davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-02-23

When the light from Sirius is analysed
it Is found that this star, which is more
brilliant than our sun, Is surrounded by an
immense atmosphere of hydrogen gas. The
yellowish stars life Procyon are more near
ly in the condition of our sun, while the
reddish stars like the one at A are sur
rounded by heavy metallic vapors and may
be approaching extinction.
The star Rigel at has minute COM
panion which is itself double. The star
Regulus at D also has double companion
which Is of a deep blue color and Is easily
visible in small telescope. In striking
contrast to this are the red star in Leo
and the deep crimson star in Lepus, both
of which the observer can readily find in
small telescope from the charts of Fig. .
Two Remarkable Variable Stars.
These are both remarkable variable stars.
The first varies from the tenth to the fifth
magnitude in period of IA days. When
it is brightest it is easily visible to the
eye but when faintest it can only be seen
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-02-23

so nearly overtaken the magnificent Taurus
and Orion that these consultations are low
in the west in the early evening, while
the beautiful dog-stars have passed the
meridian out of the evening sky. The one
downward out of the evening sky. The one
bright spring group, Leo, or the Sickle,
with the brilliant king star Regulus, Is
high up in the south, while east Of this
Virgo the first of the faint summer con-
stellations, is just beginning to appear.
Above Leo the Great Dipper fills UP al
most the whole of the northeastern sky.
Below this is seen Bootes, who with up
raised arm is driving the Bear before him.
Below Leo there is the Watersnake which
just emerged from the ground three months
ago and of which even now but little more
than half is visible. Not until next May
will the whole of this very long constella-
ton be seen in the early evening.
The bright stars in the southwest pre-
sent fine contrast. in color. Even the I'M
trained eye can see decided difference be-
tween the blush white color. of Sirius and
Rigel R) and the orange red star at A.
The smaller cdog-star at B is neither steely
white nor orange, but of yellowish tinge.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-02-23
FURNITURE AND NERVES
Return to Simpler Forms in House
furnishing

THE present fashion of having rooms SO
empty that they look almost unfurnished
is according to one of the authorities on
decoration, "a physical result brought about
by condition that has manifested itself
before in different FORMS
New Workers are very hurried, crowded
and nervous" the foreign decorator told
reporter, "and for that reason they have
finally realized the importance of having
their rooms restful in effect.
They want to have feeling of repose,
at least when they get in their own houses.
They have gradually learned that the rest
full influence of room is the result of its
furnishing and decoration.
Take the average drawing room of ten
years ago. Everything in these rooms was
such as to make person who was already
nervous more fidgety.
In the first place there were little pic
lures all over the walls, hung with no re-
gard for honfogeneity in color or subject
and apparently meant merely to match IL
possible so far as size was concerned. All
these little objects to distract the attention
were probably on a background of highly
colored and conspicuously speckled wall
paper. AS If its figures were not enough
to worry the consciousness, the pictures
had to be added.
Then on the tables were photographs of
the family or Of actors standing in such
ways that they could not be ignored. The
old-fashioned plush photograph album, Of
which SO much fun has been made, was iii
reality more excusable than these frames,
standing everywhere to catch the eye and
the dust.
Even the furniture did not escape Tides
which were put on fine furniture to serve a
really useful purpose and were then so
overdone by lace and crochet CONNECTIONS Of
the same form that they disappeared under
the ridicule of persons of taste, are now
supplanted by other and worse successors.
Ten years ago there was not a chair
or a sofa that was not decorated with either
a finger or a draper. The finger was
thrown carelessly over the arm of the chair,
while the draper was usually festooned in
graceful curves anu caught down with
safety pins which a genius invented for
that purpose. Who has forgotten the COM
plicated and terrible mantel lambrequins Of
the late sos and the sos?
Next the palm fever set in The India
rubber plant was more resistful to steam
heat and gas, so it supplanted the palms,
which did all they could to contribute to
the general business of our rooms.
lis it any wonder that there was desire
for something simpler and more restful in
the way of decorating rooms?
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-02-23
In Business Sections.

The demand for business places seems to
be pretty good just now, if one instance
will afford any Indication. The real estate
corporation of Moore & Hill is today NOV
ing out of its offices at III 14th street,
where it has been located for many years.
The members are not going very far, only
around the corner of G street, at No. 1888,
but the point is that the Frank H. Thomas
Company, the insurance men, are moving
into the vacated place, and so the building
will not stand idle. But the latter is
condition which is seldom met with in the
business sections Of the city.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-02-23
Business Property Sold.

The property at the southeast corner
of 18th and streets northwest with
frontage of twenty-five feet and q depth
Of ninety-six feet, has been bought by
Hugh Wallis from John r. Mclean. The
improvements consist of three-story
store and dwelling. The price paid is
given as $4,000.
The property at the southwest corner Of
10th and 1 streets northwest has been
sold by Jacob N. Belt to Mrs. Idle Ellicott,
The building on the lot Is four stories
in height and is used for business pur-
poses and as a fiat.
Mrs Ellicott has sold the residence 1892
8 street to Clarence F. Norment.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-02-23

and as long as the contour of the gorge
has not been altered or its depth diminished
there will be no difficulty in restoring the
original verdure and pleasing character of
the sloping sides of the banks of the creek.
AT any rate the arguments both for and
against 1t will have chance to get a fair
hearing and a more satisfactory conclusion
can be reached both by those who are
either commercially or esthetically, or for
any other reason, interested in this matter,
to say nothing of the general public who
like to have their surroundings as conven-
lent and handsome as it is possible for them
to he.
The plan finally adopted after the facts
OF the situation are fully brought out ought
to be the best one, and at any rate 1t can
not be said that It was done without every
phase of the question being known. There
Is no doubt that the sentiment in this city,
generally speaking, Is now. as 1t always
has been, in favor of the development of
the plan of the city and fits material
adornment on broad and generous lines.
There has always been and probably al
ways will be a rather wide difference be-
tween the aspirations along these lines and
the practical ability to carry them out.
Attaining the Goal.
There are the same obstacles in attaining
ideals in the improvement Of a city as there
are found to be in the efforts Of individ-
uals to elevate the level of their own living.
The general theory of the world is that
ditions, and the past of this city illus
trates that principle very fully.
1t has taken over a hundred years to de-
vefop the plan which LEnfant devised. OF
rather to secure for it the approval and CO.
operation of the public generally. Its mer-
it's were perceived, of course, by Washing
ton, who adopted it, and by men of this
city and members of Congress from the
earliest period down to the present time.
1t did not, however, have the general ap-
prevail. and there was feeling of pride
in Washington as the capital city of the
country. In both respects the change in
recent years is a marked one. 1t is now
acknowledged that the improvement of the
city is matter that the people of the coun-
try thoroughly believe in and that they
take an interest in Washington because
here is conferred much Of the outward mani
festations of the government of country
of which they are the patriotic citizens.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-02-23

volving about the sun outside the orbit OF
Mars, each of which shines just as little
full moon when opposite the sun. Others
believe 1t due to sunlight which is bent
downward as it passes through the air
about the earth and so lights up the fine
meteoric dust with which space is sup
posed to be filed While still others be-
lieve it to be a regular tail of the earth
formed of the lighter gases which are con-
stantly being repealed by the sun. What
ever its cause may be, there is scarcely
any study. for observers without telescopes
which promises such valuable results at
present systematic observations of the
counter-glow.
The Planets.
Mercury is farther from the sun on
March /, and may be seen for a few days
before and after that time. 1t shines out
low down In the west from thirty minutes
to an hour after sunset.
Jupiter, the most brilliant object in the
heavens. is moving slowly eastward in the
constellation Gemini
The position of Neptune is shown on
Fig /.
The other planets are morning stars and
cannot be seen in the early evening.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-02-23
England's Fear of a Tunnel.
he Springfield Mass Republican,

T rom the Springhe1d IAIassJ HtpubIlcan.
England's view of a channel tunnel, as
matter of fact. is a survival of thousand
years of blessed insularity. The sea-girt isle
comes as naturally by its insuperable preju-
dice against tunnels as a house cat comes
by its habit of turning around before lying
down in chair. When the cat turns around
II gives you a glimpse of the animals de-
scent from the wild things of the jungle.
When England protests against the tunnel
she shows the inbred instructive reliance OF
the people upon the protecting belt of salt
water which in other days made the Eng
lish nationality and the British empire pos
sibIe. Behold the house cat! She turns
around in the chair. yet does not need to-
Behold England! She breads the channel
tunnel, yet would be as safe with ii as she
was when Napoleon threatened her with in
vasion from his camp at Boulogne.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-02-23
The Woman Juror.

From the Indianapolis Star.
Equal suffrage has been in operation out
in Colorado for several years. but the first
woman juror served on a case only last
week 1t was divorce suit. brought by a
man, and the woman quickly voted with the
eleven men to let him have 1t. This Incl
dent should have It's lesson for men who
have been keeping women out of jury serv-
ice on the theory that male persons will not
get square deal from them.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-02-23
THE SKIES IN MARCH
Timely Suggestions for ANA
teur Observers.
POSITIONS OF. THE PLANETS
First of the Faint Summer Constella-
tons Appearing.
NOTABLE VARIABLE STARS
Favorable Time for Observing the
Zodiacal Light-The Counter-Glow
Mercury and Jupiter.

Written for The Star by Prof. Eric .Qoolittle.
The sun in his slow eastward journey
around the sky is drawing ever nearer to
the brilliant winter stars. Already he has
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-02-23

Fig 3. Showing the shape and 10 iaol. y. ID.
zodiacil light afeer sursst In March
with a moderately large telescope. At pres
emit the star is growing rapidly brighter;
it will reach its greatest brillianee on
March l.: and will then well repay ex-
animation. The variation Of the star In
I.epus Is far less. for this varies only from
the eighth to the sixth magnitude and
occupies z23 days in the change. 1t VIII
artain Its greatest brightness on March z,
and 1t Is remarkable that when brightest
the star is least red. At present It Is only
of an orange color. but IL the. observer
will examine 1t from time to time as II
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-02-23
Mr.. Carnegie's Gifts.

From the London Academy.
The amount Mr.. Carnegie has given dur
ing the past year for the erection OF
libraries is ELI 800.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-02-23

e. The ms Sas % the counter s The Light from @ bent
Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1907-12-20
THE NEW
YEAR WHAT WE
MAKE IT
BY Ada c. Sweet

The only consistent pessimist is Il
dead pessimist." but unfortunately
there are a good many of these hap
less brethren of ours alive. Never are
they more active. and happily unhap-
by, than toward New Years day. when
all the rest of the world is looking
hopefully and cheerfully forward in
expectation of good luck and kind for
tune during the next 365.
The pessimist delights in dcrision
of the good resolutions which mark
the celebration of New Year in the
minds of many people. Shame upon
the man or woman who would duh the
bright ambitions and desires for the
better of any human being. But
there is little time To give to habitual
mourners and augurs of evil. The
new year will be what we make il.
so far as our individual lives are con.
cerned. and the man or woman who
resolves To be happy in healthful.
unseliish way. is taking the first road
toward happiness.
We are all after happiness, in one
way or another Even the recluse.
even the martyrs of old. were on the
endless search for happiness. though
the JOY of heaven rather than THAI
of earth was the goal fixed upon in
the eyes of these who sacrificed the
present fer the future. Eternal hap
piness was what they desired
Unselfsh happiness is always wait
ing. right around the corner. if we Will
only take our eyes off the far distance
and look nearer home. The resolve
to make next year happy one for
those nearest us will bring good deal
of real joy and satisfaction to the
maker of the resolution. if he holds
out well.
Silent resolve ia good thing. too
Sometimes ones enthusiasm evapo-
rates when it is much spoken of Blu:
don't let us allow the enemies of the
race of man to discourage us in max
ing good resolutions; and then don't
let us fail to keep those that we make
to the best of our ability.
There is room for Improvement in
all of us. and when we have acknowl-
edged that, and set ourselves to i'm
prove, why. we are on the nearest
road to success and happiness.
Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1907-12-20
When
The Year g
Begins

One of the queerest features of the
first day of the year is the fact that it
has been celebrated on many different
dates. With us the year begins on
January |. according to the calen-
dar prepared by order of Julius Gaze
Sar, and later revised from time to
time as necessity seemed to require.
Hardly a month in the year but what
has been regarded at some time, by
some people. as the first of the II,
and consequently the beginning of the
new year Sometimes the date was
logical. determined by the position of
the sun in the heavens.
Sometimes il was fixed by agricultu-
raj or industrial conditions, sometimes
by great historical event. and occa-
sionally il was merely arbitrary. de-
termined without any special reason
being assigned At one time the
Greeks began their year September | :;
AT another on the first day of July.
the beginning of the Olympian games.
In what is called the AleXandrian era
the year began on August 20. One
Jewish chronology assigns October
as the date on which the creation of
the world began, and consequently
adopts that New Years day. At one
time the Romans began their year on
April "a. at another on March l, and
finally as we do now.
According to the meteoric cycle, the
year began on July Is. During the pc
Rod of AleXander's empire the com.
menCement of the year was on Sep
TENDER |: the era of the MaccabeeS
was dated from November "a. The
people of Tyre began their year on
October 10. while the so-called Sido-
nian era commenced on October |.
and the Augustan era made February
II the first day of the new year. The
ancient Egyptians began their year
with the overflow of the Nile when.
ever that might occur while in India
the annual flood of the Ganges fur.
nished date for popular chronology
and the MeXicans, although they had
Il complicated system of calculating
time. popularity reckoned their year
10 begin with the spring planting.
The Jewish rabbis had four begin.
nings of the year. the first of the
month Nissan, supposed to be the date
of the Exodus; the first of Tishri.
which began the agricultural year;
the first of Flu. the day on which the
cattle were numbered. and the first
of Shebat. which was called the new
year for trees. Christmas day, Eas:-
er. the beginning of each solstice and
many other dates have been observed
at different times by various nations
even now in Russia the day of the
new year is II days behind that OF
our calendar, the Russians havinc
never adopted the Gregorian calendar.
which. indeed. did not come into gen
eral use until about the middle of the
eighteenth century.
Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1907-12-20

There is, however. a striking exception
to this rule in France. New Years is
the chief festival of the year. and the
gift" is the chief feature of the festi-
val. 1t is believed that the French OBJ
servance of the day combines the an
Client customs of the Druids, Romans
and Christians. since it involves the
highest homage to womanhood. sd
turnalian effect in liberties to bonds
men. and the gala day of romping free
dom to children. New Years day is
everybody's day. Each one of these
features has its special history which
would require the space of a special
story to tell
Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1907-12-20

have vanished into thin air was evil
IDENTIFY to his mind a trick that out
shone any he had ever witnessed on
the vaudeville stage.
He searched the floor. the straps.
the advertisements and even looked
under his own coattails, to say moth
ing of taking a cursory glance out OF
the window of the rapidly moving car,
and then, We'll, that's the lin" he
was about to exclaim to his elderly
neighbor. but paused and stared at
him, for-what had long been per
ceived by the other passengrs-he saw
that the nnrtlv man wac still staring
Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1907-12-20

nay" But what this means, no one
seems to know. The application of the
term is in custom of children Ito en=
robe themselves in a street and go the
rounds of houses on New Years eve.
knocking at the doors and crying
'Hogmanay." In response they al
ways get an oat cake. rich with fruit,
and sometimes, in addition, some
cheese and goodies. This is their
"Hogmanay." Housewives are kept
busy days in advance preparing little
cakes for their ghost-like visitors and
it is regarded as something of a bad
omen to run short and not be able to
supply the demand. While Hog
manay" is the usual cry it is often sup
plemented by ''trollOlay" and the more
daring will add the privileged rhyme:
Rise up. guide wife, and shake your fea-
theirs.
piuna think that are beggars:
We are BARNS come to play
And to seek our Hogmanay.
Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1907-12-20

doused with the peas. while they
shower the wheat upon their friends.
A curious custom also is festooning
the handsomest horse in the village
and leading him TO the house of Il
nobleman. The pea and wheat shoot
ers follow in droves. Both guests
and horse are admitted to the parlor
of the lord and the guests receive pres
ents of small coins. The origin of
the custom is not known. but it is
interpreted to mean a greeting of
the peasants to their lord. While
the horse is being entertained in the
paTlor. there comes 10 the house a
drove of oxen. goats. hogs. etc. gayly
decorated and led by the children.
These are not admitted. but admired
from the window by the lord. Next
appear old women with barnyard
fowls, decorated with evergreens and
berries. These are given to the lord
as a present.
Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1907-12-20

uf Vcncrajiun of the Roman @Ud. Janus.
he Of the TWO faCps-tlr one looking
back in retrospect and III" other look
in" forward in hope and anticipation
Yet the mythology of the new world of
Father Tine. falling and dying and a
newborn rrrsoHiiiCatiUn rising out of
Lis dccrep,itudo. is no less pagan in
its essentials Euti are nevertheless
beautiful and expressive and worthy of
pcrN"tutY.
Watch ni-ht" is probably the most
distinctive feature OF the coming of
the new year. Religious services are
held in almost every church and some
times three or four sermons are
preached There are also many gath
eriIgs in clubs and homes to watch
the Old year out" and they are occa-
~ions of much revelry and the repeat
inc in humorous WAYS the supersti-
tons believed in in ul,ien times Much
of the social prestige of the day re-
mains. such as calling and exchanging
gifts. is due to the early Dutch set
tiers, who kept the old customs alive
until the middle of the last century.
Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1907-12-20

caused by your treacherous DART, and it
was not until the flowers Of May begar
to bloom that 1t would neal. But three
shorts months and yet they seemed ike
years, like centuries, to me"
Dan Cupid-Good sir, the fault was
yours. not mine. Across that page can
you not read the promises you made the
budding year? How did you keep them ?
Not at all. Had you but been the angel
you started out to be. fair Eleanor would
have had no grounds for the curt refusal
she meted out to you.
The Bachelor-Ah. well. Dan. | was
but human that is, to err. She married
yes, and suppose believed she had
captured the one real matrimonial prize.
But yesterday twas good TO read the
courts had cast asunder the bonds that
bound, and set her free to wound another
heart.
Dan Cupid-But you shall credit me
with other opportunities that made for
you-opportunities more in keeping with
your deserts.
The Bachelor Yes, Dan, there was
Jessica, Of the yachting party. The wound
she left was not long in healing, but was
painful at first. Then. later, there was
Isabel. How adored her. Your aim
was sure, and the bow was strong thai
send that shaft into my heart. Never can
forget the tender words with which
wooed her at the scashore, nor the pull
sations Of my heart when she answered
Yes" But. Dan, you rascal, you know
her. But once since those summer days
have | seen her. She served me coffee
and rolls in a"quick lunch room in No
vembcr | did not ask her where might
redeem the ring.
Yes. Dan. there were others. But
why review them2 And III forgive you
you imp. Ill lay not up against you a
single pang-or dollar they have cosl
neon one condition-that you snail
not, for this next year. point your darts in
my direction. Do you agree2 Then
well bum the book. and think no more
Of it," casts it into the fre.)
And now. then. Dan. the year is dy.
ing. A least to it ard lis fond memories
to your escapades and ny escapades; te
the fair girls who caused the heart ,hrob.
Of a season; to the broken promises ,ha
saved ME troubles; to the Old Year
And another, Dan, to the year jus
borning; to the anticipaticns which i
brings. The bells are ringing; the Olc
Year is dead; the New Year lives. ane
now. good night, but please rcmembe
tia. you have promised not to aim you
darts in my direction"
exit Dan Cupid ard Cur,ain.)
Wright Il. Patterson