davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-03-21
BoZZDHr FRY Z2Iz21

of Panama is practicable without locks.
The difference between high water in one
and the other ocean is twenty-five feet.
and. failing regulating works, the tide
through the canal would prevent navlga-
ton during a large proportion or each
day. The most liberal plan for sea-
level canal contemplates no more than
from 80 to 200 feet of bottom width. and
ii is admitted that this would cost twice
as much as the proposed lock-level water
way and take twice as long to build. The
foreign members of the board were unan-
imouS in favoring the Sea-level type. and
this may he eXr lained by the fact that in
Europe the Suez canal is the Standard of
are unknown in the practice of European
engineers. and they expressed serious
distrust of the huge structures contem-
plated. On the other hand while there
are no such locks as those proposed now
in the United States the engineers be-
iieve that the experience of the large
locks at the 500 and the Welland canals
fully justifies the adoption of the plans for
these at Panama. The earthquake hazard
was also advanced argument
against the lock-level waterway, but il
does not appear TO be very strong one.
1t is true that comparatively slight shock
might derange the locks and obstruct
navigation for a while. but a violent con-
struction urOn the canal on sea level
than that at the eiehty-hve-foot eleva-
ton. Ii must be remembered that In
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-03-21

they would appear in Switzerland if seen
some distance off through glass.
Inside the ice caves-which are marvels
of imitation Sir Frank has placed an
enormous crane. If you hold a glass or
water Up to the beak OF tnis bird tn.
water disappears. Few visitors under
stand how this is done. but the secret
lies in the fact that one of the "moun-
tain torrents flows just under the crane 5
feet, and this forms a sort of syphon
which sucks the water out OF the glass
az you hold ii up.
All the flowers that grow on the Swiss
Alps are to be found on the Henley Mat
terhorn, together with rare plants from
such cold districts as the highest Him.
alaNaS and other places. Gardeners come
from all over the world 10 inspect Sir
Franks wonderful 'rockery"
But the plants In the rockery do not
compare with those which he has III his
twenty-five separate Conservatives. oc-
cupyfng about ten acres of ground. In
these hothouses. which are heated BY
the most modern methods. are gathered
many of the rareSt plants in the world
some of which have names that would
give Websters unabridged apopleNy. Mtrs-
of these. have truly remHka BILE attri-
butes. There are whole families % "siesh-
eating and .'insect-trapping varieties
and to see them busy at meal times IS
highly entertaining. Here one may study
Prof. Darwin's theory of the conscious
ness OF flowers with every chance Of
coming TO the conclusion tnat plants
think. eat, sleep and perhaps play whist.
Quite number of the plants and flowers
in the Crisp collection have faces
which greatly resemble those OF human
beings. Sir Frank takes delight In point
ing out these warehouses;. and listening
To the establishment of his guests.
Inside the Crisp mansion the idea of the
friar is carried out with the same degree
of persistency as on the exterior. Even
the electric light bulbs have friars' noses,
which are turned up when the lights are
on; down when they are off. An inn
mense hallway. giving one the impression
of the interior OF cathedral. is carved in
ella borate designs. in which every sort of
friar ina ginable is portrayed.
This Mountaineering lawyer has a
special fondness for American visitors
who go over his grounds. lie likes 10
hear their breezy remarks on various
queer things they see. and these savings
of the American cousins have in many
instances been incorporated in an elabO-
rate catalogue which Sir Frank has just
published.
Considering the immense amount of
work which Sir Frank has had done on
his grounds. house and Conservatives. the
cost has not been under $500, 900. the
gardens alone costing a million without
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-03-21
CARING FOR LAWNS
AND MAKING NEW ONES

TN the early spring is the best time to
make a new lawn and To repair an
l. old one Fertilizer should be applied
ia grass plots which have been estab-
lished a few years. and thin portions
should he reseeded. If seed has been
sown in the fall for a new lawn watch
carefully this spring and reseed those
places where the first seeding fails to
come up.
In making new lawn great care should
be taken Prepare the ground as soon
a it can be worked. Grade Il. smoothing
over rough surfaces. making proper level
spaces and gentle slopes. If possible the
lawn should slope away from the house.
The Grading should be done TO distribute
evenly all surface water, avoiding the
scr,na lion of little runs which might pro-
duce washouts.
Enrich the soil with a liberal supply Of
well rotted manure. This is essential
where the soil is lacking in humus; other
wise bone meal or other good fertilizer is
useful The ground should be piowed
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-03-21

Not only do the stepping stones and
the hidden terrace present a delusion with
reference to the submergence of passen-
gers along the footway. but the ponds
themselves convey an erroneous impress
sion. One pond looks to be elevated about
three feet above the other. but a mat
ter of fact. both bodies of water are in
direct commandments consequently
at the same level
Close to the ponds is n cave modelled
after the famous Blue Grotto'' of Capri.
Here a series of mirrors give weird eff
fects. and those who have seen the orig
1nal blue cave agree that Sir Frank is
close imitation.
From the ponds curious view Of the
mansion is obtained. The sheet of water
nearest the house is so placed that it
gives an exact reflection of the dwelling.
and the water being perfectly still as a
rule one is puzzled to decide. at first
glance. whether he is looking at a mirror
of the house in the lake or its projected
mirage in the Sky. So many curious sur
prises have already confronted the visitor
that he is almost prepared for anything.
The outside of Sir Frank Crisp's house
is. perhaps, one of the most curious in the
world. Every inch of the palace-like
structure is carved with designs repre-
senting friars of every description-the
friar. by the way. being the motif of the
whole place. Friars from grave to gay.
from lively to severe" are seen every
where. and. in addition to these. there
are notices, puzzles and inscriptions
the exterior of the house being. as 1t
were, veritable manuscript in stone.
On the eastern front. which faces the
beautiful terrace overlooking the grounds.
Sir Frank has placed q number OF puzzles
or designs with double meanings. For
instance there is a match which illus
trates 1.-The Maiden'S Prayer" while q
box of bears grease satiriZes Byron's
poem. IT'S Greece, But Living Greece
No More" On the corner of the build
ing is a design showing some cubes. II
fhnr arnfn t1,-
find only six, whereas Sir Frank soon
proves to you that there are really seven
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-03-21

undertook the construction of the Pana-
ma canal and their merchants wonder at
the supine Indifference of the American
manufacturer 1t will not do for our peo
pie to take the attitude that they will
go after those markets when the way is
Omen While the oriental trade is a
highly profitable and desirable one, it Is a
difficult one to establish.
Asiatics are extremely conservative and
influenced by customs and prejud:ces of
which we know nothing. In order 10 do
business with them il Is necessary TO
study their requirements ami inci;natioas
and TO gain t..e:r aid eslct. 7 his take )
time and ma -ience-nlucli more of both
than our shippers realize. American
manufacturers who hone 20 SHll goods in
Asia after the opening of the Panama
canal must set about preparing the
ground now if they are to enjoy any ap
preciable degree of success.
Unless We can make the canal a paying
undertaking from the commercial point
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-03-21

law suits, bUf. with SIr PRANK. It's difcr-
ont. His legal practice alone has not sat
isficd the cravings Of his soul, and his
exuberant fancy has ovcrflowed into build
ing a garden beside which no other plot
"f ground on earth can hold a candle.
.'F'riar Park just outside the fashion
able little English village of Eepley. is
one of the most ast onishinS pieces of land
seape work in tlc whole of England. #
not in the world Sir Frank Crisp has
been preparing .this 3o,-acre plot for
nearly thirty years. and now curiosity
seekers and tourists are flocking TO it n
such numbers that he has to try TO keep
DOWN the number of visitors by charging
admission
hS YOU enter the grounds you are con-
frcnted with several signs placed care
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-03-21

than the other. Vel. if you test them by
measure. you find that they are of the
same length. Just above these are two
straight lines which appear to be of equal
length and yet. if measured. prove to be
different Above these are two other
lines. one appearing considerably longer
than the other. Sir Frank promptly Of
fers to bet You they are the same length.
They really are not. but by this time
your sense OF proportion has been so
mixed up that you naturally refuse to
bet with Sir Frank. He then shows you
that you would have won hands down.
and so you have the vain regret of wish
ing you had taken him up.
Still. the surprises in stone on the
building are greatly exceeded by other
surprises in much bigger stones in the
marvellous "rockery close at hand. Sir
Frank has had built. just 10 the right
Of his mansion. veritable mountain, in
imitation of the Swiss Matterhorn. Ii
is a faithful representation of that
famous peak. More than 1000 tons Of
assiye rocks We're brought from York
shire to form it, and Sir Frank had II
remodeled four times before it satisfied
MIN. Hundreds of quarrynlen worked
night and day shifting the rocks about
until they We're all in the exact places
he assigned them. Inside the mountain
some wonderful grottoes, built to
represent ice caves. Streams represent
ing mountain torrents dash down from
these rocks Tie water is pumped up
10 the top by specia. machinery, built
at enormous cost. Everything is so
wonderfully concealed that one cannot
but imagine all he sees to be perfectly
natural. And yet, al turn of the hand
Sir Franh-as reigning deity-can cause
the mountain torrents to dry up. so
much attention has been paid to detail
IN this bit of fake Switzerland that
if you look through a pair of opera
glasses from a certain seat in the rock
cry you can see tiny chamois on the
heights They cannot be seen by the
naked eye. These tiny animals were
built ito scale" and are just the size
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-03-21

structure On winch the entlre iock-level
plan OF construction depends. The matter
vas greatly exaggerated 10y the press,
one OF the newspapers ioins so far as 10
declare that the discovery has been made
Of an enormous lake underlying the Canal
Zone. This unfortunately was not true.
otherwise the condition would have af-
forded a simple solution 10 the problem.
With d large subterraaean lake available,
all that would he necessary would be 10
scrape off the covering. or peel it off. as
one might pie crust. and presto-si
resdy-made waterway at sea level or
lower As matter of fact. the trouble
Goes not seem 10 have been of serious
character. nor such would raise APP
prehensions OF the safety of the dam site.
The commission gave out an emphatic
statement to this effect, which was rein
forced by similar uttcrance of the chief
on.inCer. These assurances would have
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-03-21

CIR FRANK CRISP
- Spends Huge Sums
on Making Garden That
: Has No Equal-Strange
Whims in Stone and
Landscape-Huge Man.
sion That Makes Vast
Puzzle Picture Ponds
That Delude the Eye
Sir Franks Guests Walk
Through Water Without
Getting Wet.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-03-21

M AIN Feature of Lock-
1V1 Level Canal is Large
Lake ITO Miles in Extent
Differences of Opin o n
Among Engineers - Danger
That Canal Might Prove in
Case of Invasion-The Duty
of Congress-Will the Com
merce Warrant the Cost?
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-03-21

PENDING a million
dollars on a garden
has been the unique
hobby of Sir Frank
Crisp, one of Eng
lands foremost law
yers. 1t IS no.
often that members
of the legal profess
sion go in for in :
tcnsive cultivatio /
save i'm the raising
of fine crops IF
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-03-21
tie 6aYEn17Me NGsrv AeAzzMT1Ia7M7a1MV

been more satisfactory but for the ia !,
that Mr. Taft announced his intention of
investigating affairs on the spot, and the
President appointed a commission OF e..-
eineers to accompany him.
y
More significant still was the declara-
ton of the President echoed by Mr.
Taft. TO the effect that. in case conditions
seemed to warrant it. change would be
made TO the ssa-level plan. Considering
that these two officials were responsible
Tor Congress having adopted the report
or the minority OF tie board OF consulting
engineers III .avor of lock-level canal
1neir utterances looked very much like
a preparation of the public for a change
OF opinion.
Ii is a disquieting thought that since
the French undertook the canal project.
thirty years ago. practically all the lead
ing engineers of the world have been
called upon 10 investigate and report on
the scheme. Our predecessors had their
comite technique and We our board of
consulting engineers. both bodies COM
posed of international authorities OF the
highest repute. In addition, numerous
experts have made examinations of the
ground and the plans and have expressed
their opinions. The results. If collected,
would fill several SOod-SlZeu volumes with
the most conflicting conclusions. The trip
of another body of especially appointed
engineers TO the iSthmus raises the ques-
ton whether we are al all sure or our
ground or whether we are trying to JUS
,ify ourselves in a course which is con-
trary TO the weight OF the best technical
advice that has been given 10 us. Ii the
Gatun dam site il safe as the commits
sion declares it 10 be and no new compli
cations have arisen. then the arguments
which swayed Congress in its decision To
adopt the lock-level plan are potent
today as ever they were.
The ideal waterway would De a strait.
which vessels could enter directly from
the ocean and in which they could steam
freely, pass one another and turn about.
SUCH a waterway is entirely out of the
question. Even though it were possible
TO construct it. the cost would be SO great
to render il heavily losing invest
mem for all time. AS matter of fact
however, canal through the Islhmds
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-03-21

y the 2lst day N
November last u
portion of the rock
toe at the APP
stream end OF tire
Gatun dam sank
about twenty feet.
News OF this o.
curTence imme-
6iateiy started a
wide discussion OF
the veXed question
of the safety of the
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-03-21

or spaded not less than eight inches deep.
all stones and similar material removed.
Jumps broken up and. the surface
smoothed. Then il is ready for seeding.
Use a good lawn mixture. -Four parts
Kentucky blue grass with one part white
clover sown not less than five bushels 10
the acre. is good. Red top instead Of
the blue grass or equal parts of red top
and blue grass produce good results. Use
plenty Of seed and nothing but pure seed.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-03-21
LEzZ012IZAazz~I sca<NZzozHIaz0~o |IaIT

of view it had better have been left alone.
AS a strategic agency il will be of little
account. Ii will enable us in time or
peace to move our vessels eNpeditiouSlN
from one side of the continent TO the
other. but in case of war il may be more
detrimental than useful. To fortify the
canal is quite out of the question. or even
to guard it effectually. A stick of dyna-
mite in tire hands of a japanese Hobson.
say. would be sufficient TO wreck the
locks at Gatun and put the entire water
way ont OF commission. Its neutrality
will not be observed by A determined bel
ligere.t In case of the power first
on the spot having tie strongest navy
will seize and hold the canal. In tie AT
fair with Russia Japan showed an en-
terpyising appreciation of the value of =
coup de guerre. Should she design hostiii-
ties upon the United States she would.
before declaring war. prepare for dash
TO the Panama canal, and If our Meet
happened to be elsewhere we might he
led to wish that we had never made q
cut through the sthmus.
FORBES LINDSAY.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-03-21

Special Correspondence OF The Star
LONDON, March IL, 1899
New-York tribune., 1909-03-07

hands & al sy ssd to to thse bsm aTs n maae gaia '3S o
and carry letters: that is. take the news 10 u"se
who have fed the mountains
following way: They made wooden eridirons Of
stakes. bound them upon them. and made a & SLOW
fire beneath: thus the victims gave up me Sbd4- Sbt
by degrees emitting cries OF despair IN tlsH
torture
It was not in the soul Of Las Casas TO stop at
framing an indictment of his countrymen- lie
resolved to press his charges home, 10 carry the
war into the enemy's country, and to labor uh-
ceasingly until he had won freedom and peace
for the Indians He uncommonly well htted
for the task It is true that he lacked the gIft OF
coDciIiation at a time when in order to accom-
plish ANYTHING at court it was necessary TO be
versed in all the arts OF intrigue. on the other
hand. a holy zeal animated him; ne could not De
discouraged, and he was, into the bargain an
energetic thinker and man of ready wit lie
might be baked again and again by the sell
interest of courtiers, bishops and the whole
army of Spanish seekers after gain, but he would
not be sIenced. The Bishop of Burgos. an i'm
placabIe adversary sought in vain to talk hifh
down as witness this anecdote:
Among other atrocities which Las Casas brought
10 his attention the death Of seven thousand
Indian children within three months. on winch ne
dweIt hoping 70 touch some h9aRe Tof Sh9fa an IN E
noraut fool you aret' exclaimed his lordship
What is this to me what to the Kine2' This
rough answer goaded his patience beyond control
and Las Casas shouted in reply: That al these
souls perish is nothing to you and nothing 70
the king o Eternal Cod then to whom is II
anything" with this he left the Bishops pres
ence
Las Casas winnowed the wind He achieved,
nominaIy, success after success, bringing the
powers to his way of thinking, carrying hope to
HispanioIa, and drawing nearer with every fresh
argument every expedient, TO the enfran-
chisement Of his unfortunate proteges. But the
walls of his Utopia were not In hts day and
generation to rise fair and strong upon the
scene of Spanish colonization AS Mr.. MacNutt
says the situation rapidly got past Ineholfs pS
New-York tribune., 1909-03-07

flung himself upon campaign in the interest
of the Indians which was to last until his
death. Events going forward in his own vicin-
ity opened his eyes.
Mr.. MacNutt not injudicOusly reIegates to
an appendix the worst details of what Las
Casas saw. They make revolving reading The
Spaniards were not content TO make thousands
of the Indians their slaves, TO use them as
beasts of burden, to work them beyond en-
durance in the mines and fields and at the pearl
fisheries, beating them the while as they would
hardly have beaten their dogs They slew the
natives on the least provocation, or without
anv provecatfon at all and submitted them to
every Imaginable torture From the Brevls-
few lyrical instances of what the Spaniards
were wont to do to a people willing to serve
them:
They made bets TO who would silt a man IN
oneued I'M bowels. They tore thc DaDeS from
their mothers breasts by the feet, and dashed
their heads against the rocks OurfS tutS $500
nv the shoulders and into the rivers laugh
ing and ioking, and when they fell INTO tiie Waer
thew exclaimed: Boil body OF so and SO! Ihey
shifted the bodies of ether babes, together Win
their mothers and all who were before lhein' oh
T@bey made a gaHows just high enough for the
feet 10 nearly touch the groJ I'd aEle pN
in honor and reverence of our tteoeIlIer anu Ill
viii IRE they burned the Indians alive
They ICraDped the bodies of others eiitlFelV IN
DIV straw binding them in il and setting nTe 10
il. and so they burned them They cut OH the
New-York tribune., 1909-03-07

.z,.rsr, converted to Christianity and 1ile4'
-,re ..,-ed~ As a matter Of fact Columbus
+elra5 70 start in the new world system OF
Cranfsh domination which bore Win aIihos'
5r.,ncaiyabIe cruelty upon the American IN
z.,-, making the life of the latter a kind OF
t.11 On earth. It was &c fight in the cause OF
: tortured race that Bartholomew de Las Casas
vas bern
F5e was reared in good circumstances, well
educated at the University OF Salamanca, and
d.tned, seemingly. 10 a life Of mundane pros
rer7tT. His father, who appears TO have been
6 cevinan Of substance, shared the second Noy-
age q Columbus and acquired property in the
island u HispanioIa- On has return he brought
p Bartholomew. then still a student a young
Indian slave The incident seems paradoxicaI
enough. encountered in the biography Of a man
who was TO give 4 long career TO agitation
against slavery. The truth is however, that
the negro slave was a Spanish institution in
the fifteenth century, and at the outset Las
Casas was too much a man Of his time for his
eyes to be Immediately opened 70 the infamy Of
slavery il essence Ee was probably 4 little
lsEldered when Isabella commanded that the
Indians brought as slaves 10 Spain should be
returned TO their own country, his lad being
sent hack with the rest The Queen was not
disposed 10 have her new vassals put in chains.
she decreed that an the Indians in HispaniOla
are and should be free from servitude; nor
should they be molested By any one but should
i've as free vassals, governed and protected as
are the vassals Of CASTLE She reckoned with
out her governors and that swarm Of greedy
men Of an ranks who crossed TO these shores
WITH no thought save OF filing their purses and
leading hfe Of ease at the cost Of the natives.
LIS Casas. landing in the colony Of Hispaniola
IN ms tWenties, gave himself up to the care Of
us fathers estates, and used slave labor as a
matter Of course But even then be was on
The way TO great Illumination. While still
young man be took holy orders. and presently
New-York tribune., 1909-03-07

anv legal Trecess. "A weak. retrograde race OF
ignorant people was suddenly brought into con
tact with the strong, active Span.ards, who car
ried with them d civilization to which the for
uaer were inertIy refractory There was but the
one possible outcome, which has repeated ltsef
throughout the worlds h.story-the weaker Faee
had to go under" Las Casas then, for all pra,-
ticaI purposes, toiled in vain. But no NE Is
futile spent as his was spent no character IS
without influence when il has once shone forth
with the goodness that marked the passage of
Las Casas through the world He was a type
of true nobility and readers viii always turn TO
him with kindIing interest. They will find him
portrayed with sympathy and skill in MI Mac
Nuts scholarly volume.