davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington times., 1908-03-21
BIG HOTEL FIRE HALTS
BOTH MAILS AND COURTS

CHICAGO, March H.-The handling Of
the mails in the Chicago postotice and
trials in the Federal courts were sus-
pended during the progress Of the FIRE
which destroyed the upper floors OF the
Grand Pacific Hotel giving the firemen
a hard battle.
A banquet was in progress on one OF
the floors below that on which the fire
broke out, but when warned Of their
danger the banqueters refused to bulge
It was only when their room filled with
smoke that they Tetreated.
Many patrons of the hotel occupying
rooms on the upper floors were warned
by telephone and escaped down the ele-
vators and the fire escapes. The halls
became so filled with smoke that escape
bv the stairs was impossible. The
smoke filed the Federal building. in
Clark street, and all business had to
be suspended.
The hotel, which was owned by the
estate of the late Levi z. Letter. was
damaged to the extent Of over 100000.
The Washington times., 1908-03-21
A Court of Patent Appeals.

Urgent representations to the
House Committee on Patents and
the introduction of a bill by Repre-
sentative Harrison of New York are
the latest workings of the move
ment toward a central court of pat
ent appeals for the United States.
1t is to be hoped they reveal a
united purpose and general agree
ment among members of the pat
ent bar. Otherwise, there is slim
likelihood that this logical and bus
iness-like improvement in methods
of American litigation can be had.
The present situation requires
radical change. There can be no
doubt of that. For until the holder
of a patent right has had it affirmed
in every Federal court of appeals or
by the United States Supreme Court
he has no security whatever against
continued litigation on any con-
tested ground. Thus, if his patent
right is violated in Maine, he must
sue for infringement there; win
ming in the district court he must
face an appeal; winning again, if
his opponent is persistent, he must
undertake the same round of court
and attorney fees in another Fed
eral district. And If he cannot OBJ
tain a general affirmation of his
right by the United States Supreme
Court (Which is by no means as
sured him), he may be forced to
bring proceedings in every one of
the nine judicial circuits.
To meet this gaping danger, it
has been proposed to establish a
central court of patent appeals, to
which appeals would be taken di-
rectly from the Federal district
courts, and from which appeals
would lie to the United States Su-
preme Court. It's members would
make themselves experts in patent
law. 1t would sit in Washington,
The Washington times., 1908-03-21
Who Fixed the COlIateraIS (?

From the records of the excise board
IL is shown that from March 3 1907, TO
March >, 1903, there were sixteen licensed
dealers before the Police Court for vio-
lating the excise law. OF this number
four were convicted OF violating the
law and twelve were permitted 10 for
felt collateral.
This is not rumor. It is not the
loose talk of some milk man &C
cused of selling under the standard
or some HORSEPOWER angry at be-
ing hailed to the Police Court by
the Humane Society. 1t is a formal
statement made TO the Commission
ers of the District of Columbia by
the excise board of this jurisdiction.
And it would seem to prove that
the practice of accepting eollaterals
in the Police Court has not been
discontinued as ordered by the Dis
trict Commissioners a year ago.
Important as it is to determine
why violaters of the excise law are
not prosecuted, it is the judgment
of The Times that a still larger is
sue is involved in this report. That
issue is comprehended in these
questions:
BY whom was the collateral in
these cases accepted?
By whom was il fixed?
BY what authority of law?
Any inquiry which the Commits
sioners may order into the matter
which does not answer these three
questions will be manifestly short
circuited and untrUstworthy.
The Washington times., 1908-03-21

where the Government maintains it's
office of patent issue, and keeps its
records. Its docket. being free of
other litigation, would afford pat
entees speedy hearings. Most i'm
portant of all, having general
Jurisdiction, its Judgment would
preclude persistent infringement in
any part of the country. At pres
ent, the nearest approach to such
an institution is the Court of APP
peals of the District Of, Columbia,
where about half the docket has TO
do with patent causes. The testi-
mony of patent lawyers is that il
the nine circuit courts were as well
informed, there would be less con-
tiict of opinion in matters of patent
law. Even so, the judicial oTgani-
cation would be open TO objection so
serious as more than to warrant a
separate court.
The active objection to such a
court has come from two sources
patent lawyers practicing away
from Washington; general practi-
TONERS who see in such a court a
new premium on the services of
patent specialists. As to the first,
these same attorneys might as we'll
protest against the location here of
the United States Supreme Court.
Both are features of the National
Government which belong at the
seat of that Government. AS to the
second, the question is not one of
fees for attorneys, but of justice
for clients.
We're such objections the only
obstacles, the court would have
been established by now. But Con-
gress has been confronted with an
embarrassing difference of opinion
among the friends of the new court.
One bar associat ton has favored this
bill; another that; and so on. This
is the fact which gives the hearings
now being conducted in committee
for the House their special interest.
If they reveal a fairly harmonious
state of opinion among members Of
the patent bar, the new court may
easily enough be had. If they do
not reveal such harmony, il has a
mighty slim chance.
The Washington times., 1908-03-21

White House to meet Booker Washing
ton" Fred Beaumont.
a2a Ninth street southeast.
when Uncle Joe stops smoking
stogies.' Mrs. p. A. Hagsn.
Cameron apartments.
when the skating is good. in Hades.
" men In IOphet a SNOWFALL may freeze,
And from Sbe0l's dark jaws
A Tom cat without claws,
Lands unsinged on bleak PyTenees.
S. Morgan,
s25 Rhode Island avenue northwest.
When YOU ride on a pilot and can't
feel the breeze;
When lovely Miss Luna turns into green
When the cat and the fiddle
Have solved their own riddle.
On then the poor clerlies Will get their
just fees"
Jack Grove,
13l z street northeast.
when the IioE eats gross like an OK.
AND the nshWOrm swallows The whale.
When the terrapins knit wooden socks.
and the mare = OutTuu by the snail.
When serpents walk upright like men,
Ard poodle dogs travel like frogs:
When the grasshOpper feeds on the hen
Ana feathers are found on hogs;
When Thomas cats swim in the air
And elephants roost uD0n trees.
When insects in summer are rare,
and snuu never makes people sneeZe,
When fish creep over dry land.
And mules On VelOCipedes rlde:
When frogs lay eggs in the sand
And women IN dress take no pride.
When DutChmeE no longer drink beer,
And girls get 20 preaching or time:
When the Billy goat butts from the
rear.
and treason no longer Is crime:
When the humming bird brays like an
ass.
And limbUrECr smells like cologne:
When plOWshaFeS are made out OF glass
And hearts Of dr. miners OF stone"
Mrs. ReaSa Goodwin,
1l05 d street southwest
The Washington times., 1908-03-21
Action at Last in Sight.

The House Committee on District
of Columbia will meet on Wednes-
day, with the purpose of consider
ing the bill for the repeal of the gas
imitation law. Corporation Counsel
Thomas viii be heard, and it is I'M
derstood also the Gas Monopoly will
have counsel on hand.
On the day following these hear
ings, the committee win meet to
transact business, and in all proba-
bility action will be taken which
will determine for this session the
fate of the repeal bill. If it Is re-
ported by the committee, it ought
to pass on the following Monday,
the next District day.
The authorities of the District
governmental three of the Com
missioners, and Corporation Counsel
Thomas-have united in the request
that this legislation be repealed. 1t
has been held unconstitutional by
the Court of Appeals of the District
by a divided vote. The gas interest
has appealed to the Federal Su-
preme Court, and it is considered by
no means certain that the measure
viii there be nullifed. The law is
one whose vicious effects are a good
deal more obvious than its unconsti-
nationality, The only safe course is
its repeal. There is no doubt about
the position of the House in this
matter. If the committee will re-
port the repeal bill, it will pass that
body.
Unless this repeal carries, the
chances are excellent for consum-
nation of the Gas Monopoly's
scheme OF issuing about 100 per cent
of new stock-plain water-and sad
ding upon this community, for all
time, the necessity of paying divi-
dends upon it. 1t will, if carried
out make Washington Gas the
worst overeapitalized gas PROPOSE
ton in the country. 1t will be done
under a law which was not under
stood by most men who voted for
its passage, and which every fair
minded critic has admitted ought
never to have passed, and ought
now to be repealed before more
harm is done.
1t is trusted that the District
Committee will hear the Commits
sioners and the Corporation Coun-
sci with care, and will be assured
that they speak for the real inter
est of the people of Washington,
The Washington times., 1908-03-21
Why Fennel and Why Rue?

He who remembers his Shakespeare
will probably not be puzzled by the
name Of William Dean Howells newest
novel, 'Fenne and Rue" so far as the
rue is concerned. But fennel has no
such familiar suggestion for most read
ers, although the mad Ophelia scatLers
Il as we'll as the herb Of darker mean
ing. Perhaps the first part Of the odd
tile which Mr.. HoWells has selected for
his book may be explained by a passage
ia LongfeIloWs The Goblet Of Lie -
And he who bauled and subdued, a
wreath of fennel wore"
As a whole. il is perhaps as Mt a name
as could be thought Of FOR a tale which
depicts in the consciousness Of its hero,
a young author, the mingling OF the
sense of triumph and the sense or loss
that IS peculiarly possible TO complex
Notwithstanding American.
The Washington times., 1908-03-21
New Books at Hand.

Under the Flag Of the Cross" J.
Hamilton Scdberry. c. NJ. Clark Pub
fishing Company. A romance Of the
coming ages, bringing the conquest OF
the world TO the Caucasian race.
The Supreme Gift" Grace Denie
Litchfeid. Little, Brown & Co. Illus
trateC. a re-hash Of the unfortunate
Waggaman incident. The beginning Un-
happy and the ending distressing.
THE City Of Delight" Elizabeth Nil
Ter. Bobbs, Merrill Company. a beauti-
full historical romance Of the time OF
the reign OF the Roman government in
Jerusalem; well told
Big Game AT Sea Charles Frederick
Holder. The Outing Publishing Com
pany. Spicy and sportsHanlike stories
OF the authors experience with big game
al sea and IN inland waters
THE STUFF Of Man." katherine Evans
Blake. Bobbs Merrill Company. A weak
attempt 10 initiate Uncle Tom 5
Cabin
Justice to the Jew" Madison c.
Peters The Mcclure Company. An eX-
tremely well-writJen work on the in
fiuence Of the Hebrew Commonwealth
upon the origin OF the Republican Gov
eminent IN the United States.
The Washington times., 1908-03-21
WILL COMPROMISE,
AVOIDS SCANDAL
Mrs. Webster Gets Part OF
Husbands 100000
Estate.

NEW YORK. March a.-By agree
ment. the threatened contest Of the viii
of Everett b. Webster president Of the
National Steel and Wire Company. who
left all his property, valued a. almost
50 600 600. 20 Mrs. Jacob c. Rogers, Of
81 East Thirtieth street, and Mrs. Dor
othy c. Gruhbins, of London. TO the eX-
clusion Of his wife, is averted. IL is
understood that Mrs Webster gets one
third of the estate.
That d settlement had been nade and
the will admitted TO probate in Nassau
county was admitted yesterday by
George ]. Carr, OF 100 Broadway. cOun-
sci for Mrs. Webster.
"AIl l can say Is that a settlement en-
inently satisfactory 10 Mrs. Webster
and, l think. to the others in interest.
has been made and the viii allowed "
declared Mr.. Carr. Beyond that can
say nothing without violating a conf
dence."
Mr.. Rogers, whose wife became heir to
one-third OF the real and personal prop
eTty Of Webster, said last night that an
understanding had been arrived at
The settlement Of The controversy,
which began on the arrival II Mrs.
Webster from Jacksonville F'.e., where
Webster died on November %. prevents
what was expected 10 be a sensational
exposure Of certain phases of life among
the sporting sets of Long Island and
Massachusetts Mrs. Whistler had been
separated from her husband for some
time before his death and had filed a
suit in Essex county, Massachusetts,,
which was to have been tried In Jan
uary last. She was notified of the ser
ious Illness Of her husband and FASTENED
to Florida arriving fifteen miHutes af-
ter his death.
When the will was filed at Mineola
on December 10 Mrs. Webster's fears
that she would be left out came true,
for the only reference to her expressed
the wish that she nave no part OF the
property, on the ground that ample pro
vision had been made for her 10 Web
ster's lifetime. She retained MI. carr
and Peter a. Breen, or Lynn, Mass,
to look out for her interests. II was ner
claim that her husband had been IN
duly Influenced and that at the time ne
died his mental health. because OF the
life he had led at Beverly Farms. Mass,
at his Long Island home ana on various
Yachting excursions was sucn as 70
render the making Of VaIlo VIII I'M
possible.
For these charges. MI Rogers, speak
ing for his wife. declared there " as nor
lie least foundation. He asserted WEB
ster's Health was good ana that 20 the
Ia ST he was the same haru-neadsu Dust
51ess man who. starting az clerk in the
office of Thomas W. Lawson, IN Boston
Ina ten years amassed millions through
the combining Of small steel mills and
the formation Of English companies
The Washington times., 1908-03-21
Reehristening a Magazine.

Evidently il is a good deal harder task
to name a magazine than II IS oFand
new infant. The Bohemian Magazine
published by the Outing Publishing COM
panv at Deposit, y Y, last month OF
fered a prize, through the newspapers
rf s108 for a new name which might be
used in the future. ..o,,a
The most curious received was Ola
Podrida." a name that would make the
magazine that bore IL a prize IN the iiIu-
seIms. A name that had real magma
tive quality TO IL was EuphfosyhS
Caslyet q" The names run the WItoiS
e-srn1Jr of the ordinary and the extra
ordinary There was me LuAus'
Right EnthrOned," and The LatSsl;
e. PluFibus Unum, The HeaEl a. n
RTsgazfne" and Triumphant Effort
ssT7srrest Effort came from some one
who appreciated that the editors were
ar least irving hard. the Wireless
one name suggested. might do very well
for a magazine that has no visible tele-
graph service. ..e,-.-.
and Sunset" The Athene, The BOOK
Of the Muses." and The NOmad' d.
vIded interest in the editorial sanctuIn
with Delighted and The Hugness
EfseazIrf The Outer Circle Pot
Luck" and The Glad Line, The Uni
verse. The Hero ana All sorts
came in one mail. THE Kara AVIS,
and THE Rarebit' came rom OIilahd-
saThe Bonhomie" was suggested by sew
cTal 'The Holiday Magazine was sus-
eested by another editor.
.@The Uplifter," and The Uplift came
from the same lady who suggested Inc
Guido" other names were daya-
SMILE ''The Joy Magazine, The Jo4-
Ter - The Animst0r," The Master
niece" THE Magnet" and Your Mag
The editors are Sill waiting.
The Washington times., 1908-03-21
Julie Of the Salon.

The career Of Julie de I1espinasse be-
comes the subject OF a serious biogra-
ply for the first time in England with
the publication there OF the volume, a
star OF the Salons: Julie de Lespinasse. %
which deals with the strange early his
tory OF this brilliant beauty, her eX-
perlence as governess in a country
house, as convent boarder, companion
10 Madame du Deffand, and finally as
mistress of the salon. Mile. de Lespin-
asse has appeared Familiarity in Action.
where Mrs Humphry Ward gave her
prominence in LADY Roses Daughter.
This English biography has been made
10 include an account of various move
r0enfs and celebrities or the day es-
pecially the encyclop~ lists, which IN
point Of view is not unlike the survey
made by Mrs. Ward
The Washington times., 1908-03-21
A Comprehensive Life of S. A. Douglas

Prof. Allen Johnson's Life OF stephen
A. Douglas" which has been IN prepare
ton for a number OF years, is 10 be
published this month Curiously enough
although Douglas was one OF the IN
tellectual giants OF his day. and IN
uuestionably one of the two or three
greatest political leaders the country
has produced, no adequate biography
Of him has hitherto been written Prof
Johnson is said to have discovered some
Important manuscripts bearing on Doug
las life. and also to have aVailed him
self of the personal rec0Hections Of a
number Of men still living. or but lately
deceased. The fact that this year IS
the semi-centennial of the great Lincoln
Douglas debate gives umeliness 10 the
work.
The Washington times., 1908-03-21
Mrs. Delands Feminine Ideal.

Mrs. Margaret Deland visited New
York last week for brief sojourn, just
long enough TO deliver lecture on The
Change in the Feminine Ideal" which
offered quotabIe comment on some pres
eDt-Gay tendencies among Womanklnd.
Mrs Deland's point OF view IS con-
servatIve even while Il is progressive,
and her utterances along this line have
always been protective Of the home IN
terests before all else. Any reader Of
her books is keenly aware that Mrs.
DeIand may allow here heroine new
fashioned temptations but viii always
see 10 It that she fights them with old
fashioned standards.
The Washington times., 1908-03-21
THIEF DASHES TO DEATH
TO ESCAPE HIS CAPTOR

YORK IA. March 21-In an effort
to escape fra Constable G. X. Weaver
who haG arrested him for horse steal
ing. Samuel Knaub, aged twenty-sev-
en-, while handcufed hurled himself
from car window on a southbound
Washington express near this CITY
shortly after o'clock last evening. and
was instantly killed
The prisoner had asked permission ia
enter the toilet room. and when tbis
was granted he made a break for Uber-
ty by jumping head foremost through
the window, He was drawn beneath the
wheels. his head was crushed and one
leg severed.
The Washington times., 1908-03-21
ON ANARCHY
HARVARD SENSATION

CAMBRIDGE. Mass. March 21-The
biggest sensation that has been sprung
at Harvard since the LampOon got out
a fake issue Of the Crimson. announcing
the resignation Of President Eliot, was
the appearance Of the Harvard An
archist, which was mysteriously left
at the doors Of all the undergraduates
during the night.
The paper is a facsimile Of the Grim
son. except that 1t is issued on urid
red paper II announces as it's platform
that ii stands for political clubs. an
archistic socialism, prohibition, women s
suffrage piracy, trial marriages. lvnch
law, and no exams.
There also appears an alleged inter-
view with Prof Barrett Wendell on
chiyairy. According 10 the professor
modern chivalry consists in giving up
your seat in a trolley car TO petit
coat"
The Washington times., 1908-03-21
"0nly"

One does not usually think OF the
United States postal authorities as be-
ing concerned over questions OF English
style says Harper's Weekly. Yet for
great many years the pOstoffice has
experienced great difficulty with the
~ofd only" on postal cards. The ef-
Iofts 10 avoid clUmsiness and ambiguity
taxed the ingenuity Of the pOstOffce
people 10 the utmost
Inc department authorities made six
attempts 10 md a brief, elegant, and
unamDlguous legend for the card
An early postal card was inscribed.
Nothlng but the address can be placed
on THIS side" which was neither true
nor elegant.
Nothing but the address 70 be on
TINS SIDE was more TO the point But
as II looked bad 10 the authorities they
/ next evolved this legend: Write only
the ADDRESS on this side" This was
/ objected TO on the ground that il barred
| tle use or tyDeWriting machine.
write the address only on this side,
TIE message on the other" came next
ana was promptly criticised as being
Doth clumsy and ambiguous. Then the
: WORD only was dropped, but without
much Improvement
Finally Uncle Sans officials gave I'D
the struggle "a be original. The card
then adopted and now in use bears this
Inscription: The space below is for the
address only"
The Washington times., 1908-03-21
O. eeee.eeaa61
Aim IHE Boa kOH-DYAEI
55SgB yGg2y = zzz:::.::.s5

There are socialists and socialists. and
the differences among them are often
amusing. John Graham Brooks, in
the curren "ChautauqUan," tells an
amusing story OF two Of them who are
Just now prominent by reason Of their
recently published books.
one of our ''precipltate socialists %
Adr. Brooks relates, once signed his
name in the visitors book OF a Boston
club, Yours for the Revolution, Jack
London" In the club was another So
ciaiist who straightWay followed with
his signature, There amt going TO be
no revolution II. G.. Wells"
The Washington times., 1908-03-21
BRITAIN PLUMES ITSELF
ON AVERTING U. S. WAR

LONDON. March 21.-The morning
papers print conspicuously the news Of
the projected visit Of the American bat
tleheet to Japan. but few OF them make
any editorial comment. The Mall, how
ever, says that IL viii be welcomed by
all as a sign that British diplomacy has
been successful al averting serious frtc-
ton between the two great naval pow
ers in the Pacific
The news of Japan's invitation. which
is a pleasant, tactful act, viii be a happy
omen, il says, for the future.