davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-03-15

sisting of one double sheet of printed
matter. 1t is ostensibly run by thieves
and vagabondS for the benefit of thieves
and vagabondS. The bulk of it's contents
consists of contributions from burglars
and other folk who prey upon society,
in which they describe their successful
exploits Its tone is humorous and racy.
The text is enlivened with comic
sketches, some of which are uncommon
ly well done Unless the police suppress
1t it bids fair to have prosperous career.
1t is not lacking in advertisements,
most of them of decidedly unique char
acter In the latest issue. for instance.
a young man announces that being full
of energy and tempera ment. and having
a loving heart, he seeks life partner in
the shape of a young lady with small
means. The adventurer goes on to say
that. Having practiced housebreaking
from his tender youth. he is now, at
Internationally, as expert d burglar as
any in Moscow, and can therefore assure
his wife comfort and even luxury" An
swers to this advertisement are to be adj
dressed care of the newspaper office.
The office is situated in the Nikitin-
ska, a shabby enough street. opposite a
small theater 1t is a private flat and its
small dimensions-a room overlooking the
courtyard-seem too big for the table.
chalr ana stove WnlCH furnish IL. lie
chair is occupied by shock-headed
youth with long black hair. intelligent
eyes and an odor of greasy sheepSkin
and stale tobacco. He always says the
editor is out and contributors are in
vited to leave their offerings on the table,
where lies an empty vodka bottle. a tea
stained piece of blotting paper and a few
cigarette ends. In word. the manage
ment of the paper is wrapped in mystery.
Nobody knows where 1t is printed, least
track since the first number appeared
1t comes out once a week and costs -
cope cks (about ~ cents
The number in which the advertisement
referred to above appeared also contains
a racy account of a jewel robbery COM
mitted some time back in Moscow. lt
is written in vigorous Russian. of which
the following is a loose translation. This
unknown thief says:
Il wanted to get hold OF a very fine
pearl and diamond collar priced at about
10000 roubles which | knew was for sale
in one OF the best jewelers. shops here
so L dressed up as a general who had
lost the use of his right arm in the Japa-
nese war, and, taking my chum Nicholas,
| rugged him up my orderly. l don't
want to tell you the jewelers. name, but
l will say that his Wife's name is Ma
tasha and that he has the way of keep
ing lot of money at home-he lives
away from his shop-iike all us Russians.
who would rather put our fortunes in
mattress than a bank.
We'll, I and Nicholas got into one of
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-03-15
Me5 LAMpENcE RoGG5
(ANY1E DODGE

was a double row of Lombardy poplars,
fashionable tree a hundred years ago.
just after it's introduction from Europe.
X
About 1910 young Charles E. Rftten-
house grand nephew OF the famous as
tronomer, came from Philadelphia, seek
ing his fortune He soon entered the
Bank of the Metropolis. and finding other
attractions irresistible. remained to bs
come a prominent citizen later of George
town and Washington. He is well remem-
bered in financial circles as president of
the Bank of Commerce and of the Arm
of Rittenhouse. Fowler & Co. He married
Miss Sarah Whitall. who inherited the
beautiful home in which she spent her
entire life of seventy years.
Joining Belle Vue on the north is Ever
may. which occupies the most beautiful
location on all Georgetown Heights. From
the ''trysting stone" east of the house the
visitor may, by turning from the north to
the east. and from the east to the south
and southwest. view the magnificent piano.
rama of all Northwest Washington. from
Woodley Heights to the monument.
Arlington and the university, with Oak
Hill. Rock creek and the ruined Lyons
mill at his feet. An ideal location for some
noble public institution.
Il
The original property comprised twenty
five acres. from the line of 2Sth street
extended to the creek and Mill street.
Much of it is now embraced in Oak Hill
cemetery including the family burial plot.
From an inscription 1t is thought the
mansion was built in 1902. 1t is OF later
type than Belle Vue. has spacious
southern veranda. The builder was one
Samuel Davidson. who being unmarried
devised it to sisters son on the con-
dition that he should assume his mothers
maiden name The young man married
and established his home in the inherit
ance One of his daughters married a
grandson of Whitalrs. another one Tof
the six handsome Dodge brothers. and
lived long at Evermay Her daughter Is
the beautiful Mrs Lawrence Boggs,
famous belle in Washington society few
years ago. A son, Maj. Charles Dodge,
died of yellow fever in Cuba during the
Spanish war His last request was that
he might be buried at 1.-THE dear Ever
may" The Belgian minister, Bosch
Spencer. made his home at Evermay dur
ing his entire term of service. But until
forbidden most of the diplomatic gentle
men from abroad preferred residence in
Georgetown. The estate Is now occupied
by the heirs of John Mcpherson, a prom
inent attorney, and is we'll kept. Many
OF the fine forest trees were uprooted by
a tornado some years ago. but there yet
remain number of magnificent speci-
mems. notably a towering horse chestnut
and remarkable holly
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-03-15

cited, equally tragic but less we'll known.
1t needs no explanation to show how the
conditions set forth operate as a direct
incentive to what the law terms inn
moral relations.
For most of the offenses above stated
the only relief provided by English law
is a permanent separation-one of the
most illogical remedies that could pos
sibly be devised. In effect 1T recognizes
the unfitness of the man or wife, as the
case may be. for mutual maritaI rela-
tions. and parts them but preserves in
tact the tie which prevents both of them
the sinner as well as the victim, from
contracting another marriage. which
might turn out happily. Small wonder
it is that Sir Gorell Barnes says: THE
conviction has forced itself upon me
that permanent separation without d.
vorce has a distinct tendency to encour-
age immortality. and is an unsatisfactory
remedy to apply to an evil which it is
supposed to prevent
X
Mr. Bottomley's bill, it will be seen,
would make divorce follow automatically
after the separation order has been in
effect for five years without any recon-
Citation having taken place 1t does
not remove that glaring anomaly of the
English law which discriminates SO I'M
justly between the consequences Of in
fidelity on the part OF the wife and in
fidelity on the part of the husband. The
better and more direct method would
seem to be to make those grounds for
which permanent separations are now
granted causes for divorce. Probably
Mr. Bottomley has adopted the round
about method to avoid arousing those
ecclesiastical and social prejudices which
are strongly opposed to any broaden
ing of the divorce law. But it is doubt
full il the subterfuge will help him to
obtain the votes necessary for the pas
sage of his bill. The English are a con-
sentative folk. tied down to convention
,alities and traditions, and slow to re-
spond to any arguments except those
which appeal to their pockets. Something
more will be needed than mere demon
stration of the injustice and iniquity OF
the English divorce law to make them
mend it.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-03-15

cloak lined with sables, like the pest
general in the empire. When L entered
the shop my orderly waited just inside
the door, looking about with his mouth
wide open and twirling his fur cap In his
hands just like all the orderles who go
shopping behind their generals in. Mos
cow The jeweler was all smiles when,
after buying and paying for some trashy
thing worth a couple of roubies. | care
lessly asked if he had any pearls. adding
that l probably shouldn't buy them that
day Among others he brought out TIE
collar / wanted to get hold of. and said II
cost $4,000 roubleS. protested that IL
was far too dear for my purse. and be-
gan looking at cheaper ones But l came
back to the beauty over and over again,
and the ieWeier. seeing | wanted TIE
thing began to bargain.
AT last. after half an hours hagsllng,
he agreed to let it go for 1000 roub!es
cash if 1 would take it at once. or
course, said / hadn't SO much money
on me and didn't care to go home for it.
He fell into the trap at once and offered
to send a messenger he could trust with
note I told him. handling the collar
the whole time and admiring it. that L
could send my orderly, but that my wife
would never give him so much money
on a verbal message and that as my
right arm was in a sling | could not
write. Then he suggested that he should
write at my dicattion.
X
Il dictated, as far as ! can remember,
these words: My Beloved Natasha: Give
the man who brings this 1900 roubles,
which you will find in the place where
always secrete my money. Your loving
husband Nicholas, who knew what he
was to do with it. went off, and while
he was gone | talked about the pearls
and almost decided on Il cheaper collar,
SO that by the time he came back with
the money the jeWeler was in u fever
lest l should not spend that 1900 rou-
bles, and had the thing packed up with
all haste. | paid for it aud drove with
Nicholas and the collar straight 10 the
station, where we got into the Petersburg
train and from there to Berlin. L can
guess what a state the jeweler was in
when he went home, beaming with joy
that he had sold the necklace till his wife
asked him what he wanted with 10000
roubles that morning.
''Of course Nicholas had given the jew
eler's letter to another chum, who looked
as respectable as you like and who gave
it to the jewelers. wife. She asked him
few questions. satisfied herself by his
answers that he had come from her hus-
bands shop and gave him the money
ing near and drove TO the shop witt! ii.
This is how 7 got the dearest pearl and
diamond collar in Moscow and paid for il
with the jewelers. own money And if
some of the readers of the Bosatska
GaZeta have done a better trick they can
tell about it. Perhaps another time I'll
tell them how | got tie sable-lined gen
hot for me, so I'm going somewhere else
for time"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-03-15
NEWSPAPER ORGAN FOR
THE CRIMINAL CLASSES
Special Correspondence of The Star.

HOSOVW, NdTCn 4. IFJS.
" HIS is the age OF specialization
in journalism as in other things
the world over. Nearly every
trade or profession has its organ. But in
this ancient city of Moscow an editor has
discovered an entirely new field for news
paper enterprise, which appeals to nu-
merous clientele. His paper. which made
its first appearance only a little while
ago, is called Bosatska Gazeta. which
interpreted means the Bare-footed Mans
Gazette. 1t is little weekly journal, con-
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-03-15
Hindu Wives.
From the Bombay Gazette.

In the days to come will the slow spread
of education among the mass Of the peo-
pie, men and women alike. modify caste
and bring forth the women from the fast
nesses of the Zenana, to become the hon.
cred companions of their husbands2 VIII
Hindu men cease then to say: I'VE do
not ask companionship from our wives;
we only demand obedience and mother
hood?
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-03-15

who gave him from the garden the climb
ing rose and the box tree shown in the
cut. The huge matrimony vine was
grown from cutting brought from China
by friend. On the eastern line of the
property was a row of magnificent bla tx
walnut trees, sacrificed in the grading of
Mil street On the south line, 2 street.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-03-15


"a conference held in Georgetown
~ in the early spring of 1Io1 of
President Washington with the
commissioners appointed to lay
out the federal city and the engineers.
LEnfant and Elliott, after mentioning the
panorama of river, plateau and hill as
seen from the Heights, adds: Turning
from the river and looking eastward their
gaze encountered as the eastern boundary
Of Georgetown considerable stream flow
ing between romantic banks and adding
greatly to the beauty of the landscape,
known as Rock creek
Mr. Anthony Merry, British minister to
the United States in 1904, who resided in
one of Col. Peters double houses on upper
h street, wrote to friends in England that
he looked across the fields and a pretty
stream to the mansions in Georgetown
In old letters that have been preserved
are frequent illusions to the pleasant
road that followed the creek up the east
bank from the handsome new X Street
bridge 10 the Paper Mill bridge, whence
IL meandered eastward along the hills
toward Bladensburg Crossing the low
wooden bridge near the paper mill the
traveller could follow the well-made Mill
road up to the Heights and down to the
creek again by the way of the famous
Lovers lane" ana wend his way along
the western bank to Woodley and Adams
Mill. crossing at the ford in the forest.
One who lives near the old stream now
writes: THE skill of army engineers and
the thrift of garbage contractors have
been combined to destroy very nearly
all of the fine natural beauty of this
limpiG stream, to the great loss of both
cities. The government >has expended
much in creating parks in waste places
and in placing ornate bridges over country
streams while turning deaf ear to the
many petitions for the preservation of
the God-given beauty of the northwest.
Now. forsooth it is proposed to convert
the clear flowing Rock creek into sewer.
a Ia Tiber canal. 1t is needless to say
this plan is much to the dismay of all
nearby residents except few who would
be SPECTATORS in the town lots thus pro-
cured"
The appreciation of the value of the
stream by the early citizens was evidenced
by the mills and homes along it's course.
Within the old Georgetown city limits
were several prosperous concerns. Near
the present P street bridge was a paper
mill. described in an advertisement of sale
as being 40 feet long. three stories in
height-the first of stone-with two watts.
Not far above was the Federal Touring
mill, the ruins still to be seen, built by
John T. Rawles, later operated by the
LYONS family who huflt and occuped the
commodious slate-roofed residence near
b.. This mill had four pairs of stones
and capacity for making flour from
:o.G0o bushels of wheat in season.
Georgetown -four had a national reputa-
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-03-15

tinction In the Mexican war, and grand
son, Samuel r. Whitall, was in the United
States service during the civil and Span
ish wars, and is now retired, with the
rank of brigadier general
Old residents still recall "Grandpa''
Whitall and the old two-wheeled gig,
drawn by white horse, in which he
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-03-15

ton for excellence, and all the mills did
a thriving business as long as the river
was navigable for heavy tonnage. Much
flour was exported. oliver Pollock re-
ported a cargo of Potomac -four in New
Orleans in 1776. The Lyons home was a
favorite resort for the young people of the
city for many years. Until late in the
century the lower land west of the creek
from this locality to Bridge. or M. street,
was in high state of cultivation. 1t
is now occupied by dumps and unpic-
turesque cheap tenements. Oak Hill alone
retains the original beauty of the Rock
creek banks.
Georgetown Heights, the old arstocratic
residence section, so seldom seen by visi
tors on account of it's inaccessibility, also
retains some of its old-time air of naughty
exclusiveness. The fine old mansions set
we'll back from the streets, almost hid
mute reminders of the day when social
lines were more strictly drawn by cords
silken, not golden.
Probably the oldest of these is Belle
Vue." the beautifully kept residence of
Mr.. Howard Hinckley, in Q street, for
three generations the home of the Whit
all-Rittenhouse family-indeed, one of the
daughters, Mrs. Thomas Hyde, and the
son, still occupy portions of the original
estate. This elegant old house is of the
familiar colonial type of a large central
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-03-15

made his weekly visits to the rented farm
at Mount Vernon. He had never discarded
the blue cut-away coat, with bright brass
buttons, the high stock and ruff1ed shirt
of his youth In his capacious pockets
were always minis for the children. For
several years he rented one of the Mount
Vernon farms from Bushrod Washington,
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-03-15
ENGLISH LAW OF DIVORCE
UBIQUITOUS AND UNJUST

marriage, betake himself to a foreign
country. never contributing cent to her
support, and that of her child If there be
any, and still she is tied to him for life.
AS long as he survives she Is debarred
from seeking an honest mate and pro-
tector She cannot contract a second
legal marriage. There are hundreds of
such cases.
A man, in every respect worthy, may
take the place of the worthless one who
has abandoned her. but the law stigma
tiZeS their relationship as immoral and
their offspring should there be any. must
bear the brand of illegitimacy. Such
state of affairs is opposed to justice, to
common sense, to morality, and yet
should measure come before the bench
of bishops. in their capacity of lords
spiritual of the upper house. enabling
wife to sue for divorce on the ground of
her husbands unfaithfulness alone, they
would oppose 1t tooth and nail as de-
structive of the sanctty of family life.
the morals OF society and heaven knows
what else.
In other respects the English law OF
divorce is unreasonably oppressive to
both husband and wife, but it is the latter
who is most often the victim of it's blind
stringency. A man may commit a GRIM
inal offense of so heinous a character that
he is sentenced to twenty years penal
servitude. Still as long as he lives his
wife can have no other husband. She
must struggle alone. No other man can
claim the legal right to support her and
make a home for her. A man may even
attempt to murder his wife, and undergo
long term of Imprisonment for It, but
the ties that bind her cannot be severed.
He may cruelty abuse her but he cannot
be deprived of the right to call her his
wife on that account. He may desert
her. but though wife only in name she
is still his wife. To reverse the picture.
the wife may be a criminal an
habitual drunkard who neglects her home
and children. but the holy bonds of we'd
lock must still tie her husband to her.
One or the other may be hopelessly in
sane and lodged in an asylum. but under
English law that does not suffice for
the dissolution of the marriage A man
or woman may be tied to a lunatic for
life. OF this the English peerage affords
| melancholy instance. Soon after the
marriage of the Earl OF Durham his
wife became insane. For twenty-seven
years she has been maniac, and for
| that whole period he has been COM
PEELED to endure lonely and loveless
1 life. Scores of similar cases might be
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-03-15
Special Correspondence of The Star.

Special Correspondence of The Star.
LONDON. March 4. 1908.
A LTHOUGH there is small likelihood
~ that the bill introduced by Horatio
. Bottomley for widening the scope
of the divorce law will pass the house of
commons this session. and a certainty
that il it did 1t would be summarily
elected by the house of lords. it is of
interest as calling attention to the unsat-
isfactory state of the English law with
respect to the dissolution of marriage.
No less an authority than Sir Gorell
Barnes. president of the divorce court.
has stigmatized it as full Of incon-
sistencies, anomalies and inequalities
amounting almost to absurdities."
Mr.. Bottomley's bill is a very brief one.
1t provides that judicial separation be-
tween husband and wife shall. at the ex
pration of five years, If meanwhile the
parties do not come together, have the
same force and effect decree abso-
lutte for the dissolution of the marriage.
1t also makes incurable insanity, or a
sentence of fifteen years penal servitude,
ground for divorce.
The large number of divorces in Amer
lea and the relatively small number that
occur here are often cited by English
purists as proof of the superior moral
tone OF English SOclety- II Is an cutlTe-
~ erroneous conclusion. 1t is the
stringency of the English divorce law.
and not a higher regard for the sanctity
of the marriage tie. which makes divorces
comparatively SO infrequent in England.
Thomas Paynter Allen, secretary of the
Marriage Law Reform Association, who
has made a comprehensive study of the
subject, both here and in America, says
his investigations have convinced him
that the rigid English divorce law, so
far from contributing TO a higher moral
ity. is. in reality. responsible for a greater
laxity of morals than result from the
easy divorce laws of many American
states.
The English divorce law is most bit
terry unjust to the woman. Without
infideiity there can be NO dissolution of
marriage. But whereas a husband can
obtain a divorce on the ground of his
wife's unfaithfulness. the wife can secure
a severance of the nuptial ties only when
the husbands misconduct is accompanied
by cruelty. However fragrant and motor
ious his escapades they do not entitle her
to a divorce. He may commit bigamy
several times over, and perhaps go to
Jail for It, but his one legal wife must
remain his wife as long as he lives. He
may desert his wife Immediately after
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-03-15

Special Correspondence of Tie Star
BRUSSELS, March 4. 1903
A CAPITAL farce, worthy of a better
n setting and a wider publicity, is
1 i now being enacted on the French
frontier of this country. On the Hrsl
day of October last company of Bel
gian gendarmes conducted gypsy van,
containing d family of eight, 10 tie border
and pointing to the south, bade them pro-
coed and never return. But Whlle
anxious enough to obey. circumstances
over which they had no control preNe-t-
ed the gypsies from doing SO. For IL
seems the French authorities had had
warnings of the event and a force of
police barred the way of the van. Thus
besat behind and before by the rival
authorities the gypsy ''undesirables
onchalantly pitched camp. There they
have been ever since. watched over by
both the Belgians and the F'renchmen.
A humorous but from the viewpoint of
the policemen delegated to this duty also
a serious feature of the farce is the fact
that the minons of the law were COM
PEELED to watch day and night Without
shelter, while the eight "undesirableS' are
comfortably housed and watch COM
placently the march of events. AS days
ran into weeks and weeks into months,
the police grew tired. weary, mad and
disguised. But the gypsies, to whom 'all
out of doors is home, pursued the exist
ence of the nomad.
When the matter first came to the at
tention of the authorities at Brussels
there was an attempt made TO come TO
an understanding with the French
authorities. But weightier matters in
terposed and the frontier incident has
been eclipsed and forgotten. AT the
present writing nobody seams to care
very much about the future movements
of the gypsy van--that is, nobody with
the exception of the rival forces of gen.
darnes on tho frontier, with their POM
pous officers and their exalted sense of
duty and Importance. Only over dead
bodies could the van and its undesira-
bles' have advanced or retreated.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-03-15

We'll, I and Nicholas got into one of
the best sledges to be had for money in
Moscow and drove up to the jewelers.
shop. l was dressed in fine Petersburg
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-03-15

Within the past few days the gem
darmes or guard over the van. realizing
that the matter. now being in the hands
of the dipIomatists. is doomed to ever
lasting delays. have erected permanent
abodes on either side of the frontier. In
Indictment weather the alert forces can
keep a close watch on the movements Of