davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-05-24

The long dry grass rolled down in great
brown pillows before the hurricane that
swept the prairie and the red flames went
Keeling across the stretch of grass with
the speed of an express train. That fire.
started by the carelessneSs of an army
officer, burned over area of twenty
five hundred square miles. destroyed fifty
farm houses or more and cost hundreds
of thousands of dollars.
OF more recent date is the nervous
panic into which the residents of ST Paul
were thrown by the carelessness of an
English doctor and a negro porter. The
doctor was travelling from San Francisco
to New York having just arrived from
India. In his satchel he arried several
tubes of living bubonic plague bacilli.
He very carelessly left the bag contain
ing the plague germs in charge of a ne
gro porter. who with equal carelessness
promptly misplaced il. The bag was
missing for several days, during which
the entire population was in a state Of
panic. and even after the bag was re-
covered and the tubes found intact many
of the more timid still trembled with
fear.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-05-24

took of all nf the imposing ceremonlals
customary in Catholic England in pre-
reformation timcs-thc bell. the book ana
the candle experimenting the presence
and the. .uSe of holy water. The first
three PLAYED the part in the ritual then of
exercising the devil and his evil spirits,
while the latter made sure Of the bless
ing of God and the saints. With the al
vent of the reformation these elaborate
ceremonies of older days ceased in Eng
land and in the seventeenth century the
launching Of vessels was shorn OF al!
priestly participation and conducted Gu
tirely. so far as naval vessels were con
cerned by one of the royal household
Wine the only element of the sacrament.
was drunk by the royal sponsor. who
afterward emptied the fagon upon the
vessels deck. In Catholic Europe, how
ever the older custom continued. ana ID
the latter part Of the seventeenth cen
fury accounts are found giving careful
details of the continental ceremony. with
its attendant saying of mass and the
sprinkling of the ship and her sails with
holy water. The Lutherans. however
were not unaffected by these Catholic Gus
TOMS and il is said that they practiced
them To the point of hapuzing their yes
sells even as far down as the early part
of the eighteenth century, though. II has
been declared they attached no particular
virtue to the ritual
Way back in the days of the ancient
NCrsemen the shedding of blood was part
of the ceremony attending the launching
of their vessels, human victims being at
tached to the rollers upon which the
ship was carried into the sea. The same
custom in another form prevailed during
the last century among some Of tn"
islanders of the south Pacific. With the
latter il was the custom To make hui
mar. sacrifices when their war canoes
Wer. begun. when they were finished
and when they were first placed upon the
last Iotiye sacrifice being to
the shark gods, which were supposed to
rule the deep.
Some Modern Methods.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-05-24
THE CROOKED DEAL.

John MITCHELL, the we'll known labor
leader, was discussing labor struggle
of the past.
You see, they didn't give US fair
DEAL he said. 1T looked fair on its
face, but really it was like the deal of
Harvey Barr of Braidwood
Harvey Barr. successful LAWYER had
wonderful talent for getting the best of
people. Even at home he kept this talent
! in play. His wife said TO him one morn
ing:
:. Harvey, dear. this is the fifteenth
anniversary of our wedding. What are
you going to give me-?
This is what I am going to give YOU
Harvey answered affectionately and he
handed his wife fifteen dollars in crisp.
fresh bills
oh, thank you. And what shall I
give you?' the eratified wife asked
That meerSchaum pipe I've been adj.
miring so long Harvey promptly an
nounced.
In the evening, on his return home. the
pipe awaited him. 1t had cost lust Sl5
He lit up and began TO color it carefully.
But, as the evening wore on, his wife
seemed i'll at ease.
Where is my present, Harvey" she
Sc id at last fretfully.
why. my dear, Harvey explained
you gave me pipe. l gave you fifteen
dollars. Don't you see? We're just
even
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-05-24
Joins a Burglar Gang.

I hands. SO that l was not a free agent.
was gradually drawn more and more
| within his power. f
Joins a Burglar Gang.
Il was practically forced to become one
of gang of burglars and to share their
secrets Even at this time l was com
pletely in their power by reason of the
| influence which this man had over me and
the fear of the consequences IL l refused
to become one of them. Unfortunately. I
consented to join them, and from that
moment of yielding to temptation | was
entirely at their mercy. When they had
a thorough hold of me they said they
would train me to become an expert bur
siar. Immediately afterward they began
TO tell me how burglaries were committed
| ana 10 show me their implements and
how they were used,
The next step was to take me to a
mousse where burglary had been
planned. | took no part myself in the
burglary, but l was told off to keep watch
Whlle the gang entered the premises and
carried OF the vauabIes. l was now in
FORMED by them that l could not with
uraW and that l had equally taken part
IN the robbery with them. l. became hard
ehed. desperate. and had not sufficient
courage TO draw back. although l often
longed to do so. especially as my wife
was becoming anxious over NV frequent
ana mysterious absences from home
never found the least pleasure in what
| was doing. l was never happy In this
awful work, and ] YES thankful when at
last | was captured
Before my temptation and fall / was
an earnest worker in the Sunday school
and chapel. and l am truly sorry for all
the pain and disgrace l have occasioned
After the expiration of my sentence / am
determined once more to lead an honest
and upright life
One of the strangest things connected
with Spencer's case is that he does not
seem to have profited by his burRlarine
experiences Most OF the plumber from
not less than ten Jobs" traced to him
has evidently fallen into the hands Of the
mysterious person who seems, in a meas
ure, to have exercised almost hypnotic
influence over him.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-05-24
Prevaricators
the London Chronicle.

From the London Chronicle.
A French review has been asking lead
ing writer's and artists what they habit
ually drink; and the replies are on TIE
lofty plane of those that are made wien
men are asked 10 name their favorite
books. With the exception OF Rodin.
Flammarion. and very few others. who
frankly admit their preference for strong
drink, these French Bohemians OF today
seem TO derive their inspiration mainly
from water. And this in a Paris that
once knew Henri Murger. that stu knows
one OF the worst water supplies in a civil
ICED city, 10 you feel impelled. IL a great
man. 10 say that YOU drink water Just
as you seem obliged To Say that shake
speare and the Bible form your staple
reading
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-05-24
REFINED BADINAGE.

"THAT was subtle and ., delicate cate a oaa,-
mage Senator Foraker. SAID grim
ly of an opponents abuse. 1t brings
back the west to me.
"Once in the west l saw cowboy ride
down a village street. making, doubtless,
for the Palladium saloon.
Another cowboy broke off his CONVEX
sation with me to ride up close to the
first one, and, taking his silver watch
from his pocket, he dangled it by its
chain before the others face. Then he
rode back to me again, laughing heartily.
What did you do that for? l IN
quired.
reply"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-05-24
THE PROUD PRINCE.

BUFFALO BILL. who says that with
hard work man should live to he
a centenarian, talked at a reunion Of
Kansas cavalrymen about straight shoot
ing.
1T is hard work to learn to be a
straight shot he said. 1T took me a
long time to learn to shoot straight I
learned though. / once contracted with
the Kansas Pacific railway to furnish
enough buffalo meat for all the laborers
employed on the building of the road.
and in eighteen months killed 1850 buff
faloes. That was straight shooting, eh?
That gave me this name of Buffalo Bill
that people generally know me by"
He smiled.
We Americans are straighter shots
than most he said. A French prince
visited me on my ranch once and we went
out after birds.
Il came back with full bag. but when
l asked the prince what he had killed he
said proudly:
OF re bairds, none zey are too diff
Gle; but, of re Wild calves and calves,
ave nine ovair re H.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-05-24
A MARTINEZ.

fxA MARTINEZ" said Cen r. y.
n Grant at a Memorial day banquet
lis generally a fool.
"They tell a story of martinez OF the
civil war. a captain. He got orders from
headquarters that his men were TO chanse
their undershirts.
But captain said sergeant TO
whom this order was communicated the
men only have one undershirt each
.sThe captain frowned. Then ne saio.
mo matter Military commands must
be obeyed Let the men change uhoer-
shirts with each other.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-05-24
WHAT HE DESERVED.

MY lizard. the brilliant young ac-
"A tress, is an advocate of woman suf
frage and. at tea in New York, she
said the other day to a dramatic critic:
Men treat women unfairly. We should
turn on them. I think. We should give
them a dose of their own medicine. like
but listen.
"A young man in the west-I come
from the west-proposed to a friend of
mine a very, very pretty girl. But after
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-05-24
A CHANGE FOR THE BETTER.

MISS LILLIAN b. HILL. the advertis-
W ing expert. said at clothiers' ban
quet in Grand Rapids:
Il am glad YOU clothiers now advertise
now print pictures of mems and boys
fashions Thus you smarter up the coun-
try, and You help TO abolish the cutting
down Of the fathers clothes for the son
You have educated our little boys to
dress, and few of them could bear to
wear their fathers garments made over
by their mothers awkward hands as in
days of yore.
1T was not always So | remember
how IN the distant past my little brother
rushed whimpering into my room one
night.
oh. dear he whined. pas had his
beard shaved off. and now | guess I've
got TO wear the old red thing,
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-05-24
The Inventor Of Envelopes.

1t is somewhat curious that such a SIM
pie contrivance as the envelope should be
comparatively modern invention AS a
matter of fact 1t Ia just hundred years
since a paper manufacturer Of Brighton
named Brewes invented envelopes for let
tiers In their present form. Even then II
was some considerable time before their
use became at all general. not in fact
until somewhere about the year 1880 be-
fore this date las many who are living
now will RENE mber) a letter. written only
on one side. WAS folded In two. then In
three scaled with a wafer or sealing
AJAX and addressed on one OF the blank
sides.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-05-24
THE TRICKY TRAVELLING MAN.

@I-BE WADDELL at banquet In MS
X honor in ST. Louis said of pitching:
1.-The secret of winning pitching is trick
ery ~ once knew Nicetown drummer
named Horton. who would have made
fine pitcher
- found Horton one day writing in a
red book.
a. dtarvo. said l. L didn't know you
kept diary. Horton ;,
:. IN is only q fake one he replied i
make out IN it that l lead the life of
saint. Then I leave it lying around for
nv wife to read"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-05-24

If you don't send me a hundred by
Saturday I'll blow my brains out
His uncle wrote back:
You telegraphed me that before and
when | forwarded you my best revolver
you went and pawned it,
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-05-24
ylish Midland Town

English Midland Town
Terrorizcd By Series OF
MYSTERIOUS Crnnes-Clever
Craftsman Eludes Special
Force OF Detectives for
Many Months : Captured
Alter Desperate Midnight
Fight in the Dark-llis Pie
nomenal Success Due TO
Gloves and Opium Dust
Spencer's Confession "Hu-
man Document ATTRIBUTES
Downfall to Evil Influences
Was lie Hypnotized a
Question Tor Mental Experts
Strange Story OF His
Double Life-IIls Plans Tor
the Future.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-05-24
UP TO HIS TRICKS.

T ORD ROSSLYN, at dinner in New
l. York said of a notorious London
spendthrift:
when he was at oxford he wired once
to his uncle. whose heir he was
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-05-24

ami among Christian people to these
hcatheniSh rites was the French practice
of purpasely exposing "A criminal to nearly
certain death at the time of the launch
ing OF ships At the beginning of the
nineteenth century it was the custom in
France TO bring their vessels to the point
Of readiness for launching. save for the
knocking away of n single piece of tim
Der, VIII oh was called the dog-Shore. This
pfoD WAS canted hat its lower end
was hraced against the ground while its
upper end WAS propped against the YES
sells stern post. All that was then neces-
sary to free the vessel was to knock
away This shore or prop. after which she
could glide unobstruc edly into the water.
The task Of knocking away this prop
wa fun Of the greatest danger. and
usually a criminal was delegated for
tie work. upon promise of freedom
if he should escape with his life. after
performing THIS deed. s Standing in be-
tween the launching ways and directly
under the stern of the towering craft
the criminal would take his place. ak
in hand, his sarh of red adding a grue-
some and suggestive touch to the danger
OF his undertaking. At the given signal
IL would begin 10 CIT away this last
binding tic. If he We're very quick per-
hapS ne could drop into the hole dug for
his safety; but if he were not and hest
tated the chances We're more in favor
thai the log would fall and the ponderous
craft would sweep on and over him into
the sea. crushing out his life amid the
happS piaudits of a crowd Indifferent to
everything but the successful launching
Of the vessel. In those days, at the bow
of the ship, there would be the religious
ceremony heretofore described. 1t was
strang commngIing of Christian prac-
Iicc and pagan custom. Today the cere-
mauy in France is altogether different
and has for it's basis the religious bless
lnS ard form common to Catholic Eu-
rope.
The Grecian Method.
In modern Greece when a merchant
shin * launched the bow is decorated
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-05-24
His System of Working.

Besides employing drugs in this manner.
Spencer was quite prepared to deal with
dogs which householders kept for the pur-
pose Of resisting these midnight attacks
ON his person were found pieces of meat
saturated with strychnine Several val
pabIe house dogs had been killed by him
The police. after the capture of Spencer.
made a careful search of his premises and
found. buried. in the garden. complete
Ioutfits of the most up-to-date burglars
| tools while n the house various articles
of jcwclry and other things connected
with different crimes We're also discovered
Finding hat the game was UP. Spencer
made full confession this week The
document is almost as remarkable as the
series OF crimes.
~ few years ago" says the confession.
4 took over a small drapery business. but
owing to bad times and other unforeseen
circumstances the business did not pay
J then tried another business. but owing
To the keenness of competition and want
OF capital ! could not make that pay
either
lust at tne very time when ] was in
the greatest financial difficulties man
camc IL m ana expressed great sympar
Tfy Wita no Ia my trouble He said |
WAS very foolish to hear All my troubles
aud ~ DC ln such distress, with scarcely
enough food for ms Wife and children
while l could get money and plenty OF n
without ans trouhie 1T al ~ length ne
f,5l nA Wa III Tie mead OF gang Of bur
Eiafe Before ho had made this disclosure
lle had - a large extent got me Into his
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-05-24

tOpvright ny \. Vt. TON llaHH.'
aEXT Tuesday will be a gala day
in Camden. y. j.. for then the
greatest vessel vet built in
that old town Will he launched.
There will be futte,ins of
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-05-24

y Breaking the Traditional >
y Bottle OF Wine Over YES >
y sells Bow-Pagan Methods :
> OF Launchino--.Antiquity OF :,
> the Habit of Putting Carven ;,
. Images on Bows OF Vessels ,
:. Why Champagne Is Csed III >
Il, This Country and the Other >
i. Wines and Liquors Given ,
y the Preference i'll Other =
y Countries-IIow the Guests :
> at the Christening Are En- !.
> tertained-W hen the Ken ;,
> lucky Launching, " it'll >
:. Cold-water Christening, Oh >
:. tended the Visitors From ,
e. That State Who Hurled =
=. Their Bourbon Flasks at ,
, the Graceful Hull-Religious
, Spirit OF the Observance !,
> When Loosening a Vessel :,
. From the WAYS Was Dan =
!. gerous Labor That Devolved >
:. on Criminals Serving Terms =
i. in Prison. >
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-05-24
Special Correspondence Of The Star.


LONDON. MAY Is. 19o,
~HlS week Leicester court com
mitted 10 trial burglar who
has kept the whole place ter
rorized Ills crimes not only
haffied the local police, but also
an extra force o. detectives employed by
the lnunioi paiity 1T cost OF $1,000 Tor
TN. express purpose of running Inn 10
earth.
TO the aston ishment Of every one. Ne
turned out TO be one OF the most respect
ed citizens, a Sunday school teacher,
John Frederick Spencer. the winner of a
prize called the Town Hundred being
$500 given by The corporation 10 The most
deserving citizen needing financial aid III
fenaporarS embaIraS smeAt-and who also
Rad hten assiduous in calling the at
toutiou of the detectives 10 the fact that
no had seen suspicious persons loiter
about certain localities
The story Of Spehccr's final capture
was full of exciting incidents. Somehow
or other. il had coIe 70 the knowledge
of Detective Seret. Briars OF Leicester
mat the house OF A Nj stevens. In
uoadon road was 10 b. broken into on Il
certain night. The detectives. accom-
n,rtgd bX the owner ~ tHH house,
waited Ii the darn fer the expected
burglar. aud they were not disappointed
Efecting an Entrance.
AFTER working * : ptniN window loF
twn bouth the ttarksH4H nNatlt sreet,A
aa entrance. \ tremendous nghi took
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-05-24
Efecting an Entrance.

After working 1t = pantry WINDOW laE
twa houth tss ttaekelH4H NUatj& Effected
au entrance. \ tremendous nshi took
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-05-24
SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHER A "RAFFLES"

hands. so that l was not a free agent. I
was gradually drawn more and more
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-05-24

place in the darkness. between burglar
and detective. Mr. Stevens could render
nu assistance being unable TO tell in the
foe. Finally. after OF aer policemen had
been summoned. the man was overpow-
cred and the lights turned on
The utter establishment of every one
may he ma Sined when the culprit turned
out To bc model Spencer. Though he
mad put up an extremely stiff fight, he
said he was glad he Lad been captured,
he wanted the life he had been leading
10 come to an end
At the time of his capture he was found
To be wearing gloves. 1t is owing partly to
this fact that the police attribute his re-
markable escape from capture on pre-
yious occasions. The gloves of course OBJ
itcraiing all finger prints which might
have led To his identification. Another
element of success was due TO his en-
ploying Il mysterious powder-Said by
doctors TO consist of opium dust-by
means OF which, he rendered his victims
unconscious. Strange to say. illness al
ries hc committed. Shortly after one of
his m dnight visits a child died mystic
liously iii the same house. Before his
death ne mfntioned having seen masked
man. but the parents attributed this to
childish fancy Now that the whole series
Of crimes has been brought home to
Spencer there is little doubt that he used
his mysterious powder on this occa sion
also, and that the child's death was has
tened by fright and the powerful drug.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-05-24
The Grecian Method.

In modern Greece when a merchant
ship IS launched. the bow is decorated
with flowers, While flowers and garlics
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-05-24
Some Modern Methods.

oUNIIS -NUuCll1 11cu11odo'
The nearest approach i'll modern times
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-05-24

WiH HshkItah Htfhods
fhs alsEslHK " tuls renovated craft par
Daily Kennebec journal., 1908-11-13
KANSAS CITY SOCIETY sNuBeED
Attitude Of Wife Said to Have Result
ed in Ousting Of w. 3. RideeIy.

Kansas City. Mo, Nov. FIN revenge
for snubs, which they assert they have
received from Mrs. W. s. Eidge;y, wife
CT the former controller Of the currency,
Kansas City women have waged social
warfare against Mrs. Ridgely, which has
practically deposed her husband from the
presidency Of the organized National
Bank of Commerce. Mrs. Ridgely, who is
Mr.. Ridgely's second wife, is the daugh-
ter of Commander Charles peering, T..
S. n.
Since coming to Kansas CITY, Mrs
Ridgely has given a number of dinners
so exclusive. it is said that some Of
the city's most prominent social leaders
weer not invited. These women's hus-
bands, some Of whom were connected
with the Bank of Commerce prior to
Mr.. Ridgely's election. waged a silent
fight to retire him.
Dr.. Woods. former president Of the
bank. who has regained control of the
directorate. is quoted as saying: Now
I'll let the whole crowd go back to Wash
ington."
Daily Kennebec journal., 1908-11-13
MANY RUMoRS.
CONTINUED from Page One)

the prince. whose influence is regarded
as restraining and wise.
The prince is the only man who
seemed to speak plainly to the Empor-
err, and His Majesty treats him as an
equal Their ancestors were counts to-
gether in Swabia eight centuries ago.
The prince is vice president of the Aus
trian Imperial Council and knight of
the Golden Fleece; he is as much an
Austrian subject as German. Although
the prince is of ariStocratic descent
he is not a reactionary and he is looked
upon as distinctly modern in his po-
litical views.
There is still considerable doubt as
to whether or not Prince Won Buelow
will remain in office and free mention
is made of possible successors. The
names of DR. Theobald Bethmann-
Hollweg, minister of the interior. and
Baron Won Rheinbaben. Prussian min
lister of state, are most frequently
heard in this connection.
The Frankforter Zeitung today says
the situation will not be settled until
after the Emperor and Prince Won
Buelow have had personal meeting.
and this is the prevailing view in the
Rcichstag. There is nothing more to
be done at present
The Reichstag today discussed ques-
tons of colonial expenditures duly and
without interest to empty galleries.