davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-08-25

cocks has referred to the possible use
of the word Eden, that is. the cultivated
plain. as general term for the
Euphrates delta But this new stone tells
us that there was a place called Eden
situated on the canal. and the document
is of some geographical interest. for it
supplies us with information as to the
more precise location of that place. In
setting out the orientation of the es-
tate. the text mentions that one side OF
1t was bounded by the province of the
sea land. that is to say. a tract of country
along the sea coast at the head Of the Per-
sian gulf. The reference proves that the
Babylonian town Of Eden lay in the ex-
definitely to identify the biblical Eden
with It's Babylonian namesake we may
accord the new boundary stone the addi-
donal distinction Of being, so far as we
know, the only extant object from that
site"
Sir William made no reply to Mr.. King,
and so the discussion was left where 1t
was. Sir William contending inferentially
that there were two Gardens of Eden,
and the other authorities that there was
only one. and that in the extreme south
of Babylonia. 1t being agreed unanimous
Iy. therefore. that there certainly was
Garden of Eden at the south, and most
Of the authorities. except Sir William
himself, asserting that there was only
one Sir Williams remarks on the I'M
disputed garden take on an added sig
n:ficance. He said in his lecture:
when human beings first appeared
on the earth, and for many a generation
afterward, men could only have just held
their own against wild animals. and,
while their dwelling places were sur
rounded by forests and jungles. the I'M
ending struggle must have left them but
little time to make any real advance in
civilization. 1t was far different in the
GASES Of Arabia and practical GASES like
Anah and Hit on the upper Euphrates.
Here 1t was possible for men to destroy
the existing wild beasts. and as their
numbers could not be recruited out of
the deserts. they were exterminated, and
men had leisure to become gradually civ
ilized. Arabia has been able to pour
forth her virile sons who began the SUBJ
jugation of both the Nile valley and the
valley Of the Euphrates. Everything in
Egypt was easy and to hand: the Nile
was and is the most stately and majestic
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-08-25
clET THOUSAND HOPES

Club. which is in your district. favors this
idea want you to introduce a bill"
The congressman, who had frequently
delivered his fmpassioned perorations be-
tween the clinking strains of the Omega
Mandolin Club, forthwith introduced a
resolution calling upon Congress to de-
termine the ACCESSIBILITY Of establishing a
central conservatory of music in this city
1t was one OF those so-called ''investi-
eating resolutions which in many in
stances don't amount to much one way
or the other.
A committee got hold Of it and quietly
buried it-buried it deep in the musty
document room. Then the melancholy
young man, instead of transferring his
devotion to the committee. committed the
tactical blunder Of harassing his con-
gresham. 1t happened that the congress
man was already much harassed. He tried
to stave off his persistent constituent with
innuendo. but the armorplated hide of the
young man seemed proof against
insult.
One day the young man returned.
Concerning that conservatory of mu-
sic' he began. Il would like"
He got no further.
Say" beloved the congressman.
what you want is a job, isn't it,
The young mans jaw fell.
II thought" he faltered, that il my
plans were adopted l might be given
minor position in
WELL" Numbered the congressman,
whose musical education had been neg
lected early in youth. IF you'll quit
bothering me about this blithering hot
house, or conservatory. or whatever 1t
is. I'll get you job in the folding room
at So a day.
He did and was bothered no more. The
melancholy young map folded speeches
as he gently hummed Lucia" the con-
gresham turned his attention to matters
OF greater moment and the bill reposed in
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-08-25

and their level. They were met every
where at twenty-five and one-half meters
above sea level.
These were the limits Of the ancient
Lake Moeris. In despair for the proper
irrigation of the Euphrates delta, unless
we could find an escape for this torren-
tial river, / searched for a depression,
and was rewarded one day by finding a
thick belt of EuphrateS shells away in
the deserts. Parties Of engineers be-
gan leveling in every direction and the
shells We're found everywhere at a level
of twenty-five meters above the sea.
reservoir of the Babylonians, mentioned
by many writer's. The Habbania es-
cape, under construction by Sir John
Jackson & Co., has been designed to
into this depression. The hills are formed
principally of salt mari overlaid by gyp-
sum. and as the fall from the Euphrates
into the depression is ninety feet, there
should be. in the future, complete con-
troll of the floods of the river. The
Euphrates can be mastered: there re-
mains the Tigis.
The ancients never completely mas
tered the Tigris, and there were occa-
sonal foundations, when. according to
Arab historians, hundreds of engineers
and subordinates were sacrificed In
the project submitted to the Turkish gov
eminent have proposed a very massive
canal and dixie along the right bank Of
the Tigris in imitation Of the Babylonian
works and the sacrificing of the left bank
of the river to the floods. We have
found that that strange river the Tar
thar, which comes down from the Sinjar
hills and runs between the Tigris and
the Euphrates, terminates in a salt pan
in the deserts southwest of Samarra. The
bottom of the pan is four meters below
sea level, and as the Tigris, in flood near
the site of Nimrod's ruined dam Is fifty
six meters above the sea, the total fall
from the river is 300 feet. My engineers
would have sacrificed much to level up
the Tarthar and fix the contents of the
reservoir, but unfortunately the salt pan
is debatable ground between the Sham
mar and Dillem Arabs, and they could
not fall into accord to let US complete
our work.
The construction of an escape into the
depression would mean much to Baby
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-08-25

N THE northeastern corner of statu-
airy hail-down a flight Of narrow
steps and through a short corridor
p there Is small. dark-looking multi.
shelved room that looks as old as
Congress and the Capitol itself. Running
from floor TO ceiling are tiers of glorifed
pigeonholes. where repOse the thousands
~ bills-good bills. bad bills and indif-
ferent bills-that go over from session to
session without action by the national
congress.
This is the graveyard of a thousand
hopes. the cemetery of the lobbyists am
hitions. In 1t are measures that mean
poverty or prosperity to individuals. stag
nation or activity to cities: honor or dis
honor TO the half forgotten names of men
who fought in years gone by.
In this narrow room-for the whole
place is barely half the size Of the av-
erage dairy lunch-there are bills which,
il passed in their entirety, would cause
The few remaining hairs on the heads of
the several justices Of the Supreme Court
TO rise in mortal horror and agony. There
are bills to investigate laundries and to
keep East Indians out OF Nevada. There
are bills TO establish new flying machines
and to permit various kinds Of expert
ments. There are bills which. II passed,
would cause some man momentarily to
dream OF En- Dorado and see himself sun
ming in the light of international fame.
These impressive bills are lost as the
last days Of Congress draw nigh. Time
was when they were lightly entered and
the earnest pursuer OF congressman had
high hopes. But THO days went on, the
committees to whom the bills were re-
ferred didn't act. The hearings which
were held resulted in nothing. And In the
AX1pg hours Of Congress this room be-
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-08-25

RE there two Gar
dens of Eden? One,
Semitic, that Of the
sons OF God, the
other Babylonian or
Sumerian, that OF
the sons Of men?
II seems clear from
the controversy that
has become almost
violent among the
students of an
tiquity that there
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-08-25

small sum he had brought to this city to
fight his case and win his pension dwin-
died away. Finally one day he found
himself without funds, without friends
and without hope.
Then he went to little hall room.
turned on the gas without the formality
of lighting it. and was found two hours
later by neighbors. who murmured in
that shocked way that neighbors do:
Ies-been drinking heavily-probably
Respondent because of the reaction
shame he drank-nfce' old man.
son was found somewhere out west.
home. And now somewhere is that old
bill which credits the old man with hav-
ing left the army honorably. 1t will
never be passed. II any one remembers
the old man as the man who left the
war Of life as he left the war OF the
rebelliOn-a deserter.
In the great press Of national legisla-
ton, where they are deciding the welfare
of 100. O00, 900 people. congressman cannot
always stop to determine the question of
justice to an individual. There are
greater, broader. more important prob
lens to be solved. Then. too there is an
army Of lobbyists who continually work
for the passage of measures that repre-
sent nothing but gain to them. 1t is not
always easy to tell at first blush the
difference between the trained lobbyist
and the man who is fighting for himself
and for those who are dear to him.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-08-25

Once there was woman who could
weep. She had a bill Of some kind which
she wanted passed. She went to con-
gressmen and sprinlsled them literally
with tears and gave vivid descriptions Of
her late lamented husbands last endear-
ing words. She insisted that she was a
widow and needed the pension which had
been paid her husband. Kind-hearted
congressman were touched by the wo-
mans evident distress.
The bill was rapidly pushed until some
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-08-25

lonia, and ] have therefore devoted
much time to thinking out the kind Of
work needed to raise the level OF the
Tigris in flood by eight meters and lead
depression.
Once the Euphrates and Tigris floods
are controlled the irrigation works will
present no great difficulties, and the delta
of the two rivers will be richer than the
delta of the Nile and a safer place to in
vest capital in The dawn Of the day
which sees the floods OF the two rivers
controlled will be comparable to the day
on which Noah beheld the rainbow after
the flood and saw In 1t a sign Of divine
deluge. suspends in her hands the Jewels
from about her neck, and, as they hang
In crescent form. swears to protect the
race Of men.
1.-The first direct irrigation works to be
carried out will be the FeluJa and Hindie
barrages on the Euphrates and the
canals and drains dependent on them.
The first work will be at the site Of the
battle Of Cunaxa, and. II had Thought
of 1t sooner. I should have called It the
Cunaxa barrage, as the ruins OF Cunaxa
are up against the work. The other bar
rage will be built on a far more interest
ing site. The first public work Alexan-
der the Great undertook in Babylonia
was the construction Of a new head
through solid ground for the Hindie
branch or the Pallacopas. Its head had
hitherto been in sandy soil. and as the
branch had to be opened annually in
flood to escape the excess waters Of the
Euphrates and then closed after the flood
to keep the Babylon channel full OF
water, the annual closure had been q
work OF extraordinary difficulty. entail
ing the presence OF 10000 men, Next to
building a masonry barrage it was the
wisest thing he could have done And
till today the Hindie branch at its head
traverses some of the hardest soil of the
delta. and it is possibly owing to the
wisdom OF Alexander's choice that the
barrage holds Its own in the way it does.
NO sooner had Alexander fixed the site
OF the head OF the Pallacopas than he
turned to the drainage of the country.
Here was the true irrigation engineer
On the T1grfs the canals to irrigate the
country northwest Of Bagdad will be taken
OH above the proposed barrages near
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-08-25

that graveyard of a thousand hopes. the
document room.
Not all promoters of bills have the good
fortune of the melancholy young man.
Not long ago a woman, after fighting
for five years. lost her home and every
thing in it when the House refused to
pass over the Presidents veto a bill re-
deeming $1,000 worth of time checks
which she had accepted from men work
ing on a government contract Only a
few Of the cases like this come to be
generally known. Many a man and wom-
an, having lost all through the passage
or non-passage of some bill. has gone
quietly away to the little home town
whence he came, and there died in pow
erty, broken hearted at the thought that
his own nation should have treated him
thus
There was. for instance. the man who
died a pauper while Congress considered
bill compensating him for damages he
had suffered during the Indian depreda-
tons in the southwest.
Money is not all that Is lost when the
document room becomes the resting place
OF bills.
An old soldier-a veteran of the civil
war-descended upon Washington some
time ago and sought to have his military
record Strengthened out. He had been
little more than a child when he enlist
and had been unable to return to his
regiment. In the stress of those days Of
war he had been recorded as deserving
when nothing had been heard of him.
and, consequently, had been denied
pension.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-08-25

ventor called regularly upon his commit
tee chairman and asked for action.
Finally the chairman said. curtly
This is absurd. We can't waste time
with this bill. You'll have to come back
next session"
Two days afterward the old inventor
was halted by White House policeman
as he wandered up the gravel pathway
liceman noticed a large valise In the old
inventors hand.
What do you want?" demanded the po-
liceman.
II want to see the President" replied
the aged one. I've an invention in the
line of powder that will blow up him and
his whole cabinet. l want him to help
me-"
The policeman almost tainted.
"W-w-w-hat?'' he bawled, powder?
You come along quick''
And he rushed the old inventor to the
nearest patrol box, whence he was soon
transferred to convenient insane asy-
lum. The gripsack contained an old
shirt and collar-also a copy Of the
House bill which provided that from the
sums OF money in the Treasury not other
wise appropriately the old inventor
should receive $1,000 to continue his
studies.
OF course. the majority will maintain
that the old inventor was insane from
the beginning. There are others who
shake their heads and declare that hope
long deferred and finally dashed to earth
dethroned his reason.
There was another man-in the good old
days Of copious patronage. He was a
melancholy man, rather young, with the
sad eyes of a sick hound and an I'M
ending weakness for long-tailed frock
coats. He had an idea.
To this end he approached his congress-
man.
II want" he said, Ito establish a con-
servatory OF music in this city. I want
You to hslp ma. The Omega Mandolin
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-08-25

1t Is interesting to spend an hour in
this old document room of statuary hall.
1t Is an education, too
Reaching around in the sheIves-that is,
Of course, II the young men behind the
counters will permit you to reach-you
idly pull down House bill 141144,'' a bill
for the relief of Mary Jones and minor
children
What Is its history? How many tears
have been shed as that bill was quietly
left on the shelves OF the document room
instead OF being enacted into law? How
many of Mary Jones' children are ragged
and hungry
1t is hard to tell Mary Jones may
have attempted q thinly yelled fraud
upon the government. And yet, there is
always the supposition that Mary Jones
needed every cent asked for.
Here is another: "A bill granting an
increase of pension to Mary Robinson"
Mary Robinson is the widow of John
Robinson, who died during the civil war.
Mary Robinson's present pension Is In
sufficient to enable her to live. for she is
blind and half paralyzed and needs the
constant services OF an attendant. She
can only exist on the pension she receives
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-08-25

when will have a hearing"
The days went by and the day OF ad-
journment came in sight. Still the COM
mtttee did not act and stu the old i'm
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-08-25

member with an inquiring turn Of mind
decided that it might he we'll IN inyesti-
gate the widows claims. It was then
learned that she had run the boarding
house In which the old soldier lived and
hao married him after he was sufficiently
immediate prospect Of widowhood-and
MS pension. Needless to say when this
was learned the bill was promptly
stepped on and the ''desolated widow"
auletiy disappeared without further ref
erences to my dear George"
The wonder is that with all the varied
.Iauds That are attempted from time to
time congressman retain the love OF hu-
that they do.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-08-25

of rivers. and. carrying a moderate
amount Of deposit. creates no serious diff
ficulties for the dwellers on its banks;
the Garden of the Lord. the land or
E.1ynt. IA very fertile, and the climate
is mild in winter and never parches in
summer. Egypt, therefore. produced no
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-08-25

The bill correcting his record-removing
the stigma of desertion-was not passed.
Slowly but certainly the old man Joined
the small pitiful throng known In Wash
ington as the down and CUTTERS" The
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-08-25

world ideas. None of her sons were pos
sessed Of a fine frenzy, with eyes glancing
from heaven to earth. and earth to
heaven.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-08-25

that graveyard of thousand hopes. tn
document room.
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1912-07-18
The Net Results.

When Ollie James, new junior Uni.
ted States senator from Kentucky
first broke into politics in his native
county of Crittenden he had occasion
to try case before a rural magistrate
When the trial was ended the magis-
trate invited the young lawyer to go
home to dinner with him. AS they
sat down at the table the old man
said
"Ollie, 1t pains me nightly to see
you messin' In with politics"
why so?" inquired James.
"Ollie, my son." said the magistrate,
politics amt fittin' pursuit for any
young man. Look at me! started in
politics when l was young and hopeful,
just like you are now. l have held all
the positions of trust In the gift of
the people of my home district
have been school trustee, road super.
visor and constable and justice of the
peace. But now, an old man. all
I've got to show for my years of cease
less political activities Is lot of
warm enemies and cold friends. Sat
urday Evening Post.
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1912-07-18
ENJOY WHIRL OF LIFE
STRANGE FASCINATION ExER.
CisED BY GREAT CITY. -
Howery Lodging House DwelIers Find
the Excitement There That Pre-
slously Has Been Denied
Them-The Situation.

The other day a ruddy-faced, clear
eyed man was discovered at the cor
DER of Twenty-third street and Broad
way, carrying the banner of cheaI
restaurant, according to New Yorh
letter to the Cincinnati Times-Star
There was nothing of the downtrodder
and forlorn about him. He watched
the panorama which unfolded before
him with wide eyes, interested In ev
cry detail as a child might be In new
toy.
Il can get you a better job than
thls," said a man who was interested
In him, at first sight. II can find you
a place where you can make $12 q
week, and the work is not hard"
Il don't want It," said the old man
promptly. I'm having the best time
of my life right now"
He had been a farmer all his life
For years he had struggled with q
hillside farm in Vermont. His one
recreation was to read a city paper
BY and by his four sons grew up, left
the farm, and have been modestly sue
cessful.
When my wife died I came to the
city," said he. MY boys send me SIS q
week and | make enough more by odd
Jobs of this sort to keep me. And
say! I'm living for the first time In
my life! I'm enjoying myself, l tell
you. There's a man living down al
the lodging house where l get 25
bank burglar, and he tells M the
stories of his life. And there's a fel
low WHO says he's a count-he talks
like one, anyhow-and there's a major
In the English army, and sea captain
and professor who got fired by his
university-they say for cheating al
cards-and a man they say used to be
a minister and killed a man. Every
night fellows like that come In and
there's always something happening
It's exciting-and spent all my life
hard at work on hill farm. I'm TWEEN
ty years younger than | was when
came to town and as long as l get a
couple of meals day and a place to
sleep. I'm happy. What do l want
with $12-a-week job, Mister?
wouldn't change places with the ma
yor."
A city missionary heard the story.
THAT is why you cannot reform a
man who has tasted life in a lodging
house." said he. Excitement is In
the air. Every newcomer has a life
history that Is more interesting thar
fiction. Little wonder they will MOI
come back"
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1912-07-18
Believes Everything Father Says.

Park 8. Florea, national secretary of
The Adscript club, has little son, Ed
ward, who believes everything his IA
Their says, whether 1t Is said seriously
Or jokingly. Once when warning his
son to keep away from the heels of a
cow, Mr.. Florea told the boy a COW
can kick mile, at least that Is what
Edwards says.
The boy is visiting relatives near
Harrisburg, Ind. While at play he saw
cow, fully a mile away. and he ran
and hid In the haymow, according to a
story told at Connersville. The boy
said his papa, who was reared on a
farm, had told him there was no limit
10 the reach of cows kick. and that
ne thought 1t would be safer to hide
while one was in sight. 1t was with
difficulty the boy was CONVINCED that
his father merely wanted him to keep
out OF the cows reach.-Indianapolis
News. -.