davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-03-31

stockings on that day Grave citizens
have been deceived upon the day: usurers
have lent their money on bad security;
experienced matrons have married very
disappointing young fellows; mathematf-
clans have missed the longitude and the
latitude; alchemists, the philosophers
stone; and politicians, preferment on that
day.
And yet through all the ages the mis-
fortune and the fun go on. There must
be time when people can drop the seri-
GUS cares of life and give themselves up
to the pleasure of a hearty laugh. SO
highly did the ancients value mirth that
Lycurgus raised an image to Laughter
and caused the people to worship 1t as
god.
Perhaps the oldest legendary origin OF
the day comes from humorous interpre-
tation of the Jews. On the list day OF
April Noah Is said to have made the mis-
take of sending the dove from the ark De-
fore the flood had abated, and in the Ell
fort to perpetuate the memory OF this de-
liverdnce the Jews ever afterward FOUND
1t necessary to punish those forgetting
the occurrence by sending in them ao, upon n,,s a
sion as Intellectual as that of the bird.
Hence 1T was the Hebrews who gave us
the popular custom of the sleeveless err
rand" which still obtains on this day IN
some of the countries.
Just how All Fools day came to be es-
tablished in Greece we do not know,
but we have a legend concerning the
gods part in It,
One opening April day Zeus, finding
Olympus exceedingly dull, complained
that he had not a single god with suf-
ficient wit to keep them in lively spirits.
Father replied Mercury, 1.-THE diver
sion may be found for us n earth; for
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-03-31

THE Mischief of the First
l Day of April-Legends
Handed Down Concerning
Certain Old-Time Customs of
Celebrating the Day-Oldest
Legendary Origin of the Day
Comes From Humorous In
depreciation of the Jews
Noah Said to Have Made
Mistake in Sending Dove
From the Ark Before Flood
Had Subsided-Other Stories
of the Day.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-03-31

be led around another way. Enraged at
their incivility. he sent to inquire into
their rudeness. intending to punish them
severely. These wise men. on hearing
that messengers were coming from the
king, decided to save themselves by fool
ing the king again by making fools Of
themselves. When the kings servants
arrived they found some of the inha.bit-
ants trying to drown an eel In a pond I:
some dragging a cart to the top OF a barn
to protect 1t from the suns rays; some
rolling cheeses downhill. expected that
they would find their way to Nottingham
market. and some trying to hedge in a
cuckoo which had perched upon a bush.
They were all at work at such foolish
capers that the kings officers decided
that it was village of fools, and conse-
quently unworthy OF his maJesty's no
tice."
In 1860, in London. there was a public
piece Of wholesale foolery. A few days
before the 1st of April many prominent
people received an invitation caro- py mail
reading thus:
Tower of London-Admit bearer and
friend to view annual ceremony OF wash
ing the white lions Sunday. April 1, 1850.
Admittance only at white gate. 1t Is
particularly requested that no gratuities
be given to wardens or attendants"
In consequence of this joke there was
a long succession of rolling cabs disturb
ing the Sabbath peace in a futile attempt
to find the white gate.
Pages could be written on the April
fool sports in America. What is more
fun than to inform a dapper youth who
has Just returned from a visit to his
fancee that there are several holes in his
coat and when he cries out I'm dismay to
quietly inform him that they are in the
nature of buttonholes? Or what is more
fun for the Juvenile than to place a brick.
covered by an old hat. on the sidewalk
for the passer-by to kick and make dis
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-03-31

lie order, in the large, general way Do
not ask more of them.
But against specialist criminals, plan
ming their coup in advance, another po-
lice is needed. The uniform is the bell
on the cat. The preventive police must
be In plain clothes.
1t is the detective force of NJ. Hamard.
over the green hillside and through the
royal palm valleyways. come the peas
ants, the grave senior landlord the come
ly senorita and the gallant caballero.
1.-THE cathedral and churches are
thronged We visit the former. The
faithful crowd the stately edifice and
thousands await without their turn at
the services, which continue until noon.
The magnificence of the Roman church
service in continental Europe is produced
in miniature in Havana's cathedral.
Erected in 1924, its grand golden altar,
carved black mahogany stalls and con-
fessionals, graceful blue marble columns
and many small affairs dedicated to par
ticular saints are of much artistic merit.
The cathedral contains excellent copies
of Raphael and Murillo, and tomb in
the chancel is alleged to hold the much
mooted remains Of Christopher Columbus
Oh, how odd, curious. the mass or white
and black worshipers, completely filling
the vast cathedral and promiscuously
kneeling together on its marble floor.
What an homogeneous assemblage 1t u.s.
Some devotees appearing 100 or more
years old, hold babes in swaddling clothes
in their arms. The worshipers are gener-
GUS; the rich freely drop their gold and
silver in the boxes for the poor, and the
peasants and humble classes give their
mites cheerfully. Why don't they have
pews in the Cuban churches, We wonder.
instead of budding the kneelfng and
squatting throng on the damp stone floor?
Now, see how pious the black-eyed, olive
skinned, comedy senoritas appear, and
what sad contrasts their peasant visitors
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-03-31

in the names ,oi- persons it is known mus
be absent from their homes at the time
fixed upon, anil the laugh Is always in
proportion to uhae trouble given"
In Scotland theyt scorn a single sleeve
less errand Heres they make the unsus-
pecting one do as many errands as they
can possibly whtAedHe him into. They will
send Jean to a n'sighbor perhaps two miles
distant, with Dte containing the follow
ing words: ct his is the 1st Of April
hunt the gowk another mile
Reading the n ete, the neighbor will re-
ply, Il cannot give You the information
desired but my next neighbor cam" and
he will direct Jean a mile or two farther
on. Then off trudgeas Jean. If he is simple
enough, to second, and third and even
a fourth neighbor. n successful affair of
their sides for we.,k. But, meanwhile,
how will poor Jean feel? The sleeveless
errand is likewise a. .favorfte in England
Endless is the joy If rustic can be
lage book store for History Of Eve s
Grandmother says Walsh in his 'Popu-
lar Customs; at the grocer's for a pint of
pigeons milk at the oobblers for strap
oil. The latter is a prime favorite. The
cobbler. If he is up H. the game, will
promptly give the innocent customer the
strap with no oil to moistensi it"
1.-THE Years Festivals relates an old
story concerning the fooNng,.of an Eng
lish king:
'Once King John was marching through
Nottingham, intending to pnss through
Gotham meadow. The villagers believed
that the ground over which a king passed
became, forever after, public road; and
not being minded to part with their mead
ow SO cheaply, they caused theSsking to
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-03-31

merrymaking time. despite the TACT that
there have been men profoundly con-
cerned over the nations welfare because
of 1t.
Such an infatuation attends the list
day of April" declares an old writer in
the World, "as no foresight can escape.
no vigilance can defeat. Deceit Is sue
cessful out of the mouths Of babes and
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-03-31
For the DEF enSe.

A NOTED critic and literary adviser
"A said at the Authorf Club in New
York:
"A reader-whether for a magazine or
for a publisher-doesn't re ad the whole of
every manuscript. Why hould he? Do
have to eat a whole cheea e.to tell whether
it's good or not?
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-03-31


Meanwhile, you cannot leave an auto
mobile on the Paris curb without risk
ing it's being run Off with. The pleasant
countryside of France is a phantasma-
goria Of soorching thugs. "A gray lin
CUISINE fleeing from Lyons" "A long.
red tonneau abandoned outside Grenoble.'
Mysterious double phaeton burning in
the woods OF Senartr' 'Hold-up OF pa
per mills pay roll beyond Uriage." Gray
auto dashed through Fontainebleau at
seventy miles per hourr-Quitting Paris
with sway
II hear some one working downstairs''
whispered Notary Tintant'e wife They
were in bed. at am.
The notary took his revolver and looked
out the bedroom window. He saw. with
across the street To a young journey
man baker. returning late from work. he
called: Please see IL my office door is
locked"
The young baker saw that II was wide
open. At that moment he was shot at
from inside. and three men dashed out.
carrying the notary's steel cash box and
f1ourishing revolvers. They made for
baker pulled his gun!
Thus set up veritable fusdllade. two
against three; the notary from his window
and the baker from the doorway shooting
Eighteen balls without result were ex-
changed as the auto dashed off.
But let tourists be treasured
Before tourists begin arriving Paris will
be cleaned up. At this moment you might
be shocked when you take a taxf-auto to
see an armed soldier seated by the chauf-
feur.
Yes, all day long, the soldier rides be-
side the chauffeur to protect him and
yourself. Half the taxi-autos on the
Paris streets have soldiers. They are
those who refuse to pay $12O per day to
the great strike fund; and ii has been go
ing on three months. Scab chauffeurs ac-
companied by plain-clothes men are shot
at br1ckbatted. but the military guard is
respected.
Also you might see a Paris lynchng.
Lynchings are common; the people are
excited. The thug who held up Mime.
Levilly for $500. being caught with il on
him in the Rue Auber, was seriously
lynched' in the fun tourist center. be-
side the steamship offices. 1t means that
the crowd smashed him and tore his
clothes off.
meeting OF public safety the fever will
break. The great preventive secret serv-
ice is practically adopted in advance and
every crook run through the courts whose
pastime makes the total Will be shipped
to Cayenne.
When the total lacks a bit the court
villa add it. Excessive severity for crimes
of violence Is the program. From ex-
cess Of humanity, which filed Paris with
thugs the pendulum will swing the other
way. Strong-arms, pepper-throwers and
gun-men will sail for tropical climate.
ship them all orr says Lepine, land
reassure tourists
Some people think France lucky to have
q penal colony.
STERLING HELLO.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-03-31

s there a country in
all the world that
does not delight in
the mischief of the
list day of April?
An old legend as
serts that fools
are made by the
gods. and are the
product Of neces-
sity." If SO, We
need have no fear
of the death OF this
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-03-31

Paris. In the midst or IL the master OF
the auto sat impressive, made no sign
until he was needed. A policeman had
jumped to the handrail From the limou-
sine the masters arm stretched a re-
volver out and shot him dead. The auto
darted on.
The scene changes to the Credit Lyon
nais. Early afternoon: a lady draws 6OOO
francs, stroIls home with it, mounts to
her fiat and enters. Behind her pushes
in a well dressed man. who beats her,
snatches bag and bank notes, locks the
door on the outside and tranquillys de-
sends while she is screaming. The jan
itor. who tries to stop him, is laid out
with an american punch, and the ban
dit whirls off in a waiting automobile.
The scene changes to a wealthy manu-
facturer's office. Telegram from business
friend making a hasty appointment to
inspect a patent device and the one tan
taIizing word important" Starting for
his friends Office, the business man is
accosted at his own door by a presentable
young civil engineer You are Monsieur
Y? ] have an auto Monsieur Y
is waiting for us al the inventors. The
working model is too large 10 move"
WITHOUT suspicion. he lets himself be
conducted to handsom fat, hired fur
nished by the week, where he is forced
% sign checks, wait till they are cashed
and left bound and gagged.
The scene changes to the opera. An ell
ecant, middie-aged lady, quitting her
party for some slight or tiff. halls an ex-
pensive livery auto, plying without taxi.
The opera quarter is full Of them, also of
private chauffeurs, picking up clandestine
Jobs. She thinks so. Also. she thinks she
is speeding home at night. Instead. they
whirl her to the Bots, take furs. jewels,
money and leave her so destitute that she
crawls home and dies.
These are the four types OF rampant
violence that have terrorized Paris into
appointing a monster meeting Of public
safety.
The types are four. but the variations
are numberless. In the same week one
business man is followed from bank and
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-03-31

POWERFUL pri-
vate auto dashed
past the Care st.
Lazare. pursued by
cries of the public.
With cold nerve.
the c h q u Z Z e u +
graZed the traffic,
upset hand carts,
S Ii C e d Of [ c a b
wheels. Crazy pur-
suit and turmoil in
central. tour ! 8 t
n
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-03-31

Walsh, in his "Curiositfes of PopularEus-
lecture concerning the origin of the day
to be that ascribing it to France. This
nation he says, took the lead over all
Christendom in commencing the New Year
January 1, instead of March %" Before
the change in the date April 1 closed the
New Year merrymaking season, and call
ing and giftmaking were prominent fea-
lures of the day. In 1864 when the re-
formed calendar came into use, New
Year was placed on January L Then
visits and pretended gifts in an effort to
make fools of those who failed to re-
member the change. This custom sur
vived long after its origin was forgotten.
April 1 throughout the nations gave and
still gives rise to many comfcal observ-
anceS. In Southey's letters from Spain
and Portugal he SPEAKS of the people of
Lisbon thinking it the perfection of wit
to pour water on passers- by, or to throw
powder in their faces. In northern Eng
land people thus treated were called
April gowks," gowk meaning a cuckoo
and a cuckoo standing for fool
Among ancient and modern customs the
Sleeveless Grand holds the most impor-
tant place. The Indian Hull festival, the
last day Of which falls one day earlier
than our merry time, Is a noted instance
of this folly. Since time immemoral the
day has been one of the chief festival
seasons of Hindustan and happy sport
for all castles is in sending people on dis
appointing expeditions.
'"They carry the joke so far" relates
Col Pearce in his "Asiatic Researches, -
as to send letters making appointments
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-03-31

A CTION Recalls the Vigi-
"A lantes-The Hymn of
New York"-New Kind of
Police-Gilded Youth De-
tectives-Various Plans to
Stop Violence in the French
Capital-How the Robbers
Work-Usually Escape in
Fast Automobiles.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-03-31

Right, it's safer to avoid the streets OF
Paris after midnight, even in a cab.
tSlapping pocket) My Browning in reach.
I had two hours practice this morning.
Madame: II have the box OF pepper in
my muff and also stiletto. Attention.
the street door" Monsieur: "Voyons, my
American punch. my sword cane-Ohe, for
a pleasant evening"
A variation of the business decoy was
invented by two educated youths. who
mutually drew and accepted a draft and
put it into circulation, payable at a room
rented under false name. When the
bank runner out on his collection. with
a sack already full, knocked at the door
to present the draft they let him in. as
sassinated him and got off with $18:JOO
This was neither one of the bank run
ners already mentioned or to be men,
toned, but yet another.
Bank runners, indeed, have been such
numerous victims that they are now sent
out heavily armed In couples or accom-
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-03-31

accumulate In Paris I have been COM
planning OF II for years. Now the results
are beginning to show picturesQuely The
remedy? Transportation for all eligfbles.
Each transported man costs 20 cents per
day? Pay II. Ship them all Off! Re-
assure TOURISTS
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-03-31

their health might 8 uffer In g. hot climate,
they are turned h )ose in Paris! The
truth is, transporta Jon costs dear, ana
Judges have even .been reducing SEN
fences to prevent c. poks' records aoolhs
up the totals!
do you know that they are thousanos'
these bandits,' excls lined Lepine. 'Tney
ers The strictest att ention is paid to the
elaborate chancel aervice There are
few organs in Cuban churches, but a de-
lightful substitute aie the large string
boys who form the white-robed choirs.
No female voices are heard.
Easter worship ovar, the afternoon and
evening are devoted to varied joyous
sports. The theateaS and plazas are
crowded. Military pai AIDES and reviews.
receptions and great family dinners are
INDUCED in. The famous jai lai.' or
Spanish basket ball, ~ the most popular
Cuban game, to whidh the Easter wor-
shippers hastily repair. and wager large
sums of money on thes players. Our Amer
lean base ball is a. favorite Sabbath
pastime. and now the. cockpit. the favor
lite rendezvous under the Spanish regime.
but prohibited under Our administration,
Is renewed. The 'holsyi cake cool re-
freScos' or fruit drink and the Cuban
ices regale the seven-d ay holy week de-
vout Cubanas in the % aster gathering at
La Punta's walls. Hen at the west en-
MORO castle. our first american admins
trat1on in Cuba built yfc first great sea
walk so popular with faie Havanese In
the late twilight of the ropics our Latin
neighbors end their Len ten season with
every variety OF wholessa me amusement"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-03-31

and bishops, attended with a thousand
grotesque attitudes. and singing of ludi-
crouS anthems. All the ceremonies in
tentionally alluded to the exploded pre-
tensions of the Druids, whom these sports
were calculated to expose to scorn and
deriSion'
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-03-31

hunt big game in Africa" says Clement
Vautel, shall be invited to try the great
game. the hunting of men! Let them join
the Flying Brigade for the sport of it, the
risk, the adventure. 1t is more interesting
and noble to track down a crook Of genius
with money, friends and DISCUSSES than
to run a wretched stag out of breath
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-03-31

present We see poor ilI-nourished crea-
ture. in faded calico gown and dlngy OLD
domestic spun red and yellow shawl over
her head She seems penitent and de-
vout as. with downcast face. and mutter-
ing lips she patheticaly follows the
service. Her tear-Stained face Is raised,
big, brown, glistening eyes and coarse
hair forming a dark shiny mass over her
shapely shoulders. She is unique pic
lass in her annual worship in the capital.
Next to her is an unusually fair
haired, rosy type senorita, probably from
the BASQUE province Of Spain An artistic
Partisan mOdiste has made her beautiful
black satin gown; her jewels are varied,
long pearl pendant earrings. diamond
necklace encircling well formed neck, and
fingers of each hand seemingly covered
with all the stones chronicled in the Book
of Revelation.
BLACK and gold slippers, with huge gilt
buckles and high French heels, are the
gear OF her dainty feet She coquettishly
glances from her silver and ivory prayer
book, We catch a furtive momentary look.
A plump, round figure, rouge and pow
der are artistically blended on her dim
pied cheeks: she quickly bows her head,
renewing her devotion. She is a fair type
Of Spanish-Cubans, who would attract
our American beaux and incur the envy
Of our American bellies.
THE Cubans are democratic in their re-
ligious worship, rich and poor. black and
white high and low, young and old. alike
are upon equal footing in these ceremo-
MES. No distinction is paid social rank
or official position. There is no spirit OF
ievity among these Easter day worship
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-03-31

Special Correspondence Of The Star.
PARIS March 1S 1912
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-04-22
Treated Her to a Speech.

I remember Winston Churchill as q
young fellow, very much in society
when he wished to be and as any cous-
in of a duke could be. but an en-
FAINT terrible to many d hostess, leaving
his manners at home when he went
out to dine and apparently some place
else when guests came to his mothers
house. Shortly after his return from
South Africa he offered to show me
his interesting souvenirs Of the Boer
war. But when we were en- tete-a-tete
he became so absorbed in discussing
the question of the Boer government
that found myself, to my amazement.
listening to an Grafton of three-quar-
ters Of an hour. He turned his back
upon me, striding over to a long mirror
to deliver to his own reflection there.
with numerous gestures and facial con-
tortions, wheeling around at the finish
to say, ut just occurred to me what
q capital speech that would make in
the house Of commons some day."
(This was before he had ever won a
seat) 81 wanted to get it fixed in my
mind before I forgot it."-From EN-
Hmacies of Court and Society,"" by the
Widow Of an American Diplomat.
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-04-22

It has been said the life Of Frederick
the Great as a boy under his father,
Frederick l., first king of Prussia, was
worse than that of Oliver Twist or,
Smike at Dotheboys Hall. The old
king was a tyrant Of the worst de-
scription, and his own family expert
enced him at his worst. Frederick as
a boy received instruction in music
and French from refugees in Berlin,
but when the king learned Of it he
stopped the music peremptorily.
The lad had little liking for military
pursuits. His father suspected his son
of heresy without having any clear
idea of what his own theology really
was. Once in a rage the king almost
strangled his son wish a window cord,
and at length matters were brought to
a crisis by the prince running away.
1t was only through diplomatic inter
vention that Frederick's life was
spared, for he was a soldier, and he
had been guilty of desertion- In his
fathers eyes this was a heinous of
tense and SO grave that friend who
was associated with the prince in his
rebellion" suffered the extreme pen
atty.
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-04-22
His Real Motive.

General F. D. Grant at a Washing
toms birthday dinner in New York
some years ago told story about a
young Boston Tory.
'"This Tory he said, fought during
the Revolution neither on one side nor
on the other. He took pleasure trip
on the continent, and he didn't came
back home again until the war was
over. He was treated very coldly by
society on his return, and this grieved
his good old mother to the heart The
dear old lady tried to explain the mat
ter one afternoon to Boston belle.
Naturally, as the head of the fam
fly she said, my son could not take
part in the war. To him fell the duty.
perhaps the more arduous duty, of pro-
tecting his mother and sisters and look
ing after the interests of the estate
sob, madam said the belle, with
an icy smile, you need not explain.
assure you I'd have done exactly as
your son did-I'm such cowardv"