davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1910-12-21
y -,--.-s -.
A Life
H Picture
Two Who Began and
Ended Friends
BY H. d. CLEANER
Copyright. 1910. by American Press
Association.

Robert Spooper and Lars Gibson
at five were going about with their
arms around each others neck; at
twelve they enjoyed boys sports to-
gether; at eighteen they conferred as
TO what field I'm LIES work they should
enter.
The bond that drew them together
was 4 dissimilarity OF disposition.
SpooDer was bright. impulsive. daring
even To recklessness. He would cas-
lily fly into al passion and was quick to
do penance for his acts while under
its influence. Gibson was OF a very
equabe disposition. His amiability
was never seriously interfered with
and seldom ruffied. These compli-
mcntary dispositions welded their
hearts when they We're children. and
the affection born of their tender years
was never permanently broken.
Both about the same time secured
situations in different mercantile
houses. SpoOner was very quick to
learn and endowed with great natural
energy. The consequence was that he
advanced rapidly. Gibson was slow
In his motions. not over quick TO un-
derstand, always willing to do what
was required OF him, patient to a
fault and quietly persistent i.uriug
these early years Of their career
Spooner would confer with his friend.
complaining Of what he called the stu
pidity OF those immediately over him.
chafing because he found Il difficult
10 make them understand that he dis
covered ways OF doing things quicker.
palmer. more correctly than they.
Gibson would say:
BE patient. Bob. Your natural
ability will win in the end. whereas
II you try to go too fast you may get
a backset that you will be years In
making up"
IL know you're right. my boy" Bob
would reply. You're always right
about everything. but it's mighty hard
to see things going wrong when a
suggestion from me would right IL and
i not make the suggestion"
How do you know they would an
preciate it? And wouldn't they be
liable to tell you to keep your place
and mind your own business. If you
were in their place would you listen
TO suggestions from tbemT
IL listen to suggestions from them!
Not mueh~
"All things come to those who wait"
Bob Spooner could not help feeling
himself better man than his friend
Ia everything except patience. gentle.
Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1910-12-21
R1.uET1ELD EvEN1N.: HAD1R.


stand that while ;hcy had thousands
the Spooucrs had millions and tibet
there was as wide difference In the
social position Of the two families as
there was In their financial position.
And so II came that the two friends
drifted apart. Both retired f,Nu, bust.
ness. and both We're old men. Nelther
had any use for the money h. bad
accumulated beyond Nafe ,ivlng
Whatever endowment ther WAS In
wealth was derived Ivy their families.
Friends had dropped away. ard ;hc'
old men were tonpaHhm',me wi.a nn
one. One evening while Mrs Spuoner
was entertaining a house fu.l ~ quests
her husband k,,ins himself on
through Al back door. wNhed in,n the
street. He felt the d,ssolaiiou az
homeless man.
Passing n cafe Mat h3,l iern in the
same location for hGlfa century. where
he and Gibson had In their vru;h met
Cor bite. n glass OF i,-ser pnd ,o ,als
over their affairs. hc'Nvis seized lth
q melanchol, desire ~ goNm ara ~ in
the old faiaillar seat =, hr .p-
preached the stall he foru1 :, oc' upl"d
by an old man lie was ahuuj go rGss
on when he heard his name >',rkcn
Turning he saw the rrtrrlu e. ihr
booth loosln,: NJ him .i'i,rDt!y
Bob
Lars
They sat s.ie by SlGe na tiry hat
done when hnys juSt rptor'p.; upua
their careers, rcmein!n.. for a iirr
hand IL hand Ike tw" l.vrrs. The past
WAS not refereed ~.
Lars" said Sipon"r. there VIZ a.,
IN the place from witch we started
ucCcssful ID the eli aiil Unal'r ~
rl,ioy the rcSrl;s AT our success 'rh
Only marked cG'cct II Inns lad has hcc
20 separate US whit i'p WAS there r.
The struggle after allr"
Without the in:eres; we torI In |
we would have a'waTs hNen what W
are today mcn without life. OurcNl
dren nre enloyipg l.. rr ~ IoIs, T..
think they nre, rnt I tlarh Il ~
| lives have tire In enS.i,riin them ~
ours have nd We low" uur vir"S .,.
them. Int rhrreis distrnAi nrrrctia,,
which they cannot supp'y-it IL tlN'
which we feel :m "lchsothcr"
The place u Il ran DOWN S0"r the
were there ny boys. hui Il WAS an tho
'9quired. They met ocr-. durinr g
remainder of their lives IN tl"t 4
booth before which . curtain co,m
| lynwn TO SHUT them frnm iNn Wv
others. ore niGht n v'HItor. p";oria"
eil them that the closing hnu" ..
come. fouod thcnl sitting hand
nnd. both dead.
Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1910-12-21

ness. endurance. He did not expcct
Lars to make much headway In the
world: indeed. he was ambitious TO
make success for himself that he
might share II with the man he loved
IL was not long before Spooner broke
away from his employers and set up
Tor himself. He had no capital. bet
had capacity for inspiring conf
dence. He succeeded from the STAR.
Both young men married. Spoon.r =
welded girl who saw In him a means
TO acquire what was the wish OF her
hfe-social Prominence. Gibson mar
ried giri who loved money for mon
ey's sake rather. than what she could
acquire with It, Mrs. Spooner spent
all hes. husbands income Mrs. Glib
son exerted herself 20 prevent her
husband from giving away all his fam-
lily did aot positively require From
the time Of their marriage their wives
stepped into their shoes and enacted
the balance of their lives for them.
No. not all: at the end they acted for
themselves.
Ii was their desire that their wives
should feel rs warm n friendship for
each other rs was theirs. Spooner. with
his natural enthusiasm. expected this:
Gibson. with a certain longhea d tlness
or horse sense. knew that II could not
be. There was nothing to bring the
two women together-indeed. there
was that to drive them apart. Each
wife was jealous of the influence ex-
erted by her husbands friend. lit IS
singular" Mrs. Spooner would say.
how you can see SO much In that duh
Fellow. You are more capable In every
way" And Mrs. Gibson would say.
Your friend Spooner looks down on
you: he considers himself vastly your
superior"
Spooner made money so fast that the
very rapidity Of his Accommodations &C.
CELEBRATED his accumulative desires. Just
as man owning an automobile that
VIII do forty miles an hour desires one
that will do sixty. One morning the
newspapers announced the failure of
n large and long established banking
house. 1t was the signal gun for the
opening Of commercial panic. The
house of Spooner & Co. went down In
the crash. and the head OF the firm was
obliged to take the benefit Of the bank.
ruptcy law.
For two or three years values
shrank. Gibson. who had saved-or
rather, whose wife had saved-consid-
cradle money. saw an opportunity TO
buy property cheap and made invest
ments which when the financial pen
dulum swung TO the other extreme
made him rich. Meanwhile Spooner
was freeing himself from the wreck OF
his business and when he had done so
found himself more than forty years
old. without the physical energy OF
youth with which TO make a new bc.
ginning and without a dollar OF can.
ital..
His old friend called on him ard
said:
Bob. ! can let you have $4,000 OH
q nominal interest and without secu-
rity. would double II; but. you sec.
my wife and children have their claim
on me. and don't feel that l have the
Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1910-12-21

right To do more"
Spooner grasped his friend's hand.
but said nothing for time. then told
Gibson lie would consider the matter.
When Mrs. Spocner heard of the o.ser
she advised her husband To accept Il.
but showed such an,sgouiSln TO the
donor that Spooner resolved To decline
the loan. Indeed. the sum was rot
large enough To put him on his feet as
he wished. and he preferred To manlp,
ulate certain banks with which he hu,,
done business to raise twenty times
the amount. He failed In this ani w..s
obliged TO take a subordinate pnsitina
In the employ OF another
Gibson WAS now very PHOSPHORUS.
he had never made noney fast ex-
cept during the recovery from the
panic. when the values of the rrn,,-
erty he had bought expanded as rap.
idly as they had contracted. His wife
set up carriage and twu ar three
automobiles The couple pur. haSe,l
the Spooner home that Spooncr might
redeem IL when again able IL do So.
But rs time passed II did not appear
that Spooncr would ever be nhlc To DO
so. Had II not been for the Influence
OF Gibson's wife he would have yield
cd To his affection FOR his Old friend
and offered to deed The place back Ia
him.
And now came one Of those comhi.
nations OF circumstances calculated Ia
drive apart instead OF weld tuyet her
those who love. Robert Spoonar us Il
young mau had desired to accumulate
partly that he might help the friend
whom he looked upon as his inferior
He now saw thar inferior In II posi-.
tion To help him Had he bprn umlu.
nuenced he might have sIood ihe
strain accustomed 10y jealousy. i:ut
Mrs. Spooncr. disappointed IA not G.
ing able to retain the grip she had 80.
cured on society srariiug nj sC'''ia
the man whose Influence ever n y
husband she had diSliketl succe.~ nj
while Spooner WAS a failure. h',..iu n
series of innuondoes agaire; Gibson
These had nu eject az rl's,. but. being
followed M parliamentary AZ last IN
fected the subject IN whom slie Wort;
cd.
Finally Spooncr. seeing rare up.
portunity. made n desperate effort O.
interest certain men with capiiai. sue
ceetled ard with Onr ~ these brilliant
strokes fer which he had furmrrly
been remarkable uadr Il fortune ~
soon as GibsCn heard of TIE fact he
sent note 10 his friend oiIcrin. "a
sell him his former horne NJ the price
he had paid FOR IT, wlil.h WIS about
half its present valuation. i'ut tbs
poison was in Spoonrr'S blood and n,
replied CURLY that the place would
not now he commensurate wi. Il his
altered fortunes.
From that time there waS y rOntin
ned effort on the part of the Spaonpys
TO narnt their position In tho face oi
tho Gibsons- that is. on the part OF
Mrs. Spooner. What her husband did
was inspired by her Bat ,hls G;bscl
didn't know. and he felt his old
friends antagonism keenly. The
Spooners grew richer. and the richer
they grew the more they srubhcd the
Gibsona. Mrs. Spooners chief desire
seemed 10 be to make them under
Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1910-12-21
croekett,a Rev.n-.-

There IL n RiogY OF Crockett OF
"SHckit Minls,cr' fame TO TIE effect
TIA, when ~ o'?ercd his first volume
to Scotch frm ii vns returned with
polite note assuring him ;hit there
was no market sor that sort of Thing
To" letter was marked NO. ?J8b." In
atrf years when the same publishers
asked him for one OF his manuscripts
No politely requested them TO refer to
their previous correspondence with
him nn rir nd ..onniA 81
Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1910-12-21

One of the most APP
propriate presents one
could make to an abb
sent friend would be
to pay for a years
subscription to the
Blue6eld Evening
Leader--it would serve
to remind of the warm
friendship every day.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1910-12-12
GETS INNING;
INHERITANCE TAX UP
No Objection Raised When Chairman Smith Makes An
nouncemeht- DeSultory Debate Begins When Tax
Measure Is Called Up.

After many appointments the mem
bers OF the House District Committee
had an inning IN the House today
When Chairman Smith arose to al
nounce that under the rules. today had
been set aside for the cOnsideration-0f
District bills. there was no objection
and those interested in District leg5s-
lation breathed a sigh Of relief TEo
months prior TO the close Of the past
session OF Congress Il was impossible
for Mr- Smith 10 obtain a District day
When the present session opened
last Monday Nj Smith endeavored TO
obtain one OF more special days in
order to dispose Of District business.
but he was voted down II was ex-
pected that some effort might be
made today TO pass over District leg
islatiOn. but fortunately for the Dis
trict calendar this did not materiaiize.
Thirty-five Bills
Chairman Smith and Clerk Miller, OF
the District Committee. came into the
House loaded down with tlirty-hve Dis
trict bills and the reports thereon. All
OF these had been left over from the last
session On the calendar were such
important bills as the measures regu-
lating the price Of gas in the District.
preventing the gas company from
watering stock, teachers retirement
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1910-12-12
IS SPRUNG
BY lie BLANC DEFENSE
Succeeds In Reopening Case and Introducing Witness
Whose Testimony Was Directed At Mrs. Glover.
Identifies Her AS Woman In Case"

the most startling IN reference TO
Mrs Glover that has yet been brought
out
Miss Walsh testified that she met
MIS- Glover on MOrely street, Wal
than, near the scene Of the murder
on the night when the crime was com
mitted.
Two other Witnesses had testified
that they saw a wouszn, not Hattie
lie Blanc, near the laundry on the night
Of the murder but Miss walsh is the
only one called who tes-ihed that Mrs.
Glover was seen there. Miss Walsh said
II was about o'clock when she net
Mrs Glover. She knew her and recOg-
flized her.
After Miss Walsh had concluded her
testimony, Mrs Glover, who had been
barred from t-Ie room IN the meantime,
vas called to the stand as a witness
Continued on SaTezth Page)
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1910-12-12
GOVERNMENT GAINS
SUGAR TRUST CLUB
Decision Is Handed Down
By the Supreme
Court.

The one weapon. needed by the Fed
eral Government % bring the Sugar
trust 10 trial for violation of the Sher-
man antitrust Law, was today supplied
by a decision rendered by the Supreme
Court OF the United States.
In decision rev ersing the decree Of
Circuit Judge Holt. the highest tribu-
nal today holds that the statute of
limitations oi5 net operate to protect
Gustav p Kizsel and Thomas 3. Har-
neG, tvc Of the alleged corspIrators
IN the cnain ~ circumstances which
resulted in the closing Of the Penn
syivania Sugar Refinery, the bankrupt
cv OF dOlph Segal, and the suicide of
Frank Hippel, in Philadelphia four
years ago
The importance Of the decision today
is measured by the fact that there re
row penCi7g Indictments similar 10
those in the HiSSel and Harmed case
against nearly al D he directors Of the
Sugar trust, inclls1ts-.- -~'1n E. Parsons,
tho general counss tne charge being
conspiracy in r~~5I SiIi- OF trade
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1910-12-12
REACH
STEAMER ON ROCKS
Wireless Says Clympia'S 100
Lives Will Be Saved
From Storm.

VALDEZ. Alaska, Dec. I2-Tbe
steamer June and Dora, and the United
States Government launch Fort I.iscum
reached the wreck of the Alaska steam
ship company's steamer Olympia short
" before a m today and immediate
Iy began taking of the ffty-two pas
sengers and fifty-foUr members Of the
vessels crew.
A brief wireless dispatch from the
vessels this morning made this an
noUDcemeat. but failed to give any
details The passengers VIII be brought
here.
The Olympia-s wireless was put out
Of commission before noon yesterday
aud up to the time Of this mornings
dispatch no word had been received
from those on board, who include
United States District Judge Cushman,
OF the Third district Of Alaska, his wife,
United States District Attorney Walk
er. and all the attaches OF the court.
The Olympia left Cora ova Saturday
night for Valdez and Seward, in a fifty
mile gale Early Sunday morning Wire
less Operator Hayes sent out a distress
message. asking for instant help and
saying the vessel had gone ashore of
Blogh Island and threatened to break
up Until 10 a. m Sunday. Hayes con-
tinUed TO send reports Of the Olynpia's 8
perl and continually pleaded for help
HIS messages indicated thaa the boat
was being ground to pieces on the rocks
and that unless help arrived quickly the
crew and passengers would perish.
Hayes wireless apparatus worked poor
", and he failed 10 explain the cause
OF the wreck before communication
ceased
The belief here is that the OIympia's 5
machinery broke down during the gale,
and the wind drove her. helpless. on
the rocks.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1910-12-12

fund bill a policeman-s retirement fund
bill. an Inheritance tax measure. and a
score Of bills relating to street improve
ments and comparatively minor District
matters.
AT. Smith called up the hrsf bill lew
ing tax on inherftances. DESPITE the
fact that this bill hes been OF TIE r-al-
eIldar for almost q year. q desuYto-v de-
Date was soon in progress and If was
again apparent that District dav was In
a Lair way tC be talked TO death. Mr.
Miller, author OF the bill was basfeged
Win questions relating TO its technical
provisions, and after two hours debate
tne Dill was evidently no nearer passa ge
Jnan when its consideration was h.aa71r
Al the rate Of progress now being made
II IS p-ODab bic that not more than three
or the thirty-five bills can possibly he
passed this afternoon
Inheritance Tax Bill.
The inheritance tax bfII- which vas
the first TO be taken I'D today, pro-
ytdes an Inheritance tax on all IeRacies.
oeQuests, inheritaEces, and zifts in the
District Of Columbia exceeding S3eOa
Where immediate members Of a fam
ily are involved the exemption is 40 90
II is proposed that estates. vaIued he
tween $500 and $4,000 shall pay a tax
OF y per cent, and those valued at
more than $4,000 shall pay . per cent.
The report Of the House District Com
Continued on Third Page)
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1910-12-12

CAMBRIDGE, Mass Dec 12-The
second week OF Hattie lie BlanC's fight
for lie in her trial for the murder OF
Clarence r Glover opened with the
biggest sensation OF the case
Attorney Melvin n. johnson. rose as
soon as court convened and announced
that he had found a new and important
witness. He moved that the defense be
allowed 10 reopen its case
The appeal was granted after a half
hour argument, and Nellie Walsh.
formerly an ernYlOye in GIover's family.
and now a cook In the home Of Judge
Bond, the magistrate presiding in the
trial, was called TO the stand
The move took the States lawyers
entirely by surprise.
The testimony given by Miss Walsh
Under the clever questioning OF At
tOrney johnson was aimed at Mrs
Lillian n. Glover. the wife Of the
murdered man Her testimony was
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1910-12-12
HAS NEW PLAN FOR
ROCKEFELLER FUND
Senator Gal1inger Offers
Amendment to Bill TO In
corporate Foundation.

Senator Gallinger this afternoon in
tTOduced amendments TO his bin for the
Incorporation IN the District Of the
Rockefeller foundation.
When this question was up last ses-
sion, various objections were raised to
the plan Of incorporation The amend
ments offered today are intended to
meet the objections which were raised
at that time. =
Senator GalIinSer introduced a num-
Der OF District bills, among which was
one to provide an additional method of
foreclosing taxpayers and tax deeds.
Another provides for changing the name
Of Fort drive, from Seventeenth 10
Eighteenth streets northeast TO Irving
street. = third bill is TO amend the
act o April p. 1904. authorizing the lay
ing. OF water mains and service sewers
and levying assessment therefor.
A fourth bill by Senator GaIlinger pro-
vides for minor amendments TO the
charter Of the Medical Society Of the
District Of Columbia
Former Vice President Fairbanks.
who is visiting in the city, went in the
Senate chamber early in the session,
and was heartily greeted by a large
number Of his old colleagues.
Senator Cunnlirls had intended today
to discuss his resolutions for changes
IN The rules RELAXING to revision OF the
tariff. schedule by schedule He put
the matter over until tomorrow. as
other Senators who desired TO sneak
VIII not be ready until then
Senator Young. Of Iowa gave notice
that he would speak on Thursday he
Will discuss the rules and IS ex-
pected to oppose the position taken BY
Senator Cummins.
Senator Thornton Of Louisiana, re-
Gently elected BY the legislature of
that State, took the oath Of Office
Senator Thornton has a beard that
rivals that Of Uncle Ike" Stevenson
OF Wisconsin.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1910-12-12
CUPID Wins JUDGE
TO RELEASE JUROR
BaShful Alfred Abel Feared
Wedding Post
pOnement.

Cupid intervened today IN behalf OF
Alfred c Abel. who had been summoned
for jury duty In Criminal Court No /
and Justice Wright EallantIy bowed to
the wishes Of the little god
When Justice Wright asked the pros-
pectfve jurors II any OF them had ex-
CUses for not wishing to serve Abel
came forth. blushiTiC and rather bash
ful He spoke in low tones at first, but
Clerk Samuel Hawkins urged him 10
speak louder.
4 intend to get married IN January,
your honor, and If I havest to serve there
viii have TO be a DCstponement. said
the young man. TT might also cause
NE 10 lose my position
Justice Wright intiuated that il was
far from him TO halt the ringing Of the
wedding bells, and he promptly excused
the young man, Abel lives at Gig X
street northwest
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1910-12-12

Locksmtths. who are suspected OF hav-
ing made duplicate keys 20 the treasure
box and other repositories belonging 10
Mrs Columbus Alexander, the aged
widow from whom thousands OF dollars
is believed TO have been stolen IL the
last dOz en years. were sought BY Central
Office detectives today
one Ucksmith, who is reported to
have been in the Alexander apartments
in the Toronto as lately as last week.
was closely questioned and It is under
stood that Detective Cox adduced dam
aging testimony against a suspect TIE
existence OF duplicate keys 20 the var
Gus strong boxes Of the AGED Wild ~
tends TO clear away some OF the I1Iys-
terry
Stormy scenes are said to have been
enacted IN the Alexander apartInent last
"Wednesday. when the key 20 the quaint
old tin box containing about $3.50
Thomas ". Hay, trustee
Of the Alexander estate, has told
the police detectives that the key was
taken from his wallet during the night
and when a IOcksmith finally opened the
box 800 was missing.
Evidence Against Suspects.
Additional Hgi.o was thrown on the
strange thefts today by Detective Cox.
y no gathered much evidence Sunday ro-
lative TO the family feud, and its pos
sf5Ie bearing on the disappearance Of
the large sums OF money He obtained
positive statements from Irembers OF
the Alexander household. VINO hereto
fore have remained silent but are now
ready 10 talk lest, oy Implication, they
become enmeshed in the net OF circum-
stantiaI evidence which is slowly closing
about certain suspects
Detective Cox Is about convinced,
CONTINUED on Page Fourteen1