davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington times., 1914-05-09
THE NEW NATIONAL
GUARD.

"The old army" and the old
navy" reference being to the mill
tary and naval establishments OF
ante-bellum days, are common
phrases. We are entitled TO coin a
rev one to go along with these, and
to refer to THE new national guard.
If things go a very little while
longer as they are now fading IN
Mexico we shall see large section
Of the national guard on the way to
the Mexican frontier, and it. will
prove itself a very different organ
ization than the old guard of the
days before the war with Spain.
Il would be senseless TO aliege that
anything like regular army organ
i:.ation and efficiency has been
achieved in the national guard. But
il would also be sheer blindness not
10 recognize that the State militia
forces of today are vastly better
than ever before. They have reached
an effectiveness that insures that
they would very soon, in actual
service, be shaped into first-class
lighting men, with the spirit and
quality that made the soldiers of
10th North ard South during the
war between the States the greatest
bodies of sighting men the world has
known
The Washington times., 1914-05-09
ALSACE-LORRAINE AGAIN

French people are convinced that
Germany has set systematically
about the business of eXpelling
French citizens from Alsace-Lor-
raine. There are yet in the con-
Guered provinces about II 900 French
citizens; many more who are
French in everything save citizen
ship. These unreconstructed and un-
rcconstructihle Frenchmcn, who in
sist or sticking where their property
and interests arc, and yet who re-
fuse 10 renounce their French al
leTlance, are particularly objection
able 10 the Berlin government. II
kaS long been on tho lookout for cvi-
Gcnce Of plotting between these
.tlsation French and the politicians
&C the republic. and it realizes that
these provinces would be source
of serious weakness to tho empire in
case of war with France.
There arc many thousands Of Ger
mans in France, doing all kinds of
business. and they are fearful of
french rcprisals. Public opinion
would irsistcntly demand that if
french citizens may not live in Al
sacc-Lorrainc, then the privilege of
doing business in France shall be
Genied to Germans. By that bargain
,ho Germans would be ultimately
ioscrs; their big population tends
constantly to slop over, while the
French are doing everything pos
sible to keep their people at home.
The Washington times., 1914-05-09
Two Members Chosen for
g. w. u. Honor Society

The rames of Randolph c. Shaw and
S. p. Jones are today added to the
rolls OF the exclusive Pyramid, Sc
cret honor society OF George Wash
ington University.
Founded in 1908, the society has
taken in but few members each year.
Only achievement in several of the
various lines of college activity hay 9
enabled the nineteen members to wir
the honor. The names. of the two
initiates were announced to the public
at the annual banquet held at the
Powhatan Hotel last night, Howard
w. Hcdgkins acting as toastmasteT.
Among those present Were: Grad
yates, David A. Baer. J. st. C. Brooks,
Carl Butman. Louis NaXon. Y. e.
Schroeder. David T. Covell, NJ. -
Farmer. ]. Ralph Fehr. Roy l. New
house, Duncan c. Smith: active mem
bcrs. ]. Norman Taylor. Alvin Nee.
Brown, Donald L. Dutton. NJ Gordon
Slarrow. and Harry q. Bencman;
initiates. Randolph q. Shaw and :. J..
Jones.
Officers of the society arc: presi-
dent. NJ. Alvord Gore; vice president,
Alvin McC. Urown: secretary treas
urer. Donald i. Dutton. and historian,
Howard w. Hodgkins.
The Washington times., 1914-05-09
LAND MORTGAGE BANKS

There is every reason to believe
that the American farmer can be
benefited by the creation of some
system of land mortgage banking.
That result has been produced in
other countries, and it has been cal
culated that hundreds of millions
could be saved annually in the mort
gage interest paid by farmers if a
proper adaptation of the European
systems were in effect here.
But some OF the plans that are
being urged are quite too ambitious.
For example, it would be dangerous,
and would likely defeat the whole
object. to undertake to enforce ma
tion-widc uniformity in the interest
rate on farm loans. If the rate is to
be the same in all localities, then
those which have the highest, most
secure. and most stable values in
their lands will inevitably tend to
draw all the money to themselves.
The Investor will prefer the best
POSSIBLE security, and the sections
which can offer poorer security will
find themselves without money. The
high interest rate which is charged
in the section where security is poor
est, is compensation for the larger
risk involved.
Land banks would probably be
best and most effectively admin
istered as State institutions. If the
Federal Government wants to pro-
mote them, project of loaniug
Federal credit in some fashion might
be worked out. But the conditions
of different States are so widely
varying that it is almost certain that
p Federal system would prove too
rigid and inelaStic to be adapted to
the great range Of needs. Even in
the same neighborhood, values of
land arc SO divergent that every
farm loan may be said to be an in
dividual affair.
The Washington times., 1914-05-09
LIKE FALLING ROME.

Simply amazing, in extent and
variety, is the output of garden
literature nowadays. We may con-
suit everything from a four-volume
encyclopedia of American horticul-
ture to handbook on the best
method and practice of utilizing a
backyard for an amateurs garden.
It's all down in dollars and cents
what it costs Mr.. Backtotheland to
turn an abandoned farm into going
concern with money in the bank.
And yet the garden books do not
seem to have had yet the proper
effect on modern economic conditions,
as we do not need so eminent an
authority as Guglielmo Ferrero TO
inform us with his new hook on
ancient Rome and Modern Amer
a"-another garden book to a GER
tam extent.
Prof. Ferrero finds a close re-
semblance between conditions in the
United States today and those in
Rome shortly before its decline and
fall. he declares that the high cost
of living is not due to the increase in
gold or the protective tariff or the
trusts, but to excessive urbaniza-
ton" He explains:
The countryside has in the last half
century been left too much 10 itse.f, and
agriculture has been too much neg
lected, exactly as began TO he the case
in the Roman Empire at the beginning
Of the second century OF the Christian
era. 1t is easy to guess what must be
the natural result OF this lopsided ar
rangement. The cities grow bigger. in
dUstries increase in number and in
size, the luxury and :he needs OF the
masses, crowded together in the cities,
augment
on the other hand. there is no pro-
portioRate increase in the productive
ness of the land. And so the increase
in wealth is accompanied by an increas-
ing scarcity of the fruits Of the earth;
and the things which serve to clothe
and feed us-cotton. linen. hemp. wool,
cereals, meat. Vegetables-nearly all rise
in price much more than do manufac-
tured goods. This explains the scarcity
that veNes the cities in proportion to
their growth in size.
We all seem to have heard that
before-yes, before Prof. Ferrero
wrote his garden book, before he
wrote any books. But how to stop
it How tc make amateur and pro-
fessional gardeners go a-gardening
in earnest. That's the problem.
The Washington times., 1914-05-09
A BLOCKADE, OR NOT?

The American posture in Mexico
| seemS to be anomalous. Our fleet
and army have seized Vera Cruz
and sent away shipload of NUM-
tions of war destined to the Huerta
forces. 1t was widely published that
the immediate occasion for seiZing
Vera Cruz was the necessity of
| keeping these war supplies from
reaching the Mexico City authorities.
Yet no blockade of Mexico has
been proclaimed. Our ships are suf-
fcient in number and strength to
bottle up the country and shut out
such supplies. But today comes the
story the Puerto Mexico, another
Culf coast town, is about to receive
another big shipment OF arms. and
that there is no naval force at hand
to head them off.
Il Washington has undertaken to
keep military supplies out of the
Huerta territory why does it not
adopt effective regulations and meas
Tres to do so? That is a question
which many people axe asking, and
for which the answer does not seem
at all obvious.
Hesitation about selling Puerto
Mexico as Vera Cruz was seized, and
for the same reason, is said to be
based on the Administrator dis
like of committing such an act of
war against Mexico. But would
the seizure of Puerto Mexico be any
more an act of war than was the
taking of Vera Cruz? With a large
and rapidly increasing American
force at Vera Cruz, with the Ameri-
can flag flying over the town, with
the Mexicans on the outside amass-
ing forces with the appa rent purpose
of attacking our position or at least
n,enacing it-with all these condi-
tionS existent. wherein would the
warlike aspect be made essentially
worse if another port be seized?
The United States has been drawn
into mediation project which pref
ty nearly everybody now regards as
hopeless. All that it seems likely to
accomplish is the embarrassment of
this Government. It has not ended
the war in Mexico because the con-
stituticnalists have refused 10 join
in the arnistice and suspend their
operations against lIuerta. But that
armistice is now an obstacle to the
seizure of Puerto Mexico, and the
possibilities of further and more diff
fcult complications become apparent.
The Washington times., 1914-05-09

make it out to be. AS for the idea
Of any person Starting to spend his
life" writing books, nobody but an
idiot, and usually a rich one, ever
tries it; and in sucn cases no harm
is done except to the spruce forests.
The men in America that write
books for a living are those that
have proved to themselves that they
can earn a living at it. The fail
ures go back to something which fits
them better.
Mr.. Pages talk may De suited to
England, where, as some wise men
insist, there are only $4,000 reading,
thinking people" America is a diff
ferent place. We of the United
States may not have the very high
est hrows. but we haven't the very
lowest. Every American-born per-
son above the age of sixteen feels
hmSelf-ard particularly herself
equipped to write novel, a play or,
al the very least, the scenario for 4
movie. Everybody reads and many
long to write. And out of those who
yield to the temptation come the
few that make literature. The
process is one of elimination, with
many eliminated; but the more that
make the try the higher must be-
come the merits of the books and
authors that survive as the era's
standard
The Washington times., 1914-05-09

how easv il is for a lady to utilize
butterfly for necktie. As it created
| a real laugh when published. which it
was intended to do. Miss Beecher queer
ed her char Ce to geu-any more pictures
| in magazine departments of humor
| then ard there. And as the portrait
| -ainting business did not pan out at all
she closed up her shop and took a
| Job as designer for 4 firm of interior
decorators, who had great hopes. but
J only money enough 20 pay her s. per
/ week.
She worked hard and faithfully for
the eight dollars for a year or more.
| money altogether. she decided there
| must be more lucrative Iieids for her
| talents. and went in search of them.
1t was at this period that Opportunity
time. and indicated that the stage was
| the proper sphere for the exercise of
Miss Janet's superabundant energies.
| Her sister. Miss Olive Wyndham, had
made a success on the stage. They had
attributed this to the fact that an an
| cestor of the name of Quinn had once
acted with Peg Woffington, and that
something OF dramatic talent was pres
| ent in the mixture that made ID the
Beecher blood.
And so Miss Janet sought an oppor-
tunity to test just what PERCENTAGE or
! the Quinn heritage had fallen to her
lot she was employed as an extra in
| the great all-star production Of The
Two Orphans a few years ago. She
was little better than an ordinary eN-
ira. for she took part in the scene
| where all the fine ladies and gentlemen
sing ribald songs and she sang part OF
| one Of the songs She considered her
self very lucky and strove hard to
make good.
she made so very good that the next
The Washington times., 1914-05-09

season she had a real part in another
show. and 1t was not long before she
was given the lead in THE Heir to
the Hurrah'' and went on the road with
it. Her career from that time on was
settled. 1t was the stage for her. She
worked hard to overcome all the little
portrait painting. interior decorating
mannerisms which she believed would
bar her progress, beginning with the
habit Of standing in pigeon contem-
plation of a scene she should be arting.
and going through all the faults she had
found in her assay of her abilities.
To the great American public-the
public that pays the freight on all Mr..
Belasco's productions and thus testif1es
its regard for him and them in un-
mistakabie terms-Miss Beecher first
sprang into fame as the musicians wife
in The Concert" This was her first
opportunity TO typify womanhood on
the stage.
Everybody saw The Concert" and
everybody knows what Miss Beecherr
did with that Then she came forward
with Arnold Benefits The Great Ad-
The Washington times., 1914-05-09
The News of Society
By JEAN ELIOT.

entertained at luncheon at the Hote
| Powhatan today, in honor OF Miss Eur.
horst, principal of the school. and the
members OF the senior class. Covers
! were laid for about ninety. After
| and gave a theater party at Keith s
| the juniors.
} Next Friday afternoon there will be
an exhibition of the spring work OF
! the school.
=
Mrs. Grant, wife of Capt. L. S. Grant
3rd, is visiting in washington while
| Captain Grant is in Mexico with the
army.
-
Miss Martha Bowers is spending sew
eral days in Philadelphia with Miss
Helen Taft, en- route home from Gin
cinnati. where she has been visiting
She will reach Washington on Monday.
-
Mr.. and Mrs. Frances Rowcs Sayre
and Mrs. Wilson'S brother. Prof.
Axs"n. are still at the White House
hut all the other guests v NJ came on
Ger the wedding of Miss Eleanor Ran
LJlph Wilson and Mr.. MsA1oo have
Teiurnpd to their hoTncS.
Yesterday afternoon Mr.. AID 'Jrs.
Sayre went for long motor ride ard
In the evening they occupied n box at
tha E,lcsCo Theater with Miss Mar
sar"t Wilson. Prof. Arson. Miss Irf-
field aud Miss Stadelman.
=
The Playhouse was the scene of
very delightful musical this afternoon,
when Mrs. John Bassett Moore Invited
about her guests to near John Dalton
Baker sing. Mrs. Moore was assisted
in receiving by her daughters. the
Misses Moore: Miss Harriet Hawkins.
Miss Alice whiting. Miss Rebecca
Wilmer, and Miss Helen Ernst and
Mrs. Frederick Atherton were at the
tea table.
Mrs. Rose Davis. OF 100 Fourth
street northeast. has been visiting her
sister. Mrs. Catlan, of st. Michaels.
Md, for the last week. and will spend
the coming week in Baltimore.
A large and fashionable gather
ing witnessed the presentation Of
The Mystery of the East" for
the benefit of NeighborhOod House
last night. No one knew quite
what it was all about. but il was very
wciru. very alluring, and very enter
tanning. with low lights and much in
cense-in fact. very much the "Mys-
terry of the East"
Mrs. Walter Page received the
guests, who were me, by bery Of
young women in fascinating Persian
and East Indian costumes selling Gig
arettes and matches. These young
women, with a group of Gor4eously at
tired men. presented a most Oriental
picture.
The entertainment, which consisted of
a series of Oriental dances and songs.
vas given in a room absolutely dark
except for a few weird Egyptian lar
terms. Taking part in this were Mil
ton Bryan, Miss Mildred Anderson.
Miss Neal. Miss Doris Drain. Miss
Lesher, William Bowie Clarke, Miss
Heller Buchanan. Miss Dasha Allen.
Robert Bell, Henry Dixon. and Louie
Thompson.
Mrs. 4. J. Cassatt. of Philadelphia,
who came to Washington for the
The Washington times., 1914-05-09

pS BALDWIN. wife 90 Cap
n III tain Baldwin, entertained a'
= luncheon toda: in honoi
of Mrs. Otto Sussman, OF Ne"
York The table was charminSiy dec
GRATED with American Beauties ana
bridal wreath. Invited TO meet MIS-
Sussran were Mrs. Madison. Mrs. |ro
nan, Mrs. James Woodruff. Mrs VIII
liam Mitchell. Mrs. Manley J"rd2h
Mrs. Lawrence. Mr>. Macmillan. Mrs
Harry Cole. Mrs. kerns, Mrs. Ho!tz'
man. Mrs. clayton. Mrs. %rittcn. Miss
Jane Oil. Miss Emily Beatty, Miss
Ruth Parker and Miss Marguerite
Harbour.
CONGRESSMAN and Mrs. Ios"ph j.
Erowland of California were hosts al
=, buffet luncheon today. entertaining
the 800 visiting Shrincrs from Cali
fcrnia and the members of Congress
ho arc Shrincrs. The rooms were
decorated with great bunCh"s Of dog
wood Mrs. Knowland was assisted 10y
Mrs. kinkead. Mrs. Coplcy. Mrs. Bor-
land Mrs. Ansberry Mrs. Patten, Mrs.
DeIlaiicld. Mrs. Kemp. Mrs. Eritten'
Miss Sl"mp the Misses rNeH. Mrs,
Eousc. the Misses Lays. Miss La Fol
lotto. Mrs. Murdoch. Misa Campo"ii.
Miss Pou, Miss Mc'umber. and the
v.ivcg Of the members of the Cahfornln
delegation in congress. Mrs, Works.
Miss Alma Perkins, Mrs. Raker, Mrs.
Fen. Mrs Kahn. Mrs. K"1t. Mrs
Church. Mrs kettncr. Mrs. Has, and
Mrs. Nolan.
p
Mrs. \. Camp Stanley was among
the luncheon hostesses today entertain
in; a number Of girls and young ma
irons at her home in Twenty-second
street.
Mrs. Barnett. wife Of the cOmmandant
of the marine corps, Will entertain at
dinner tonight in honor of Mrs. ]. Ar
thur LEROY, of Richmond. Mrs. LEROY
who is Mrs. Barnctt's. house guest. Is
president of the Woman's club, Of Rich
mond.
NJ. and Mrs. Reynolds Hit will he
hosts this evening at dinner at the
Country club.
Madam" Caldcron. wife or the Bolivian
minister, left town tod,y for visit 10
New York
+
Miss Agnes Hart Wilson Is enter
tanning Il PARTY of young people today.
They motorcd to baltimore and lunchHd
at the Emerson Hotel. and viii return
this evening. Miss Wilson's guests are
Mis- Fcrnc Ragsdalc, who Is Visiting heF
little Miss Jessie Wilson. Miss Jean
Dcnsmorc, daughter of the Solicitor Cor
the Department of LABOR, and Frank
and Jonathan Daniels, sons OF the Sec
rctprv of the Navy and Mrs. Daniels.
Mrs. RYAN DevcreuN will receive to-
morrow aud the following sundays dur
in" the spring.
Mrs. Hubert Dent has returned from
= three weeks visit t. Atlanta, where
shc Was the guest If Mrs. J. T.. Hickey
AMI Mrs. James T. Clstlen,"n. Mrs.
Dent went South especially ior grand
orcra week. which is the social event
Cf the Atlanta season.
THE Junior class of the National
School Of Domestic Arts and Science
The Washington times., 1914-05-09
Amusement5.

Within the Law" 20 and SO p.
n
NationsI-''Whst's Wrong" c.15 snd Sis D.
m.
Is =. IN.
Poli's-"Bousht and Paid For" o:i5 and s:IS
y.
Keiths-vauieville. 2:15 and Sis D. m.
Cosmos-Vaudeville. continuous
Casino-Vaudeville, afternoon and SveninE
Gayety-Burlesque. 2:l6 and Sis D. m
The Washington times., 1914-05-09
Story for Children.

Miss Mildred Anderson will tell the
story of Aqua, the Water Child" to
the children in the weekly story hour
at the House of Play this afternoon at
3 o'clock.
The Washington times., 1914-05-09
What's on the Program, in
Washington Today

Meetings. evening:
Knights Of Pythiss-Monthly meeting OF re-
lief bureau.
Odd FeIlows-Csnton Washington. No 1. Pa
triarchs Militant.
National Union-Colunbia Council
Interstate Commerce Commission hearing IN
mezBanine floor. New willard
The Washington times., 1914-05-09

Anti-suffrasists will wear red rose.
today. proving the old adage that every
rose has its thorn.
The Washington times., 1914-05-09

Rhinoceros charges American million
aire in Africa and fails to scare him
What the rhino should have done was
to overcharge him.
The Washington times., 1914-05-09

Spec:ograms taken at Lowell Observ-
atory sfow that Mars Is enveloped by
a watery vapor. Thought the feet wss
in Mexico.
The Washington times., 1914-05-09

Can't see why we are rushing troops
MeXicans.
The Washington times., 1914-05-09
Edited by ARTHUR BAER.

for mediation. Haven't heard from yes
terday's President. VIII wire tomor-
rows President. Got to get this matter
Strengthened out.
The Washington times., 1914-05-09

Banner year in winter wheat. Sir
hundred ard thirty million bushels
Which is a banner that even Mexic.
will salute.
The Washington times., 1914-05-09

March. Under Freedoms Flag"
Nowowiesti
Overture, "Ricnzi ............ Wagner
Characteristic. Canoeing" Pryor
Waltz. New VIENNA. Strauss
Scenes from The SprinS Maid
Reinhardt
"reminiscences OF Donizetti. .,iodfrey
March. "Staunch and True. .Teike
The Star-Spangled Banner
The Washington times., 1914-05-09

Italy has agreed to exhibit at our
Panama-Pacific Exposition. Sorry we
cannot do something to show our graft
tude. but We are all out Of canals.
The Washington times., 1914-05-09

The Embargo" by Bryant. was sold
for $3.50. Senior villa is willing to pay
m ore than that for the Embargo" by
Bryan. But 1t may not be lifted.
The Washington times., 1914-05-09
Concert Today
By the U. S. Marine Band,
Potomac Drive, at S p. III.

WILLIAM n. SANTELMASN,
Leader
The Washington times., 1914-05-09

Mrs. 4. J. Cassatt. Of Philadelphia
who came to Washington for the
The Washington times., 1914-05-09

The Junior class of the National
School of Domestic Arts and Science
The Parker post., 1914-01-31
MUCH LAND NOT IN USE.

Only 27 per cent of the tillable
land of the United States is actual
ly under cultivation, according to
estimates of the Department of Agri-
culture, based upon reports of $4,000
correspondents These reports were
obtained in order to gain information
as to the tillable area of the United
States, the amount of land that can
not be used for crops that have been
plowed but available for pasture or
fruits, and the total number of acres
that never can be used for agricul-
tural purposes. From the returns,
which were generally very consist
made for each State and for the Uni
ted States. Further investigation in
the Far Western States may modify
somewhat the present estimate for
those States.
The entire United States, excluding
foreign possessions, contains about
1,900,OO0,0O0 acres Of this area
about 60 per cent, or l, ,140, 900 ac-
res is estimated to be tillable; that
is, capable of being brought under cul-
tlvatior by means of the plCsw. This
includes land already under such cul
atom and that which in the future
ma, be brought under cultivation by
c!eaEing, drainage, irrigation, etc.
Thee hundred mad sixty one mil
1io' acres, or 19 per cent, are esti-
nateC to be nontillable but valuable
10 lasture or fruits. Only 21 per
cent or 300, 100000 acres, was estima-
ted to be of no use for agriculture,
present or future.
According to the census of 1909,
the land area in crops where acreage
was given was 81, ,OOO,O 900 acres. This
is about 16 per cent of the total land
area, or about 81 per cent of the es-
timated potential tillable area, of the
United States, excluding foreign pos
stss ons.
In other words, for every 100 acres
that are now titled, about 375 acres
may be titled when the country is
fully developed. In the development
OF the agriculture of the country the
land which was most easily brought
into a state of cultivation, as the
great Mississippi valley, was the first
to be brought into such use. Ex-
tension of titled area will be at
The Parker post., 1914-01-31
Robbed of Big Roll.

Trinidad Gonzales was robbed Of
$500 last Saturday by a couple Of
drunken MeXicans who had been
hanging around his place during the
day. 1t appears that Gonzales took
a nap in the afternoon and the
thieves. secured his roll and disappear
ed that same evening. During the
day Gonzales cashed a check for $3.50
and this with other money proved :
rich haul to the thieves. Officer Clay
ton is Investigating the robbery and
believes that he has clue as to the
whereabouts of the thieves 1t is
known that the suspected parties
left on No II last Saturday night
for the west.