davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-02-09

Nike Coburn is dead. This announce
ment means little TO the fight fans Of
the present day, but with the old
timers # calls up recolIectious when
bare kTuckle fights were the means
by which championships were decided.
when champions fought first and had
the newspapers talk afteTwa-d. Mike
held the featherweight championship of
the world for twelve years from 1858
TO 1856, when Patsy Shepard took il
from him in a desperate twenty-seven-
round battle in Indiana.
lie was contemporary Of Billy Ed
wards. Joe Fowler Arthur Chambers,
and Bob Farrell. His brother. old Joe
Coburn. was one Of the most noted
fighters of his day which was just
before that Of John I. Sullivan.
There were mighty men IN those days,
before the prize ring was so thoroughly
comme-Cialized, and success witt the
padded mitt meant an introduction TO
tie stage
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-02-09
Individual Averages Nine High Men.
DOUBLE PARADOX.

Life, of itself, is a paradox. friend,
And Things are ali twisted about
You re. cold when the furnace is lighted,
ana then
You're hot when the furnace goes OUT
-Rumalo News.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-02-09

Capt r NJ. Jones. assistant secretary
Of the British Olympic Association, in
forms me that there viii be not less
rhan 400 entries for the Olympic games
They viii represent all the countries Of
the world where athletics have a hold
and this means practically all those
that are civilized
There IS still some hitch in the raising
OF the necessary funds TO carry out
the plans Of the British Olympic com
mittee but there IS little doubt that
with the men at the head OF the asso-
citation. this difficulty viii be overcome
in due time, and that the necessary
funds viii be forthcoming
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-02-09

At the bottom OF the difficulty is the
rupture between the Football Ass0cIa-
ton and an organization styling itself
the Amateur Football Association. The
latter has a following Of some thirty
clubs. including both Oxford and Cam
bridge. as well eS the famous Corinth-
ians, who visited this country some
years ago and opened the eyes of Amer
leans TO the real beauties Of "socker''
football.
The Football Association holds the
same relation TO football that the Mar
Ieyb0ue G. c. holds TO cricket, and gov
ems professionals and amateurs alike.
One OF the members OF the new or
ganization is the Civil Service Club, OF
London. which plans to send a team
90 the United States this spring under
the management OF A. ". Parker
known as the Corinthians. Notice has
been sent 70 this side 10 the effect that
any club over here playing against -he
Civil Service team will be barred from
meeting the Pilgrims. who are 10 be sent
out by the Football Association in the
fail.
It is not likely that American clubs
will be swsyed by the break in the Brit
ish ranks. Dates viii be made with
whateve- team arrives here first
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-02-09
ATHLETES LOOKING
To PACIFIC TRIALS
FOR DARK HORSES
Coast Stars Have Equal
Show for Olympic
Team
By MANHATTAN.

NEW YORK. Fen. S.-The Olympic
trials are now occupying the careful, II
not p-aysrful, thought Of every ambi-
uous amateur athlete in the United
States
The stars are saving themselves for
the trials and the asteroids are making
strenuous efforts to develop speed. mus
Gle, and skill so that they may have
the honor OF representing. the United
States on the Olympic team.
The revival Of these historic, i had
almost said prehistoric, games has been
good thing for clean athletics the
world over, and doubtless will have a
marked influence ON the physical de-
Neiopmeu- Of the race
While the high hOnors which went
10 the vicgors at the old Greciau car
nivaI Of sports may be lacking, the
laurel crown Of the year 1903, a. D., is
an honor TO be coveted by any young
ster.
There s. every reason to believe that
the American team will hold it's own in
London next summer. as IL did at the
last Olympic games at Athens, Greece.
There VIII be three trial meets at
New York, Chicago. ana 6an.Francisco,
so that the athletes OF the entire cOun-
try may have q fair chance to make the
team.
Much interest is felt in the East in
the Pacific trials. II is realized that
tho coast has some crack-a-1aCk men
and that q number or them VIII make
the Olympic team IS regarded as GER
tain
The Pacific trials viii be held under
the direction Of q committee compTis-
ing 5. s. Peixotto, r. J.. LHommedleu
and Herbert Hauser, or the Pacific
Coast Association; +. r. Morgan. O.. g.
Ho}zen. ana A. S. Goldsmith, OF the
Pacific Northwest Association
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-02-09

II a New Orleans correspondent Is
TO be believed, Tony IIoss. who fought
Mike Schreck at the Crescent City last
week, is worth watching While the
Ohio nutchman has hardly measured
up 10 the first rank Of fighters in his
class, be has always been a pretty
tough citizen and has some mighty
good fights to his credit
According to reports. Ross simply
played with Schreck. and while the
fight was a draw officially. as a matter
Of fact there was only one man. Ross.
in it at any stage. II this is so. the
light heavies have 2 new man TO reckon
with.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-02-09
Big ShabeLp in Team Standing of Go0ernmepf Bowe1s D
PRO. BILLIARDISTS
DOING POOR WORK
Public Becoming Disguised
With AmaTeurISh
Scores.

NEW YORK, Fen. S.-UaIess some
change H. made ia The rules governing
cagluDlousttr rt-'ard ma-cLes the pro-
iesaiylai br -a o. lle game viii soon
be CyCrsHaacfr-I Jg interest ia the anna
teuTs. Enthusiasts are becoming dis
gusted with the poor class o. play wit
Eessed iH sU-Ca.Ied championship
matches between professionals
George Sutton and Ora lorulngstar
played for the 18.z title recently. and the
small but critical gathering Of billiard
lovers wouldn't have realized that 10
was championship match II the bills
and score cards had not set forth the
fact. Many of the spectators did not
wait for the finish.
Spectators Disguised.
Jake Schaefer stood of Albert Cutler
in their match for the Isl title at Phila-
deiphia with an average that made him
blush. On To Of that came the Joke"
game between Sutton and M0rnlngslar.
These Two title matches did the game no
good. Many spectators felt that they had
been "DuacJed" and vowed never 10 at
tend another title game.
When While Hoppe brought the Isl
title back TO this country TWO years ago
the game began 20 thrive ln New YORK.
Inc ~ TDE-ul LEeuL WAS vel ELLeulEl.
ana the title match between 6lOssOu
and Hoppe 20 the Grand Central Palace
drew the biggest house. IN the history
OF billiards in any country The game
began 70 boom all over the East and
Middle West. EuJ IN the last year there
has been depIOTable lack Of class IN
championship matches and attendance
has gradually declined.
Games Too Short.
The remedy is simple. Five hundreds
points Is too short a game 20 hang a
title on Championship matches should
be divided into several nights of play
and the game should not be less than
1900 points. Few rOpuOtCheTs like 10 risk
their regulations and titles IN a 510-pOint
game, so il would seem that the proper
authorities should change the rules
Prominent billiard amateurs are d.
vlded In their opinion Of the lS2 game
es the amateur championship standard.
Calvin DemcTest- national amateur
champion, thinks lAZ should remain the
standard He believes that 49, IS too
difficult for many who are clever ar the
1A2- Others hold that the amateur
standard should be as high as the pro-
fessiCnaI. AT the national tournament
in Chicago. next March, l4-2 VIII be
played In the International tournament,
which is scheduled t0E this city in : prll,
the style VIII be l>--
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-02-09
PROHIBITORY ODDS
AND LITTLE MONEY
ON PALMER FIGHT
Defeats Fail to Shake
English Confidence in
Their Methods.

LONDON, Feb. 8.-The English dght
follower is a sausuine sort Of chap.
Repeated failure Of English cham
piOns fails TO shake his confidence in
the ability OF the British uEhteT to hold
his own in any company. This does n0y.
OF course. appiy 10 ali British en-
thusiasts over tie manly art" but
there are a surprising number who pro-
fess bel ef that Jack Palmer actually
has a chance - defeat Tommy Burns
when they meet Monday night. u must
be confessed that this belief is not any
where near strong enough 70 result in
any betting on the EngIlsnman. except
AT almost prObibltOry odds
It IS claimed for Palmer that since
his defeat by Moir and later by SIIIi-
van in America, he has developed amsz-
ing speed and hitting power, md tnat
he has made a study of American fight
ing Methods. Hence they look Tor q sur.
prise when Burns and Palmer meet
There may be d surprise, but il is al
together probable chat the hope Of
Palmer being able to win over Burns IS
based on desire, and has very little other
foundation.
Both men claim TO be in prime con
Hilton for the night. and before my next
letter We will kRow all about il.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-02-09

President Jim FilkjuEtnu. OF the Ma
tOnsl Association Of Amateur Oarsmen.
IS an Optimist HON it is a pleasure 10
meet He believes that ire American
crew which viii take part iu the OIym-
PIC regatta has a great chance for
victory
AIr. PiIkinEton does net At all agree
with the pessiuists who say that the
American crews which went over before
and we're defeated in the Henley regatta
have shown that an American crew has
no chance 70 win. Far from that he
believes that just such races prove his
point. BECAUSE the American crews were
chosen from a small group The Cor
nell. Yale. Pennsylvania. and Vesper
crews were chosen IT, each case from
the small body Of oarsmen in their va
rious organizations. They competed in
every cese against a crew such as
Leander, chosen from all the best oars
men IN England.
AR PilEnston makes the point that
there viii be no fair test until a crew
made up from all the oarsmeu in this
country meet crews made Up OF all the
best carsmen ga England and other
countries. And he feels su-o that when
ctIll a crew from THIS country goes
abroad IN July the test viii result IA
vorably 20 the American n-eteusions.
Mr.. Pilkington's views put the matter
in rather a different light from that IN
which hitherto ii was considered. The
average American. thinking Of regat-
Ia. is disposed TO concede ia advance
that the British will be able TO treat
American club oarsmen as a whole as
they have been able TO deal with the
crews that went abroad before. 1Ir.
Pukingtcn says that such is not the
case. and that a victory for the oars
men from this country is not impossible.
Furthermore, he IS clear that whatever
crew does 90 TO England for the Tegst-
IA viii be made up OF the best oarsmen
here. and that these men will be eligible
and 1T men to represent this country ii
an athletic contest from every possible
point of view
Troubles Of a nature sufficiently far
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-02-09

Aerial navigation Will doubtless re-
ceive an impetus by the prize COmpeu-
tion for models OF aeroplanes to De held
at Munich this year. Models with and
without motors are eligible for compe-
titlon. but only those without motors
can enter for the race The bearing su-
perfcies Of models must neither be less
than one square meter nor exceed two
square meters
The total weight Of models entering
for the race must amount to at least
kilo o5 per square meter. No restriC-
tons are placed on the weight OF mod
els provided with motors. The aero
plane race Will take place during the
exhibition I'm a suitable hall. rs ar
ranged by the sports committee.
No model shall be eligible Tor a prize
which does not succeed in covering a
distance Of al least fifteen meters. meas
ured horizontally from the starting
pIace-the said starting place TO be at
a height OF two meters. The fight
may be repeated twice.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-02-09

Troubles Of a nature Sufficiently far
reaching TO affect the association foot
ball players OF this country. at least. in
their international relations. is brewing
in England. and possibly may interfere
with one or both the visits being
planned by English teams
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-02-09

The entire local athletic situation
promises to be changed in the near
future through the reported differences
between the New York Athletic Club
and Trainer Ernie HjertbeTg. PresUm-
ably Ijertberg will leave the \. Y. 4.
c.. and II is only natural to suppose
that he viii take up with some other
organization, Wherever HjertbeTg goes
there viii spring no athletic strength.
The secret Of Hiertberg's success is
that. besides being q good trainer. he
is adept at picking out Young athletes
CT championship cauber.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-02-09
ABE OWES MORAN
ANOTHER CHANCE
Champs Give Too Much
Attention to Lemon
Crop.

NEW YORK. Feb. 6.-Now that At
tell has drawn down some easy money
Js stopping poor little Frankie Neil
so far as lighting ability IS concerned
for many moons. he should be willing
20 sign up with owen Moran again for
q longer route and let US see which OF
these little fellows is really the better
man
Abe is not TO be blamed for cultivatlug
the lemon crop. 50 long as the public
viii put up good money 10 see q first
class fighter put it over d has been"
tie party Of the first part aforesaid Is
FOOLISH a0t TO cop the dough" as the
prize ring vernacular has II. But
real champion has no right to give too
!auch attention TO lemons He ought
TO Dc willing TO go against the real
thing just as often as the re- thing
turns mp ready TO fight.
This may not be business as manager
and fighter look at #. but II is the view
taken by the great American public
Moran seems anxious 20 get on a
match with Battling Nelson at I2g pounds
There Is some doubt whether the Bat
tier can make I2S pounds and be ht TO
night. If he can Moran had better let
him alone and keep after AttelL Mel
son may not be all that he was before
bis historic fight with Cans, but he has
shown that no has enough left to make
him dangerous man OF his weight for
any OF them
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-02-09

Hackenschmidt soon viii start for the
United States, where he is 10 meet
Gotch, the real American champion, in
April. Hack has nad a bad attack Of
grip, out the manner in which he
handled Rogers showed that il has not
pulled him down much.
The Washington herald., 1908-03-22

yet sanitary homes. This problem Is
growing more acute in Washington on ae-
count OF the continuous condemnation OF
insanitary dwellings without providing
better dwellings to take their place, thus
causing something like n house famine.
which in turn enables landlords to raise
rents. Here. again, we are repeating the
conditions that have arisen elsewhere
out of well-meant efforts 10 improve hous-
ing conditions.
Il may be hoped that the Homes Com
mission will be able TO devise some prac-
ticable method OF meeting the housing
problem-a problem that is essentially one
Of providing sanitary and comfortable
homes that will be within the reach OF
those who most need them. II private en-
terprise viii not furnish the means for
the erection Of such homes. it becomes
obvious that no solution of the problem
can be reached without the assistance
either Of private muniheence or the public
purse. Either charity or socialism must
come TO the rescue unless a way can be
shown whereby capital may make profit
out OF sanitary homes for people with
small incomes.
The Washington herald., 1908-03-22
Signs of Spring.

Who can doubt, with Texas coming 10
the front with a mountain of petrified
fish and Connecticut getting in the game
with a pickerel so Ions 1t required several
minutes for IL 10 pass a given point, that
spring is at hand, Already the first
robin has been seen here. yonder. and
everywhere: picnics are being talked
about and fishing trips are being planned
That is as II should be, OF course:
spring is the season when poetical license
is given it's limit OF latitude and no
story is scrutinized too closely. We do
not combat that as a broad principle;
indeed. far from combating il. we In
dGrse it. and have been known. upon
rare occasions. to act upon H. We do
insist. nevertheless. thst such persons as
We are dependent upon for our annual
supply OF spring yarns should observe
this season a little more exactness as
70 detail in narrating them than has
heretofore been imposed upon such story
tellers in more mollycoddlish days. We
have had good deal of trouble through
out this land during the past twelve
months with nature-fakers and undesir-
able citizens. Through these gentry has
come much discredit TO hundreds OF we'll
intentioned harbingers of spring Of erst-
while good repute.
We note. apropos OF this discussion.
that citizen Of alleged veracity and
high standing in his church reports hav-
ing recently seen "a large, beautifully
striped. and graceful sea serpent some
where near the gulf" We submit that
this is too indefinite for this day and
hour 1t might have passed muster un-
questioned a few months ago. but not
now Somewhere near the gulf is a
trifie vague. What gulf? And what part
OF what gulf? Far be it from Us to
question this vision. The sea serpent
hobs UP every spring-severai OF them.
for the matter Of that The physical
appearance OF this particular denlzen or
the deep is. we doubt not Just as this
party described II. albeit unusual. But
somewhere near the gulf'-thet will
have to be revised before the story can
be listed as one up to the modern mark.
We are not seeking 70 pick flaws and
indulge in eaptious criticism. We merely
caA attention 10 the fact that the gen
eral public al this time is more or less
from Missouri, so far as grand gloomy.
and peculiar tales are concerned: and
while we have as much respect for the
spring prevaricatOr. sometimes designated
by shorter and uglier word. as any
body. we sound a note Of warning. In
deed. it is not that we love a good
fish story less. but that We love to see il
served up in swallowable shape more,
that causes us to say word in the crisis
upon US
The Washington herald., 1908-03-22
OffieehoIders and Politics

II there has been any cessation of po-
litical activity on the part of Federal
officeholders since President Roosevelt an
nounced In his letter to William Dudley
Foulke that no officer would be permitted
to violate his instructions tc the Civil
Service Commission warning government
employees not to cause public scandal by
their participation in politics. little evi-
dence Of it appears in the reports printed
every day in the press telling OF tse
presence Of offceholders at district aad
State conventions and meetings OF cam
paign committees. However. one minor
government employe. an unclassified la
borer. has been admonished for his politI-
cal activity. according to the Philadelphia
Ledger and general warning has been
issued 10 other Federal employees in that
city who are within the classified serv-
ice. Postmaster General Meyer is quoted
in the Boston Herald as saying that the
department does not approve Of post
masters taking part in political convea
tons. but he adds that If they do take
part they must not be active" But
whether active or inactive. Federal
officers are as thick as flies In every Re-
publican gathering, and the outlook is
that the Chicago convention will be fun
Of them.
The situation respecting the political
activity of oficeholders Is rather explo-
sive. IL we may believe the Washington
correspondent OF the Boston -Transcrint
who says there is considerable irritation
at the White House over the zeal NJ
some Federal officers for anti-Taft ca3dl-
dates. while there is a corresponding
iraseibility in the anti-Taft camp over
the use OF the Federal machinery 10
promote the TAFT boom. Covert threats
continually are being made" saws this
correspondent. who deals with the subject
very frankly. "on both sides that pub
licity is to be given to the political actiy-
ity of certain prominent Federal once
holders" But as the President and his
critics are tarred with the same stick.
the threats are not transformed into ac-
ton. for the disclosures would be pain
full on both sides and the ultimate con-
sequences politically deplorable This
curious state of things doubtless STAYS
the hand of the President, who might
otherwise adhere more closely TO his
earlier conception of the relation OF the
ofaceholder to politics Yet his plain duty
remains the same. TO compel the Federal
machine 10 labor in the interest of the
public solely. duty that obviously he
cannot perform without jeopardizing
cause he has very closely at heart.
namely. the nomination OF Taft
The Washington herald., 1908-03-22
MATRIMONIAL PARADISE.
Where Uncle sam Provides Every
thing for Intending HOusekeepers.
F@orn fbe Cleveland Plain Dealer

Where Uncle SAM Provides Every
thing for Intending HOusekeepers.
Ffnm the Cleveland Plain Dealer.
II is quite evident that Panama Is a
matrimonial paradise. We are told by the
organizer Of the women's clubs on the
isthmus that little Dan Cupid is a sadly
overworked eherub. II Is impossible. ac-
cording 10 this authority. for woman
70 remain single. She cites as an Instance
Of the matrimonial demand that one OF
the hospitals lost seventeen nurses by
marriage from April TO June. and so dis
couraged did the management become
thst Il sent word 20 The States 10 forward
no more young nurses and 10 select for
the Panama field only the very plainest
ones that could be secured. In many
cases the nurses became engaged on the
steamers 20 men who were returning TO
work on the canal. and consequently
never showed up at the hospitals. II ap-
pears that matrimony Is made particu-
larly easy Ia this favored section. The
government provides all the necessities
FOR the married quarters, The house the
furniture. the drinking water. everything.
in fact. except the food and clothes. And
il should be remembered that in Panama
an Garner receives nearly twice the wages
ht would get in the States and the ways
for spending money arc few and not al
luIing- There are no bargain sales. and
even the most careless feminine finan-
ciers are obliged to save their money.
This, as the chronicler remarks. makes
ii a hard place for many women. but
there doesn't seem to be any perceptible
amount of sidestepping when matrimony
is suggested.