davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-05-12

practice. have scarcely died out in the
hills of Maryland and Virginia. The
work of the mine planters in the Potomac
route of the nations capital is effectual
~ done. Should any hostile fleet have
the fortune to reach the door Of the city
IT would strike such an impregnable bar
rier in the waters of the channel that
when the smoke had cleared there would
be nothing left but sunken wreckage.
No small part of the work of the Coast
Artillery, which has sole charge of the
d6enses Of the thousands OF miles of
territory accessible TO foreign vessels or
war. Is 10 adequately protect the water
route to Washington. So accurately is
this work done that skiff could scarcely
escape the deadly web. much less a war
vessel that might attempt the ascent of
the Potomac on mission of invasion.
Gen. E. NJ. Weaver. L. S. A, is chief
Of this branch OF the service.
experimenting the guns OF Fort Wash
ington and OF Fort Hunt. also on a van
tage point just across the river. there is
provided complete system Of mines and
torpedoes. which at moments notice
could be placed in the proper position for
execution Careful observers Of the waters
o. the staid river have been shocked on
seeing the bulk of the blush. dark
mines. slightly submerged, with all the
appearance of being there for a purpose.
These merely are the unloaded mines
used in the practice by experts of the
Coast Artillery. stationed at Washington
and Fort Washington.
Every foot OF that part OF the river
which is nayigable is charted by the
War Department and the exact depth
known. At certain intervals one Of the
mine planters" stanch boats kept for
the purpose OF instructing the men of
the Coast Artillery in the art of mine
laying. comes up the river, and for a
month or six weeks actual practice in
laying cables 10 the mines is carried on
To cap off the practice, once a year. three
mines, of the same size and power as
are fired, and carefully tabulated records
of the trials kept.
The mine planter Gen. R. T. Frank
has been here for several weeks and
while moored at the Naval Battalion's
wharf at the foot of 7th street was the
object OF many curious visitors She is a
particularly strong boat, steel constructed
and fitted for the sole purpose of laying
mines. The mine planters are under the
control Of the army, instead OF the navy,
being somewhat smaller in size than the
revenue cutters. They are fitted for long
cruises, in the open sea, or may take
shallow water. requiring but thirteen feet
are for the handling OF the mines and
cables.
Each of the mine planters is equipped
70 carry sixteen officers and men, besides
four sailors for the manipulation OF the
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-05-12

pracuce is 1nduIged IN. although the &C.
tual firing of the mines is done but once a
year.
The plans of mines, such as would pro-
tect Washington in the event of war; are
intricate and require much expert knowl-
edge. both of electricity and physics, for
above all else, mine must be dangerous
to the enemy, or the supposed enemy
only. At the time of firing mines heavy
patrols are thrown out far above the
deadly charges, and far down the river, to
warn approaching vessels of the danger.
To begin with, ensconced in the banks
which flank Fort Washington are pro-
tected Classmates" which contain the
"shorea end" of working mine. These
classmates are heavily vaulted, cement
and stone buildings, even with the sur
face Of the earth. and SO constructed
that in the event cannon shot should
rake the shore the balls must glance
from the top. In these vaults are To-
Gated the storage battery room, dynamo
room and operating room Every cleo
trical connection, every switchboard and
every device for testing the condition of
mate. and upon the proper adjustment
of these details depends the accurate and
effectual working Of the mines.
Roughly speaking, there are three parts
to the complete mine system; the case
mate, which is on shore: the cable, which
carries the electricity that furnishes the
spark to ignite the charge. and the mine
itself. The mine proper in this way can
be removed a great distance from the
casemate without impairfng its execu-
ton. ...lnes are planted in batteries"
in such a way that no vessel could in
any possible manner get through the
channel without passing over one or
more Of them.
The cable contains separate wires to
oo1r, 49, ~,
which 1t supplies, all the wires being
carried in a single cable to the neigh
borhood Of a battery. where at Juno
ton box" they are separated, smaller
cables carrying each set of wires to it's
proper mine.
The mine itself Is made with the utmost
care, and when completed weighs about
LOCO pounds. The case Is made Of the
best galvanized iron the two hemispheres
being securely welded together. During
early experiments guncotton or dynamite
was used altogether. Guncotton still is
used, although an explosive far more
powerful, whose formula is a secret with
the government, Is much used, and with
the best Of results.
One-half of the mine is filled with air.
the lower half containing the explosives.
The CORE" If such it may be called, is
about fifty pounds of dry guncotton, into
which the ends of the electric wires are
led, in such way that the proper break
ing of current will produce spark for
and separated from 1t by partition re-
sembling a wire screen. but composed OF
Q substance. the making Of which Is Sc
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-05-12

There is special ribbon board. which
may be bought for pleating purposes, by
means of which pleating may be easily
and rapidly done. The board is measured
off into quarter-inch spaces with fine
lines, and small metal pins or staples are
fastened into the board at the ends OF
these lines, long steel rods of needles pass
ing through the loops of ribbon and
through the staples. When the ribbon has
been pleated thus across the board the
needles are carefully pulled out and 4
hot iron is passed over the pleated loops
In this manner of pleating with steel
needles on accurately marked lines peat
ings that are beautifully even may be
made in a short time, after little prac-
tice in handling the ribbon loops and
needles. One of these ribbon boards may
be made at home from ordinary clean
bread board. the lines being ruled with
pencil. The staples may be purchased at
any hardware store, and long knitting
needles may be used, or your hardware
dealer will cut for you any number of
one-eighth-inch steel rods in the required
length.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-05-12
Making Dress Accessories.

THE new ribbons are wonderful. not
only because OF their soft pliable
quality and their rich, subdued
celorings, but also because OF their in
Vulnerable varieties OF weave. One may
have striped ribbon. Powered ribbon. dot
ted ribbon, changeable ribbon. metallic
gauze ribbon. chiffon gauze ribbon, and
ribbon in reversible effects, with a deep
rich color on one side and delicate tint
on the other. Most of these patterns
come in the different weaves: satin. mes
saline, taffeta, MORE and the fashionable
ribbed or ottoman ribbons.
Any girl or woman who is deft with her
needle may make many articles Of
beauty from these ribbons, which would
have a real value just now to meet the
demands of fashion. Some of the things
that one can make are bandeau and
theater caps for the hair. which every
girl wants just now; corsage bouquets OF
artificial flowers made OF ribbon; opera.
bags. sachet bags. dressing sacdues and
many other articles which will suggest
themselves to any woman who puts her
mind to work.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-05-12

ing serious. Surely In the entire city
there was some man. some business.
which had escaped the gripping power OF
the hayward corpuscle. His wanderings
brought him TO the extreme south OF 18th
street. There he heard the crash OF o
band and the applause OF many persons.
lie drew nearer
Horse show" said a man near the
ticket sellers window Great thing.
Algoma's just finished the jumps with G
clean score"
More of the epidemic The man in from:
OF the ticket sellers window oon1ided the
belief that a third OF the people who
ware at the show didn't lSno,y q horse
from a sheep.
They Just like 10 get IN the open"
he explained and watch the horses
gailop around"
From the horse show 20 the biz park
and driveway Is hut a short step. Hence
the cub. continuing his wandcrinSs, was
given another opportunity TO behold the
longing for .-o'-doors and exercise that
has enveloped great ana supposedly
calm city.
Along the bride path Of Potomac Park
there came a figure on horseback II
looked much liiN . badly stuffed pillow
tied insecurity to the saddle The horse
logged carelesslS along and At each jog
the figure atop bounced stitay Up and
down with a severity OF descent that
suggested great possibilities OF Seasick-
ness.
When the figure arcw within range II
turned out to he a clao moro than fifty
years of age and weighing Q good hun
dred and ninety pounds. He was chad re-
lgiously in the costume which fashion
prescribes for those who desire 10 ride
horses. His high stock seemed about TO
wilt and his fat cheeks Mapped up and
down as each jolt on the saddle brought
his teeth together. Altogether he ap-
peared most unhappy. As he passed the
cub reporter he waved a frantic gesture
that seemed to be intended for salute.
but was more like a call for help. The
gesture terminated abruptly as the fat
man clutched at the horses name to keep
from falling. His eyeglasses aud from
his perspirinG nose and hung Imply from
their golden chain.
Great sport-umpfi' said the fat man
as he rose and descended heavily ~ the
saddle Then he moved off into the dis
lance. If ever there was a victim luTed
from comfortable ease by the stirring
call of the hayward corpuscle /; was
that man. lie wouldn't for all the money
in the world have taken that horseback
ride as a duty. Yet, sport. he was
fully persuading himself that he was hay
ing a delightful time.
Then the shades of evening came over
the city In another portion OF the park
boys were wrestling. Two teams OF gov
eminent clerks, young men who normally
We're not too fond of exercise, -ere toll
ing their way through game OF base
ball Beyond them some youngsters were
running foot races.
And in a distance the raucous cry or
street piano informed the world that
Every body's doin' it-doin' it--doin' it,
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-05-12

up like a blasted night-blooming cereus.
Seems to think it's funny"
Farther on an old negro fisherman SAT
by tho side OF little. square-nosed.
dumpy rowboat, as he applied coss o.
paint, and talked gently to her.
'Youn mes gwine tub git lota fish.
he murmured. Reckon we'll so on up to
dat pool nigh Analost'n. Dey's plenty
o catfish dis yeah"
Then he broke into melody. The song
was an old chanty coming from heaven
knows where. and probably as old as An
glo-Saxon civilization in America The
words ran:
Take me away in de summah time:
In de summah time when Use feeiin nne,
OATS when All wants to go,
Please, Lawd-
And then the whole thing was repeated
until the grooming melody and the mo-
notonous splash OF the paint brush and
the myriad river sounds became single
symphony to the power of the hayward
corpuscle.
The epidemic seemed to be growing
Therefore the cub reporter fed TO real
estate office. feeling that there he would be
safe. The friend he longed to SEQ IS
prosaic young man who reports 30 the
Office at and quits at 5 and is
great consolation to his family As ne
entered the door he saw his real estate
salesman friend surrounded by four anx-
ious persons-"prospects" they are called
and listened to this rhapsody:
Certainly. Suburban property Is
great investment at any time 10 escape
from the city and live in the open air
with freshness and the eternal lie OF
growing things is in itself priceless boon
to yourselves and to the children. And,
besides. there are advantages in the sub
urbs-' and SO forth and SO on.
The knowledge that even this real es-
tate salesman had fallen victim to the
ravages of the hayward corpuscle was
made certainty when the cub reporter.
soon afterward. beheld him gliding away
with four prospective purchasers in an
automobile capable Of holding two The
purchasers were draped all over the ma
chine, but the salesman didn't seem to
mind. He was still dilating in the voice
of a man who. after years Of hopeless
searching. has found his Utopia.
Strolling downtown again. the cub
passed an automobile establishment.
There he paused. and again beheld the
demand of the gypsy corpuscle on all
being, high or low. In this place were
half a score of men and women ex-
citedly discussing the prices of autos.
their possibilities and their hill-climbing
and tree-dodging tendencies.
-
One after another the big new machines
would be wheeled slowly outside and the
buyers-or prospective buyers-would
climb aboard and start away in them.
There were all kinds Of machines-big
cars, capable of holding seven and eight
persons: little affairs, intended for two:
red and yellow and black cars run with
the sedately silent power of electricity or
the more demonstrative gasoline.
The cub reporter fed. This was becom-
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-05-12

the river is shallow, on account of the
current hugging close TO the eastern side
of the river. where the water laps near
the protecting bastions of Fort Wash
ington. 1t is in the deeper water. the
depth of which varies from twenty to sew
enty feet, that the mine practice is car
ried on. Every day In the year some
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-05-12

FEW miles down
the Potomac, in
the region of grim,
i V y-c | a d Fort
Washington. e K
p eri m e Mt s are
being carried on
with Uncle Sans
submarine fort s.
and the reyerbera-
tons of mines ac-
tually fired, as the
climax of a years
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-05-12

imaginary ball. knock 1t under an imag
mary wicket and smile complacently a
the clerk.
'Tkercise.' said the old gentleman. 81.
what we all need. Croquet Is the idea
exercise-next to walking. Stirs the liver
sir, without overtaxing the heart"
The clerk nodded approvingly. Then the
. old gentleman made his purchase and
was supplanted at the counter by ar
apopiectic gentleman whose sole aim in
life seemed to be to purchase all the golf
sticks in the shop. Instantly he and the
clerk delved deep In a learned considera-
other things. which, to the cub report
er. indicated nothing but a gross abuse OF
the English language.
Regularly. each summer said the
play to beat boyle. I usually quit about
July. This year I'm going to stick until
January, and I'm going to beat boyle
even If l have to carry the ball to the
holes and drop 1t in!''
After he had departed the clerk con-
fessed to the cub reporter.
He's like that each summer" said he.
Always gets the fever and always quits
when the sun gets good and hot. Ten to
one. he'll stop long before July this year.
well. he gets a lot of amusement out of
hoping"
X
Tnere was another man, brown.
skinned athletic-looking man. who pur-
chased fishing tackle enough to clean out
the entire Potomac river. And there was
a ock-headed, hin-shoLidered, bespec-
tacled young man. fairly oozing sentimen-
tally. who inquired hopefully the price
of canoes and the difficulty in learning
to manage one. There was a sweet-faced
girl, clad in one OF those white sailor
suits, who purchased tennis balls and in
quired after her racquet, which was be-
ing repaired, in the tone one might use
when asking after a rich relation who
was taken suddenly i'll.
Thus they came and went, all lured by
the cry of the out-o'-doors, all impatient
to respond to the call OF the gypsy cor
puscle that is neither red nor white and
that seeks to make vagabonds Of human
tty at this season Of the year.
Departing from the sporting goods store
the cub reporter stole away to the river
front. All the way to Georgetown there
was one continuous scene of hustle and
hurry as men calked and scraped and
painted and pottered around their motor
boats and canoes and the various other
kinds of craft. An aged boatman was
engaged in stopping several large crac6s
in a double-oared outrigger.
Each fall he lamented, ST take care
Of her when / put her away. and each
spring when bring her down she opens
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-05-12
ny THE CUB REPORTER.

RS everywhere. In
the country clubs,
in the markets, in
the ting goods
stores, along the
river banks where
the boatmen are
reftting I h e | r
canoes and launch
es, in the parks
everywhere, 7 n e
Maynard corpuscle
has begun its ap-
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-05-12

free. gay life.
The mld-eyed clerks eyes watered
alphabetically.
MY dear boy" said he, you'd never
realize that the men who come in here
to buy stuff during the springtime are
the same AS
y
Just then the door opened and seedy
man popped in. He wore dingy black
suit and his shoes were unshined.
Gimme a straw hat" said the dingy
one peremptorily.
'Yessir,' said the clerk. ''any kind,
sir?"
NO" said the dingy one. IT want a
straw hat with blue ribbon on it. An
I want two pair o. blue and two pair o
red socks. An I want some neckties with
polka dots in 'em. saw a man yester-
day with a polka dot tie''
The clerk forbore to make suggestions.
He brought forth the colors. in combina-
tions that fairly ate each other up. The
seedy purchaser handed his derby (an
unbrushed affair to the clerk and sup
planted 1T with the new straw, which he
thrust jauntily back until 1t covered his
medulla oblongata. Then he skipped out
of the store with the parting assurance
that he'd make a splurge this summer"
That" said the mild-eyed clerk, lis a
fair sample. Men who would not think of
their appearance In December burst forth
like Gala lilies-I don't know what they
are, but I heard OF 'em-and buy all
kinds of colors. Day before yesterday an
old gent came into our suit department
and bought himself q two-piece white
serge with green stripe in 1t. It was
a screech. believe me. Then we sell bar
rels of colored handkerchiefs. The old
idea of a lavender shirt with tie, hand
kerchief and socks to match, sticks as
strong today as 1t ever did. I'm sure ]
don't know why they do 1t. Personally,
like tasty dresser, but 1t SEEMS
And he rambled on to himself while the
cub reporter, sneaking out of the door.
murmured hoarsely to himself:
1--WE are slowly running down the trail
of the hayward corpuscle."
Next in the line OF adventure was
sporting goods store. This place, when
the cub entered. was filled to overlooking
with persons of all ages and desires.
Here, indeed, the wayward corpuscle
seemed to come strongly into its own.
neither giving nor asking quarter.
In the rear OF the store four ex-
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-05-12

A T This Season of the Year
"A Something Stirs Around
in a Mans Blood and Makes
Him Want to Get Out OF
Doors-Fresh and Verdant
Cub Reporter Seeks to Track
the Corpuscle to Its Lair
Finds That It's Ravages Have
Become Epidemic = Various
Types of People Who Sue
cumb to Its Bite-Jottings,
Here and There, Show How
Prevalent Is the Disease.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-05-12


peal. Base ball and the lure of the hsh-
ing pole and shady hooks that draw the
drowsy schoolboy from his books-even
the pIaintive peep of the saturnine seller
of strawberries carries with 1t the note
of the QUITO doors. and brings to the
fancy a fairy dream of places where the
world is all green and benowered. and
onlv the dull buzzing of insects disturbs
the peaceful scene.
The cub reporter slouched up TO MS
desk last week in a manner that would
have driven less patient person than a
city editor TO desperate deeds. The city
editor lacking homicidal tendencies, re-
sorted 10 sarcasm:
why don't you see DOCTOR" he
snorted.
Thank you, SIR said the cub
And" concluded the city editor in a
voice of cold fury, when you come back,
sit down and write nice little piece tell
ing all about your ailments"
The cub reporter went TO doctor. That
learned man butted him on the chest,
gazed raptly at the lower end Of the
cub reporters tongue. made learned OBJ
ssrvations about respiration and aortal
acceleration and concluded by shaking his
head sagely and demanding two dollars
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-05-12

In line with the intense desire Of the
War Department to build up this subma-
rine arm of the service. a most exacting
test is constantly made, not only of the
mines themselves, but of the members OF
the coast artillery who have charge OF the
perfection of these engines of destruction.
To this end the work OF each man u
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-05-12

this way causes the explosion. The kind
of mine that caused havoc to both the
Japanese and Russian ships in the recent
war was not controlled from the shore.
as are all mines used by the coast artii-
lery.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-05-12

When the ship to be destroyed gets in
the proper position over. or near. the
mine the officer in charge of the battery
at the casemate touches the proper but
ton. there is terrific roar. and force
against which no ship can ride blows up
ward. lifting and crushing whatever may
be in the way. Many Of the mines con-
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-05-12
lka} Blooms IN Tie Sprip8HaLol

reporter. that at this season Of the year
your customers show symptoms of a de-
free, gay life.
The mild-eyed clerks eyes watered
sympathetically.
MY dear boy" said he, you'd never
realize that the men who come in here
to buy stuff during the springtime are
the same as"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-05-12

Each of the mine planters is equipped
70 carry sixteen officers and men, besides
four sailors for the manipulation Of the
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-05-12
THE NINE PLANTER, GEN. r.. T. FRANK.

s
The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1912-05-18
5ERTON B@ALEy

said the wise Stay single; wife handcaps Won.
she weakens your courage and palsies your arm
ana uown 20 the routine OF living she straps YOU
FRYING TO keep you from danger harm,"
But went and married n dear little grille
Who promised TO stick TN Gabrels trumn.
ana since we were we'd have risen up early
And kept myself evermore right the jump
SHE'S urged me TO chances I'd have taken
shes prodded me when wanted to quit;
And when I've come home with my courage all shaken
shes stiffened my nerve with her daring wit
And though she has babies to shelter aud mother.
shes made me fight while the rations were short.
ana when think over hings-one and another
know that my wife is good little SPORT
You take II from mewhere ONE fellow Ia hammered
BY having wife. will sometimes occur
There twenty least successfully scamnered
Clean out of the mob-with wife for a spurl
There's many man who is only a plodder
That nevertheless has arrived the top
Because OF wife with sharp little prodder
Who hurried him on when he wanted to stopi
The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1912-05-18
AT THE METROPOLITAN


"The Pink Lady" will be the at
traction at the Metropolitan theatre
next week. opening tomorrow night
for a stay OF seven nights and two
matinees. on Wednesday and Satur-
day afternoons.
The presentation is an amusing
story in three acts. adapted from
the French of Berr and Guilemaud
By G. NJ s. Mcclellan. with an &C
companying score by Ivan Caryll.
II requires n company OF 50 peo-
pie 70 bring It out and an otches-
ira OF selected musicians from New
York city will handle the music.
The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1912-05-18
TO APPOINT TWO
CUSTOMS INSPECTORS

In order to keep up with the rap.
idly growing shipping business OF
Seattle. two customs Inspectors will
be appointed in the next two weeks
TO board every incoming vessel. both
night and day. For this service.
which prevails In all the ports OF
the East. nominal charge will be
made. George r. Claiming. special
agent for the treasury. leaves for
Washington next week. where he
will try TO get an appropriation for
a boarding launch to be used BY the
lnanocfOrE.