davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington herald., 1911-07-09
The Paternity Of Richard Wagner.

The autobiography of Richard Wag-
ner, now published, attempts to clear
away the mystery of his parentage.
my father" he says, was Ludwig
Wagner At the time of my birth he was
a clerk in the police department at
Leipzig. He died in the month of
October of the same year"
Ordinarily this statement would be ac-
cepted as correct. 1t is. however, at
variance with the birth records in
Leipzig, which state that the great
musician was the son of Ludwig Geyer,
who afterward married the widow of
Friedrich Wagner, and who became
a loving father to the seven children
who had been left behind" Richard
himself relates that as schoolboy he
bore the name of Geyer, resuning the
name of Wagner after his stepfather's
death. Il was insisted by no less a
man than Nitzsche, who saw the auto
biography during Wagner's lifetime, and
-
by Mottl, who saw it after Wagners
death, that the manuscript contained a
direct avowal as to Wagner's parentage
quite different from that which now ap-
pears. Both Of these eminent men are
now dead, so that their testimony can
not be obtained.
1t is quite probable that Wagner's
antipathy to the Jews deferred him from
writing himself down as the son Of
Ludwig Geyer, a Jew This antag-
onism was plainly displayed in his book
on Judaism in Music" wherein he
condemned Meyerbeer with great sever
ity. It IS all the more remarkable that
this antipathy should have lasted
throughout his lifetime, because It was
through the IiberaIity Of the head Of
The Washington herald., 1911-07-09
Held in a Death Trap.

Certainly the law. ought 10 deal
severely with the captain of the Santa
Rosa if, as reported, he refused to al
low his passengers to land when there
was an opportunity for them to. es-
cape According to the dispatches, the
vessel was sufficiently close to shore
when aground to make the departure
of the passengers an easy matter. AT
the last moment, when the passengers
took the situation in their own hands
and decided to shoot the captain if he
did not accede to their demands, it
was too late. A storm arose and
the ship broke amidships, and the death
list is the tragic finale of the episode
Much responsibility rests with the
commander of vessel at all times, and
especially in time of danger. 1t would
seem, however, as if this particular
captain was guilty of something more
than an error of Judgment He evi-
IDENTIFY believed that he was weather.
wise and that he knew more about con-
ditions than the people intrusted to his
care. Self-importance and obstinacy
combined to make his refusal absolute
No penalty which may now be i'm
posed can restore to life the unfortu-
nate victims of the captains error A
salutary lesson might, however. cause
other commanders in the future not to
rely altogether upon their own judg-
ment.
The Washington herald., 1911-07-09
NAVY NO REFoRMAroRY.
Judges Use No Discretion by Send
ing. IncOrrigtbIes to Serve.


Judges Use No Discretion by Send
ing. IncOrrIEibIea to Serve.
From the New Orleans States
Recently a justiceSof the peace in East
st. Louis sertenced an incorrigible youth
to a term In the workhouse, and then
paroled him on his promise to join the
navy-his decision being in favor of the
navy, because, as he puts, IT, "the navy
is better than the workhouse any time -
The boy displayed lack of intelligence
in assuming that there is any kind Of
comparison between the two His ig-
porance, however, may be excused In the
light Of the fact that the judge before
whom he was tried evidently concurred
in the belief that the two institutions
might be compared.
The Judge clearly failed in his duty as
a citizen when he did not explain to the
family of the boy which had appeared
before him that the navy is place for
honorable and manly youths, and not q
refuge for incorrfgibles and peTverts who
prefer It to the workhouse.
II is the faulty ideas of justices and
judges Of certain grade which do so
much to create a false impression rela-
tive to our army and navy. Both
branches of the military service are
eager to welcome the right kind OF young
men. but 1t should be borne In mind that
the youth who is unruly or ignorant or
criminally inclined has no place in the
ranks of those who serve their country.
This is true, and whenever Judge
sentences an incorrigible or criminal to
a term In the navy, which he has no
business to do, that judge deserves to be
publicly denounced by the naval author
tiles.
The Washington herald., 1911-07-09
Coronation Ode.

From the Boston Transcript
King George, with great presence of
mind, avoided a coronation ode by Alfred
Austin. The laureate is bound to tune his
Tyre at the royal command, but in the
multiplicity of his engagements the King
appears to have forgotten to order the
odist to ode. He did not escape wholly
unscathed, for Mr.. Austin Dobson launch
ed an ode made of such common clay
that the following stanza will do as a
specimen brick:
Not with high-vaulting phrase rush
OF weak-winged epithsts that tire
With their own weight, or formal gIsh,
We greet Thee, Sire!
Some monarchs might ask, with what.
then, do you greet me?' but King George
aims, at harmony and will not enrage a
poet by maIapert questions in this jocund
season of loyalty to throne and crown.
The Washington herald., 1911-07-09
Progress in south Carolina,

From the Greenville Is. c. News.
The News would extend to the Charles
ton and Western Carolina Railway, ct al,
its sincere congratulations on the Pull
man car which will be inaugdrated on its
lines between Greenville and Charleston
Saturday. For an indefinite period of
years the public, as we'll as the press,
used all grades of persuasion and argu-
ment to get this added accommodation on
this line, and hope was finally abandoned
by all except the faithful, optimistic few.
The Pullman will without doubt be re-
ceived with wide-open arms on the part
of the travelling public throughout this
section. Just what has been the i'm
mediate cause Of this suddenly announced
improvement in service is a matter of in
teresting speculation, but a discussion on
the matter would be purely academic at
this time, and Just so We get the Pullman
there will be no cause to further deIve
into the inner depths of a railroads con-
science
The Washington herald., 1911-07-09
AUTOMOBILE ABUSES.
The Smoke and the Noise Should Be
Eliminated.

The Smoke and the Noise Should Be
Eliminated.
From the Philadelphia Public Ledger
An automobile owner who was fined
three times in a week on account of vio-
lating the municipal ordinance against
escaping smoke from motor cars shows
his sense of good citizenship by express
ing admiration for the city authorities
for enforcing this very wise statute. Most
men when their own oxen are gored are
wroth, but II they would stop to reflect
that ordinances are formulated in the
public interest and welfare and to be
obeyed, they would shortly perceive the
foolshess and injustice of railing at the
law which affects them. Such ordinances
are prepared only after it has been def
initely settled that the meeting Of their
requirements imposes no hardship or i'm
possibility on the public. In the case Of
the smoke ordinance any expert in mo-
toring will instantly say that compliance
With its provisions is possible and even
worth while. motor car can be me-
chanically operated without the election
Of the smoke, which is not only malodOr-
Gus and unwholesOme, but also detrimen-
tai through insensible chemical deposits
70 the clothing Of passers-by, particular
ly the light fabrics OF womans wear,
worns in summer wherf the automobile
season is at Its height
No need exists, either. for the jarring,
creaking noises that saw the nerves and
disturb the peace of the people near by
an automobile. If the chauffeur does his
duty properly the parts will be firmly
adjusted and the bearings oiled and
these precautions are a sure prevent
i've of unnecessary noise. Likewise the
retardation of traffic on business streets
or other thOrOughfares while a broken
down car is being 'tinkered' is prevent
able. Smoke will not escape, noise will
not be made. and repairs will not be nee
essary if the car is put in shipshape
before leaving the garage. The respon-
sibility for this rests on the owner who
should require his chauffeur to inspect
and overhaul the machine after its use
each trip. The time consumed will or
dinarily be short and the saving in COM
fort to his fellow-men will be great.
Chauffeurs are a highly paid body of
men and they are seldom overworked.
They should be instructed to keep their
cars in apple-pie order. That will also
represent an economy for the owner, for
car that will not need constant re-
pairing.
The Washington herald., 1911-07-09
GIVES BOND OF $5,oOo,ooo.
How MultimilIIOnRire John J. Blair
Surprised the Court.

How MultimilliOnRire John J. Blair
Surprised the Court.
From London Tt-bita
An amusing story is told of Mr.. John
J. Blair, one of the richest of American
millionaires. When he was sued by his
partner for a disputed sum of $500, 600,
Mr.. Blair, whose defense was not quite
ready, applied to have the case adjourn
ed.
That can only be DONE" said the
court. ''on one condition-that you de-
posit security equal to double the amount
of the claim"
"Oh, II that is ALL" said Mr.. Blair,
light-heartedly, here you are!"
And, diving into the recesses OF a ca
pacious pocket, he produced-an apple.
oh! I beg pardon" said the Croesus.
unconcernedly, while the court roared
with laughter That's my luncheon.
Here's the security" and diving into an
other pocket he produced a bundle of
scrip for the required 100000.
The Washington herald., 1911-07-09
Cook and TRANSLATOR i'm One.

From the New York Press.
Mrs. Bud" Mars, wife of the aviator.
is clever woman. She knows how to
combine cook and translator in one per-
son at a single salary. The reason for
her display of versatility in that direc-
ton is due to the fact her husband went
to Japan recently to give exhibitions,
Mrs. Mars remaining in San Francisco.
Presently she began to receive letters
from Mars, inclosing clippings from Japa-
nese newspapers telling of his flights.
There was no translation She got more
clippings, but Mrs. Mars could not learn
thing the japanese reporters said. At
last she had an idea. She discharged
her cook and hired Japanese servant.
He not only cooks but translates the
Japanese newspaper reports
The Washington herald., 1911-07-09
The MarVels of the Skies.

1t is not remarkable, as shown else
where in The Washington Herald this
morning, that the occasions offered to
the public te view the marvels of the
skies Through one of the large tele-
SCOPES at the Naval Observatory are
eagerly welcomed No study is more
interesting than astronomy. The mys-
terry Of space fascinates the human
mind, The eye pierces the infinite, but,
after all while there is much to see,
there is little to be gained in the way
of practical knowledge
Through the glass we see worlds in
the, making, and huge suns revolving
around each other and myIiads of stars
separated by distances so immense that
they are beyond human appreciation.
We know, as Camille Flammarion re-
Gently stated. that some of the stellar
bodies are rushing through space at a
speed which, in one instance, at least,
reaches the almost inconceivable rate
OF one billion miles an hour Whittier
these great orbs are travelling is, how
ever, an enigma. We know that the
sun, the center of our solar system, is
itself piunging along toward some given
point, or making a vast cycle of the
heavens at the rate of $4,000 miles an
hour. Its destination, too, is thing
unknown Before the stupendous energy
which enables the sun, with its retinue
OF planets, to move steadily through
space, the human mind stands almost
paralyzed. We are in the presence
of a mystery which fills us with feel
ing of utter insignifcance
The solar system, with its. outer linn
its marked by the orbit of Neptune, cx-
tends for more than two billion miles
over space, and yet this system is apz
parently one OF the smallest in the
heavens. So far is Neptune from the
sun that it takes about 800 of our years
to make single revolution of its or
bit. The earth might be placed in the
center of the sun, with the moon re-
volEing at its present distance of 24o,-
600 miles, and yet 100000 miles would
still 55remain between the orbit of the
moon and the outer edge of the SUNS
circumference, These figures indicate
the tremendous size of the sun, and vet,
when compared with such stars as
Sirius and Vega, our sun is a veritable
pygmy,. As for our earth, it is hardly
as important in the scheme of the uni
verse as drop of water in the ocean.
And another marvel, too, is the fact
that as the size of telescopes increases
and. the eye is enabled to penetrate
more deeply into infnity, more worlds
are revealed. There is, apparently, no
limit to the universe. The distances
are beyond human comprehension. We
know that of the thousands of stars
visible to the naked eye, it is possible
to count upon the fingers. of one hand
the ones within calculable range As
for the others, they are so far away
that their light travelling with mar
velous rapidity does not feach us for.
hundreds of years. In the presence Of
this stupendous universe man wonders
and adores. He cannot reason nor ex-
pisin. He either accepts with utmost
faith the Biblical assertion that in the
beginning God created the heaven and
the earth, Or overwhelmed by tie inn
The Washington herald., 1911-07-09
aThe En.ieat Wax.n

From the Saturday Evening Post.
Mayor Fitzgerald. Of Boston, would not
let Frances Starr play in that city in
Eugene Walters The Easiest Way"
The young lady had a conference with
the mayor about it. The mayor was
firm.
"welI, Mr.. Mayor" said Miss Starr.
next year I'll come back with a play
You can't object to-
I'VE shall be glad to see you. Miss
starr" said the mayor. what will
that play beg'
why, I am going to have that book
How 10 Know the Wild Flowers dra-
matized."
The Washington herald., 1911-07-09
No Caste in snores.

From the London Chronicle.
We have record that both the House OF
Lords and the workhouse have suffered
from 1t. There was a former Duke of
Norfolk who fell into the habit of sleep
ing audibly in the Lords, and it happened
that he was hard at it on one occasion
when a bill concerning the parish of
Great Snoring. in Norfolk, came before
the House The roar of laughter with
ened the duke and relieved his fellow
peers. At the other end of the social
scale. we have the poor law commission
minority's commentator of the ingeni-
GUS workhouse master who dIvIdet, the
old men at night so that the snorers and
the deaf men slept in one ward and the
rest in another.
The Washington herald., 1911-07-09
Our National Air.

Editor The Washington Herald:
1 noticed an editorial in your issue OF
yesterday headed Our National Air"
and want to congratulate you on the
correct position taken by you in this
editorial. A great many people are
seeming to forget our beautiful national
anthem "The Star Spangled Banner.
and there seems to be almost an organ
lied effort to substitute America in its
place. We should be patriotic and in
dependent enough to take decided stand
in this matter. Your editorial is timely.
and to the point
JOSEPH D. SULLIVAN.
Washington, July s.
The Washington herald., 1911-07-09
BRYAN's JOKE ABOUT TITLES.
Colonel by InherItancey General Be-
cause of His Calling.

From Exchange
William Jennings Bryan once jOked
about the American fondness for titles.
You all know of the colonel he said,
WHO got his title by inheritance. hav-
ing married Col. Browns widow. But
once met general who got his title
neither by inheritance, nor by service.
nor by anything you could mention.
General said to him, how do you
come by this title of yours. anyway?
"'Why. SIR said he. I passed my youth
in the -four trade, and four twenty-seven
years was a general miller
II know another titled man-Judge
Greene.
Are you, sir, 1 once asked him. "A
United States judge or a circuit court
judge?
"T amt neither he replied; I'm a
judge of hoss-racin.'"
The Washington herald., 1911-07-09

mensity which confronts him, he be-
comes agnostic.
The thirst of the human mind for
knowledge inspires the. astronomer to
study. He hopes some day to solve the
mystery of the universe. 1t would seem,
however, as if he had entered upon a
vain quest.
The Washington herald., 1911-07-09
HOME NEWS WHILE AWAY

To keep In touch with home
news Neutrality-suspicious. leaving the
city should not fan 80 have The
wanhinEton Herald mailed to
them. II wfIl be sent promptly,
and addresses may be changed as
aften as desired wifhoet Inter-
ruptlon Of service.
Mail order or phone Main $500,
slyins the old and new addresses.
The Washington herald., 1911-07-09
The Fncetiou. Bounderby.

From HArper's Magazine.
The real estate agent had been re-
hearsing the virtues of the summer cot
tage.
The house is stones throw from the
trolley" he said, in conclusion.
That's good said Bounderby. sIt
will give us something to do summer
evenings"
Il beg your pardon?" said the agent.
somewhat mystifisd.
II say II. viii give US something to do
summer evenings" said Bounderby. I'VE
can sit in the house and throw stones at
the trolley"
The Washington herald., 1911-07-09

tAe house of Rothsehild in Paris that
heA secured in that capital the recogni-
ton which added SO materially to his
fame
The Washington herald., 1911-07-09

No woman will cut the grass on the
front lawn in order to appear industri-
GUS. She does 1t to humiliate her hus-
band.
The Washington herald., 1911-07-09
A LITTLE NONSENSE.
NOT so SOULFUL.

Our Harold is an angel lad,
Says soulful things.
But yesterday he wished he had
A pair of wings
But why he wanted 'em, I've found,
Is a disgrace.
He says they'd help him cover ground
At second base. f...
The Washington herald., 1911-07-09

Suppose you had the choice of taking
only one book with you on your vacation,
which one would it be? The check book,
of course.
The Washington herald., 1911-07-09

That man out in Chicago who leaped
from fifteenth-story window to escape
the heat probably accomplished his pur-
pose.
The Washington herald., 1911-07-09
Empty Houses.

Need any more talent. for your NOV
ing picture dramas?,,
We might use you. Had any expert
enee at acting without audiences?"
Acting without audiences is what
brought me here"
The Washington herald., 1911-07-09
The Painful Part.

He doesn't want his wife to go away
Feels the separation, no doubt"
Yes; from the necessary coin.'
The Washington herald., 1911-07-09

light, but we fear shat the Maine mys-
terry never will be.
The Washington herald., 1911-07-09
A Helpful scheme.

How do you get through the sum-
mer?' inquired Hamlet Fatt
II hire out on farm where there Is a
summer literary colony" answered Yor-
lex Hamm. "and talk dialect for novelists
at a dollar an hour. Oh. 1 supply a
long-felt want"
The Washington herald., 1911-07-09
Quite So.

Pa and ma are fighting still,
Have daily wars.
1t takes a lot of scraps to fill
The family jars.
The Washington herald., 1911-07-09
On the Beach.

IF you see a floating object of green
ish hue said the scientist, "it may be
a lump of ambergris.''
And then again. Il may beea decayed
watermelon retorted the ancient boat
man. i've investigated thousands of 'em
IN my time"
The Washington herald., 1911-07-09
CURIOUS BITS OF HISTORY
FATHER MATHEWS TEN
= PERANCE WORK.


= PERANCE WORK.
One hundred and fifty thousand
converts to sobriety within a few
months in one city is a good rec
ord. That is the result credited
to the work of Father Mathew in
the city of Cork about the year
1888. From Cork the movement
spread all over Ireland, and even
some parts of England felt its
influence. Perhaps never before
or since has a temperance move
ment assumed such proportions
or been followed by such greav
results. The work done by Fa-
ther Mathew involved great per-
sonal sacrifice for his family
owned a large distlllery, from
which he had been accustomed
to receive large dividends each
year. The crusade of which hs
was the head caused such a fall
ing of in the drinking of tho
working classes that the distil-
lery had to close. Father Mathew
spent some time In the United
states in 1850. and founded nu-
merous total abstinence societies.
tcopyrisat. 1911. BY Joseph B. Bowles,l
To-morrow-"Arct Adyenture
of the Ship ResoIute..
The Washington herald., 1911-07-09
Never FaiIa

MY wife is remaining away too long.
She pays no attention to my suggestions
that she return"
Get one of the neighbors to write her
letter and suggest 1t casually That will
start her home.
The Washington herald., 1911-07-09

The real reason why some men always
are out of work Is that there is no work
In them. -
The Washington herald., 1911-07-09
An ExcIu.ixe Girl.

NY daughter hasn't been in bathing
why not?'
Some one else is always using the
ocean"
The Washington herald., 1911-07-09

The man with the strongest pair Of
lungs generally has the best of an argu-
ment
The Washington herald., 1911-07-09
From the Pntsburg Dispatch.

Atlantic City may have been disap-
pointed in Wellman. but it takes no risks
on Atwood. He has shown what he can
do.
The Washington herald., 1911-07-09

Mat Goodwin is far soetter actor than
an author.
The Washington herald., 1911-07-09
From tbe Io,,isyille conrier-Io,,-r,,

From the Louisville Courier-Journal.
The ant is, a most intelligent insect" "
says a nature writer. 1t is indeed. 1t
knows exactly where the picnic is going
to be and in just what part Of the picnic
the jelly cake can be found.
The Washington herald., 1911-07-09
From the Baltimore Star.

From the Baltimore Star.
A count who went to Brooklyn to
hunt a wife has been arrested as a
burglar. Brooklyn's way, more widely
applied, would have saved many ambitious
American heiresses much heartburning
and some unpleasant scandal.
The Washington herald., 1911-07-09
From the Detutt Free Press

IENl1
A New York couple are Dragging about
their kissless honeymoon Some folks
would rather be sanitary than sane
The Washington herald., 1911-07-09

From the Pittsbrg Post
Vermont rivers are drying up. but there
is no cause nor alarm, as the breweries
have artesian twelIs.
The Washington herald., 1911-07-09
AS OTHERS SEE 1T.

From the New York Press ,..r
It's not so hard to be reasonably sick
If you don't have to be nursed by any of
your relatives
The Washington herald., 1911-07-09
From the Cleveland Plain Dealer.

From the Cleveland Plain Dealer.
That the husband is the natural and
rightful boss of the home is the opinion
of Massachusetts judge. 1t is be-
lieved, however, that a good many hus-
bands have come to grief In asserting
this inalienable right
The Washington herald., 1911-07-09
rom the Chicago ReooUd-Herald.

From the Chicago Recocd- Herald.
The Ladies' Tailors' Association of
New York has decided that the hobble
skirt must go. and gowns that drag are
to be introduced. We may, therefore.
look for lively movements among the
microbes.
The Washington herald., 1911-07-09

To-morrow-"Arctie Adventure
OF the Ship ResoIute."