davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-27

hooked on. Suddenly. the balloon shot
up in the air and L found myself almost
in the same predicament as in the case
have already described. with the addi-
tional danger that a strong wind was
blowing me straight over the Adriatic
sea.
My first impulse was to jump from the
ring. for l knew that in an hour or so
would be seventy miles from land, with
mighty slim chance OF being picked up
Before I could make up my mind to jump
however. the balloon had gone up 1900
feet. and. Of course, to jump from that
height would have meant sure DEATH
Il had presence of mind enough, on this
occasion. to climb out on the netting
where I made myself fast by passing
ropes around my body. In less than half
an hour 1 had been blown three and a
half miles out to sea, and. looking down.
l saw nothing beneath me but a vast
expanse Of tossing waves, with the line
of the land near Trieste rapidly getting
farther away.
Il really gave myself up for lost on this
occasion. for I knew that when the bal
loon came down in the water my weight
would force me under it, for. as tried to
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-27

has been taken. overhauling all the ropes.
testing the slip-knotS TO ascertain if they
work properly and all that, the actual
descent entails few dangers.
81 always made my parachute descents
with great success and soon gained a wide
reputation. Various cities invited me to
give exhibitions, and l travelled about all
over Europe. In the whole course of these
varying experiences there was only one
time when l felt that / was 'goner.'
Sixteen years ago-when in my TWEEN
ty-sixth year, was invited to give an eX
hbition at Trieste. in Austria. I did not
speak the native language. but employed
an interpreter to help me in giving direc-
tions to the men who were engaged to get
the balloon ready.
This balloon had been made especially
for parachuting. 1t carried no basket
and there was no valve by which to let
out the gas when YOU wished to come
down. l was engaged in fixing the para
chute to the bottom of the ring and tod
the Interpreter to lift up. gently He
misunderstood me, and. before L knew
what he was saying. he called out to his
men, in Italian, Let CO. ! was sitting in
the ring. and the parachute was not
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-27

YOU? Speak. 1t may save you some
thing
He leaned forward in his easerness and
predtlied haiU. L could not hide my re-
Puislon; the man seemed eager to doubt
his wife. Alicia. who was as far above
him as the angels are above Satan.
Il stood in no need of assistance"
replied. You needn't fear robbery from
any member of your household There
was no collusion.''
He seemed baff1cd by my words and
tone. and was silent for a moment or
two. Then he burst upon me suddenly
with the question:
Had you ever met Mrs Grey before
that night
l could not keep from giving him a
look, at which he flushed deeply-at least
there was Il little shame in the man. 1t
should be understood too. that both GREY
and / OWNED each other or at least he
suspected, but suspected far too much
L never presumed to such an honor as
you give me- ! replied.
He flushed again, bit his lip and hest
tated. l saw that he was bound to ad-
nit himself defeated. and it seemed to
me that any man should rejoice in such a
defeat, but i marked appointment in
his look.
Very WELL" he said at last. Il pre-
sumo that you are telling the truth, and
in any event / congratulate you on your
coming journey to Frankfort: you will
have ample opportunity for reflection"
1T was an lgnoble speech to make to
one who was cast down by fortune and
/ showed my scorn by turning my back
upon him He then went out because |
would no longer reply TO anything that
he said, and-the door again shut me in TO
silence and desoation.
My case was called the next day be-
fore the circuit judge. my indictment by
the grand jury being returned meanwhile
and it was disposed OF so briefly that |
was left in sort of daZe. Alicia did not
appear, there was no voice raised in my
behalf no explanation was made by any
body no sudden help dropped from the
clouds. there was merely the dry me-
chanical voice of the judge saying: Il
. sentence you. Charles Johnson. to three
years imprisonment with hard labor in
the penitentiary at Frankfort" and then
he turned to the consideration of the
next case.
| repeat that | was in Il daze and the
sentence only plunged me into it the
more deeply. i. man of good birth
and breeding. who had never been any
ones enemy but mis- own. to be sent To
the penitentiary! to be convict, to wear
suit of stripes! to be branded before
all the world criminal, And for a
woman who had not said word to save
me. In the stunned silence l felt some
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-27

came interested in ballooning,' he said,
land took to the business from the start.
After making two Or three accents with
Partisan aeronaut. I decided one Gay
to go up alone. l was only in my six
teenth year, and. naturally, not so eau
tious then as l might be now: otherwise
I would never have done such a fool
hardy thing as / did.
When the hour came for the balloon
to ascend, an immense crowd had gath
cred in suburb of Paris. To my disap-
pointment, the balloon, for some reason
or other. would not rise with my weight
and that of the basket combined. After
waiting some time. the spectators, who
had paid their money to see the per-
formance became impatient, and. not
knowing just what to do. I suddenly de-
cided that 1 would cast off the basket
and go up in the ring. AS you perhaps
know. every balloon has, just below the
neck at the bottom. a wooden ring. which
holds up the car. This particular balloon
was we'll built, the ring was good strong
one. and supported as it was by hundreds
of ropes it did not occur to me that there
could be any danger at al in my making
the ascent without the basket.
$50 / instructed the men to ,ast off the
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-27

lion of disgust, threw down his quill pen,
and arose from the chair. wv nat III
name, anyway he queried-
He had failed to find suitable name
for a new character which he desired TO
nut into the play upon which he was en-
gagged.
Today, right here in this city, there are
nearly hundred men who are more per-
plexed in getting names which have al
ready been long upon the market. Likely
the bard of Avon is laughing quietly to
himself off somewhere in another exist
ence.
These men referred to are not. now
ever seeking to make a play. or compose
a novel, but are engaged in the very pro-
sale efforts of preparing new city d.
rectory for the capital for the coming
wear under the direction of Col. ". An
drew Boyd son of the founder of the di-
rectory idea in this country. Since the
middle of September the force, consisting
of some eighty-tive or more men, mas
been out through all parts OF the CITY
and the District compiling long lists of
the names addresses and occupations of
the thousands of Washingtonlans.
:: ::
Perhaps the public at large imasnes
that il is an easy task of routine sort to
gather up this information and tabulate
in into the form which Is useful. But
this is far from the true state of affairs,
as will De readily discovered when the
method of making the book has been
conprehended.
I'VE began the work of gathering up
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-27

pocket l heard in the hall the step of
Mrs Grey coming to meet her husband
She saw me. and | think in the shadow
she took me for her husband. She
stepped forward and spoke to me, but
at that moment Mr.. Grey came in and
held me up. That's all there is to it,
judge. I was caught with the goods
on me, and when I'm caught | know
it,.
l spoke in the same nippant tone
that l had used all along, and the
Judged frowned again. am confident
he was d good man. He looked me over
critically and then spoke slowly:
Il should be glad to think that so
repentance. but your manner does not
indicate it
] felt the rebuke. In reality his
words cut me deep. Innocent ] was of
this crime. yet an innocent man l was
not; my course of life, reckless and
oner'S stand as truly as if l had gone
into George Grey's house for the pur-
pose of robbery. and not because of
wild desire to see ALICIA. on whom l
had thought, i'll my folly, that [ had
some claim. I know my face turned
white as the blood left it, and l low
cred my eyes before the reproVing gaze
OF the judge. When ] raised them again
] glanced in another direction and met
the look of Grey, still bent upon me,
still keenly scrutiniZing. and knew
it-still expressive of Il lingering doubt.
AS before. l met his gaze firmly, and
again his eyes yielded to mine.
Grey was called to the stand. though
the need of his testimony was small
after my confession, and he told how he
had found me in the parlOr. and of my
producing his wife's purse from my
pocket. His story agreed with mine
he could not make it otherwise-and
his testimony occupied only two or
three minutes, after which he stood
aside at the fringe of the crowd, his
big. aggressive form. his heavy hand
some face and his rich clothing making
him Il conspicuous figure. i saw that
lie was OF the type known as dashinS,
and before the signs of dissipation APP
peared upon him he might easily have
caught the fancy of young and in
experienced girl.
/ was bound over for trial to the cir
cult court. then in session, and was in
formed that my case would come up
three days later. i was sent back to
my cell in the Jail. and l was left again
TO the silence. now more oppressive
than ever.
/ do not think that I expected to go
to the penitentiary. Conscious of my
innocence. at least of this crime. it did
not seem possible that 1 could he pun
ished for II thing l had not done. and
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-27

saving hand would yet Intervene
Alicia would come, she would tell the
truth to that jealous, cruel husband of
hers, she would make him believe her
pure, and ! would step again into the
clean, bright freedom of the world.
She did not come. and the days were
heavy indeed. The world left me alone
] had disappeared. and with my disap
pearance ! was at once forgotten Yet
had cause to be glad that l was SO
little known in Louisville was
afraid at first that some inquisitive re-
porter stumbling upon d clue might
trace my origin and discover my real
ordinary one. and I and it were APP
parently forgotten together.
But l was not wholly forgotten. be-
cause on the day before my final trial
the warden. unlocking my cell door, an
nounced Il visitor-Alicia at last! She
had recognized how I saved her good
name. and now she would help me, or
ut least tell me her appreciation! My
for the sight of Alicia's face and the
sound of her voice.
The step on the stone floor of the hall
outside was heavy and aggressive, not
that of Alicia. and ] sank back on the
edge of my cot. seeking to be resigned
rush to the depths. But ] was bowed
for only moment. / would not show
despair before this man. for whom
felt instructive and deep aversion.
Grey's large figure almost filled the
doorway and he said to the warden ag-
excessively:
Il want to speak to the man in pri-
vate.' Then he came in, and the ward
en- shutting the door behind him. went
away, leaving the two of together.
The cell, in addition to the cot, con-
tanned a small wicker chair, too light to
be used as a weapon of offense, and I
motioned toward H. but he did not sit
down. He stood with his back to the
closed door looking at me, and never was
the man more offensive. as he slowly
looked me up and down, with Il brutal.
vindictve gaze.
Well l asked what do you want"
The full truth if you know how to
tell it
II fancy that l am good terms
with the truth as you are l replied. my
tone expressing scorn.
He flushed a little. but continued, re-
turning to his bullying, dOmineering man
ner:
You don't talk like a common burglar.
Johnson. and what | want to know is
how YOU got into my house, No lock on
door or window shows any signs of tam
per:ng-I had locksmith to go over
them TO see. Was a door unlocked for
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-27

car. and the balloon, minus its basket
and with only my light weight, shot up
into the air. OF course, the crowd cheer
ed wildly. and l felt quite pleased with
myself during the first few minutes.
had not been in the air very long how
ever. when l began to feel a sort of
dizziness coming over me, and 1 became
so faint l could scarcely hold on to the
ring. I could not account for the feeling.
as l never experienced any inconvenience
from ascending, such as Is the case often
with some professional -aeronauts.
Suddenly. I realized what was the mat
ter. l was being asphyXiated by the gas
coming from the bottom of the balloon
My position in the ring, instead of in the
basket, brought me quite close to the
neck of the balloon. Almost all balloons
are open at the bottom-especially those
filled only with hydrogen, as mine was.
AS the balloon went up, the cooler at
mosphere contracted the envelope of silk,
and thus forced out a lot of gas over
my head. / made feeble effort to lean
out from the ring, so as to escape from
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-27

tie hydrogen fumes, but 1t was no good.
I had no rope by which / could lower
myself below the ring into a place of
safety. and even If I had had one, [
doubt very much if I would have had
strength enough to hold on. as the hydro
gen had made re quite sick.
FINALLY. after some moments of in
tense bodily and mental anguish. | could
not resist the terrible feeling of s!eepiness
that came over me and l passed off into a
state of Inconsistencies. Perhaps this
was the best thing for me. for had l fully
realized my terrible danger. l might have
thrown myself out of the car in despair.
after five hours in the air. during which
my senses never returned to ME. l landed
on haystack thirty-five miles away from
Paris. As l was unconscious. the peas
ants thought / was dead. They carried
me to a hospital in a small town, and
was i'll for several months.
'One would naturally think that after
this adventure ] would have been effect
ually cured. But soon as I got we'll
| began to yearn again for the excitement.
No occupation seemed to suit me unless l
was interesting myself in aeronautics. and
finally / gave up everything and became
a professional .ba'loonist
After making many hundreds of as
cents. from various parts of Europe. I
went in for parachute work. Coming
down from balloon in parachute is
not. perhaps. SO dangerous as it appears.
Quickness. good eye and judgment are,
of course, required. If one makes care
full preparation beforehand. seeing that
every possible precaution against mishap
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-27

material for the directory" said Col.
Boyd, about September 10. and it will
probably not be completed and ready for
the printers until near the LIST of Febru-
airy. This year we expect to have in the
book between 100000 and 125,OOO names,
which is but small part of the real popu-
lation of the city. Why? Well. for many
reasons we are unable to get the list COM
plete. One of the greatest difficulties is
the attitude of many of the people them
selves"
What objection any one in the city could
possibly have to giving his or her name,
address or occupation was explained by
one of the house-to-house canvaSSerS who
has been in the service for nearly thirty
years.
I'VE come in contact with crankS of
every description-lmen who never give
away any information,' he said. During
my long experience in this and other cities
in the directory business from the can
vasser's end of it l have had almost
everything done to me except being
thrown downstairs or out of window.
Many people take us for book agents or
something worse, and many times l have
rung the bell at houses, even in the best
sections of the city, only to see head
come out of some window in an upper
story and to hear fair creature drop
half-suppressed epithets on me in pain
fully unmelodiouS voice.
ITO carry on a conversation with a
woman who does not want to talk to you
ana VINO Is twenty rect or more ABOVE you
on rainy day is not an easy task, and
we are more frequently unsuccessful than
successful in getting the names of the in
mates of such a house"
* :;
How do YOU manage with the really
aristocratic residents of the city, was
asked.
I'm the ma jority of cases we experience
very little difficulty, but occasionally We
fine a mysterious lady who does not wish
to have her name in the directory, for the
reason that she thinks that her friends
who desire to visit or write to her know
the address well enough. For the rest of
the public she prefers being nonresident"
What course do you pursue among the
poorer classes?
1t is there that we find our greatest
trials. We must of necessity come in
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-27
COMPILING THE CITY DIRECTORY IS AN ARDUOUS TASK

contact with good and bad. We find men
who possess rather shady regulations,
and who naturally do not want their
whereabouts known. We do not know
them, of course, and the names and ad-
dresses we are given are many times
purely fictitious. Men who do not work
will not give us their names. and included
in this class are great many of the set
of young men known as the heavy sports
or dudes. They frequently refuse to give
us their names, in the fear that a dis
closure Of their whereabo would re-
suit in an overabundance of calls from
anxious creditors.
Criminals. too. are another class OF
men who always avoid getting their
names into print. 1t is not an uncommon
thing for a canvasser to get a door slam
med in his face and to be told to get out
or be scalded with a teakettle full of
boiling hot water. The lower classes of
people do not understand exactly what We
are after. and 1t is often risky business
attempting to argue with them. This is
especially true in the case of foreigners.
For such names We are compelled to rely
on the records of the police department.
:;
Col. Boyd tells an amusing incident in
the case of an attractive and apparently
we'll educated woman who desired to
have her name kept out of the directory.
VI ''iN
colonel one day, when he was in the midst
of great deal of important business. On
being assured that this was the office and
the man who made the city directory.
she came very close to the desk where
the colonel was seated and said in most
confidential voice:
Il am very anxious TO have my name
kept out of the next edition OF the direc-
tory.
With the experience born of long prac-
tice. Col. Boyd sized her up as being
probably an employe of the government,
and risking the guess questioned:
For what reason. madam? Why
should you desire your name. out of all
those of your department. kept out of the
city record?'
Amazed, she exclaimed: why. how did
YOU know that l am in the department?
l never said So
No madam, but it is my business 10
know all about people in this city About
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-27

ago and | looked around fearfully lest
some one should recognize me but there
was no familiar face, ii WAS little likely
| should see any one who knew mo and
the journey to the penitentiary was short.
Before ! passed within the gates took
last look at the free world, the trim lii
tie city emboWered in trees and the
green hills circlinS about il. Then the
heavy gates closed behind me and my
life as convict began.
! shall pass over many OF The humilia-
tons inseparable from my position hu-
Mutations that neither time nor success
can make me forget. but worst of all
was the arrayal for my new life, the
cropping of the hair and the striped suit.
How those stripes burnt into me,
My cell mate was tail, thin man from
the mountains. Elias Peabody. and l
glad that chance had put me with
him. because | SAW at once that he
not bad man. ''Moonshining." he told
me: that is the illicit making of whs-
ky. and he could never be persuaded that
he had committed any crime. TO him the
wicked government that oppressed him
for doing what he had right TO do WAS
the real criminal. He examined me
critically when We first met and put hi..
hand upon my forehead, then upon my
pulse:
You amt well. Johnson" lie said
Too hot by long sight
was in d raging fever the next day
anu loI 1edi1S Il week l Was unconscious
When knowledge returned | was in The
prison hospital. and the prison doctor was
by my side You will be up in Il few
days, Johnson" he said. but meanwhile
you'll have to lie quiet.
What's been the matter with me-" !
asked.
Several things he replied thought
fully. Enforced abstinence. suspense
and a great mental shock"
so YOU see that even burglar can
have his feelings | said. jesting poorly
Criminals are often very sensitive" he
replied. You will excuse me for using
the word criminals but you brought up
the subject.
Don't apologize | said. lit was my
fault / forgot myself ana spoke as one
man of the world To another
He looked rather oddly at me and
picked up one OF my hands as it lay limp
ly on the bed.
ITS a hand that's done little work,
honest or dishonest he said
| was always proud of my hands, They
are long and slender and, To my mind
that indicates good blood.
You mean that they dom look like a
burglars hands" | said; but l confessed
and was promptly convicted. So here am"
40 he continued tomorrow
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-27

This astounding statement was made
by Prof. A. T.. Gaudron. one of the most
intrepid and experienced balloonists in
the world. who has just justified his
claim to Al least one of these titles In
breaking the 1ong-distance oversee rec
ord by plotting his balloon from Alex
andra Palace, London. TO New Alexan-
drovsk, Russia. distance of LII miles
as the crow flies.
If any man in the world warrants by
his extraordinary career, the statement
Mat he has the necessary daring and VEN
turesomeness for this seemingly fool
hardy feat it is this aeronaut. Few men
have made SO many ascents; he. long ago.
,aost count of the actual number. but he
possesses records Of no less than 5000
iHe has risked death so often that his IA
imiliarity with danger has bred contempt
iof 1t, and he now speaks of his aSsentS
las being but little more hazardous than
the vocation of the ordinary man in the
street.
IT IS doubtful if the counting of the
men In this world who have been face to
face with imminent death as often
Gaudron would exhaust the fingers of
both hands. lie can boast OF having
viewed this earth from a greater distance
than any other individual. for from the
St. Louis exposition grounds he assembled
more than 10000 feet, establishing a rec
ord that has stood ever since. Ballooning
to him is an absolute passion.
The case of Prof. Gaudron is one of
those which prove that the most interest
ing lives in this funny old world of ours
are those which go unrecorded, unwritten.
Were this man to set it all down in print
ers' ink-his breathless adventures, his
harbreadth escapes from what seemed
like certain destruction, his amazing sang
froid through moments that would have
bleached the color from almost any
other mans hair-it would make human
document as absorbing as any that has
ever been written.
1t is doubtful if Prof. Gaudron could
remember any but an extremely small
minority of his many exploits. but when
The Star correspondent saw him in his
balloon house at Alexandra Palace a few
days ago he was able and willing to tell
some of the most thrilling. He opened
up his account by reverting back to the
time. thirty years ago. when he began his
career as a balloonist.
Il was living in Paris when 1 first be-