davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-26
A Murder School.

Seventeen young Italians, stripped to the
waist. standing in a line In a, cellar under.
going instruction in the use Of the stiletto,
An expert manipulation Of the national
weapon Of Italy demonstrating with q
man as model. but cleverly sparing his
life! Upstairs in the kitchen of a SUD-
posed restaurant a range doing duty as q
forge. chopping block as an anvil and an
aproned cook as the manufacturer Of the
sharp steel blades! And all under the aus
pieces of the "Camoristi Mano Nera."
otherwise known as the Black Hand!
Such was the setting of a dramatic
episode in Pittsburg. just reported. A
WELL planned raid. aided by detectives from
various cities. many of them Italians. re-
suited in the capture Of this school OF
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-26
Back to Earth.

His face takes on look SEVERE .
IT'S almost woe. :. :
Oh, where is all the Christmas cheer
He sought to show.
In vain it is to speak Of Joy,
And song and such.
What slight events our bliss destroy
He ate too much.
-: ~
How oft has history portrayed
Some curious trick,
Where merry banaueting has played :
The very Nick!
His heart with words Of Christmas tim
We cannot touch.
He makes absurd what was sublime
He ate too much.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-26
The Sinews Of War.

The New York Times sees the matter in
this way:
The prospects are that the coming
election will be less Influenced by the use
Of money than any in long time. The
interests that in the past are believed to
have supplied the sinews of war In the
largest amount are not likely to open
their check books very wide for either OF
the two chief parties. Indeed. the men
who have been most famous for alleged
issue as foregone. and that Is not an
opinion which would induce them to pay
out cold cash.
This, today. is persuasive. but 1t would
not be safe to calculate on it. Just now
some of the interests" are pinched. and
others are disgruntled. All are advertis-
ing reforms as to the future. Their talk
Is Of holding aloof from the political
game. and letting things take their own
course. They complain Of ineratitude
and declare that their latest campaign
contributions were obtained practically
on false pretenses.
This humor and this situation will pass
Confidence is returning. and business will
be humming again. with the great sup
more. the blues win disappear and every
normal. Politics will be normal The
man or the corporation whose affairs are
involved in the national policies presented
in the campaign will take sides, and, TAX
ins sides. will assist In the work in hand
Now one Of the policies to be presented
is the tariff. and the tariff touches at
nearly all points; There Is not great
industry in the country which will not
feel greatly concerned about next years
result at the polls. All Of them realize
that revision of the tariff is coming, but
none wants 1t executed on free-trade lines,
or lines in any measure inimical to a
sound application of the policy of protec-
ton.
Men in charge of great industries take
nothing for granted. 1t is against the
rule of their operations. They may be
feeling At present that the election is as
good as decided; that with Mr.. Bryan
again the democratic candidate the de-
mocracy will again go to defeat But
after the battle begins; after Mr.. Bryan
unlimbers his tongue and all Of the heavy
artillery on that side gets into action, a
different appearance may come over the
field. Those who have interests at stake.
and feel that q subscription will help, will
chip in" when and where they think 1t
will do the most good. And they will do
this without violating any law, or going
counter to the rule of everyday action.
Neither side will 80 broke next year
Mr.. Bryan was not on short commons in
either of his races. and even Judge Parker
had substantial financial support What
we call sinews of war will be collectible
as long as war Is waved.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-26
Tammany and the Democracy.

New York at THE next democratic ma.
tonal convention is the subject of some
HSSeussion.
Nhat will she)do there? She is at heart
abAEonistic to Mr.. Bryan. and yet has
nobody Of her own with whom to maneu-
yr AGAINST him. Lieut. Gov. Chanler is,
81 eoGfse. out of the question. A worthy
Xs1ng man. and personally popular. he
yet does not carry guns enough for such
an engagement. In a time of compare
tive calg1 he would make a good candi-
dateo<or governor, and would probabl
acquit himself well in that ONCE. But at
Wis age and in the circumstances that
! exist he is not seriously to be thought of
fAr President. The suggestion of his
: same has awakened no interest anywhere,
and it is tribute to his personal worth
that he has not been covered with ridicule
as the result of it.
- David B. Hill is, of his own accord, on
the shelf and the sort of man not to per-
a himself used by small politicians for
SIM purposes. He Is as little for Mr..
Bry9n as are any Of his old home. asso-
ciates. and would probably be glad to see
his party under a new national leader
ship. No democrat did more. and few as
much. to keep the party from falling orig
inally into Mr.. Bryan's clutches. II Mr.. Hill
had been properly supported at Chicago
in 1896 by the men who subsequently re-
pudiated Mr.. Bryan's nomination the
nomination could not have been made.
But. almost single-handed, Mr.. Hill stood
up for the old form Of democracy. only to
see it swept away by Mr.. Bryan's elo-
auent appeal for popuiism. and populism
adopted as the democratic creed.
And so it has come about that New
York. having nobody of her own to pre-
sent to the convention. and being at pres
ent unwilling to help boom Mr.. Bryan. is
considering the advisability of sending
her delegates uninstructed 1t Is a good
idea. A better might be not to send any
delegates at all. For IL men Of the stamp
of Murphy and Connors are to compose
the delegation, its weight will be light,
either for the naming Of the ticket or for
writing the platform.
Tammany has power at home, and with
out its activity democratic success In
New York state Is impossible. This fac,
is generally conceded. And yet Tammany
at national conventions Is never popular
and sometimes is handled with tongs Mr.
Bryan Is all the stronger in parts of the
south and Of the west for the knowledge
in those sections that his weakness In
New York is attributable jointly to Tam.
many and to Wall street.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-26
Don't Stick Too Close to Your Desk
From the New York Herald.

1nere is a lesson and a warning fol
business men in the fact that there were
lS8 deaths from heart disease in this city
last week, an increase of 30 per cent as
compared with the corresponding weel
Of last year, and that the figures for the
entire twelve months will very nearly
equal this ratio of increase.
While the average duration of human
life has been heightened three or four
years during the present generation the
number Of deaths from heart disease in
New York and other American cities has
steadily increased. This Is admittedly due
to the stress and strain Of modern life
but more than all to the worry" 1t en-,
tails among business men.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-26
City Business Management.

Pursuant to certain adopted plans the
municipal water supply board Of New
York last summer advertised for bids for
the construction of a great dam. The
lowest bidder named as his price &c.
$3.50 The next highest bidder offered to
do the work for $l2,eao,775 It would
seem as though good business men, es-
pecially men Of large affairs, such as
the three serving as water commissioners,
would reject the lower bid only on dis
covering some compelling reason in the
bids themselves, some strong probability
that the lower bidder could not do the
work in time. or at all. or some great ad-
vantage to the city in point Of time or
quality of work in the case Of the higher
bid. For the difference OF s2.s54.425 was
enough to make even an oficial board
pause. The contract went to the higher
bidder. Immediately an outcry was
raised, and as q result the mayor has
just been furnished with a report by his
commissioners Of accounts. who inquired
into the matter. and who prefer charges
of misconduct and gross inconpetency
against the water board trio, no possible
reason appearing for rejecting the lower
bid.
These three officials are wealthy men,
who consent to give a very little Of their
time to the city for the salary Of $4,000
a year apiece. One of them 10 president
of the chamber Of commerce. The others
hold positions of high responsibility in
New York's financial world. They are
now accused Of paying practically no at
tention to the matter of a contract award
involving the city In an expenditure Of
more than twelve and a half millions, and
nearly two and half millions more than
appears to have been necessary. The
question arises whether they used their
customary business shrewdness In behalf
Of the city or of some friends.
Luckily for the taxpayers Of today, there
IL a growing disposition on the part of
city executives. doubtless under the spur
of an aroused public sentiment In behalf
OF honesty, to exact faithful performance
of duty from their subordinates. The
beginning in this direction Is not q great
one. but Is none the less encoura ging. 1t
Is the present hope of most Ameri-
cans that eventually the same standard
Of honesty and business judgment Will
be required and maintained in all de-
partments Of public service as in the con-
duct Of private enterprises. No bust
ness man would endure the tricks of a
partner who fattened his own purse at the
expense Of the Arm. or the dishonesty
Of manager who trimmed of pickings
for himself from the big deals under his
supervision. Yet these same individuals,
| in their capacity as taxpayers. have for
years been wont to regard the pilferings
from the public treasury, especially in the
| case Of the municipalities. as a natural
sequence Of political management. This
view is altering now as the common sense
Of city government Is being more keeniy
appreciated.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-26

mission OF this youth. Under the present
laws many an immigrant is accepted with
out much question who Is calculated to
lower the moral and physical and social
standards of the United States. Incident
ally. it is striking commentary upon
conditions in Russia that an intelligent
young man declares his preference Tor
death to further life under the benevolent
reign of the little father"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-26
Justice Harlan and the Constitution.
From the Philadelphia Inquirer.

In his speech at the Kentucky dinner
in New York Justice Harlan spoke some
words Of sober earnestness which ought
to sink deep into the hearts of the Amer
servatism as against some radical ten
denotes Of the day and a statement that
in the courts alone inhered the power to
maintain the just balance between the
voice was not that Of the pessimist. but
of q confirmed optimist, and though a
member OF the highest court in the land,
he spoke not as judge but as q citizen.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-26
Death Preferable to Russian Life.


immigration oficials at Philadelphia
have granted special dispensation in the
case of young student who came here
from Russia as stowaway and was
held for deportation. Upon investigation
II appeared that he was fugitive from
the cars realm. He frankly declared that
he would prefer death to q return to his
native land. His father, he said. IL rot
ting in . Siberian mine and two Of his
uncies are imprisoned in q fortress at
Riga He felt assured that he would be
taken by the authorities upon landing and
sent to q living death. After some In
quiries a wcii-known Russian liberal now
resident in New York agreed to advance
transportation for the stowaway to make
the steamship company whole. and he has
been permitted TO land. II may be doubt
ed whether any serious harm Is done to
the American political system by the sd-
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-26

NIn order TO svoid delays on account
Of personal absence letters to TIN
STAB should not be addressed - any
andividuaI connected with the ezaos. bas
simply 70 TK1 STAD, or 10 the 1ddtoxia1
or Business Department according to
tenor or purpose.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-26
Justice and Chance.
"a Now Yoyk Tpihunp

Political justice and allegorical proprie-
ties were outraged when Fortune. the
blind goddess. gave the losing lot to the
Hon Thomas p. Gore, the blind senator
from Oklahoma. Mr.. Gore drew q term
OF one year and three months. and his
colleague drew one of four years and
three months. But perhaps poetical jus
tice ought not to expect square deal
when it gets mixed up In politics
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-26
Surfeited.

Have you any cold turkey?" asked
Piodding Pete. -
YES" answered the CHEEKY housewife.
''You can come in
Dat amt de signal to stop. OATS de
signal to move on
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-26
SHOOTING STARS.
ny pHILANDER JOHNSON.
Thu Martial Spirit.

when you go into battle" said the hui
man analyst, do you feel your heart
surge with hostility toward the foe, or
anything like that?'
Yes" answered the military expert.
I'm time Of war we feel even more resent
full toward the foe than we feel toward
our rival associates in time Of peace"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-26
Too Soon.

That artist is a real genius" remarked
the admirer.
NO." answered Miss Cayenne; "he can't
be real genius. or people wouldn't be
saying SO many complimentary things
about him before he is dead
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-26

Messrs. Williams and DeArmond over
looked chance to exchange boxing gloves
as holiday souvenirs.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-26

1t is unfair to Judge the value OF
Christmas gift by the price tags when the
closing out ceason opens.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-26
For Posterity.

One generation. quite perplexed,
Lifts orators to wordy flight,
That studious schoolboys of the next
May have fine pieces to recite.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-26

Tom Lawson has not yet gotten so
worked UP over his presidential views "a
to buy advertising space for their exploit
tatiOn.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-26

Some of the speeches in Congress Will
be found quite as reminiscent as the
Presidents message was. 81
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-26

Occasionally a question of naval author
ity becomes almost as complicated as one
Of social precedence.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-26

The Shah Of Persia possibly takes some
comfort in the fact that monarch is not
considered of much Importance these days
unless somebody wants a revolution.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-26

II is curious fact that any kind
of weather can be made to serve as an
excuse for a grip epidemic.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-26

Perhaps DR.. Wiley can explain why 1t Is
that Christmas turkey is so much more
trying to the digestion than turkey at
other times of year.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-26

This is the time when everybody can
think Of good New Year resolution to
suggest for somebody else.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-26
SYMPTOMS Missing.

rs your husband hard to please?" asked
the visitor.
Very" answered young Mrs. Torkins.
..He felt 50 we'll this morning that he
thinks his Christmas celebration must
have been failure
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-26

When the Christmas bills come in old
Santa Claus strikes the average citizen as
a pretty healthy sort of myth.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-26

There are fishing smack proprietors who
doubt Rojestvensky's competence to speak
with authority as a sailor man.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-26

The report that Chancellor Day has
been refused favors gives his remarks
more logical significance than they had
before,
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-26

W. j. Bryan Is too much OF phiioso-
pher 10 hope that the democratic party
will ever make anything unanimous
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-26
Democratic Need,
the Baltimore American

From the Baltimore American.
wanted-By the democratic party in
Maryland, a suffrage plank that will dis
franchise all but strict party men.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-26

Some Of the recipes for mince pie might
without improperly claim the attention of
the local option agitators.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-26
No Dogesr Bank AFFAIR. +,

From the Cleveland Plain Dealer.
At the same time there is no fear that
any English fishing fleet will suffer by
the way.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-26
Won't Have to Work.

From the Atlanta Constitution.
1t is feared that the $4,000 Nobel prize
will put Kipling out of the writing BUSH
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-26
Should Silence Jeff.

Should Silence Jeh.
From the Louisville Courier-Journal.
Tillman has been called volatile and
yindictive. Davis Is vociferous and vacu.
Gus.
Los Angeles herald., 1907-12-26
Poor Gecrae

Miss Eva DeChipenham. a lecturer CT
New York, holds that beautiful thoughts
make beautiful faces and figures, and
that ugly thoughts deform, even as un-
wholesome work does.
"By taking thought" said Miss De-
Chipenham l.. an interview in Chicago,
syou cannot perhaps add cubit to you-
stature, but you can eradicate round
shoulders and sponge wrinkles away.
Our thoughts mold our faces, form our
expression. Thus they give us away.
They give us away as much as the spoken
thought of a Chicago girl once gave her
away.
This girl sat in dim-lit parlor on q
winter evening with young man. A
fire of oak legs blazed in the crate. and,
looking into the pink and gold heart OF
the fame, tn girl, who was very pretty.
murmured:
How divine. my dearest Hilary
'But the young man frowned api
started.
IIilary?' he said. You mean George.
don't you, pet?
''The girl flushed and bit her lip.
oh, dear she said how silly OF me.
thought this was Saturday night
Los Angeles herald., 1907-12-26
THINK 1T OVER

OF the late Samuel Sloan, the railroad
man a broker said the other day:
..Mr. Sloan owed a great part OF his
success to his prudence. He was never
reckless, he never threw good money after
bad. but, once he perceived that an IN
yestment had hopeless look, he apan-
doned it coolly and turned his attention
to something more promising.
Most of us are different. We lose our
heads over some trifling loss. We waste
a dollars worth of time and energy try
ing to recover a penny. In short we are
like the man who lost the copper.
.There was a man who dropped penny
down a crack in a board walk. With a
wire and stick he tried to recover the
penny for long time. Then, shaking
his head sadly, he went home.
But the next morning he returned early
to the spot and he was bending over the
crack with a quarter in his hand when
friend happened along and said;
"'aelo Joe. what are you doing there!
We'll, I'll tell you, said the other.
Yesterday I dropped penny down this
crack Now I reasoned that 1t wasn't
worth my while to pull up four or five
boards to find penny, but last night in
bed an idea struck me; and I'm going
to drop quarter down to make it worth
my while.'
Los Angeles herald., 1907-12-26
HEIR, MISSING FOR 20
YEARS, RETURNS HOME
Fortune Awaiting Him-Family Holds
Reunion for Wealthy Ranch
owner, Long Mourned
as Dead

NEW YORK, Dec. 25.-After an absence
of twenty-three years, during which he
has been mourned as dead by his broth
ers and sisters Charles Werner, who ran
away from home in Brooklyn when IA
years old has returned. Several MEM
bers of his family, including his PARENTS
have died since he went away. :,
His three brothers and three sisters, all
of whom are we'll to do and live In Fiat
bush. failed to recognize him at first He
was first identified by an aged blacksmith
in williamsburg, who recalled the boy
who used 10 play around his shop and
try to catch the sparks as they fell In
showers.
Werner has become wealthy and is a
prominent ranehman near Abe, OKLA,
but he found that a fortune had been
waiting for him, having been left by an
uncle in Germany. Although he has been
declared legally dead steps will be taken
to have him declared legally alive, and the
money will be paid to him.
To celebrate the return of Mr.. Werner.
seventy-five relatives gathered at the
home of Frank w. Werner, younger
brother, at ALI East Fifteenth street,
Flatbush He received several gold and
diamond studded gifts for himself and
for his wife and four children, who awair
his return to Oklahoma about a week
hence.
Is Now Thirty-seven
Mr. Werner is now 81 years old. For
the last five years he has been trying to
find members of his family through the
police the Salvation Army and neigh .
bors in williamsburg. All the letters to
the latter, he said, were returned trn-
opened, and at times he gave up hopes
of ever being united with his family.
New York has changed lot" he said.
ST was dumfounded at the tall buildings,
and when folks told me that you could
ride in cars under the East river, where
I used to go swimming, nearly lost my
stirrup.''
According to the ranchman, when he
was IA years old he lived with his family
at Broadway and Ninth street, Williams
burg His father was machinist AMI
the family were in modest circumstances.
.'Buffalo BilIs Wild West show was
playing in Brooklyn and young Werner,
seized with the desire to go west, ran
away with william Meyer, son of shoe
maker, who had shop at Broadway and
Fourth street.
They caught a freight train on the Erie
and were arrested about hundred miles
from New York The boys escaped by
ruse and walked over the mountains
through snow and sleet. At Pittsburg
both got work on a steamboat for Gin
cinnati. There the Meyer boy was en-
ployed on a steamboat bound for New
Orleans as dishwasher. Young Werner
concealed himself in a coil of rope and
thus made the entire journey, his meals
being supplied at night by his companion
and friendly negro.
At New Orleans the boys separated and
Werner Travelled on through to Calves
ton, then through Texas toward ths
plains. For fifteen years he lived and
worked among the Indians and cowboys.