davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1914-10-11
A Fisherman's Ladder.

THE Rambler has written OF the
] steep streets of Georgetown,
streets of such a grade that no traf-
Nc passes over them and between the
paving stones of which grass grows,
and of the stairways at and near the
north end of the Aqueduct bridge. but
the steepest thoroughfare in the neigh
borhood Of Washington is the ladder
which stands braced against tall pier
of the Chain bridge. 1t is way that
is used by numerous fishermen, fisher
maids and fisherboys and by scores of
mere picnickers. 1t is such a steep
way that descent and ascent of it may
cause a sense of creepiness in those not
hardened to high climbing, and there
are many who, looking from the foot
way of the bridge down. or from the
rocks of the river margin up, draw
back and decline to make the trip.
At the Chain bridge station on the
electric road a new settlement has
the Chain bridge on the Canal road is
an old bridge-end settlement which
sprawls along between the canal and
the bluffs. From the car line rough
and hard-beaten footwalk leads down
a vale through which flows spring.
fed little branch, across the tracks of
the Baltimore and Ohio which strike
off from the main line not far from
Forest Glen and from Chain bridge to
Georgetown parallel the Chesapeake
and Ohio canal. From the steam rail.
road tracks ricketty wooden steps will
lead you down to the Canal road to the
struggling little settlement. which Chi II II #
bridge" the Rambler has not heard
1t,
You enter upon the bridge and the
first span carries you over the canal
and by climbing through the railing of
the bridge you can descend to the tow
path by means of flight Of stout
wooden steps. guarded with hand rails.
saltwater fishermen may usually be
seen here watching corks or tenderly
From the foot of the steps a path
leads down into the lowland above
which the Chain bridge for it's greater
length has been built. but in the days
sive wooden bridges, by successive fer
ries. and by chain suspension bridge.
this low land was crossed by cause
way. few traces of which may be seen
wet. creeps through a jungle for about
a quarter of a mile, generally follow
ing the course OF the bridge. but bend
ing and circling to overcome boulders
will tell you that at times Of Potomac
flood this land is overhowed. and be-
cause Of tho rocks the rains and the
dense shade which retards evaporation
you will be called on to skirt and step
across many dark and stagnant pools
where water lilies bloom and frogs
croak. These wet and gloomy recesses
are the sanctuary of many species of
birds, and among the alders and syca-
mores many varieties Of plant life are
to be found. This jungle tract is ia
miliar browsing ground for men and
women Interested In certain Of the nat
ural sciences, and they probably have
done more than their share of the work
in wearing the rough and crooked path
you are travelling. Some fishermen pass
along this path, but as a rule these use
Evening star., 1914-10-11

the smooth and easy footway of the
bridge and reach their chosen rocks by
a ladder on the pier. :!
AS you pass along you can, through
the thick boughs and tops of the trees,
catch little glimpses of the bridge and
you pass near the base of many of the
piers In most cases are twined around
or crept over with vines. and crops of
weeds and tiny trees are growing in
the crevices and joints of the masonry.
FROM m the M wild depths and looking up
at the piers you are apt to be surprised
at their height. a height not hitherto
appreciated. though you may have
crossed the bridge hundred times.
Ihe path begins to dwindle into a
mere trail. which because of the rank
growth becomes now and then indis-
tinct, and perhaps you may hesitate to
follow it. Some folks are susceptible
to the suggestion of snakiness in wet
tangles of this sort Now and then the
trail leads through thick patches of
nettle grown so tall that you guard
your hands Is you pass through. You
are continually hearing the alarm
notes of birds and you understand that
nest here.
You will soon pass from the region
of full and half-sized trees to one
where the rocks are larger, higher and
more more rugged ncsa and the aldsfs and syea;
weeds are thicker. In addition to the
sounds of teams and people passing on
the bridge above, the sound of the Lit
tie Falls comes to you. Then you can
distinguish the rushing -splashing of
Pimmet run, as 1T falls into the river
at the site of the abandoned quarry
and f1re-ruined ne-crushing plant at
the Virginia end of the bridge.
From these things you know that you
river, though your view is close-hem-
med by the Jungle. Soon you come
upon the gray rocks. water-worn for
untellable ages, and Uttered with Hood
debris In some places soil is being
built up by the trunks and branches of
trees, and the flotsam left on these
rocks by receding floods. When you
have come to this place the whole pic
ture of the Little Falls region is open
ed, jagged and jumbled chaos of Caro-
lima gneiss, one of the basic rocks of
the world-the foaming. swirling river
and the Virginia bluffs green with
trees. where they are not gray-scarred
by quarries.
commodation of frequenters OF the
rocks, who spurn the long hard path
you have travelled. is before you. It Is
the second pier Of the bridge counting
from the Virginia side. The ladder is
parallel to the east face OF the pier.
heavy wooden ladder gripped into the
stone by iron clutches. You will not
have to wait long before you see men
with rods and reels and lines, baskets
of the bridge. step out on the top OF
the pier, which is wider than the
bridge, and carefully. as a rule. pegin
the descent Of this ladder. You may
prefer to climb that ladder to the
bridge rather than retrace your way
to the canal towpath over the tortuous
and rocky path which crawis through
the Jungle.
Evening star., 1914-10-11
Hohenzollern Statue.

MOT many persons stray far down IN
Y the grounds of the Washington bar
racks, and perhaps fewer still stray for
the especial purpose OF visiting the statue
of Frederick the Great. yet it is m i'm
pressive place. and the statue is a fine
bronze of a great soldier and great
king.
AS the Rambler sat near the pedestal
of the statue the thought came that there
is strategy even in the efigy Of "Old
Fritz as the Germans affectionately
called and call him.
1t was believed that the "Old Fritz had
been isolated in the site given him. He
was cut of from communication with the
effigies of other immortals that stand
in the green and flower show spaces of
the capital. He was exiled. He could
not hold counsel with Lafayette. de
Grasse, Rochambeau. Count d 'Estaing
Gen. du Portal, Won Steuben, Kosciusko
and Andrew Jackson, who inhabit Lafay-
ette Square or jackson Square. He was
cut off from communion with Pulaski,
John Paul Jones and John Barry.
The old soldier king was put incom-
municado. With his back to long
stretch Of deep water. he was hanked on
his left by the Washington channel and
Evening star., 1914-10-11

from invasion and pillage 1t is a crime
called burglary to enter it by stealth
to steal its contents. But the man sup
ports his rights by putting locks on his
doors, for he knows that there are evilly
disposed people in the world who would,
had they the chance. violate his right.
..Our military and naval defenses are
the locks on our doors to keep evilly
disposed nations from violating our
rights. Were We without them, and
were we in the position that some of our
pacifist friends would have us in, seek
ing by force of our altruistic example
and evident faith in Ill humanity 20
make all nations honest. our doors and
windows open wide. just like China,
would we not also be violated as China
has been violated?"
"Do you mean. then, that there are
burglars among the nations?"
Evening star., 1914-10-11

stands with his back to the college build
ing and hooks toward the city. He may be
contemplating invasion. but very likely
not. No doubt some student officers at
the college have suspected him of such
designs, because their thoughts sometimes
dwell on the subject of invasion.
When Frederick der Crosse was sent
to that strip of. land to be shelved a
great many rude and unworthy things.
were said about and against him by
thoughtless- persons. 1t was said that
it was he who sent the Hessians to
America, the same who put the cobbles
in the. streets Of alexandria, and some
of whose descendants are now valued
citizens of the great republic. 1t may
be noted in passing that the Hessian
prisoners OF war who paved some. OF
AlexandFia's streets had ample revenge
on the posterity of their captors.-
This frederick did not let the Hes
SLAMS out for hire in our revolutionary
war, as that act was performed by the
rulers of those unfortunate conscr1pts
Ito wit. by the -Eandgraves Of -Hesse'
and others. for whom Frederick, was
in no way responsible.
Frederick deserved the surname
Great. He wasa a genius in peace as
we'll as, in war. He was liberal In his
views Beyond the period in which he
lived. Frederick was friend of the
struggling young republican nation.
George Bancroft wrote this:
Frederick prohibited the passage Of mercenary
troops destined for AmericaD through his domin-
ions in order to give public evidence Of his good
will for the Americans: he afforded every facility
to the American commissioners to purchase and
ship arms from Prussia: In September, 1775,
Frederick wrote to his minister in London. The
treatment tby England of the (American) colo
nies appears to me to be the first step toward
despotsIn,' and he refused positively and repeat
edly to enter into any alliance with our countrys
enemies: on the 14th of February, 1777, the
American commissioners at Paris transmitted to
Frederick copy Of the Declaration of Inde-
pendence and of the articles of American confed-
eration with the formal expression of the earnest
desire of the United States to obtain his friend
commerce between their distant countries; the
great king received from Franklin with unmingied
satisfaction the manifesto of the republic and IT'S
Evening star., 1914-10-11

Mr.. Kahn's eyes twinkled.
IF not" he asked. drily, why the
Monroe doctrine? And If we do not have
the physical force to make that doctrine
respected. how long will 1t remain IN
force? =
Our wonderful progress in develop
ment of our resources and in commerce
has made us a world of enemies" went
on Mr. Kahn. among the great COM
mercial nations Of the earth. In fact. we
have few. If any. real friends among the
great family of nations. They are all
giving us fair words at present, all seek
ing our favor. all hoping that our sym
pathies, II not our help, will go to their
respective sides. but that Is not because
they love us.
..Tae hard fact is that We will have to
depend on our military and naval
strength in case we ever find it neces-
Evening star., 1914-10-11

way at the court building. On one side
OF this short way is the courthouse. a
venerable brick building, painted and
repainted yellow since the Rambler
came to know it. now a good many
years gone. Behind 1t stands little
jail, always an attachment or detach-
ment OF the county courthouse. The
court building 10 darkly buried in the
Der of the mulberry family the fiber of
which has been extensively used in
making paper: hence Its nams Of pa
per mulberry"
federate monument. On one side is this
inscription:
'To the Confederate Soldiers of
-Westmoreland County Who Fell in
Defence Of Virginia and IN the Cause
OF Constitutional Liberty, This Monu-
ment is Erected by the Women of
Westmoreland."
Under that inscription is this:
Erected by the Ladies' Memorial As
soeietion Of Westmoreland County"
Rambler remembers it as the west
face, is the date of the erection of the
memorial, 1876"
From the monument the Rambler
copied the following:
40 Virginia Infantry Company K:
Captain r. B. Davis. First Lieuten-
ant B. F. Stewart. Ordnance Sergeant
H. R. Walker. Ordnance Sergeant ]. B.
Garland, Sergeant v. T. Branson. Cor
poral c. r. Kirk, Privates c. P. Brown.
J. L. Hutt, J. r. McKeldoe, w. d. MI
nor. w. E. Rowzie, r. Lampkin, L. w.
Dameron. W. Lampkin. r. D. Nickel
doe. F. P Mitchell. D. B. Taylor, -
winton, S. p. Douglas, C. w. Mcclure,
s. B. McKeldoe. c. Muir. W. Taylor,
e. C. Edwards, d. o. McKeidoe. H. p.
McKenney, 8. Prosser, r. Wroe.
"55 Virginia Infantry Company E:
III. Anthony. ]. Anton, w. Brown, II
Cash, C. Cridlin. e. L. Davis, W. r.
Evening star., 1914-10-11

HAT are the les
sons of the Euro
pean war as ap-
piled to the mill
tary problems of
the United States?
Ask that in Con-
gress and you will
get many and va
rious answers. You
will be told by one
group that this is
the worlds last
Evening star., 1914-10-11

National Guard on emerging from their
regular ranks at the end of their year
enlistment, and so would strengthen that
excellent organization.
1.-The whole matter of military defense
is one Of national insurance. Just as the
citizen pays out large sums to insure his
property against less by fire, f1ood. cy-
clone and other destructive forces, so the
nation. by expending proper sums Tor the
upbuilding and maintenance of an army
and a navy insures itself against possible
aggression from some nation with which
We might become embroiled
What about the theory Of the exist
ence of war trust, the statements that
the army and the navy and the purveyors
of war supplies are behind all movements
for upbuilding the army and navy?"
"All those statements" said Mr.. Kahn,
ARE so absurd that they can make no
impression on intelligent people. 1 doubt
very much that even the men who put
them forward believe in them at all. They
are meant for the ear only of the unin-
telligent and the uninformed.
There are no truer advocates of peace
in America than the splendid and pa
triotic men who make up the army and
navy. These men know what war means
They understand that their business is to
keep the nation out of war. Especially in
the upper ranks of the officers, among the
men most experienced and charged Win
the greater responsibility. you will find
this is true. Set it down as fact. these
are not the men who clamor for war
Such clamor. when 1t comes-and II mas
come occasionally-does not proceed from
them.
Sherman spoke out of abundant knowl.
edge when he gave his crisp definition OF
have peace The spirit of those soldiers
is in our armed forces today.
LAS to the talk of war trust. know
of conditions only in our own country:
know that the American government
makes all of its rifles in its own rae
tories; that it makes much of its powder
in its own factories. and each year Is
making larger proportion; that II makes
its own saddlery and other equipment
that 1t is making an increased proportion
of its own big guns in its own factories
every year; that 1t is building an in
creased proportion Of its ships of war IN
its own navy yards Where is the trust?
81
mo, the demand for a more adequate
navy and stronger and better prepared
and better trained land defensive force
comes from no sinister influence. 1t
comes from the men who know conditions
as they are, who are not blinded by
theories. who have in them the true.
spirit of patriotism and who want to pre-
serve the integrity and the ideals Of this
republic. They are men who have read
history and who can read the lesson of
current events They are men who real
ize the hazards of national life in this
world of ours and who would take steps
to minimize those hazards. They are
essary losses came upon US in our past
wars through lack of preparedness and
Evening star., 1914-10-11

Congressman Julius
Kahn, a Student of
Military Affairs, Says
the Present Slaughter
Emphasizes the Fact
That This Country
Must Be Prepared to
Defend Itself at Any
Iime-Hostilities AL
ways Come Without
Warning 1t Is the
Part of Wisdom to Be
Ready.
Evening star., 1914-10-11

icated from humanity. In fact 1t might
almost be said that the fighting spirit is
inborn in man.
IF you will bring together two babies
them a toy, the other instantly will try
to take it away from him. The stronger
baby will retain or obtain the toy.
LAS the child grows up and goes to
school he has his fights. and, strange to
say, the boy who is generally victorious
in those fights becomes the hero of the
school.
'It is wrong 1t is not in accord with
the higher morality, but 1t is a fact.
Humanity is as 1t is. Recrees and treaties
and laws do not change humanity. That
craftsmanship which attempts to disre-
gard It Is unsound craftsmanship
THE United States is a rich and pow
erful nation. geographically isolated and
possessing less possibilities of being
drawn into war than most countries, but
still possessing possibilities. The Ameri-
can people are subject to the same i'm
pulses one finds existing among the more
belligerent nations Of the world. As an
instance the war with Spain was a peo-
pies war.
1.-THE President Of the United States,
the lamented Mckinley. did all that he
could to prevent that war, but still the
was too much for him. Men Of force and
ability in the Congress of the United
States tried to stem the tide for war,
but all their efforts were unavailing. The
war spirit had seized the American peo-
ple and before we knew 1t we were in
volved.
"It Is trite saying, but true one,
that history constantly repeats itself.
The present European war has demon
strated the fact that wars come suddenly.
I'VE never can tell how soon we as a
nation may become involved In war or
course. we all hope and pray that our
country may never again have occasion
to unfurl Its battle flags. but II the occa-
sion ever should arise when 1t will be
necessary to defend the nations rights
and the property of American citizens
against unjust aggression, then We ought
to be ready.
I'VE are at heart perhaps. more peace
full than most people. but still. as the
Spanish-Amerfcan war proved, we Dos
sess the war spirit in a measure Add to
that the further fact that our neighbors
in the society of nations are exhibiting
sudden and widespread devotion to the
war habit: Is It not evident. then. that
amtty has been cast aside by the Euro
pean nations and unleashed passion for
slaughter Is abroad that we as a nation
should be ready. strong and preYared to
stand firm against any attempted aggres-
sion?
Here. on this side Of the Atlantic. we
have built a great nation devoted to high
ideals of democracy and freedom. We
have the right. ethically, to maintain
those ideals. to preserve and strengthen
our institutions. but practically that
. right is upheld only in SO far as we
have the nhvaicaI utrap~<h - ,,ohn,a -
Evening star., 1914-10-11

La Plata. which a few years ago sue
ceeded Port Tobacco as the county seat
Of Charles; and Leonardtown, the court
town Of st. Marys county. If Confed-
crate monuments had been erected
there and the answer was in the mega
tive.
-
A few days ago the Rambler was sit
ting on the fence before one Of the two
a discussion as to which of the coun-
ties of Virginia was the first to erect
monument to the memory of the Con-
was made that Westmoreland was the
first to set up such monument, and
the claim was also put forth that King
more1and in the direction of Washing
ton, was the drst. The Westmoreland
shaft was erected and dedicated in
1875, eleven years after the close Of
monument was erected the Rambler
does not know, but Jays aside a men
tai note to find out.
Montross is a long and scattered viii
lage stretched out for mile or more
on fine road which leads from Nomini
landing and other points on Nomini
creek to Colonial Beach by way of
Baynesville, Potomac Mills and Oak
Grove. 1t is In the country to the
southeast of the Washington ancestral
lands around Popes creek and Bridges
creek, the plantation which by one Of
the Washingtons later than George
was named Wakefield. Montross is
also southeast about twelve miles from
the Writ lands along Maddox creek.
Stratford. the ancestral home of the
Virginia Lees. Is five miles north Of
Montross. and eight or ten miles south
and east from Montross are the lands
Of Nomony Hall. the estate Of Coun
cilor Carter, grandson of King Car
ter of Lancaster.
The road is the main street of the
village, but there Is a side way, wide
and short. which turns OF the main
Evening star., 1914-10-11

totally disarming or maintaining a mini
mum of armament. They have taught
that the demand for a stronger navy and
larger and better prepared army has
proceeded chiefly from those men who
are engaged in the profession Of arms or
who make profit from selling war ma
terlal.
In the discussions of the past and in
the more strenuous ones to come during
the winter no man in Congress has a
larger part than Representative Julius
Kahn of California. Mr.. Kahn, as presi-
dent of the National Defense League Of
the United States, is an earnest advocate
OF peace. but he holds that for the United
States. at least. preparedness for war is
the only insurance against war
"Milltarist." his very good friend, Rep
resentative Richard Bartholdt Of Mis-
souri,. calls him. In their debates on the
subject. "Pacifist." retorts Mr.. Kahn.
for Mr. Bartholdt Is committed to the
cause Of peace. and Is one Of the coun-
try's most noted advocates of arbitration
as a cure for war.
Both of German nativity. both of long
service in Congress. both leaders OF
thought on their respective sides. Messrs.
Kahn and Bartholdt are at opposite
points of the pole on military subjects.
of manner. fair and liberal in debate.
philosophical in his habits Of mind. never
comes 80 near to losing his patience as
when he hears pacifist arguments. and
especially when he hears them in these
DAYS of the European war.
Yes, yes," said he. almost impatentiy,
when some of the recent publications
were brought to him in which appeared
articles arguing that preparation for war
inevitably is an invitation for war. ss,
yes; l have seen all that stun. How silly
and futile 1t appears In the hght OF "ha'
Is going on in Europe!
What comes to a nation that attempts:
by power Of Its peaceful example. to leao
the nations Of the world into the paths
of peace and concord and to avoid an
war? China with her four hundred mil.
lions Of population, furnishes the answer!
-
Seventy years ago England. because
she was a strong military nation. though
numerically smaller In population. forced
upon China the opium traffic. The gov
ernment of China. being without means to
resist. had to submit to the efforts OF
Christian England to inflict this terrible
curse upon the Chinese people. Since
then no nation at war on the continen,
Of Asia has hesitated to violate China's
neutrality. The Japanese-Russian wal
is in point, and now the violation OF
China's neutrality by the Japanese agair
lays emphasis on the fact.
The existing almost worldwide wal
demonstrates one thing clearly. and thai
is that treaties are not worth the paper
on which they are written whenever
powerful nation believes the treaties have
served their purpose. A treaty Is only
so strong as the power to enforce it.
TT is unfortunate, but true. that wal
has not yet been accepted by all men OF
all nations. Many generations will pass
before the war spirit will be entirely Grad
Evening star., 1914-10-11

N the court town
of many II not
most of the coun-
ties which may be
considered as sub
urban to Wash
Ing ton t h e r e
stands a Confed-
crate monument.
In Lou d o u n
county a nne
bronze statue OF
a soldier on a
A--A-
Evening star., 1914-10-11

totally disarming or maintaining a mini
mum of armament. They have taught
that the demand for a stronger navy and
larger and better prepared army has
proceeded chiefly from those men who
are engaged in the profession Of arms or
who make profit from selling war ma
terlal
The Holly chieftain., 1914-03-27
Rice, 20 lbs. for $1OO Pratt's.

Rice. 20 lbs. for $1OO Pratt's.
The Ladies Aid society of the
Presbyterian church met Thursday,
March 10, with Mrs. Wright. The
following officers were elected for
coming year: President, Mrs. H.
K. CleweIl, First Vice Pres, Mrs
f. NJ. Sherman, Second Vice. Pres.
Mrs. Al Wilson, Third Vice. Pres.
Mrs. John Robson, Treasurer, Mrs.
K. M. Brown, Secy. Mrs. r. r.
Appel, Asst Secy. Mrs. X. +.
Wilson.
On Friday last the Woman's
club met at the residence of Mrs
7. &. Demaray, Mrs. Wright pre-.
siding. Mrs. r. d. Wilson was
the reader for the afternoon and
entertained the club with a most in
teresting paper on american Illus
traitors" Delicious refreshments
were served and the club adjourned
voting Mrs. Demaray a delightful
hostess