davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The San Francisco call., 1908-04-26
CHAPTER XII
my Hour Ha. Come,

my Hour Has Come,
I" EMO found the two occupants OF
the room terror stricken. and
standing on one side Of the win
dow, from which they had not
The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1908-02-06

Maryland has proposed to erect a
monument to James r. Randall. A
memorial in bronze or marble is ever a
fitting tribute to poet and patriot, albeit
there exists living monument to Mr..
Randall, whose splendor time cannot
dull, in maryland, My Maryland"
What sculptured tribute to his memory
but must seem insufficient when one
recalls that great day when Robert E..
Lee led his army across the Potomac
into Maryland, and the soldiers crown
ing the hills on both banks Of the
river burst into one grand union Of
song. Maryland, My Maryland" Had
ever poet such minstrel? Can echoes
Of that great paean ever fade into ST.
lence?
The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1908-02-06
The Teacher Famine.

From all over the land there is re.
ported a dearth Of young women
teachers for the public schools And
yet the schools maintained for the
making of teachers are crowded with
young women who, to use their own
favorite expression, are lust dying"
to be set at work "teaching the young
idea how to shoot" Complaint is made
that there are recruits enough all the
time, but no veterans. The ranks Of
those "just dying" to get on the job
are fully equaled by the number also
"just DYING to get another job. Mar
riage is sometimes set down as the all
efficient cause for the vacant teachers
desks Of the land. Perhaps it is.
But there are observers who say that
teachers are not paid enough and that
their tenure Of Office is too uncertain
for teachers Of the right sort to feel
that they can do justice to themselves
by settling into the inevitable school
rut. Teaching saps the vitality, and
promotion is slow. Perhaps scores and
hundreds who quit early would stay on
the job if the authorities could give
them back the five or ten years of
youth they have put into their work.
They do not want to wear themselves
out and be thrust aside, and they take
the first opportunity to land on more
solid ground. In many European coun-
tries schoolteachers hold a government
appointment, which gives them at once
security in their jobs and a certain
official dignity in society. AS rule an
honorable position with a fair living
attached never goes begging. With
our enormous and costly machinery tor
education, there should be some way
to keep, up steady and satisfactory
supply Of workers in the schools.
The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1908-02-06
HAIL TO knife GRINDERS!
Civil Service Will Attract Thorn C
5000 Government Jobs,

$SuV government Jobs.
Hail to the knife grinder! Thou
sands Of his tribe will soon march
upon Washington, all imbued with the
lofty ambition to hold down a govern
ment snap" The great assemblage,
which will make Washington its Nee
ca for an indefinite period, bids fair
to produce a tie-up in the scissors
grinding industry throughout the
United States, says the Washington
Post.
Like a bolt from clear sky, the first
tntimation Of this conclave Of horny
handed sons came in the form of an
announcement issued by the civil serv-
Ice commission that eligibles for the
"otfice" of knife grinder would be ex-
amlned and certified for immediate
service in the government printing Of
nee and other branches of department
work where the dizziness and skill of
the knife grinder are necessary in or
der that the machinery may run
smooth.
There are features that should at
tract and please applicants. No edu-
cation Is necessary. No excruciating
mental or physical tests are required.
No long political pull is needed.
Already there Is activity among the
Washington grinders. It is not vet
made public how many appointments
Will he made from the list Of appli-
cants. The job will pay 5000 a year.
The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1908-02-06
Waking the Baby.

mother pacing the floor of a room
adjoining the nursery where lay her
sleeping babe was driven to the verge
Of frenzy by sudden and all but horri-
flying news that momentarily dethroned
her reason. The strain unless arrested
would, it seemed, completely wreck a
fine mind, and yet the news was but
half true, and the most alarming part
was untrue. Then a woman caller
experienced in the psychology of moth
erhood. called to the nurse, "Wake
the baby" 1t was done, and the crisis
ended. That little trouble on the heart
for of course the child cried and call
ed its misunderstanding doomed great
er than the mountain on the mind. No
argument is required to demonstrate
that this country has passed through
an ordeal that threatened to paralyze
all forms of activity. The public was
stunned, and although there have been
lookouts to say that the alarm and
anxiety were needless, the aftermath
OF the disturbance is developing growth
every Gay. And the monitors who
would speak the word to charm away
the spell do so with discordant voices.
Some say the trouble was due to
scarcity Of currency, others that the
stability Of the banks of deposit was
questioned and people rushed for their
money, thus creating the very evil they
feared. On the one hand we are told
that boarding tied up the money and
on the other that we have been scatter
Ing with a reckless hand. Again, it is
said that "capital has lost it's purchas-
ing power" All theories cannot be
right. and for the average man the at
tempt to locate the exact seat Of the
evil would mean to knock reason from
its pedestal. Luckily there is a baby
to awaken and the tension can be
eased up. When confusion comes over
the ranks Of the army, the order is,
'As you were"'-that is, get back to
first principles and start in again. The
thing nearest at hand is of first i'm
portance. The woodman has his wood
to saw, the little banker his own con-
Germ to "clean up" The merchant has
small accounts to collect and small OBJ
legations to meet. Every man of af-
fairs can tackle some end of the finan-
cial problem lying at his own door, and
In this way everybody will be too busy
to see trouble where none exists and
also get well braced for whatever
modicum OF real trouble may have to
be met. We reached the summit of
prosperity" from small beginnings,
and now steady pegging away will take
US as far along that road again as it is
sensible to go.
The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1908-02-06
SELF LIGHTING LIFE BUOY.
Novelty on the Steamer Lusitania Tina
Attracted Attention.


Attracted Attention.
One feature of the big Lusitania. the
Cunard turbine ocean liner, which at.
tracted crowds when she was open for
inspection, was the automatic life buoy
which is fastened between decks on q
slanting frame in such q way that it
can be released by the pressure of a
button on the bridge, says the New
York Sun.
On each end Of the four arms of q
large cross shaped framework is a cop.
per ball. These balls are so weighted
that when the buoy strikes the water
it will float upright. To the cross.
arms are fastened long brass cylinders.
These cylinders are calcium carbide
lights so arranged that they fare up
by contact with the water.
Should cry of Man overboard!" be
raised at night the officer on the bridge
presses the button, the buoy hits the
water. and the lights flare up. II the
man overheard is a swimmer he can
reach the buoy, to the arms of which
loops are attached to aid in keeping
above water. The ship also has a
mark to guide it.
The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1908-02-06
Schoolboy Rife Practice.

II the plans Of the national board
for the promotion Of rifle practice and
the National Rife association meet
with the approval Of congress, great
impetus may be given to schoolboy
rifle practice in the United States. The
shooting Of the Annapolis cadets and
the navy team, which was composed
almost exclusively of young men, at
Annapolis, coupled with that of the
schoolboys at Creedmoor and Sea Girt
and on the miniature range at the re-
cent sportsman's show, has demon
strated that lads from sixteen years
old upward can be taught to handle the
military rifle with precision. At that
age most boys are enthusiastic about
guns and outdoor sport, and it is pro-
posed to turn their attention toward
the use of the military rifle with the
idea that as they grow older their en-
thusiasm in this direction will increase
and that on leaving the schools, COL
leges or universities they will join the
national guard or civilian rifle clubs
and thus continue the work.
The English government spends large
sums Of money annually in encourag-
ing schoolboys' rifle practice, and other
countries are showing interest in this
form Of primary training. The ma
tional board has recommended to the
secretary Of war that an item be in
serted in the army appropriation bill
setting aside 100000 for the promo
ton Of rifle practice in public schools.
colleges, universities and civilian rifle
practice, including the cost Of arms,
ammunition, prizes and the necessary
material and appliances therefor and
for the expenses Of indoor and outdoor
competition among the students and
members attending or belonging to the
same and the travelling expenses and
pay Of persons designated by the Sec
rotary of war to superintend such in
structions and competition. These are
to be conducted in accordance with reg
ulations to be prescribed by the secre-
tary Of war.
The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1908-02-06
Tho lznprovident Author.

The sad fate of the once popular nov.
elist, Ouida, who died recently in desti.
tute circumstances. is to be looked al
more i'm the light of "Reminiscences
than us lesson. Ouida wrote several
"best sellers" and is believed to have
earned $250,OOO to 100000 by her pen
That was years ago, when quarter OF
a million dollars, especially in Europe
was counted in the "swollen fortunes
class. She used it all up in living, in
entertaining and in reckless giving fol-
charity.
One thing that the so called "com.
liberalization of literature" has done
is the development Of the provident
author. Mark Twain made a big for.
tune in his early days and lost it all in
legitimate business venture. But he
Is still able to joke over the loss of
$4,000 the while he has nearly double
that sum tied up in an involved trust
company's vaults. Men and women 60
into the business Of writing today to
make money. They have to work hard
for it, and they know its value. 1t is
no fairyland existence when Thoughts
are lettered and sold for bread" and
If the wage is gold and plenty of it the
mind behind the successful pen knows
very we'll that there are competitors in
the field and that the vogue of today
may be the back number Of tomorrow
Modern authors call their gains bust
ness gains, and they invest them with
the average caution of the man of
commerce. In the long run wealth
gained by the pen is dearly earned.
The getting Of it wears the bearings OF
mind and soul, and the getter Of 1t
should husband every dollar with the
same provident care that the man
with the hoe" bestows upon gold dug
from the soil.
The 'stingy farmer" Is a godsend to
agriculture, for in the end his hoard
1ngs get back to the land. The stingy
author can toss his rejected manu-
script into the fire and turn up next
day or next week with a masterpiece
under his arm.
The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1908-02-06
Russia a. Seen ON the Inside.


The world didn't need to be told that
Russia is red, and the aim of Mr.. John
Foster Frazer's new book, "Red Rus
sia," is to show why turmoil, tumult
and madness prevail and yet the life
OF the nation goes on. A fierce strug-
gle for survival which has ragged for
generations is perhaps nearing a crisis,
but the situation is not strikingly new.
The author has travelled extensively in
Russia, and his conclusions are up to
date. To quote:
The throwing Of bombs by the revolu-
| tionaries and the meaningless sabring of
the mob by the Cossacks though repul-
slVe TO and beyond the comprehension of
people of western temperament, are per-
fectly In accordance with the aims of the
rival parties within the empire The vir-
tuous, law abiding, good natured Ameri-
can wonders why the Russians cannot
| argue out their differences like sensible
people. One might just as we'll expect the
tiger and the elephant to enter into
friendly confab as to which is to be boss
One or the other is to be boss, and the
supremacy Is only to be secured by blood
shed. The government has now the pow
er, and authority Is upheld by rifles The
answer of the Russian people Is the
throwing Of bombs. Each side pursues
| the policy of terrorizing the other side,
| That soldiers should fire into mob of
| men. women and children is no more to
| the Russian government than police in
timation in England that order must be
| preserved. The throwing Of bombs by
| the revolutionaries is regarded very much
In the same light as an electioneering
pamphlet would be in England.
Assassinations by extremists are
taken. for granted, and massacres by
the police and Cossacks are looked
upon as only phase Of the general
misery. A few score or hundreds are
shot down and 1T Is a pity" But
what do they count among so many
millions who live and suffer" Force
Is the only argument of tyranny, and
force is the sole resource Of liberty
And Mr.. Frazer tells us that the same
Individual will now be found using
force as the instrument Of liberty and
again Of tyranny. This is when the
| disgraced of6ceholder or disappointed
| applicant concludes that the govern
ment is rotten" and must be destroyed,
or "reformer'' Is bought up by an
appointment to Office. Here once again
we are told that despotism is the only
alternative for the reign of ian abso-
| lutely lawless horde"
The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1908-02-06
Are the Railroads Juxxlinx?

Official railway statistics show that
at the end Of January about IA per
cent Of the total number Of freight
cars in service on the railroads of this
country were idle. Yet last September
the claim was put forward that there
was an embarrassing congestion OF
freight. Not very long ago J. ]. Hill
said it would require the expenditure
Of a billion dollars a year for five
years at least to enable the railroads
to catch up with the traffic Of the coun-
try in respect to carrying facilities,
freight car shortage being a chief fac
tor in the delinquency.
1t really looks as though the talk
about freight congestion by railroad
men may have been for a purpose
or that there is "colored gentleman"
hidden in the pile Of idle freight cars
100000 reported for one weeks "lay-
off," When the alarming freight con-
gestion was dwelt upon by Mr.. Hill
and others the country was scolded
for not putting its money into railroad
stocks and bonds, so, that the facili-
ties Of transportation might be increas-
ed. Mr.. Hill even intimated that the
federal government might have to
come to the aid of the roads in order to
prevent paralyzation of traffic. Now,
it will be remembered that just when
the attitude Of the railroads was that
of throwing up their hands in the face
of the pressing needs of the country
and Of the demands of the public, the
federal investigations were drawing
closer to the roots of the business
every day. Somehow financial panic
happened along just in time to clinch
the arguments Of the jugglers-if Jug
Cling there was-and it is significant
that the report of large number of
idle freight cars came simultaneously
with the announcement that the oper-
ating expenses Of the roads would
have to be reduced, and the usual expe-
dent Of reducing wages was foreshad-
owed. Were it not for the incessant
reports of the resumption of industries
throughout the country this widely
heralded plight Of the railroads might
be accepted as natural condition of
things and one to call for public SYM
pathy and liberation. Perhaps the
freight car shortage was exaggerated
and this scare about the sudden slump
in traffic is somewhat overworked.
Somehow the facts as alleged do not
agree with the everyday experiences OF
the watchful public.
The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1908-02-06
Two Ounces For q Cent.

The Postal Progress league has an
nounced THAT its programme for the
year will be to push measure for
a common rate Of / cent for two
ounces of mail matter, whether of the
first, third or fourth class-that is to
say, where matter is now carried for
2 cents an ounce and for / cent an
ounce there shall be a reduction so as
to put the two classes now in excess of
l cent for two ounces on plane with
matter already being carried at the
rate Of l cent for two ounces. Per-
haps the idea is that if the government
can carry some important mail matter
at the rate Of cent for two ounces it
can carry all the matter offered for
that sum.
1t is said that the league looks for a
public demand for postage reform that
will reduce the expenses of business
transactions. With regard to letter
service, which is now immense, the
league says it would cost the govern
ment little more than the present ounce
service" to handle and transport two
ounce letters and adds, Every kind
of trade would be benefited by the
reduced tax on correspondence"
England now has a two ounce serv-
ice for l cent, and it is argued that be-
cause the postal revenues have increas-
ed since that rate was adopted the re-
duction which brought it about was Il
good stroke Of business. The point is
also made by postal reformers that re-
auctions of rates in this country have
ultimately been followed by increase
in postal revenue But we have had
also heavy increase Of population, ex-
tension Of the area Of dense popula-
ton and shifting Of population, three
factors in increasing the use Of the
mails and of postal revenues.
Our postal system is a blessing, al
though it is far from perfect An i'm
proved rural free delivery and a par
cells post are among the reforms ur-
gently demanded in some quarters
We now have the postal card to carry
business messages for cent, and it is
a question for experts in the postal de-
partment to determine whether it will
be wise to cut the letter rate in two
while doubling the bulk and weight of
the letter mail and also double the
weight for merchandise without a cor
responding increase in rate.
The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1908-02-06
LITERARY IMPosToRs,
Many Clever Writers Who Have %.
ceived the World.

Clever literary impostors who have
deceived the world are numerous
Gamclli Carrieri, Neapolitan gentle
man and scholar, while confined to his
room for long period of years by Ill.
ness amused himself by writing ON &C.
count OF an imaginary voyage round
the world. When the volume was pub
l1shed, it was taken as fact even by
learned people.
The detailed account of a trip to
China which is credited to Du Haldc
Is another literary hoax. The author
had never seen China and had been
sufficiently clever to compile the work
solely from the memoirs Of Chinese
missionaries.
1t is remarkable, though no less a
fact, that "Gullivers Travels" was
thought to be true narrative when 1t
first appeared, and the famous story Of
Damberger's travels was likewise q
hoax
Varillas, the French historian, enjoy
ed wide reputation as chronicler Of
events, but later it was discovered that
his works were purely fakes. The VOL
umes of this writer resemble those of
Gregorlo Reti, who, in order to keep
himself from starving, appended the
most unheard of Incidents to English
history as it was known.
One of the most daring impostures
on record is that Of Joseph Vella Of
Sicily. He said that he discovered sew
enteen Of the lost books of Livy in
Arabic. He then set to work and
wrote a translation from his fancy,
which was printed. After his death
the fraud was discovered. Before his
death, however, he fell under suspi-
cion and was condemned to imprison-
ment.
There are countless cases of authors
selling their names to be put on works
they have never read. Sir John Hill
once contracted to translate q Dutch
book. After the agreement he remem-
bered that he did not know a word Of
Dutch. He then bargained with an
other translator to do the work for
half the price he was to receive.
The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1908-02-06

The extraordinary number Of recruits
now Offering themselves for enlistment
in the regular army sets at rest def
nitely all doubts that existed regard
ing the effect that demand for labor
in civil lines had in depicting the force.
With the lessened call for labor else
where, the army swells instantly. This
change, due to altered economic condi-
lions, first manifested itself in the ma
rine corps, then in the navy and finally
IN the army, thus showing the relative
attractiveness Of the three branches to
the man looking for a job.
The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1908-02-06

Reduced to lowest terms, Premier
embellishments plan of reform
ing the house of lords would make it
merely an affirmative body, to ratify
the actions of the house of commons.
This means to concentrate all legisla-
tive power in the lower house, to trans
form England's traditional two cham
Der system to the basis Of single
chamber. This would indeed be a rev
olution not alone in England, but in
the whole range of constitutional gov
eminent.
The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1908-02-06
The Liaeoln Centenary and After.

The passing Of the ninety ninth an
n1versary Of the birth Of Abraham
Lincoln is a fitting time to call atten-
ton to the centenary, which Is only a
year ahead Of us. Needless to prophesy
that there will be national celebra-
ton in 1909 that will fifty testify to
the esteem in which the memory OF
Lincoln is held by the whole country.
The growth Of Lincoln's fame has
been steady, and considering that he
has been dead less than half a century
and that the passions Of the era in
which he wrought have been stilled
only within this present generation. it
has been marvellous. The name Of
Abraham Lincoln is cherished in the
While preparing for national cele-
bration Of the centenary it would be
well to arrange for a repetition of the
ceremonies each year in future The
annual celebrations Of the birthday are
not general throughout the country.
nor are the exercises uniform.
In fourteen out of forty-six states
Feb. - is a legal holiday. Sometimes
the commemorative exercises are lin
tied to eulogies delivered before pa
triotic societies, which arrange their
annual banquet for that day. Again,
societies which are not distinctively
patriotic fix upon the birthday for an
annual meeting and make the attention
paid to Lincoln's memory incidental to
other exercises. 1t has been said that
the closeness Of Lincoln's birthday to
that of Washington's, which has long
been kept us a legal holiday in every
state Of the Union, has placed the two
in rivalry This is unfortunate, and it
might be we'll to select some other day
Of mark in Lincoln's career rs a SUBJ
stitute for the birthday to be observed
as tribute to his memory