davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-04-25

REAL REFORM.


In the Gazette's news story the other
day concerning the plan to work
county prisoners on the roads, the
financial value of the scheme was en-
phasized. But that consideration
important as it isis not the most
valuable. BY being afforded regular
work. the county's unfortunate guests
will have the benefit of healthful oc-
cupation. The great need of the Kan
sas Jail system, and it is most deficient
in many ways, is to inculcate habits
of industry among its prisoners. Jails
at present are simply 2 lockups, de-
signed never for comfort, with little
thought of sanitation and cleanliness,
and only to prevent the prisoners from
escaping. In the man all to large per-
centage of the population of Kansas
spends its time in absolute idleness. To
a young impreSSionable boy, and 1t is
sad to relate that many offenders are
in their teens, a few weeks or months
of idleneSS in the atmosphere or an
average Kansas Jail will make a full
fIedged Jail bird out of him. Relief
of prisoners from this vile atmosphere,
and employment at a steady job, is the
first step toward jai reform. 1t is 10
be highly commended, and Lyon
county's officers are TO be praised for
being among the first to take progress
sive action. Three-fourths of those in
custody of the law in Kansas never go
to the major prisons. They are held
in county jails and city lookup, and
the manifest place for prison reform
TO Degln is IN these S1nailer lnSIlluIlons.
-Emporia Gazette.
KANSAS AND NEW YORK.
1t is often taken for granted that New
York as the biggest city in the world
sets the pace for all the rest of the United
States. 1t very likely does In large
number of things. 1t is often a matter
of mild satisfaction. however, for Kansas
to know that in matters of public senu-
ment Kansas often shows the older states
For example at the present time. the
assembly of the Empire State Is working
over the laws in order to make the New
1 ork Stock Exchange more decent as
business proposition. One would hardly
dream that the alfalfa belt would be tell
ing Wall street how to run it's financial
affairs. Yet in the New York World we
find Governor Sulzer and the World sug-
costing this to the assembly:
''2-Estabishing a bureau OF securities
under the control of the banking depart
ment to supervise the character or the
securities offered to investors and fash
Toned after the blue sky law of Kansas,
We also observe that Mayor Gaynor mas
ordered the midnight cabarets of Broad
way and the Tenderloin to shut up shop
at O'Clock and go home.
Like Kansas does.-Wichita Eagle
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-04-25

Although, of course, it might teach
the cat a. Lesson
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-07-27
Not Satisfying.

CECRETARY OF COMMERCE RED
- FIELD. apropos Of his purpose to
investigate such firms as reduce salaries
on account Of the new tariff, said at q
luncheon at Chevy Chase:
"It won't be very comforting to one
who has voted for a lower tariff to find
that in consequence 10 or 20 per cent is
cut from his wages. And the explanation
given him-lower tariff, lower pay-will
be about as satisfactory as the quack
doctors.
"A boy who worked for a butcher was
engaged by q quack doctor at the same
wages-5 q week and a ten pound roast
every Saturday night. The roast was
computed as worth 81 extra.
1.-THE boys first week passed quickly
in his new job, which consisted OF filling
pint and quart bottles with liver cure,
and on Saturday evening the boss hand
ed him S. bill.
Here, doc, how about thisr said the
boy. You're 81 short
You only got S. at the butchers.
snapped the doctor.
ct know, doc. but there was q ten
pound roast, worth 81. thrown in
Well said the doctor. since that's
the case. l don't mind throwing In .
couple Of 81 bottles OF liver cure.'"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-07-27

these park fences to be not painted. but
whitewashed. In browsing through
report made by Col. o. f. Babcock, in
1872. the Rambler found this:
All the wooden fences inclosing reser-
vations under my charge. except the
Smithsonian grounds and Armory square.
have been given coats of brown wash.
which was substituted for white wash be-
cause it does not become dirty so soon
and the reflection OF the sun Is not so
glaring and uncomfortable during the hot
days of summer"
Another practice of the office Of public
buildings and grounds at that time which
would seem strange to the public Of the
present was the letting out of government
grounds for sundry purposes and turning
tho rental money over to charity. In
the same report which treated of the
relative merits Of brown wash and white
wash for park fences was this:
A portion of Judiciary Square has
been rented for $50 per month for the
purpose of preparing material for asphalt
pavements and the money has been do
mated to the Women's Christian Associa-
ton, which occupies the buildings ad-
Jacent to the grounds rented.
During the year the reservation on
9Th street has been rented to circus and
menagerie companies and the money has
been in part donated to the Soldiers and
Sailors Orphan Asylum and the Children's
Hospital, the latter being a benevolent
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-07-27

and is finged with mature, though
not old, elms.
Climbing the hill from the top Of
which men and horses with scrapers
were cutting away the clay the Ram
bier stood near the abandoned house.
The windows were broken out and
partly boarded over in q rude way.
Some of the weather boarding had been
torn of. exposing the timber skeleton
of the shanty.
Anybody live there?" asked the
.;ambler of one of the men with the
teams.
NO"
"Do Won. know who did live there?.
Nobody lived there. 1t was Ice
house."
whose ice house,"
"Don't know. 60 over and look down
in it,
!. From an opening on the south side
YOU look down about thirty feet into
a circular, wen-like pit twenty or
twenty-five feet in diameter and walled
with brick It gives you the impress
sion Of a gigantic well. How deep II
NAV have been you cannot guess. such
a mass Of debris having fallen into IT.
Though the shack shown by the pic
ture is rectangular 1t sets over the top
of q great and wide vertical pore In
the earth.
what ice house it was, why circular
ar when or why abandoned, the Ram-
bier could not learn from !nosc men
who were cutting down the NH.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-07-27

river between Washington and .Benning.
From the intersection of Maryland ave
nue. and 18th street, H street leads east.
with Cottage hill and it's few venerable
houses. and some new ones, rising on
the north. Graceland cemetery, now
tombless and graveless tract, is on the
left hand The street leads down grade
between fields and some houses, and
flower gardens and nurseries. 1t is a
busy street. with electric cars rumbling
to and from many points in the eastern
part of the District and points in Mary
land as far as Baltimore. There is also
a heavy traffic of autos and horse-draWn
vehicles. Far to the right you see COM
mons and the jail At the bottom of the
grade You have been descending there
stands on the left the District refuse ere
matory, with a variety of debris, hun
dreds of bales of waste paper. piles OF
discarded tin. rags. boxes, barrels ana
brick. The waste paper is sent to pa
per mill. the tin is used in making win
dow-sash weights. the old cans are de.
timed and barrels are sold at greatly
reduced prices.
With solid refuse the shore line here
has been built out 800 yards into the
marsh. On the right hand the shore line
has also been extended by a dump. For
nearly half a mile your road is built
across the marsh. On the left is green
aqueous plain. Your eye can Ioilow II
on the Washington side to Hickey run,
along the base of the hills on which the
Industrial School stands and across the
District line. On the east side OF the
river the view of the waste extends be-
yond the Benning race course. the Lick
ing banks and over the District line. On
your right hand the green and unpleas-
ing vista extends beyond the railroad
trestle and the Pennsylvania Avenue
bridge. Ribbon grass. pickerel weed,
wild celery. cat-tails. flags and that wa
ter grass which botanists call potama-
.geton fill the view. Out of this green
level rise here and there mounds sup
porting trees and wild shrubbery.
After travelling this long causeway you
come to the short bridge which spans a
narrow, sluggish stream, all that is left
of the Anacostia river at this point A
few lighthouses and small boats are here.
relics of a more prosperous past, ana
some folk fishermen and hunters, like
the sensation of guiding their craft along
the tortuous stream and through 1.-The
green tangle.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-07-27

foundation for new. or tearing down old
buildings and doing the heavy work or
the city.
The married women of the neighbor-
hood cook, wash. scrub and group them
selves on the doorsteps, or about the
doorsteps when the household chores
have been done. and perhaps sometimes
when they have not been done The
news of the gossip of the neighbors and
neighborhood is as appealing to them as
to their more leisurely sisters.
A large percentage of the young people
of the neighborhood work and dutifully
add their earnings to the family income
The girls are especially helpful In this
respect. Young women of the coiored
families go out lin service" and those
of the white families follow various en-
pigments. The boys generally seem not
up to the standard of industry and reg
ularity set by their sisters. Games and
outings and corner loafing are more con-
genial that work to a high percentage,
but they will probably settle down to
the pick and shovel when they have
sewn their wild oats. The middle-aged
and old laborers now so steady. regular
and disciplined to hard work were per-
haps as irresponsible in their youth as
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-07-27

mum each. they would represent ideal
sinecures for the original Wilson demo-
Gratis who have been starving around
Washington these hot summer days.
Hundreds of organizations would will
ingly pay President Wilson large sums
Of money for the mere use of his name,
which would be about the greatest asset
that any organization could have. 1t would
guarantee the success of almost any APP
peal for support that could be made TO
the representative people of any COM
munity. For this reason Secretary Jo-
seph Tumulty exerts the greatest care in
considering the applications Of different
associations for the honor of the Presi-
dents membership, meaning the use Of
the Presidents name
There are constant appeals" said
Secretary Tumulty, from many or
CARNATIONS which are apparently of
good standing in their communities.
But If the President should go 50 far
as to accept one of these he would
undoubtedly be swamped within a
week 1t is this danger rather than
any actual disinclination to join that
prevents the President from holding
even more offices than he holds now.
Some of the invitations are decided
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-07-27

head will not permit him to give away
job or two.
The President like his predecessors,
is using two-cent stamps at the rate
of between three and five thousand
year in declining the honor Of joining
various organizations. Almost every as
sociation from the Ibsen Literary Club of
Ishpeming to the Veteran Onion Pickers'
Association of Oshkosh besought him for
permission to use his name as president
ex officio at the head of its stationery.
But such honors are uniformly declined
by Mr.. Wilson. 1t Is an unwritten rule at
the White House that the President shall
not join private or sectional organizations
when II is impossible for him to give his
attention or time to them.
There are certain jobs. however.
which the President does not decline.
Precedent has made them perquisites of
the presidency. First among these is
the presidency of the American National
Red Cross, an association which reaches
around the world Mr. Wilson by virtue
of his Office became president ex officio
of this society, and will automatically
retire from the office when he leaves
the White House. after which he will re-
tain the title Of honorary president of the
organization.
THE American National Red Cross"
said Miss Mabel Boardman, the active
head Of the society. is primarily an or
ganization to render speedy succor when
great accidents or disasters have para
lyzed a community. Such an organization
as this must essentially be of national
scope and character. 1t cannot be in any
sense a private organization. An appeal
to the people should be made by the head
OF the people-the leading officer on the
nation.
Therefore, in time of food or fire or
mine explosion or railway wreck, or
where any great cataclysm has occurred,
1t is necessary that the President issue an
appeal. For this reason he Is placed at
the head of the American National Red
Cross 1t makes the organization, in q
degree, responsible to the government by
placing 1t under the nominal control Of
the executive at the governments head"
President Wilson. as president ex eficio
of the american National Red Cross, had
to use his authority earlier than his pred
ecessor. When he had been in office only
A few weeks the country was shaken by
the first reports of the foods at Dayton
and Columbus, Ohio.
Miss Boardman called upon the Presi-
dent. and within two hours after her visit
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-07-27
Ruined Icehouse.

Ar the corner Of 23d and streets
the Rambler. looking south, or
toward M street, saw men with horses
and scrapers cutting away the top of
hill which rose about thirty feet
above the level of the adjacent streets.
On that hill was an old and abandoned
house built of timber and covered with
rotting shingles and heavy gray boards.
IAN old and humble home of the neigh
borhood about to be displaced by new
brick houses" was a reasonable de-
duction.
That part of the city seems once to
have been higher than now. In some
places thee streets have steep banks
on the sides and a few frame houses
have at their fronts dizzy wooden
stairways leading from street to door.
This Is the case with 23d between NJ
and n. Twenfy-third street is un-
paved. but it has cement sidewalks
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-07-27

The place for him to get a meal when
away from home was a cookshop.
This gave the Rambler the idea to
look for such a place and the one he
found was in a quarter of Washington
generally unattractive to the more pros
porous citizens. as we'll as to those per-
sons who affect prosperity. And the idea
comes promptly to mind that those per-
sons who affect a greater prosperity than
is really theirs must be a good deal more
wretched than people who are poor and
admit it and live on a scale proportional
to their earning power. 1t is not so very
distressing to visit this so-called poorer
section of Washington. Perhaps the peo-
pie eat as heartily, satisfy as good appe-
titles, sleep as soundly and get as much
enjoyment out of their leisure as many
persons who's live in more pretentious
neighborhoods.
The people in the neighborhood of the
cookshop which the Rambler visited are
very poor. judged by the Connecticut ave-
nue. or Sheridan circle standards. They
were very careless and unfa shionable in
the matter of dress. If they work, they
get up early to reach their jobs. They do
not hold positions Some times they
get situation" but when they work
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-07-27

ly humorous in their nature. Drinking
societies. fraternities and organiza-
tons Of a frankly convivial spirit
plead with the President to be one OF
them. One organization In its formal
request for the Presidents member
ship explained that as the President
was a good fellow. and as the society
was exclusively for good fellows. the
conclusion was inevitable-the Presi-
dent should join"
To all of these requests Secretary
Tumulty dictates polite individual
reply, explaining the precedents which
render it inadvisable for the President
to join and expressing regret that he
cannot do SO.
About the only organizations In
which President Wilson now retaihs
membership are the learned societies
of international repute. Among these
are the American Academy of Arts ana
Letters. the American Academy or Po-
litical and Social Science. the American
Historical Association and the Ameri-
can Economic Association. He Is also
q. corresponding member of the Massa-
chusetts Historical Association.
downright, 1913, by John EafretA WatknsS
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-07-27

horse path and also as foot path by
many of the pilgrims who stray that
way.
A few hundred yards north Of the
Quarry bridge Rock Creek bends to the
westward. and at this point the north
and south drive crosses it. Through
the flowing creek the road dips down
and then climbs up. passing along by
big beeches, whose trunks are carved
and SCARED with many initials. dates,
hearts and arrows. till it passes out of
the Zoo at klingle road and into Rock
Creek Park.
Thousands Of autos bound in and out
of Rock Creek Park follow this beauti-
ful road through the Zoo and here under
the trees where the creek races over
the depressed way one will see on Sun
day afternoons a procession of the auto
mobile population of Washington.
The water of the ford is churned white
and foamy by the whirring wheels, there
Is a blue fog of gasoline smoke and a
din OF honking horns.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-07-27

several branches scattered throughout
the country. In this capacity he does
considerable work from time to time.
Boards of governors from the diner
emf homes officers of the national or
ganization, all possessed of plans for
this and that appear now and then AT
the White House for conferences In
this way the President is kept in direct
touch with the conditions of our vet
eran soldiers everywhere. This Is
help when q congressman comes In ana
shows a disposition to weep all over
the White House appointments because
old Private Bill Bazoop hasn't had ms
nension doubled. The President can
in a short time locate Bill. determine
his status and know whether the ap-
neal is reasonable or not
Rv becoming President of the United
States, woodrow Wilson made himself
president of the Washington National
Monument Association. This job is
eoualed, for softness, only by that OF the
specialist who plucks blossoms from
century plants. Each of our recent
Presidents has accepted the honor
blushingly, and has retired from the
presidency Of the society possessed
of only hazy idea that he has been
the official custodian of the majestic
obelisk which stands 556 feet in air
south of the White House.
By virtue Of his office the President has
also become one Of the regents or the
Row Scout movement This organization,
worldwide in its scope, has benehted
much by the patronage of the President.
and 1t has become the ambition of the
different camps to visit Washington and
call upon their distinguished leader. Presi-
dent Wilson has never been much OF a
wild west character, but he nevertheless
holds the honorary title of scoutmaster,
and has confided to friends that he be-
lieves that he could make good In q
pinch.
Another odd job which the President
must hold by virtue of his great ONCE
is that Of patron Of the Columbia lnsti-
tute for the Deaf, a retreat established
at Kendall Green, in this city. The chef
function of the President as patron Is to
meet delegations Of students from the IN
stttution at stated times and permit the
use Of his name on the organization's
Official stationery.
The only trouble with these many odd
1obs which the President holds ex ofncto
Is that there il no remuneration attached
thereto. With a salary Of 5000 per an
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-07-27

these present youngsters. OF course, the
older and settled men deny 1t, but the
young men of today are not essentially
different from the young men of yester-
day. If there is difference it is prob
ably in favor of those OF the present.
The youths of this class are more in
terested in athletic sports and are less in
clined to drunkenness and rowdyism
than their fathers were at the same age.
1t was in a section of the city where
these poor but satisfied people live
that the Rambler entered a. cookshop.
1t was the restaurant and the delica-
lessen of the neighborhood. Before the
front window was a tall board on
which was painted the bill of food and
the schedule of charges. The list was:
Hogshead, s cents.
Pigsfeet 81.
Pigs TAIL ).
Ham and Eggs. 10.
Bacon and Eggs, 10.
Liver and Onions. 10.
Cuttings. 3.
Pork and Beans, s.
Beef Stew. s.
Cabbage, 8.
Kale and Bacon. TO-
Spare Ribs and Potatoes, 10.
Crabs. two for ;.
Ice Cream and Soft Drinks. 5.
The Rambler talked with the people
who ran this cookshop. They talked
freely of the high cost of living.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-07-27
A VASE IN LAFAYETTE PARK.

forms are in scant drapery or none
Some Of the figures are dancing. some
merely posturing. some are playing the
Tyre and some are holding spear. Mas
turtium vines droop over the lip Of the
vase. Above these vines are crotons Ina
reds and yellows and greens, and topping
all is a graceful spreading palm. -
These vases were cast at the Washing
ton navy yard in 1871 or 1872 In the
latter year the officer in charge of pub
lie buildings and grounds reported that
1.-TWO beautiful bronze vases, copies of an
antique vase, have been placed on gran.
lite pedestals in Lafayette Square. They
were cast through the kindness of the
Hon. George NJ. Robson, Secretary OF
the Navy, at the brass foundry of the
Washington navy yard. They are some
seven feet high and weigh some thirteen
hundred pounds each. They are finely
executed and an honor alike to the gov.
eminent workshops and the mechanics
who constructed them"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-07-27
A Musical PIagiarist.

VICTOR HERBERT. tho composer. said
v OF a musician whose work he dis
liked:
THE prophecy that was made about
this chap In his boyhood has come true
In his boyhood, you know. his mother
said of him:
"sOh. hes such q remarkable child. A
perfect prodigy, in fact. he remembers
every tune he hears.
"sWell, well!' said q pianist who was
present.
Isn't that a very rare and valuable
faculty?' his mother asked.
at isn't rare said the pianist, but
TIA certainly valuable. 1t will probably
enable him to become in after years .
successful composer.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-07-27
Where All Autos Pass.

IF any one should be interested in
- making a census of the automobile
riding population of Washington 1t
could best be done at the Rock Creek
ford, near the north end Of the Zoo
grounds, or at the crossing Of the ways
at the east end of the Rock Creek
bridge, at Pierce's Mill. The time
chosen should be a pleasant Sunday
afternoon.
On a still. clear, warm night one may
see whirling stream Of autos, with
lights glowing, in Potomac Park. but
the place to see Washington autos and
autoists in greatest number and in day