TO he
his grandfather who would be glad
Go he able TO emulate his agility and
high spirits.
But there are few soyereigns who
do not love at times to forget their
rank and to indulge in pranks when
the mood seizes them. although these
royal vaearies are not always as in
noceut az those of the youthful King
Of Spain. Very different were the
pranks played by another Alfonso.
King of Portugal. who found his
chief pleasure in roaming the streets
of his capital at night with low com
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1907-04-14

MONARCH who. like Alfonso,
Of Spain. leaps gates like
schoOlboy. turns someTsaults
out 81 sheer lieh hearted
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-12-29
LAKE THAT CHANGES COLOR.
40 Different Times OF the Year IL IL Yenew,
Green, Ned and Gray.
From he 81. Louis Globe Democrat.

From me 81. Louis Globe Democrat.
A small lake at Seaside. Monterey county.
Cal, changes its color four times every year
To all appearances this lake lie just like sny
other small lake. and there seems TO be no
reason why 1t should be such a remarkable
sheet OF water, lt IL prettily situated. full
OF fish and water fowl. and when In its normal
condition the water h. clear and sweet. IL
has one popularity besides It's variable color.
however. Tn water In never staRnane
despite the fact that there is no apparent
outlet to the lake.
The color changes are very pronounced
and are In four distinct shades--yeiIow. green.
red and dark gray that has the Appearance
OF black at tines After each change
the water regains its normal clear appear-
ance. The color In In the water and is not
the result Of reflection from the sky. Thja
has been proved beyond doub by the fact
thai the color remains the same for dnV~
&C Q time. regardless OF the condition or ~.
clouds. The four colors mentioned are the
ones always seen. and they aIways ooc,r
IN the order named. the disturbance. II such
It may be called. covering a period Of frnrn
SIX weeks to " months in July and August
OF each year. Old residents OF seaside a.
sert That the phenomenon IL a regular an
nual event and that IL 10 ALWAYS foIInrsC
by the death OF q large number Of Ssh IN ths
lake.
No explanation OF the peculiar icond,.ton
nas ever been attempted by scientists. a.
though several scientific men OF note h.v.
studied the lake very carefully. The nra-
vallng opinion among the ~inhabitants Of
me section surrounding the lake is that the
lake Is OF volcanic origin and that the ohsns~-
are due 20 subterrRnean dineurbs ncea whS.n
prOdnce chemical changes In the water NJ
the lake. This idea 10 supposed 10 nav.
grown out OF the belief that, the lake 4. hoA-
tomiess. Twenty years ago. when the sovfh-
ern Pacific Railroad was being built acroe.
one emo OF the lake. the roAdbed sank
- % AZ tase as was laid and thousands
into the lake before a stable foundation cnn;.,
De obtained. This led to the belief that a.
iskel 10 oottomless. The lake 10 not mora 49,
nrse-auarters Of q mile long by less than NJ
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-12-29

~ Fil Tvs uaas was vorss by far
b thar Of philip ~ Behind the latter
there was atHl a nation full 81 faith in its
divine selection TO dominate the world for
the glory Of God and His chosen sovereign,
Behind, Philip ". himself; aged and wOfn
with sickness Of body and disillusiOn Of
spirit. there was a'people that had lost all
confidence In themselves and their mis-
sion. ready 20 soon and spit upon the idols
that had failed them; a people whom sloth.
vanity and epicureanism had robbed. for
a time. OF their nOblensss, and who vet had
20 pass through the communication. OF
their woe before. cleansed in the fires Of
suffering. they should arise again. ~.
Philip Nv. die on September. 10, tesS.
For three days he had fingered ON invshGfer-
ing and for three months be had been tired
Of his life struggle, weary of the sordid
intrigues around him and sunk in gloomy
dependency that banished from him ali
interest in mundane affairs. There we're
still thirty-ive years more Of national humil-
iation and grief for Spain before the great
convulsiOn-the War OF the Spanish Sue
oession-that awoke her TO n new light.
These years, however, were but a ~prOlonga-
ton OF the agony preceding dissolution that
49, Sogh 90 hAoNNNM0hD NuNAuA NAE NGhAh
OF Philip Nv. The court over which he was
the presiding spirit had exhibited during
the fOrty-6ve years he ruled IL the strange
phenomenon OF cOruscating intellectual
activity accompanied by u~neESmpled
moral and social corruption. Literature
and art had blazed up with sudden reful-
gence before they too sank in twilight. and
when Philip Nv. passed away the genera
ton Of geniuses that had illumined his court
were dead or Fastening to the grave, while
all else was sinking deeper and deeper into
darkness.
Mr.. Hume recognizes that il needed the
formation of new ideals, the evolution OF a
new patriotism. to make Spain worthy Of
her history again, and the outwOrn corrupt
blood Of the Philips was powerless to lead
the nation back to health and sanity after
its splendid efforts of heroics. IL is con-
coded that Philip did his best. But he him
self was but a, product of his time and
country; a kindly gentleman Of noble sspira-
tons and ignoble practice, tender Of on
science but weak Of will. a poet and a
dilettante, doomed to al overwhelming
task for which he was unfit. "In his long
reign he saw moral decadence that he could
not arrest, national ruin that even his
frantic prayers we're powerless to avert.
and he lived through half q lifetime of mar
tyrdom because he ascribed his failure to
the vengeance Of a ruthless deity whom he
had offended by his private sins and believed
that he, gentle hearted as he was. had
brought upon the people. that he loved the
widespread woe he saw around him"
M w ~
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-12-29
III.

The state OF things which confronted the
youthful King Philip Nv. and his Minister
in 1921 was already grievons. The details
Of the abject penury and misery universal
throughout CASTLE, except among those
who managed the public revenue n their
numerous hangers on, sound almost in
credible. Idleness n preteDce, were
everywhere. I~nsolent gentlemen In velvet
dOublets and no shirts. workmen' who
strutted and clattered In ruffs and Tapiers.
seeking prey "A sham soldiers instead Of
earning wages by honest handicrafts, para
site poets and paid satirssts. gamesters.
swindlers, braves and cutpurses. pre-
tended students who Iived like the rest OF
the idle crew on aims and eifrontery. crowds
OF friars and priests whose only attraction
to the clerical profession was the sloth
which ii excused; ladies'. rOuged and over
dressed. who deliberately aped the look n
manners OF prostitutes-these were the
prevailing types OF the capital. a. described
by eye witnesses innumerable as well a.
by the romancers. who revelled In the
color. movement and squalid picturesque
ness Of such q society. To maintain the real
or. false splendOr Of Madrid the starving
agriculturists who had NOT abandoned their
holdings in sheer despair we're ground down
to their last real by the crushing Alcabala-
the tax levied on every commodity when
ever it passed from hand to hand-by local
tolls and ~octrois. and by the heartless ex-
t~ortions Of the tax farmers
Al the end OF three years the policy OF
OIivares, who had sstTanged England by
refusing to permit the Infanta to marry
Prince Charles OF England n who had
revived the old naughty claims Of Spain
to dictate TO Europe. had already begun to
produce widespread effects. France. no
longer unde the Papal-Italian rule Of the
Queen mother. Marie de Needless. but IN
the firm hands of Richelieu. could not be-
expected 70 submit to such claims row.:
aud during 1924 Europe once more d.
vided itself into two camps. n to assert
and the other to dispute the supremacy
OF the House Of Austria. under the hegemony
Of Spain. RicheIieu did not believe. how
ever. in beginning the game until he had
good cards in his hands. and delayed an open
declaration OF war until he could join with
him in an anti-Spanish league the United
Provinces and Savoy. and buy at least the
neutrality IL not the active aid Of England.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-12-29

however. that aOnss ono had 70 10 b ousa-
ness Of the State, and he says that TIRE ma
merouaand very Rbieatnte payers and mem-
oranda OF advice from Olivares 10 Philip
still in existence show that every subject
OF Importance was explained extensively
to the King, and that Il Philip left the eGsou
tive power In the hands Of tho Minister II
was not because he VA kept in Ignorance Of
the issues involved. ...r.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-12-29


Now let US zee what the situation was
toward the close Of the two decades during
which Olivares remained In power. IL was
a dismal story that Philip ~. had to tell
the Cortest Of CASTLE when they assembled
ut Madrid in the summer Of 1888. His
treasury. he said. was more empty than
aver. FOR he had been constrained by his
duties TO oppose all the heretics in Europe
in defence OF the Catholic religion. as well
as the enemies Of his house in Italy. Ger
many. Flanders and Brazil. and a greater
war was now on his hands than had affiicted
Spain since tho time OF the Emperor Charles
v! He recalled hat seventy-two millions
and a half OF ducats (the ducat was worth
about two and a half English shiIings) had
been raised by loans at 8 per g interest
and spent in the previous six years on war,
in addition TO two millions and a quarter
for the army in Spain itself. This was an
expenditure unheard Of previously in Spain.
and il meant thAt a sum greater h ever
had TO be demanded Of the Castilian Cortes
in the form Of an enormous addition to the
food excise and an increase Of the Alcabala
tax. The country was ~depopulated and
starving. replied the Deputies. but withal
the duty Of his Majesty Al a Christian Prince
was clear. and no matter. at what sacrifice
the means for fighting the battle OF the
Church and Spain must be found by his
faithful vassals. And q through 1888 and
1899 the wal proceeded, not. on the whole
unfavorably for Spanish arms. the French,
INVASION At least being repelIed. but more
disastrously than ever for the overtaxed
and ruined people upon whom lay the
crushing burden OF providing funds. The
desperate condition Of the Csstilians
reached a climax in 1890. when Catalonia
and Portugal revoltsd. the latter success
fully. When the news OF the Portuguese
insurrection under the Duke Of BraganEa
reached Madrid the Count-Duke Of Olivares
conveyed It himself to the palace. He
entered the presence Of the King gay n
smiling. Il bring great news for your
Majesty he said. What is it?" asked
the King, with little CONCERN. in n
moment. sire, you W won a great duke
dom and vast wealth" replied the Minister.
How 90. Conde?" inquired Philip. "Sire,
the Duke Of Brasansa has gone mad and
has proclaimed himself King Of Portugal;
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-12-29

n wsZJIaA- toa1 ss'f Ss's'H