davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington herald., 1909-01-31
BIRTH RATE IS DECREASING
More Marriages in England, but at
Later age In Life.
Annual Report of Register General
shows Tendency Is Toward
Longevity

London. Jan. S0-Sfore marriages. fewer
births. and fewer deaths are recorded IN
the annual report Of the register general.
In England and Wales during 1907 the
marriages numbered g7e. 81. a rate Of IS 3
Per cent per 1.oo0 Of the population OF
manageable persons
This is the largest rate in many years.
Widows had q small share IN the in
crease Their rate was y per cent. while
that OF bachelors vas 81 and spinsters So.
There was marked falling OF in the
number Of remarriages Of divorced per
sons. Inc total number Of divorced per-
sons was 1.2SS, and the number remar-
RED 656. forty less than in the previous
year There were nineteen cases Of mar
rage Of divorced men 10 divorced women
The annual steady Increase in the age
at which people marry continues. Il Is
now 2S-66 for men and Is 70 for women.
The number Of births was S1S.G42. repre-
senting 26-S per feo,o1o population. This
is the lowest point on record.
The deaths were also the lowest ever
recorded, being 524.221. or Is per 1000
The Washington herald., 1909-01-31
ARE STILL KISSING THE BIBLE
Form Observed In Taking Oath in
England.
Custom Not Required Legally, but
Is Followed by Those Who
Approve II.

London. Jar. 5o--The Times has re-
Gently published q considerable amount
Of correspondence dealing with the Eng
fish custom OF kissing the Bible while
taking the oath in the courts OF justice.
Since the correspondence started Sir
Gorell Barnes, president Of the Divorce
Court, has provided English judges with
a precedent
On taking his seat one morning he an
noUnced that witnesses who desired could
take the oath in the Scottish fashion.
and that copies OF the Testament speci-
ally bound, enabling them 70 be fire.
quently cieansed. had been provided for
those witnesses who elected 10 be sworn
IN the usual manner.
kissing the book is by no means a
necessary legal incident IN the ceremony
OF taking the oath. but for some reason
The general rule Of English law is that
su Witnesses ought TO be sworn accord
ing 20 the peculiar ceremonies OF their
own religion. or in such a manner as
they deem binding on their cOnsciences.
The Scotch cath. which is now Hkelv 10
become the rule in the EDI fsh courts
runs az fellows
Il swear by Almighty God that I will
speak the truth. the whole truth. and
nothing but the truth"
In the Scottish courts the magistrate
and the witness both stand up, each with
the right hand. uplifted. and both rscite
the oath The Quaintest oath still In
use is that taken by the High Court
judges In the Isle Of Man, the terms OF
which sre as follows:
BY this book and the contents thereof
and by the wonderful works that God
hath niraoulously wrought in the heaven
above and the earth beneath in six days
and six nights. I DO swear that I will
without respect Of favor or friendship,
loss OF gain. consequently or affinity,
envy OF malice. execute the laws Of this
isle justly between party and party as
indiferently as the herring backbone
doth lie in the midst OF the fsh. So help
me, Cod. and the contents Of this book. -
The Washington herald., 1909-01-31
TREES MAY CHANGE CLIMATE.
Zine Million Acres viii Be Planted
for that Purpose.


London, Jan 90.-With reference TO the
big scheme OF aff0restation which the
British government proposed 10 take in
hand. partly as a remedy for unemploy-
ment. 1t is pointed cut that the plant
ing Of trees upon S.0o0.000 acres OF land
viii in some way or another modify the
climate OF the British Isles. Whether the
change wfI be for the better or worse is
uncertain; but change there VIII be
There are innumerable instance Of for
est destruction. few Of replantation. At
Malta. when the trees were cut down 10
make way for the growth Of cotton. rain
became rarer- The same result from fell
Ing the timber occurred on the Cape
Verde Islands. On the island OF St
Helena. on the other hand, with the in
creased growth Of the forests rain has
increased propOrti0nately. the rainfall be-
ing twice what II was when Napoleon re-
sided there
In Lower Egypt rain formerly fell very
seldom During the French occupation
about 1859 it did not rain for sixteen
moaths, but since Mahouet AIS and
Ibrahim Pasha completed their vast plan
tatiOn-the former alone planted more
than 100000 olives. fr. cotton. acacia.
plane trees &c.-there now falls a good
deal CT rain.
The replanting the waste spots Is likely
70 lead 20 more equable climate in Eng
land. IN Scotland 10 a wetter- in Ireland
to a drier, because the trees viii certainly
dry up the boys.
The Washington herald., 1909-01-31
BRITISH GUNNERS IMPROVE.
Admiralty Issues n Report Compar-
ing Results of Two Years.

London. Jan S0.-The admiralty has is
sued report OF the gunnery Of the
British navy for 1858, noting with sat
isfsction further improvement IN results
as compared with that OF 1871" As re-
CARDS the heavy guns ten fleets. OF
squadrons. were concerned with 1T ships
and III men firing The average points
scored per man were SIS, as compared
with 5sSS in 1871
The China squadron comes cut best
with ships and 4 men firing. The
points per man were G.617. The best
ship vas the King Alfred. with A score
Of lis. The biggest feet was the homs
and the fifth cruiser squadron. which was
fourth in order Of merit with IS ships and
So men firing. and making sS12I points
per man.
The best ship was the Argonaut. with
score OF 79I4 The second place was taken
by the second biggest fleet. the Channel.
with the first cruiser squadron, y Sims
and ~ men firing. The points per man
were 1851 The best ship was the Good
hope. with a score OF s1-S3 whieh was tha
highest score Of any individual ship.
The Washington herald., 1909-01-31
FIRST ROYALTIES SMALL.
Even Famous Authors Received Lit
tie for Early Work

London, Jan. So-The controversy over
authors royalties which has arisen from
Hall Gaines statement as to what he re-
eeived for early works continues to in
terest the literary world Some state
ments are quoted from Arnold Bennetrs
article on the profits OF English authors
which he contributed to the Mercure de-
France short time ago.
In Mr. Benefits opinion, Il an unknown
writer receives a royalty Of 10 PEI. cent.
or I'D. a copy for his first novel. he nav
think himself well treated. A sale Of
go copies would be considered satisfae-
tory, and a sale Of Loco good; while II
1900 are sold. the book has achieved a
decided success. Thus a new author. who
is not fool in business matters. ought
70 make at least SIS on his first novel.
As 10 the profits of established writer's.
Mr.. Bennett states that over q hundred
English .nOvelists realize al least sSo1 for
each novel they write Mrs Humphrey
Ward. Miss Marie Corelh, Hall Game.
Rudysrd KipliRg, and J. II. Barrie OBJ
tain as much as e2o,eoo
Below these in the scale Of popularity.
but as rule infinitely higher in artistic
merit, come writer's VINO earn from G.. 0o8
TO 1900 3 year or more. such as H G.
Wells, George Moore. Robert Hiclens.
Eoen PniIlpotts, Maurice Hewlett. and
CUTLER Couch.
The Washington herald., 1909-01-31
OFFER IZAAK WALTOH'S WILL
Original Document Now Put Under
the Hammer.
Clear Handwriting BestOVvs Gifts
Which Prove Simple and Kindly
Nature OF Author.

London. Jan. Stew Of the many
interesting relics which have come under
the hammer recently have been Of great
CT interest than the original probate Of
the VIII OF Izaak Walton. when IS offered
for sale. Il is in a state Of excellent
preservation. and bears the seal OF the
Court Of Canterbury. The original vii
Itself IN Walton's clear handwriting Is
at Somerset House. ard its provisions
give evidence OF the simple and kindly
nature OF the author Of the ~CompIeat
Angler"
The viii which Is dated August 9. 1853,
IS prefaced by the following words:
IN TIE name q God. amen. 7. Izask Walton,
the eider. q Winehester, beins this present dsy
Il the ninstieth year q ny age and II perfect
men0TJ. for which p71ised - Cod but Considering
how sodaIuly may b deprived q b0th doe there
fGTs make this nv last VII and testament as
foi9Feth- And first. J doe declare NJ 5eIiefe 90
b hat there IS ooely che God. Eho hath made
the whole void. ard nee and All mankind; %
Ehon sbaH give ar aczmlc q al NJ sc,ious
Tor The meTTltts 4 ny Saviour Jesus. And BE-
cause the r-otessiS1 q Christianity does. a. this
tine. seen % Be subdiTided into Pzpist and
Protestant ! take Il - be az least coDFenient
20 declare ny besfe 70 b. IN al psiHts q faith.
2s the Church q England E0E r-ufesseth And
MS doe the rather becz1ss q q Fsry i0lz sud
very t-eE friendship with some q the Rcuzn
Church.
After various requests OF land and
houses TO his family the testator wrote.
] doe alsoe eve 6 yearly % be given &c some
usideserFznI thst hath attained the age q twenty
and one yezge fc0t less and dEelt iozz II one
ssss-ee- q % some honest poore mans daughter.
that bath attained 70 that sEs- 70 be paid her
81 o. On the day Of her rls-TizEe- and thz- what
money O. rSnt shan rename gndisposed q shall be
unployed % buy csles fer s11e p0ore people that
shau UOst neec then In The sid toTre. The
said coles 70 &c delivered las Eeeke n JsruEry OF
n eEery hzt Eeeke n February; say then. BE-
csuse 7 take that tine 10 be the hardest aud
most pInching tines with poore people, and Cod
reward toss that shah doe this without partially
The Washington herald., 1909-01-31
BIRTH RATE INCREASES.
Upward Tendency shown for First
Tire In Years.

Paris. Jan. Sa--For the first tine for
many years the French birthrate shows
an upward tendency. The Journal on
cieI publishes the returns just issued for
the first six months Of 1905. They show
a considerable improvement on the iz-
ures for the corresponding period Of 1851.
when the deaths exceeded the births BY
55007
This time the births have exceeded the
deaths by u.0e5- The difference is not
only due 10 the fact that the death rate
was lower. but also 10 a net increase OF
nearly 5000 births The marriages for
the first six months OF 1903 numbered
1885. against 154,oS1 in the sane period
in 1907. Divorces IN 1858 show an increase
Of ninety-one. The Temps points ont
that the decrease OF about $500 in the
number Of deaths is the main cause Of
the inprover position
The Washington herald., 1909-01-31
4sO SUICIDES IN 1908.
Ages of Vienna Victims Ranged
from seven 70 Eighty.

Vienna. Jan. So-statstics just publish
ed show that there were $50 cases Of
suicide in Vienna last year. out OF a
population OF under 100000. This IS the
highest number yet recorded
The victims varied in age from q seven
year-old boy. who threw himself out Of
a window owing TO & bad mark received
at school. 10 an octogenarian, who ended
his existence through being tired OF life. "
More than three times as many men as
women killed themselves. but nearly three
times as many women as men made IN
successful attempts at suicide.
The men as a rule favored hanging and
the revolver. the women a leap from a
height, drowning, and poison In the
case OF men sickness came first as the
motive, then financial worries. insanity,
and family troubles. unhappy love taking
the last place Among women. on the
other hand. disappointment in love was
the motive in the largest number OF
cases, then came family troubles and
poverty
The Washington herald., 1909-01-31
WORE POFFS IN 5000 B. G.
English Professor Says False Hair Is
Nothing New.
Ancients Made False Teeth and
Filled Them with GOld-RazOrs
Also Existed Then.

London. Jan. sO.-Dr. Waldsteiu, Slade
professor Of fine art at Cambridge Uni
versity. n q lecture delivered the other
day. told his hearers that false hair was
worn extensively as long as 5000 years be-
fore the Christian era
Excavations in Egypt" he says, have
established this beyond the possibility Of
doubt. We know that the mode OF hair
dressing in ancient Rome was subject 20
frequent change, and the ladies OF the
period found artificial aid Just az neces-
sary as do those OF the present day.
We follow the ancients IN many other
directions. which are. perhaps. equally
unsuspected by the man IN the street. I
myself in exploration in Greece have
come across a perfect set OF false teeth.
made very much on the plan our dentists
adopt to-day. And these teeth, I may
add. were actually gold-hned. although
they probably dated back 70 the fourth
century before Christ
'In the same country ladies' perfume
boxes containing scents and rouge have
been unearthed from time 70 tine. HUI
man nature Un6ergoes few changes
through the ages.
The man who believes his razor 10 be
the product OF comparative recent times
may be surprised to learn that the Greeks
and Romans habitually used a similsr ar
tcle- It's shape was not the same as that
We are accustomed to. however. Its form
was that OF q crescent. bat fashioned as
Il was. IN bronze and steel. its effective
ness was doubtless excellent.
The shaving stick, however. appears
70 have been unknown n those days.
OIL was the substance they used 10 soften
the beard"
The Washington herald., 1909-01-31
STREET BETS BARRED.
Both Sides Are Liable to Fine or
Prison.

London. Jan. SOSByer since the streets
betting bin 1856 became a law. betting
in the streets has gradually decreased and
soon viii be a thing OF the past As the
law now stands a boolnlaker and the per
son who makes the bets with him are
liable 10 fine Of s4S. with an alternative
OF two months Imprisonment. for betting
IN the streets
This has been the means Of frightening
a large majority Of hackers. who have
discontinued betting In the streets and
n0w gamble with "A commission agent
while the bookmaker in moss cases has
opened an Office as a turf accountant
which IS legal II is now known that d
bill more drastic than the streets betting
BIZ IS 10 be introduced in Parliament this
session. and II Is proposed 20 smash en-
trely all the turf accountants and 70 shut
Up both their Offices and the starting price
betting establishments
It Is also proposed 10 prohibit abso-
luteiy the publication Of all advertise
ments Of tipsters OF boOkmakers
The Washington herald., 1909-01-31
SACRIFICES TOOTH TO DUTY.
Policeman Loses sfOIar to Get Evil
dence AEainst Dentist.

London, Jan sa-No list Of English
heroes ought 10 be considered complete
without the name Of the policeman who
sacrificed himself IN the cause OF duty
the other day by having a perfectly COOL
tooth pulled in order TO provide direct
evidence against an unqualified dentist
As vet the name is not forthcoming and
the modest hero refuses 10 disclose him
self Only the story is known
There are recipients Of the Victoria
cross who would shrink from The ordeal
OF a tooth extracted without gas, and the
policeman in question could not take gas
as he had to keep wide awake TO watch
the Illegal act as it proceeded The den-
list in the case had evaded the law for
some tine and the only way 70 catch
him seemed 10 be 10 arrest him IN tbs
very act Of pulling a tooth. so tbs police
man. anxious 10 win lsurels. agreed 20
go and lose one Of his mOlars in the
cause.
He went and suffered at the hands OF
the unqualified extractor OF teeth and
promptly arrested him after the opers-
ton. to the amazement Of the dentist.
The Washington herald., 1909-01-31
I'll Repeat Lectures.

The success which attended the recent
series Of lectures by Rev. DR.. Donald
c. Macleod. Of the First Presbyterian
Church, on the Holy Land. has called
forth a demand for a second series. which
viii Be given in February. The frst
lecture OF Rome. the eternal city, win
De given at the church Tuesday evening.
The Washington herald., 1909-01-31
Readlnr. for a. RIinh-

The following is the programme for vol
unteer readings and music In the reading
room for the blind at the Library Of Con-
gress-2,So 10 80 ? m: Tuesday. Feb
ruaTy 2 miscellaneous reading VIII be
given by Mr.. c. " Coleman: Thursday.
February 4. q song recital, by Mrs. Elean-
or Baker Spencer, contralto. Mr. Frank
H. Shipe. tenor. ana Miss Lena Sutton,
accompanist; Saturday, February s, a
reading viii be given By Mrs. ;. ".
Philip
The Washington herald., 1909-01-31
TRADEOUTLOOKDARK
Work in Great Britain Is
Now Scarce.
RETROSPECT OF YEAR 1908
Labor Situation Worse Than in Any
Twelve Months Since 1s92-Reduc-
ton In Total Wages Paid Was
Marked, Averaging S3O9, 4s5 Per
Week-Prlees of Food Increased.

From the Chief European Correspondent Of the
LzEsa News Bureau
London, Jan S0.-The board OF trade
review of the present Industrial position
OF the United Kingdom, as published in
It's Official Labor Gazette, presents an
other gloomy retrospect CT the year 1905
Employment at the end Of 1903 was
worse than at the end OF any year since
ISs2." is one Of the first sentences that
strike the eye. and there follows a de-
pressing list Of industries that have suf-
1ered from the British system OF free i'm
ports. The net result Of the years in
dUstrial operations may be summed Up
as follows:
Unemployment in trade unions alone
has increased from an average Of Is in
ISIS 10 rs and 1905. The percentage Of IN
employed trade unionists al the end Of
last December was 81
Smaller Wages Paid
The net results Of ali the changes in
wages taking place during 1908 was re-
duction computed at SS09. 4s5 week This
figure does not refer 70 the actual amount
paid but 10 changes in rates. As many
as IGSo0O work people in the engineering
and shipbuilding industries and 7o.o00 in
pig iron and iron and steel manufacture
sustained net reductions OF $4,000 and
$500 a week. respectively.
In addition TO diminished productivity
and this higher rate Of unemployment.
the prices OF foodstuffs have generally
risen The general level Of wholesale
prices as measured by the board Of trade
index number. which is based principally
upon import and export average values.
showed a fail Of - per cent in 1913. as
compared with 1907, but sith this excep-
ton was higher than in any year since
1881
Prices OF Food Higher.
The general level OF retail prices OF
food in 1913 showed an increase Of nearly
~ per cent. as compared with 1907. and
OF over 81 per cent, as compared with
1900 The principal articles which sd-
vanced IN price were oatmeal, cocoa,
bread, rs Per cent; -four. So Per cent;
beef, 81 per cent; butter. potatoes. and
mutton, o. per cent The most impor-
tant articles which declined in price were
bacon, pork. and cheese.
Taking the index number Of 1900 as 100
the weighted prices in London Of twenty
three OF the principal articles Of food
had risen II 1903 by s.4 per cent The
monthly statistics % the price OF bread
n London and tweaty-seven Ct the prin-
cipel towns OF the United Kingdom indi-
cate an average rise OF per cent IN 1866.
as compared with 1901
The Washington herald., 1909-01-31
PHARAOE's HEART HARDENED.
SeniIe CaIcIhcatiOa of the Aorta
shown In the Mummy.


shown In the Mummy.
London, Jan. go.-The Pharaoh, whose
heart was hardened against the children
OF Israel, so that he would not let them
go. was otherwise known as Menephtah.
Some time ago the discovery OF his
mummy in the tomb OF Amenho1ep II
was described Prof Eliot Smith an
wrapped the mummy and sent sections
Of TIE aorta TO the Royal College Of
Physicians. London. the president OF
which exhibited them to the pathological
section.
Il is now seen that Pharaoh's heart
was hardened IN another sense OF the
word
To quote the Lancet. the sections show
typical senile calcifcation OF the aorts.
the bony IameIiifOTm layers being per-
fectIy preserved and the interIamellar
material thickly strewn with phosphate
Of lime Menephtah was an old man
when be died
The Washington herald., 1909-01-31
DEVOTION OF ACAT
" Tom" a Wanderer, Refuses
to Leave Site of Depot.
BORN IN q. & O." STATION
Although Structure Has Long Since
Been Razed, TaBby Refuses TO Va
cate NeighbOrhOod, and Is Fed
Daily by Railway svyitchman-oar-
ried Away By Fancier.

An example OF devotion seldom Wit
messed in dumb animal is enacted every
day BY an old white cat that strays
about the corner OF New Jersey sveaue
and c street
Born in the old Baltimore and Ohio
Railroad Station. that occupied that site
for years, Tom, the untamed feline. has
never left the corner, and even while
the old structure vas being razed he
managed to make his bed in the building
until the last wall had ben pulled down.
Now that the site has been completely
filed up and graded, leaving no vestigs
Of the once famous depot, this old cat
still remains and makes his home be-
meath the chair Of the switchman at this
crossing.
At night Tom quietly leaves his friend
when the last car mas passed and wan
ders of down c street to a nearby lum-
Der yard, where he has made his bed
since the destruction OF his birthplace.
On Time for His Milk.
At ; O'Clock every morning back he
comes and takes his accustomed place
beneath the chair, where his saucer OF
milk awaits him. No matter how inciem-
ent the weather, Tom always manages
to ind his way to the switchman's stand.
and there he remains al day.
Adam e Nichols. the sEitchman- tells
an interesting tale regarding his protege
70 illustrate its affection for the old
Baltimore and Ohio corner
faFrrr
from passeTs-by, and frequently several
Senators and Representatives have
stopped here 10 comment upon his daily
attendance AZ the switch
Wei, one day. about two months ago
q proprietor OF z business store uptown
stopped by here and negotiated 70 take
Tom with him 70 his home where he
could live IN comfort and be treated as
pet Accordingly, he took Tom away In
his carriage and for several DAYS our
tabby was missed
The Cat Came Back.
About four days later I was surprised
about noon to feel Tom rubbing against
my foot The cat came back. and he
had 10 come q long distance. too. That
shows how great his devotion IS 10 the
old Baltimore and Ohio
Tom was the only member Of a family
Of six kittens who refused 10 depart from
the depot, and despite the fact that moth
ing remains 10 mark the once famous
structure, this felix's creature Is 50
strongly attached 20 the surroundings
that he cannot be induced 70 forsgo an
uncomfortable horle for luxurious quar-
ters UPTOWN
During the recent snovstoEm that last
ed two or three days. said Mr.. Nichols.
the cat was late one morning IN report
Ing az the little platform where the
chair IS located. and he was Just pre-
pairing TO 60 down the street 70 bring
him out OF his loft when be heard the
wsnderer calling for help.
He was stranded n pile o. snow and
trying vaiRly 70 resume his Journey 70
the favorite spot on the corner.
The Washington herald., 1909-01-31
CARRIES SIXTEEN NAMES.
Bride-tO-be Has Long Array OF
DeSiEnati0nS

London. Jan. S0.-Miss Lyona TolIe-
mache, who is 10 marry Capt @ Stone
a. the Ham Parish Church on THURSDAY
has the following sixteen Christian
names: LyOna Decima Veronica Esyth
Undine Cyssa Hylda Rowena Adela
Thyra Ursula Ysabel Blanche Lillas
Dysart PlantaEenet
Gainesville daily sun. (Gainesville, Fla.) 190?-1938, 1909-05-27

Apropos Of the recent Observance
Of Mothner's Day. says The Tampa
Tribune. We recall an eloquent tribute
which vas delivered BY William
J. Bryan az Fredericksburg. Va. dur
ing the famous campaign OF 1896 20
the mother OF Washington. Said the
noted orator:
fredericksburg Is not a large city
and yet Il Is rich IN incidents OF
great historic value. Here the wO-
men o. America have reared a monu-
ment 20 Mary. the mother Of Washing
ton. am glad to stand on this spot:
! am glad 10 feel the Influences which
surround her grave. IN a campaign.
especially in a campaign Ike this.
there g. much OF bitterness. and some
times OF abuse. spoken against the
candidates for public Office. but. my
friends. there T. one character. the
mother-a candidate for the anec-
lions OF all mankind-against whom
no true man ever uttered a word of
abuse. There is one name. mother.
which Is never found upon the tongue
OF the slanderer-in her presence all
criticism f. silenced. The painter
has. with his brush. transferred the
landscape TO the canvas with such
fidelity that the trees and grasses
seem almost real: he has even made
the face Of a maiden seem instinct
with life. but there Is one picture so
beautiful that no painter has ever
been able 20 perfectly reproduce IT,
and that is the picture Of the mother
holding in her arms her babe. Within
the shadow Of this monument, reared
70 the memory Of each one Of as. I
bow in humble reverence 20 mother
hood"