davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-07-14
Some Rare half Dollars,


From the Elder Monthly.
The half dollar Is one Of the most plentf-
full of all the series of United States coins
having been issued regularly each year with
but five exceptions since the coinage of the
denomination first began in 1904 These
exceptions were the years 1893, 1890, 1900
1S0S and 1916.
rare nowadays and that many specimens
OF the early dates are to be had for little
more than face value in a condition that
would indicate they were only year or two
old. instead of dating back nearly hun
dred years, as many do.
Altogether there have been issued 235
varieties of the half dollar. and all of the
branch mints have struck coins In this de-
nomination, except those of Dahlonega
Ga. and Charlotte, n. c., which were au-
thorlZed to strike only gold coins
The very rare half dollars are those dated
varieties, with fifteen stars on the OBJ
verse around the bust of Liberty. the other
with sixteen stars. Each of these two
varieties has brought over 500 when in
perfect condition
The 1891 half dollar is the next rarest
and very fine specimen of this coin has
brought much $l2O The next rarest
is the 1888 half dollar struck at New Or
leans, with the mint letter "O' under the
bust. This coin is worth from $50 to SO
Another rare half dollar was struck at the
San Francisco mint in 1865. This coin omits
the motto of I'm God We Trust" which is
borne by all the other varieties of the year
and is valued at $4.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-07-14
The Vice Presidency.
From the Dayton Herald


IL any statesman in any state is either
openly or secretly planning to capture the
vice presidency his name escapes us. Here
is an office of high dignity. reasonable emol-
ument and the minimum OF laSss which al
ways has to seek the man. and. usually, to
employ club or chloroform to persuade
the victim.
The post is one of honor, but of small re-
sponsfbiiity as its duties are today admins
tered. The Vice President is nominated.
as a rule, with a view to geographical ad-
1ustment OF the ticket or as one of the
pawns In factional game. He has little
to do. and deputies that Only once in a
long while is he selected, as was Roosevelt
In 1900. with the hope of eliminating him as
'ohtical factor in field where he has al
ready become menace to the machine. He
energies from semi-obscurity into the tenn
pOrary limelight. fits acress the stage of
events as a super and sinks again into a
grateful oblivion.
Several millions OF school children can
ghbly recite the names of the Presidents
from Washingt ION to Taft but they become
historical phenomena when they can pro-
duce the vice presidential list complete
Gerry. Thompkins Dallas. Wheeler, King
even Hobart: what permanent place has
any one of them in the political annals of
the nation? In the ladder of fame the vice
presidential round is by no means next to
the top.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-07-14
The Civil Wa and Base Ball.
From Success Magazine.

From Success Magazine
One prominent base ball writer claims
that he can prove that one of the founders
of the old Knickerbocker club came on the
field one day in the early fortes with the
original game of base ball worked out and
described on sheet of paper and that
this game was tried and liked So well that
the game was adopted then and there and
the knckerbocke club was organized 10
put IL into effect.
Certain it is that. with the organization
of the kniCkerboCkers, September % ls35
the first rules OF base ball were published
Until 1851 this club prescribed the rules of
the game. and then, at a convention OF
those Interested in the sport held in New
York. the National Association OF Base
Ball Players formed. 1t was an anna
teur association. comprising twenty five
clubS-all from New York city and the
ball confined almost wholly TO this Sec
ton. How the sport came to spread
throughout the country is peculiarly inter
esting
The CIVIL war broke out. and New York
sent Ter to the front. Among them
were many who had acquired skill in and
q fondress for base ball. Soon the game
became a favorite pastime in camp. And
II was not confined to the Union army; for
the sport took root in the army of the con-
federacy and was played by the boys in
gray. Thus II was at the close OF the war
that IL" game was carried to every sec
ton OF the country-almost to every town
by the returning soldiers and n was eaoer
~ seized on by boys and men north south
east and west. as the ideal outdoor snort
Base ball. as a widely re -ogn!zc,i nas,;ma
dates from the civil war-from the ti,na
when the country was reunited. and hence
well deserves the glory of being our ma
tional game.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-07-14
Remarkable Hunting Story.
A remarkable hunting story has just been
sent to the Englishman by an Assam cor
respondent. Capt. Gidney, I. NJ S.. and
Mrs. Gidney went on a panther hunting ex-
petition in the Dinajur district. Mrs. Gid
ney shot the biggest panther, a beauty
a tri1e over seven feet eight
inches. and eight fell to her husbands rifle.
Six of these were over seven feet six inches.
The ha 9 ri nd for.
The Effect Of Alcohol.
m the Richmond Times Dispatch.


The real effect of alcohol on the human
body is a question which many laymen
would be glad for science to determine. but
it Is a question upon which the doctors
seem to be hopelessly disagreed. THE al
legged experts and specialists" says Ameri-
can Medicine, with some show of disgust
have produced a scientific scandal as bad
as the war Of experts in our malodorous
court trials" The subject was recently
under discussion at a meeting of the Brit
ish Medical Association. and all sorts of
opinions were expressed. One expert de-
clared that alcohol, when properly used,
was blessing in disease. another that II
was always a curse. One said that it was
always depressing; another that 1t was
stimulating and supporting. One declared
that it should never be given to persons af-
fected with a weak heart. another that he
had always given It, because cause, he knsw or II
medical contemporary. is one or the me-
dicinal scandals. and the profession owes
it to itself to learn only facts and publish
only facts and then come to 4 unanimous
opinion. In no other branch of medicine
are there SO many baseless opinions
The trouble in discussing this question is
that we have mixture of science and
morality The effect of alcohol a sclen-
tific proposition and the effect of alcohol
as moral or temperance proposition are
totally different and should not be confused
But some scientific men are great temper
ance advocates. and in dealing with the
scientific question allow themselves to be
influenced by their temperance principles
We may never expect, therefore, to have
exact conclusions until all doctors agree,
when discussing alcohol as a drug to put
aside their temperance views and address
themselves simply and purely to the scien-
tific question involved We all know that
excessive use Of alcohol Is injurious to the
body, mind and morals, and that question
need not be discussed by the medical men
But many Of us would like to know If al
cOholic stimulants have medicinal prop
critics; II so. what they are: in what cases
they are beneficial, and. as Car as possible,
how much alcohol the average man can
take in day, a week month or year
without injuring himself: or how much and
under what circumstances he may drink
with positive benefit to his system.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-07-14
ENGLISH NoNcoNFoRM1srs.
Revolt Against Government Causing
Some Trouble in Wales.

Special Cabegram to The Star.
LONDON. England. July 13-The revolt
Of the English non-conformists against the
government Is causing some trouble in
Wales. and a manifesto Of more than usual
Importance has just been issued by the
Congregational Union. This is the most
powerful body Of non -conformists in Wales,
and claims nearly 2OO.OOO communicates,
while its chapels provide sittings for nearly
half million The manifesto, In part, says:
I'VE are convinced by the developme nts
of the past twelve months that the time has
fully come when 1t Is the bounden duty Of
the Welsh Congregational Union, in friend
ly cooperation with other noncomfOrmist
bodies, to adopt stronger, more determined
and more effective measures than any hith-
erto employed to insure the passing at an
early date Of a complete and satisfactory
measure of Welsh disestablishment and dis
endowment.
Though for forty years our denomina-
ton has been unvaryingly loyal to the lib
eral party. still bear the burden and
degradation of an alien church established
by the state.
To-day our hopes are farther from reali-
cation than they were forty years ago.
At the last general election the Welsh
people performed a deed Of electoral hero
Ism absolutely unprecedented In political
history. The prime minister then gave Sir
Alfred Thomas and Mr.. Lloyd-George a
specific pledge, interpreted as meaning that
dlsestablishment would be the chief meas
ure In the second or at the latest the third
session of parliament. The second session
has passed. the third is rising on the polit-
lcal horizon, but 1t is already darkened by
the shadows Of other measures for other
nationalities. and there Is no room for
Welsh disestablishment in its program.
Wales asked for bread and was offered
stone She prayed for the fish of discs
adjustment. and was offered the serpent of
the church committee
The Welsh members must make 1t clear
to the government that Wales insists now
on payment for generations Of loyalty, Of
struggle Of sacrifice and silence. The grant
Ing of this. our reasonable request must be
made a condition of the continued allegi-
ahce OF Wales and her me nbers to the lib
eral ministry and liberal party"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-07-14
sovEREIGNs ALSO PRISONERS.
Curious Experiences Of European
Rulers With Their Own Police.

Special Cablegram to The Star.
BERLIN. July 13.-An interesting incident
recently occurred showing how European
sovereigns are often, so to speak, the pris-
oners OF their own police. The kaiser had
curious experience of this, in fact, the
first time he went to his estate at Cadi-
men. The nearest railway station was Ell
bling. but as that town recently returned q
couple of socialists to the reichstag 1t was
regarded with the greatest distrust by the
political parties who managed to infect
the kaiser's private police with their fears
of the population of Elbing. The result
was that the imperial train was taken to a
little station miles away. Guldenboden.
whence the kaiser had to drive for hours
over hill and dale to reach Cadinen Finally
the emperor lost patience, and declared that
he would start from Elbing
The Berlin police thereupon sent a per-
rect army Of secret police, who flooded the
country for miles round in every sort of
disguise. some even figuring as tramps But
even then the train was not allowed to en-
ter the town. but was run into special
siding some miles from Elbing
Finally the kaiser completely lost patience
and said that he would take the train at
Eibing and nowhere else. The dreadful ex-
pertinent was tried, with, Of course, the
fully and as Loyalty received there as in
any. town In Germany. And now the men,
bers of the imperial family walk the streets
of the supposed hot-bed of socialism with
of Berlin. and the army Of secret police by
the orders of the kaiser has been packed
Off to the capital to worry the inhabitants
there instead of worrying him in the vicin-
ity of his country home. The incident is
regarded being characteristic in one way
that one-half the terrible tales of the dan
gers Europeans run are Pigments of the
imagination Of over-zealous police agents.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-07-14
German English Versions.
From the London Chronicle.

From the London Chronicle.
The cordial understanding between Eng
lishmen and Germans is supposed to be
nothing IL not literary. We know what
they think of Shakespeare. 1t is also must
cal for they know what think OF Bach.
Beethoven and Wagner. But then why is
Tristan and Isolde rendered into this
kind of English in 1.-THE only translation
authorized by Richard Wagner's heirs as
lawful owners of his copyrights for the
representation in English language"
Here Is a specimen. 1t IS from one OF the
great love duets. and Isolde sings 1t:
Day and Death
VIII both eugender
Feud against
Our pa sson tender
1t is almost-perhaps quite-the greatest
love music in the world that is Joined to
this remarkable quatrain. English gram
mar is simple enough. but Its small mys-
teries were certainly not taught to the
translator who makes Tristan apostro-
phize the potion tswallowed long ago. In his
tremendous death scene:
Thou | have brewed
Thou created"
And the magnanimous Mark. when he
arrives too late to surrender his spouse TO
the hero gives vent to his generous disap-
pointment thus:
More food for death did make;
More wrong grew in mistake
This precious and protected translation
is handed to English members OF the
audience at the Regents Theater Munich
that, according to Wagners theory of
opera. they should be masters of the full
poetry OF the words.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-07-14
Paris Fond Of Horse.

From the New York Sun.
The consumption of horse meat for food
has greatly Increased in France since the
present increase in the price of foodstuffs
set in. Partisan newspaper says that
out of %, 937 horses sold at the market on
the Boulevard de rHospital Paris, in 1906,
q, 1872 or about so per cent, went direct to
the Vanguard abattoir. not to speak of
hundreds of horses that were taken there
directly.
1t is estimated that last year Paris ate
altogether 10000 horses, more than
22uO0,G0 pounds Of horsefiesh. In 1899
the consumption was less than 100000
pounds
Besides the low price. there has been a
demand for horse meat because it is sup
posed to be wholesome In cases of tu5ercu-
losis and tuberculous tendency. Many peo-
pie regard it in general more healthful
than beef Its alimentary value is regard
ed as much lower than that of beef. and 1t
is sad to be much more liable to produce
toxic effects If the animal was not II prime
condition when slaughtered or If tae msat
mas been kept long.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-07-14
OLD cHIEFTAINEss DEAD.
Was Popularity Supposed to Possess the
Evil Eye.

Special Cabegram to The Star.
SYDNEY. Australia, July 1s.-Lavina, the
old chieftainess Of the Tongas, who was
popularity supposed to possess the evil eye.
has just died on the islands. according to
advices received here. Lavina was hello
in reverence not unmixed with awe by the
natives Of Tonga Island. for they believed
that she had the power Of casting spell
over those who thwarted or offended her.
Her granddaughter who was called lavina
after her. was the late Queen Of Tonga and
great aunt to King George Tubon A. She
herself was the last OF the children Of the
''Tui Toga," the old spiritual chief who was
looked upon by the natives as god as
high above themselves as tue heaven As
above the earth" He and other holders Of
this rank at death were buried at Mua in
huge tombs called 'lagi.' which are still
Of great interest to visitors to Tonga. They
consist OF large coral slabs inclosing a
square area. which was afterward terraced
with coral.
The tombs are erected in the silent bush
places. Monuments of smaller sizes were
erected above the women of the family who
were not considered of such Importance as
the men. In Lavina's case, however. there
was an impressive ceremony in which many
na-.ves took part and her tomb at Mua Is
composed Of immense coral stones.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-07-14
MARE FoRTY-FIVE YEARS OLD.
Saved Her Master at Magenta, Sank
to the Cab Shafts, But Died Happy.

From the New York Sun.
An inquiry as to the limit of age of
horses is reported in a German farm journal
by DIR. -Barensburg, who has COL
lected information far and wide on the SUBJ
ject. According to his conclusions thirty
years would seem to be the equine equiva-
lent for the human "threescore years and
ten" 1t is good old age for horses, but
many reach it and not few surpass it.
The Oldest horse of which he could learn
any definite facts was roam mare bred
in the government stock farm in Hungary,
and she was at least forty-five years old
when she died. In 1852 she was assigned to
Lieut. Theodore Won Leyss of Lemburg
serving in the 9Th Regiment of Uuans. In
the next year horse and rider were trans
ferred to the 18th Regiment, and in 1859
they made the entire Italian campign to-
sether. At the battle of Magenta the lieu
tenant was cut off from his regiment by a
booy of French troops. His brave mare
carried him to safety by an extraordinary
leap over stone wall.
In 1863 Won Leyss got into financial diff
culties and in the following year he was
obliged to part with his mare to a comrade,
who used her road horse until 1865,
when she passed into the stable of a major
OF infantry. With him it is believed she
made the campaign of 1866. Then Won
Leyss, who furnished the facts to DR.. Nor
ner- Barensburg. lost sight of her until 1873,
when he found her. alas, serving as a cab
horse in Vienna. He kept his eye on her
after that. and in 1882 she had sunk to draw
ing a delivery wagon for a manufacturer
of paper boxes. Won Leyss by this time
was in better circumstances and he bought
back his old friend and comrade to take
of her until her death.
This took place in 1892, when she was
fully ferty-five years DID, according to the
stock farm record. Down to the end she
was employed daily at light work She
was well-set-up animal with unusually
clean-cut graceful build and limbs Two
days before her death she refused feed for
the first time in her life. Her skeleton is
now set up in the veterinary college in
Vienna.
The great age she reached is all the mora
remarkable when her military experiences
including the hardships of two campaigns
are considered. Her biographer considers
her career as establishing the advantage of
allowing horses to become fully 1natured
before they are put to work. No horse set
to work while green, he thinks could posi-
bly, have gone through so much and lived
to such an age.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-07-14
Explosion of Gasoline.

From the Scientific American.
A gasoline tank rarely explodes. 1t can
not unless it contains gasoline vapor and
ar in explosive proportions which latter
condition IS almost never present.
l. does not explode because 1t contains
too ltt.le air or too much gasoline. Even
If a tank of gasoline were to burst from
heat ecc&co to its exterior, the confined
heavy sss would not explode if in contact
with Ts.7ae eTe. but would burn instead.
Trve. a tank of gasoline with no vent
could 90 considerable damage We're it to
btIst eat lrrow burning oil and flaming
gas about III. 1.GG gallons Of gasoline In
L. yesc5.s biises world not he SO dangerous
from explosion re 6. fupGTe6th of that
amount. .:Ge is-ssr uus1ti-y would burn
sp.d!Y woiie re. smaller wo1ld oe sufti-
c,eat. : mixed W.T., tGe proper amount OF
air, 20 lits-A. Gs-a 3,isa almost any boat.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-07-14
Socia- Service.

From the Reader
1t Is easy To see the advantage of indus
trial betterment to the individual; it Is
equally beneficial to the community.
Whereas the old-time factory an eye
sore, depreciaunS the value of adjacent
property. the modern manufacturing plant
is a decided gain for the neiyhbo-hood
With buildings covered with vines harsh
outlines hidden by shrubbery and beds OF
bright flowers. surrounded by smooth we'll
kept lawns. such factory is a triumph OF
the landscape gardeners art an uncon-
scious influence upon those within it's walls
and the chance paSser-by along the street
Even children of the workers are included
in plans for social service; Fairgrounds for
their use and for the children OF the neigh
borhood are not uncommon. and boys gar
dens are a never-failng delight to the
small gardeners privileged to claim them
as their own. In order that lessons learne 4
from the garden teachers may bear fruit
in everyday life prizes are given for the
best kept front and back yards at home.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-07-14
Common Spiders.
From st. Nicholas.

From ST. Nicholas.
Spiders are more varied and plentiful than
is commonly supposed. In almost every
locality in the country at least three hun
dred or four hundred species may be col
lected. In summer spiders abound on all
kinds Of plants, from grass to trees. 1t Is
only when the webs covered with dew
that they become especially conspicuous.
The webs are then more plentiful, but
l often hear the question asked on dewy
mornings or foggy days. What makes so
many more cobwebs than usual today?'
The collecting moisture makes especially
noticeable the fiat webs on the grass These
are made by members of the Agalenidae
family of spiders. Each has a noticeable
tube at one side In which the spiCer lives.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-07-14
Britain's "Conquerors."

From the London Chronicle.
The battleship Conqueror. recently sold at
Chatham for breakingup purposes carried
a glorious name On "Rodneys day." April
r. 1852. when that gallant admiral defeated
the French fleet. which, under the Comte de
Grasse, was bound for an attack on Jamai-
ca, there was Conqueror In the van. At
Trafalgar. nearly a quarter of a century
later. Conqueror, aptly named. accepted
the submission of the Bucentaure, and
Capt. Atcherly of the marines going aboard
found that to his ship was given the honor
of taking tie French admiral Villenouve
prisoner-a dramatic moment for all on
board that old IA, for, not knowing the
Bucentaure for the French admirals flag
ship. from the absence Of his flag at the
masthead, Capt Pellew had depUted to a
mere captain of the marines a duty and
honor that should have been, properly his
first lieutenant's.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-07-14
Shanghai Opium Dens Closed.
,cial Cablegram to The Star

Special Cabegram TO The Star.
SHANGHAI, July 13.-All of the opium
dens of Shanghai have been closed. In ac-
cordance with the recent law to suppress
the smoking of the drug. Opium is never
theless being openly sod in defiance OF the
imperial edlct and is being sold secretly.
1t has been suggested that the local au-
thorities have been guilty of accepting
money to allow the sale to continue. de-
spite the imperial edict. and a commission
will be appointed to put stop to all of
these practices, provided 1t Is possible tc
do SO.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-07-14
ARMY SCANDAL IN AUSTRIA.
Many Serious Cases Of Ill-Treatment
of Troops by Officers.


VIENNA. July 13.--The large number Of
serious cases Of ill-treatment of soldiers
which have recently been reported have
caused considerable scandal In Austria.
Within the last few days three cavalry
officers belonging to different regiments
have committed suicide on account of cruel
treatment. One Of Them a hussar. shot him.
self within hearing of the Archduke josef
who was reviewing his regiment at the
vestigation into the circumstances.
young recruit in the dragons wrote a
pathetic letter to Bohemian newspaper
describing how he was beaten and knocked
about by his officers because he could not
ride. THE officers continually call us cat
tie and swine and treat US as such" The
letter concludes. II am going to kill myself
before this letter can be printed because
cannot stand 1t any longer" The letter and
the notice of the mans suicide appeared In
the paper at the same time.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-07-14
American Tourists.

From the Philadelphia North American.
The delusion, quite imperishable among
English people. that all Americans are mil
lionaires is, of all deusions the most
fantastic. The ordinary American tourist
is very far from regarding a European
trip as a light undertaking. Nine times
out of ten it represents the reward OF
many years saving and pinching and con-
triving-the one extravaganza of lifetime.