davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-06-12
The Long Silence.

ayes. we are pretty comfortably nsea
in the reading room OF the Congressional
Library, when a visitor envied him his
soft berth and comfortable surroundings.
But there's one thing we long for. yes.
thirst for with burning thirst. That
noise, real. nerve-racking, ear-splitting
noise. The long hours OF soft silence, the
dead stiffness of everything about grows
SO oppressive that at times we could
shrek out. We get into sort of Sic6-
room tiptoe and a low tone OF voice that
finally degenerates into Il whisper even
at the telephone. Give us an occasional
battery OF artillery or a roaring lion or
steam calliope. Even a squaling baby
would help some"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-06-12
Invention, Not Necessity.

WEALTHY dweller in certain
"A residential section Of the city
pawns his $500 overcoat every spring,
Also, his wife pawns her $1,000 silver
fox furs They don't need the money.
for they spend every summer travelling
back and forth across the continent OF
Europe in a French automobile. But
they do want their wraps assured
against moths.
II they placed them in cold storage
for the season il would cost them 10
per cent of their value or more than
one hundred dollars. So they put them
in hook with a reliable loan firm for
fifteen twenty dollars. on which they
pay 3 per cent a month. They are If
course given the hest of care and re-
deemed in the fall for trifiing in
terest charge of a dollar or two.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-06-12

with each other in stories as to how
they provided meals for several days on
fifty cents worth of "commiSsary book.
1t is always understood that on the
Canal Zone it is bad form to go visiting.
without definite invitation, the week be-
fore pay day.
Social life upon the zone presents some
amusing features. 1t happens that the
choice of quarters is granted to men in
accordance to their position on the pay
roll 1t is here that the aristocracy Of
labor holds full sway A man working a
steam shovel or bossing a gang of dirt
diggers may receive $3.50 or more a
month, though, he cannot write his own
name. whereas a bacteriologist or expert
craftsman, or some other position requir-
ing an education, may be working for
half that amount And in the ranks pro-
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-06-12

more careful consideration. as they are
inclined to disregard rules.
Other laborers, particularly the
Spanish peasants, prefer to reside in
camps and do their own cooking. and
provision is made for them to do So
The Spanish camp is picturesque ad-
junct to the zone village. There the
men cook savory-smelling stews in
bra2iers or small charcoal stoves gen
orally placed outside of the building.
Frequently, while the food is cooking,
they while away the tedium OF waiting
by music upon the guitar or accordion
Generally the Spanish camp is peace
full happy assemblage, but occasionally
a bit of jealousy arises, a knife may be
drawn, perhaps some one is hurt and
the zone police blotter varies the mo-
notony of its daily record.
The American women have an easy
life on the Canal Zone, although many
of them do not realize 1t. The quarters
are compact and we'll arranged. There
are no unnecessary corners to be
cleaned. The furniture is simple and
the work of the house is very much
lighter than at home.
The daily trip to the commissary fills
in as much time each morning as
woman cares to spend. To most women
the commssary is a sort of social eX-
change. Long before the cold storage
train is due women in morning costumes,
varying in style from the frank neglige
Of the kimono to the immaculate fresh
ness of a freshly Numbered white linen
suit, begin to gather at the commissary.
The list of supplies is gone over and
criticised. menus are planned and COM
pared supplies are complained of and
gossip retaileG. In connection with the
commissary 1t should be stated that sup
plies never sell for cash Tickets torn
from the commissary books supplied to
the men on pay day are the only legal
tender at these stores. If the book gives
out before pay day the housewife is in
difficulty if she cannot buy or borrow
from her neighbors.
IF man draws a tWenty-dOllar book
and unexpected company requires extra
table expenditure the family may have
to live a short ration just before pay day.
II is rather joke in the Canal Zone to
run short OF book Sxsd women vie
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-06-12
A NATIVE VILLAGE

church building against the vaulted cell
ing of which hang many giant bats. Inc
dropping Of one of these pests ciedt1a
scarcely any excitement among the phpiis
in the school.
For more than fifty years the Panama
railroad has superseded the CruceS
trail and furnished SAFER passdse
way across the isthmus. Whlle SUI
fcient for the ordinary traveller. lt
Furnished limited commercial facllltles.
From the time of the discovery OF .le
Pacific ocean by balboa canal was
talked of. and now. under the auspices
Of the United States, the union Of the
two oceans will soon become an ac-
complished fact. For the complexion
of the canal the United states gov
eminent secured from the republic OF
panama. by perpetual lease. grant OF
land extending five miles on each sloe
of the canal line. This territory
known as the Canal Zone. and lies
RIGHT in the center of the republic IL
is trayersed by the Panama railroad,
which runs practically parallel TO the
canal line Along the railroad line are
scattered about twenty small villages
known as Canal Zone towns, and IN
habited almost entirely by persons en-
Moved upon the canaH or the Panahih
railroad, which is recognized par
Of the canal construction, ana Is
operated by the United States govern
ment. ~,
The whole Canal Zone. under the
military authorities, to which the Unit
ed States relegated the building or the
canal. became promptly organized as
a great military construction camp OF
such proportions as have never peiore
existed in the world.
Before the work of the canal could
he properly begun was fought the
greatest battle with disease and pes
fiIence the world has ever seen, 1or
Panama had long been counted one o.
the pest spots Of the earth. Inc
vigorous sanitary methods OF the Amer :
lean army won a brilliant victory IN
tLic particular Now the health con-
ditions of the Panama Canal Zone Will
compare favorably with those of any
spot in the United States. and the al :
yantages of an absolutely equaoie
climate are becoming 50 recognized
that already the future possibilities OF
Panama AS winter resort ioi Laii' dis
can millionaires are being much dls-
cussed
Health for employees was the hrst
consideration OF the canal commission.
Their comfort and pleasure followed
closely Never were such comfortable
quarters provided by a government for
temporary use. and never was there
such cosmopolitan population to be
cared for While the skilled work of
the canal is practically being per-
formed by American citizens. there are
thousands of common laborers taken
from almost every country on earth
whose names appear upon the canal
pay roll. Under the direction of their
American foremen these men perform
the unskilled labor upon the canal.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-06-12

She may demand that her kitchen he
repainted after three months use, be-
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-06-12

natiOnalties, in every conceivable cos
tune, meet here for barter. The jargon
of many languages falls as strange upon
the ear as the sights presented to the
eye. The Chinaman will go from stall to
stall picking up cheap scraps of stale or
undesirable meats and vegetables for his
stew. Following him, with lofty con-
tempt. may be tall. White-turbaned
Hindu who is an epicurean. He does not
look at meat and only the freshest fruits
and vegetables appeal to him. The stalls
contain most of the vegetables known in
the Jnlted States. and may other native
to the tropics The meats are freshly
Killed under government inspection just
outside the town
The fish stalls are especially noticeable
to visitors because of their bright colors
There are brilliant puppies, blues and yell
lows in great shining piles of glittering
freshness, and quantity CARRIED fishermen
who have toiled all night to procure their
fish tell you of their respective merits
The delicious Panama crab is found il
the most vivid shades of yellow, blue and
red, with occasional dashes of other col
ors, but he loses all his brilliancE wher
he meets the hot water of the hotel chef
While Colon gives one first impressions
II must not be taken as typical of the re-
public of Panama, for Coon represents
only the half century which has elapsed
since the building Ct the Panama rail
road, while the settling of Panama By
Europeans antedateS the settling of North
America. From the time Of its discovery
by Columbus in 1872 until within the last
decade Panama has been the scene of
continuous strife. OF bloody warfare. pi-
ratical expeditions and political intrigue.
Records of the conquestS of these early
cOnquerorS may be read in the ruined
Old forts. churches and other buildings
found in many places.
Across the isthmuS, almost parallel
with the canal which will soon unite the
two great oceans. runs the famous
Cruces trail, the first highway from
ocean to ocean. 1t winds along under
palm and banana trees. crossing pie
turesque small streams. pressing through
villages Of matched bamboo huts where
darkskinned natives salute the stranger
continuously in musical Spanish. The
old town of Cruces is near the center OF
the isthmus. 1t is the larges. OF the
matched cottage towns traversed by the
trail. It contains "A couple Of old ruined
stone churches. one OF which is said to
have been sacked by the Buccanccr Nor
gan in the sixteenth century. a pair OK
large heavy copper bells, rescued from d
ruined befry, stands on a wooden frame
work outside Of the village.
Cruces is rapidly becoming awakened
however. On number Of the hut roofs
of corrugated iron replace the time-hon
ored palm thatch. The thatch is more
picture sGue. but the American sanitary
office has convinced the natives that the
iron roofing is more sanitary and does
not provide breeding place for so many
insects 4 school under the direction OF
the American superintendent Of education
has lately been established in an ole
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-06-12
TYPICAL F)EDRoolI MEXr1Ix HOUSES
As FURNISHED bI The CoN1russ1oN

towns. These meals are served to the
men in white enameled dinner pals
of three sections, at the uniform rate
of 10 cents meal or 80 cents per day.
Many of the men do not take break
fast, preferring to make their own cof
fee or do without, but they are always
ready for the noon time meal and
stand in long lines at the door where
the dinner pals are distributed.
They generally sit around in groups
on the ground near the kitchen while
they eat, after which the buckets are
collected and thoroughly cleansed, in
readiness for the next ration. The
same strict rules regarding cleanliness
and sanitation are enforced among
these people as among the Americans.
Their health conditions require even
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-06-12

An amusing incident in point took place
at Empire last winter Two or three
years ago an Irish-American went down
to the isthmuS as a track laborer at the
lowest wages. He had a large family
and to help along his wife did the wash
ing of the wife of an architectural drafts
man BY some strange good fortune Pat
received several promotions until, as track
foreman, he was making $3.50 per month
Immediately his wife and grown daughter
conceived social aspirations. They began
to wear the finest Canton linens, silks
and embroideries the Chinese shop could
furnish and joined bridge club.
One day Mrs. Pat met her former en-
ployer on a sidewalk. Planting herself
squarely in the middle. she said. Its
Mis- Atherton. Shure an Oh can't be a
lowerin' nysilf to turn out of the way
for no woman whose man brings home
less money OH pay night than my Pat.'
And Mrs. Atherton walked around her.
The quartermaSter In n zone town re-
quireS the wisdom of Solomon and the
patience of Job. He has full charge OF
all the quarters including their furnish
ing and repairs. He must know how to
answer complaints TO evade useless ex-
penditure or unreasonable demands, and
at the same time to avoid friction and
not have complaints go to the higher Of
ficials.
The houses are supposed to be furnished
uniformly regards value. but a 9 the
furniture has been ordered at different
times there is naturally some variety of
design. and no woman is ever quite salts
fed with what is furnished her. She may
go into a neiShbor's and see a wicker
rocking chair she likes and make i'm
mediate demands upon the quartermas-
ter for one like il in place of the mission
rocker supplied her. If she has mod
ern buffet in her dining room she will find
it too small If she has large sideboard
il will be too clumsy and old IA shioned.
and, in either case, she will insist upon
an exchange.
She may demand that her kitchen he
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-06-12

the comfort of the attractive houses
erected for this class of employees. Real
iZing mat married men are a more re-
liable class of employees than single men.
special efforts were made at the begin
ming to induce men to bring their fam
lilies. AS a result the zone towns are in
many respects typical American villages,
standing out in strong contrast with the
tropical conditions which surround them.
The family quarters for the Americans
are very similar in their arrangement to
modern city fat, excepting that they
are surrounded on all sides by wide, we'll
screened verandas enabling a family to
literally live out of doors if it SO de-
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-06-12

QUEER Mixture of HUI
Y man Races to Be Found
On Isthmus of Panama
Novel Sights Await Visitors
in Canal Zone-Facts About
the Panamanians - How
Americans Live and Work
Women Have Clubs, and
These Are Encouraged by
Government-Menbers Even
Get Free Railroad Trans
portation - Americans Re-
ceive First Consideration in
Canal Zone - Have Nice
Homes and Live Well.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-06-12
7 Is doubtful if

T Is doubtful if
elsewhere so many
strange and novel
sights, such con-
fiicting and con-
Trajectory co H.
ditionS and such a
mixture of human
races can be found
as upon the 18TH
mus of Panama.
The first impress
sion given by the
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-06-12

long rows of stately cOSoa palms running
along the narrow neck of land that ter
inmates at one side of Colon harbor is
pleasing for its tropical and artistic
beauty. At the extreme point of this out
let stands a beautiful statue of Column
bus and an Indian maiden. This was
presented by the Empress Eugene to the
first De Lesseps and is a work of merit.
AS the vessel anchors in the harbor,
however the squalid appearance of Colon
dispels the pleasure of the first view of
land The town is composed chiefly of
dirty, shabby buildings, most of them in
bad repair. Few of them are even pic
turesque in their dlapidation, as they are
cheap, wooden structures put up for
temporary use. Colon differs from Pan
anna, the western seaport of the republic,
and from most other cities of tropical
America, in that it is modern in some
respects. 1t has none of the stately old
stone buildings and ruins supposed to
be typical of Central America.
But it has attractions of its own. There
is an ever-changing panorama of quaint
and novel scenes before ones eyes, walk
ing or driving up the main streets. Sure
ly no place could present stronger con-
traSts Of humanity. Every nation on
earth seems represented in the passing
throng. y dignified, pompous looking Ger
man walks along with the Importance
of Heidelberg professor. He may be
only head steward off some boat just
landed, but he looks daggers at the
taunty little Italian. wearing a tinsel
trimmed uniform of some long diSorgan-
lied band, who happens to jostle his ell
bow.
An oily looking Chinaman with flowing
robes and an unusually long que stands
outside his shop and makes comment in
pigeon English to his neghbor. a con-
yentionally CARRIED Frenchman who CON
ducts the drug store adjoining. a couple
OF Chinese children in their quaint, ORR
entail clothes. play in the street with some
totally naked dark-sliinned children be-
longing To the negroes living in nearby
room Naked babies are plentiful on the
streets of either Colon or Panama.
Coquettish senoritas in picturesque high
crowned Mexican hats sell 'dulces." o,
brieht-colored candies They have witty
retort and fl-tatous smile for the sailors
who generally sample their wares. They
are especially gracious to Americans Port
II looking old negro ''mammieS, in bright
hued bandanna turbans. sell fritters OF
tamales, which are piled large trays
and evenly balanced on their heads. The
burden which the West Indian negroes
can carry on their heads is a never-faii-
ing source of wonder to the stranger
They will walk perfectly erect. and with
free. graceful carriage, balancing upon
their heads weights they are not able Il
lift without assistance. a porter OF
Cooiie carrying heavy trunk in this
way may drop into "A cantina or saloon
10 rest, but will not think OF lowering the
load from his head.
The native markets present a strange
assemblages. Vendors and buyers of al
The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1910-03-22

sorghum. chufas, peanuts, artichokes,
cowpeas. coiiards, fallen fruit, c~assaVa,
velvet beans. clover. alfalfa and what
not. The list might still be extended.
] name Bermuda first because, III the
! present condition Of the cotton region.
it ought to be the foundation Of the
Indispensable pasture. Away with the
idea OF raising hogs in pens and feed
ing them on slops. That will do for
one who has no other o resources;
but it is not the hog-raising that pays
and that supplies. \ good fat 200
pound hog is big enough n such a
hog should never see a Christmas.
And what about mules and horses?
The South has just as good natural
facilities for producing high-bred II
medium horses and mules as Ken
lucky or Missouri can show. And yet
it is almost a sickening-ccrtainly
Observation-Disclosures to see the farm
every city and town in the South, pay
ing $500 to $500 for 3-year-old mules
that these same farmers could pro
duce for 500 o. less and ito the ma
o born"
/ have had occasion to defend the
farmer from so much Tree advice that
IS distributed along in January, Feb
ru:3rN II March, insisting III his be-
half that he now what he is about.
And ne does know it, but the mischief
Of it is that he will not do better, al
though he knows better. Every mo-
raj sinner knows the difference be-
tween right and wrong living. So, I
believe, every farmer Who is not an
idiot knows right farming from wrong
farming-in a genera sense. SO
hat is needed is eNilortation and ~
buke rather than advice. hope
Colonel Barrett will give il to them
without stint and without gloves. n
editor is trying to do his best in his
line. Many questions are asked and
freely answered. but never the aueS-
ton, - YOU think it would be wise
for me to raise all my meat: or raise
a mule OF two: Oh DO YOU think 7
ought 20 produce a full supply Of
corn, oats, chickens, vegetables, etc?''
Oh, 10, for the inquirer would know
beforehand what the answer would
be. He knows what his duty Is
along that line and needs no advice
X. J. Rcsiding in Atlanta Constitution.
The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1910-03-22
RIRAL DEVELOPMENT
THROUGH NEIGHBORHOOD
COOPERATION

j h Farmers Union is pro
iuc1i0n and economic
and the principle Of cooperation can
he apDlied in hundreds Of ways. Ihoso
mentioned above are merely susges-
five and give an idea of what may Dz
ACCOMPLISHED even by n~elghDofaood
co~-Operation to say nothing OF co
operation in larger bodies
Ignorance is the greatest Of al
causes OF hard times ana poleiIs-
stricken homes. The men who Know
how to do things with Intelligence
and ease can always defeat the feiioM
who do not mix brain power with
muscle and energy. This beng true
the most important part OF the WORK
of the Farmers Union always mas
been. IS now. and always VIII be he
educational part. The local Union
that fails to appreciate this important
fact is standing in s~tagnant waters
Every local Union must be, III "a sense,
a. school at every session OF Whlch IT'S
members discuss the principles OF
economic ToductlOu ana economic
distribution. And in advancing the
educational feature we must remcnl-
Der our duty 10 provide TT hoH1e, IA
everv school district, Il school with
two or more teachers, thus giving the
children Of the country home equal
advantages with those living in towns
and cities. And this kind OF Schooi
can come only through neighborhood
corporation. Superior intelligence
has always taken advantage Of fgnoT-
ance. You don't owe Your children
any property. Is isn't The duty OF one
generation to provide for future gen
erations what they ought to provide
for themselves. but it is the duty OF
parents to give their children prac-
teal mental training that will equip
them for the stern battles Of life
which every individual must face for
himself. The short-sightcd policy OF
starving he brain OF your offspring
just to lay W Tor the children ma
terial things that they ought to pro-
for themselves, and Will provide
for themselves. il YOU do not allow
them to rop their way in ignorance,
ought to he eliminated from your
plans. We ant provide good schools
in our home districts without eleVat-
ing the intellectual and moral one Of
the community and enhancing the
community value OF every foot Of real
estate in the district. Good schools
are worth many times what they cost
and IN providing for them The Union
Is laying the foundation broad and
deep and the bene1icient effect OF this
kind Of work viii not stop with this
generation.