davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington herald., 1911-07-09
WATCHING WONDERS OF THE. SUMNER SKY
FROM DOME OF u. S. NAVAL OBSERVATORY
What the July Star Gazers See When
They Go on Thursday Evenings to
Look Through the Big Telescope.

Even with the present wise restrictions
1t is impossible to eliminate the foolish
question parsonage and the giggling in
genue altogether from these Thursday
meetings of the stargazers. The man who
thinks he sees new. marvellous, and never
heard of things in the telescope and the
girl Who wants to know why Jupiter has
so many moons when we have only one,
are always to be reckoned on.
Unless you have some idea of the prin-
cipal heavenly bodies you are going to
see through the telescope you have no
business taking up room in the observa-
tory dome and Prof Peters time and
patience. In order that you may seek
an admission card to one of these Thurs
day evenings a few main facts about
the heavens will be given here. By re-
fering to the star map shown on this
page you may Quickly learn to place the
principal consultations, and II you are
interested enough to read the rest of this
little discourse you may find yourself
fast in the grip of this most fascinating
Of all the sciences.
Two Brilliant Planets.
To begin with, you must learn the DIFF
ference between a star and planet Just
after sunset and all this month there ap-
pears in the western sky a gloriously
brilliant object, popularity called the
evening star. 1t is Venus, the nearest
to the earth of all the planets. Higher,
and somewhat to the south. hangs Jupi-
ter, greatest of the planets At this time
these are the two most prominent ceIes-
fol oh -
moon.
Jupiter and Venus are members of the
little group of eight planets that. with
the sun, and their individual satellites or
moons, form the solar system. Each of
the eight planets shines only by the re-
f1ected light of the sun. Each follows
an elliptical course around the sun,
called an orbit. The planets. given in
the order of their distance from the sun.
are Mercury, Venus, Earth. Mars, Jupi-
ter, Saturn. Uranus, and Neptune.
Their distance from the sun ranges from
the mere 100000 miles of Mercury to the
$500, ,OOO, 900 miles of Neptune, which is in
visible to the naked eye
Some idea of the Immensity OF the stel-
lar spaces can be CLEANED from the fol-
lowing hypothetical case. Presuming that
we could travel from the sun to Neptune,
nearly 5000. 100000 miles away, in twenty
four hours, we would have to continue on
into space at the same speed for about
eighteen years before we could reach
the nearest of the fixed stars.
The solar system therefore Is but an
cluster of microscopic
bodies set in vast gulf of space. Be-
yond this gulf we come to the first star.
And instead of the mere pin point of
light it appears from this almost incon-
ceivable distance, we find ourselves
plunged into the fiery vapors of a great
sun as large, or, in many cases, many
thes larger than our own sun.
other Solar Systems.
With the understanding, then, that, with
the exception of the moon and the plan
cts, every point of light in the skies is
a sun, shining by the power of its own
flaming brilliance, the thought suddenly
The Washington herald., 1911-07-09
Endure Hardships and Discomforts I'm
complainingly and Are the Real
Mainstay and Backbone of
the Service
the Service.

familiarize her with those customs which
are peculiarly characteristic of the serv-
ice.
Most Officers Married.
While it would be comparatively easy
to determine the number of officers who
have served in our army during the past
sixty years. to ascertain with any de-
gree of certainty the number who have
married would be a most dIficult task.
At present there are in the United States
army. in active service, approximately
1850 officers, and of these it will be safe
to say that 5000 are married Possibly
there never has been time when the
percentage of bachelors among the COM
missioned force was smaller.
Before entering into a discussion of her
various duties, her status as defined by
army regulations and as distinguished
from the wives Of men in other walks Of
life, 1t is necessary to consider the army
as home, her home, and to take a view
OF her surroundings. environments, and
scrutinize the facts as they are
The choice OF a particular locality in
which TO live is denied every army man,
and hence his family, II they are to be
near him. mast likewise be obedIent to
orders from higher authority in this re-
spect. One army woman may. in the
course OF a very few years. find her
home under almost every condition of
climate. in so many varying modes OF
living. that she viii become adept In the
arr of accustoming herself most readily
To much that would seem quite unen-
durable to those OF her more fortunate
sisters who ere not forced to change
their domicile so often, Consider, for
instance, the wife OF an oficer living ct
present at Fort Mcpherson. Ca Here
army life mag be seen at its best. from
9 Point OF view Of comfort and delight
ful associations An almost ideal cli-
mate. coupled with charming surround-
inss. help to bear this cut Her hus-
The Washington herald., 1911-07-09
ARMY OFFICERS WIVES
ARE UNSUNG HEROINES

bands regiment cannot, at the longest,
remain in the United States for more
than four years. Then when the time
to move comes the prospect of a long,
uncomfortable journey, followed by a
two-year tour in foreign service, meaning
the Philippines or Alaska, is anything
but pleasant. Her home is deserted, and
many choice and beautiful things she
may have acquired must necessarily be
packed away and stored in the United
States during her absence. This on ac-
count of the risk assumed in shipping
household furniture, china, and glass
ware over such great distances.
Endure Many DiscOmforts.
A regiment recently sent from Madi-
son Barracks. N. Y, to the Philippines
by way of San Francisco had its entire
baggage actually handIed-that is, car
ried on and of trainF, wagons, ship
board. &c.-no less than eighteen times
during the journey. While at the pres
ent time there are ample Accommodations
for officers families in large garrisons
recently constructed in our foreign pos
sessions, and while the quarters now oc-
cupied by both officers and men are far
superior to the makeshifts of not long
ago, all social life there Is confined al
most wholly to the various garrisons or
large towns. There are an innumerabIe
number of little discomforts and depriva-
tions which are endured with rare opti-
mism and courage by a countless number
of army wives in order that they may
bring cheer and comfort to their hus-
bands in the dnll. monotonous days, the
isolation and the torrid heat which marks.
the service in the Philippines.
Almost Invariably they succeed-in MAX
ing their husbands quarters as artistic,
as homelile. as comfortable as they can
be made with only the most crude ma
teriaIs at hand. Many of our army
wives. not having lived in tropical eli
mates before accompanying their hus-
bands to the Philippine Islands for sta
ton. are subject to severe and constantly
recurring physical discomforts. suffer
much pain In silence. and in many cases
lose forever their vitality and strength.
All Of this has long been matter OF
comment in army circles. but is cited
here to merely show that now. Is she
has ever been, the army wife is most
happy in living her life under trying,
dlffculf circumstances. with view TO-
ward making those nearest and dearest
TO her happy.
Her presence anywhere. but especially
The Washington herald., 1911-07-09

On these hot summer nights, as you
sit sleepless at your window, drinking
in the midnight air and Vacantly eye'ng
the starry heavens, did X ever occur TO
you to speculate upon the wonders Of
those spangled sky spaces? Or are you
one of the vast multitude who refer to
every heavenly body except the sun and
moon as stars or never refer TO them
at all except to say: Aren't the stars
bright to-night?'
II you only knew the fascination that
follows the mastery of the frs. principles
of elementary astronomy you would lose
no time these marvellous soft nlyhrs IN
getting some simple book out of the IL
brary and becoming acquainted with a
few of these other worlds than ours. Two
hours reading and study of the summer
skies would open up vistas of a universe
of marvels. Within that time you can
learn to pick out the principal constella-
tions to be found this month between s
and 10 O'Clock, and after that the sky
would quickly yield secret after secret to
your wondering mind. Immediately you
would have an infinite contempt for the
prosy mortals around you whose eyes
are always on their feet and never go
compemplation of the vastness OF this
visible universe your own troubles and
worries would seem very Insignificant
indeed.
1t is a strange and lamentable fact that,
familiar as every person is with the spec
tacle of the skies, - few persons shoald
be able to recite the simplest and most
elementary facts about them. The av-
erage man or woman goes lifetime un-
ter this greatest of all marvels and never
raises his or her eyes in an interroga-
ton.
Cards to Observatory.
But there are a few citizens of Wash
ington whose thoughts sometimes stray
beyond the sordid, puerile happenings Of
a work-a-day worli to dwell imaginative
iy upon the wonders of the sky, and,
thanks to the educational work of the
astronomers at the United States Naval
Observatory, the number is steadily in
creasing,
On every clear Thursday evening lit
tie group ofabout fifty eager stargazers
gathers in the zig white dome of the OBJ
servatory to gaze through the powerful
twelve-inch telescope and listen TO Prof.
George H. Peters absorbing and authorI-
tative little lecture upon the heavenly
bodies under observation. 1t is mission
AIRY work OF the best. To be among the
chosen few in attendance on one of these
little seances is about the best thing
that can befall the amateur deliver into
the mysteries OF the skies.
They used to set no limit upon the
number of visitors admitted to these
Thursday observations, but increasing in
terest in the subject and the fact that
so many persons knowing nothing what
ever about astronomy and asking so
many utterly hopeless questions began
coming in annoying numbers that Prof.
Peters finally was forced to limit the
number TO fifty and to make an arrange
ment whereby you really have to show
that you are interested seriously in the
subject before you can secure one of the
coveted cards of admission.
The Washington herald., 1911-07-09
BY AN ARMY OFFICER.

Noble, generous, tender, considerate of
the feelings of others, enduring with
cheerfulness the most severe hardships,
and trained to strength, courage, and
self-denial through the varying condi-
tions in which she has always lived, cul-
tured, refined, and perfectly at ease in
every plane of social intercourse, our
army wife stands to-day conspicuous,
admirable figure in American social life.
There are certain unaiterable facts which
go to prove all this, and more. mere
glance at the conditions under which our
army has lived in peace and war for the
past sixty years will show a multitude
Of hardships, vicissitudes, and dangers
undergone for the public good Such
have been shared by devoted. loyal army
wives, to greater or less extent. ever
without complaint. If the inner history
Of the army were sifted down 1t would
be found repiete with littIe stories where
in deeds of true valor would appear
which, owing to their character. could
never have found place in official or
even semi-ofhcial reports It is safe to
say that the occasion is most rare when
the name OF any person not acting in an
of1eial capacity is mentioned for some
particular deed Of merit or the perform
ance of some trying, difncult duty.
Regarding her antecedents, nothing
need be said Of the army wife. Whether
she was born within the confines Of 4
garrison or had never heard a trumnes
call before she became a bride and vas
brought by her husband to his station
matters little A few months OF the
routine Of post duty, together with the
natural interest she evlnces IN al that
is so new and strange about her. and the
close contact into which she comes with
those whose only world has long been
confined to the limits OF some garrison,
win be generally suiicient TO wean any
Eirl from the life she may have LED ana
The Washington herald., 1911-07-09

comes to. one-if they are suns why
should they not have solar systems Of
their own, each sun surrounded by a
cluster OF planets like those around our
sun? Why not, indeed? There seems no
reason for doubling 1t. These planets of
the stars are. of course, invisible, even
to the most powerful telescopes, for they
shine only by the reflected light of their
parent body, which to US is but point
Of flame. As no telescope exists powerful
enough to make any of the fixed stars
assume the form of a disk, as the planets
do in the lenses of ordinary telescopes,
naturally the satellites of one OF these
distant suns would be invisible.
The Washington herald., 1911-07-09

During the early hours of these July
nights there are five particularly. brill
liant stars to be seen. They are. all OF
the first magnitude, the term used by
astronomers in CHASING the stars accord
ing to their brilliancy. In the south
western sky Spica is found. Near the
zenith tie brilliant white light of Arc
turus, of the constellation of Bootes, IL
lumines the spaces. To the east and
little north of Arcturus. the most bril-
liant star in the northern hemisphere is
found. This is Vega, in the constellation
Of the Lyrae. Father to the east and
a little south of Vega glows the three
bright stars of Aquilla, the brightest of
The Washington herald., 1911-07-09

which is Affair, and in the low southeast
hangs the interesting constellation of the
Scorpion. wearing one of the heavenly
gems, Antares, a glorious red star that
no one can fail to find.
Find these five stars, locate them on
the map, and from their position you can
quickly learn to distinguish the other
consultations shown in the accompany
ing star map. The best way to locate
the five stars named is to watch dusk
come on and pick out the first stars to
show themselves. eliminating Jupiter and
Venus, which will. Of course, be the first
of all to glorify the evening sky.
For the next few nights observation of
The Washington herald., 1911-07-09

Can I've WIthIn Means.
The hardships she ordinarily must en-
dure. the dun monotcny of garrison life.
The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1911-12-16

PEDDL.E:RS
SOAKED"

Chief Mitchell made a good catch
this morning Recently he bad infor-
nation that a gang OF solicitors were
working Kansas and Nebraska and
We're headed this way with fake
"crockery' deaf. They we're suppos-
ed to be selling the product OF The
Mineral Clay Crockery' manufactur-
ed by a company Of that name sup
posed to be located in San Francisco.
A query sent that city brought the in
formation that no such company ex-
sted there The chief got notice yes
terday from Wichita that the gang
was headed this way with car OF
their ware. When they arrived the
chief nabbed them They were ar
rested for peddling without a license
and fined $l05 After paving their
fine they were refused license TO ped
die their goods
The men gave the names Of r Bill
fed. n VI Griswold and n F. i'reer
Each contributed S35 to the city. Z he
men and their car went south from
here.
The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1911-12-16
URGE ACTION ON
DOLLAR-A-DAY PENSION
Mayor Olsmith Wires Senators
Gore and Owen to Push
Legislation

A Christmas gift in the shape Of
the dollar.a.d;,ypension BlI pending
In congress. would prove highly ac-
ceptable TO the civil war veterans OF
fGl. Mayor Frank Olsmith, himself
veteran. last evening sent the fol
lowing telegram to Senators owen
and Gore ar Washington
In behalf OF. and in the name OF
the old federal soldiers OF the war OF
1861. now residing IN the city oil
Guthrie. and Logan county. Oklaho-
ma we invite and respectfully urge
that you use your best efforts 10 have
the pension bill recently passed in
the house of representatives. called
up by the senate AMI favorable action
had thereon before the Christmas
HOLIDAYS. and furthermore 10 secure
action by the congress and senate OF
the United States. that viii result
in providing homes. free from care,
and bevond the reach OF want for ey-
erv soldier of the Confederate army
nov surviving. who may need it, un-
der the supervision Of the federal
poyernment.-Fra Oismith.
The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1911-12-16

Dr Daniel w. Ohern OF Norman,
director Of the Oklahoma Geological
survey. was in Guthrie today en-
route nome from a "trip to Bartles
win. where he has been nTestigating
oil and gas developments The doc
tor carried two grips, one o. Which
was completely filled with teiesrams
which the .ctOr has received during
the past week from an parts Of the
country. These telegrams were from
people who are much perturbed over
the reports recently issued by state
Geologist HaWorth, of KANSAS. ~
the effect that the kansas-0klahoma
OH and gas field will be completely
exhausted in three years al the pres
ent rate of consumption.
Asked about Haw0rth's report to-
dav. Dr. Ohern said No good can
come of such reports being spread
HdWorth has made
grave mistake went on record ten
davs ago ~ the effect that there
would be no dimnution of the gas
flow within fifteen years and cling
TO ms original statement. I nave just
returned from the Bartlesyille dis
trict While only a cursory eXamina-
ton was made I am convinced that
we have no cause for alarm. or
course. there is prodigious waste OF
gas and means such be adopted 70
curb this wanton extravaganza, but
even with the rate of consumption
doubled there is no fear oL early ex-
hausti0n
Dr Ohern viii leave next week for
Washington for the purpose OF secur-
ing further and more active c0opera-
tion OF the government in developing
The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1911-12-16
''STR|K|NG" JURY WON; COURT SURRENDERS

The j'e"rs went TO the circuit clerk
on the first office, where each man
received a warrant for $3.50 as his
pay
Part Friends
When the jury reported Judge
Withrow's court room was packed
and the corridors OF the dingy old
court house held a throng awaiting
news from the Jury In the same
court house, the celebrated slavery
case of bred scott was tried twice,
An interesting touch to the situa-
tion was given when Judge Withrow
left his chambers, on his way to
luncheon. Just as the Jurors were FL
ing out Of the Market street door OF
the building on their way to a res
STRENGTHENING himself with
bearing the Judge q Civil
war veteran, lifted the military cap
which he frequently wears and held
it aloft The Jurors likewise returned
the salute The Judge smlled; so aid
tie jury.
The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1911-12-16

'on their rights as American citizens. "
Inc jury came into court and the
foilowing finding was handed 10
Judge Wlthrow:
We. the jury md in favor of the
plaintiff for the reason that. from the
circumstantial evidence Of witnesses,
we believe there WAS undue influence
eXerted over Bridget McDerlnott
prior to and at the time she execut.
ed the testament in question, ana
that il was not her last will and testa.
ment"
The Judge sent for the law books
and with the foreman Of the jury.
looked at them, and then said:
Gentlemen of the Jury, although
your verdict is in violation OF the or
ders Of this court, under the rulings
OF the supreme court it becomes my
duty to accept it, Upon motion Of
either party-the plaintiff or the de
fendant-the verdict will be set aside
and new trial ordered. The jury rs
discharged
The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1911-12-16
WILL ANOTHER STATE CAPITAL
LOCATION BILL BE INITIATED?
LEDBETTER BELIEVES 1T WILL

Attorney w. A. Ledbetter of Okla
h0ma City, was in the city today on
legal business. Ledbetter was one
OF the most active agents in the late
lameuted capital removal campaign,
and in expressing disgust over the
outcome of capital location matters,
he voices the sentiments Of ninety
eight per cent of the business men of
oklahoma City.
There has been grave mess made
of things said Ledbetter. 'Oklaho-
ma City has never been able, since
the election, to raise sufficient money
to pay for the filing of papers, let
alone the payment of 100000 as first
money on capitol building. The
grumblng is intense. And from this
srumbling there has arisen the desire
over the state, including Oklahoma
City, for further and final action in
capital matter. | understands three
cities OF tie state have set the stage
for initiating a new capital bill
While there is nothing absolutely au-
tboritatiye in the reports, ! believe
that within the next six weeks such
a bill will be initiated. Three initiat-
ed bills are already up for action on
the part of The people at the August
primaries. and 1t will cost but few
dollars more to tack on another. |
believe oklahoma City business in
terests will rather hail vita delight
than damn with condemnation. this
new project, but of course, I'm not to
be quoted
That Oklahoma City has its stom-
ach full of state capital and all that
pertains to Il, is a well known fact,
The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1911-12-16
HARTRANFT POST OFFICERS

Hartranft Post G. A. r. of this
city. has elected Edward Platt com
.mander for tae ensuing year. togeth-
er with the following additional off
GERS: Senior vice commander, Har-
vey Moore: junior vice, w l.. f. LIN;
quartermaster John W. Ray, sur
ge0n. G. W Billings officer OF the
day. W. Stafford: officer OF the guard
Isaac Clark: patriotic instructor T.
Fl Seward delegates to the depart-
ment encampment. George Latta ".
l.. F. Linn and John Ray: alternates.
John Gilbert. ". II. Boyd and Elias
Ackers These officers viii be in
stalled on January 8.
The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1911-12-16
FOOLS. HIS THEME.
Thomas Brooks Fletcher Pieases A
Larde Crowd at M. (. Church.

Thomas Brooks Fletcher appeared
at the NJ 4 church first, last night
under the auspices OF the Lecture
coure. The Martydom Of Fools. was
his subject There have been few, II
any. pubicists visiting this city, who
have created better impression than
Mr. Fletcher His work WAS absorb
iuglv interesting His excoriatiOn or
oneidea people was surprisingly fine
a high tribute was paid the late Tom
Johnson, OF Ohio and Judge pen
Lindsay, Of Denver These men were
denounced as fcols at first by the
people. but they made good Mr.
Fletcher illustrated his remarks with
apt anecdotes The audience was
highly pleased. indeed
The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1911-12-16

The packing town has reached the
straits where the business men refuse
to pull together and al are at war
and it is not war of roses. The
packing interests had hardly put Ok
lahoma City on the blink, than the
real estate sharks sprang the capital
game. Since that time there has
been nothing doing in Hogtown Just
now capital and labor are at war, and
laboring men are moving out at the
rate of thirty-one families a day. ac-
cording to the records of Wiker, the
transfer and storage man. Wiker
owns the biggest transfer and storage
business in Oklahoma City. In fact,
he has a monopoly of the business
In Wiker's new steel building 1923
sets of household goods, belonging o
a like number of families. unable TO
pay the exorbitant rents, are stored
oklahoma City is in a bad way,
said w T.. Walker, who was in the
city yesterday land rather than go
through the embarrassment of trying
to raise more money on the capital
deal the business men of the city
would gladly welcome the initiation
of new capital bill" II is said that
Tulsa and Shawnee will have peti-
tions in the field within two weeks
An Alva paper this week expresses
the sentiments of the people of the
state in saying: 'Oklahoma is still
the whole hog Failing to make good
on any thing. that town has now
sprung a scheme to move tae univer-
sity and the Edmond normal to Okla
homa City. The people Will not stand
for Oklahoma City in another cleo
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