davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Alaska sentinel., 1907-05-16

General Kuropatkin's book, which Is the history of colossal failure, sug- gests some reflections on military fail ures and failures in general. There Is such thing as success which does not succeed, and there is such a thing as a failure which does not fail. Ma poleon Is credited with the remark, "One or two more victories like that and I am ruined" and the most brill- iant generalship of all may consist in repeated retreats, which are nothing more than repeated failures. The American revolutionary war was, on the American side, a series of failures constituting iu the aggregate complete success. In some cases failure in the end sought entails success in some thing greater. It has been said that no failure Is excusable," but If that is true at all It must be h some para doxical sense. History Is full of fail ures which have not only been excus- able but which were So sublime in their merit that the world will never cease to praise them in history, po- etry and song. Some have failed rath- CT than do something dishonorable and CT than do something dishonable and many because with Spartan heroism they obeyed the orders of imbecile or drunken superiors. The only failures that are real calamities are failures in the attempt to do something wrong. When nations or individuals get up schemes of plunder, by treachery or by brute force, and are beaten their failure Is an unmitigated evil, because they cannot fall back either on their self-respect or the sympathy of others. That Is what makes Kuropatkin's fall ure bitter, Russia had deliberately formed a scheme for the absorption of China by dishonest intrigue and stealthy encroachments- It was rob bers enterprise and when It failed the whole world rejoiced and there was no silver lining whatever to the cloud of failure. The world, as general thing, Is extremely cold toward people hHo 1dII dAu NdIuIs app leS4dhI'e VI those who succeed. Nothing succeeds like success 1t Is said. In the long run this Is a good rule. In selecting men for important positions It Is cer- tainly safer to choose those who have been successful in a similar position or at least in some position. That this rule Is infallible Is a great mistake. Success may be accidental, undesery- ed or falsely credited, just as failure may be, and some of the greatest fail in diplomacy. h science, in literature or anything else have been made by so-called successful men.
Alaska sentinel., 1907-05-16
President Roo.evelt's Literary Work

It Is to creative literary work that the President turns for relaxation, and for respite from the responsibilities and worries Of his great office; of these the general public can form no appre- ciation- Some notion of the militant forces with which 1t has to contend was furnished at the close of the Presi- dents great fight to secure justice to all shippers alike, and to the travelling public, on the great highways of con- merce. The Railroad Rate Bill was ready for passage in the upper house of Congress, when Senator Tillman dis closed the fact that the President, through ex-Senator Chandler, had been carrying on secret negotiations with the Democrats of the Senate. Charges were made, and promptly denied from the White House, that The President had turned his back on certain Repub- licans of the Senate. A merry shindy seemed imminent, but, after Issuing his temperate statement, the President re- mained silent. Why be was able to keep still Is now known.
 Having made public his statement, the President said to his secretary, MT. Loeb: "We are now In for a weeks ghost dance. Chandler and Tillman and Bailey must have their fling. If I read what Is said 1t will make me an- gry. So I'm going to interest myself In an absorbing task. I shall write that article on the ancient Irish sa- gas"
 The ancient Irish sagas"-how many people know anything about themi How many could compare the Erse with the Morse sagas! Truly re- markable Is the article In a recent magazine, ''The Ancient Irish Sagas," and signed, Theodore Roosevelt" It Is remarkable for the high quality of the writer's literary style, and yet more particularly for the deep study and comprehensive insight into an un- usual subJect-success Magazine.
Alaska sentinel., 1907-05-16
EDITING CONSULAR REPORTS.
All Statements Calculated to Hurt
 Foreign Nations Are Cut Out.

All Statements Calculated to Hurt
 Foreign Nations Are Cut Out.
 In the bureau of trade relations the consular reports are carefully read and, when necessary, so revised as to eliminate everything unsuitable for publication from the standpoint of the interests of the government, says the Atlantic. Not infrequently report Is of such character as to make 1t mex pedient to publish any portion, in which case it Is filed In toto in the archives of the department of state for future reference All statements in the reports calculated to cause adverse criticism in a foreign country, or to bring about diplomatic representations on the part of another government, or to embarrass the administration of any executive branch of our government are omitted from the material transmitted to the department of commerce and la Dor for publication.
 Under the head of matter that Is ob- jectlonable because of its probable eff feet in foreign community come sighting allusions to any nationality or race: adverse criticism, even Implied. of the political, social, or religious in stitutions; disparaging statements In regard to the enforcement of the laws; charges of dishonesty and lneficiency of the officials, etc. In short. anything that reflects on the integrity and eff ciency of the foreign administration. or that might offend the senslbilities of the people of the country, is ellml- mated In the state department, which is, of course, the best judge Of the dip lomatic properties
Alaska sentinel., 1907-05-16
How Nail. Were Named.

Several accounts are given of the origin of the terms "sixpenny," eight penny" "tenpenny." and so on, as ap. piled to the various sizes of the old fashioned nails. According to one statement, when nails were made by hand, the penny was taken as a stand ard of weight, and six were made to equal the weight of a copper penny. Another explanation Is that tenpenny nails originally sold for tenpence a hundred, sixpenny nails for sixpence a hundred. and so on. the smaller nails selling for the lower price. Still an- other explanation Is that 1000 nails of the tenpenny size used to weigh ten pounds, 1000 of the sixpenny size. six pounds, and so on. Of the ordinary six penny nails. there are eighty to the pound of the eightpenny there are ff- ty; of the tenpenny. thirty-tour; of the twelvepenny, thirty nine.
Alaska sentinel., 1907-05-16

have fallen. The flower which precedes the fruit Is white, somewhat like thos Of the eucalyptus, its center being filled with a sheaf of slender white stamens. The African baobab has the peculiarIty Of hanging its fruit from the branches by means of long cordllke stems some times from a foot and a half to two feet In length. In common with the dragon trees of Teneriffe, the baobabs are regarded as the slowest growing trees and the longest lived members of the vegetable world.
 This dragon tree of Teneriffe was one of the wonders of the vegetable king dom. It stood near the town of Ora tava, on the island of Teneriffe, and many travellers examined and measured 1t. Meyen found 1t to be seventy five feet high and forty weight in glrth Just above the ground 1t was seventy-nine rect In circumference. Humboldt found 1t and when he measured 1t discovered that 1t had not changed In size since the days of the French adventurers, the Bethencourts, who seized the island In the fifteenth century, some four cen turtles before. The trunk was hollow and a staircase had been erected inside by which one could ascend to the height at which the branches began. This relic of ages was unfortunately destroyed by a hurricane in 1887.
Alaska sentinel., 1907-05-16
Building a City.

When 1t Is cold and rainy and the little ones are tired of playing nursery games let them try their hands at build ing a city. Yes, building CITY. Now, don't look incredulous, for 1t can be done, and In one day, too.
 Supply yourself with all the empty pasteboard boxes you can find about the house, a pair of scissors that your mother has thrown out of her work basket (they'll do to cut pasteboard and paper). tube of library paste, your box of water colors and a soft lead pencil. Then set to work.
 The architectural designs should be first drawn on scrap paper, then follow ing them on the pasteboard box sides, cutting out carefully and putting to- gether with thin paper and paste. All doors and windows must be cut and completed before joining the four sides Of a building. The roof goes on last.
Alaska sentinel., 1907-05-16
Different Out There,

The owner of the ranch in one of the arid regions of the great West was en- tertaining an Eastern relative. He showed him over hls broad acres, spoke of the difficulties that had been over. come In making the desert blossom as the rose, and outlined his plans for the future.
 But Is It possible" asked the visitor, "to make more than a bare living on such land and in such a climate as this:"
 Tt Is I have made considerably more than a bare living on this land"
 T am glad to hear 1t. Cyrus. Then you have something laid by for a rainy day, have you?"
 Not exactly" rejoined the host, with laugh. 'on the contrary, with the help of an occasional rainy day I have managed to lay something by for the dry days"
Alaska sentinel., 1907-05-16

After the paste has dried thoroughly begin tinting with the water colors. Some of the buildings should be made to resemble bricks, stones, boards and shingles may be brought into shape with the lead pencil.
 A large table in the center of the room will answer for the city's site. If the builders do not like a level site, they may have as many hills as desired by laying small pillows about the table and covering with bed spread, smooth Ing It over the ups and downs made by the pillows to give good surface on which to place the houses.
 A public square may be laid out with the public buildings, such as stores, a church, a court house, school house and a public library, grouped about 1t. Arrange the residences along streets opening into the public square. On account of the uncertainty of the "pil- low ground" 1t would be more satlsfac- tory to keep the table surface fiat and hard for the city site, then there will be no danger from a careless little hand or arm resting against the hillsides to tumble the houses into the hollows be- low.
 An illustration accompanies which will give an idea of a pasteboard city that was "builded by little hands"
Alaska sentinel., 1907-05-16
A BABY-SHOW.


 Over the green lawns of the Boston suburbs, scamper great gray squirrels, waving their plumy tails in the triumph of their undisputed rights. For these creatures, with their quick movements and saucy chatter, enjoy welcome free dom of the ground. and they store their harvest without thought of tax or dis possession. That they have their cares and forethought Is evident by their careful attention to business and accu- mutation of wealth. That there Is also matronly pleasure and pride of family in these tree households Is shown by the experience of a lady who lives in a suburban town.
 The lady had made a pet of one of the fine gray squirrels which dwelt on her premises She would sit on her piazza and feed the pretty creature from her hand. The squirrel soon be- came quite fearless and would stay about its friend, and even curl up in her lap, but was always alert to dart of at the approach of another person.
 One day the lady was sitting on her veranda when she noticed her pet mak- ing Its way across the grass, followed by three fat and fluffy balls of gray fur.
 Up to the piazza came the big squlr- rel, taking the steps with graceful leaps In vain the babies tried to sur mount the troublesome obstacles. Their legs were too short and their strength too small, and every time they tried to jump up a step, back they fell in fu- tile little heaps. In vain the mother urged; the Hill of Difficulty was too steep.
 The eager watcher appreciated the situation. The proud parent had brought her little ones to show her friend.
 The lady wrote an account of the cir cumstance to famous naturalist who Is beloved by all Americans. In answer he told her that he would have given much to have had anything as beauti- ful and touching come to him.
Alaska sentinel., 1907-05-16
A Fireproof Tree.

There Is a tree in Colombia, South America, that the hottest fire cannot burn. It Is called the rhopala. The people In the district of Bolima are in the habit of setting fire to the plains during the dry season, every year, for the purpose of destroying the dry weeds that might interfere with the growth of vegetation when the rains come. Everything goes down before these great fires, old and young trees, as we'll as weeds, everything except this rhopala tree, which always survives. It Is an ugly plant, small and scraggy, with a wild and desolate appearance, but 1t is a yeritable salamander In the vegetable world. Its ability to resist fire consists in the structure of It's bark, the outer part of which, to the depth of half an inch, is formed of dead cells and flores. This makes an lncom- eustibls coat which not only will not
Alaska sentinel., 1907-05-16
OLDEST TREE IN AUSTRALIA.
In Time of Drouth the Cattle Feed
 Upon the Wood.


 The vegetation of Australia Is differ ent from that of any other country. The various species number about 10,- 900, which Is a far greater number than of the trees found growing near the coast Is the vertical direction of the foliage, which allows the sunlight to pass easily through the leaves. Many curious trees are found, but none Is more remarkable than the bottle tree, or baobab. The peculiarity of the tree Is found in its abnormal trunk, which, as compared with other forest trees, Is out of all proportion to Its branches. Sometimes the trunk is nearly spheri- cal, resembling huge inverted turnip.
 The peculiar nature of its spongy soft wood Is responsible for this re juvenescence. The tissues contain large quantities of moisture In the form of mucilage. Indeed, in time of drouth the trees are often felled and the wood broken up Into small pieces. This the cattle devour with great relish. The fruit takes the form of thln-shelled gourdlike capsule covered with a thin green velvety pile. In fine examples they are equal In size to small cocoa nuta When ripe they contain a four like powder having a peculiar acid flavor not unlike cream of tartar. The fruit remains attached to the branches for . considerable time after the leaves
Alaska sentinel., 1907-05-16
She Knew.

A young lawyer had become very much attached to a certain young wom- an, who was somewhat celebrated among her friends for her repartee. The only obstacle in the pathway of the young man was his exceeding shy ness for while always In command of himself in the court room, he became almost speeches. in the presence of his adored one. As one method of showing his devotion 1t was hls GUS tom to shower his inamorato with pres ents
 The young lady's mother, being far from satisfied with the status of the case, broached the subject.
 "My dear" she said, you have let Mir. Brown practically monopolize your society for year and now have scarcely any other callers. Has he ever given you to understand that his intentions are serious?"
 No, he hasn't said anything, but I know they are"
 "How can you know 1t, If he has said nothingr
 The girl smiled.
 Well" she said, you know he Is q lawyer, and lawyers always commence a contract with, Know all men by these presents. '"-Harper's Weekly.
Alaska sentinel., 1907-05-16
The whip-Poor-wi1l.

This bird of noiseless flight and loud voice receives It's common name because of Its note. It lives in deep forests and dark thickets. Unless disturbed, 1t re mains In the daytime in quiet seclusion, perched on the ground. on an old log or sometimes dozing lengthwise on the llchen-covered limb of tree. The whip-poor- rears Its young on the ground. and, like the night hawk. it subsists on insects, many of which are harmful.
 The male night hawk has consplcu- ous white spots on five large wing feathers and a narrow band of white crossing the tail feathers near their ends.
 The whip-poor-will has no white patches on large wing feathers, but the six lateral tail feathers only of this bird have white markings.
Alaska sentinel., 1907-05-16

at that rate If the lender Is required to pay back in taxes one and one-half per cent on the face value of the bonds. If the bonds were taxed, the borrow ing State, county or city would have to pay five and half per cent interest and collect In taxes one and half per cent, making the net rate four per cent They fix the rate at four per cent In the first place. They will learn in France, If they do not know 1t already, that an act of parliament cannot change the operation of the natural laws of trade.
Alaska sentinel., 1907-05-16

It h not many years since Ameri- cans In England were criticized by Englishmen as using bad English This all seems to be changed, for the other day Sidney Lee, well-known British author. said h a lecture in London that the Americans use better English than the English themselves, and some of the London newspapers agree with him. One of them, In speaking of Americans, says, Their best writers succeed In maintaining a purity of style-American law-books for in- stance, are models In this respect which need not fear comparison with that of our own, and their best speak CTS are not only almost pedantically correct in their English, but have a copiousness of vocabulary rarely at- tained by English orators"
Alaska sentinel., 1907-05-16

An interesting effect of the agitation
 for an income tax In France Is seen
 in the decrease in the market price of the three per cent securities following the announcement of the purpose of the government to tax the inconn de rived from them. The effect of the tax would be to decrease the net h. come from the bonds, and would there fore be equivalent to a reduction in the rate of interest. In some of the American States, New York, for in- stance, when a city desires to borrow money for local improvements, It se- cures permission from the Legislature to exempt the bonds from local taxa ton. Massachusetts e1empts its own bonds from taxation. The financial authorities know that when the normal rate of interest on money is four per cent 1t ' impossible to borrow nonag
Alaska sentinel., 1907-05-16
Some people have queer notions of

Some people have queer notions of philanthropy. A woman whose wealthy
 husband was sent to the Colorado peni-
 tentlary for counterfeiting has sudden ly been filled with pity for peniten- tary convicts and has announced that she will devote the rest of her life to visiting the different prisons and ale viating the sufferings of their inmates. It seems never to have occurred to her that they were sent to prison to suffer and that If It was desirable or just that they should suffer less the State could arrange It without spend ing c cent more on their confinement.
Alaska sentinel., 1907-05-16
Never Thought of Love.

Visitor Cat studio)-I do not see how an artist could paint such a beautiful woman without falling in love with her.
 Great Artist-I assure you, madam that while painting that picture I never once thought of love.
 "Yea You See, the model was my wife"
 "Is 1t ssiblsf-Tit-Bit
Alaska sentinel., 1907-05-16

cardiac rhythm called heart block Similar Ilustrations of the unity of medical sciences and of the coopera ton of the laboratory and the clinic might be multiplied Indefinitely from all classes of disease.
 Great as has been the advance of medicine In the last half century, 1t Is small indeed In comparison with what remains to be accomplished. On hand there still unsolyed problems of disease of overshadowing n- portance The ultimate problems relate to the nature and fundamental properties of living matter, and the power to modify these properties In desired directions Knowledge breeds knowledge, and We cannot doubt that research will be productlvt in the future than it has In the past It would be hazardous In
Alaska sentinel., 1907-05-16

John D. Rockefeller has just given away more money in a single day than old man Croesus ever saw in all his life. Yet there are people who insist that we are making no progress
Alaska sentinel., 1907-05-16

Prof. Smaller Mathewe says marriage Is no picnic. But that Is only his opin- lon. By reference to our scrapbook we find where Grover Cleveland declared married life to be one grand sweet song, which is much nicer than any picnic we ever attended.
Alaska sentinel., 1907-05-16
Speed Necessary,

'My! How fast you're runningm ex. claimed the dressmaker's lapboard to the sewing machine.
 "Of course" replied the sewing ma chine, without moments pause i've got to make a train."-The Catholic Standard and Times.
Alaska sentinel., 1907-05-16
Related Te.ttmonfal..

If the testimonials of love and faith ,n our tombstones were uttered in our daily life, how often would they have helped us over the briery fields and rocky roads of existence Baltimore American.
Alaska sentinel., 1907-05-16
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the attempt predict the particular direc ton of future discovery. How unpredlcabe to the farsghted of past generation, would have been such discoveries the principles of antiseptc antitoxins bacterial vacnes opsonns the exermnation of yellow by destruction of particular species of mosquito and other recent contributions to medical knowledge
Alaska sentinel., 1907-05-16

One of the leading physicians of Baltimore has begun to go hatless, and he advises all other men to do the same, assuring them that If they will do so they will never be bald-headed But what encouragement Is there in this movement for the man who Is really bald?
Alaska sentinel., 1907-05-16

marry right that It should be under the promise of
 flor better for worse h sickness and In health richer for poorer till death do part" It is this feel ing of fnalty the of marriage that brings out the good in both parties. For few marriages fail which would not succeeded had there been unswerving loyalty to the spirit of the marriage Men and women constituted that other things being ably equal. and there being ntoerabe and manifest incongruy their living together in loyalty induces love more and
Alaska sentinel., 1907-05-16

The ear has informed Ambassador Meyer that he admires President Roosevelt No doubt Nicholas, If the truth were known, envies our President q little, too.
Alaska sentinel., 1907-05-16

Passes" says the Railway Age, "are not absolutely extinct" This may be 90, but they may be listed among our rarest curiosities.
Alaska sentinel., 1907-05-16

A Pennsylvania man who robbed his employer of $500 confessed and WAS given a raise of wages, but we wouldn't advise any one else to try that method.
Alaska sentinel., 1907-05-16

The newest thing h vests, as shown at the convention of the National Gus tom Cutters Association in Chicago, buttons down the back. Fellow-cit. Eens, shall we stand for this?
Alaska sentinel., 1907-05-16

There Is very little originality in Mir Rockefeller's gems of thought. Some Of them were written years ago, by men who may not have known where their next meal was coming from.
Alaska sentinel., 1907-05-16

An astronomer delcares that he can tell us the weight of the stars. But be can't tell us what particular good 1t would do us to know the weight of the stars
Alaska sentinel., 1907-05-16

A German scientist says that gold when melted gives of precious odor. The majority of people like the smell of 1t even when It Is unmelted
Alaska sentinel., 1907-05-16

Henry watterson says tipping" can- not be defended on ethical grounds Has anyone been trying to defend 1t on grounds Of that kindf
Alaska sentinel., 1907-05-16

Kouropatkin has explained why Rus Ea was defeated by Japan. We may expect very s6on to learn whether 1t DAYS in Russia to tell the truth.
Alaska sentinel., 1907-05-16
A Po1yg1Ot schoolboy.

An s-year-old boy. who speaks four foreign languages huently. has been admitted to the high school at Brook line, Mass. His name Is William James Sidls. He has also a remarkable knowl- edge of mathematics and physics.