davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-06-01
Commanded Fort Slocum.
II, HEN one rambles around WASH

", HEN one rambles around Washing
W ton and its environs it is interest
ing to encounter men who have taken
part in those activities about which
the men of this generation like to read.
When the Rambler was making a re-
connoissance of the remains of the
civil war defenses of Washington he
heard that living in picturesque home
al Chevy Chase was an officer who had
comma nded one of Washington's forth
fications at the time of Early s
memorable and historic visit. The off,
Ger referred to is Gen. Daingerfield
Parker. brigadier general Z. S. Army.
retired He was in command at Fort
Slocum. which was mile east by
south from Fort Stevens. and was on
hill on the west side Of the Blair
road. road which branched off from
the Rock Creek Church road and ran
north by west little over two miles
where it Joined the 7th street road at
the District line.
Gen Parker is brimful of anecdote
and Renaissance concerning the part
which Fort Slocum played in thwart-
ing Early. In a talk with the Rambler
he said
4 was interested in your recent short
article with the heading Saw Battle
of Fort Stevens and referring also to
Fort Slocum. as during Early's attack
on Washington 1 had comma nd of the
latter-named post. This was totally
unexpected by me and occurred. may
say accidentally.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-06-01
Tomato Plants and String Beans.

a VEGETABLE garden within the fine
grounds of a handsome home may
be seen on the soathetly side ~ CO.
lumbia road between 18th and 18th
streets. The house is one If the hand
some residences of that fine ueighhor-
hood II is bounded on two sides hy a
broad and smooth lawn and at the
southwest corner Of the lawn nearest 18th
street i "A little Kitchen garden IL IL
growing low terrace aud might be
req ched f orr the sidewalk Tomato plants
and string beans are growing there. and
some othe: plants which. because of
their youth and OF the speed with which
the car was travelling. the Rambler did
not identify
From the dimensions of this garden
ore is apt to gain the impression that not
a large supply of vegetables Is tn he
reasonably hoped for. Ii may be a PLAY
garden of n child who believes that tons
and tons of garden truck will he Gull
tivated and will be gathe ed there. 4
good deal of we'll directed industry has
been shown I'm the preparation Of the
ground and the plants are being carefully
tended.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-06-01

has cleared out that second empire
stuff on the other hand Napoleon l.
who lived much at Fontainebleau, mica
certain suites with furniture OF his
epoch very beautiful and thrillingiy
historic. Most of this has been kept
where he put ii. And more-for eN-
ample-where Napoleon smouched the
delightful mirrors of Marie Antoinette
for his own bathroom. they have been
left in Napoleon's bathroom. Their
frames are painted with the Children
Games" scenes.
Again, the Apartments of the Pope
were truly. occupied by Plus VII. when
Napoleon / held him captive at Fon-
tainebleau: but half the rooms having
been those of Louis XIV. where his fur
niture and decoration remained. and
the other half being taken from the
ancient Apartments of the Queen
Mothers full of relics of Catherine de
Medicis and Anne of Austria. the Pope.
with the taste of true amateur. said:
Don't refurnish more than necessary.
They contain beautiful ebony chests
made for Louis XIII, a raft of precious
Louis XIII furniture and Louis XIV
screens. bahuts. commodes and knick-
nacks. And the tapestries are Louis
XIV! Because the Duchesse d'Orloans
occupied some of the rooms in 1910.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-06-01

a-cades, where these who were no. dane
ing SAT, to keep the floor Gear.
This "Galerie Henri II was built BY
Francis ], and decorated by his son and
successor Henri ii. for Diane dc Poi
tiers. The monographs of the young
king and his lovely favorite, inter.aced
are everywhere. SO are the e,nblems of
Diana-bows. arrows. cresce1ts. And
every available wall space. whic; is not
carved stone or carved wood. has It's fres-
Goes OF Diana's hunts and NEUROLOGICAL
scenes by old PriE:aticcio. Nowhere VIII
you see such carved panels. stone lace
work and gliding
1t was a champagne lunch. very MI
tary. of twelve courses. In the Grand Old
style. away toward the end, between the
rcast truffled capon and the desserts
they brought on cold Foa,ainebleau carp
and salads. The carp, served IN a foie-
tra5 wine jelly. was a fayorite dish of
Louis XIV. who connects Alfonso with
the French line. The carp vas the royal
Ash when there was neither ice nor GU OK
transportation from the ocean.
Today it is-well. carp.
Was it the carp and salad?
After toasts and much hurrahinS-
Every soldier is my corlrade,' said Al
fonso-they let him 80 Lack to Nine. de
Maintenons apartments for nap.
And here he was. in tontalnepleau,
alone at last, in the arartireIts OF tie
intriguing Widow Scarron. y Bourbon
forgetS nothing.
Aifo nso strolled through he rooms. lie
pecped and peered at the flrn!tu G and
even snoopeG behind wal han S!ngs- Mtei
all the widow was a rass;,7 eD soas.
These very rooms had seen the loves %
his eIand old ancestor. Henri " lie
peeped through a doorway on the sta +
way Of the king. Its upper portion. be-
fore the stains were cut had been the
bedroom OF Belle Gabrielle. Yes. and by
lingo, a hundred years previoasl! IL vas
the bedroom of the Duchesse u Etampes.
lady friend of Francis l. the most learn
ed among the beautiful. and the most
beautiful among the learned The kings,
his erandpas had gwen their hus5an Is
rich govel nment jobs Alfonso aieSled.
Surely, it was the carp and Sd al
AS Alfonso noGde. III the a:Ileia J
he saw those old French kings. h S an
ces.ors lead their lovely aides throug
the wall. Stately proceS sion. Louis MY
in grand wig and erm.ne Henri Quatre
:, '.t-"- - it, = IS p I'm 90
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-06-01

nificently and those decoration are b."
hind the present empire hangings. 1t
was only .>apoIeon VINO iliaue II the
throne room
belongs to the traditional queens
suite overlooking the Garden of Diana,
inhabited by Marie de Medicis Marie
Therese wife of Louis XIV; Marie An
of Louis Philippe. and Eugene. The
bedroom walls are covered with SILK
hangings. marriage gift of the city of
Lyon to Marie Antoinette- The bed and
equally pure Louis XVI. but the rest of
the furniture is empire. dating from
Marie Louise.
And so on. 1t would make book.
When Alfonso rested. in the Mainte-
non apartments. befor" washing up for
lunch. he was as much at home as in
Madrid You know how these Old sto-
ries handed down in families? Wei.
Alfonso. jumping back eight fathers in
ina gination. remembered perfectly how
the family hated this woman Dauhisnv.
born IN the West InG;es. widow of the
scribb,er Scarron. and become the secret
wife OF tie redoubtable old sun king,
These We're her rooms. She and Louis
NV who ran France and half Europe,
forced the dying Spanish king to leave
his throne to the French kings grandson.
From that F'renchman on the throne of
Spain Alfonso descends directly by his
father, grandmother and three great
srandfathers. The Grandnother was the
only b.. eak III the male line, ard n thorn
IN Alfonso's side TO-DAY. She was the late
Isabella. and when they put her en- the
Spanish throne it was objected that the
old Sale law admitted only men TO in
herit. SO Ter uncle. Don Carlos. set up
as Spanish pretende:. Isabel a Won and
her grandson. Alfonso. is the present
ling. But Don Jaime. grandson of that
first Don Carlos. has good argument to
start a revolution Don Jaime also has
the same French blood and the same in
terest to lay for the Black Huntsman,
Meditating. as he washed the dust from
his eyes Alfonso was respectfully hidden
to the gala lunch in the Henri IL ball
room. Tie spot was convenient He
had but step through Nine. de Main
tenons bedroom and bathroom to reach
The jeUe of Fcntainebleau. II any one
all r,ay he called It's jeuei.
The precious marquetry floor is as slip
pery as giass. II seems to reject the di-
visions of the ceiling. OF deep caissons
rrofusely erlhe!lished with CAD. But no.
it is all wood mosaic. tho floor harmo-
nizing with the ceiling tt deep en-
h-'se'i-ns Of to, w'nsor.~ ro~,p -eritab g
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-06-01

reported that tho type specimen which
remains unique was collected about. fiji
teen years ago in the grounds of the con-
trial station of the United Stites fish COM
mission. In this specimen the rostral
plate is divided into two by a vertical
ffssure-a character which mus be re-
garded as accidental
If YOU hunt for such things and have
a fair knowledge of their habits and are
patient and persistent YOU will find near
Washington the ring-neck snake, A small
fellow. blue black above. orange red be-
low and with II cream-colored ring around
his neck: the ground snake. short little
reptile. brown above and salmon or vel
low underneath: the smooth green snake
or grass snake. the long. harmless and
fleet blacksnake or .'blre-chase the Al
legheny blacksnake. the good-tempered
brown snake. the black and yellow chain
snake or king snake. the riband snake.
the garter snake. Delays snake and Va
lerias snake.
BY the time the snake talk of the nat
uralists ended the scientists and the
Rambler had come to Difficult run and
several of the members said they would
as soon think of going into the woods
without Wards Botany IS without Hays
list and description of the local salaman-
ders. tritons, lizards. cells, toads, frogs,
snakes and turtles.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-06-01

ing, what must he Alfonsos sentiments
He is at home there. 49, = 80 ,fsusr
So he pa an incognito visit to it when
he passed through Paris. known to few
in August 1910 Accompanied only by
French military officers, three detective
br ,gadiers and twenty plain-clothes men
who lounged around outside. he had a
good afternoon to roam alone with
the curator and his chief assistant to ex-
plain things-amNl the relics of his grand
fathers. because the French kings really
were his grandfatners. His fathers
mothers father fathers fathers fathers
fathers father was the famous Louis
XIV
folks give a sentimental reason, quite
sufficient-he had enjoyed no peace. on his
"incogn.to'' : sit, to dream. at ease and
unhampered by all kinds Of explanations,
in these ROOMS amid the relics OF his fore
bears. Others say that II Alfonso is half
modern. the other half is ancient. racial.
exclusive, filed with queer tradit ons OF
his line. And. quot. Felix Faure had slept
at Foutain ebeau-with his invited guests
and mil ta;y household. And Don Jaime
his rival and cousin IL az free as air to
camp in the forest-and give the Back
Huntsman a chance.
French funct.onartes. when they learn
ed this state OF mind. were anxious. It Is
hard enough TO guard the king from an
archists by day What Il Alfonso should
take It into his head to lark by starlight
in the vast old spooky woods. filled with
It's memories OF dark deeds? For Alfonso
has no fear. At the French white house
dinner Nine. Poincare saked him how
he felt when. recently. on horseback, he
ran down his anarchist assalant. ooh,
looked HIM in the eyes and saw that he
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-06-01
Partridges in Washington.

THE increasing number of partridres
which one may see I'm the quiet re-
cesses of Rock Greek Park and the nLm-
Der Of calls of bob white which on.
may hear I'm the more sparscly settled
enyirons of the city recall the fact that
Francis Baily. an F.nglishman who MADE
an adventurous trip to the United States
and visited the District of Columbia in
11!3. wrote of the number Of these birds
in the fields and woods destined to be the
city of Washington. He said:
THE canal ard the gardens. as we'll as
the bridges, which YOU see marked down
i'm the plan are not yet begun they are
still i'm the same state of nature that
they were before the city was marked
out In fact. were it not for the Pres.-
dents house and the Capitol you would
he ignorant that You were near the spot
intended for the metropolis Of the nj. cd
States.
Game is plenty in these PARTS. and
what perhaps may appear to you re-
markable. ! saw some bows who We're
out shooting actually kill several brace
of cartridges in what will he one of the
most public streets Of the city. | men,
ton this to give you an idea of the
present state of the city, and | could
not help rejecting al the time what a
different appearance IL presents now to
what there Is every proba hility IL will in
the course of few years. when instead
of being las it Is now uncleared and
uncultivated. 1t will resound with the
busy hum of men and become the EN-
porium of whatever shall be worthy the
observation of man"
Patrick Joyce. the superintendent of
Rock Creek Park. who. with his interest
ing family. lives in the old gray stone
nplc fold ha Pc hat hs,
feeds the park partridges in winter. and
that winter before last, because OF the
severity of the season. he constructed
brush shelters for them.
Even now he has some difficulty i'm rre-
serving the partridges Their very tame
ness is their danger. Mara uders in the
park kill them without the use of fire.
arms
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-06-01

teaux, by reason of its romantic MEM
cries and relics
The country home OF the old kings.
some forty miles from Paris. is untouched
each room being packed with their
furniture and luxur.es You can ina CINE
Marie Antoinette has just flung open her
bedroom windows and slipped down the
little private stairway to the Garden of
Diana before breakfast.
The republic takes pride that. all
through the violent revolutions Of a hun
dred years past Fontainebleau was
never wrecked. They chased the kings.
but left their gear Should royalty come
back. II would find its old country house
intact. and ready 10 move into, Tontaine-
bleau 10 uncanny-royal chateau. empty.
swept and garnished. in the center of a
vast and spooky forest.
The palace. also. is immense. II covers
fifteen acres.
And If the simple tourist fnds 1t thrill
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-06-01

il tights and neck minister's. Louis Seize
with his head on.
Speak beloved shades" Alfonso cried.
do 7 die with my boots on.
Silence
Does Cousin Jaime take my crown?'
Noble. graceful with contained and
studied gestures. the procession Of the
kings moved on.
Does the republic get US both
An enigmatic smile. If from some
unknown. transcendent optimism. 1T
each cold ace AIRS good IN Gods
worldt But il seemed. old Louis
Al passed him. with less impressive
mask. s,yer. synnpa thiZ,n- grin. he
heard q Wheeling whisper:
Consult the Black Huntsman
II was just Alfonso's luck. made up
OF good and bad. mixed very equally.
AS he awake. n bald headed maitre
dhotel of the Elysee. in white side
burns aud dress suit-oHe 81 the adj
mirablo new roiacaire servants-stood
IN the doorwaS. coughing gently Had
he seen the kings? Enigma he said
simrl-.
''Carrorsel, your maiesiy with
mitrail euse raid to follow.
Just Alfonsos luck. Three hours
later. after swallowing the dust kick
ed UP b. light machine gun cavalry
it arrived in a forest clearing, did Its
devastation and disappeared. like
hurricane-they took him back t.
Paris 10y train. the track being guard
ed every fifty PAGES and twenty extra
soldiers at grade crossings.
Just Alfoaso's luck Fl mad asked
10 sleep at Fontaint bleau. and they
had given hi;a a lunch H. had hoped
10 give the Elacn Funtsman a chance
and they had showed Eim machine
guns in the forest.
But Don Jaime can camp in the for
est. He can lay for the Black Hunts
ran.
The Black Huntsman Of Fontaine-
bleau holds the secrets of kings in his
spooky hand. IN eNclus - speeter.
family specter Of the t2Gets. ira
didonally. he appears only 10 ROYALTY
or princes OF the blood The meeting
ought To be by twilight o. starlight III
the huntssnan shouts {. word aud II the
rfnce can understand it, au invaluable
tip Is won for future guidance
No one knows the Black Huntsman
origin. Francis | believed IL hlsn ana
Charles N and Herr y and LOUIS
xiii and raft Of kings heaof" them
-.iany prince OF the Gapetian iine
las sought TO see him ., avoid him.
The republic helped \ fonso 10 avoid
him SrERJiN HtllHi
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-06-01

House. This brother was then in com
mand Of the Potomac fiotilla-
On the Sunday or the Monday fol-
lowing / cannot now recall which.
some of our southern friends living at
or near Elk Ridge notified us that Gen.
Gilmore was about to make a raid
through that section. and that we
would better leave forthwith for our
advice and proceeded at once to Wash
fngton. where we arrived safely My
sister tnow no more). was not so
fortunate. as she. en- route to Philadel-
phia. was taken prisoner by Gen. Gil
mores command and so held for sew
eral hours.
Upon arrival at Washington | i'm
mediately. being then a quasi
combatant, offered my services to the
government to act in any capacity in
the field. this because | was informed
on the way to my office that Con-
federate force was advancing upon the
city. was Immediately ordered to
Fort Slocum for duty with a battery
of light artillery. but upon my arrival
there ! was informed by Gen Haskin.
then i'm command of the defenses OF
Washington. that the battery had just
left Slocum.
Fort Slocum. as being a regular officer
7 ranked the captain of volunteers
fine fellow he was. ! remember-then
in charge. I was Just in time to open
the fort did good work.
.Sergt Cody. who had been a non com
missioned officer i'm the I'd Infantry. of
which I was an officer. was stationed at
that time at S1ocum He was one of two
men that recall as not only fearless in
battle. but actually enjoyed it's 'magnifi-
Gently stern array With a radiant face
and smile he welcomed me. and after the
fight was over. for the day at least. he
offered me a room in his little house.
Late that night there was terrible fus1l-
lade in the direction of the Soldiers
Home. The government had sent there
and elsewhere, 1 presume. every depart
ment clerk capable Of shouldering mus
ket Cody Immediately appeared with a
lantern in his hand and an ecstatic grin
upon his face. and with the exclamation
We'll. sir, the Johnnies Is on us now.
surer As ] thought this neeoed comm r.
nation sent him over to the home TO
make inquiry Of the cause OF the flrlnR
He returned with this explanation: Well
sir, one Of them clarks seen COW and
mistaking it for the enemy fired at 1t
and the rest followed suit
The next morning the sergeant beg
ged me to go over to pay my respects TO
Gen. McCook, remarking, Sure, you re
both captains in tho same regiment.' This
was true McCook having at the same
time high volunteer rank. finally &C
uuiesced, the sergeant in some mysterious
way having furnished nee with horse
and volunteered to go also as my mount
ed orderly. this being the first time
probably In history where an oMceT was
followed by an ordnance sergeant acting
as orderly Cody's arm was completely
covered with service stripes. Gen. Nc
Cook showed much establishment and
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-06-01

storm of artillery on an imitation fort.
village and shifting batteries mile
and half distant Then. an hour be-
fore lunch he vas taken to the palace
to rest in his private apartments which
they had assigned him tThey must
give visiting kings breathing spell a.
intervals or they would faint)
President Poincare's retiring rooms
were those of Napoleon |.
Alfonso's were those OF Nine. de
Maintenon.
No other palace in the world has such
historic miX-ups. To begin with, or
to end with. the present custodian is NJ
Georges Esparbes. the poet and historic
novelist. He has sought, without doing
violence to acquired rights of certain
beautiful objects. to pick out a name
for each roonl-from some twenty
names. perhaps. applied to it at va
rious periods-and fill 1t with the treas
ures that ought to belong there. often
found UP in the garrets For example,
Napoleon III and Eugene. while re-
specting the great mass. turned some
rooms topsyturvy. Well. d'Esparbes
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-06-01

sandy flats near Foxs Ferry, Just over tbs
District line ami opposite Alexandria.
Another ornamental snake is the house
snake. or milk snake. or chicken snake
There are three varieties. hut that which
is common in the District Of Columbia is
bright red above. with twenty or thirty
triple rings. of which two black ones IN
close one OF white or yellow. There Is
another of brownish red or gray above.
with a dorsal series of about fifty-hve
grayish brown. black-bordered blotches.
a spot of yellow at the back of the head
end a band of black bordered yellow from
i'm front of the eyes down the neck HAY
i'm his Reptilia reports only seven cap
lures of this snake in the nearby country.
The third species is a rare fellow of vel
Iowish red with series of reddish brown.
dark -bordered spots. On the top OF his
head he is yellow and black, and on the
sides of his head are black and yellow
Ia nds.
4 snake which lives near us is the red
hellied snake or. according to Stofer,
S;toreria occiptomacu He is a snort
snake with a belly that is salmon RED.
and his back shades from olive brown ia
reddish gray Mr.. Hay has reported thai
it is not uncommon. and that numerous
specimens have been collected at john
sons gully. Mount Vernon. and at various
points along the Potomac above George
town.
OF our home snakes 1t was agreed by
the scientists that the most ridiculous
was that which so many ordinary foik
call the spreading adder, the black adder
or the blowing viper. PROBABLY other
names for this monster can be learned
in the countryside. He has a thick and
heavy body, a broad. short head and a
big mouth. He has various colors Some
specimens are brownish, some redd sh ana
some grayish. He is a great fellow Tor
making a terrifying fuss and assuming
rideo,ls aspects when disturbed. but he
fectly harmless If he makes some shy
and gentle person shrek with fright he
PROBABLY chuckles over 1t as good joke.
The naturaist seemed agreed that tie
worst snake of our neighborhood is the
copperhead a reptile that is stout. with
a slender neck and large, fiat, triangu-
lar head He is hazel brown on top. with
chestnut brown blotches. The top of his
head is coppery red and the SIDES OF MS
head and the end of his snout are cream
coIored His belly is yellowish. His bite
is extremely dangerous. but he is not
much Of a fighter if he has chance to
get away.
1t is believed that the water moccasin'
is myth in the District OF Columbia.
Among the uninitiated almost every water
snake is water moccasln. Inc ordinary
water snake is common in this neighbor-
hood and sometimes grows to a length OF
four feet. 1t has been reported that his
favorite haunt is along the margin OF
the canal near High Island. He Is a
gentle, harmless snake. Then, there is
a striped water snake and a singular
snake that is called The Washington
water snake The latter is olive brown
above. with a row of small longitudinal
blackish spots on his sides You will not
be apt to see this snake. Mr.. Hay has
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-06-01

was more afraid than ! was. said Al
fonso Poor chap 1t was his first affair
he had not my experience.
Quickly they compromised on a day
time visit to Fontain ebleau-Alfonso
never does exactly what he pleases.
From Paris TO Brunoy the saith Infan
try guarded the railroad line. with men
al every fifty PAGES. Each bridge, Gull
vert. switch, etc. had from four to ten
extra soldiers. From Brunoy to Melun
1t was the S6th Infantry: from Melun
to Fontainebleau. the 10Th. All work
along the line was stopped. Nobody
was permitted to cross the track.
Every grade crossing was held by
twenty soldiers.
troops. as much as possible. they had
him see a cavalry attack before they
reached the palace. Fontainebleau is
big garrison town. There Is a poly
gone. So he must see yeritable hail