davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-04-27

There still remained number of places
untried. One of these was the Office Of a
hotel. Surely. the Cynic figured. the
clerk of a hotel. handling money every
day, would know enough to grab real
dollar for 80 cents. But not
The clerk at a big hotel on Pennsyl-
vania avenue smiled knowingly when the
Cynic unfolded his proposition. Also his
ceptble wink.
NO, thank you, he remarked. pleas
antly. Il don't believe j care for any to-
day. Kind of you to remember me-but
no, thanks,''
But take look at the dollar urged
the Cynic. Its perfectly good dollar
good silver and good money Any bank
would accept it. Look it over.
Don't care to look it over said the
clerk. still smiling No use really, old
man. I'm not buying any today And
so far as that's concerned. il any bank
will accept it. why don't YOU take il 10
a bank yourself and get whole dollar
for it?''
"But-but-the banks are closed by this
time stammered the Cynic.
Pretty tough" said the clerk, but
don't blame me for that.
Then you won't buy it-won't even
look at it, asked the Cynic.
That's right answered the clerk. Il
won't
But why?' the Cynic insisted.
why? I'll tell you why. said the
clerk, and he leaned far over the counter.
It's because I've lived in this world a
long time. and I've found that there ain I
anybody givin away somethn' for moth
in Get me?''
The lady who guards the nickels and
%;.f-a& 49, ~r1o -
MIA avenue moving picture parlor was
the next stopping place of the Cynic-
and his reception was short and to the
point When he first walked to the win
dow. his dollar displayed in his hand.
miqady glanced at the coin. tore off a
ticket from the strip tossed it through
the little opening, and reached for the
money
The Cynic showed the ticket back
Il don't want to go inside" he ex-
planned Il just want to sell YOU some
money / want to sell you this nice per-
fectly good silver dollar for 30 cents
BY this time the words had become al
most a chant
"A dollar for sale for 30 cents? Buy it,
Before the Cynic had even finished
what he had to say milady was shaking
her head negatively-and her shake was
vigorous.
But it's a good dollar. Can't you see
that" urged the Cynic. why won't
you buy it-when you can get it for only
80 cents?"
The dollar was now lying directly in
front of the girl She looked at it care
fully, but did not even make a move to
touch it.
Don't want it, she said.
But why not?' asked the Cynic.
You'll admit it's good. won't you?'
Well said milady, las to that. may be
it is, and maybe ii amt l don't know
much about silver dollars. But | do
know that if took it and it wasn't good
I'd be out so cents. And l do know your
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-04-27

old fashioned professional sign stickers
as by the .drummers' who drive through
the country. and in most cases the drum
mers simply hand the signs over TO the
country storekeepers. and those public
functionaries put them in place. OF
course, these signs advertise only what
the storekeeper has for sale on his own
shelves. But the tree signs nearly all
have passed away.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-04-27

recall tfat the flag of the Confederated
American Colonies was a field of red
with red cross of 81. George on white
ground in the upper staff corner. the
Bunker Hill American flag was blue
field with a red cross Of 81. George on
white ground in the upper STAFF corner
the Rattlesnake flag was yellow field
with coiled snake in black in the CEN
ter. and the American Appeal to Reason
flag was a white field with green pine
tree in the middle.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-04-27

OLLOW1NG I Ii .
Bunker Hill road A
short distance be-
yond Brookland one
may notice on the
left h a n d, close
upon the roadside
a n d immediately
after passing the
n G " Bunker Hill
brick schoolhouse.
a s m a ii stone
structure. 1t is
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-04-27

OCLD You buy a
perfectly good sill
yer dollar for nine
u cents.
suppose the dol
lar was a little old,
and a little worn,
but still sufficient
~ undefaced T . I
YOU to read the
date and make out
the design suppose.
i'm short. il was Just
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-04-27
The Yellow Flag.

TT is notorious that street railway COM
! panies in Washington. as in other
cities. have a good deal Of trouble with
rail joints and with the street paving
along the rails. The pounding wheels and
the vibration of the track seem able to
break down or break up almost any kind
of pavement which the railroads lay. The
result is that repairs are made frequently
necessary, and to the credit of the Wash
ington companies are frequently made.
Rarely is il that there is not some part
of a street railway track torn up and un-
dergoing repair.
For several weeks repairs have been
making to the tracks of the Mount Pleas
ant cars along Connecticut avenue. Vel
low clay has been piled high on both
sides of the track. Strong men have been
working there with crowbars, sledges.
picks and other tools. At the ends and
along the sides of the repair work has
been quite a procession OF flags, mainly
red to warn of danger. but some of them
green to indicate safety and marking
where teams or machines might pass At
night long rows of glowing red lanterns
replace the red fiags-that is, they do not
replace the flags. but Augment them. for
the flags remain in place. This is all very
familiar to travellers in the streets of
Washington but we now approach a sig
nal the color of which is neither red nor
green, and the meaning of which cannot
be generally understood, to judge from
the number of fruitless inquiries which
the Rambler made about 1t.
At each end of the construction work
by day f1utters in more or less harmony
with the red and green flags a yellow
flag. and at night lanterns with yellow
globes let their light shine there The
question was put to many fellow-trav-
elers: What does the yellow flag mean?''
Day after day the answer was: Give 1t
up. You got me now" or 1t stands for
smallpox" Once Rambler took courage
and asked the conductor what the mean
ing of the yellow flag was 1t seemed
such foolish question to ask a con-
ductor. However. he did not know, but,
being a very accommodating man. he
said the motorman would know. and he
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-04-27

moment. silent Then he reached out his
hand.
''Lemme look at it again. he asked.
and once more the dollar was subjected
to all but microscopic examination.
Come up TO the desk" the lunchroom
man finally invited. Il want to compare
il with another dollar. Then l can tell
what's wrong with it," But, unfortu-
nately. the cash register did not contain
another silver dollar. so comparison was
impossible. Nevertheless. the light was
good there, and the lunchroom man took
advantage of it to examine the dollar
for third time.
II don't mean to insnuate that is ism t
all right he remarked. handing it back
with a conciliatory smile. Il have no
doubt it is all right But l don't want TO
buy it. l couldn't think of taking ad-
vantage of YOU in that way"
But il won't be taking any advan-
tage," the Cynic insisted. Il want TO sell
No. no." said the lunchroom man :
walking rapidly away. Not to me! |
don't want to buy it I won't take ad-
vantage of you-not me-
And he turned toward the kitchen and
vanished.
The Cub. who had been trailing along
in the wake of adventure. grew disguised
and demanded his dollar back.
r Inc cnance- nOOteu the 1yHIc Nd.
nay son, We will proceed, and he turned
into one of the better known downtown
cigar stores.
Straight up to the counter marched the
Cynic and tossed his much-abused dol
lar rngingly down on the glass top. The
coin ratified unsteady awhile and then
lay still.
Hear that-see it, said the Cynic.
lone dolIar-one honest-to-goodness sill
Yer dollar. Want to buy it for 80 cents?'
The clerk looked puzzled. He had
heard correctly. but he didn't think So
Say that again. he begged.
I'll sell you that for 30 cents" repeat
ed the Cynic, pointing at the coin.
The clerk picked it up gingerly. What
is it, he asked. Plainly he was ratified
What does it look like" asked the
Cynic in reply.
Looks like silver dollar-no. femme
see. is it a dollar or half?' He picked
it up and read the inscription One dol
lar" blazoned beneath the eagle. Yes.
it's a dollar But'-he turned sharply on
the Cynic-'I thought YOU said you want
ed to sell IL for 30 cents?
That's right agreed the Cynic. Il
do. Want to buy it,
Without replying. the cigar store man
picked up the coin and examined it.
handling it as IL he were afraid 1t would
bite. Finally he looked up.
What's the matter with this blame
thing" he asked.
Not thing in the world that | know
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-04-27
Zoo Sheep and Pine Bark.

pine tree or any other kind Of tree
soon dies under the appetite of the Afri-
can sheep at the National Zoo They
like TO nibble the bark. No doubt to the
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-04-27

which he gave another careful scrutiny
to both face and back. He held it high
and dropped ii on the floor to hear it
ring. 1t rang. He picked il up and ex-
amined it all over again. Then he turned
to the Cynic.
What's a mattao" he inquired. his
brow wrinkled.
Nothing is the matter the Cynic as
sured him. I'm merely offering, as
said. to sell YOU dollar for % cents.
VIII YOU buy it,?
The Greek examined the coin all over
again. included the ringing He turned
and INDUCED in more frenzied converse
ton with his employees. Then. with a
look of ineXpressible suspicion. he handed
the dollar back to the Cynic and gave
him gentle shove toward the door
NO time for darn fool. he marked
And as the Cynic walked away he could
feel the eyes of the Greeks literally eat
ing UP his back with suspicion.
Up Pennsylvania avenue walked the
Cynic for half a block. On this same
block. walking down the Avenue, was a
short, prosperous looking man. black
haired. smooth-shaven, carrying a cane
and evidently in a great hurry. They
met and the Cync put out a OBTAINING
hand.
this MIR. Williams? The other replied
that he was not-which the Cynic already
knew-and then gave his name-which.
up to that time, the Cynic did not know.
No matter. said the Cynic Il mis-
took you for friend of mine. But it
doesn't matter. You look like a business
man. have a business proposition to
put before YOU.
He fshed out the dollar.
Here's a silver dollar. the Cynic con-
tinued-.'at least it's supposed to be a
silver dollar. 1t certainly looks good.
But / don't want it. II sell il to you for
30 cents. Wslt to buy it?''
The accosted one drew back and eyed
the Cync as il he were some newly dis
covered fauna.
You want to sell me a dollar for only
80 cents" he repeated wonderingly.
What's the matter with it? Lemme see
The Cynic handed over the coin and the
other, like the Greek, proceeded to give
both sides of it five six inspections.
Then he dropped it to the sidewalk once,
twice, three times. Still unconvinced. he
bit it-and then examined 1t all over
again.
What's the matter with this thing?'
he finally asked grufly.
The Cynic was non-committal. Il didn't
say anything was the matter with it, did
- he parried.
The other looked at the coin once more
and then handed it back as if it burnt
him. turned and hurried on his way.
Either you're fool he Kissed over
his shoulder. "or you think l am!'
ON up the Avenue marched the Cynic
until at certain corner, he paused
before the display window of large drug
store. Then thought struck him, and
he entered the store and marched up to
the cashiers desk.
What is it,? asked the young person
behind the screening.
IF YOU are willing to take a chance on
human nature, / can put you in the way
of making a little easy money quOth the
Cvnic. producing the dollar as he spoke,
and showing it through the little pay
window Look at that and tell me what
II is "
Looks like silver dollar replied the
girl.
1t is" affirmed the Cynic. Its good.
too. Just the same, I'll sell 1t to you for
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-04-27
Grove of Old Oaks.

IF YOU are interested in lofty. broad.
noble and venerable oaks the Rambler
will point you to stately grove
In going eastWardly along the Bunker
Hill road turn to the right at the crossing
of Queens Chapel road and near midway
between the Bunker Hill road and Rhode
Island avenue you will see on the left of
the way the oak grove indicated. Under
the boughs of the great trees is a frame
house with flower beds and noWer-plant-
ed tubs in front and on the sides The
Rambler's first idea was that some grand
mansion must once have stood in that
grove of high oaks. but this idea, like
SO many other first ideas. proved on in
vestigation to be wrong.
The present happy tenants OF that cot
among the oaks are Mr.. and Mrs.
Christopher Columbus Murphy. Mr..
Murphy is seventy-one years old. son of
Thomas Murphy. was born within three
hundred yards of where he lives today.
and mis- life's experience has been conf1n
ed to that pretty and romantic section of
the District. Mrs. Murphy. considerably
the junior of her husband, was Miss
Jones. and that, too, is her native neigh
borhood.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-04-27

strongly built of blocks of native IRON
stone rudely dressed, but generally fash
toned into cubes. and set In hard and
time-stained mortar. The stone in its
colors runs through most of the shades
OF brown and yellow. Age and moisture
have given a moss-green tinge to the
walls I'm some places. IL is one story high
with a hip roof of shingles we'll covered
with moss. On the east side is a stoop
covered by projection of the roof and
with a short wooden bench each side
Of the steps. The windows are round
arched at the top and closed with green
batten blinds. On the roadside front
and near the top of the wall has been
inserted a block of white marble and
this in inscribed, Erected March-1s60."
An old oak tree grows at one of the
corners of the little house and a grassy
plot bounds 1t on three sides.
Looking at this little old building your
first impression would probably be that
IL was once a country schoolhouse. more
substantially built than usual. or that IL
may have been a little meeting house
The Rambler inquired at the nearest
dwelling and a gentle old lady told him II
was a gatehouse-
"A toIlgate house?'
mo sir. just gatehouse'
This was not very clear Inquiry from
another source brought out the informa-
ton that i, was a guardhoust.
"A guardhcuse in 1850 for WHAT"
a soldiers suardhouse. sir
The information continued somewhat
perplexing.
Far up on the crest of the ridge north
Of the Bunker Hill road are two frame
houses surrounded with Il plentiful
growth Of trees. The Rambler knocked
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-04-27

Almost as a last resort the Cynic made
his way toward the haunts of the second
hand clothes dealers on ID street. Surely
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-04-27

Mr. Murphy told the Rambler that when
he was little boy the land around there
belonged to John Hoover and then 60
Walter Scott. Much of it later passed
into the possession of John Britton. who
kept store on eth street, and little
later it passed to John B. Kibbs. who
subdivided the big tract into small hold
ings. The Murphy place three genera
tons ago. belonged to Tobias Talbert
and the Murphy house was built about
fifty years ago by man remembered as
knight.
"AlI this country was grown over with
oak trees like those" said Mr.. Murphy,
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-04-27

proposition sounds suspicious IL me ana
l know finally I'm not going 10 take any
chances.
1t was much the same way in the post
Office too. where. on his way IL the Cap
itol. To try his luck with a member Of
Congress the Cynic dropped in and
deavored TO sell the dollar TO a stamp
clerk
The latter put the coin through just
about ali the tests the others had given
il. and then he sprang A new one. lie
reached down in the till, where the re-
ceipts from the sale OF stamps are kept
and produced another silver dollar. Then.
placing the two coins side by side ne
proceeded to compare them. For couple
of minutes he compared them face TO
face. then turned them over and COM
pared them back TO back. lie made one
ring on the counter and then the othef.
Naturally. one Was just a. good as the
other.
Still not satisfied. the stamp clerk went
over and placed the Cynics dollar unGef
a stronger light and examined il. Then he
took the other dollar over and compared
them again. Finally he brought the cyn-
les dollar back. and held il out between
two fingers.
$50 far as l can tell. this coin is all
right" said he. Il believe il is all right.
I'm pretty sure of it. But while don I
want to hurt your feelings. I'll tell you
frankly that your offer sounds suspicious
to me. So | won't buy it. 1t looks all
right-but I'm suspicious. No. | don
want ii.
The first member of Congress whom the
Cynic encountered happened 10 he a
Young mana former member of the
journalistic tribe, who halls from South
Carolina Him the Cynic approached with
his proposition and. like all the others.
the congressman demanded TO see the
coin.
Having received it. he stood in the hall
of the Capitol. just outside the elevator.
which runs up TO the entrance of the
House press gallery and proceeded 10
put the coin through number of hish
entertaining tests. The most interesting
of them was when, squatting almost on
all tours. he would toss the dollar in the
air and then hold his close to the
marble flooring as ii struck. to catch the
quality of the ring.
Having done this a number of times. he
reached in his pocket and began cropping
for 30 cents-but before he could find the
necessary amount he was assailed with
new suspicious. Dropping his money back
in his pocket. he declared that before
buying it he wanted to compare it with
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-04-27

q silver dollar that had seen q 7o
many years of service If ii were offered
10 you for sale for ninety cents. "ouiu
you buy it?
Yes: Then positively and fatty. you
are the exception, There may be others
like YOU in the city. but the tynlc from
The Star though he searched an entire
Iive-long day, was unable 10 ma them,
Again. do YOU think YOU could take such
silver dollar as has already been de-
scrihed. 20 out among strangers. and sell
il for ninety cents? You think YOU couiu :
The sNswer is. try il. You viii ma that
YOU cannot. unless. OF course, the per-
sons approached happens To be on 10
the gag" You will find that some VIII
spurn YOU. some will scorn YOU. some
will lock on YOU with eyes OF pity some
with eyes of dread. and some with cold
fshy eyes that say plainly they cohsloer
YOU insane. And still others VIII threaten
TO have You arrested.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-04-27

you have something which sheep like
to eat.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-04-27

nShy eyes that say I'id1HlN INV
you insane. And still others will threaten
TO have You arrested.
But nobody will buy Though your face
be frank and open Though your ciothes
be presentable and though you have at
least fair proportion of the hablI.mehts'
mannerisms and methods of gentleman,
they Will pass you by Just the SAINT
'Tis a sad. sad fact but a woefully true
one proved by strange experience that
Washington.ans are naturally so sus-
pieious that they won't buy perfectly
good silver dollar for ninety cents,
The Prize Cynic of The Star made
such a statement last week 1 ne LUZ
Reporter. who. despite the smallness o.
his salary. is engaged TO De h1 Sh..e
did not believe him. and said So Where
upon the Cyn.c offered to prove u-pTo-
yided somebody else would furnish the
dollar The Cub was willins-somehoM.
cubs always have money-and so ~ was
decided to put Washington human ia
ture to the acid test
Ensued a search for silver doiiai.
There was none. There were paper uoi,
lars-even paper five-dollar pllis' anu
pIenty of silver halves. But no SILVER
dollars So Ii became necessary TO go
10 a bank and effect an exchanSe-Which
was not so bad. after all. in that II mace
an assured fact that the uoildI, ohSo
procured. was genuine. Then the test
was on. nv,
on the way from the bank back TO The
Star Office. the Cynic and the CUP passed
a ..shoe-shinins parlor. of the typicai
sort conducted by very smiling Greeks.
Wait aid the Cynic III try mere.
Assuming still MODE serious mlen, II
that were possible. he opened the door
of the "parlor' and walked in.
a tiny Greek made way for him ana
beckoned overwhelmingly toward vacant
seat on the red plush bench uncomfort-
ably arranged for the comfort of the
patrons-but the Cynic shook his head,
dove down in his pocket and produced
the silver dollar. This he extended to
the Greek.
want TO buy that for 0 cents" ne
incurred, without prelminaries.
The tiny Greek looked at him help
lessly The query was beyond his linn
tied English. However. he saw money
offered him and he reached out and took
il Then he turned on the Cynie look
of pleading inquiry.
Sell you that said the Cynic, with
many gestures. You give me ~ cents
you keep dollar. Buy dollar-3o cents
cheap
AT this point the proprietor of the par
Ior'' came up, and there followed a
fusillade of sounds supposed TO he Ian
guage between boss and employe. Evil
Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1913-06-12
QUOTES law
IN SNODGRASS CASE
Takes Exception to Statement of Jus
tice That Guard Was in Con-
tempt Of Court.

Governor West yesterday took some
exception to the statement of Judge
Webster published in The Capital
Journal, that the non-appearancs of f.
H, Snodgrass, in his recent trial for
assault and battery, constituted con-
tempt of court The governor made
the statement that when a person
pleads guilty to crime all trial pro.
cedure is put to an end, therefore there
could be no contempt of court for
non-appearanee. The governor said
that in the case of Snodgrass the pre-.
siding judge had no authority at all
to call witnesses to the stand after
SnOdgass entered plea of guilty. In
the opinion Of the governor the judge
knows very little law indeed.
Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1913-06-12
HOME TREATMENT FOR
sALLow, wRINKLED SKIN

A. G, r. asks; "What shall do for
my sallow complexion, and how can I
get rid of my wrinkles9"
Sallowness is best removed by remov-
ing the skin itself. This is effectually
accomplished by the use of ordinary
mercolized wax, which causes the Of
fensive out skin gradually to peel off,
in fine particles scarcely noticeable to
the naked eye. Within a week or 80
you will have an enviable complexion,
the new skin exhibiting a healthful,
youthful tint Incompatible with artiri-
cidl coloring. Get an ounce of this ak
at your drug store, apply at night like
cold cream, only don t rub it in. Wash
1t off in the morning with warm water.
For your wrinkles try q solution OF
powdered saxolite, one ounce, dissolved
in n half pint witch hazel. Bathc your
face in this every morning for awhile
The result will surprise you.-Beaut, $
Mirror.
Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1913-06-12
GREAT GROWTH SHOWN IN
NUMBER OF AUTOMOBILES

Figures at the secretary Of state 3 of
flee show that there are 3OS9 more au
tomobiles in Oregon today than there
were a year ago Following shows the
growth Of the business,
No. Of motor vehicles registered Jan
uary l, to May 81, 1913, l1,Ols,
No. chauffeurs registered January /
to May 81, 1918, 033.
Total fees received for motor vehicle
registration, January ] to May 81,
s41 ,S4150
Total fees received for chauffeurs
Registration, January to May 81,
$ls6G.
Total fees received transfers, dupli.
Gates, plates, etc, January to May 81,
$i5O5O.
Total fees received from January ! to
May 81, 1913, $l4,15s.
Total registration June II, 1913, s..
AZ.