davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-01-05

Preble, famous as the commander of the
Mediterranean squadron. which had such
peppery adventures with pirates on the
Moroccan coast.
His early letters comprise nearly
all of the early history Of the yard
for much Of the paper work of the
yard was burned when the British
arrived. or course there are reams of
this early correspondence which is of
trivial nature. yet every now and again
the first steps in some great naval
event are seen to have been taken right
here at the yard. For instance, there
that the ship Huntress May II, 1905
took on board from the navy yard
great quantity Of powder designed for
the Mediterranean squadron.
President Thomas Jefferson himself
was down at the wharf to see the
ship sail outward. He went aboard the
Huntress and advised that she should not
touch at Gibraltar. as that point was In
al the yard and yet a search of the rec
ords of the voyage shows the startling
fact that the Huntress had been out
from the yard only three days, in now
was chased by Spanish privateer and
captured.
Under Capt. Tingey the Washington
navy yard began to supply to a great
extent all the ammunition and arms
for the little American navy. Capt.
Tingey's letters show that the Harriet.
a neat little schooner. sailed from the
yard July o. 1905. with sixteen nine
Founders and other materials to arm
and equip the Hornet, then lying at
Norfolk. The Hornet. be it remembered.
under the great Lawrence, defeated the
British ship Peacock, and it was Law
renee who spoke the words which after
ward became the motto of American
fighting men on sea: Don't give up the
ship
The activities of the yard were of a
rather disjointed nature in the first
years. because of a lack of fixed ideas
on the subject of sea strength. The
mo battleship" program of the past
session of Congress finds an ancestor in
the politics of Tingey's days. AT that
time it was the republican party under
President Jefferson which undertook
to establish a program which ulti-
mately would have abolished the navy.
which under President Adams had just
seen the light of day.
Under Jefferson the naval establish
ment was cut down, for time at least.
Tingey all but lost his official head in
the reduction of forces. Congress had
passed law in 1901 authorizing the
sale of the entire navy, excepting
thirteen frigates, and of these only six
were to be kept in commission, while the
remaining seven were to be dismantled
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-01-05
Crocodile Tears.
CENAToR BRYAN was talki,

SENATOR BRYAN was talking in
- Jacksonville about a tariff clause
THE advocates of this clause" he
said. pretend to pity the workingman.
The workingman must suffer if the
clause fails. they declare. They won't
suffer themselves-they. alas. will have
to pass the suffering on to the work
ingman.
Senator Bryan, with a grim chuckle,
added:
Its like the young lady to whom a
friend said:
why are you so sad today. Marie?
"'Our servant is ILL., Marie replied
and tears as she spoke. welled up into
her clear eyes-'our servant is ill. and
poor dear mamma, alas. has to do the
wash"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-01-05

years ago he lived in little village or
JAPAN" began the Dream Man. "At diff
ferent times in the year they had festi-
walls. but every boy thought New Year
the very incest time of all, for then
there was no work to be done and every
one had a good time. Early New Year
day the little Japanese get up-in fact. 1t
Is SO early that the rooster generally has
time to crow only once. 1t doesn't take
them long to get ready, and away they
all go to the village shrine. Now, to an
American girl or boy this would probably
mean going to church, but in Japan the
churches are SO very different. Many Of
the people believe in gods of the woods
and trees and animals and they put or
naments and candles on the affairs to
please them.
when they are in the clurch the little
Japanese boys first clap their hands and
bow their heads and finally make long
prayers to the GODS continued the
Dream Man. when this Is over they
scamper home to a breakfast of cakes
with sauce over them, but 1t Is not until
o or 10 O'Clock that the rea. New Year
feast begins. 1t is such a funny feast.
too. or at least Washington boys would
think 1t queer, for they eat fish and vege-
tables and cakes and drink sake. the Jap
anese wine, out of curious cups and bot
ties. After the feast is over and every
one has enjoyed it they start out to make
calls. and even the little boys and girls
go to see each other or play shuttlecock
and BALL
find it rather hard to play games. for
many of them carry babies strapped to
their backs and they cant move very
quickly. They perhaps like to play ball
best Of all, for it is quite different from
the base ball that boys in Washington
play When Japanese girls and boys play
bali they see who can bounce 1t oftenest
and say a rhyme at the same time"
Gee! / would like to play 1T that
way, Mr.. Dream Man." Bobbie said, turn
ing up his nose the least little bit.
perhaps not. Bobbie. but then every.
thing is quite different in the villages of
Japan" replied the Dream Man. You
would be ever so surprised at the New
Year presents, too, for these presents
are not given to keep. but simply to be
given away again. Quite often these are
dried fish with a piece Of paper tied
around by paper string and fastened To
a little gold paper kite.
This little kite means tnat 1t is pres
ent and doesn't have to be paid for. But
they don't only give presents and wear
their best clothes, for all the girls and
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-01-05

American merchantmen were being en-
shaved by Tripoli pirates, and were
treated like fools or weaklings by French
and British men-of-war
Scarcely a famous engagement of the
wears lbs to 1872 took place without the
shipbuilding work at the Washington
navy yard having some relation thereto.
The timbers of the great Constitution
were repaired there; the Constellation
was refitted there. the great Hornet was
there for weeks and weeks in prepara-
ton for its terrifying cruises: Bainbridge
watched his ships being made ready at
Washington for their terrific descent upon
the Mediterranean. and stephen Deca-
tur's face and figure were constantly
seen at the wharves.
Graphing hooks forged at this yard
were used In those fearful struggles be-
tween oaken ships flying the flags or
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-01-05

inrton navy ward was the principal naval
possession which the country owned: anu.
Furthermore, there is scarcely memory
in all the romance of the early Gays OIL
tho American navy that has not some re-
alton to the yard
Every old sea song of triumph over the
French despolers of 1900. the Iripohlah
pirates and the British ships of the hne,
in the DAYS of 1872 has deep down in It's
Yankee twang "A hidden reference to the
ward. because for long time most of the
really important rigging. renting. arm
ing and coppering was done right mere.
Old Ironsides and the Constellation were
only two of the really great old oakeh
ships which depended on this yard for the
refitting necessary to a ship OF those
strenuous days. Every foot of the ground
now occupied by gigantic gun SHOPS ana
scientific machinery is sacred TO the menu
ory of work done there for the sole pen
eft of that little American navy when the
world first Sneered at, then cursed as
nuisance. and finally acknowledged as a
master.
The Washington navy YARD was estao-
lshed in 11gS. almost the same year when
Saw the launching of the 'reorganized
American navy which in reality was the
first American fleet. The wavering naval
and military policies of the early days OF
the Observation-Disclosures played upon the
Washington navy yard in strong fashion.
in turn. the yard nodded in idleness. and
then sweltered with activity the Amer
lean Congress awokc to thc fact that
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-01-05

wearing their pretty kimonos. there in
the Dreamland of All Countries" :,
"Oh, please take me to see them.
Bobbie cried, forgetting all about play
ing indians when the Dream Man talked
of the Dreamland of All Countries. For
that was a place Bobbie loved to go and
perhaps there are ever SO many "asnihs-
ton girls and boys who love 1t just as
well. only they call it the National Mu-
scum. Bobby. however. always visited 1t
with the Dream Man and he never
thought of the big white building as the
museum
Won't you take me, please?' Bobbie
begged again.
And me, too" cried little sister.
well. well, come along" agreed the
Dream Man, as he spread his own big
coat on the window sill and sat down on
it, ready to fly out of the window.
both" he said. So Bobbe and little sis
ter flew over the houses and roofs and
trees of Washington to the Dreamland of
All Countries. Once inside. the Dream
Man led them to the big glass case that
held japanese man.
\
Robbie this is the Honorable Okubo. -
said the Dream Man as the Japanese
bowed to him.
Now. most any girl or boy can find this
man there in the museum, but, you see.
II is only the wise Dream Man who can
make him talk.
.I hope your honorable self is quite
well?" asked Okubo. bowling to Bobbie.
Yes. thank YOU Bobbie replied, not
forgetting his manners.
Then Okubo began to talk to Bobbie in
quite the funniest language he had ever
heard.
I'll have to tell you what he says
Bobbie. for he is talking in the language
of Japan explained the Dream Man.
He wants to know" he continued ''i1
You enjoyed the great festival of the New
year"
"Oh. yes" said Bobbie. but not ar
awful lot. 'ause then the Christmas hol
idays are about over and ] have to &c
back to school"
We'll. Okubo says that in his country
the holidays just begin at New Year an(
for seven days they have feasts ant
games and every one wears his bes
clothes" declared the Dream Man
Would you like to hear about it?" h
asked Bobbie.
"Oh. please do tell me. Mr. Dream
MAN. begged the little boy, for he wa
ever so interested.
We'll. when Okubo was boy severa
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-01-05

leagues to the eastward of Washington
and the navy yard, the United States had
to give up it's dream Of peace and had to
maintain a Mediterranean squadron.
which started anvils ringing in the yard
and which. incidentally. brought the
great Stephen Decatur into close and in
innate touch with the very same old
navy yard gate through which thousands
of mechanics walk today
Perhaps Decatur was the greatest of all
the great men who depended on the
Washington navy yard in the days when
ships were taking guns and powder to
the Mediterranean. He was midShip
man aboard the United States in 179S,
which was chastising Frenchmen wherever
possible. for their inroads on American
commerce. He was the man who caught
a Tripolitan corsair and turned it over
to the American navy as the Intrepid,
and his most wonderful feat was the re-
capturing of the Philadelphia with It's
fifty-four guns and 80 men, and his
burning of the same ship under the
Bashaw's batteries in February, 1904.
This activity aboard made activity
here at the yard, and men, were employ
ed in considerable numbers. The records
show that one day in 1906 there were
forty-one ships carpenters. first rate, at
81 a day: eight second-rate carpenters, at
$175 a day: seventy laborers. at IS cents
a day: nineteen ship joiners, at $50 a
day; eleven calkers. at $1.75 day, and
five riggers, at $50 day. Labor was
cheap. Blacksmiths at the yard received
$50 a day, painters and coopers drew
$1.25.
The commandant himself drew only 500
a month. with certain additional allow
ances The force had to be increased as
the days went by. and orders were re-
ceived which meant activity. The great
ships United States, Chesapeake, Constel-
lation. President and New York were or
dered to be repaired and made ready for
sea service. and in 1906, the same year,
the brig Wasp. made in Washington, was
nearly finished and prepared for equip
ment The Wasp, commanded by Capt.
Jones, captured the British ship Frolic in
the war of 1912. An old writer says Of
the Wasp:
Notwithstanding the many depreda-
lions upon American commerce and the
increasing menaces of the belligerents in
Europe, very little had been done to in
crease the efficiency OF the navy of the
United States since its reduction at the
close of the war with the Barbary states.
The squadron in the Mediterranean had
been gradually reduced. but several small
vessels had been produced. Two of these
vessels, the ship Wasp, IS. and the brig
Hornet, IS, constructed after French mod
els and ranking as sloops of war. were
beautiful and fast sailing craft"
When the Wasp was launched at the
Washington navy yard she was &C
claimed masterpiece. The naval records
do not credit the Hornet with the same
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-01-05

691.0 according to Navy Department re-
ports. and this included the practical
destruction of the frigate Columbia and
the Sloop of war Argus. The burning
of the navy yard was but part of the
humiliation of the American people. who
for long time afterward debated
warmly the question of whether or not
defenseless as it was.
One of the relics of that fire is now
at Annapolis. 1t is monument to
commemorate the naval officers of the
American fleet in Tripolitan waters who
sacrificed their lives in those bloody
enga Sements with half-barharous pi-
rates. This monument was mutilated.
but not destroyed. when the yard was
burned. For a long time afterward II
stood on the west front Of the Capitol.
and in 1860 was set up in the grounds
of the Naval Academy.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-01-05

been determined that all vessels belong
ing to the United States laid up IN
ordinary at other points snail be brousne
to this navy yard, and all vessels now
in service shall return to this place ana
be fitted up here"
That much was law: yet Congress
foreshadowing similar difficulties of the
present day. failed to appropriate a cent
to bring more ships here, and for many
months in 1902 and 1909 there was little
of Importance to the naval world going
on at the yard. The only excitement the
few seamen at the yard had during the
broke out aboard the Constellation. The
General Greene was turned into noat-
ing hospital.
About this time. in 1903. the marine
barracks, placed exactly where they are
today. were turned over to the jurisdic-
ton of the navy yard There were IL
officers and 1SS enlisted men in barracks.
With the Frenchmen despoiling our
commerce and the English press gangs
boarding American ships and taking
Americans off willynilly. all America
was hot, and it is no small wonder that
the sailors and naval officers at the yard
were wrathful most of the time. 1t Is
probable they thought a pack OF fools
was running the government in the Cap
itol; which had not S placed a dome
1t is not difficult to imagine Capt.
Tingey and his second officer. Capt Cas-
sin. commander of the useless fleet, sit
ting in blue smallclothes and silver
buckles. with a round mahogany table
for their sherry and with long pipes In
which the strongest of ships tobacco
Rlowed The cornmandantS house, then
scarcely a year old, could probably re-
peat some elegant naval profanity OF
extremely salt flavor. the echoes OF the
unrest of those two square-cut sailor
men who believed a navy should be
navy and not dozen rOtting hulls.
Yet while the grog flowed in the fore
castles and the candles burned low In
Capt. Tingey's dining room things were
happening to shape events SO that Amer
can seamen would awaken the world.
The fates had chosen the Tripolitan
pirates to stir up American patriotism
for one thing, and 1t wasn't long after
those troubles were settled when the ma
val war of 1912 began. with which. the
Washington navy yard was Intimately
connected.
Americas commerce. just beginning to
push beyond Gibraltar and into the Medf-
terranean was being eaten alive by the
most remarkable band of freeboOters the
world has ever seen. Piracy in those
waters was a highly profitable employ
ment and seemed to be honorable enough
among the adventurous Tripolitans, es-
pecially when the pirate chief divided his
booty with the home government.
Because of these happenings, many sea
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-01-05

Nh OTHER had gone down town Tor
M the morning and Bobbie was hav-
e'e ing just the ioveliest time possible
PLAYING Indians with his sister. or
course. BOt,bie was the United States
Army and sister had to play at being
fierce Indian tribe, though it would be
awfully hard to believe II just TO look
at her At least that's what the Wise
Dream Man thought as lie perched
on the bookcase watching the children
play.
For Boobies sister. instead of wearing
a big Navajo blanket and colored feath-
ers in her hair as most any Indian would
do. was wrapped round in bright blue
kimono. embroidered with the funniest
little houses and people and flowers. 1t
was quite a large kimono: In fact, Bob
bie's sister almost tumbled on her nose
every time she tried to walk in 1t. for.
you see, 1t was Christmas present of
mothers. brought to her from that far
off country called Japan.
.'Oh, hello. Mr. Dream Man cried
BoLbie. only that minute spying the Wise
Dream Man sitting up high on the book
case.
Hello brave soldier replied the
Dream Man. with CHEEKY smile for.
while he is quite an old man-and such a
funny looking little one with his shiny
bald head-he loves to play with girls
and boys.
But YOU know what mother will say
II she finds her kimono torn he added
as little sister tripped over il again.
Yes, you'd better take it OFF, Bobbie
said to his sister in just the tone OF
voice father sometimes used. She was
really quite frightened and il wasn't long
before the kimono hung on the back of a
chair with all the funny little people and
trees and houses standing on their heads
Ibid mother tell you where this came
from, Bobbie?" asked the Dream Man
smoothing the wrinkles out of the big
silk thing.
No / don't remember" answered Bob
BILE, not much interested in a thing tina
after all was only for girls to wear.
Don't you know that in the far-of
country of Japan the men and boys "a:
well as the women wear these continued
the Dream Man. surely you must hav,
seen some OF these slant-eyed little people
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-01-05
WHEN the American Navy

WHEN the American Navy
w Was Young-Washing-
ington's Navy Yard Was Es-
tablished in 17e8-Hardly a
Famous Engagement of the
Years 1898 to 1872 Took
Place Without the Shipbuild-
ing Work at Local Navy
Yard-Yard Was Originally
Forty Acres of Rolling Land
Living on Eastern Branch OF
the Potomac = Land Cost
Only $4,ooo-The Old Navy
Documents and What They
Reveal.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-01-05
Old With Memories Dear the True Ae

the British Boxer. was made ready tor
her naval engagements at the navy
yard. arriving there April "a. 1911. After
being unrigged and disarmed, new sail5
were fitted To her. new copper bottom
was put on and she sailed away IN 4
suit Of new paint and Georgetown ropc-
Her armament was changed from long
light guns to carronades and two heaNv
chase gums with new carriages. she
equipped and sailed from the yard
a complete. stanch vessel, in all respects
good as new, says the bureau %,
yards and docks records She cruiSed
for a long time on the New England
coast. the terror of British privateers
The first British naval vessel the En-
terprise saw was the Boxer. fourteen
guns. under Capt. Samuel Blvth. which
charged the Enterprise with All Sa
set off the coast If Maine. The BoNer
surrendered. and English naval critics
gave much of the credit To the Enter
prse's equipment-Washin navy
yard brand.
The Constellation. which had gained
immortal fame in 1900 iu her engagement
with the French ship l. lnsurgente.
WAS taken To the Washington navy Yard
in 1910 and thoroughly made over an
operation which took several months
When she left the yard she was in al
respects even better than when sh"
captured the Frenehman. The Conste-
lation's victory over L'lnsurgente created
no end OF a stir throughout America at
the time. and capt. Thomas IruNtun.
commanding, was presented with a medal
by Congress. \ song circulated in this
part of the country in the early das
of the last century is redolent of the
spirit of the day:
ION hoard tho Constellation from Baltlmorr
came:
We had bold commander. and Truxtn ws'
Our ship she monn~l forty guns.
And "n the main - swiftly runs
To prove to France Columbia = sons
Are brave Yankee boys.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-01-05

-
along from one house to another to keep
out the evil spirits as the little Japanese
boys believe. Then over each door they
place two Japanese flags with trees tied
on either side.
ION the day after New Year con-
tnued the Dream Man, Everybody pre-
tends to do little work. This is to
show that they know they would all be
unhappy If they didn't do any work and
played all the time. The little boys and
girls get out their school books: the
mother does some sewing and the father
gets some rice straw and plaits a rope or
some sandals. But this doesn't last long
and they have ever SO much fun during
the seven-day holiday.
"On one day the firemen have a drill
and climb big tall ladders and do all
sorts of tricks just as you have seen them
do on the stage. But the firemen in
Japan have to get around very fast, for
when fire starts their little wooden and
sometimes paper houses burn right away.
lone of the things that the Japanese
girls and boys like best at New Year
time is the festival called The Homing
Of the Rice They decorate their wagons
with flags and paper curtains, and
branches hung with paper toys. and pile
them up with barrels Of sake and bales
OF rice, and as many men and boys as
there Is room for. Other men pull the
wagons, for in Japan even the little two
wheeled carriages called 'rikishas gener-
ally haven't any horses to them AS they
pull the wagons and carry the rice to the
different houses they sing songs, and the
boys and girls follow them.
80 each day of the seven they have
feasts and parties, Bobbie.'' continued the
Dream Man, though in many of the large
cities, with their trolley cars and stone
buildings something like ours. the people
living there forget some of the New
Year and other feasts that the people in
the country celebrate But there would
be ever so much for Washington boys to
see in Japan at New Year and any other
time, and there is ever so much to read
about
When the Wise Dream Man had fin
ished the story Of the Japanese New Year
that Okubo had told him he wrapped
Bobbie and little sister in his big coat
and away they flew back home, and Bob
bic wished that Santa Claus had left him
a book for Christmas telling him about
that strange country.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-01-05

y the good old days
when American sea-
men chewed black
plug tobacco and
when their officers
carried long brass
telescopes IL n d @ r
their arms, wore
cooked hats a n q
knew the names OF
n thousand differ
ent KIN OF s a n q
bitches, the Wash
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-01-05

the war of 1872 Under Commodore Rodg
ers. she lowered the colors of the Cornet.
which had previously been taken from
the Americans.
On one Of the Presidents cruises in the
West Indies she had a fine time picking
up wealthy British merchantmen, cap
turing three in as many days. The Presl-
dent had a melancholy fate. Under COM
mand Of Decatur, she was captured by
British squadron. and Decatur was made
q prisoner to be paroled later.
1t was in anticipation of these adVen-
lures that the President was fitted out at
the Washington navy yard. In 1903 the
reports show the nature OF the repairs
and refitting.
THE top of the plank shear and stills
Of the ports to be on a line seven inches
from the deck and three feet six inches
high in the clear. To have nine ports of
a side on the quarterback and four of
a side in the forecastle To be SO placed
that the guns may not be INSTRUCTED by
the rigging The taffrail rail to be cut
down to a corresponding height with the
quarter rail, and to have the same sweep
as the deck abaft