davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-02-15
DID NOT KNOW HIM.
The Man Who Took Himself for &
Public Character.

From the Cleveland Plain Dealer.
My idea of the sure enough Alecky.
conceited man." began/fhe doorkeeper at
enc of the theaters yesterday lis the man
who gets 1t into his head that he is promi-
nent when he isn't. He is the prize pa
thetic figure.
But believe cured one man the other
day of the idea that he stands in the mid
die of the front row in this life. Be-
tween the acts the other night when the
people We're grabbing their return checks,
THIS / rn-lt party came by me-yes. he had
a silk hat and with six hat on started
thinking that he was pretty much in the
retina of the public optic. Here's your
raturn check, tod him, for ] knew wha t
trouble u makes a man who forgets TO
take g check and then wants TO get in
again. But he just threw up one hand In
disgust. oh, | won't need any return
me- And he FASTENED out
HE found out how we'll L knew him
when he came rushing back a few minutes
later. Ticket / says, just like that.
No, / don't know you from a load of
wood. You're not the first one that's
tried to work that old gag about not wait
ing to get a check when you went out.
Think you can just go in and out of
here like you would at church. and no
one going to step YOU?
Il finally let him through but I'll give
you odds and bet you he takes a return
check just like other people and don't
count on his face getting him into so much
as "a campaign tent meeting after this
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-02-15
Camels as Railroad Builders.
rom the Engineering MAGAZINE

A light railway which by its partial
completion is already proving factor of
considerable importance in the develop
ment of the dark continent is that known
as the Western Gases railway. 1t will
link up the once-prosperous. but more
lateerly much-neglected. rich green
patches i'm the Lioyan desert. Take Ii
map of Egypt, and some 3OO-odd miles
south of Cairo and on the Nile you will
see a place called Farshut. That Is the
sta ting point of the Western Gases rail
way From Farshut the course runs in a
southwesterly direction 10 a place called
Meteng then turns and drops, almost
due south. to Kharga. depot was es-
tablished at FL Der. some ITO miles from
Farshut and 20 miles to the northeast Of
.oman fortress. While the greater
portion of the material was transported
by pack camel. certain heavy details.
such as boilers. drill frames. etc, had
necessarily to be transported on wheels
by means of draft camels. In order to
expedite matters thirty special camels
were purchased and trained. while the
rougher portions OF the desert track were
improved as far as possible and good
zigzag road cut on the cliff descent from
the desert plateau into the oasis. The
operations in question will, ii Is antici-
pated, do not little in the reopening OF
the large area comprised in the conces-
sions. and render the communities dwell
ing the -ein, not as at present merely self
sustaining. but capable OF the large pro-
duction of commodities suitable for ex-
change with those of western Europe.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-02-15
Railroad Caution.
From the Atlantic.

FROM tne -tliautC.
On all railroads there are certain fixed
signals for-the guidance and information
of employees. When caution is called for.
the light is usually green and the sema-
phore horizontal Now. as the writer looks
at it. when any signal indicates caution, it
is not to be looked upon as a permissive
or cond tional signal 10 be interpreted at
will by different ensinemen. According
to the rules and to common sense. when a
train. at the time a cautionary signal is
sighted is running thirty or forty miles
an hour. it calls Tor a positive and not a
theoretical reduction in speed. The eau
tionary signal is not merely piece Of i'll
formation to be slowed away i'm the brain
of the engineman to be utilized when a
rear end Or broken rail is sighted.
Although for a number of years the in
flexible enforcement Of the rules relating
to these cautionary signals has been adj
vocated yet today train after train will
run past these semaphores and green
lights without any reduction in speed.
provided the track ahead of them is seen
to be clear.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-02-15

der three metal frames or shields which
are suspended in front of the apparatus at
slight distance from the ground Thera
are seventy-fve of these burners. distrib-
uting an intense and even heat making a
swath fourteen feet wide. II has been
shown that one OF these machines can
easily take care of 600 miles of trac (.
Tine best practice has been shown by ex-
perience TO make two passages at an in
terva1 of a day or two over the same
ground. The frs: trip kills the weeds. and
the standing stalks~at once proceed to dry
out. making it much more economical to
complete the operation of destruction on
the second trip. Otherwise it is necessary
to make-use Of sufficient heat to evap-
crate all the water from the stalks, which
renders tine work slow and expensive.
The crew of the apparatus consists OF
three men,,
Although ii is not completed, the cleo
trio railroad UP the Jungfrau seems to
be the most popular in Switzerland.
Work has recently been commenced On
the tunnel which will carry the line up to
a point Just below the summit OF the
mountain. This will require four years
work. and after the completion Of this ex-
tension 1t is proposed to establish serv-
ice of coasting sleighs down the Aletsch
gla cier to the railway station at Fiesch,
thus providing a highly romantic snort
cut from Interlaken to the Matterhorn re-
rgion. 1t now seems probable that this
-
another company, which has just applied
for concession to ascend the Jungfrau
on the south side. Its plan Is to have an
electric railway from Brigue to the
Aletsch glacier. and thence sleigh serv-
ice with wire rope and electric power, UP
the Jungfrauioch.
A acknowledgements plant operated by
tidal energy is to be established on the
south bank Of the Elbe. near CuXhaven
This is by far the most ambitious project
of this character which has ever been
contemplated Electrical energy is to be
delivered to the town named for various
commercial purposes. but the greater part
of the product of this great power plant Is
to be made use Of by factories which are
to be established in the vicinity. Ham
burg capital is mostly interested in the
scheme. =
An International exposition is contem-
plated to be held in Brussels. whlch,
while 1t will be Of very general nature,
will be largely devoted to electrical mat
tiers. A special hall will be devoted to the
exhibition of small motors and appliances
made use Of in household practice The
exhibition grounds will occupy 2oo acres
adjoining the Bots de Cambre.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-02-15
Memory Of a Lost Delight.

A fireplace any one may have and to
me the wonder is that our civilization
has abolished the very soul from our
northern homes. Fire is no longer the
joy OF the household. but the slave. i'm
prisoned in the cellar. All. but it was
delicious when the old-fashioned family
sat together in the great kitchen around
the huge fireplace. All the evening we
told stories. ate doughnuts, drank cider
all the time pairing apples. and hanging
the long festOons of quarters from the
beams. But the dear little mother. she it
was who told the best stories, while she
was knitting mufflers and socks or mend
ing our well-worn clothing. There were
no parlors at all in those days, and as
for thrummed pianos. we lad not yet
heard of them. At o'clock. honest and
drowsy. we knelt and thanked God for
life and love and home. Our hunks
and beds and trundle beds were all in
close proximity. and from every one of
them We could see the flames still jump
ing up the chimney. while the big firelog
was slowly eaten through. There was
not one millionaire in all the world. and
indeed We We're not worried over the
affair
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-02-15
Miracle Of Self Confidence.

From success magazine
1t was said that Napoleon's presence II
a battle doubled the strength of HI:
forces. Half the effectiveness of an army
resides in the soldiers faith in their lead
err. When the leader doubts. hes.tates
waivers. the whole army is thrown into
con cus;on, but ais confidence doubles the
assurance OF very man under him.
The mental faculties. like soldiers. must
believe in their leader-the unconquer-
able will. The mind of the doubter. the
hesitator, the waverer. the man who Is
no, sure OF himself, who thinks he is moi
eGua! to what he has undertaken, is SET
toward failure, and everything works
against him. There is a weakening all
a.ong the line.
In an emergency, as in danger. a man
can often per- rm feats of great strength
which he could not even approximate In
cold blood. Arousing a man multipIes his
power tremendously. Think of what deli
cate m, ~ and women. even invalids. have
accomplished when dominated by some
-upreme occasion or a mighty passion.
The imperIous must gives added
strength and unusual power to al the
faculties. So great self-faith. an I'M
wavering confidence. braces up the
entire man. physically. mentally. morally.
1t raises Kim 10 his highest power, and
makes hlm do with ease what would be
i'm possible without this wonderful stimu-
lus.
An overmastering .aith In one's-self often
enables CcmI.a, atIvel~ ignorant men and
women to 10 marvellous things-feats
which sensitive. tmid. doubling people of
and nobler qualities shrink from attempt
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-02-15
SOUTH AFRICAN MINES.
Crystals Thrown Up by Prehictoric
Observation-Disclosures of "Pipe."

FROM Mines ana MINERALS.
After the first discovery o. diamonds in
South Africa by Dutch farmer named
Van Nickerk in 1867 that sober continent
rapidly became the principal producer of
that precious gem. For very many
years practically the whole of the dia-
monds produced came from Kimberly
and within fifty miles radius of that
town.
In 1897 the first diamond mine in the
Pretoria district. known as the SCHUYLER.
mine, was discovered In 1892 an i'm
mense FLIP was given to diamond pros
pecting by the discovery in the same dis
trict of tie wonderful Premier mine. The
flip thus given has resulted in the dis
covery of other rich mines. including the
Robert Victor and the Voorspoed. besides
dozens of others which are only partially
developed CIR proven. and the development
and prospecting work is being prosecuted
in very many directions all over South
Africa
AS the working Of diamond mines as
distinguished from alluviai workings is
practically restricted to South Africa that
country has been obliged to evolve meth
DDS of mining adapted to the peculiar
conditions under which the damondifer-
Gus deposit is found. These methods
are strikingly different from those adopt
ed-if any other kind Of mining work.
a diamond mine or pipe" is the crater
of an extinct volcano. and the diamondif
erous ground forms the filling of that
crater 1t is generally conceded by geolo-
gists that the diamond ground has been
forced up from unknown depths in the
form Of liquid mud that is to say; it was n
volcano that threw out boiling mud in
stead of molten igneous rock. In some re-
spects. therefore. it would more closely
resemble a geyser than volcano Where
the diamond ground is found within 30
or 100 feet of the surface it is sreenish
yellow in color, crumbles to the touch
and is known as yellow ground" At
depths below atmospheric influences it
changes to a greenish blue color. becomes
much harder and is known as blue
ground" or merely blue"
These diamondferous craters or
pipes are generally roughly circular in
horizontal or transverse section, and pene-
trate to depths hitherto proved with little
change OF form. but with very slightly
decreasing size. In some cases as at
De Beers. the pipe is kidney shaped in
others. as, al Robert Victor, the shape
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-02-15
Longevity in Southern Latitudes.


Because in tropical countries more de-
cayed vegetable matter is found and in
consequence more miasma, the idea has
become popular that only vigorous health
and long life are likely in northern lati-
tudes where frost now and then asserts
itseif> The fact that humanity natures
much earlier in tropical climes seems to
warrant the conclusion that 1t must neces-
sarily perish mich earlier. DR.. Luigi Sam
bon of Rome attempts to put the popular
impression to sleep by an elaborate eX-
hibition of statistics
He doesn't contend that the warmest
climate is the most suitable to man.
under the conditions of modern civiliZa-
ton, but he demonstrates vigorously
against the idea that cold and variable
Innate is the most conducive to the phy-
steal and intellectual improvement of the
human race. While northern climates may
produce stalwart frames, statistics show
lhat they do not conduce to longevity. IN
proof of his position the doctor cites the
fact that the average Arab outlives the
average Eskimo by not less than twen-
ty-hve years
He shows that the people who live along
the unhealthful coasts OF Central and
South America survive the Inhabitants of
The higher and cooler attitudes of the in
terror. He shows also that the HinduA
who often reach puberty as early .as nine
years. live 10 a surprising old age. The
inhabitants of the southern countries of
europe are founu to live much longer than
these OF the more northern ATTITUDES.
To illustrate. in England in y population
of % 100000 there are but 1i6- ceatenari-
ans, while in Spain with a population of
but 1S.OOO.0O0. there are 40i centeuarians.
The proba b;lfties are that the great NOR
tality found in southern attitudes Is
found in the cities. and is therefore not
SO much the fault of the climate as OF an
indifference of sanitary laws
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-02-15
SCIENCE NOTES.

The growth of weeds on the tracks of
the Union Pacific railroad is successfully
kept down by means of gasoline burner
constructed espec!ally for the purpos,
The burning and the propulsion of the ap-
paratus are both done by gasoline fuel.
The machine is built entirely of iron and
steel. the weight being trifle over $4,000
pounds. 1t has a speed capacity Of TWEEN
ty miles ar>hour which is used in moving
to and from the scene of action. while an
other speed of four miles an hour is used
when. the machine is at work on the
weeds The growth is cut down by means
of jets of vaporised gasoline burning un-
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-02-15
French Family Statistics.

From the Repubiique Franchise.
The number of French families that Is
to say. households with or without children.
is estimated at 1i,315.Oc0. o. this TOT al
1 SO4. TO families have no children 1905
Ill have one child. 2,66l.9 1S have two
children, 1.6l3.42 have three 1872 have.
four. J6S. 76S have five. 3D.. PAL have six,
1S2. 39S have seven. M.I29 have eight. A.
12S have nine. 20639 have ten. S,S05 have
eleven. 3.J0S have twelve. Az have thiN
teen 554 have fourteen. ai9 have fifteen.
- have sixteen, 81 have seventeen. and
finally IS families have eighteen or more.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-02-15

light which il throws on current prices
for building sites in d r7sid snce locality.
was the transfer of the triangular lot at
the southwest corner of Massa chusetts
avenue. 22d and Q streets northwest.
The shape of the lot is due to the course
of sachusetts avenue cutting through
the lines of the rectangular streets. and
while it comes to a blunt end at the front,
the rear .widens out to more than eighty
feet. with frontages of about the same
dimension on the two streets.
The dimensions of the site aggregate
something less than 400 square feet. The
consideration mentioned in the deed was
$40 600. which Is at the rate OF a tri1e
more than s. per square foot. 1t is an
nounced to be the intention of the new
owner, Mr. Stewart. to begin at once the
ere elton of house for his own use. and
which in its architectural form will fol-
low the prevailing fashion for houses of
that description in this city. and will
show the influence of French domestic
architecture.
Some Other transactions.
The current value Of land in the locality
in question. as indicated by this transac-
ton, does not show much of a change in
recent months. The latest deal of the
sort was the sale of building site which
occurred somewhat later than this last
year, and which involved the change in
ing Sheridan Circle, which lies to the
west of the first mentioned locality and
on the line of Massachusetts, Avenue
For the circle lot S. per square foot was
paid. Still later a large frontage on Mas
sachusetts avenue just west of Sheridan
Circle. and comprising stretch along
Massa chusetts avenue of some seventy
flve feet, was reported as having been sold.
and the price per square foot was 81
The ground in that locality is So divided
that the lots seldom exceed the standard
depth of 100 feet. SO that the price which
seems to be current just now, and for
choice lots. is not as high as the same per
foot figure for ground farther east on
Massachusetts avenue, which has
greater depth. When the latter section
OF the avenue was being built up s. per
foot was regarded as rather high level,
ana was not as rule paid. although
there were instances when event. more was
paid.
A Business Building.
Plans have been prepared by Albert l..
Harris for building to be erected at
the northeast corner OF 14th and Monroe
streets northwest. which is to be used
for business purposes and as an apart
ment house. This enterprise is to be
carried out by Edwin Yarnold, who lives
In the southwestern section of the city,
and at a cost of about $4,000 The first
floor will be fitted up for use as a drug
store. while the upper stories will be
adapted for flats.
1t is expected the building will be COM
pleted SO that the store can be occupied
by the early part of the coming summer.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-02-15
Russian Priests.
From Everybody's.

Between the higher clergy end the VII
lage priests stretches gulf deep and
wide. The former have opportunities for
education and have open TO them all tai =
higher positions in the church,; the latter
are barred from entering the higher clergy
and from attaining the higher positions.
and as class are very poor and very ig-a
,norant And even worse. On all sides Z
heard stories Aof bribe-taking. NJ drunk;
enness. of cheating. of lying of lowest iu.,
morality even OF plain stealing.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-02-15
Greatest Drain on Forests.
Time Flies-Unseen.


The puo,iration o. biography of Edi-
son, the ingc lto". has led TO the revival OF
some stories. He never carries a watch.
and there is no clock in his workroom. IN
admirer once took his little son to see
Edison. and begged the inventor 10 say
something TO the lad which would hep TO
influence his life. Giving the boy a fr;end-
ly pa cn his curly head Edison said. With
a kindly smile: Al boy never watch he
clock
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-02-15
DRAIN ON FORESTS
Influence in This Country of
= Wooden Construction.
CONTINUES TO BE USED
Brick, Stone and Cement Fail to Dis.
place Lumber.
NO D1MINUTIoN IN CUTTING
Nearly Sixty Per Cent of Buildings
Put Up in This Country
Are of Timber.
NO DIMINUTI0N IN CUTTING

Cement and steel and brick and stone
are not yet used in sufficient quantities
to encourage lumber users to predict thu
time when the forests will not be called
upon to furnish the principal materials
used In building operations. Notwith.
standing the remarkable increase in the
use of cement and other fireproof ma
teriais. the last reports of the building
operations in forty-nine of the Leading
cities OF the United States for the year.
collected by the geological survey show
that 50 per cent were of wooden CONSTRUCT
ton.
Even If the remaining n per cent OF the
buildings were built OF brick, stone ana
concrete. vast quantities of wood are
consumed both in the construction and
in the finish. though in the latter form
metal is taking the place of wood to a
very large extent. The amount of lum-
Der given above does not take inn
consideration this item at all.
Quantities of Lumber Used,
While this percentage is representative
of the building industry i'm the United
States, dealers point out that it does not
include the large quantities of lumber
used for the construction of dwellings.
stores and other buildings in the thou.
sands of small cities and towns scattered
over the country and not included in the
foIty-nine oities on which a reckoning
was made. In towns and small c'ti-v
wood is usually the predominating build
ing material. and il is safe to say that
If the statistics had included figures for
all places of whatever size. the per-
centage OF wooden construction would
have been much greater. These fig,
ures. as RUE. are only for the corporate
limits, and the suburbs of these cities
have each very large amounts to ba
added. The cost also. is relatively aiigbsr
in these cities than in towns nearer the
base of the supply.
In wooden buildings. New York city
is at the bottom OF the list though IL
leads with $1S01J as the average cost
of buildings. Except at San Francisco,
where abnormal conditions have prevailed
since the earthquake. Boston shows the.
greatest incrs aSe of any of the cities in
the total cost OF building operations The
average cost of buildings is constantly
increasing. having risen over $500 dur =
ing the last three Years. Tho average
value of a building is given in the report
as S2,tg5.
Greatest Drain on Forests
Lumber is by far the greatest drain on
the forests. In 1903 81. 500 600 noA feet,
with mill value of s62l. l5i .3Ss were
used. Including the value of the lath
and shingles used with this amount, The
total value of the wood used for buildings
is brought up 10 $3.50, 796. 5l3
The increasing price OF lumber and the
rapidly increasing use Of perfected fire.
proof systems of construction should have
much TO do with holding down tlle amount,
which the forests are called upon 10
yield each year but so far these more
substantial materials have not decreased
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-02-15
Arizona's New Seal.
'hoenix Cor. Los Angeles Times.

Phoenix Cor. Los Angeles Times.
The territory Of Arizona has acquired
new great seal. The old seal was ad-
judged out of date its design being about
as stiff as the decorations on the tombs
or the Pharoahs. In accordance with the
legislative act establishing it. 1t contained
what purported to be a representation of
the San francisco mountains. a pine tire e,
cactus and a deer. These features ara
included in the new seal also but they
are far more lifelike and more true to
nature. The designer is Warren r. Rol-
Inns. an artist who has spent much time
in Arizona painting the Grand Canon and
in studying Indian types.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-02-15
An Unusual Compliment.

From Transatlantic Tales.
He-"Pardon. me. madame. 1 didn't
see you
She (distressingly plump)-"Oh, my dear
monsieur, you are so kind"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-02-15
Current Per Foot Values.

A transaction that was recently record
ed and which Ii of interest owing to the
The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1908-11-05
Nj. ". Il. Bell.
fRenorted to The Commonwealth

fReported to The Commonwealth
Mr.. w. H. Bell died at his home
on Roanoke street at $50 o'clock
Monday evening. Mr.. Bell was born
February IL, 1887, age at death Il
wears, 8 months and 20 days.
Early in the Civil War he entered
the service of his country as soldier
and made a brave and enviable rec
ord in the Confederate ranks.
On October 16, 1866, he was mar
ried to Miss Laura Jones. 10 this
nnion there were born four children,
two of whom, with his wife, survive
him. The two living children are
Mr. C.. H. Bell, of Portsmouth, and
Miss Mamie Bell, of Scotland Neck
The funeral services were CONDUCT
cd Tuesday afternoon by Rev. II. "A.
NJ WcFarland and the interment was
in the Episcopal cemetery.
Nav the Lord give to the grle:l.
a+r G ones the needed comfort IN
this the hour Of their sad oerea'e'
ment.