davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Blue-grass blade., 1908-10-18
o Hays.
(By Franklin H. Heald).

(By FRANKLIN II. Heald).
In the Blade of August 9th, my friend,
Chas. o. Hays, after regulating the Nebu
lar Hypothesis still maintains his position
that the planet Mars is older than the Earth
ers my mistakes in estimating the height
of mountains upon our neighboring planets.
Admitting that Mars has no mountains,
he says: 1T could scarcely be expected that
mountains equal to those upon the Earth,
could exist on a planet so much smaller"
Allow me then, to call his attention to our
satellite, the Moon, which in bulk, is As
times smaller and in weight 80 times small
er than the Earth and yet has mountains
almost If not quite as high as those of the
Earth. l will only refer to Peabody's Ele
ments of Astronomy, Note 343, p ITS. whic"
gives the highest at $4,000 feet This
authority was published in 1869 and my
own observations place them nearer 10000
feet. Although Mars is twice the dame
ter of the Moon, he figures that since the
surface of gravity of Mars is but two-fifths
that Of the Earth, it is not probable that
mountains more than two miles high could
ever exist on that planet" Now by this
method of reasoning, the Moon, being so
much smaller than Mars, as Mars is smaller
than the Earth, should only have mountains
four-fifths of one mile high, while they are
five miles high in fact, thus showing con-
clusiveiy that the height of mountains are
forced by the crystalization Of a planet
from molten matter which must necessarily
greatly increase its bulk and force up its
mountain ranges along the lines of least re-
sistance. On our Earth, many Of these
lines seem to be on western coasts, where
the water recedes on account Of the ro-
tation of the Earth on its axes towards the
East.
AS to the height of the Mountains on
Venus. I admit that l have only measured
their shadows in the termination Of Venus
crescent. In my book Possession Of Plan
cts, to which Mr. Hays refers, have quoted
Oh page 90, from Lockyers Astronomy
note 265, which places them exceeding
twenty miles," Peabody, note AIS. p. PIG,
places them at 81 miles and others at
later date, still higher believe my es-
innate of 80 miles win be found more near
ly correct.
Mr.. Hays shows that Mars Is more dense
Blue-grass blade., 1908-10-18
For the Good Of the Cause.

vISALIA, CALIF-Herewith enclosed
please find IS money order; $3.50 for re-
newal of my subscription, the balance for
the good cause of the Blue Grass Blade.
Please send me one extra copy o. the Blade
with Ingersoll's picture and short biogra-
ply of his life.-A MITCHELL.
Blue-grass blade., 1908-10-18
More About Mars

than the Earth and asks: Does this great
density indicate young and thin crusted
planet?" l answer yes; and point to our
Moon and almost all other crystalized mat
ter in proof of it. The Moon is so small
and dead, that there is but little doubt,
that it is further substantiated by the
fact that its density or proportional weight
is only about half that of the Earth al
though the Earth already has a very thick
crust. Mars, on the other hand being al
most entirely molten, is very dense. We
will never find gaseous interiors to Plan
cts, any more than we will find patches OF
red-hot gas in space or any more than we
win find patches of air or gas under 1000
feet Of sea water where the pressure is
nearly half ton to the square inch
To my critic and friend, Joseph B. Thorn,
who objects that If Mars is covered with
water, 1t would not be red; let me suggest
that it might be covered with red water
Or better STILL it might be red wine, or the
blood of Jesus possibly. But seriously, I
believe that when the crust of cooling
Planet first breaks along the line of least
resistance, to allow the crystalizing of its
interior to go on, the cleavage would be
in a straight line and the Irregularities
would come afterwards by the erosion of
water and ice upon the elevated matter.
| also wish to say to both Mr.. Hays and
Mr.. Thorn, that water which is converted
into steam (gas) is invisible, which removes
their objections to Mars internal heat Any
matter which is converted in to gas, is in
visible until it is crystalized by cold, and II
this were not the case we could not see
any Of the space must be filled with ex-
banded and invisible matter in order to
transmit the electric force of light and
heat.
l appreciate the respect of my friends
and most sincerely return the compliment,
but do refuse to be tied to this old wrong
end before" theory, that the oldest Plan
cts are farthest from the sun. Everything
in the Solar System proves the reverse.
The Sun must be fed with fuel, in order
to maintain its heat (which is electricity
and the gas which 1t expands by its in
tense heat must go up. Not only must II
go up, which is every direction from the
Sun in our Solar System but when it con-
denses from gas, 1t must come down again.
and the Planets are forming In the zone Of
Nebula which lays beyond Neptune. and
on the plane Of the Suns Equator (at right
angles to the Milky Way) and they are
Blue-grass blade., 1908-10-18
FOR THE EMERGENCY FUND.

WILKES BARRE, PA.-Enclosed find one
dollar Subscription to the emergency
fund, Your Fraternally-L X. DERBY.
Blue-grass blade., 1908-10-18
BLUE GRASS BLADE

Response Made to Last Article Of Charles
o Hays.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-09-05
WILLING TO oBLIeE.

Once when Congressman J. Adam
Bede was building a partition in his
printing Office, with sleeve rolled up
and a saw in one hand, young col
lege lad appeared in the role of a full
iedged book agent. He set out to ex-
plain his mission and the nature of his
book to Mr.. Bede, who said. without
raising his eyes from his work:
Don't bother about the name and
contents-what's the price of the
book"
Three dollars said the young agent,
rising to the occasion, but don't you
wish to look it over and see
NO, 1 don't want to look it over. not
on your life" said Adam. You are in
college?"
YES"
Trying to work your way through"
yes Mr.. Bedc.''
We'll l did the same. My cashier
will give you an order for the three
dollars on any store for anything you
may need; then you sell it and get
real CASH. can't. Go chase others
while the day is yet young"
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-09-05
= The Story of Poet, President and Book

Blakeslee, friends of her mother. As
fate or fortune had in the meantime
elevated the prototype of her hero to
the highest post in the gift of the ma
ton. the author realized that the OBJ
vious thing to do before giving the
work to the public in general was to
present the original manuscript to the
distinguished parsonage who had in
spired its production. 1t was accord
ingly deliberately bound and duly pre-
scented. 1t is understood that Mr.
Roosevelt has a due appreciation of
the literary and sociological merits of
the work. but modestly declines to see
in the hero picture of himself A
limited edition of "Barham Beach" has
now been issued, each containing the
authors autograph. Her idea in
bringing it out is not to make any
profit. but rather to give the world the
opportunity to benefit by the ideals of
social service presented.
"Barham Beach" is poem of nearly
1000 lines. in nineteen parts, no twJ
consecutive parts being in the same
meter. 1t is tragedy of renuncia-
tion," and the heroine Louise, has a
husband who justly repines in prison
| for preyfng upon the people, the strug-
| Cling masses whom Theodore yearns
to rescue from the evils of misgovern-
ment and industrial oppression. Tho
term CRATER would describe him
now, though it had not been invented
when "Barham Beach" was written.
| Theodore found in Louise a true ''af-
finity," but did not adopt the course
of some affinities who have figured
much in print recently. On the con-
trary. he honored the woman he adj
mired by renouncing her. but in the
end the death of the offending husband
leaves the way open for reeonsidera-
ton of this self sacrifice. Leaving
out of question, if you will, the posi-
bic resemblance of the Theodore of
"Barham Beach to the Theodore of
Oyster Bay, the mythical hero at least
is character who commands generous
admiration.
} EDWARD HALE BRUSH.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-09-05

an entertainer memorized more than
1900 songs it is small wonder that
toward the close he should get the
verses mixed and be obliged to make
a fresh start. Right here it may be
affirmed of Tony Pastor that. no mat
ter how bad the miXup, he never left
the stage until everything had been
cleared up in a manner TO suit every
body.
So it happened that when he reach
ed the Scriptural age limit of three
score and ten he was still singing in
his Fourteenth street house, and n per-
Torrance in that playhouse without
Tony Pastor on the bill would have
been a novelty indeed. In the last
quarter of a century Fourteenth street
has seen many changes. Business has
come and gone, stately mansions have
been converted into small shops, the
continuous vaudeville has been de-
veloped and in its turn has given
place to the moving picture show
Through all the years Tony Pastors
place of amusement continued to
thrive without marked departure
from it's original lines 1t was not a
high class show. but it was free from
the broad vulgarity to be found at
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-09-05

village in 1885 Pastor always ad
mitted freely that he was born stage
struck" although his parents were not
theatrical folk His father was a per-
fumer, but when Tony was little be-
yond the stage of infancy a relative
conceived the idea of dressing him in
female attire and introducing him in
private theatricals as an infant prod
ICY. He rugged up a theater in the
cellar of his fathers house and, ac
cording to his own testimony, used
to hook the quilts from the beds and
paint on them stirring scenes with
burnt cork" In those early days
nothing was further from his desire
than a career of mirth and song and
dance. What he wanted and expected
to be was a tragedian, and his ambi-
ton was to play Hamlet.
At the mature age of eight he Sc
cured an engagement with P, T. Bar
mum at the old Museum, corner of Ann
street and Broadway. A year later he
joined a circus. appearing in burnt
cork and doing plantation stunts.
Shortly afterward he went into the
circus business as a gymnast and gem
eral performer. 1t was when he had
advanced to the dignity of singing
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-09-05

~ n a few months Theodore Roose-
welt will leave the White House
and plunge from political life into
one of adventure. He will ex-
change an occupation which has been
filled with strenuous exertions in be
half of what he considers the public
veal for mode of living akin to that
of primitive man-full of hardships
and exciting episodes perhaps. but
less burdensome to the spirit and ex-
hausting to the nervous system than
his present life. In the pursuit of
lions and elephants in Africa he will
forget for time the pursuit of male
factors in high place and bad corpo-
rations in America. 1t is at this juno
ture in his career that a poetical work
appears which was composed about
thirteen years ago and in a way fore
told his sociological If not political
achievements. 1t is entitled "Barham
Beach-A Poem of Regeneration" and
Is from the pen of Julia Ditto Young.
an author of established rank and an
exemplar of the Meredith school of
verse. She is the wife of Buffalo
bank official, was born in Buffalo in
1857 and has a beautiful home there
One of her most discussed works is
"Glynne's Wife," a novelette, in verse.
Others are a novel entitled "Adrift-A
Story of Niagara" "Black Evan-A
Tale of the AS" in verse; .'TbistIe
Down." poems. and "The Story of
Sayville."
Who the Hero Is.
The hero of the new poem is Theo
dore. and, though his surname is not
given, the author had Mr. Roosevelt in
mind when she obtained the idea for
the work. He was then comparative
ly unknown. To scan the future and
discern in him the makings of great
ness required the prophetic as well as
poetic instinct, and the fact that Mrs.
Young proved to possess both gives
to her production an exceptional in
terest. an Importance from the psy-
geological as we'll as literary point of
view. And the circumstance that the
manuscript was lost during most OF
the time that Mr.. Roosevelt was
climbing into eminence and that i,
came to light again only when he had
reached the climax of his career puts
the matter in a very striking and pic
euresQue aspect. The portrait of Mr.
Roosevelt is fancifpl in many respects
to be sure. The incidents depicted d.
not correspond to any actual happen
ings in the life of the nations presen
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-09-05

clown that he became a star. After
various experiences throughout the
country he landed in New York and
played an engagement lasting four
years. He was one of the first per-
formers to originate the illustrated
song idea. using a stereopticon in con-
nection with his singing specially. In
1876 he opened his theater at SIS
Broadway.
An Artistic Starting Point.
That Broadway place of amusement
was the artistic birthplace of num-
Der of persons who have since come
into marked prominence. Lillian Rus
sell made her debut there. as did May
Irwin. Nat Goodwin made his first
professional appearance in this the
alter, Feb. 5, 1876. Among the many
others were Francis Wilson, who did
song and dance; Denman Thompson
who did a rural sketch entitled Josh
ua Whitcomb,". which was afterward
expanded into "The Old Homestead"
Florence Bindley, Gus Williams. "Old
Hoss'' Hoey, Neil Burgess, the French
sisters, and many others Billy Barry
presented his first Ethiopian mono
logue there, and William j. Seaman
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-09-05
Career of a Vaude-
vile Artist Who
Entertained Two
Generations


NH deed that few now in the
flesh remember it, Tony
u II Pastor was a frequent and
welcome visitor to all the towns of
any considerable size throughout the
length and breadth of the country.
Nowadays most of those towns are
provided with sumptuous opera
houses, with plush chairs and electric
lights in profusion, not to mention a
wealth of more or less attractive dec
orations and furnishings. In those
days Tony used to do his stunt behind
q row of smoking kerosene lamps, his
audience perhaps sitting on improvis
ed seats made by laying planks across
the tops of barrels.
Those were the days when Tony
Pastors entire working capital was
concentrated in his voice 1t was a
voice which made it's way with aston
ishing facility Measured by the
strict canons of artistic opinion, it
didn't amount to a great deal, but
there was plenty of it. and it was
more acceptable to the average town
hall audience of the last century than
would have been the dulcet warbling
of the most famous coloratura So
prano. It was what the people want
ed, and Tony gave it to them lavishly.
so generously indeed that it added i'm
mensely to his universal popularity
So Ii happened that almost every
body liked Tonys singing, and he took
good care that everybody should get
plenty of it. 1t didn't matter at all to
him that his audiences were of the
kind that refused to go home, until he
had .obliged" with ten or a dozen
numbers, with queer shutting danes
of his own invention thrown in by
way of interlude between the verses
and chorus. 1t didn't make him a bit
unhappy because he was doing most
of the work of entertainment On the
contrary, he showed a readiness to
satisfy the demands of his audience
that was test of it's powers of en-
durance as well as his own. So long
as his audience cared to hear him he
was willing to respond.
That made him the most popular
itinerant singer in America about the
middle of the last century, and when,
forty-three years ago last March.
he opened his little theater in Four
teenth street New York city, he was
sure of his public, public that was
composed of men. women and children
from all parts of the country who
would not have been satisfied to come
TO the metropolis without seeing Tony
Pastor in his own home
An Astonishing Memorizer.
Up to a very few months ago this
veteran singer was still singing his
characteristic songs and doing his lit
tie interpolated shuttle in his theater,
in the same building which has long
sheltered Tammany. The Tony Pastor
of these later days was not always as
sure of the words of his song as he
was in days of yore, and the muscles
of his lower limbs did not respond
with their former readiness, but the
smile was just the same, and so was
the willingness to give full value. For
q man who has during his career as
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-09-05
THE POET.

gun to be talked of as an exponent
of municipal reform and was police
commissioner of New York when his
ideas and character suggested to Mrs.
Young the writing of the poem. When
completed the manuscript was left in
charge of her mother, Mrs. Margaret
Ditto of Caledonia. n. Y. When the
latter died, not long afterward, the
work could not be found. Search was
made for it, but it was given up as
lost. AT last, when on "a visit to Gale
donia, Mrs. Young found it safely
slowed away i'm the vault of the town
bank in a picturesque old stone house.
the residence OF Francis and Eliza
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-09-05

made his debut as an Irish comedian
Jennie Yeamans, Harry and John
Kernel and the elder Pat Rooney all
started toward the good in this the
alter.
In 1881 Mr.. Pastor went to the coy
theater in Tammany hall. The famous
Jennie Hill, favorite of the London
concert halls, came over to sing at the
opening as personal compliment to
the popular manager. 1t was there
that Maggie Cline jumped into popular
favor with a tremendous bound with
her Throw Him Down, McCloSkey.
Vesta Tilley, Vesta Victoria and a
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-09-05

He would leave his soul and .he saving
thereof simply TO him who had made
And fling himself, body and spirit and
mind. into the desperate raid
On behalf of his wretched brothers, the
dark. disinherited mob,
And be one with them of them and for
them till his hearts last passionate
throb.
1t was no heathendom. alien and far
against which Theodore strove,
NO priestly Druidical worship round altar
's fires in grove.
No Hindoo mothers sacrifice of blood of
her very blood
And bone of her bone and life of her life
to the Gaagess turbulent flood.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-09-05

And ever he stirred with eternal protest,
with Indignation divine.
With the old erusading fury and zeal, a
frenzy heroic and fine
For the people! He gave TO the people his
life and his thought and his gold,
Longing to see in the service of man the
whole Wide earth enrolled, ~
Longing to hasten the halcvon time when
God shall esteem ii good
To melt and fuse all hatred and greed in
a golden brotherhood. So
A Literary Episode.
The story of the loss and recovery
of the manuscript of "Barham Beach
forms an interesting literary episode
in itself. Mr. Roosevelt had just be-
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-09-05
THE BLAKEsLEE HOUSE.

But ever he sought to rescue and reach
and drag from the juggernaut wheels
The bodies deformed and dwarfed and
Scared with livid and ulcerous weals
And. watehful, standing upon the brink of
the ravenous river of sin,
Often he held one wonlans arm from
pushing another in,
And often he saved from the cannibal
threats of the hideous mines of coal
The tender and innocent children or
snatched from stocking hole
Some creature that scarce had force for
thanks-that scarce, in fact, seemed
a nam
So long il had been since he freely breath
ed and upright shouted aud ran.
j. - = . .
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-09-05
FATAL ADMISSION,

See here, mister" said the poor
man desperately, give me any sort Of
job and I'll take it. I'm simply tired
out looking for work"
Well" replied the hard business
man, there is an opening here but
guess you won't do. II you get tired
out simply looking for work you
wouldn't be much good when you came
to do any
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-09-05
He Me morized
More Than 1900
Songs and Sang
Them In Public

dozen other high priced headliners first
faced American audiences in this play
house. One of the earliest of the now
famous comedians to make his en-
trance into professional life under the
direction of Tony Pastor was Lew
Fields That was the beginning of the
Weber and Fields partnership, and the
comedians were about eleven years Of
age when it was formed. This team.
unique even then, played under Pas
tors management for four consecutive
seasons.
His Charity ProverbiaI. 80
Mr.. Pastor has always been regard
ed as the most charitable member of
a profession which is actually spend
thrift in its solicitude for the relief of
suffering. He had such a positive
weakness for aiding others that it had
made him the easy prey of the shift
less and the unworthy. Il do not dare
to refuse anybody he once confessed
to a friend who demonstrated with him
for his prodigality in this respect II
do not dare for fear that / shall make
a mistake" In his declining years he
| has reaped the fruit of his earlier
charitable sowing. Well known vaude-
/ vile headliners whom he helped in
/ their early struggles came to his aid in
keeping the Fourteenth street house
| open long after it's period of great
! prosperity had passed. For several
years it has been their practice to
fill in" at Pastors at reduced rates
whenever they CHANGED to have a week
open. In this delicate way they have
| helped the veteran to keep his busi-
ness alive.
| ct can't saw ANYTHING too pood ahouf
| Tony Pastor" says Francis Wilson. II
have never heard him use a profane
word or speak an untruth. Though he
had been circus clown he has a GER
tain dignity which has always i'm
pressed me- He did not aspire to
furnish the highest type of entertain
ment, but everything he has had was
clean and the best of it's kind"
GEORGE H PICARD
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-09-05

far more pretentious entertainments.
1t is to the everlasting credit of the
aged purveyor of amusements that he
had a profound distaste for theatrical
double entendre and would not permit
it in his shows. The refined little
lady soubrette" was always "a strong
card on his bills. the sidewalk come
dian might slap his stage partner in
the face with folded newspaper, and
the burnt cork artist might crack the
most venerable joke within his mem
DRY, but it must be done decently and
in order.
Wanted to Play Hamlet.
1t was a sad day Tor the ancient
minstrel when the infirmities of age
convinced him that it was time to be
seen no longer on the stage of the coy
little theater in Tammany hall. There
was a controversy also over the re-
newal of the lease. and worry and i'll
health both combined to put an end
to the professional and managerial
career of this wearer of the smile that
won't come off" Even then, to look
at him, no one could guess his age;
that he was born in that part of New
York city once known as Greenwich
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-09-05

chief magistrate But as a character
and as a man of ideals and power in
seeking their attainment the Theo-
dore of "Barham Beach" corresponds
closely to the idea which Theodore
Roosevelt's admirers have of him..
The Evidence.
Perhaps this can best be shown bv
quoting a few lines from that part of
the poem in which Theodore's inward
warnings and outward strivings are
set forth:
Theodore felt that a man was not sent
into this agonized life
Merely to save his soul and creep out of
the stress and the strife. -