davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-02-04

He still chases the daily loaf, but never
swiftly enough to tire ii out of breath!
Years ago, young friend failed"
where he Succeeded Brohen-hearted,
he quit Paris. and sailed home on Dor
rowed money: and he incurred long, be-
ing also touched by Parisine. But the
electric atmosphere of America got the
poison out of his soul; he became poet,
an editor entered the diplomatic service,
married a rich girl, and is now first sec
rotary of brilliant embassy, demigod
among demigods, in regions of mild, calm
and serene air. where the friend who
beat him in Paris ventures only by in
vitation,
An American mother came TO Paris to
educate her beautiful daughter. The
child grew in grace and wisdom. At a
pension dance she met rich youth of
her city, whom she never could have mei
at home. Triumphantly. she married
him, and queens it in the middle east
But the mother
The mother had breathed Parisne. The
life of hirh-class hotel pensions seemed
perfect TO her. To toddle 10 Galisnapis
for the illustrated periodicals; to idle
with lost Americans over chocolate and
waffies at Rumpelmayer's and the Crane
Vatel; to stroll with a book amid tn
chestnut blooms of the Elysian fields; IL
watch Paris elegant in the perfurned twi
light of the Acacias: to potter in cur1os-
ity shops, and club taXi-autos with new
tourists was a life 100 charming to re
She has now gray hair. In smar,
pension off the Etoile she has her bed
room and private parlCr adjoining, her
own carpets. hangings, bric-a -brac and
furniture. AS few in boarding houses
sport q private parloT. she is a person
age. She has but to beckon to obtain
amusing Observation-Disclosures Amer1-
can girls cultivating their voices
learning art or studying house decora-
ton: long-haired pianists of divers
nations. German and Italian army offl-
GERS ION leave" professors and special
lists, strong men resting, the kaleido-
scopic miX-up of leisurely Paris. where
every one has time to read books, visit
galleries, know styles, butter hot muf-
fins and chat about astronomy and
radio tivity.
young Kansas farmer and his bride
went bankrupt after three years bad
crops Having been successfully farm
er, lawyer druggist, physician and
photographer. he discovered an in
Simultaneous bath to develop and fix
light prints and quicker yet safe
magnesium flash. With these he made
stake and came abroad a really
desperate adventure
Arriving in Paris with his young
wife, just as the fashlight photogra-
ply of interiors was becoming practi-
cable. he charmed all with the beauty
of his work. He hustled. He would
enter IA boulevard cafe. ask vague per-
mission to take picture, brighten
them stiff with smoke and flare, talk
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-02-04

pressed, there is a considerable element
of ladies' found, especially in our So
called smart SETS who will always
hesitate to adopt any form or any man
ner of doing, things unless some titled
parsonage has already set the pace, this
imitativeness being shown not alone in
their choice of apparel, victuais and tore
of voice, but even in such small matters
as the tilt of the shoulders, the shake
of the hand and the use of slang. So to be
absolutely upon the safe side with this
element-and the considerable thousands
who in turn depend upon it for guidance
the very fountain head of our polite usaSes
will be drawn upon for a precedent for
feminine proposals. OF course / refer to
the court of ST. James, without which
all of our smart institutions would
fall.
Taking the virgin Queen Victoria as a
model. the polite feminine proposer, after
summonins the object of her affections.
should-to comply strictly with precedent
await him in a salon overlooking the
gardens Here, for NEW interminable
minutes, courage must absolutely fail her
to say that which her heart has been
whispering for SO many, many weeks.
Quotation historically exact, save as to
tenSe)
The victim-elect having entered, the
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-02-04
, of North Wales back in the twelve

Prince of North Wales back in the twelve
hundreds.
But the congressional leap year catch
who can boast of the likeliest combina-
ton of youth and wealth is Representa-
tive Butler Ames of Massachusetts,,
grandson of the famous civil war hero,
Gen. Ben" Butler. He is only forty.
The lady who snares him will find him
handy man about the house, for he has
a natural genius for tinkering Already
he has built himself an automobile and
an aeroplane.
Maidens seeking the travelled experience
of the patriarch in combination with the
grace and pulchritude of youth should
give careful consideration to the charms
of that suaVe and amiable bachelor dip
lomat, John Barrett, director general of
the Pan-American Union. Besides serv-
ing as editor and war correspondent, he
has in the brief compass of his forty
five years performed important missions
for his government in as many cOun-
tries as you can count upon the fingers
of your two hands. At slipper time be-
fore the blazing fire the widely travelled
John can be depended upon to discourse
entertainingly of his adventures in SIAM
Japan. Korea, Siberia, India, Mexico,
Argentina, Panama and Colombia, for
he entered the diplomatic service while
only in his twenties. In the drawing
rooms of the capital he has long been a
prime fayorite with the debutantes OF
officialdOm and banquet host he has
no peer.
Another leap year eligible, both orna-
mental and useful is the treasurer of
the United States. Lee McClung. Having
been famed athlete in his time he is
the physical ideal of the ardent and pow
erful knight who could bounce his lady
love upon his saddle and bear her off
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-02-04

same of bridge in the parlor of the
Poisoned Mother. some Sc winner. Hold
ing up a French gold piece, he said:
=. Had l lost that I'd have been bro 'e
keep a tin of biscuits in my ROOM he
laughed. Risky? It's delightful
All the peace" he went on. no more
office grind or care of competition, notes
to meet bills to collect, or business
sharks to get ahead of! With my
months annuity. I'm for the south of
France on my bicycle. With paJamas.
guide, book and tooth brush, | go for a
golden month with Mac G. and l."
These are two other Partisan WRECKS,
respectively from New Orleans and Lon
don. Mac c. is the gayest philosopher
l ever met. Once being short of funds
in Switzerland, he imprevised himself
hotel valet for month, and enjoyed it.
Having been poisoned five or six years
ahead of his present pals, he is their
guide. He processes to know more
about French, Swiss, Italian and Spanish
boarding hotels under a dollar a day
than any other EnSl.sh-spea King person
in Europe.
There's a boarding-farm outside Rot
terdam," he said, which includes use OF
piano, sailbuat saddle horse, billiard ia
BILE. table Eeer and coffee for 81 per week.
And | know SnOW-White inn powered in
roses on the banks of the Adriatics
where pink wine, different fish each
day of the week. ducks and snipe (Which
you shoot for the proprietary wild straw
berries, goat's-milk cheese, bread like
cake and honey at discretion come TO
10 cents per day.
Telling 1t at an afternoon tea, he was
begged for the addresses by two Amer
lean ladies' we'll past middle life I'VE
can use them in our business" they said
with charming frankness I'VE are or a
their lives and circumstances. / will bet
that they'll pay less and the group
more. Why not? The laborer is worthy
of her hire: and no Parisined one labors
beyond living expenses. Neither lady
has above SIS per week clear income from
home, yet they queen 1t at the teas two
afternoons per week, and drop in at Ga
Ii nanis daily.
Stand long enough at the bookstores
and you will see them all come and go.
The vast. luxurious bookstores are bits
of American territory in Paris. A thou
sand gay-tinted periodicals line long COR
ridors, brilliant with electric lights and
perfumed with futtering femininity. Not
utterly poisoned! They must have a Whit
Of America. To rub against real tourists
- wooliy and untainted they squander
precious 20 cents on magazine.
Bookstores are their weakness Res
taurants are their strength You can
hardly have cake and cup of chocolate
for less than % cents, but while the
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-02-04

charmed hour lasts the poisoned ones eN-
pand like flowers in dollhouse atmos-
phere. Their faces light up, their eyes
shine, and the two-cent bunch or violetS
AT their corsage mingling with the per-
fume of buttered mullins and extracts
shed by the rich elegantes, the dazzling
lights and the flower garden of love.y
afternoon gowns. fairly makes them tipsy.
The old girls fit from table to table,
patronize the young, fiatter chaperons
and mothers, drop phrases OF usefulness.
offers of service. make acquaintance,
gain introductions. bride. swell purr ana
forget all that is ominous or untoward.
Then, through the blue twilight they
toddle, attached to some party. under tho
long colonnades OF the Rue de RivoI. Past
the scintllating shop witiows they turn
into the red-streaked sunset of the mar
velous Place de la Concorde. spang-ed
with gas jets. its palaces. monuments.
fountains and forests in mid-Par loom
ing grandly. Past the white horses OF
Marty, they clutter into the Champs
Elysees their hearts swelled with beauty:
All Paris,' they murmur Beautiful
Paris. where money is scarcely neces-
saryi
Sad cases.
Lutte poisoned. i remember when the
elder of the two. a woman of tf Y, ar
rived in Paris with neither plan nor Iunds
TO really afford fur stole. broadcloth
coat SIS hat. two SO tailor sults. an
evening costume and corset made to
measure. Yet she had them all In the
first two weeks.
Il must appear like other American
ladies in Paris her explanation
Illness return and surprise funds ceased
10 have separate eXistences and became
cash. On $40 per week, certain income
from America. she went into n fourteeh-
dollar-per-w hotel pension. and pro-
posed to "chaperon girls and accom-
pany tourists shopping.
And she did it,
/ remember a cultivated, young aho
very pre- ty married woman OF a mio"est
CITY She came with her husband on
summer vacation and was instantly pol
soned by Parisne; but she conceaied her
condition. 1t was the husband himself
who proposed, I'm the goodness OF ms
heart that she should stay Few weeks
longer. having met friends. while he
Went hack. not to overstay his leave.
Now she was circumSpect, economical
and almost a bride; yet so did Parisine
ia stem on her delicate organism that she
snent her expense money, her emergency
money her gift fund. sold her return
ticket. blew the proceeds and wrote home
for more. Twice she spent two home-
ward passage money orders cabled to her
by her trusting husband.
The fourth time he paid the sum direct
to the transatlant;c company's Chicago
office and cabled {. friend: Put my wife
on board. by force II necessary"
The lady yielded gracefully.
She was the third case of cure that
ever saw. STERLING HELLO.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-02-04

tanker or sporadic spreer. American VIC
TINS of the bowl have even been cured
in Paris.
have seen American pugilists at i
o'clock teas in Paris! And Paris is, |
believe. the only great city where active
business men habitualy attend them The
American Chamber of Commerce here is
an intelligent and living institution. yet,
three afternoons week, you will seek
in vain its foremost members in their
Offices between 4:30 and $50 o'clock,
when they rush in to sign the, letters.
Where have they been? To pink teas!
They are but half poisoned, these
Americans of the chamber of commerce
Every day they breathe more Parisine;
but every day they work the excess out
of their SYSTEMS in forced contact; with
the home connection. Other successful
American business men. in Paris with
their wives. envy them the safety valve
Parisine attacking princes of industry on
their arrival makes them merely heavy
and melancholy. Yet, strangely. the
chamber of commerce men smile tender
ly on the down-and-out newspaper MAI
ager theater lessee, railway contractor
and chronic student.
+ remember when the railway man ar
rived, after iiquidating his affairs. Jubi-
liant and eager to 'enjoy tWenty-four
hours per day He said: Me for the
present." In plain, words he pretended
to be tired of accommodating money with
out time or opportunity to enjoy it.
He learned French in six months by
frequenting boys boarding school at
Suresnes, going through their classes,
umpiring their games. OF evenings he
snapped French and English with light
minded professors fresh from the Latin
quarter, and glad to revisit their old
haunts with Bixby to foot the bills. In
six months he had his own fiat: Joined
the Students Club: danced at the Bal
Bullier learned FIVE French songs on the
guitar; began drawing at the Julian
Academy: let his hair grow. and had his
corner at the Taverne du Pantheon
When hiN married daughter came hunt
ing him up told her sincerely that her
pa was studying art. Bit we found him
following the history lectures in the
Louvre; and two weeks later they learned
that he had bought a season ticket Ito
study the Theatre Francois repertoire
critically" Finally cornered by his
daughter. he was obliged to answer cate
Sorically.
What is my STUNT he laughed bois-
terously. "My stunt? 1t is life and liv-
ing! Homo sum, I am a man: and moth
ing human is foreign to met
Passing through the Latin quarter is a
mere stage. Like corks floating in orange
strip. those American victims of Paris
collect together near the, point Of high
potential, anywhere between the Arc de
Triomphe and the Milky Way.
One, whom I wi, call johnson, quit
$3.50 year in Chicago to live in Paris
on S2a per week annuity, product of all
Ms caTital.- Recently he came out Of a
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-02-04

as well as the humblest of your subjects
since you can find in your heart some
affection for me-
For ladies of the middle class a form
of proposal which John Baldwin Buck
stone put into the mouth Of the heroine
of his sprishtly drama, Leap Year. or
the Ladies' Privilege might be recon-
mended. This runs as follows:
''One of us must advance. j will he
that one. Friends, circumstances inter-
est passion. all urge me to take this
step. 1t is a bold one. but l will take 1t.
l confess. and now without shame or fear,
that my heart is yours, my fortune yours.
Will you take them?''
And now, concluding word to the
women Of our realm, who exercise
vote in six sovereign states and a sub
tie power of persuasion in all of the
other commemorative: Why not COM
bine on the proposition to pass through
each legislature a statute based upon
the following. which was enacted in
Scotland in the year 1888 and which
is translated as nearly as possible into
modern English:
1T is statuted and ordained that
during the reign OF his most blessed
majesty that for each year known as
leap-year, any maiden lady of either
high or low estate shall have the lib
erty to bespeak the man she likes: and
If he refuses to take her to be his law
full wife he shall be mulcted In the sum
of hundred pounds $500 )or less, as
his estate may be, unless he can make
it appear that he is betrothed to an
other woman. in which case he then
shall be free
Lest some skeptical reader of tho
sterner sex might conclude that this
statute was the mere within OF one
waggish monarch, let ii be added that
a similar law was enacted a few years
later in France, while late as the
fifteenth century the same custom was
legalized in both Genoa and Florence.
In this golden age Of suffragettes
and "progressives," when We are re-
turning to such ancient customs as the
recall system OF Rome, tbs surprising
that some doctrinaire has not striven
to revive this method Of taxing defiant
bachelors.
Copyright 1912, by John Elfreth Watkins.J
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-02-04

wooer now takes several steps forward
and ''murmurs':
You must be aware why l wished to
see you-alone-.
Iong pause should here intervene,
vooer and wooed facing each other with
inmeasurab,e embarrassment" the for
mcr with a painful blush and downcast
eyes. trembling from head to foot.'O
Wooer should then proceed, whisper
ing. little breathlesSly:'
1T would make me, too too, happy-if
you would consent to marry mel, VINO
am SO unworthy of you. l will strive
to make you feel as little as possible
the great sacrifice you are making, If
you accept. my lord and my joy.''
fWooed, upon Bonded knee, here should
kiss the proffered hand, then rise. She
next courtesies very low. Embraces.
Finis.)
Unfortunately history does not appear
to give precedent for the wooed ones
pert in this romantic dialogue, but to
smart gentlemen who demand a form
of leap year acceptance which has re-
ceived royal sanction we recommend
that used by Prince Ferdinand of SAKE
Coburg Gotha when he accepted the fair
Queen Maria da Gloria of Portugal.
The sole honor and delight l prize.
said he, lis to be yours-the most loyal
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-02-04
REPRESENTATIVE BUrLER Ar1E.S

unto the priest and his castle bold. He
was the star foot ball captain at Yale,
twenty years ago and he still Keeps In
training upon the tennis court. Only
he is fair to look upon. Moreover he has
a greater pecuniary responsibility than
any other American.
Perhaps no American bachelor in pub
lie life has to offer as many attractions
as Clifford Pinchot, the progressive" ag1-
tator. He is very rich, handsome, schol-
arly. and young-only forty-six. He lives
in one of the show houses of Washing
ton. has been educated not only at Yale,
but in the universities of France, Ger
many, Switzerland and Austria; has been
a college professor and federal official.
Many sportsmen regard him as Americas
greatest angler and big game hunter.
Moreover he has the entree Of the most
exclusive social circles here and abroad.
His sister, Lady tombstone, is the wife of
an eminent British diplomat. So the
lady who captures him will be assured
social career On both sides of the big
pond.
There is also a chance this year for
some ambitious lady to make herself a
Bonaparte. When it comes to name and
pedigree there is no more tempting EEL
igible'' that Jerome Napoleon Bonaparte,
Sd. a Washington bachelor, who will
reach his thirty-fourth birthday this
month. He is the great-grandson of
Jerome Bonaparte, King of Westphalia,
and great-grandnephew of Napoleon
Bonaparte, Emperor of France: AL
though born in Paris, he is an American
citizen and Harvard graduate. His moth
died this winter leaving him a for
tune and the jewels of his royal fOrbear.
This leap years list of young bachelor
scions of the great Millionaire fami-
lies is unusually promising. First there is
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-02-04

special victims Moderate tourists can
be attacked by Parisine on a short trip
Our old maids and widows succumb
alarmingly, and a disgruntled type of
business man past fifty. AS for youth.
inoculate the ambitious young American
with parisine and you need give no more
thought to him: he is arranged for life.
Fortunately most young Americans are
immune.
Thousands of both sexes. bright. hope
full. energetic. come TO Paris yearly.
Their briskness balks at the con
signe." Their push and go revolt at
routine. They want to know why;
they don't agree They follow medi
cal and scientific courses while learning
French. Deprived of the Conservatives
advantages, they discover teachers and
become opera stars. They get their paint
ings. statues and architectural plans into
the salons, make smashing rer utations-
and clear out. shaking the dust OF Paris
from their feet!
Yes: but the others. They too. came
bright-eyed and vigorous. They breathed
the atmosphere. and all was over with
them.
| remember young law graduate of
Philadelphia. Before starting to become
Il famous corporation counsel his family
permitted him a years polish abroad.
In Paris his first breath was an intoxi-
cation. The gay streets, shade trees,
fountains. monuments. historic romance.
living art. parks. promenadeS and side
walk terraces were all a revelation He
seemed to recognize everything and found
everything good.
He began the dreamy life of an OBJ
server. mingling with the pageant like a
parasite, absorbing the successful achieve
ments of others The year passed. The
fund melted. Certain writings. done hot
in his first appreciation. had brought
money; and permanent enthusiasm per-
mitted him always to turn out more,
just enough. like the widows cruise. That
was twenty years ago. He has never
done anything since.
He is where he started He has sold
his American birthrieht for mess of
bright promenades and amiable leisure.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-02-04

prairie exterior, neglect of clothes,
cocksure judgment and kindly democratic
heart: but his business pleads in vain for
space and employees he will not take an
office, organize a staff. exploit his mega
tives or put his baths and powders on the
market. He takes two months vacation.
messes alone over work that pleases him.
refuses double saves half his earnings.
and. as he says, enjoys "a peace that
passeth understanding
Paris is full of these amiable victims.
The prairie couple meet at afternoon teas
a white -moustac hed American once ia
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-02-04

might be of interest. if not of value, to
the many worthy but neglected spinsters
and widows of the land. And for the
guidance of all good ladies tired of a sin
gle existence it will not be amiss to add
a few classic and historic precedents es-
tablished by brave ladies who have pro-
posed to their future lords and masters.
and who have thus established a code
useful and essential to the fine art OF
leap year proposing.
Twere readily perceived why the Post
master General should have received
leap year proposal within the first few
days of this magic year divisable by four.
Only recently has he arrived at that age of
discretion when men are ripe enough for the
matrimonial market-for of summers he
has seen but forty and four. Like Wash
ington and jefferson. he is red-haired. and
stands several inches over the six-foot
mark-a combination bespeaking as great
emotional as physical powers With
cheek chin and lip as naked as those
of Adonis. he yet preserves the figure of
the Apollo Belvidere-a shoulder broad
and square and a waist line fully pre-
served. With year and a month yet
left in his term of office-and mayhap
four more years into the bargain-he has
abundant time in which to heap upon
some lady fair the exalted honor of being
a cabinet WIFE and of assuming a social
eTinence second only to that of the lands
first lady herself
He is the only bachelor adjoining the
cabinet board. and none grace the bench
of the Supreme Court But in the Senate
there are three
The youngest of this defiant trio is Sem
BRO nd of
forty-seven, who has to his credit a
wealth of good looks. But the leap year
charmer who wins him must possess suf-
traction of the seven clubs to which he
belongs-one for every night in the week.
Moreover, she should not be of an in
quisitive nature, for as chairman of the
committee that has lately uncovered the
evils of the third degree he has be-
come initiated into all of the secrets of
forcing confessions. AS his senatorial
term will not expire for three years, there
is abundant time for his captor to enjoy
the social advantages of his rank after
leading him to the altar
The two other senatorial bachelors,
Burton of Ohio and PenrOse of Pennsyl-
vania, are looked upon as confirmed mis-
ogamists, but there is always a chance
logical moment. Senator Burton, having
just passed his sixtieth birthday, can be
more highly recommended for his dOcility
than Senator Penrose, who is only fifty
one. But the Ohio senator's being a
minister's son may compensate for this
discrepancy in years-that is. if We &C
cept the ancient belief that rectOry-reared
boys are more prone to mischief than
those brought up in an environment more
worldly In a published catalogue of
Americans of royal descent Senator Pen
rose is entered a direct descendant of,
Llewelyn Iowerth the Great, who was