davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-12-25
SPANS Richest Industrial City.
From Leslie's Weekly.

FROM Leslie S weekly.
1t is not surprising that, if Spain, al
ways more or less agitated by internal
dissensions, should have serious troubles,
they should center in Barcelona. The
chief seaport of the nation is here. the
greatest industries are here. and here
congregate in great numbers those grades
of society which are generally opposed
to any organized government. Here one
finds the richest and the pOorest-both
disturbing elements, but for different rea-
sons-one complaining of unequal taxa
ton and the other Of the restraints which
the government places upon license.
Few people in America realize the In
dustrial wealth of Barcelona or how
much she patronizes us for raw material
Over a hundred and twenty-five thousand
people are employed there in the cotton
industry alone. and the exports OF this
work amount to at least $75,0OOOO0 an
nually. large amount of the raw cot
ton used is purchased In the United
States and shipped from Galveston. Tex.
So. after all. America Is more or less In
terested in this section of Spain. Living
is cheaper there than in any other city
in Spain. Rents are marvelousiy low.
and l saw fiat of fifteen rooms with all
modern appliances, on the 9Th avenue
Of the city, for which the occupant paid
SIS per month. Indeed, very excellent
apartment of ten rooms can be obtained
for $50. Labor. however. is correspond
ingly low, and the working class enjoys
few luxuries. The Catalan works with an
unceasing energy which rather start!es
the laborer of other parts Of Alfonso's
country. Although he listens to agitatOrs,
he is often quick to think for himself.
and he fights for what he considers his
government at Madrid will do well to
hees. the cry Of this restless child before
it is too late, for that cry is already find
ing an echo in northern SPAIN,
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-12-25
0ld-Time Country Spirit.
rom the Baltimore Sun.

From the Baltimore Sun.
Every now and then there comes a
couple of hundred words in daily paper
that carry many city folk back to the
scenes of early life. Ever go to barn
raising?
Mr. Harry De Grange had one near
Adamstown the other day, and we told
about it yesterday. Strong men and
pretty girls for miles around went. The
men got the barn together in an hour
and a half. Think Of that. you workers
at desks! And the girls helped the
hostess get dinner Ever eat Frederick
county "raisin' :" dinner? There is moth
ing in the report to show in what time
the dinner was gotten and eaten. 1t is
with deep regret we admit the correspond
emit was forgetful in this. He did not
send an adequate account of what that
dinner was like, However. it was prob
ably a pretty hard task to do that No
man could do it justice.
This Is survival of the old time coun-
try spirit. the sort of spirit that makes
aman go out and rush through a hard
days work to help out a neighbor 1t
suggests the homespun friendliness and
good will of earlier days and awakes
pleasant memories in the minds of the
city men and women who were born and
bred in the country.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-12-25
At the Cradle Of the Race.
From the Boston Transcript.

from the boston transcript.
To restore the Garden of Eden sounds
like a bold enterprise, yet a plan sug-
gested by Sir William Willcocks, the
English engineer who built the Assuan
dam. makes the project sound entirely
feasible. 1t is Mesopotamia, 1.-The land
between the rivers Tigris and Euphrates,
with which he Is dealing. and he purposes
TO turn the surplus waters of the Euphra-
ties into the River Pishon and to carry
down the delta a great canal. which
would not only bring back the productive
ness of several million acres Of land, but
would guard the region from the over
flows of the Tigris. Had Noah been q
hydraulic engineer Sir William adds, he
might have saved his country as well as
his family. by constructing the Pishon
river reservoir. But that would have in
volved historic losses as well as gains.
1t marks a definite step in the worlds
progress that the work Of reconstruction
should now be undertaken by the Turkish
government, which thereby demonstrates
tts real reform to broader views and more
Intelligent ambitions.
To build this canal, which will double
the cultivable area along the Euphrates,
lions or less. experimenting it. Sir Will
liam proposes q railroad from Bagdad to
Damascus. costing $11.O00,OOO, which
would open the way to the Mediterranean,
the natural commercial outlet of Mesopo-
tamia. Such road seems to be demand
ed because the irrigation scheme will i'm
pair the navigability Of the river. And
even before the increased wheat harvests
are ready for transport there will be
freight to carry and passengers to con-
vey-Mohammedan pilgrims visiting holy
places, and tourists who will feel. prob
ably, more interest in the Arabian
Nights country" than in the cradle of
the race
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-12-25
Thoughts on Mince Pie.
From the Baltimore Sun.

fOW Tue OUItiuOIe Suu
A Polish coal miner in Ohio, biting into
a slab OF Pittsburg mince pie. struck a
rivet and broke OFT seven teeth: but, being
extremely hungry and having no money
to buy actual food, he kept at his grim
task A minute later he struck stick
of dynamite in the core Of the same pie
and was buried from his late residence
the next day. leaving a wife in Poland
and another in Ohio
Thus lives are wiped out and homes are
made desOlate by the ordinary mince pie
of commerce. dubious and sinister VIC
tual, in whose dark depths million dam
gers lurk The average mince pie man
ufacturer, we have no doubt whateves,
starts out in business with high iueals
and a real love for his art. 1t is his
firm intent to devise only the best and
purest pies and to use in them nothing
but genuine fruit. honest soup meat,
choice brands of fourth-rate flour, clean
bacon rinds and chemically pure glu-
cose. magnesia and aniline dyes.
for opulence seizes him the temptation
to sophisticate his product becomes ir-
resistible. His first false step may seem
harmless-it may be nothing worse, in
lied wood pulp to his pie alling-but t..at
first false step is fatal. Ere long he Is
launched upon a dizzy career Of chicanery
and subterfuge Abandoning apples and
peaches entirely. he begins to fill his
pies with carrots and turnips Instead Of
-four, he tries plaster Of paris; instead
of soup meat. cat meat; instead OF sugar.
New Orleans molasses: instead Of mag
nesia, manganese. Finally, instead OF
baking his pies. he merely varnishes
them with shellac
No wonder the ordinary mince pie of
our hostelries and eating houses. our pub
lie banquets and our cook stands bears
an evil name. No wonder 1t Is avoided
as pestilence. even by shoe drummers.
And yet mince pie. per sc, Is not nefa-
rious. Made at home. and without too
great a dependence upon left-overs and
other culinary debris. it may be both
nourishing and palatable-a sound and
even delightful Wand. with something Of
lobster salads hearty solidity and some
thing of the wiener schnitzel's haunting,
mystery. Made upon the eastern shore Of
Maryland. where pieology Is an art as
noble as piano playing or therapeutics, it
may rise even higher than that. becom-
ing true victual OF the first class and
ranking with Smithfield ham salad and
fried smelts.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-12-25
OUT OF FASHION.
Men No Longer Garry Their Hats to
Drawing Room.
From thee Gentlewoman.

From thee Gentlewoman.
A number of customs which used to be
part and parcel of the social system are
being much modified or are fast disap-
pearing altogether. Paying afternoon
calls, for instance, and conversation after
dinner have been completely elbowed out
by bridge.
Dining out, unless you are a bridge
player. is reduced to minimum, and
those who cannot join in the fashionable
game have to be content with an invita-
ton to luncheon where they used to dine.
Among the minor changes. in social US
ages l have remarked Lately that 1t is
now quite demode for a lady to take the
arm of gentleman under any circum-
stances whatever, except just 1Of going
in to dinner, and that perfunctory sign
of feminine weakness will also probably
disappear very soon.
Formerly after dancing, and when go
ing in to supper at a ball, young ladies'
always put their hand through the arm
Of their partner, but now ii any one did
such thing IN an up-to-date ballroom
they would be looked upon as Tin the
phraseology of the day. not quite all
there.
How very seldom. too. you see man
in these days, hat in hand. In lady $
drawing room. Up to quite short time
ago elderly gentlemen who went to even
ing parties Invariably walked in crush
nat under arm; while every man, whether
young or old, went up to the drawing
room, hat in hand, when going to visit
a lady 1t used to be said that this Gus
tom differentiated a social call from that
of doctor or lawyer.
The practice had its Inconvenience.
for there was always a danger OF an all
too heavy foot being planted In the mid
die of brand-new silk topper" by an
absent-minded fellow visitor. Anyhow.
whether for good or evil the custom has
disappeared like many others.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-12-25
GRIN RUSSIAN PRISON.
Living Death the Lot of Inmates of
Schlusselburg.

From McC1ure's
In the middle Of the River Neva. where
1t flows out OF Lake Ladoga. there lies a
tiny island surrounded on three sides by
the turbulent waters OF the river and
hemmed In upon the fourth by the cold
and stormy lake. Upon this island stands
q very ancient fortress inclosed by high
walls more than twenty feet in thickness.
This is the fortress of Schlusselburg.
Day and night sentinefs. relieved every
two hours. pace around the top of these
walls. keeping vigilant lookout on every
hand. No one from within the fortress.
not even the soldiers or gendarmes. is al
lowed to communicate WITH the people
who dwell upon the banks OF the river.
II the unwary fisherman chances to drift
In his boat too near the walls Of the
fortress he is greeted by the shout OF a
sentinel. aiming his rife:
Away! Or l shoot"
Not even the Dead sea in the deserts
of Asia is SO utterly isolated and cut or
from the living world az Is this fortress
Of Schlusselburg. which lies within forty
miles OF st. Petersburg.
They are very ancient, the high walls
OF the fortress. In many places they are
cracked from old age. and in the cracks
little trees have taken root. They look
sullen and ominously silent. as IL they
~
truth in the whole world there are no
other walls that have witnessed so many
tragedies as those OF the fortress OF
Schlusselburg
The regime and the aspect OF the prison
were carefully thought out and planned.
being, as the ministers visiting the
Schlusselburg repeatedly declared to the
prisoners. intended to demonstrate to
them that it was destined to be their
grave. The cells were constructed in
such a manner as constantly to remind
the prisoners OF a tomb The stone floors
were painted black and the walls dark
gray.
The window panes were opaque. so that
cells and no trace OF color from without
could be caught by the prisoners. The
iron bedstead was turned up by day and
chained against the wall. and only q lit
tie stool. also fastened in its place. al
lowed the prisoners an occasional rest
from the incessant stride backward and
forward across the floor Of the cell.
This pacing back and forth was In fact
the only diversion permitted to the pris-
oners. No books were given to them ex-
cept the Bible. which they had already
learned from cover to cover In the for
tress of SITS. Peter and Paul. no work
for their hands. no color for their eyes.
no sound for their ears.
Cut off from the living world. buried
in the black stone cells, clothed In the
dingy prison garb, with one sleeve black.
the other yellow. they strobe to and fro
from corner to corner of their cages.
Their food was abominable-bread. half
raw, made Of rotten -four. and a plate Of
hot water in which foated q few shreds
Of meat or the traces OF an onion.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-12-25
Ye College HJoiner."
From Lippincott's.

From LfpplncottS
Modern university life certainly is grow
ing complex In. the old simple days the
college boosted of its two literary socie-
ties: a fellow was either an Athepian or
a Philomathean. But what may fell
low be today?
He may be member, first, of q literary
society, regular. :
He may be a member of some Greek
letter fraternity upon the brotherhood
and social order.
He also may be a member of sophie
more Greek society like Theta M Ep-
silOn.
He may be a member Of military
cadet fraternity like the Scabbard and
Blade.
He may also be member of Greek
letter athletic fraternity.
He may be member Of the Senior So
ciety. one or another.
He may be member Of Phi Beta
Kappa or Sigma Xi-scholarship frater-
mites.
He may be a member Of the forensic
fraternity, Greek. i.
He may be member of law frater-
nifty. or dental fraternity, or such, &C
cording to his professional course
All of these pins he may wear. and more
not mentioned. He also may be men,
Der Of an eating club. of the Dramatic
Club, of the Glee Club, of the Scientific
the Writer'S Club. of a Cercle Francois
or of the Deutschesbund or other Ian
guage clique, of a Philosophical Society:
and his athletics last from early fall
until into July.
And some youths. strenuous and very
popular, spread themselves this thin and
affiliate with best GIRL. besides.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-12-25
MAN OF MODERATE MEANS.
Stogies Regular Smoke-What He
Uses When Feeling Rich.

From the New York Sun.
"All things said the man of moderate
means, impress us by comparison. II
a man had lived all his life in palace
it would have to be very grand sort OF
a place indeed that would seem anything
particularly fine to him, whereas If he had
lived always in shack very modest
house would seem to him luxurious.
IF since they first came in We had
been driving steadily a ten-thousand-dol-
lar automobile, then obviously 1t would
take quite considerable Of kerosene
cart to give us any added joy in that
line, while if we had been accustomed
constantly to ride in the subway even the
simplest of gasoline gigs might give us
great glee. All things go by comparison.
Take, for instance, smoking. My regu-
lar smoke Is a stogie that costs 81 40 u
hundred, but l buy also. for special oc-
casions a special brand Of cigars for
which I pay 81 hundred; buy fifty
box at time for a dollar. Commonly
I smoke the stogies. and / think they're
pretty good at little less than a cent
and a half smoke. but If | happen TO
strike little streak of luck blow my
self to a couple of those choice smokes
out of the other box, in which really
find great pleasure.
IT'S all by comparison Some men
would have to pay SO for a cigar to get
any fun out Of it. I can get q lot of fun
out of a two-eenter.
And. speaking of great pleasure I'm
glad l have not exhausted all my great
pleasures: I've still got them all. or
mostly all, to enjoy My capacity for
novelty and enjoyment has never been
much taxed: 1t is. still practically bound
less have got life ahead of me; not
behind, and when l do get money, as l
certainly hope to do some day, everything
will be new and charming to me, and
shall enjoy everything immensely.
i've got something to look forward
to anyway and I think there's something
In that
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-12-25
CURE FOR BLUsH1NG.
Nervous Affection That May Yield
to Proper Treatment.
From the Youths Companion.

From the Youth Q companion.
Blushing is curious phenomenon, Oft
en- very disagreeable to the sufferer. Ii
Is due to a sudden relaxation of the walls
of the minute hood vessels of the surface
of the body and is classed by physicians
among nervous affections of the circula-
ton
Self-consciousness is usually the excit-
ing cause of habitual blushing, which oc-
ours therefore more commonly in bashful
children, and in girls more frequently
than in boys. Those who blush easily
are generally of a sensitive. nervous
temperament. and as contact with tne
world modifies this somewhat, the haoit
gradual y disappears with age.
The face is the part where blushing
more commonly occurs, although any
other part Of the body may show the
same change. One who watches the
bushes of painfully embarrassed person
may see faint pink flush spread over
the ears and throat as we'll as the cheeks.
1t is said that among uncivilized tribes
where much of the body is habituaiiy
exposed, blushing, when it occurs at all
may involve all the uncovered parts. II
is probably because the face is the part
by which one is identified-that which
personifies the individual-that it is the
recognized seat of the blush.
Sudden attacks of general olusnlns
without any apparent reason may diie.
those who are somewhat advanced in lie
and constitute a most disagreeabie symp-
TOM
Children who blush easily should be
trained to overcome self-consciousness or
bashfulness. They should be persuaded,
not forced, to take a prominent position
among their playmates rather than 70
hold back and speak only when they are
spoken to. Undue timidity should be
overcome because it Injuries the chance oil
success in business Oh the social world
The speaking Of pieces III school, If the
child can be persuaded it will be good Tor
him, will go far to cure morbid blushing.
The spontaneous blushing or flushing
of adults may be benefited by tonics,
remedies to aid digestion. a generous but
simple diet, cool bathing and plenty OF
exercise in the open air.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-12-25
WITCHCRAFT IN INDIA.
Belief So Strong That Human Sacri-
fee Is Practiced.

From the Allahabad Pioneer.
The belief in witchcraft is still fast
rooted in parts Of India, and the unfor-
tunate persons suspected Of the black art
are not uncommonly done to death.
In Bengal last year several cases Of
the kind came before the courts. In the
Sonthal Parganahs a woman was MUIR
dered by her mother and brother. who
believed her to be a witch.
In Palamau a man was killed. as the
villagers held that he was q wizard. In
another case two women were murdered
on the bare suspicion that they had
caused the death of three children by
cholera. Human sacrifice also is still
practiced among the unciviiized tribes of
Bengal.
In Angul some Khonds sacrificed a girl
as a propitiatory offering against cholera,
and In Palamau a boy was enticed into
the jungle and killed as a sacrifice There
can be little doubt that any relaxation of
vigilance would result in a serious in
crease OF witch killing and human sacri-
fees.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-12-25
ANCESTRAL GODS.
Quaint Japanese Ceremony-Rites
q Thousand Years Old.

Toxic Correspondence London Standard
One OF the most marvellous manifesto
tons of patriotic and religious en-
thusiasm in modern Japan was OCCASION
ed recently by the transference Of the
imperial shrines at Ise to their new
tabernacles just completed. This re-
markabie Shinto. festiva! may be wit
messed only every twenty-one years, when
the temples of the ancestral gods are
reconstructed and the sacred objects are
removed to their new abode. The Ise
temples have been thus renewed every
score of years since a. D. 600 at least,
and for how long before that no one
knows. the present occasion being the
fifty-seventh rebuilding on record.
Such periodic reconstruction will ap-
pear quite necessary when it is recollect-
ed that on these shrines no mortal hand
Is ever permitted to execute repairs.
After they are built the gods of the ma
ton take possession of them, and thence
forward they are not touched till they 60
the way OF ali things. At all times lse
Is the mecca of the Japanese patriot. but
on so notable an occasion as this thou
sands flock from all parts of the empire
The work Of rebuilding the sacred
shrines begins almost as soon as the last
reconstruction is complete by the ap-
polntment OF an imperial commission in
trusted with the important enterprise.
Every stage Is marked by religious cere-
monies, from the telling Of the trees to
the driving of the last matt. The COM
pletion Is emphasized by a special festi-
val Of publication. after which the tenn
pes pass from the hands of the comm.s-
sioners to the priestly custodians of the
imperial shrines.
Finally comes the great festival of re-
moving the ancestral gods and the sa-
cred treasures and relics to the new
holy of holies," which took place this
month. 1t is computed that no fewer than
1000 persons were present on the nignt
of the actual removal. Though the au-
gust spectacle takes place at night, ,ne
preparation for it appears to go on for
two or three days previously, but the
ceremonies of the notable day itself are
the most interesting. The day opened
pes Of a specially chosen virgin. who
went through peculiar ceremony of
burying in the ground before the shrine
a jar containing offerings to the god OF
earth This observance is intended as an
act of thanksgiving for the successful
completion of the >hew abode Of the an
cestral spirits.
Later In the day began long process
sion Of priests, In gorgeous robes of
green and gold. chanting weird litanies
and monotoning sutras to the strains of
archaic instruments. 1t is affirmed that
the service has In no respect been
changed during the last thousand years.
With the settling down OF darkness came
the great function Of removal. A detach-
ment OF priests, led by a princely repre-
sentative OF the imperial house. went into
anime the treasures and tomeasure the sa-
cred fabrics. AS the latter are reputed to
be more than 10000 feet in length, this
was no small matter.