davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-05-29

time sewing, making little pincushions
with silk birds worked upon them.
She expects to live to be 1875 years old.
The Washington herald., 1908-06-21

must be attributed to the fact that Au-
gust was a wet month and April a dry
one. There Is some thought that the cost
is 70 be even further reduced, and It is
stated by those on the job that It would
not be surprising If the government esti-
mates for the entire work would be great
ly reduced. Up until May ! Of this year
the total expenditure for engineering and
excavating had amounted TO S26,741O95
Some idea of the magnitude Of the work
that has been done may be gained from
the figures, which show that the Ameri-
can engineers have excavated since May
1904. S7.SsO,5s2 cubic yards. which is about
one-third of the amount estimated 20 be
necessary for the high-lcvci canal The
total excavation by the french during
their long trials was Sl.54S,OC0 yards.
But better than all is the gratifying
news that the whole work down there is
progressing smoothly. The main OBJ
stacles in the way have been met and
conquered. and the end Of the achieve
ment. though il is not near yet. is still
within plain sight All that it needs is a
continuance Of the spirit which has car
ried the work Of progress so far on its
way and no let up on the resolve to-
keep on digging.
The Washington herald., 1908-06-21
Keep on Digging.

While the country IS getting ready 10 be
worked up over the rivxl claims OF the
Presidential candidates. it IS gratifying
TO find that so far as the real work OF
the government goes there is no let up.
The news from Panama, where. evidently.
the workers refuse to get excited. either
about the Panama elections or our own,
is Of the most encouraging character.
a notable month in the history OF the
excavation Of the canal has just passed.
May marks the beginning OF the rainy
season down In the Canal Zone and II
was expected that there would be a
marked falling off IN actual progress, but,
as a matter OF fact. the actual diminu-
ton was slight. although the rainfall has
been heavy. April was quite dry, but in
May the number of rainy days varied
from twenty-one TO thirty In various
parts Of the zone. and yet the excavation
for May amounted to 2.7O3,923 cubic yards.
only about $4,000 less than for the thirty
dry days Of April. At every point in the
Canal Zone. except Ancon, the rainfall
was much above the average. II was
nearly twice as much as in May. 1906
and yet the excavation was more than
twice as much as during that Of May two
years ago.
Another cause for congratulation over
the good work done by the American en-
gineers is that the cost of excavation is
diminishing rapidly-much more so than
even the most sanguine prophet antici-
pated Only last August the cost Of ex-
eavatlon was "a cents cubic yard. The
cost for April OF this year had been re-
duced to IS cents cubic yard though,
Of course. part Of this reduction in cost
The Washington herald., 1908-06-21
Army Music and the unIonlsts.

As might have been expected. the War
Department finds itself in something Of
a muddle over the provision Of law con-
tanned in clause in the army appropria-
ton act prohibiting army bands from
seeking contracts TO furnish music where
such business brings them into ''competi-
ton with local musicians. II so happens
that not all OF the local musicians re-
siding in the neighborhood OF army posts
are regarded by members OF the army
bands as possessing the artistic qualif-
cations which entitle them 10 be regarded
as competitors. in any sense. with milf
tary bands. SO, ingeniously enough. the
question has been raised whether il may
not be regarded as a sufficient tustifca-
ton for the army band TO seek outside
employment when 1t shall be held by
those competent 10 Judge that the local
musicians are more local than musical
and are incapable OF furnishing competi-
ton
This Is rather dangerous question 10
present, and Is calculated TO give the de-
Gliding authority an immense amount Of
trouble, especially as it involves an ap-
probation Of what IS sufficiently musical
10 be competitive, The War Department
has seriously taken the ground that the
post commander. who will make the de-
cision in each case so far as IT affects
the destnies Of the band AZ his garrison,
must shoulder the responsibilities for his
own decisions. II he is a wise man. no
will evidently consider that any local
musicians who are after a neighborhood
contract are capable Of furnishing the
competition which would rule out an army
band from seeking the business. II is
enough to exercise discretionary power IN
those cases involving labor unionists. but
IT is something more than the merely peril
Gus when the question involves musicians
and has to do with the Identification OF
true art.
The Washington herald., 1908-06-21
A MISGUIDED Pastor.

There is a minister in ST. Louis who
has great deal 10 learn in this world
albeit he is a man OF most worthy in
tention. perhaps. He tells his flock that
It is wrong for the young people TO hold
hands under any circumstances. and that
the habit. once contracted. is apt to be
demorallzlng in the extreme Strange 10
say. however. he bases his objection to
this rather pleasant pastime more upon
physiological conditions than upon moral
grounds.
There is a nerve running from the
back OF the hand" says he. directly to
the brain; there Is another leading from
the palm OF the hand to the heart. When
man takes a girls hand and presses
these two nerves. she comes under his
control. and is helpless in the matter of
returning HIS love-
We have no doubt this minister means
well; but we fear he is denseIy ignorant
in the ethics Of holding hands Somehow.
We imagine he hasn't held hands much.
and is speaking from hearsay evidence
all but entirely. In the first place. II Is
idle 20 talk Of any particular nerve being
set IN motion when maid and man are
practicing the gentle art 70 which we
herein refer. II there Is a nerve IN the
entire body that isn't set all a-tingle by
this ancient and exhilaratng performance
when fashioned in innocence, truthful
ness, and good intent-we have no lInowl-
edge Of IT, There is something altogether
satisfactory in holding hands when two
souls are possessed Of one single thought
and two hearts are beating as one. There
is sweet vocabulary OF silence that finds
intelligent expression in the mere gra-
dations Of loving hand pressure; there is
many a message conveyed by the merest
touch that could never struggle into
meaning intended for other than the one
person it is designed TO reach.
There IS no use trying to do away
with the Old-fashioned game OF holding
hands. There is no h1rm in the right
kind Of hand-holding. Like everything
that is eminently good. evil persons some
times use II 10 sinister purposes. But
it is a practice that has not done one
tenth the harm. perhaps. that il has
good II the heart is in the right place,
holding hands will not displace H.
The Washington herald., 1908-06-21
A SUNDAY TALK.
Though he were dead. yot shall he live

though be were dead, yet shall ne I've.
The man who thinks that life is merely
20 be lived-a time for qualification, for
the reaching after happiness-is one who
can never appreciate the true value OF
life. which is hardly so much a gift as
it is high trusteeship. Death is the end
Of endeavor, but it is not. should not, be
the end OF life; FOR what man has
wrought. II It be good, is not allowed TO
die. Good thoughts. like good deeds are
vital things. and are communicated 10
thousands OF others. so that while the
man who gave them birth has passed
away the children OF his soul and brain
perpetuate his life.
In one of his sermons, Dr. Parkhurst
said:
Men accomplish this by dyinE-that after they
are gone VIC think Of what they arc while in life
VIC think of what they do and say. We know
them better In their intimate person when they
are absent than when they are with us Christ
stated. T. ! he lifted up viii draw all men
unto Me. And through The avcuue 81 his death
men came closer 70 Christ You an remember the
lessons from the life cf Mckinley. which came to
every heart when be died. Death becomes the
disclosure not the ECLIPSE. II great man gone.
That is the beauty of the meaning OF
fChrists saying, Though he were dead
yet shall he live; and he that liveth and
helieveth In Me shall never die" II is not
only the great men OF the world who live
after death Indeed. there are few Of
them who do. The men we reckon great
to-day-great In finance-are not, by any
means. the men who promote the moral
advance OF their times. Indeed, by ex-
hibitions Of selfshness and greed. and by
exalting the money-god. they often do
much TO retard II. There are many men
to-day honored. respected and in high
position who when they die will leave the
world as poor as il was when they en-
tered II. Those who survive them will
not be able 10 point 70 a single moral
treasure they have left behind.
II matters not in what sphere OF en-
deavOr mans life is cast he can. II he
will. help 70 lift his times a little way
up 10 that destiny which God has pre-
pared II the world OF to-day Is a bet
ter world than IL was in the DAYS Of dark
ness and unfaith. II is because OF the
fine striving. the high endeavor. OF a
few noble spirits who left a legacy OF
pure thought and high Ideals. in which.
indeed, they live again. As DR. Park
hurst says again.
Call them men OF call them prophets those
who are 20 the world 10 a richer purer life
are those who. standing down hrmfooted on the
coarse ground Cf the matcrial reach far enough
up into the realm o. influence and impulses that
arr other than material % he able 20 exert a
kind of kingship over the world. and 20 reach IL
with some slight touch n moral and spiritual hap
tsm And that means a better histor finer mcu.
a purcr state a hOlirr church. Such are the ones
that over tho broad range os Gods great pur-
poses, count historically
The Washington herald., 1908-06-21
The Defeated.

Because It was good TO be lighting. to put forth
my strength.
To endeavor myself 70 the utmost. the failure al
length
Is never less bitter and hard. or lighter 70 bear
Because al the glorious memories Of battle share
With the NetnYs who PASS me on horseback good
fellows Who wonl
With stem. ardent faces fixed forwnrd and fronting
the sun.
No. failure is comfoEtless arid When battle again
Is Joined shall fight ali the harCler-at last not in
vain,
Though my courage was solid and spcckless. my arm
good before
This pure bitterness strengthens and betters me; no
failure more.
At last l shall win and that victory pure shall 70
deem
All the mighty lost effort and hope, all the disap-
proved dream.
And out Of the depths Of my knowledge Of bitter de
feat
shall know to the utmost that minute how tn
umph is sweet.
IS. H. KemDer. in the July Metropolitan Magazine.
The Washington herald., 1908-06-21
Mnrl, md SIccn-

From the Boston Globe
In these odorous June nights, when ma
ture is sending out her subtlest perfumes
for the soothing of mans irritated tissues.
the saddest being in humankind IS the
one who cannot sleep. Insomnia stalks
like an avcnging specter, and stands be-
side the head Of his bed, jabblng him with
invisible darts. twitchiug al the muscles
Of his limbs. breathing with hot fumes
upon his head.
Many persons suffer from sleeplessness.
and the question with them Is always.
What Will make me sleep?"
The doctors may say this or that will
produce sleep. Their remedies may or
may not prove effective The man Of
general good health who works hard.
lives frugally, and in every way follows
the plain path Of duty. without indul-
gence, rarely Is troubled by sleeplessness.
Generally speaking. good. honest work
banishes the speCter, and the man who
has toiled honestly and joyously and well
finds his eight hours a night I'm bed a
period of restfUl oblivion, from which he
rises as one come out Of nirvana, strong
and alert and happy
The Washington herald., 1908-06-21
LETTERS AND THE NAVY.
Men I'm Cabinet Places often Quali-
fed Ia Write Of Work.
Prom Army and Navy Life

Prom Army and NAVY Life
There is some connection between the
pursuit OF literature and the conduct Of
naval affairs. II has existed from the
days Of Charels II. when Samuel pepvs
flled the ONCE OF the "acts OF the navy"
or clerk OF the Kings ships" and wrote
his piquant. naive. and humorous diary.
until the time Of Theodore Roosevelt
sometime Assistant Secretary or the Navy
and author OF The Naval War Of lNg"
and other literary works
President Martin Fan Burcn recognized
the relationship between books and ships
when. I'm lSlS he offered Washington Try
ing the naval portfolio The honor was
declined. Many years later, when visit
Ing In Washington AZ the house OF Secre-
tary Of the Navy J. T. Kennedy. Irving
was quite taken with the Navy Depart
ment. and discovered much poetry In
It's materials and Incidents. Cndouhtedly.
II is one OF the most interesting DEPART
ments Of the government.
The old navy with its picturesque sail
Ing ships, strikingly beautiful under their
clouds OF snowy canvas, its perilous vow
ages IN unknown seas % unknown peo-
pies and its gay. debonair. and duel-lov-
Ing officers had a charm and romance all
Its own. The new navieS are more PRO-
sale and mechanical StUl, their huge
battle ships and queer-looking subma-
rines have served as fit subjects Of poetry
and fiction for recent writer's
The Washington herald., 1908-06-21
Tho Roosevelt Policies.

From the Pittsburg Post.
Lodge said: Although the President re-
tires he leave HIS policies behind him. "
Which policies? The ones that were never
mentioned IN any Republican platform.
but which he stole from the Democratic
platforms Of several conventions. OF are
his policies that visionary hash. that mar
velous conglomeration Of vaEaries only 10
be exhumed from his messages, and not
diScOverabie In any act Of Congress en-
bodying them into statutory law? II they
be the stolen policies he has. indeed. left
them behind him. He has advertise,
loudly his pTetense OF enforcement. but
quit Ike a steer when powerful Wall
street or intimate friends yelled "ouch go
II II be his original moonlight fancies.
then bequeathing them 10 Taft involves
the rebuke Of Congress for Ignoring the
whole batch. VIII he trade Congress for
Taft2
The Washington herald., 1908-06-21
DOOM OF GAMBLING HERE.
Warfare Against Rnce-trnck Bet
ting Spreading 10 All Stnten.

Nafihfe Against Hnce-trRck Bet
ting Spreading 10 All stntea.
From the Springfield Union
The agitation against race-track gam
bling has spread 20 Colorado. Gov.
Buchtel recently issued a proclamation
holding that betting at the tracks was
in violation of State law. and declaring
that the practice must cease. He asked
the attorney general. the district at
torneys, and the sher.fs 10 see that the
law was enforced.
Upon the opening Of the racing season
I'm Denver. however. IL develops that the
Denver authorities are not fully in
sympathy with the governor on this
point Before the recent municipal elec-
tion In Denver there had been a crusade
against gambling. which led many 10
believe that race-track betting would be
suppressed But the zeal for reform
seems 10 have cooleu somewhat since
election
This is not specially surprising Gam
bling has been so long unrestrained in
the Rocky Mountains that a change can
hardly be expected 10 come In haste
But the amount OF attention given 70 the
subject by the Denver papers indicates
that there is a good deal of feeling in
this matter OF raCc-track betting
Doubtless the agitation is not all sin
cere. but a spark has been struck that
may have an important effect before the
matter is ended. The courageous course
of Gov. Hughes will exert an influence
I'm quarters quite remote from New York
The Washington herald., 1908-06-21
ATHLETES FIRST.
Scholarship Secondary COnsidera
tiOn at the Zig Colleges.


zion NJ tho Zig Colleges.
From tie Manchester Union.
Nearly fifty young men win be grad
uated this year from the Boston Latin
School. which has probably sent more
students to college than has any other
public school IN the East Naturally
enough Harvard will draw the majority
OF shining lights in scholarship and in
athletics. Propinquity must be regarded
as responsible in considerable measure for
this. Harvard always has led in the
number Of students taken from the Latin
school, and probably always will
This year, however, Dartmouth takes
her position as a strong favorite, and not
a few Latin school graduates who have
made their mark as students and as ath-
letes viii be found at Hanover when the
college year opens. The star athlete of
the school. for example. will go 10 Dart
mouth next year. He Is Walter H. Elcocl,.
tackle and captain OF the Latin school
football team. catcher on the baseball
team, and a strong man I'm the shot-put.
lie Is said TO be great admirer Of the
widely famous Dartmouth spirit, and
never 10 have considered any other col
lege for himself. Dartmouth gets another
crack athlete in G. +. Thompson. foot
ball guard outhelder. and shot-putter.
He. too has eyes for no other college.
and rs said 20 have the Dartmouth spirit
already well developed. OF the leading
ten athletes Harvard will get seven, Yale
three, and Dartmouth two. OF the ten
class leaders IN scholarship, eight will en-
ter Harvard. and two will 20 TO Dart
mouth. All OF these students live In Bos-
ton and surrounding towns. and IL is
freely stated that those who have chosen
Harvard took that fact into considera-
ton
IL will be noted that Harvard is the
only college OF the vaunted big four"
10 attract any OF the ten leading stu
dents Of this years graduating class of
the Boston Latin School Dartmouth steps
boldly 10 the front in that respect. and
she gets her share OF the brilliant ath-
ietes as well. The swollen-chested big
colleges are discovering that they must
reckon with Dartmouth, as the public is
already doing.
The Washington herald., 1908-06-21
Chinese Education.

Prom the Chicago Record Herald
II is stated in a dispatch from Pekin
that the government Of China is framing
plan for the education or a number OF
Chinese boys in America, but the precau-
ton is 10 be taken 10 ground them thor
oughly in Confucianism. Confucianism is
chiefly devoted 10 eXtoIIlng the merits
and wisdom OF the ancients and does
not seem Ike a very useful foundation
upon which 70 rear superstructure OF
modern learning. but the latter has quail
ties which can successfully cope even
with the dead hand OF the past and II
the youthful Chinese are thoroughly drill
ed IN II the useless parts Of the teachings
OF COnfuCus will be completely eliminated
from their minds.
The Washington herald., 1908-06-21
RAILROAD DEVELOPMENT.
Mileage Has Increased Faster Than
Population.
rom Hsrpsrs Weekly

From Harper Weekly
There are 25.7S miles OF railroad line IN
the United States Tor every 10000 inhab-
itants. as against 60 IN Germany. SO in
the United Kingdom, "A IN France. and
l53 in Sweden, whose railroad develop
ment exceeds that OF any other country
In Europe. In other words. our railroad
system is nearly 900 per cent IN advance
OF the development shown by the most
progressive of the old world countries
In This respect while IL is more than 800
per cent In advance Of that Of all Europe.
which has only IS miles OF line for every
10000 OF population.
Railway mileage in the United States
has increased more rapidly than has the
population. During the year 1907. the
miles Of track which were added 90 those
In existence totaled 5.S74 The contrast
between New Jersey, with its 3l53 miles
per 100 square miles of territory. and
Nevada, with its lSl, indicates the wide
difference in conditions under which rail-
roads are operated.
The Washington herald., 1908-06-21
MIKE Them Proud.

From the Philadelphia Record.
IF you expect your clerks TO be en-
thusiasuc about the store and the bust
ness. see that you give them some reason
to be- says contemporary Nothing
will starve to death much quicker than
enthusiasm" It's pretty hard for the
most loyal employe TO get enthusiastic
about business that isn't effectively ad-
verused. Requiring a clerk TO push goods
that have not the advantage Of newspa-
per Introduction is like asking a carpenter
TO work with duh tools The lack OF en-
thusiasm so obvious in the merchant who
fails to grasp his advertising opportunity
Is very likely 10 communicate Itself to
his salespeople
The Washington herald., 1908-06-21
TOO MUCH POWER.
Great Responsibility Concentrated
I'm Secretary of Treasury.

I'm Secretary of Treasury.
From the New York Journal a. Commerce
1t is not well 10 concentrate in a single
hand any such financial ability 10 make or
mar as that which is now intrusted 10 the
Secretary of the Treasury. This has been
the verdict Of every expert observer Of
the working OF our fiscal system for some
time past. and il has been increasingly
dinned into the ears Of Congress for sew
eraI years.
Yet, in this respect as in others. the
Senate leaders. closely In touch as many
OF them are with selfish interests. have
not only declined 10 accept the general
opinion. but have now taken a long step
In the opposite direction. Il is situation
OF which remedial legislation. when the
time for il arrives, viii unQuestionabl blv
take cogn.zance by abolishing personal
control over currency issues and move
ments OF government funds.
They will be made dependent solely
upon the dictates OF commercial demand
subject 10 such general limitations Of law
as may be deemed necessary. but never
upon the decisions or impressions Of any
one man, no matter how we'll intentioned
or patriotic he may be.
The Washington herald., 1908-06-21
sport Lovers.

Prom the New York Mail
To the Towers Of sport" folks who say
they ''go 10 the track TO be out in the
air. like to see a good race. whoever
wins and thousands Of others to whom
the betting is immaterial or incidental. we
beg 10 quote the experience of the WASH
ington Park Club, Chicago, when betting
was abolished, in June, 1904. II memory
serves, something like $4,000 people at
tended the first days betless races. When
II was seen that the law was enforced
200 went the second day; the third day
a few stragglers were there. and shortly
after the track was closed.
The Washington herald., 1908-06-21
WAR AGAINST TIPPING.
Hope Expressed that Evil VIII
Some Day BE EradicateG.

frcm The New York Tribune.
The war now being wsged by Yale
against tire tipping evil gives Us the
first substantial hope that the land may
some day be rid OF millionaire porters
and servile patrons. Why didn't some
body observe ten years ago that deliver
ance from the superstitions OF the tipping
system lies through education? Our cities
might now be filled with young men able
10 pay a waiter the exact amount Of the
bill rendered without the faintest per-
turbation. But better late than never.
II all the colleges Will hereafter include
among their dearest traditions the proper
sentiment on the subject Of tip giving
the truth may become as popular as a
college yell and much more inspiring.
And every AlphOnse who prefers petty
grating 20 working Tor wages VIII buy
ticket for Europe. While awaiting this
happy event. let US all Join in hymn
Of praise 20 Yale for its latest defense
Of true democracy.
The Washington herald., 1908-06-21
Annoyed the Queen.

Prom the Bellman.
At political breakfast William f. Glad
stone told the following story Of Queen
Victoria and the old Duke OF Cambridge.
commander-in-chief of the British army.
Lord Mark Kerr had sworn at some
troops at review before the Queen. The
Queen sent for the Duke Of Csmbridge
and told him he must reprimand Lord
Kerr, which he did In this fashion: Look
here, Mark; her majesty heard you swear
this morning, and she said she was
damned II she'd stand IT,"
The Washington herald., 1908-06-21
A British Cnrtoon-

From the New York Sun.
Punch crystalizes the general view here
of Tafts candidacy for the Presidential
nomination in cartoon entitled The heir
presumptiyc." II represents President
Roosevelt In rough riders uniform.
laughing, gesticulating triumphantly and
addressing Taft whom he has rgged out
in a similar uniform with a Rooseveltlan
mask and a big stick I'm his hand, saying:
There. sonny. I've fixed YOU up so they
won't know the difference between us
Taft wears the outfit awkwardly and
stands in a submissive attitude.