davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1909-03-21

himself. tsJapan for minel They tell
me it 8 middling chilly and raw there a
good deal of the time. -
Six weeks later Yokohama she1ted
this particular Browne. In Yokohama
he went Immediately to work for a
Japanese shipping firm. This job gave
him the opportunity to discover that
the japanese postal service was mighty
uncertain. The japanese postal system
was survival of Shotgun times. When
a letter got through from Toxic to Yoko-
hama, luck had a good deal to do with
it. This sort of thing Jared upon our
Drifter by the name of Browne. The
defects of the Japanese postal system,
or absense of system, dating back to
the feudal period, were irritatingly
obvious to a man who had received his
postal training in the finest school of
its sort in the woodland the United
States postal system was all of that
even quarter of century ago.
"I'd like to have the job of Amer
icanizing this blamed swstem, said
Browne to himself, and the idea grew
upon him. The nippy Japanese climate
energized him out of the tropie in
dolence that had been growing upon
him. He thought day and night of
what bully thing it would be if he
could only get the job of Americana
ing the Japanese postal system. He
talked about it to his japanese employ
ers, who were influential men. They
in turn talked about Brownies idea to
folks higher up. At length the fact
reached the ears of some high officials
of the japanese Government that there
The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1909-03-21

was hustling American working in
Yokohama who knew a lot about the
postal business from having worked at
1T in Washington. Japan was then in
the earlier stages of it's marvellous
march along the path of progress.
Browne found himself summoned by
the japanese Government.
Honorable Browne" the Japanese
Government said to him, "do you con-
slider yourself capable Of
"Making your postal system like
that of the United Statesf' filed in
Browne. Gentlemen, yes'
''The task, then, is yours, Honorable
Browne said the japanese Govern
ment to the ex-Drifter.
They didn t tell Browne to 90 as far
as he liked; but that is what they
meant by the instructions they did give
him Browne was given carte blanche
in such essentials as money, men, and
means.
Within two years, during good deal
of which time Browne worked twenty
hours day, he had thoroughly Amer
icanizcd the japanese postal system,
which is equivalent to saying that he
had made it into one of the finest
systems in the world-which, by the
way, it still is.
Browne, ex-Drifter, made a large
legitimate fortune out of the job, and
when he returned TO the United States
for a visit-his first visit to his native
land since he d gone adrifting at San
Franeisco--he slid into San Francisco
harbor on board his own large white
steam yacht.
The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1909-03-21

suit the next one may; perhaps a
certain unavowed pride in the ability
to step across the world with so much
ease and make good amid all sorts Of
surroundings and circumstances these
things are to be considered in any in
quiry into the Drifter' IS case.
First of all, however, the Drifter is
a man of action. He does not permit
his imagination to dull his energy.
Even the climatic effect of the lotus
lands does not reduce him to dreamy
slothfulness. When he finds that ne
is succumbing to the siesta habit, he is
pretty likely to up anchor for another
scene where the climate does not con-
duee to inactivity or inertia.
Japan Needed This One.
This, by the way, was the case OF
that Drifter by the name of Browne
a sufficiently every day name, SURELY
who reorganized the postal system OF
Japan more than a quarter of century
ago.
Browne had a job in the Postofiise
Department at Washington that PAID
him one hundred dollars month. He
had an acquisitive mind, and learned
the postal business inside and out. HIS
day, however, was before the federal
departments were governed by the CiVii
Service law. His efficiency, therefore,
counted for nothing when there came
a change of administration. The new
administration figured that to the
victors belonged the spoils, and Browne
was turned out into the street. lie
hadn t saved dollar. Few Washington
departmental employees do save. Their
pay doesn' permit of it, and Washing
ton is an expensive city.
"I'm broke; but I'm going away
from here" said Browne to himself,
and go away from Washington he did,
Immediately. Friends of his IN the
railway postal service deadheaded him
against the rules, of eourse-right
through from Washington to San Fran
cisco Firm San Francisco, Browne be-
gan TO drift He took to the west
coast of Mexico and Central South
America, clerking it in many ports.
Then he went to Samoa, where, IN
Apia, he clerked it some more After
year or so of this he took stock of
himself He discovered that his mean
derings in tropic lands were showing a
decided tendency to make him into what
is colloquially known among Drifters
and Others as ''dope."
"This won't do said Browne to
The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1909-03-21
Refute an Old Proverb.

His itinerary, as I have given it
perhaps forgetfully leaving out an ex-
rursion or SOS characteristic of the
The Lamar register., 1909-03-31

come with them If he chose, and they started
for a saloon in the outskirts of the town, a
place known to them, there to wait until 1t
was time to go under cover to the depot to
take train which made no stop for many
miles beyond the place of boarding.
About an hour before the train was due the
recruit told the deserters that he had weak
ened" and that he would go back to the island
to take his medicine" They offered no OBJ
lection and their companion started for the
shore while they took back road to the de-
pot.
The recruit had soldiermaking stun in him.
He had been maturing plan all the time that
he had been in the saloon. The deserters once
out of sight, he made for farm house, told
his story hurriedly, secured horse and rode at
of New Rochelle He was afraid to go to the
depot to which the deserters had gone because
he feared that they would see him and, suspect
ing his motive, would take to the woods
At the little village to which he had gone
headlong on his horse he secured the services
Of a constable readily enough-for there was
q reward for the arrest Of deserters-and by
telling his story and by threatening the station
master with all the penalties possible Of infic-
ton by the federal government, the recruit in
duced him to flag the train.
The deserters were caught handcuffed and
sent back to the island
The board delberated long II not wisely, and
finally reached the conclusion that the coun-
try's treasury could not well bear the burden
Of the loss of the money represented by the
price of one rifle, and SO 1t was decreed that
the cost of the weapon should be taken out Of
the pay of the recruit who had done his duty
by the government and had showed pluck and
understanding, even II he had lost rife.
There was a disguised young soldier on Da-
vid's island, He was not made Of the stuF
of deserters, but desert he did The channel
was still frozen and the morning after he
ral <,ff 6A Jor-
one soldier less to answer Here" at reveille
roll call.
The Lamar register., 1909-03-31

uttered a word. Back over the sand we went
through the bowling and the lashing. We lost
our bearings and ran into obstruction.
traced its outline and knew what 1t was. 1t
was the hospital morgue. a wooden structure
not more than Is feet square. We crawled
around 1t until We had reached the west side,
where the shelter gave us breath; from the
doorway of the morgue came a challenge that
even the noise OF the storm could not smoth-
er-Who comes there"
1.-The answer Relief was yelled back by two
voices in unison. and We crawled into the dead
house. There, standing guard in the grewsome
place, was a colored lad only four weeks q
soldier. and within touch of his hand, resting
on its zinc bier. was the corpse of a man.
Driven by the storm to seek shelter, that
black recruit. rather than leave his post to
get the protection afforded by the hospital.
had chosen In the blackness of midnight, and
with wind and wave raging without, to take
up his watch by the dead because the place
where the body lay was on his post, which he
was under orders not to desert
Two army deserters convinced a certain
raw recruit that there was something more
than words in the saying he had once heard
to the effect that republics always are migrate
full. 1t fell on this wise:
The recruit had marched on guard for the
first time. The sergeant in charge turned two
prisoners over to him with Instructions to
guard them while they drove mule team and
collected the garbage from the barrels in the
Of the quarters 1t was the dead of
winter. and for the first time in years the
channel between David's island and the town
of New Rochelle was frozen over
The recruit plodded along after his prisoners.
but, being green to such work, he kept close at
their heels instead of trailing along at dis
lance Of five PAGES as he should have done.
Guard and prisoners reached point near the
shore directly in the rear of the commanding
officers quarters. There one of the deserters
seized an empty garbage barrel and an oppor-
tunity at the same instant. He threw the bar
rel over the sentinel's head like candle
The Lamar register., 1909-03-31
KEEPING THE HAIR RIGHT.
Proper Way Of Drying and Cleaning
Woman's "crown Of Glory"

There Is never the slightest doubt
as to when the hair is clean, for when
rubbed between forefinger and thumb
1t squeaks little IL all dust has been
removed. However great may be the
temptation to dry the tresses over a
radiator or before a register, it must
be resisted. and dried by rubbing with
towels, letting the mass hang loose
at times while resting the arms. The
most attention must be given the
scalp, for the lower will dry itself. II
there is the slightest disposition to
waviness, when dry. only comb
should be used in removing the snarls,
for a brush straightens too much.
No application is better for luster.
less hair than salt
Rub well into the roots of the hair
at night. then tie up in a large hand.
kerchief or wear a nightcap.
Brush out the salt in the morning.
Several applications will show a
marked improvement in the appear.
ance of the hair.
Put a tablespoonful of ammonia
into basin of tepid water and dip
the brushes down into 1t until they
are clean. Dry with the bristles down,
and they will be like new.
The Lamar register., 1909-03-31
IDEAS FOR ROOM FURNISHINGS
Some Suggestions That May Be Of
Help to Young Housekeepers.

The white muslin curtains, long
ones or sash. are prettier for bed
rooms, and ecru lace are pretty for
living room, sitting room or parlor, as
you may call it, while lace for dining
room and hall windows, upstairs and
down, the colored madras curtains for
a den or library. If in your living
room you should have a window seat
you can get three-quarters' length cur
tains, so as not to cut them OF. a
white iron bed and white chiffoniere.
white chair, etc, and bedspread
made of white dotted muslin lined
with white or some delicate color,
with shams to match, also dresser
scarfs of same material are pretty for
a young girls room. A room fixed up
with yellow and white, with a brass
bed, is pretty for a guest chamber. A
white lace spread, lined with yellow
china silk, is pretty for a covering for
a brass bed.
The Lamar register., 1909-03-31

ing to the uproar and its strength almost took
away the powers of motion and of speech.
THE relief started from the guardhouse No
man through the darkness brought by night
and the tempest could see the outline of his
nearest fellow. The wilderness of the snow
would have relieved the blackness had not
the flashing OF the elements blinded the vision.
/ ordered the men to unfix bayonets because
OF the danger of cutting one another, and
gave the order passing from one man to the
other and fairly believing 1t into their ears.
Then the order was given to secure arms and
to clasp hands, 1t was only by the handclasp
that one man could tell that he had a COM
panion.
Into the teeth of the tempest We edged our
way. Twice within so yards of the guard
house the little squad was thrown from its
feet. All sense of direction was lost and moth
ing but collision with one Of the low.lying
barracks buildings after ten minutes toiling
progress gave the little command knowledge
OF its whereabouts. A half frozen sentinel
whose post luckily was under the lee of the
barracks. was relieved and took his place at
the rear Of the hand-clasping column.
THE hospital of the garrison stands or did
stand at that time, at the extreme east end
of the island. Back Of it along the stretch of
beach runs sentrys post. A man walking
there and looking straight eastward finds no
land upon which his eye may rest. That night
the flashing fury Of the waves was spent main
ly on that lonely sentry beach. The first re-
lief managed to reach the front OF the hospital
which gave some protection. l ordered all the
men except the one who to relieve the
sentry on the beach to huddle under the piazza
while took the relieving recruit to find the
man on post.
I'VE rounded the end of the hospital. The
blast threw down. The wind was tearing
down the sound and the salt spray and the
snow commingled dashed into our faces. We
dragged our rifles and edged our way through
a wall of wind. few feet of progress and
the blast again threw our feet from under
The Lamar register., 1909-03-31

many old soldiers stationed at Fort Myer
men who have enlisted and re-enlisted until
the sleeves of their dress coats pretty well
covered with the stripes marking their years
of service. These old soldiers tell many stories
of the old days when the army life was not as
pleasant as 1t is to-day and when the recruits
lot far from happy one In those old
days assertions were many and some of the
stories which the veteran regulars tell to-day
of the time when they were recruits let's one
know readily enough why some men under the
old conditions did not care to follow the flag.
Here is one story of recruit life In the army
20 years ago that Is rewritten with no changes
of fact and with only little change of Ian
guage from the way that old soldier told it:
"In the winter of 1883 stationed at
David's island. New York harbor. recruiting
rendezvous of the army. There were about
800 newly enlisted ones stationed there at that
time. The island is a little affair lying fairly
low in the water and without any protection
from the storms which blow in from the east
through Long Island sound.
January and February. 1883. were months
of sunshine, and flowers were peeping on the
sunny side of things before anyone could guess
whether March was to roar in like the lion or
to beat like the lamb. Early in the second
week of that March month New York was over
whelmed by tempest of wind and snow. 1t
was in that storm that Roscoe Conkling met
with the exposure which caused the illness
leading to his death in a few days. 1t was the
worst storm known to the history OF tne east
err country. The New Workers, however. did
not experience its full fury. for their buildings
gave them shelter.
1T was left for few recruits OF the United
States army, the men on guard to bear the
brunt of the blizzard and to face the elements
that gave them battle. On the night of March
IL the storm broke. At nine o'clock the sky
over the sound was unclouded, and there was
not a whisper of wind over the water Within
ten minutes the black clouds had banked up.
and in another ten minutes they were shaking
out their burden OF snow. while the wind which
had sprung to its full strength almost without
warning, was roaring down the sound from the
Atlantic At midnight there were great drifts
of snow against every obstacle which offered
the least resistance to the wind. Out of doors
speech was impossible for the blasts tore the
words from ones lips and smothered them
with their howlings.
ION that night was on guard as corporal
of the first relief. The sergeant of the guard
n few moments after midnight stepped from
the doorway of the guardhouse and was swept
from his feet by the wind. He saw what ter
rible night was ahead of us. had already come
to us in fact and he sent man to the quar-
ters of the officer of the day to ask permission
tn take in the outlying sentinels or to give or
ders to them to seek such shelter as they could
find The officer of the days quarters were sur
rounded with heavy evergreen trees and the
The Lamar register., 1909-03-31

With the skirts that have center
seam in front and that are cut to hang
straight from a line three or four
inches above the top of the waist there
is a pad attachment just in front. 1t
is made of cotton and inclosed in the
lining material, SO that the inside of
the skirt will look neat. 1t is about
four inches long and two inches wide
and runs down the center seam direct
ly over the waist line. 1t keeps the
skirt from sinking in, which is always
inartistic. Amateurs do not always
know this trick, and they wonder why
it is they cannot keep the center front
of the skirt hanging in perfectly
straight line
The Lamar register., 1909-03-31

Women who have to superintetnd or
do much of their Homework will be
foolish not to avail themselves of the
fashion for one-piece frocks. They are
excellent for the working hours.
They are narrow, trim, short and
have no undue trimming to rumple and
soil in a days wearing.
They fastetn down the front, usual
ly down the left side from the shout
der with pearl buttons.
One can get these buttons with pat
emit clamps SO that they may be re-
moved when the frock goes to the
wash.
The Lamar register., 1909-03-31

For the dressiest of town costumes
are new card cases covered first with
white satin, then with old venise lace.
Others are covered with lace net, en-
broidered, and inset with tiny lace mo-
tifs. Little sacks for the fan or opera
glasses are made to match-such
pretty fancy; and one easy Of achieve
ment with the new fad for hand needle
work. The covers for sacks and porte
cartes are removable and SO easily
cleaned.
The Lamar register., 1909-03-31

streak of black water and the dark
ness OF the night seemed to increase
as We did so. From the streak of
blackness we ran into the second
streak of lighted waters. Each of the
streaks and the intermediate streak of
black water was about half a mile
wide"lTampa Times.
The Lamar register., 1909-03-31

snuffer and tore his Springfield" from his
hand.
Then the garbage barrel removed and
the recruit was threatened with death II he
made an cutlery. He was forced to march at
the bayonets point to the shore of the island
and then to run over the ice toward the main
land with his former prisoners at his heels.
When the deserters and their victim arrived
near the New Rochelle shore hole was
Clipped in the ice by means of the bayonet and
the rifle was dropped through into the waters
of the sound Then the recruit was told that
II he chose he might return to the garrison.
He told his former charges that he preferred to
throw in his lot with them, for If he went back
he would be certain to get a heavy dose of the
guardhouse for neglect Of duty in suffering his
prisoners to escape, and for the loss of govern
ment property in the shape of the Springfield
rifle which was now at the bottom of the
sound
The deserters told the recruit that he could
The Lamar register., 1909-03-31

water. The night was dark. but clear.
and we ran into the streaks without
any seeming warning. was in the
pilothouse when we struck 1t, and 1
ran on deck. thinking that something
was on fire.
1.-THE crew tumbled out to witness it
also. and it was magnificent. 1t was
SO light that it was remarked by the
chief engineer that 1t could be read by.
and to make sure 1 grabbed paper
and the finest print that I could find
was easily discernible.
I'VE. ran out of the streak into a
The Lamar register., 1909-03-31

one, and when the ship ran out of it
the same black waters and night Of
exceptional blackness were also en-
countered.
A. D. Montmollian, travelling freight
agent of the line. was on board the
vessel, and he and Chief Engineer T.
]. Cole fully substantiated Capt Carl
sons statement regarding the phe-
nomena.
81 have sailed the high seas for %
years" declared Capt. Carlson. but
never saw anything that approached
this blue and green light from the
The Lamar register., 1909-03-31
A Paris Idea.

Three-quarter-inch white cotton
fringe, with loops instead of cut ends,
is used on several new Paris gowns,
and is an entirely possible trimming to
the amateur dressmaker.
1t may be sewed to the edge of wide
tucks on a linen scrim gown, and is a
quite perfect decoration for the white
French crepe which is so popular. A
line of fringe down the outside of the
sleeve is a pleasing substitute for the
lace frill.
The Lamar register., 1909-03-31
LIGHTED UP THE OCEAN

ing from the water which alternated
blue and green, the colors being SO
brilliant that the vessel was lighted
up as il she was covered with arc
lights with colored globes.
A half mile streak of dark water,
and blackness that settled like a pail
over the ship followed and second
streak of the same brilliant hued wa
ters was encountered. The second
streak was about as wide as the first
The Lamar register., 1909-03-31

officer. looking out. did not
comprehension terrific the
storm really was, and so
word was passed that the
chain of sentinels should
not be broken.
"At one O'Clock my guard
relief was ordered out to
relieve the men on post. No
man who was on that is
land that night has in his
keeping words strong
enough to describe the aw-
full fury of that eastern
gale. The combined thun-
ders of 20 mountain storms
could not equal the noise of
the roaring OF the waves
as they pounded the shore.
The wind added its below
The Lamar register., 1909-03-31
Brilliant streaks Of Blue and Green In
Gulf Of Mexico.

A most remarkable marine phenom-
eua was observed from the steamship
Dover. Capt. Yon A. Carlson as that
vessel steamed to Tampa from Mobile.
when at a point So miles from Mo-
bile light, at seven o'clock on the eve
ming Of the twenty-fourth. the ship
ran suddenly in a streak of light COM
The Lamar register., 1909-03-31

the sand for the entire length
of the sentry's beat. but no
sentry could we find. 1
raised my voice and shouted.
The man within two feet OF
me did not know that l had
The Lamar register., 1909-03-31

1t is said by those who know that
bodices are to be cut more squarely
across the shoulders, and therefore the
sleeves will be set lower on the arms.
This will be accomplished by running
the shoulder seams much longer than
we have had them during the direc.
toire period.
This smacks something of the Sec
ond empire. But everybody is pre-
pared for anything Just now.
The Lamar register., 1909-03-31
Embroidered Net Tunies,

TUNES of embroidered net or chif-
fon with skeleton waist are being
worn with satin skirts and gowns and
are coming into great vogue.
The Lamar register., 1909-03-31

There are about 10 generations of
flies year, the sexes about equally di.
vided. each female laying about 1000
eggs.
The Lamar register., 1909-03-31

Suits are still seen with big hsatons,
covered with fur.