davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-06-05
TO-DAY IN HISTORY.
Greatest Philosopher OF Antiquity-June s.

Plato. who was one of the disciples OF
Socrates, reverently entitled him the
best of all men of this time, the wisest
and most just Of all men" This most
viTtuous and illustrious of all ancient
philosophers was born on June 5, 40
3. c., and died at the age Of seventy,
being unjustly condemned to death. He
was native of Athens and under
Archelaus and Anaxagoras laid the
foundation of the exemplary virtue which
succeeding ages have ever loved and
venerated.
Socrates, like the rest of his country
men, in the field OF battle, fought with
holiness and intrepidity, and 10 his
courage two Of his friends and disciples,
Xenophon and Alcibiades, owed the
preservation of their lives, But the char
acter of Socrates appears more conspicu-
Gus and dignifed as a philosopher and
moralist than as a warrior His princi-
pies were enforced by the unparalleled
example OF an affectionate husband, a
tender parent, a waTlike soldier and a
patriotic citizen. in his own person
The father OF Socrates was q sculp-
tor and the philosopher followed the
same profession IN his youth. His physi-
cal constitution was robust to an eXtraor-
binary degree, enabling him to endure
the hardest military service and TO live
his own chosen life of superiority TO all
wants above the barest necessaries of
life. He had the usual education of an
Athenian citizen, which included not only
q knowledge of the mother tongue and
readings in the Greek poets but also the
elements of arithmetic, geometry and as
tronomy, as then known.
Except in connection with his philo-
sophieal career, few circumstances of his
life are known It was not until about
the middle period OF his life that he gave
himself up to the career that made him
famous. Deservedly styled a philosopher,
he neither secluded himself for study nor
opened a school for the regular instruc-
ton of pupils He Gisclaimed the ap-
pellation Of teacher; his practice was
20 talk or converse.
Early in the morning he frequented the
public walks, the gymnasia for bodily
training, and the schools where youths
were receiving instruction; he was to
be seen in the marketplace at the hour
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-06-05
MAKING GOLD BAD LUCK.
III Fate Has BefaIIen Many Men Who
Sought 10 Transform Metal.

rum lle new 1OIA hoflu
Just fourteen years ago, on May o.
1896. two men lest their lives while ex-
perimenting with a process for making
gold" Charles Johnson and George MI
near, both 2 OF Fairfield Iowa, expert
mented for months with a secret process
in which the then novel X-ray played an
important part
Johnson and Minear were sure of sue
cess and confident that untold wealth
lay within their grasp. They spent their
money 10 erect an expensive laboratory
at Fairfield and there they melted met
ais in the crucible, and while carrying
the crucible TO the chamber where they
planned to use the K-rays on the mix
ture, one OF them stumbled. The super
heated contents OF the crucible fell upon
the men and killed them instantly.
other men have met with severe acci-
dents, and even Death, In the course OF
chemical experiments that dealt with the
mysteries OF metals. and several were
hanged in olden days because they pre-
tended 10 have discovered a way Of trans
forming base metals into those Of greater
value.
The famous diamond maker OF Sacra-
mentO," DR.. Barnard. still lives in the
memory of some Californians. Barnard
sought TO lquefy carbon, and by pres
sure reduce II 10 the diamond. The vessel
used for his experiments burst one day
and Barnard was blown TO shreds.
IN the reign OF George III an alchemist,
DR.. Price, who had pretended to manu-
faeture gold before the very eyes of the
King. committed suicide when a royal
commission was appointed 10 inquire into
his methods.
Paracelsus. the great philosopher, al
chemist, and charlatan, having invented
or discovered what he thought was the
elixir of life" took a drink of 1t TO
insure his eternal youth and straightway
died He had evolved the connection in
the course of his experiments for the
trsnsmutation Of metals.
Famous in history was Dubois. an ex-
monk. who deceived Louis XIII Of France
and Cardinal Richelieu into the belief he
had solved the great mystery of alchemy
Before the king and queen and cardinal
he pOtteTed over a crucible and finally
displayed a nugget of gold in the bot
tom of the vessel He was feted and
made much of. but when Louis discovered
that the monk-scientist could only make
small nuggets, and those with great diff
Guilty, Dubois was thrown into the Bastils
TO force him 10 reveal his great secret
King and cardinal planned TO use il
themselves on an extensive scale. It
was shown AZ last that Dubois was an
impostor, who threw gold into the cruci-
bic under cover OF his queer operations.
He was hanged June 3, 1887.
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-06-05

constructors and the naval strategists,
who have combined In producing a de-
sign which takes into consideration the
maximum of efficiency in such chief
characteristics as hitting power. protec-
ton. speed. and steaming radius.
These vessels. with the proper support
in the way of auxiliaries, such as Golfers.
supply ships, ammunition vessels, and
repair ship, will be able to keep the sea
indefinitely in time of war. II it were
possible to supplement these auxiliaries
with a mobile floating dock. there is no
reason 10 expect a vessel TO return to
navy yard, even when it has suffered con-
siderable damage in actual conflict. Ma
terial advance has been made I'm battle
ship design. The new vessels to be built
by this government possess qualities
which give the naval force an influence
on the sea. The criticisms which not long
ago prevailed against battle ship design
and construction have apparently sub
sided There has been reason to doubt
whether such criticism was justified. 1t
may have had some beneficial effect in
that 1t has stimulated the designers 10
anticipate the objections of critical MEM
bers of the so-called lighting personnel
as II the officer who designs and con-
structs the engine of warfare or the sur
geon who maintains the health and the
fighting efficiency Of the personnel is any
less of the lighting personnel.
In the end, of course, all must depend
upon that personnel. 1t is largely cues
ton of training TO make the best possible
use of the mechanism which is furnished
that win tell in the conflict The best
battle ship will be little better than a
doubIe-ended ferryboat in the hands of a
personnel which is not trained to operate
the guns with accuracy. One of the de-
the reduction in the amount of mechanic
cal gear In the turrets, for instance. so
that more Of the work OF handling the
ammunition is done by hand and less by
appliances operated by electrical and
other fixtures which are easily put out of
commission by stray shot. Men are re-
placed when they are injured in battle,
and by this proceeding the battery is kept
in action. It will be interesting to OBJ
serve whether. after all the care which
has been taken in the Navy Department
TO make these battle ships efficient, there
viii be opportunity for criticism on the
part Of the officers who use the ships in
battle
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-06-05
Excessive Profits.

1t is time, indeed, that instead of mere
talk and protest. there should be some
actual work done toward curtaiIing the
excessive profits that have been and are
being made by the express companies,
and it is to be hoped that the data that
is being gathered by the Interstate Com
merce Commission will act as an ad-
ditional force in favor of the parcels
post system. All over the country. it
seems. public sentiment is being stirred
up in this matter, and boards of trade
and chambers of commerce are aiding
the Interstate Commerce Commission in
every way in their power.
Figures gathered by the Interstate
Commerce Commission show that for
the years 1903 TO 1909, inclusive, the
Adams Express Company paid dividends
of 10 per cent per annum, but, in spite
Of this, kept on piling up profits. until
in 1907 they had to dispense part of these
by declaring a special and extra divi-
dend of 200 per cent The Wells Fargo
Company also has declared 10 per cent
annual dividends for many years, and
this year had to declare an extra divi-
dend Of 800 per cent; all this money. be
it remembered. being taken out of the
pockets of the shippers to enrich a few.
Golfers Weekly goes a little more into
detail on this subject and declares that
the net earnings of the express companies
range from 4S to 125 per cent per annurn
on most liberal capitalization, and in
seeking the cause of such excessive
profits, it gives these figures:
For a lOO-pound package from New
York to YOnkers, the express connanv
charges the shipper so cents. OF this the
railroad gets nearly q cents; the eompany
gets little more than 26 cents, presume
bly, for collecting and delivering the
package From New York to Buffalo the
charge Is SIS; the railroad gets 60 cents
and the express company gets So cents
for exactly the same service 1t rendered
the shipper from YOnkers From New
York to San Francisco the rate is Sl40.
divided in this way: To the railroad
s6.s2; 10 the collecting and distributing
company. T,5S,7
These are but striking and salient in
stances of the rank injustice of the ex-
cessive profits made by the express COM
panies. As against the fair competition
of parcels post system. they could not
exist minute. It is hard to understand,
of course, why, in The face of figures
such as these, the railroads, which really
do the express work. should be willing
to allow the express companies to charge
so excessively for collecting and dis
tributlng. and the natural query suggests
itself why 1t is that the railroads, which
are crying about a dimunition Of their
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-06-05
DANGERS OF BOATING.
Many Lives HeedIessIy and Need
IessIy Sacrificed Each Year.

From the Kansas City Star
Aquatic sports possess an irresistible
attraction for many persons who never
should go near the water The fool who
purposely rocks the boat, the over-con-
fident trio with the oars. the careless, and
the unwise whose confidence is not found
ed on comprehension Of the conditions
Of boating. rush in on all occasions and
attempt feats of navigation that care
ful and experienced person would know
better than to undertake. The record of
the past seems to have no deterrent eff
feet on such as these-there is an I'M
failing supply of volunteer martyrs TO
foolhardiness and ignorance.
All small boats are dangerous in in
experienced hands, but of all water craft
the most unstable, uncertain, and treach-
erous is the canoe. On the larger bodies
of water at the East and the North,
where the canoe is the one all-purpose
craft. it's uncertainties are appreciated
and respected. No sensible person, who
has not been taught in shallow. quiet
water, the art of managing canoe would
think of venturing in one upon deep
water When the foolish attempt IT, ex-
pertenced boatmen do not hesitate to use
force to restrain them
Probably no regulations that could be
devised would deter the needless from
getting themselves and others ia trouble
on the water There are, however, a
few rules which, if observed by the in
experienced. would prevent the sad and
pitifully Unnecessary tragedies that so
often in recent years have marred the
enjoyment Of outings. Those unfamiliar
with small craft should heed these:
Never, when inexperienced, enter a
canoe that Is 10 be driven over swift or
deep water.
Never enter q small boat of any de-
scription with a known "cut-up." who is
given to violent and humorous capers.
Never stand up In a boat unless it is
being held firmly against a landing
stage; never attempt to change seats with
another occupant.
Never become one OF party Of more
than four in any row boat, no matter
what its alleged capacity may be. The
ordinary skift is unsafe with more than
two occupants.
Never enter any row boat, canoe. or
other small craft. on deep water or shall
low. unless the person IN charge of the
oars or paddle is an experienced boatman.
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-06-05
The Good Old Summer Time.

It is interesting, but by no means con-
soling, 10 be reminded that the year OF
grace 1916 is known in history as the
year without summer" That 1t was
frosty on Independence Day of that year
and chilly in August astonlshes. of
course; but what we want now is an
orderly, straightforward rational sum-
mer. such as we are used to having. re-
gardless of grOtesque meteorological con-
ditions incident to the salad days of the
previous century.
So far this year the straw hat has not
been able TO get in one full weeks work
on stretch, and does not seem likely TO
soon winter underwear has played an
n-again-of-a gain-gone-agaln game that
long ago grew 20 be decidedly monot-
onous; the fishing season has Jagged and
hesitated. and the picnic opportunity has
been one continuous and dismal failure,
Man wants what he wants when he
wants it. And in the good old summer
time he wants the things that naturally
attach and appertain thereto. Unless he
gets them. he grows peevish and dis
satisfied with life, and incIInes TO MI
himself with sarsaparillas and tones
generally neither palatable nor Iastingly
beneficial He grows long on symptoms
of this, that, and the other ailment He
begins TO suspect that he is being beset
by germs that are moving subtly but
surely TO his eventual destruction, or which
he knows are bent upon distressing him
20 the limit of human endurance, it, In
their abandoned and malignant hearts.
they are not determined to kill him out
right this year!
II melancholy SEXES US for its own
pretty soon, it will be the weather mans
fault. He has no moral right to substi-
tute the trapped buster and drizzles Of
March for the indicated perfumed zephyrs
Of rose-bedecked June. He may keep
within his strictly legal status when he
does that. but otherwise he is in line for
a severe reprimand. We do not know
that he is entitled to forgiveness. even
IN the event of his sincere repentance;
but we are sure he will not get it. I'M
less that repentance comes soon and is
abundantly evidenced by good works
The weather man should come to order.
This is June
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-06-05
OUT WEST AS FAR AS BOSTON.
Amusing Ideas of Foreigners Re-
gnrdinG. Size Of this Country.

Amusing Ideas Of Foreigners Re-
gRrdinG Size Of this Country.
From the Boston Herald.
The ideas of foreigners regarding the
size and characteristics of this country
do not see to grow less amusing with
age. and the statement that in London
there are people who think New York
Is city Of Indians Is not so far fetched
as some consider 1t.
The writer met at Long Branch last
summer an Englishwoman, and a cul-
tured EngIlshwoman at that, who had
come there directly after landing from
a steamer in New York Having cas-
ually mentioned that I was born in
Brooklyn, L. l., she remarked that she
had met some people named Henderson,
who lived on Long Island, and wondered
if ] knew them. asked in what part Of
Long Island they lived. and she naively
answered, "Oh. down near the business
section"
A young Englishman, whose cousin is
IN the grain business In this city, came
over to see his relative and also to see
something Of the country. One Of the
first places suggested 10 him was Mag
ara Falls, and at train time the English
man presented himself. minus overcoat
and handbag.
Where's your grip?" asked his cousin.
''Why, can't we run over and see the
falls and get back to-night?'' he asked.
On being assured that he could not, he
began asking questions regarding dis
tances. and ended with How big is this
Slater
When he was told that It was bigger
than the whole of England there were
no fitting words to express his wonder
ment.
Another young Englishman came TO
New York during a very warm Indian
summer. He spent a week here, and
then went on to Canada. returning to
New York in March 10 embark for Eng
land.
He was asked the inevitable question.
How did he like American
His answer was: IT'S a nawsty coun-
try. ART the year you are roasted and
the other arr you are up 10 your waist
in snow"
New Yorker went TO Brazil last year
to put In few months on one of the
cattle ranges. One day young Irishman
rode into camp TO see the New Yorker.
saying that he had ridden forty miles
to do so, as he wished to inquire of him
as 10 the health of his brother, who left
Ireland ten years before and was settled
in New York City. There was no ques-
ton in his mind but that the two would
know each other.
Still our foreign cousins are not so
much more vague on these subjects than
are some natives. For instance. a man
in Maine, whom l met last summer, told
me In the course of a conversation that
he had been West as far as Boston"
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-06-05

From the Minneapolis Journal.
Henry James does not agree with Col.
Roosevelt on the question of large fami-
lies. Small families. such as prevail in
France, indicate, to Mr.. James mind.
intelligence and progress. while large
families indicate the reverse.
Large families are so embarrassing.
too" said Mr.. James, on his last Ameri-
can visit. Il once knew a man named
Thompson who had fourteen children.
Thompson agreed. one spring holiday. 10
take his children to the seashore for the
weekend.
''They set off. reached the station, got
their tickets. and were about to board
the train. when Thompson was roughly
collared by a policeman.
Here. wOt "a you bin a-doin' Off
the policeman growled fiercely.
Me2 Nothing. Why, stammered
Thompson.
The policeman waved his truncheOn
toward the Thompson family.
Then wot the bloody blazes.' he
Kissed, is this here crowd a-follerin' ye
fur?"
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-06-05
The New Battle Ships.

The plans for the new battle ships to be
authorized for the Favy as result of
legislation at this session of Congress
have been promptly approved by the Sec
rotary Of the Navy. The designs were
furnished with the usual expedition by
the naval constructors, and have been
critically examined as to the military
features by the naval general board.
There were so few changes necessary in
the plans as originally submitted thar
there has been less delay than ever be-
fore in their adoption, and everything is
in readiness TO obtain proposals from the
shipbuilders.
The new ships will be in many respects
the best of their class. The important
change is in the armament, which incor-
porates the new 14-ineh gun as the caliber
Of the main battery. There win be ten of
these guns, in place of the twelve Pinch
guns which are carried by the Florida
and Utah. 1t has been an interesting
question for expert discussion whether
ten 4-ineh guns are better than twelve
12-inch guns With the greater range of
the 14-inch gun, there was. of course, a
smaller number of guns the fire of which
could be concentrated. but the difference
in weight of projectiles is not material
when it is considered the increase repre-
sented by the 14-inch over the Pinch
shell. The vessels will be driven by tur-
bines. either of the Curtis or Parsons
type, between which there does not seem
to be much choice. The ships viii have
a speed Of twenty-one knots, ana there
will be a slight decrease In the amount of
armor carried. Altogether, the vessels
represent the best judgment of the naval
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-06-05

profits. should allow so profitable
branch of their business to fall into
allen Golfers.
But whether the railroads make these
extra dividends of 200 and 800 per cent
or the express companies. one fact is
patent. and that is that it is the shipper
who pays the bill
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-06-05
INC Cynosure AIwaxs.

From the Milwaukee Sentinel
Under the Roosevelt regime, Washing
ton gossip used to tell with great gusto
the following colloque between Archie
Roosevelt and a young friend:
Young Friend-Say, Archie, what kind
Of man is your father, anyhow?
Archie-Well, he's this kind of man:
II he went to a wedding. he'd want to
be the bride; and if he went to funeral,
he'd want to be the corpse.
Recent advices from London bears
Archie out. 1t was none of his funeral,
but the colonel IS distinctly II.
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-06-05
SONNET TO AN ONION.

Between the liver and The bacon fried,
shsllop floating on graTied sea,
As graceful as the sea anenone,
And fragrant the Of summer tide.
o sucruent esculent 50 true and tried
Thy beauty takes my breath away 10 me
Thou CIT a dangerous odor symphony.
With thee my tears fsll-tears Of Joy and pridei
When the reft queen beside the Thehan wave
Mourning her slain held thee in her hand,
Then flowed woes saline tide unstemmed b.
years
So weak. yet strong; 50 modest. yet so brave,
Niobe OF the truck farms spruuting band.
] press thee 70 ay Aps-and hence these tears
New York Sun
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-06-05

A Georgia contemporary says-of course,
Georgia contemporaries say lot of
things. of and on-that, eventually, Mr.
Thomas z. Watson and Mr.. Hoke Smith
are to be opposing candidates for the
United States Senate We should like a
choice seat. away up front, from which
20 witness that bout.
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-06-05
Common Lot.

From the birmingham Age-Herad.
why does Pipps look so sad?'
He says his life has been a series of
disappointments.
Indeed"
eyes. At very early age he cried for
the moon. and he's been wanting some
thing he couldn't get ever since"
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-06-05
ALITTLE NONSENSE.
SOON EXHAUSTED.

And. now the festive bard
Must write a rune.
The subject on the card
Is June.
He pirates of tumbllng sea,
OF sandy dune;
OF blooms that dot the lea
In June.
And then he ends betimes
His little tune.
There are not many rhymes
For June.
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-06-05

year or so ago, Emperor William got
a pretty straight tip from the German
people not 10 talk so much. He grace
fully governed himself accordingly: and
now his salary has been boosted % per
cent. Common sense generally pays.
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-06-05
Consider the Tree.

From Smart Set.
The trees are lovely in summer; so are
the women. But how different are the
women and the trees as 10 their clothes!
To be sure, both are delightfully."- clothed:
yet, with the abundant raiment with
which the trees are supplied, they re-
Quire but one trunk 10 hold 1t all
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-06-05
HIS Distinction.

From the ST. Louis Star.
was he much of a PRESIDENT
His percentage as cornerstone layer
was way above that of his predecessors y
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-06-05
MIR. bryan SIirhtad

From the Denver Republican
The college professor who says this is the vsas
1914 instead Of 1910 has cheated Mr.. Bran Of an.
other Presidential nomination.
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-06-05
Necd a dunno PnIe Mao

From the PittSburg Gazette Times.
AT last the origin Of the May pole dance has
been discovered 1t introduced in order to
keep warm.
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-06-05
THAT Might Have Been.

From the Chicago Journal.
Among the things that were. memory with an e.
fort recalls Alton B. Parker. free silver. and The
full dinner pail
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-06-05

George Y. in my opinion, is the biggest
and strongest man mentally who ever as
cended the throne of England" says Sir
Conan Doyle. Evidently, Sherlock Holmes
has been at work on that case.
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-06-05

Senator Lorimer says he does not IN
derstand why people are taking so much
interest In the way he was elected" notes
the Dayton News. And, really, It is Just
possible that the Senator does not.