davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-03-20

Verify there seemeth to be nothing new
under the sun. as the wisest of men
many thousand years ago declared. And
the startling discoveries Of the last CEN
fury, of which naturally We are inclined
10 boast as the greatest ever, were prob
ably known and forgotten before the
food
How many have heard and repeated
the pretty story of the shamrock, and Of
how st. Patrick. trying to tell the pagan
Irish the mystery, only half understood
even by him, OF the Holy Trinity plucked
from the sod at his feet leaf of sham
rock, and by the plant bearing three
leaves on one stem illustrated the doctrine
Of three In one" Many a washington
eurate and sore beset teacher has CRATE
fully borrowed the idea and a handful Of
clover as aids in intoxicating this most
difficult Of all ecclesiastical lessons. Now
comes the information that the Irish
knew about the sacred character OF the
trefoil long before st. Patrick visited
them.
It Is certainly a curious coincidence, If
nothing more. that the trefoll in Arabic
Is called "shamrakh." and was held
sacred in Iran as emblematical of the
Persian Triads. Pliny, too, who died in
70 A. D., in his famous work on natural
history, says that serpents ARE never
seen upon trefoil, and it prevails against
the sting Of snakes and scorpions, 3"
This considering st. Patrick's connection
with the snake idea is really remarkable,
and it may justly be reasoned that pre-
vious to his arrival the Irish had ascribed
mystical virtues to the tTefOil. and. hear
ing OF the Trinity for the first time,
with that mental quickness for which
they are everywhere conspicuous they
fancied some peculiar fitness in their
already sacred plant to shadow forth
the newly revealed and mysterious doc
trine. If this theory is correct, It does
not lessen our veneration for the sagac-
ity Of the saint in turning to account
a popular belief, but it increases our
respect for the "old sod" which truly
becomes a holy ISLE" If it's emerald
carpet, divinely bestowed, symbolizes the
power of the Godhead over the power
of darkness. as typihed by the serpent
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-03-20
WHERE pUCcINI WRITES.
The Composer Has Beautiful Home
ON an Italian Lake.

The Composer Has "a Beautiful Home
on an Italian Lake.
Pisa. Italy. Letter TO the New York World.
Americans who have been delighted by
Giacomo Puceinis operas, Madam But
terfly." "Manon Lescaut," La Boheme. .
La Tosca." and lie viii, will be in
terested 10 learn something of his lonely
but beautiful abode. where the composer
wrote those tuneful works.
On the shore of Lake Massaciuceoli.
not far from this city. but in solitude
where nature is mistress stiil. Puecini
built for himself a retreat which he calls
Tore del Lago. Outside the house is
simple It's white marble walls shine in
the suns rays with virgin radiance.
Within Puccinfs home is beautiful. filed
with artistic objects. books. pictures, tap
|estries-one might call it luxurious were
it not so comfortable.
Every r6Sm Is flooded with sunlight.
The largest room. an immense apartment,
has five great windows, which look out
on the terrace and gardens. A corner of
this room, protected by rails of carved
wood, is dedicated to the melodic muse.
In this corner is a fiat desk at which
Puccini has composed all his operas Back
of the desk stands a piano. to which he
turns to express in sound the music
thought he has Just put on paper. Be
hind the piano again is large bookcase
filed with volumes which Puccini has
bought in his travels or which have been
presented TO him as souvenirs. Much of
his leisure time indoors he passes in
reading.
In this sanctuary Puecini lately finished
an opera which he says is full Of vio-
ience and excitement; the passion rising
to the greatest height at times" The H.
bretto of this work is taken from David
Belasco's play. 1.-THE Girl of the Golden
West" and while that win not be the
operas name. il must have a peculiar
interest to Americans.
In seeking this solitary but charming
spot for his home Puccini was influenced
by his great love Of sport He is an en-
thusiastic hunter and a first rate rife
shot His favorite game Is waterfowl
ana he has rented and preserved a whole
lake In the middle of the lake Puccini
has built a summer-hOuse, I'm which he
has constructed a kind Of study where he
can work. As darkness begins to fall he
rows IN little boat on the quiet waters
OF the lake, watching for wild duck. Then
as the twilight deepens the stiffness OF
the evening is rudely broken by a success
sion Of rife shots, which. like his operas
are hits"
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-03-20
nr nAN d. MCCONNELL.

There are scenes before and behind the
footlights that are not for publication
Did you ever realize that when you pay
your money for a seat in any theater you
are buying no little amount OF social
prestige? There Is an official Of the thea
ter that plays silent part. and his work
is as much in evidence as that OF any
connected with the playhouse or the play
from the manager or star down to the
nimble footed chorus or usher.
Like a good stage manager his work is
always In evidence. although there are
few who visit the theater that knew him
personally. His name never appears on
the programme. but he knows every one
IN the city from the society leader to the
ribbon counter salesman. The audience Is
unconsciously conscious of the fact that
social grades are differentiated by the
alphebeticai arrangement of the rows OF
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-03-20

Elizabeth Akers Aliens ("Flor-
ence Percy'') song. Rock Me to
Sleep. Mother!" Is one Of the most
beautiful in the English language.
It is printed above complete as writ
ten by the authoress. although in
the copies of the song the second
and last verses are generally omit
ted. and the last four lines Of the
last verse is used as a chorus.
Rock Me to Sleep" is known
wherever the English language Is
spoken. It was written by the au-
thoress when she was quite young,
and was printed under the nom de
plume of Florence Percy" which
she used until she married Mr..
Akers, after which she adopted the
name Elizabeth AKers as a sigma
ture TO her writings. Mr.. Akers
lived but a short time. and few
years later she married MI Allen.
but her pen name was not changed,
but has remained Elizabeth Akers.
which is signed to ner last book OF
poems. issued in 1903. under the
title Sunset Song and ether
Verses
Rock Me to Sleep" was written
by Elizabeth Akers In memory of
her mother. who died when she was
a young girl. but whose memory
was cherished most sacredly through
life. This is emphasized in the
poem in every line. No more low
ing tribute to a mother has ever
been penned. Every line breathes
OF the loneliness she feels. and all
others so bereft can respond with
her TO the line
Mother, o mother. my heart calls
for your
This poem was first printed in
the Saturday Evening Post, of Phil
adelphia, in May. 1860, although
written the previous year. The
writer received So for it, and that
was all her remuneration. although
others have made thousands OF dol
lars out OF it. 1t was set to music
and published as a song soon after
its appearance. without authorize
ton by the poetess. and the pub
fishers admitted that their profits
in the first six months were $4,000.
Since that time il is known to have
been issued by at least forty-nine
music publishers. one of whom
long ago printed "Fiftieth Thou
so,4n ~, fba 4ftIr ,aaUa
Not only did Mrs. Allen get moth
ing for all this exploiting OF her
work, but she was long denied the
credit of authorship. The song
was claimed by several persons.
One. Alexander NJ W. Ball. a
wealthy. though unlettered New
Jersey contractor. actually enlisted
the sympathies OF several prominent
editors, a leading lawyer, and one
or two members Of Congress. tot
CCopyisht. 1910. "Th
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-03-20
LAND AT $4,000 A FOOT.
How Location Affects Values in a
Great City.

Great City.
From the Bookkeeper.
A striking instance of business vaiua-
ton is shown in the assessment of the
property on which stands the skyscraper
successor to the old Fifth Avenue Hotel
II is at the intersection of Fifth avenue,
Broadway. and Twenty-third street, ex-
tending to Twenty-fourth street. It's
frontage on Fifth avenue and Broadway
the two thoroughfares forming an obtuse
angle-is $1,000 per front foot. Step over
the line on the north into what then be-
comes Twenty-fourth street-a dead street
for businessman the assessment be-
comes 1.60o. one-seventh of the valuation
OF the land just across the crack in the
cement walls
There are parcels OF land in Wall street
1.-The most valuable in the world-which
are taxed on a valuation OF s2s,0Oo a front
foot
New York City imposes a tax on 90
per cent OF full valuation This high per-
oentage has been brought about by an
active campaign extending ever period
of many years. The ideal in the minds
Of its supporters is to tax eventually at
fun valuation.
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-03-20

enable him to support his claim of
having written 1t.
The matter finally reached a
stage where he found cause to
spend q large sum In issuing a book
called his "Vindication." It was
not until ]. T. Trowbridge, and
other champions of truth. came 10
the rescue that Balls deception was
exposed and Mrs. Allen gained the
poor honor of a tardy recognition.
In her later writings Mrs. Allen
never again reached the lyric height
achieved in Rock re TO Sleep" al
though all her volumes of poems
contained much that is worthy of
preservation. The Sunset Song"
which was issued when the author
ess was seventy years old, and Iiv-
ing at Tuckahoe. n. Y, shows a
large share of the same passionate
longing for the days that are no
more.
In her earlier years she enjoyed
the friendship of many of the great
literary men of that period. When
James Russell Lowell edited The
Atlantic and when anonymity
ruled its pages. she was frequent
contributor. although the most Of
her poems have never appeared in
print other than in her own publ
cations.
An eminent critic. in writing of
her poetry, says; Nothing which
verse can do. 1t would seem, is too
hard a pattern for her to attempt,
such as the double sestina, the Vi
relai Noveau, ali the French archaic
forms double acrOstics, and the
like. These. of course, are not OF the
essence of poetry. but, like the 'ex-
ercises in music, they give fiexi-
bility TO its instrument In The
Sunset Song" is a poem OF ten stan
zas. in which every word is a mono
syllable, and it flows on as if no
such characteristic hampered 1t. 1t
is possible that the poem, True,
which is purely monosyllable, is
the only one in the English Ian
guage of its length that is"
Elizabeth Chase was born in
Strong. Me. October 9, 1882. She
married Paul Akers. the sculptor,
who died in 1851. and I'm 1865 she
married E. NJ. Allen, OF New York.
She began TO write at the age of
fifteen. and in 1855 published. under
the name Florence Percy" her
first book of poems. entitled Forest
Buds"
Her other publications are Poems
by Elizabeth Akers.' Queen Cath
arine's Rose" THE Silver Bridge.
"The Triangular Society," 1.-TWO
Saints" The High-Top Sweeting."
The Proud Lady of Stavoren," and
The Ballad OF the Bronx" She
lives at present at Tuckahoe, N Y.
For several years she was literary
editor of the Portland. Me, Adver-
tiser.
3 Pres Company
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-03-20
SECRETS OF THE BOX OFFICE
Some Facts Which the Average Theatergoer Can Easily
AScertain-HOw PlayhOuses Are dressed"

seats. but they never give a thought 10
the one that is responsible for this.
You go TO the theater. the first nIaca
you approach is the box Office. ami Won
secure your seats from pleasant looking
individual who seemingly plueks the
tickets from the air on both or either
sides of his stool and then as nysteriouslv
gets your change from some where under
his stool or in his lap.
The recent affair in washington IN
which two marines were refused adnis-
sion 10 theater. and the subsequent
action by the Navy Department and Con-
gress in regard to making proprietors Of
amusement places recognize the uniform
of the United States, is simply case Of
the general practice coming TO light. II is
news TO you, of course. to know that
whether you wear a uniform or not, you
are Disseminated against when you visit
theater. The man who sells you a
ticket has harder Job than you imagine.
he Is Entrusted with seating the house:
thar is. he tries TO get you a seat beside
people whom he thinks are in the same
walk of life that you are.
Have you ever gone 10 the theater and
asked for a seat near the front, and the
Dox-otiice man, with a pleasant smile.
told you that the twenty-first row was
the best that he had? OF course YOU have.
If you are not in the habit OF using a
dress suit every time that YOU VISIT a
playhouse. This is not always the case.
Sometimes, when a play is drawing
crowded houses. this may be the best thar
he has. but If it is not-wer, IT'S not.
that's all. Your appearance to the hoy
Office man determines the kind Of a seat
you will get. unless you happen TO be
lucky enough to be personally acquainted
with this silent but efficient social arbiter.
You know, of course, that you would
rather sit beside a person that looked
as If he might be in the same walk of life
as you are than beside one that you
thought was many times your inferior.
This talk of every man being equal in
this country is all very well for a Fourth
Of July grafton, but II does not work
In practical way.
In seating a house the box-office man
has many things to keep in mind. First,
he must seat the audience so that from
the stage it gives the performers the idea
that the house is pretty well crowded,
because performer always works better
before a large audience. II gives an actor
confidence in himself and the play TO see
many people in the house.
Many women viii not sit anywhere else
In a theater but in the last row or far on
the side so as they will not have to re-
move their hats. Many times strangers
TO a city viii go 10 a show and ask for
seat in the rear, explaining to the box
Office man that they are not in evening
dress.
Have you ever noticed that when a
show comes 10 town that has a big sue
cess in other towns how the advertise
ment that the theater carries in the daily
papers reads. mo telephone orders. -
This is done because fully two-thirds OF
the tickets ordered by telephone are never
called for.
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-03-20
MAUNDY THURSDAY NAMED
FOR DEEDS OF HUMILITY

AS the eve Of Good Friday approaches
one hears a good deal of Maundy Thurs
day. and probably wonders where such
an ugly term came from and what ii
really means. It is borrowed from Eng
land and from very early English word,
maund meaning basket, maund and
maundy having come to signify articles
given in charity. or from kindness. From
very early times the day before Good
Friday has been marked by acts Of hui
mility and charity on the part of those
In high places, in memory Of the Saw
iour's act OF washing the feet OF His
followers and serving as servant those
who were not worthy to unlatch His
shoe, on the eve of His Passion. Sover-
eign princes. ecclesiasties, small and
great, laymen Of high degree for hun
dreds Of years. thought it fitting to their
religious profession to lay aside personal
dignity on this occasion and condescend
to the mental act of washing the feet
OF paupers. then sending them forth
with gifts Of food. clothing and money.
There is a story told Of the Maundy
Thursday celebration OF Cardinal Wolsey
at Peterborough Abbey in 1888, at which
time the Cardinal was about fifty-nine
years Of age. The maund was made in
the lady's chapel and consisted in the
washing Of the feet Of fifty-nine poor
men and the bestowal Of d kiss on the
right foot OF each by the dainty Cardinal.
After wiping the feet carefully. he gave
the owners a pair of new shoes, three
ellis Of good canvas for shirts, a cast Of
red behring's and one white herring. and
twelve pence in money. Each one of the
paupers was houored by a gift of two
shillings. It was the habit to select a
poor man for each year Of life and one
over-to grow on, as the little people say
Maybe the ffty-ninth one honored by the
prelate with the larger gift was repre-
sentative Of the year TO come. II this
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-03-20
CHEAP THIEVERY IN STAMPS.
By Means of Want Advertisement
Hard TO Prevent,


There is one fraud upon the public
that We would like to root out, said a
post-ofice inspector. but IL IS almost
impossible to reach the culprits and to
make out cases against them. II Is even
more difficult to obtain evidence on which
10 base a fraud order against their mall.
This fraud is simply the larceny Of 2
cent stamps by means of fake advertise
ments in the help wanted columns OF
newspapers. which have no means Of
knowing the fraudulent nature of toe adj
vertisements.
1T costs only trile 10 advertise for
some kind Of help. and some Of these adj
vertisements win bring from 1000 to 1900
replies from persons who are looking for
work or seeking TO better themselves
Four-fifths Of these applicants for tho
bogus Job viii inclose stamps for reply,
You can figure il out Eight hundred
stamps are worth sic. These stamps,
done up In packages Of twenty-five or
fifty, are sold at a small discount"
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-03-20
A TRUE FRESHMAN.


with compliments to my true Irish friends.l
Fax me heart be that sad, me teeiin
that low,
Do ye love me, Acushlag I dunno I
dunno;
Mavourneen. don't be playin' hide an
seek wild yes soul;
Sure. give 1t TO me. since its me own. that
ye stole.
Acushla Maehree, so swate be yes face.
Widout We this wurled be nothing but
space:
Sure. the bees in the clover slipping up
the dew;
Colleen. come give me the ripe kiss of
you.
Sure, I be spakln', me that's Terry
O'Toole
Fer yes kisses I'm waitin'. I'll not take
thin By rule.
Be dads. I'm a mountain of muscle and
bone
Come feel of me arm. then. it be hard as
a stone.
Sure, yes heart too. be hard. or is it
jokin' We are?
Acushla Machree. don't yes try me too
far;
Fax. yes no more then the height ov
me whaist,
And its Terry who'll soon of yes lips
have thaste.
I'm not huntIn' fer throuble. Colleen.
that's true;
FAX I'm peaeeable man. but I'll be
fghtin' fer you;
Sure, now, there's a tear-drop in each
purity eye.
Give me kiss for a token, me. yer own
Terry bye.
Acushla Machree. the swate face of thee
A hop OF the heart it giveth TO me;
Swate as the sound OF far away bells,
Singing and Ginning Ger Erins dells.
Faix. then. me love is as deep as the
sea.
So strong is 1t, Colleen, in the big heart
ov me;
Mavourneen. yes mouth should be taken
delight
In givin' me kisses. me own by loves
right.
Acushla Machree. jisht what shall 1 do.
II ye don't love me a bit, I dunno, be II
true;
ThereT be no heart ov a man in me body
tall,
If ye say We don't love me. I'll be that
stunted and small.
Sure. now We be whisperln' an cryin'
together
And the pink on yes cheek ike bloom on
the heather:
A kiss for good luck, then; now be aisy Of
tain,
Be gintle in words. but fierce in yes
squazin.
we've been twishtin' and pullin' me heart
by the strings.
And the red mouth of yes saying cruel,
bitter things;
Now let yes lips cling TO mine tin yes
swate face be grown
Ov the same fire and color that VIII
match wild me own.
Forgive me, AcushIa, II feel a bit wild.
Sure, no Irish heart holds a love that is
mild.
But it be finder and thrue. pleadin' ana
bold.
And swate as the music of Erin ov old.
Sure the fire that's in me win never be
lawn.
Arrah. now. Colleen. be stoppin' yes taz-
in;
Fax. be that happy me souls all in a
twisht;
Be dads. I'd Ike Mike Dulin to be SAM
plin me fsht.
Sure me msn-breath be dry for yes
kisses to drink,
VIII We be Mrs. O'Toole? I dunno. but I
think,
An fer defendln' yes title and listen yes
might
AS me wife, then, Mavourneen. ven win
livery fight.
AT last. me swate Colleen. yes ripe lips
are free,
An great be the Joy in the big man ov
me;
Please God, then. from toll We Al soon hev
rist.
An, together wild love, wen build a mist.
ALLIE SHARPE BALCH.
1875 Euclid street
St. Patdcks Day, 1910.
LESS RUBBER IN THEM.
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-03-20
No Use.

From the Kansas City Journal
This popular fiction is all bosh. In
real life the girls father seldom objects
TO the man of her choice"
You're wrong there. He often objects,
but he's usually too wise to say any
thing
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-03-20
No So
ROCK ME TO SLEEP, MOTHER."
No SO.
FLORENCE PERCY.


backward turn backward, o Time. in your flight,
Make me child again just for tonight
Mother come back from the echoless shore,
Take me again to your heart of yore;
Kiss from my forehead the burrows Of care.
Smooth the few silver threads Of my hair,
over my slumbers your loving watch keep.
Rock me TO sleep, mother-rock me TO sleep
Backward now backward. tide of the years!
I am so weary OF toll and OF tears
Toll without recompense, tears all in vain
Take them. and give me my childhood again!
I have grown weary OF dust and decay,
Weary of finging my soul-wealth away;
Weary OF sowing for others 10 reap
Rock me to sleep. mother-roek me TO sleep!
Tired of the hollow, the base, the untrue.
Mother. o mother. my heart calls for you!
Many a summer the grass has grown green,
FOssOmed faded faces between,
Yet with strong yearning and passionate pain
Long 1 tonight for your presence again.
Come from the silence so long and deep
Rock me to sleep mOther-rock me 10 sleep.
over my heart in the days that flown.
No love like mother-love has shown;
No other worship abides and endures-
Faithful. unselfsh and patient like yours;
None like a mother charm away pain
From the sick soul and the world-weary brain.
slumbers soft Gains DER my heavy IDS creep
Rock me to sleep. mother-rock me to sleep!
Come let your brown hair just lighted with gold.
Fail on your shoulders again as of old;
Let il drop over my forehead tonight
Shading my faint eyes away from the light;
For with its sunny-edged shadows once more
Haply viii throng the sweet visions OF yOre:
Lovingly. softly its bright pillows sweep
Rock me to sleep. mother-rock me TO sleep!
Mother dear mother the years have been long
Since I last listened to your lullaby song;
sing then and unto my soul it shall seem
Womanho0ds years have 5een only dream
Clasped TO your heart in loving embrace,
With your light 1ashes just sweeping my face.
Never hereafter to wake 10 weep
Rock me TO sleep. mother-rock me 10 sleep
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-03-20
The Natural Place.

From the Baltimore American.
Where should vessel encounter the
teeth Of a gale?p
Il don't know. unless it is in the mouth
of a river"
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-03-20
A High Conrne-

From tbs Boston Herald
He-Do you believe in the higher educa-
ton for girlsg
she-oh. my. yes. I'm taking lessons
In aviation already.
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-03-20

From the Cleveland Leader.
You used TO be an awful spendthrIft y
Yep. But amt any Longer"
"Ah! ReformedY'
mo. I spent 1t ALL
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-03-20

sitting tide and you are swimming either BIZ your
self or having hold Of person who cannot swim,
then get on your back and float till help Cones.
Many a man exhAusts himself by stemming the
pillows for the shore on a backgoing tide, and
sinks in the effort. when. II he had hoated. boat
or other AID might have been attained
9 These instructions apply alike to all circ1m-
stances, whether as regard to rough sea OF smooth
y<ater
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-03-20
A Distinction.

From Judge
Uncle Henry-Baek from Washington,
/ ST? See Congress In action?
Uncle Silas-Naw; / only saw 'em in
session.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1910-01-06

Budding genius is seldom found
behind poisoning noise.