davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington bee., 1908-06-13

with a double thickness of asbestos
/ and tar paper to prevent any rain
or snow from entering the box.
The interior walls are covered with
stout wrapping paper, and the whole
structure is absolutely impervious to
dampness. A shelf runs across the
side which would be the bottom of the
piano and this shelf is well padded
with quilts and blankets and forms a
very comfortable bed for the occupant
Another and smaller shelf near the
front serves as a cupboard for a stock
of provisions. The stove, cooking
utensils and water barrel are outside,
and the place has the appearance of
a temporary camp of some knight of
the road"
Mendel owns the land upon which
the piano box stands and this tiny
house is all the home he has. A
four-roOm cottage formerly stood on
this land and the old man lived very
comfortably before the accident which
destroyed it.
TTamps broke into his cottage one
night while Mendel was in St. Louis
on visit TO his daughter, and acci-
dentally set fire to the place When
the owner returned the next morning
he found his home in ashes. Being too
poor TO build another house and un-
willing to live anywhere else, he
bought the piano box and set it up on
the site of his former home, and has
since lived in it as snug as a bug in
rug His neighbOrs feared that he
would suffer during the winter, but
he declares that he was as cOmforta-
BILE all the time as he ever was in the
old cottage, and the only thing he
lacks is room to walk about under
shelter when it rains In bad weather
he is compelled to spend the time on
his bunk or be exposed to the weather
outside his queer house.
Mendel is SO years old, but vigorous
and active. He chops his own fire
wood, carries water every day from
the brook about 200 yards away, and
does all the work around his place"
as we'll as a much younger man could
do it.
His daughter has repeatedly tried
to induce him to abandon his uncom-
Portable quarters and live with her,
but he prefers the country and its
discomforts to anything the city could
offer him, he declares.
His unique house is one of the sights
OF the north and south road. and mo-
torists and other travellers along that
road often stop and call upon him and
learn all about his remarkable way of
living. He is always very courteous
to visitors, but will accept nothing
in the way of a present from them ex-
cept an occasional cigar or pouch Of
tobacco.
The Washington bee., 1908-06-13
Present Tammany Hall.

erect a large modern hall which can
be hired out for public meetings and
social gatherings.
Those advocating the change insist
that it will be very profitable to Tam
many. There has been recently a
great demand for the property on
which Tammany hall, Pastors theater
and the Academy of Music stand as
sites for modern buildings. If Tam
many moves, Pastors theater, owned
by the society, would have to go also,
and 1t is regarded as certain that the
entire block fronting on East Four
teenth street would be purchased and
modern buildings erected upon it,
The main inducement tC the change
is that Tammany hall is no longer
centrally located A site not lower
than Thirty-fifth street and perhaps
even north of Forty-second street, is
desired
The existing building has been the
home of Tammany since 1868, when
the organization moved from it's old
quarters where is now the New York
Sun building. The removal was
marked by d notable parade Of the
braves. In 1868 the only Democratic
national convention ever held in this
city was held in the present building.
HOratiO Seymour, who had declared
The Washington bee., 1908-06-13

pacity here in the department, and
can speak read and write with less
ease Chinese Cantonese and Pc
kinese dialects and the literary Ian
guages), Japanese, modern Greek.
Hungarian, Dutch, Norwegian, Swed-
ish, Polish, Latin, Yiddish and Espe-
ranto.
NO. l am often taken for a Rus
sian, but I am not.
Il am just a Minnesota boy ard
proud of it.
NO. am not even a college man.
started to go to a German school, but
was impatient of the progress made
there and left it for the high school.
Il started at u years of age TO
study German, and from that went
easily on to the study of French, Span
ish and Italian After that came
Portuguese and Russian, which Ian
guages I speak, read and write with
practically the same facility as I do
English
Il also read and translate Arabic,
Persian, Turkish, Roumanian, Bohe-
mian, Servian and other SIayonic dia,
leCts."
Mr.. Stevens entered the service OF
the government as a clerk in the
printing Office. where he did. at odd
times, any transIating that was neces-
sary. From this office he was trans
ferred to the war department, where
he remained five years. He has now
been in his present division for the
same length of time.
Mr.. Stevens modestly asserts that
he 'aims to learn all languages of
political Importance" having entered
the department master of six Ian
guages, and now being able to use his
varied knowledge in the translating of
some 24 and more. if one counts the
innumerable dialects which appear in
connection with many of this number.
Mr.. Stevens also says with a charm
ing simplicity that. While he can gen
orally translate the various Chinese
and japanese dialects. he does not al
ways understand them very well.
I have been much interested in the
study OF jLa Sioux Indian Iangua se.
md ate I studied japanese | found
-Ia two very similar, which carries
out the theory held by many scientists
that the Amarl- an Indian was original
ly an oriental Tie Sioux is very rich
ana conp-e-e An army of1. CT told
me an interesting tale Of having taken
with HIM to one of our western posts
a Japanese servant. adding that he
had found this Jap talking with .
Sioux one day, both the Sioux and he
other with fair accuracy"
The Washington bee., 1908-06-13
PuzzIinu Problem Solved.

In these days Of the perplexing serv.
ant girl question and the can't-keep-
the-coOk joke it is interesting to note
that there are some striking excep-
tiOns TO the general rule The Chi
cagO School of Domestic Arts and
Sciences at its recent annual meet
ing presented a gold medal to a maid
who has served continuously in one
family for 81 years, and placed on a
roll of honor the names of ten others
who have kept one place for from II
to 20 years. Mrs. Nelson ThomassOn,
the lucky employer of the prize win
ner, said: In my opinion, the servant
problem would be solved speedily if
the old-time affection between servant
and employer could be revived. Eliza
stays with us because she likes US and
We like her. She is one of the fam.
lily. She has risen above rules and
regulations, which are as unnecessary
in her case as they would be in mine.
She goes out when she thinks it con-
venient and stays in when she thinks
it advisable. When she sees work to
be done she does it"
The Washington bee., 1908-06-13
Could Not Pass the Examination.

A dilapidated specimen of a man
stopped a Kansas City merchant on
the street one morning and asked for
a cash donation. Mister he said in
a plaintive voice. Il hain't had any
work to do for more'n a month. an I'm
powerful hard up"
Been out of work for a month";"
said the merchant What is your oc-
cupation?"
Il work in the packing-house when
| can get anything to do"
In thc killing department."
'NO. sir. in the cutting-Toom."
Then you can tell me, perhaps, how
many teeth a COW has on her upper
jaw"
"Why-er-ro. SIT. ! never no
ticad"
That's tco ba1" said the merchant,
putting lis hand IN his pocket The
dime ! an ggi-v 70 give you would
have been a da.sr if y5u hadn't failed
in your exam Ia iol."-Youth's Com
paniCn.
The Washington bee., 1908-06-13

other things that no normal boat is ex-
pected to accomplish
Though new to the United States
this queer craft has been in use for
ten years or more in Canada and there
are now so CT the same type being
operated in the lumber regions Of the
northwest. The type is called "alli.
gator" because of its peculiar crawl
ing motion, its ungainliness and its
ability to travel both on land or wa
ter. The motive power is in the boat
itself. The alligator" is a steamboat
and a steam winch combined. The en-
gtne drives the paddle wheels like an
ordinary boat, if desired, or when a
land journey is necessary the power is
applied to drive a cable drum located
in the bow of the boat which holds
three-eighths-inch steel cable used in
warping the craft upon the bank and
across the land space which is 10 be
traveTsed. Land travel is provided for
by two steel runners on the bottom Of
the boat six feet apart, and a block
and tackle cOntriVance which is op-
Grated by means of the cable drum.
To guard against tipping the boiler is
Of special design and is suspended on
an axle in the center. A screw on the
front end enables the fireman to tip
it forward or backward according to
whether the boat is going up or down
hill. The craft will take a grade Of
one foot in three without difficulty.
The boat can make between one and
two miles a day on land. but travels
considerably faster on water.
The hull, which is scow shaped.
measures As feet in length and II feet
beam. and carries a 22-horse power
boiler and a 20-horse power engine.
The deckhouse is fitted with sleeping
accommodations. The boat is de-
signed for strength and power rather
than grace, and is said to be the best
type of boat ever used In the lumber
regions of the northwest. Several "alli-
gators" now are being built for use in
the forests of South America, and it is
believed they will be found very sue
cessfuI as a habitation and means Of
transportation for explorers in the
tropical jungles. ..r-. .
The Washington bee., 1908-06-13
"a
.CZAR'S LITTLE son
CZAREVlTCH ALEXIS is A LIVELY
YOUNGSTER.
Heir to Throne Of All the Russas Has
Attained Dignity of Knieker-
bockers - Does Not En-
Joy Playing Soldier.

st. Petersburg. - Despite early
prophecies that Re would grow up a
sickly child or possibly die before at
tanning manhood, the Czarevitch
Alexis, son and heir to the car of all
the Russias, the child who is destined
to sit on one Cf the most dangerous
thrones in the world and exercise au-
tocratic rule over a nation of nearly
l50000,000 people and a territory of
nearly 100000 square miles, the third
greatest empire in the world in point
OF population and the second in ex-
tent, is to-day as bright and hearty a
little lad as could be found in any
American household. He has almost
reached the mature age of four, and
has already put babyhood behind him.
He now appears dressed in a natty
sailor suit of blue with knickerbock-
ers and big boots to protect his feet
while playing out of doors.
Hedged in though he is with court
ceremonial and constantly guarded
against possible kidnapping by nihilists,
Alexis manages to get as much fun
out of life as the average boy of his
age. He is never happier than when
romping around the staid and somber
corridors in a game of tag with his
sisters, and the silent guards stationed
at regular and frequent intervals fail
to attract his notice at all, except
when one inadvertently stations him
self in some favorite corner of the
baby prince.
Alexis finds little enjoyment in the
supposedly favorite game of kings
sons, playing at soldiers.
He finds the tin men and tiny fort
resses too tedious. He wants to romp
with other children and, if allowed his
own way, would spend the day play
The Washington bee., 1908-06-13
TANNANY TO MOVE
MORE CENTRAL LOCATION DE-
SIRED BY ORGANIZATION.
Present Quarters Have eeen Cceu-
pied by the Democratic Body
Since 1968-One National
Convention Held There.

New York-Tammany is to leave
its historic home in East Fourteenth
street and move uptown.
A movement quietly began several
weeks ago among the sachems of the
Tammany society for the sale of the
old building and the purchase of a
modern. up-tO-date one in the center
of activity is expected to reach a
definite stage soon. Charles F. Muir
ply favors the change, it is said
One of the reasons of the secrecy
observed was that agents might quiet
ly look for a site 1t is intimated that
options have been taken on two or
three. II is expected that it will take
at least year to erect a building suit
able to the needs Of the Tammany So
ciety and of Tammany hall. 1t is the
present intention of the sachems to
The Washington bee., 1908-06-13

ing with boys in the garden, street, or
anywhere, as long as he could have
fun, active fun, and lots of it.
Alexis happlest moments are prob
ably spent on his fathers yacht,
where, free from danger of death at
the hands Of Tevolutionaries, he can
romp with the loyal sailors at will.
Alexis was born at the blackest
period Of the Japanese war, when the
nation was plunged in the depths of
humiliation, the much despised Asiatic
crumpling up the armies and destroy
ing the ships of the empire that had
deemed itself invinCible, the high of
ficials Of the court exposed as graft
ers who had delivered their country
into the hands of the enemy, and the
people in a state of almost open re-
bellion. 1t was a gloomy time for the
czar. but it was illumined by the com
ing of the little stranger who is to
become one of the most important
persOnages in the world
The czaT had longed for a son, but
fate had given him four daughters in
succession, The interesting event oc-
CURED not in the great PeterhOf pal
ace but in Alexandra villa, one of the
smaller palaces in the magnificent
PeterhOf park The arrival of Alexis
was announced by the booming of the
guns of the imperial yacht which was
lying in the Baltic just opposite the
palace. The faithful subjects of the
car waited to count the guns The
first q guns did not signify anything.
for that number are fired for a girl,
but when the guns kept booming it
was TO announce the arrival Of an
heir to the throne. The guns Of the
fortress Of SIS. Peter and Paul took up
the message and a long chain of forts
carried it on, until the whole people
of Russia heard the glad news.
Alexis is a manly little fellow in ap-
pearance, and if he had had the good
fortune TO be born of American par
ents he would, in all probability, have
become one of the greatest railroad
men in the world, for his tastes all
lie in that direction. He delights in
working models Of all kinds, and par
ticularly in that of the imperial train
which was presented to him by his
father last Christmas. II is altogether
probable, however. that he will have 10
turn his attention 10 tie study OF mill,
tary matters, languages and state
ceremonials to fit him for his future
high position, for that is the routine
Of all the royal children of Europe. the
dreariest, dullest routine for a child
that could be imagined.
The Washington bee., 1908-06-13
Opera Epitomized.

Mary Garden, the famous prima
donna, compared, during the recent
Richard Mansfield sale, the old-fash-
ioned operas with such new works as
"Thais," Louise" and ''PeIleas ct Me-
lisande."
With a laugh she concluded:
"An operate role now means the
vivid portrayal of a character. II
meant in the past simply an advance
to the footlights and an exhibition of
trills, roulades and all the other vocal
fireworks. The servant maid went
home from the old-fashioned opera,
and when her mistress asked her how
she liked it she replied:
Gee, she sung lOvely-just as if
she wuz garglin'.'
The Washington bee., 1908-06-13
Rot In Ever Of CcIIere-

Mrs. W'Hl.s-, T. Ta'. il mt in favor
of the cclece education for her daugh-
ter. but Will n,t oppose her il she
wishes 10 take a. Mrs. Taft saws that
she thinks tc~ tle work that a woman
viii 60 in II world in her own home
an academic education is sufficient.
Her daughter viii graduate this year
d pleI ara osy school at BryH Mawr
and will be f.ted to enter the college
if the cares to.
The Washington bee., 1908-06-13
SON SEEKS FATHERS TooA.
Arthur P. German Would Represent
Maryland in Senate.

Baltimore, Md.-Maryland Demo
Gratis have another German at the
front. and many Of them predict that
he will surpass the career of his IA
nous father. Mr.. Germans candidacy
for the United States senate, to sue
ceed Senator Rayner, was launched
at a banquet by sponsors repre-
senting all the elements of the regu-
lar, or dominant, Democracy. He will
be opposed by the friends of Senator
Rayner and eX-Gov. Warfield and by
The Washington bee., 1908-06-13

after a conference with President
Roosevelt, to get, if possible, the $780,
600 necessary to take him on his ninth
expedition in search of the north pole,
has been in the service of the United
States navy since 1881. In his last
trip, 1898 to 1902, he attained 81 de-
grees II minutes north and named the
most northerly land in the world,
Cape Morris X Jesup. Commander
Peary was born at CrestOn, Pa, in
1856 and was graduated from Bow
doin college. He entered the United
States navy as a civil engineer and
has been employed in the engineer
corps when not on his arctic eXpedi-
tiOns. His discoveries have gained
for him a number of medals from
scientific societies.
The Washington bee., 1908-06-13

in the United States senate since 1898,
when he was elected to succeed Fran
els b. StOckbridge. who died three
years before his term expired. MI
Burrows home is at Kalamazoo. He
was an officer in the union army and
was appointed supervisor Of internal
revenue for Michigan and Wisconsin
IN 1857. He was elected a representa-
tive to the FOTty-tbird, FoTty-siXth and
Forty-seyenth congresses and ap-
pointed solicitor of the government
treasury department by President Ar
thur in 1884, but declined the Office.
He was in the Forty-ninth, Fiftieth,
Fifty-first, Fifty-second. Fifty-third and
Fffty-fOurth congresses and was twice
elected speaker pro TEN. of the house
of representatives during the Fifty
FIRST congress. His present term Of
service in the senate will expire
March 3, 1911.
The Washington bee., 1908-06-13
Mi aEa sHi s~T
AN AMPHIeIoUs CRAFT.
ALLIGATOR" Boat Which Travels on
Both Land and Water.

Kansas City.-A remarkable craft
has just made its appearance on the
upper Mississippi and Missouri rivers.
This boat is amphibious in the literal
meaning of that word. being equally
serviceable on land or water and traY-
cling as boat or as an automobile.
1t is so built that it can be used as a
launch, a houseboat, a freighter or a
tugbOat on the water. and it also can
climb out on the bank and travel over
land, load itself on a fat car and do
The Washington bee., 1908-06-13

both of the independent newspapers
Of Baltimore. The contest will be
before the voters at primaries to be
held in the fall of 1909 Mr.. German,
who is "a years old, resembles his IA
ther. but is more cOmbative, a better
speaker and more highly trained in
the theoretical science of government.
Senator Rayner's activity in espousing
the cause of a court Of inquiry for Col.
Stewart. the Maryland Dreyfus. reIa-
tive of the late Senator Whyte. and
one of a powerful family, is held to in
dicate that he is preparing strong ALI
ances. in addition to which he will
meet Mr.. German with one OF his
whirlwind oratoriCal campaigns.
The Washington bee., 1908-06-13
Empress Operates Typewriter.

It is related that in passing through
her husbands library recently the at
tention of the empress OF Japan was
attracted by a peculiar-loOking ma
chine. On learning that it was a type
writer and having it explained to her,
she became interested and began to
hit the keys Now il is said that she
Goes a good deal Of correspondence
for the emperor.
The Washington bee., 1908-06-13
Wherein We Differ

The duchess of Marlborough. at the
dinner given in New York in honor of
Mrs. Humphry Ward, said: From
earliest childhood English women are
made to feel the obligations of indi-
vidual responsibility and society itself
demands adequate fulfllment. It is
this sense of obligation that we Amer
lean women should foster and de-
velop."
The Washington bee., 1908-06-13
ROYALTIES Use Typewriters.

It is reported that Queen Alexandra
of England, Queen Maude of Norway,
the czarina and the queen of Portugal
are all fond of using the typewriter
in corresponding with their intimates.
1t is probable that all of them put
together do not use the machine as
much as Carmen Sylvia, the queen
poems and stories on a typewriter.
The Washington bee., 1908-06-13
50 E zNe Il.
MAKES HOME IN A PIANO soX.
The Odd Hasitation of an Eccentric
Misscurian.

Missc urian.
Kansas City, MO.-Probably the
oldest habitation in Missouri is the
piano box home CT Franz Mendel, an
aged German resident of St Louis
county. This queer dwelling is the
regulation upright piano box laid fiat
on the side which corresponds to the
back of the piano and supported on
large stones which raise it about tea
inches from the ground. The entire
outside of the house" is covered with
sheets of asbss.Ss pare?, and the toG
or roof" has an additional covering
of tar paper The slanung portion Of
the box is hinged to the stra. SAT sec
ton, forming sort of horizontal door,
and the joint thus made is covered
The Washington bee., 1908-06-13
sn4AS
SENATOR BURROWS SELECTED.
Michigan Man to Be Temporary Chair
man of Republican Convention.

Chicago,-Julius Caesar Burrows,
who is to be temporary chairman Of
the Republican national convention,
has represented the state Of Michigan
The Washington bee., 1908-06-13

lects and IS particularly Interested in the
Sioux.
Observation-Disclosures Stevens, ex,
pert translatGT of the state depart
ment, is undoubtedly one of the most
unique and interesting members OF de-
paTtmental life in Washington.
Possessed of a vast fund of general
knowledge relative to the needs of his
department, he is devoting his life
especially to the mastering, not only
of modern languages as they are
taught in the schools, but of many
strange tongues which few, if any
other Americans, have ever found it
possible to use
Born Of American parents in the
picturesque little town of Shakapee,
Mimi, Mr.. Stevens can claim the title
of true American linguist Not until
his genealOgy reaches back to the
grandmother of his mother is there
found an ancestor who could have
transmitted to this remarkable son the
linguist power which is his by right of
possession, and not in any way by
heredity, as would naturally be ex-
pected If Wilfred Stevens were an
European.
Mr.. Stevens smiled when he said:
Yes, l translate the principal Euro
pean and oriental languages in my ca
The Washington bee., 1908-06-13
IS MASTER l|NGUIST
WlLFRED STEVENS FINDS HIS
WORK A DIVERSION.
Translator in the Government Service
Speaks, Writes and Reads Many
Languages-Is Not a Col
lege Man.

Mr. Wilfred Stevens, translator in
the state department, speaks, reads
and writes:
German, Modern Greek.
french, hungarian,
Spanish, Dutch,
lIauan, Norwegian,
portuguese, Swedish
Russian, Polish,
Chinese, Latin
Cantonese and Yiddish
Pekt,ese (dialects), and
japanese, Esperanto.
Reads and translates:
ARABIC, Bohemian,
Persian, Seryiau
turkish, Slavonic dialects,
ROumanian,
lnJerpTets American Indian dia-
lects and IS particularly interested in the
The Washington bee., 1908-06-13
Quarters Of Tammany Hall from 1912
to 1863

on the platform of the convention that
he was not a candidate, was nomin.
ated for president.
The Washington bee., 1908-06-13
TO HUNT FOR THE POLE AGAIN.
Commander Peary Seeking Money
for Another Trip.

WashingtOn.-Commander Robert
z Peary. who has gone to New York