davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-12-15

the eye and aiming at hin under the muzzle
of a pistol aimed at himself.
IL is said that this habit once acquired can
be carried into the duelling field and all
trace OF be eliminated from the
aim Of a cOmbatant who has previ-
Ously taken part In an actual life and death
As an Illustration Of the effect Of nervous
ness on inexperienced duellists, the story 10
told Of a combat between two duellists
wherein one staggered and declared himself
hit the moment the pistols were discharged:
Sure enough, he had q big patch OF blood
on his right shoulder. just where he said no
felt the bullet strike him.
The doctor and second carefully re-
moved his coat and were astonished 90
no mark on his wAistooat or shirt. His akin
too, proved to be sound; yet there was .
good sized patch Of u~nmistakable gore on
his outer garment.
One Of che seconds solved the mystery
when he picked up a couple OF feet away the
mnngled body OF a sparrow. The bird mad
flown across the line OF fire. Tar overhead.
Just as the word was given. The adver-
sary's bullet, flying far overhead, owing TO
the nervousness Of b man behind the gun.
passed through the bird and its body In fall
Ing struck the other on the
shoulder.
The Ministry Of War has approved the
sport Of pistol practice at living "a gets and
the Paris Prefecture Of Police ID arranging
for its mon TO take . course. especially those
stationed Al night In the quarters fire.
Quented by ApaShes.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-12-15
AS PEOPLE HANDLE PAPERS
so They VIII Act I'm Everything They DO,
says an Old bachelor.

Il know OF no surer ~signbOard of charac-
ter than the way in which a man or woman
handles a newspaper said an old bachelor.
-The person who hits the newspaper with
the hand in opening the pages has the
emphatic or ROoseveltian nature.
"YOu may depend upon IL that such n per-
son will not hesitate to express an opinion.
whether YOU like IL or not. III man handles
his newspaper in this way he will do you
in a trade. II a woman does il she will rule
you IL you marry her.
The person who shifts and turns the
pages of a newspaper repeatedly. first one
way and then another. is unstable. The
man will never succeed in business. the
woman will be shiftless in her home.
You nave seen, IL you have noticed as l
have. people who never keep the pages of
the paper intact. They get the pages mixed
or ALLOW a page to drop out. A man who
handles his paper in this way has no system
in his business. A woman who does IL will
drag her petticoat or wear her hosiery
wrong side out, and IL she becomes a
mother her children will have dirty faces
and unkempt hair.
"A man who reads one newspaper while
he holds on to two or three more when
he is in a room where there are others is
a hog. That IL u very ugly aPpellatiOn.
1t is the plain. blunt synonym for selfish
ness.
Il have known some very nice n clever
people to litter up a room with newspapers
az fast as they read them. Such a habit
indicates a type Of charity that begins at
home disposition. coupled with a don't
care disposition. Az much as TO say: I'm
through with il. what's the diference2'
aThe person who looks at the advertise
ments first, unless in searching for a Job
or a servant. is practical, rather commercial.
and sentimental hen 1t suits his or her
purpose. ,
rams it into his pocket when he 10 leaving
a street car is not only disorderly. but the
act indicates that he Is a sort OF grabber;
anything 20 get il and keep IL.
on the floor Of a car when ne has finished
reading il would not hesitate to spit on
your rug and bump into you in the street
without making an apology
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-12-15

the writer placed his hand gently under
the creature TO bring il to the surface for
examination. The movement was attended
by an electric shock that felt as IL fifty ham,
mers had struck the writer's arm.
-GymnOta" electric cell shouted the host
in real glee. you buy him?"
I'll think H. over" rerlied the writer,
and when he arrived at the reptile house he
instructed Head Keev err Snyder 20 go DOWN
town, Engage the services Of a teamster
and bring the snakes w 10 the park. re-
marking TO Snyder az the latter started:
There's a curious eel down there. You
might get acquainted with him, and IL you
take a particular liking to him Wen buy
him for you as a =, ecial get"
Snyder was evidently "a severely shocked
at the behavior of the eel as the writer. At
all events. when the writer inquired il he
would like the Gymnotus as a ret, his reply
was negative and emphatic.
mo. thanks" said Snyder. with one
lodging horseless cabs and smoke wagons
in the streets ] move we keep cells that
carry a dynamo ont of the snake house.
Nobody can convince me that the thing is a
beast Of nature. It's too blooming mechan-
ical for mine. Why. the brute is apt to short
circuit II he gets mad ands set the building
on fret"
1t was but a few weeks after the arrival
of the ~fer-de-lance that another batch Of
deadly snakes was added to the collection.
These came from the other side Of the world.
from India.
A dealer had received. carefully Grated.
two round baskets. the lids tied down with
hempen cord. As from one Of the recep-
| Raaa>. -. . .k~.A.x Lsu..rw sho .u~.S.- go
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-12-15

neglected to shed IL at the proper time.
This is the only species OF viperine or
long Hanged snake that lays eggs instead OF
bringing forth the young alive.
About three dozen creamy white eggs
are laid and the mother coils about them
during a part OF their incubation. The hope
in the reptile house has always been that a
specimen would deposit eggs while living
in the building. The young snakes would
probably survive as captives.
With this hope a number of bushmasters
are ordered zach year. Most Of them are
captured on the island e Ir.uA.dd and a
few Of them in Venezuela, whence comes a
record of a medium sized specimen biting
a man and causing his death within ten
minutes.
Among the poisonous snakes that live
well in captivity are the several species OF
African vipers. all thick bodied. with ugly,
heart shaped heads. The smaller vipers
from the Sahara Desert are interesting. as
they are OF exactly the same pale hue as
the desert soil.
Two species are known, and one OF them
has q pair Of sharp horns over the eyes
As their bodies are exceedingly stout they
would make poor progress getting over
loose desert sand by crawling X ordinary
snakes. 30 they move by a series Of internally
thrown loops.
The effect ia a rapid. walking motion that
strikes the human observer n positively
weird. When desiring to hide they fatten
the body until It presents sharp edges, to
which are communicated wavelike motions
hat SCOOP up the sand and cast 1t over the
creatures back. when IL rapidly sinks into
thu sand .-.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-12-15

minds Of all the observers. for il was the
tic pOlonga.
Following the most cruel Of heart shaped
heads, with glittering, beady eyes, came
a bloated body marked with n veritable
pattern of the Orient. The creature slid
from the basket with the ease OF flowing
oil. when with a backward jerk of the
head then neck assumed the 8 shaped loop
that precedes a lunge Of the deadliest Of
fangs.
This was one Of the very few big Indian
vipers ever exhibited alive in this country.
II was four feet long and as thick asa mans
arm.
One Of the hardest propositions in the
reptile house has been h task Of keeping
a living bushmaster on exhibition. The
bushmaster, or sirOcucu Of South America
is the largest and most formidable poison
GUS snake of the New World. II is gorge
Ously marked with pale butt and black,
and always a sensation in q collection Of
reptiles.
As a captive 1t is VIGOROUSLY delicate,
few specimens even surviving shipment
from their native jungles. The organiza-
ton Of this death dealer ia so intensely
nervous that a captive bushmaster will
jump at a shadow and may be thrown into
such a frenzy it will Involuntary drive its
long fangs into It's body.
Four Of every Ave specimens shipped
TO the Geological Park die en- route and the
maximum life Of u captive Is about four
months. A captive example has never
been known to feed. and the only known
method OF keeping o specimen alive for
the few months Il may remain IN exhibition
is to force beaten eggs down its throat
with a syringe.
The handling Of 4 snake Of this kind is
very dangerous. A bushmaster is capable
Of dislocating the bone Of Its head to such
an extent thai the operators fingers are
never quite safe, though he endeavor to
grasp the reptiles neck Immediately behind
the head. Besides, the snake has a habit
Of turning the body within the akin.
Two men Oficiate at no compulsory
feeding, one holding the creature by the
neck and administering h eggs while the
other keeps the serpsnt's body from spin
ming. During the work both men generally
get their hands well bruised by the u n
canny surface OF the serpent's scales
which have a formation Hike the skin OF q
pineapple.
A bushmaster usually dies from q tighten.
ing Of the outer skin or epidermis, having
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-12-15
Az OLD TINE CITY LINE.
History Of y ~signbOard That Hal Been
Preserved ln Brooklyn.

Passengers on the trolley trains Of the
Sea Beach. Culver and West End lines to
Coney Island see between the Thirty-sixth
and the Thirty-ninth street stations a sign
board that perplexeS many Of them
b It Is on the right hand side going toward
the Island, is at perhaps one-third OF the
distance from the former to the latter stop
ping place. IL a narrow board erected on
two posts by the side Of the track and reads:
City Line
The posts are new. but the signboard Is
old. For many years the sign was fastened
to q high board fence.
Recently new buildings have been erected
and the ground whereabouts has been graded,
but the old sign has been preserved and
set, up on new posts very near the spot
where IL had been for many years.
Before Brooklyn was made a borough
OF New York and before the townships to
the south OF Brooklyn became a part OF the
city the siRnboard marked the line where
the oars passed from the city into the land
beyond the corporation. That wa within
the memory OF persons now hardly old
enough TO be called middle aged.
II the trains that now pass this stgnboard
going south could continue In the same di-
rection to the present city line they would
And IL out In the Far Rockaway region and
would got there In somewhat more han an
nOu "a - .
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-12-15
BEWARE THE DOGV'
Meaning Of the Sign a. the industrious
Book Agent Reads n.

An Industrious book agent who works
the outskirts Of the city says that several
times a day he 10 confronted by the door
yard sign Beware the Dog" or Beware
h Dogs In most instances the sign
is erected near a kennel with a doorway
big enough to admit a Great Dane or a
young hippopotamus. Sometimes there are
two kennels.
And II 1 were In the business OF buying
up Is cent dogs l should expect TO get
one or more wherever / see one OF these
signs" said the book agent. whenever
you see the Beware the Dog sign you
may be sure OF q Of two ~things-that
there is somewhere on the premises an
understood mOngrel that when he sees
you will beat it with his tail curled under
him like a boiled lobster. or that the sign
belonged TO the family that moved out a
while ago.
III you are timid as to dogs. put aside
your fear when you see the beware
will see you before you see them and that
your only evidence OF their presence will
be their yelps while running for the shelter
OF the ash barrels, or that there are NO
dogs on the premises.
Il like a good dog. You don't have 60
beware him; he will do the bewaring. He
Will perhaps meet you at the gate and
follow you to the door. but he will do nothing
more u you attend TO your business.
This IL true OF large and small good
dogs; II o came around at an unsea-
sonable hour OF the night the good small
Dog would probably confront you ind
make a racket that would wake up the
family. and the big good dog might down
you without giving any alarm. But YOU
never see the beware sign where there IL
such a dog.
There are snappy dogs. and it is well
enough to look ont for them when entering
premises where you are not known; hut
wherever you see the warning sign IL IL
usually safe to take Il that you can buy
me dog or dogs for Is cents, OF that the
family doesn't own a dog
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-12-15
LIVE MEN AS PISTOL TARGETS
EXPERT SHOTS OF PARIS NAVE
NEW STYLE or PRACTICE.

BloOdaess Duets Fought In Rubber ArmOr
ADO with Glass M-asks-BuIIets That
Harm Only the Clothing Cure for Ner-
v6usness In D~ueIs-POllee to Try IL.
The Pistol Shooting Association has been
organized in Paris to train the hand. eye
and Aerve Of would-be expert shots by
firing at living targets. The targets are
members Of the society. They stand up
and ore shot aS fronn day tO day and take
their turn in shooting at the other members.
They wear o sort Of armor as a rule while
me shooting h going on. but this Is only
90 save their clothes. They wear masks
over their faces too. but the masks are
principally Of glass The bullets ars made
Of wax and a thss have only a sub-calibre
shares OF powder behind them they are
not capable Of doing much harm.
The founder OF tho soCiety ts Or. Paul
Deviaiers.T He 10 an enthusiast In pistol
practice. He can punch out the spots in q
pIayfRg card at long rangc
RuA.aksXI- -kxaA
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-12-15
HOST DEADLY AMONG SNAKES
cOLLECTION Ar TINE zoo
HARD TO KEEP UP.

Nsenchman with LaDceheRd Nlpers 10 Ssll
Co Eyen-A Terror From n Orient
-AHherieR's worst snake n Victim Dr
Gs Ncrvcs-Bcauty Of the VlDcrs.
AZ various times since the opening OF
ahs reptile house in the New York Zoology
6al Park Representatives OF the greater
nnmber % the most deadly knows species
% snakes have been exhibited. Some Of
these creatures are extremely delicate
~ captives. Others are hardy and have
0ourished since the establishment Of the
snake house nine years = ''' @
Full records of habits Of dangerous snakes
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-12-15
MAD A COSMOPOLITAN DINNER.
Quoer Dishes for COrnoH's Gu or students
From An over.

From An Over.
The Cosmopolitan Club at Cornell had it's
annual dinner not long ago. Students
representing the United States. England.
Philippine Islands. Brazil. Uruguay. Greece.
Armenia, South Africa. Russia. Sweden.
Hndustan. China and Australia were
present.
In the menu zach dish was representa-
tive Of some one OF the countries. and the
dishes were prepared in some cases by the
students themselves. The menu was:
HOrs d'ruvres q Ia FRANCHISE.
PiIan a Ia Grccque. Afretada a Ia FilIpplnes.
KalIa q Ia HindustanI.
Red boiled chicken 4 Ia ChInolse.
MInleros de botas a Ia Dresinenne.
Brazilian cafe nolr. CeyIon tea. Beer a Ia 4. =. A.
Turkish cigarettes. Danish butter.
Havana cigars. Vienna bread.
The Washington herald., 1907-02-18
DEFECTIVE DISTRICT LAWS.
Our Corporation and Insurance Leg
isIHtiOn Behind the Times.

From Alr. McCaIl's Speech in New T9Ek.
Regarding corporations. there is one
oasis among the desert Of the States-the
District Of Columbia-where the national
has every species Of control.
whether necessary or unnecessary Here
at least we should find a model code to
aid in elevating State standards by the
force Of d perfect example. But the cor
porauon laws OF the District viii not only
not stand comparison with those Of the
advanced States Of the Union. but they
would make a New JeYseyman blush.
Take the matter Of insurance. One of the
most notable and searching inquisitions
ever conducted under government was
carried on by a committee Of the legis-
lature of New York regarding insurance.
and the most hidden Tecesses of that bust
ness were exposed to the gaze Of the
world. As a result Of the awakening
State laws are being strengthened. and
yet we ind in the District Of Columbia
a code scarcely worthy OF the name. For
instance. under this benefiCent code there
IS an insurance company operating to-
day which apprOpriates 10 its treasury or
for expenses 80 Per cent of all the pre-
miUms collected. And an effort is now
being made, but thus far without sue
cess. to enact a system taken almost
wholly from one of the States of the
Union
The Washington herald., 1907-02-18
Singing and soldering.

Our own army officers appear TO take
comes from British military authorities
at the instance Of Surg Gen. Evatt, who
has recently prepared pamphlet en-
titled our Songless Army" being a pro-
posaI to develop the singing OF martial
songs and the maintenance of choral so
cieties in the military body of Great
Britain. The proposition was recently
before our own general staff, which ex-
pressed its disapproval of the idea. not
because melodyOn the march and harmony
In the field were not to be desired, but
because the soldier had so much already
10 learn in our elaborate and complicated
system of military education that II
seemed like an imposition upon him, TO
say nothing of a waste of his time, to
train the man with the gun in a martial
Tilt. It was one Of the pet schemes Of
Lieut. Gen. Corbn toward the end of his
active career. when he enjoyed the prin-
cipal function of the general officer Of
making recommendations To establish a
system of vocal music by which the SOL
der might regale himself and stimulate
his comrades on the march. Everybody
appreciates the resistless influences Of the
band; and while the dignity Of age may
not permit the unrestricted exuberanca
of youth who keeps step with the drum
major, it is probable that years do not
really stale the liking for the military air.
1t is a pity we are too practical 10 take
up officially the song on the march.
especially if it viii lessen the munition-
burdened soldier and give him a less
heavy foot as he trudges toward the
field Of carnage.
We need not have an entirely song
less army. however. although probably
our general staff was right when il de
cided that pracucing scales and train
ing chOristers would take too much from
such serious tasks as target practice. If
1t is TO be a question of bad shooting or
good singing. we ought 10 make no CUES
ton in these perilous times between
craftsmanship and melody.
The Washington herald., 1907-02-18

be made Of the same size. form, and
weight Of paper. and shall when taken
together, form one complete and identi-
fable whole" Supplements may not con-
tain advertising matter, and must be
composed of matter germane TO the reg
ular issue.
AS in the case Of the postal rates, these
provisions will not materially affect the
normal periodical. They will compel the
issue of a newspaper uniform in all its
parts. and refuse the privileges of the
second-class rate to extraneOus matter
inserted as a supplement or section BY
far the greater number of daily news
papers now conform to the definition Of a
periodical fixed by the commissions bill;
and as for the remainder. the alteration
Of their present supplements TO accord
with the new classification will not injure
the quality of their issues or nscessitate
any change in subject-matter. We COM
mend the commissions bill and report to
the reconsideration of those of our con-
temporaries who have somewhat hastily
assumed their interests adversely affected
by 1t.
The Washington herald., 1907-02-18
KNOX ON THE CONSTITUTION.
His View of Relation of Federal and
State Governments.

From Senator Kucx's Speech Defending smoot.
The perfection Of human liberty under
law viii only be attained under the
American Constitution when each Of the
dual sovereignties within its sphere ex-
erts its powers 10 the utmost limits for
the public veal; when the States and the
artificial bodies they have created cease
10 deny and resist the rightful and full
exercise Of the national power over ma
tiOnal affairs, when there are no at
tempts 10 eHcrosch upon the undeniable
reserved powers Of the States for the
aggrandizement Of national power; when
the people discriminate between wise pol
icies designed To meet the imperative
needs OF modern conditions and dema-
gOgic assaults upon the foundations Of
the republic for political OF personal pur-
poses; when the people shall not be vexed
by unnecessary legislation about their
daily affairs. and normal conditions are
undisturbeG by ceaseless agitations--agi-
tati0ns fOmented By ignorance and insiu-
certify and misreDresenting those just and
constitutional policies Of the time which
had "a due beginning, have a reason for
their existence and shall have a due
ending when their work is accomplished
! know no tenet I'm the new propaganda
Of constitutional construction that be-
gins 10 contain the danger TO our country
involved IN the contention that a Sena-
tor Of the United States may be de-
prived Of his seat whenever the majority
OF the Senate concludes that there are
doctrines taught. OF have been taught in
the past. by some church organization to
which he belongs which that majority
believes 70 be, or have been, dangerous.
The Washington herald., 1907-02-18
That sun Snot.

And now We have a sun spot whose
area is as great as that of the United
States plus few hundred thousand
square miles. And this sun spot is TO
play particular hob with subluminary az
fairs Already Il has produced a fear
some snowstorm al Pittsburg. with the
awe-inspiring accomplishments of forked
lightning and roaring thunder that sent
women and children shuddering 10
feather beds for protection. created
wild panic among mules and horses in
the streets, caused men 10 scurry from
tail buildings, and set college professor
to predicting other dire disasters TO that
so0t-begrimed community. Another coll
lege professor in New York reads fin the
sun spot prophecies Of grewsome evils.
It is to derange all electrical operations
IN the metropolis demoralize railroad
schedules. and cause clocks 10 stop Com
plete returns from other parts Of the
affrighted world are not yet in, though
that they will come in plenty we have
no doubt Our scientists are alert. what
ever else may be said TO their detriment.
Somehow, this kindly and sturdy old
earth Of ours continues to revolve upou
its axis and 10 hold its right Of way IN
the orbit fXed for it at the beginning Of
time, In spite Of the clamorous outcries
Of scientists, the solar system, Of which
our planet is a somewhat inconsequenuaI
part, goes along in its accustomed way.
Seed time and harvest We still have with
US. sun spots come and sun spots go, and
the earth rolls on as if nothing had hap
pened to the face Of the king Of day.
II follows, Of course. that the scientists
are divided in opinion as 20 what a sun
spot is. Some of them contend that it
is the result Of a big piece falling away
from the sun and leaving a deep hole.
Others are convinced that it is merely a
prOdigiOus cloud Of mist generated by
the sun and which demonstrates that
that great center Of things cosmical is
undergoing portentous changes. The fact
seems TO be that modern astronomical
research has added nothing Of great value
TO mankind's knowledge Of the essentials.
When studying the play of these majestic
forces. our children of larger growth can
only lisp the infants awe-struck apes
trOphe.
Twinkle. twinkle. little star
How / wonder what yOa are