davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Irish standard., 1914-02-07
OLDEST OF EARTH's CITIES
Damascus 40 Full Of Life Today 40
She was In the DawnIns Of the
Worlds History.

At last we are set down In the
midst Of Damascus. a city that can
claim life without break from its
founding back in the dim dawn of
the worlds history. When Abram
crossed the desert from Haran 1000
years ago this city was standing. (see
Gen. 1876 and 1922 She dates back
to the time of the Pharaohs in Egypt:
In fact. she was old when Greece and
Rome were striplings In years. Rome
may be termed the Eternal CITY,"
but Damascus is twice as old, and
though her streets have run red with
blood of battle and rapine many
times. she has not been overthrow.
Babylon is an heap in the desert
and Tyre ruin on the Shore" but
Damascus remains.
Was there ever such a place to see
the nations Of the earth parading to-
gether? Here In the market place are
motley crowds Of Persians. Moors,
Afghans. Indians, Egyptians. Sudan
ese, Jews, Bedouins, Druses, Turks,
Europeans. The streets-so crooked,
80 narrow, SO dirty. 90 full Of life,
with that strange spell Of the desert
upon them! The residences as seen
from the street are ugly and disap-
pointing enough. yet, like old barns
and tumble-down mills at home, are
fascinating and picturesque.-Chris
tian Herald.
The Irish standard., 1914-02-07
CAN MAKE HOME IN TROPICS
Official Of Department Of Agriculture
Thinks Dominant Races Have
Duty There.

Preparing the white man for his
coming occupation Of the tropics by
teaching him how to live there is the
substance of suggestion made to tho
Pan-American Union by Prof. Nathan
A. Cobb Of the department of agri-
culture. The establishment on the
Panama canal zone of an international
bureau of research Is the recon-
mendation he makes. He would have
this bureau make careful scientific
study of how the white man will have
to adapt himself to conditions, food,
climate. ETC., so that he may inhabit
the tropics, and work there without
injury to his health.
The present sporadic and scattered
study being made along this line.
Professor Cobb does not consider Of
much value. It should be on q broad
scale. and comprehensive. he says.
taking up the whole field. Because
Of the wonderful possibilities Of pro-
duction in the tropics. Professor Cobb
says he has no doubt but that the
white man must go in and live there.
and make the yields greater than they
are at present. He holds that proper
study will give the information need
ed to make the tropics not only pos
sfble for happy and healthful homo
for the white man.
The Irish standard., 1914-02-07
SUFFERED FOR HIS COUNTRY
First American Diplomat lily Reward.
ed, and HE Services Long
Went Unrecognized.

The first diplomatic agent of the
United States was Silas Deane. who
was born at Groton, Conn. He be.
came merchant and was delegate
to the first continental congress. In
the spring Of 1875 he was sent to
France as secret diplomatic agent.
He posed as merchant from Ber-
muda and upon his arrival in Paris
sought an interview with Count de
Vergennes, the minister for foreign
affairs, who refused to receive him.
Deane was reduced to the direst pow
erty and was elected by his landlady.
Subsequent American ambassadors
have complained of the lack of suit
able embassies, but Deane was re-
duced to point where he had to &C.
cept poor lodgings from q sympathetic
Frenchman. Eventually he was given
an audience with Vergennes and be-
gan the diplomatic relations which
eventually resulted in the French al
lance. In 1777 Deane was recalled.
In the bitter controversy which fol-
lowed his recall Thomas Paine re-
vealed the fact that supplies furnished
the colonies had been furnished by
the French governments diplomatic
indiscretion which cost Paine his place
as secretary of the committee on for
eign affairs. Deane, driven into pow
erty and exile. died in England in
1889. Half q century later his claim
for his services abroad was adjusted
by congress and a large sum was
paid to his heirs.
The Irish standard., 1914-02-07
Napoleon a. Pathfinder.

That Napoleon was as quick witted
as any of those he commanded is evil
dent from the well-known story Of his
cleverness in escaping from the Red
Sea when crossing with his stan. The
ford was lost, and, as it was dusk,
there was no landmark to guide the
party.
Gathering his officers in a circle.
Napoleon made them all ride outward
from himself as a center, as II they
were following the spokes of a great
wheel. So all the paths we're tried and
the right one was found.
In reading such stories as this IL
most important to see the idea In
them, as the mere way of telling them
differs with every author. In fact,
the same stories are often told Of diff.
ferent men. But whoever was clever
enough to think OF these things, it is
well for us to remember the facts
themselves.
The moral is: use your brains! p
From "The Men with Brains" by
Tudor jerks in st. Nicholas.
The Irish standard., 1914-02-07
STILL AN UNKNOWN REGION
Atmosphere at Extreme Point Above
the Earth Has Never Been
Determined.

Except for a narrow layer Of air
the atmosphere above us is practical
ly unexplored. The most daring bal
loonists have only penetrated to a
point seven miles above the earth. In
this first stratum are found the clouds
and the moisture and here the storms
are formed. The second layer has
been penetrated by pilot balloons car
rying meteorological instruments to
a distance twenty miles above the
earth. The Thermometers carried
through this stratum show practical
ly no change Of temperature.
At an altitude of SO miles the at
mosphere consists slmost entirely of
hydrogen and this marks the upper
limit of twilight. Clouds of fine vol
canic dust sometimes rise to this
height, which may be seen by reflect
ed light, but this is the only solid
matter found in this region. 1t is be-
lieved that hydrogen is replaced by
some unknown gas of extreme light
ness above this stratum, but as a
matter of fact nothing is definitely
known. The most daring scientists
scarcely dare guess what is to be
found at a height beyond a point 1875
miles above the earth's surface.
The Irish standard., 1914-02-07
Elephants and Their Youno.

Very little is known of the breeding
habits of elephants or their manner
of caring for their young. A gentle
man whom we became very we'll &C.
Quainted while on the Mount Kenia
trip, was not professional elephant
hunter, nevertheless no had killed sew
eral elephants on Kilimanjaro. Once
by mistake he shot and wounded q
COW elephant that ran some distance
before falling. On overtaking her he
found that she had fallen in a kneel-
Ing position. A little calf was pinned
under her knee by a leg that was driv-
en- deep into the soft earth. A close
examination Of the route over which
the old elephant had passed failed to
reveal any of the little ones tracks.
This, together with the fact that the
calf was not hitherto seen and the Pc
culiar manner in which it lay, might
be taken as proof that the mother was
carrying it in her trunk, or perhaps
resting it on her tusks. with her trunk
holding it in position.-Outing.
The Irish standard., 1914-02-07
Got Her Souvenir,

There is a certain famous violinist
who frequently visits this country, and
who, among his acquaintances. is al
most as noted for his parsimony as for
his genius. Among this musicians
admirers was q young woman who
was determined, ii possible. to pro-
cure some souvenir of the great man.
Her opportunity came one rainy day
when she CHANGED to encounter the
musician on Broadway. He was pro-
vided with an old cotton umbrella,
green with age: while the young wom-
an carried nice new silk one. She
stopped him for a moment, exclaim-
ing: "Oh. II you would only give me
some slight remembrance of yourself
no matter how SMALL" The great
man surveyed her keenly, and then
gave Q glance at the old cotton UNI
brella that covered him. This he
thrust into her hands, saying: Ger
tainly. my dear young lady. I shall
be delighted. We will exchange UNI
brellas."
The Irish standard., 1914-02-07
ACT on FIRST IMPRESSIONS
Old Adaoe That "He Who hesltates
r. -, Truth s '''
1 b'SSsss

In letter to friend at a great
moral crisis in his life Darwin ex-
pressed an observation which is con-
f1rmed by general experience. The
action which had suggested itself to
him when he first faced the crisis he
had condemned as dishonorable. On
further consideration, when he was
sorely tempted to proceed, he told his
friend of the struggle he was having,
but added, First Impressions are gen.
orally right" and he proposed to stand
by his first impression that the course
in view would be dishonorable.
When a moral question involving
difficulties is put up to a person his
first impression is on the merits Of
the question, without reference to the
difficulties of the course. Later the
difficulties begin to loom up, and eau
ton is apt to get the better Of the
doubter.
Reflection on a matter Of disagree
able duty often paralyzes action. The
adage. HE who hesitates Is lost" EN-.
bodies store of wisdom.
The Irish standard., 1914-02-07
MATTER FOR SOME THOUGHT
Decidedly One Of These Two Had tho
Wrong Impression, but Where 10
Expert That Can pecide7

Who told the truth?
They met In the subway one morn.
Ing. q young mother and q young pro-
fessional woman. They had been
friends at school, but aeons had pass.
ed. and now. after some ten years.
they began to discuss their present
jobs-of motherhood and journalism.
However, journalism seemed to All
most OF the time. and motherhood was
dismissed after few desultory cues.
tons about Billy" whose fame con.
sisted in being seven years old and
just entering school.
'Oh. tell me about your work" said
the mother.
There IL quite bit to ten Of it,
said the egotistical woman of busi.
ness. and Immediately launched upon
the joys. woes. disadvantages and ad.
vantages Of the business woman's a,
reer.
my! But that is most interesting"
said the mother, whose eyes were
popping out Of her head at the mere
mention Of the famous persons the
Journalist knew. II certainly shan
buy your magazine and read it,"
Grand Central Station!" mumbled
the guard.
"Goodby." said the mother. "Your
life is certainly worth WHILE"
"Goodby," replied the journalist:
mot nearly as much worth while a
yours"
Who told the truth?
The Irish standard., 1914-02-07
Court Green Sacred.


A West Virginia county Judge In
Keatley vs.. County Court says:
In the Virginias. as elsewhere, the
court green is historic and sacred.
Upon 1t generations gone have met
from all parts of the county in social
and friendly intercourse. A great
place for the communion of the peo-
pie. Upon its green grass, under the
shade Of its trees, our people have
thus met time out of mind and rested
during the sessions of the courts.
suitors. Jurors, witnesses, instead Of
being tied down to benches in the hot,
crowded courtroom. repair there to
await the crier's call. There, too. the
children play. It is park for the
poor who have not the rich mans
lawn. And where shall be held in the
hot summer those great meetings Of
the people in the political canvass to
hear the orators? How valuable with
in the experience Of all Of us is the
courthouse ground for this important
purpose. Away goes the old court
green. Commerce is taking even It
away"
The Irish standard., 1914-02-07
Quickly Made Friends.

A trade association some years ago
was in session in New York, and part
Of its members were dining in a cafe
not far from the table at which sat
Paderewski. and at the close of the
feast one of the guests made his way
to the cloak room, where he encoun-
tered the famous pianist. The new.
conner stared for long time at the
fair-haired Pole, and at last said:
"You are very much like Paderewski.
Do you know him?" II am Paderewski,"
rejoined the other, modestly. What"
shouted the stranger, and, dashing at
him, he shook both his hands. Before
Paderewsk sufficiently recovered from
his surprise the man stepped to the
door and, calling the others of his
party. yelled: II say, Brown, Wheeler.
Carey. all Of you come here! want
to introduce you to my friend Pad.
erewski."
The Irish standard., 1914-02-07
ANNOYED THE GOOD FOLKS
Surely New York Chauffeur Might
Have Been Just q Little Bit
Accommodating.

New Workers. amt what you would
call neighborly." Mrs. Bates summed
up to her friend. Mary Abby Thomas,
at the end Of dramatic account of
her ten days sojourn in Manhattan.
mo. nor even humanity accommodate
ing as one man to another" she add
ed, firmly; they're plain stuck-up."
How so?" inquired Mary Abby,
with eager interest.
In more ways than one, but one'll
do" Mrs. Bates answered, with dig
nifty, her long, thin cheeks flushing as
with some poignant recollection. "The
last morning but one before we left,
as Hiram and were starting out for
the day, he noticed q spot on the
front of my gray skirt. You know
how particular he is, and I expected
he'd send me back to the hotel But
he didn't. He seemed to have a quick
idea, near g I could make out from
his face, and before l could ask what
he was doing, he stepped up to pub
lie chauffeur. pulled up at the side.
walk in big automobile. We'd seen
him lots Of times. and noticed that
he favored our Alice's Frank consid.
cradle, and there was no reason why
he shouldn't have recognized US. Be.
sides, he'd ought to have known we
want the borrowing kind of folks, but
meant to pay.
"'Young man. Hiram says to him.
can you spare US a little mite of your
gasoline? My wife's got grease spot
on her Dress
"'What!' SIS he. But it wasn't a
question; he understood what Hiram
said well enough, for he began to
smoker, and before I could pull Hi
along that boy was laughing fit to
split"
Il call him stingy," said Mary Abby,
with an air of furnishing a fresh in
depreciation of character. 1T wouldn't
have taken more than drop or two
Of his old gasoline" Com.
panion.
The Irish standard., 1914-02-07
Giant Coffer.Dam.

A vast reinforced concrete mono.
lithfc foundation is being built entire
ly around the area upon which will
be erected the new Equitable building
in this city, a structure which will con-
tain one million square feet of rent
able flsor space, and will tower aloft
to height Of thirty-six stories. The
coffer-dam will be a solid concrete
wall, six feet broad and eighty feet
deep. extending eighty feet to solid
rock. This will be the largest office
building yet constructed. 1t will weigh
over 100000 tons as against the weight
of 103 900 tons of the Woolworth build.
ing, 1S8,500 tons of the Municipal
building, and $4,000 tons of the Singer
building. The steel framework alone
will weight $4,000 tons, as against 25,.
900 tons required for the Woodwork
building.-Scientifc American.
The Irish standard., 1914-02-07
Protects Whole Hand,

Protecting gloves generally in use
for X-ray work are ordinary gloves
having applied on the back a layer Of
rubber that contains lead, as lead is
known to stop the rays. But this is
somewhat stir and lacks suppleness,
and besides it Is only the back of the
hand that is protected. A French In.
venter makes use Of q fabric which
is much more flexible and it protects
the whole Of the hand from injury by
the rays. The new fabric is woven
from silk which is heavily sized" with
a lead composition, so that it contains
three times its weight Of lead. This
tissue has the advantage Of being
much more elastic and acts as very
good screen for the X-ray, especially
when the back portion is reinforced.
The Irish standard., 1914-02-07
leo.oenerated LIoht.

A French inventor has devised
mechanism which. II he is to be be-
lieved, will conserve the health and
pocketbook while adding appreciably
to the Joy Of living. 1t Is an exerciser
made after the fashion of the bicycle,
but connected with a dynamo of mod.
crate power and a storage battery.
One mounts the machine and by ped.
aling for an hour or soshas sufiicient
exercise to develop his muscles prop
erly, not to mention the pleasure of
wheeling. He has also generated
enough electricity to keep several
lights burning for an entire evening.
The inventor estimates that a fam
lily Of ordinary size may keep health
at high tide and live in splendidly
Illuminated house at small cost.
The Irish standard., 1914-02-07
Legal Tansie.

The day was drawing to a close
Judge, Jurors, witnesses and lawyers
were growing weary, says the Theoso-
phicm Path. Finally the counsel for
the prosecution rose to examine the
defendant.
Exactly how far is 1t between the
two towns" asked the lawyer, in q
weary voice.
The defendant yawned, and replied:
about four miles az, the cry flows"
mo doubt" said the man of law,
you mean as the flow cries."
The Judge leaned forward. NO." he
remarked, suavely, "he means as the
dy cruws."
Then all three looked at one an
other, feeling that something wao
wong somewhere.
The Irish standard., 1914-02-07
HIGH TIDE OF WAR IN FRANCE
Old Flies Of Paris Newspaper Con-
tain an Appeal to Patriotism
Of the Citizens.

Our frontiers are threatened! I'm
placable enemies. whose ranks have
been swelled by treason, wish to in
wade the French territory.
The war. lighted in Europe by the
influence Of England, cannot be sub
jected to the common calculations Of
policy. The question Is not partial
concessions Of territory, it is the
north precipitating itself on the south.
France is the great obstacle to the
success Of the northern nations. Our
country has always been the bulwark
of civilization and an object Of
jealousy to the other powers. because
1t 10 also the country Of the arts, the,
center Of improvements and the model,
for nations in everything which IL
great and glorious.
Our public monuments. the chefs
d'oeuvre Of arts. immortal trophies OF
our Victories. each part of our native
land 30 favored by nature. all that 10
French. Is under the safeguard Of all.
From Mayence to Perpignan. from
Brest to Toulon, from the Alps to the
Pyrenees. every citizen will be ready
to ny to the assistance Of his country.
Our enemies have forgotten that
France is the land of the brave and
the country OF honor; they have for
gotten that at the voice Of the country
menaced, there Is no Frenchman who
does not know what is his duty, or ia
unready to fulfill it. They imagine that
We will quietly wait their undisciplined
coherts; but their expectation will DO
eceived.-Journal de Paris of 1913.
The Irish standard., 1914-02-07
Uncle H.,xha.,. Phflo,onhx.

Uncle Hast,es's Philosophy.
Never quart wild a deacon. De gen,
1eman has got dess enough piety to
put up de meanest kind Of Q fight.
Don't noun bout how hahd 70 has
to work. Law-suxz!-we KANT all be
members o Congress and git paid for
loadns.
II 20 wants to Git cured o dyspepsy
90 into dc ministry. A Niger preach
or kin eat twice a. much az q COM
mon man widout Q squalm O con-
science: . puhsidin' eldah three times
90 much: an evangelist fou' times, at
do very least: and dc Lawd hep 10
when de bishop heaves in sight!-Kan.
sas City Star.
The Irish standard., 1914-02-07
Little "curtsies" Of Children.

Little "Curtoteo" OF ChlIofens
A fashionable hostess recently gave
a most delightful party for children.
When awarding them prizes for their
proficiency in various games she urged
the recipients to make your little
curtsies and feel each time you do %
that you are saying thank you for
the prizes" It was q little lesson
10 kindly put that it met with an i'm.
mediate response. And in these days.
when We hear 10 much about "man-
ners" It must often be felt that It u
the disappearance of those "uttle curt
sies," which were once unfailing
among country children, that has grad,
ually brought about a change In rural
a. well as town "manners."
Neglect in teaching, not the loss Of
the spirit which can understand the
need Of these graceful little acts, 81
responsible for much We hear OF the
decline az ohildren's manners q to3
day. Il.
The Irish standard., 1914-02-07
Smart Business,

young Waggles," remarked Flip
son, as he made himself comfortable
in a deep club armchair, has had
the laugh turned on himself in his
little joke against the Flames Fire
Insurance company"
What do you mean?" asked Flip.
son.
WELL" continued his friend, che
insured five hundred cigars, smoked
them, and then sent in a claim on
the ground that they had been de-
stroyed by fire.
"And of course he got laughed att"
mot bit Of it. The company has
had him arrested on charge Of
arson" =
The Irish standard., 1914-02-07
Dob and scoh,H

Most people would know what Was
meant by the term bob" speaking Of
money. But would they be able to
say o6hand what . cob" 10, or was.
In similar connection? Il was used
In polite circles In the seventeenth
century. for It occurs In . letter from
the earl Of Essex: 80 my wife gave
her q cob. for which she seemed very
thankfur-printed on the new volume
Of the Camden" series, the editor Of
which gives the Information that the
cob wa6 "a piece Of money. the value
Of which varied from four shillinxS
% % much % six shillingD IN 1e7k,-s
ynn6on ohronanle
The Irish standard., 1914-02-07
Both Expired.

The defendant, who was held on the
charge of keeping dog without a
license. repeatedly tried to interrupt
the evidence, but was hushed each
time by the court. Finally the clerk
turned to him:
DO you wish the court to under
stand that you refuse to renew your
dog license?"
Eyes. but"
I'VE want no butts You must re-
new your license or be fined. You
know it expired on Jan. l."
Yes, but 80 did the dog."-Harper's
Weekly.
The Irish standard., 1914-02-07
Wand That Puts to sIeep.

The story If the Sleeping Beauty,
particularly its eastern versions, has
beeL traced conjecturally, to hypnotic
practices. A wand or rod often ap.
pears in the eastern tales; placed un.
der the feet of the woman or man it
kills or sends to sleep primitive folk
scarcely distinguish between sleep and
DEATH, under the head it restores to
life or waking. Sometimes there are
two wands, silver and gold respective
ly. In Scandinavian versions sleep
thorn takes the place Of the wand. In
ireland this appears as q pin, and
very possibly the sleep of the hero
inc Of Grimm's "Briar Rose" when the
spindle pricks her, is connected with
this. In the Arabian story it is q
ring placed upon a finger that causes
slumber.
The Irish standard., 1914-02-07
Save the Faucets.

Poise applied to plumbing was q
new one" to me when the friendly
plumber who was replacing the worn
out faucets read me a lecture on it,
writes . contributor to Good House
keeping. Never turn your faucets on
with a jerk" he enjoined. Turn
slowly and gently when turning the
water on or of. The faucets will
wear twice as long If you do. Moth
Ing will wear out packing, especially
on double spindle adjusted bathtub
faucets so much as the habit Of turn.
Ing them on with sudden, sharp
Jerks"
The Irish standard., 1914-02-07
Heart Of New York.


So much is heard of the heartless-
ness of New York business men that
it Is refreshing to hear another side of
the story. A young woman had been
employed by large wholesale house
for three months. It was her first
position. She became i'll. and, believ.
ing that conditions surrounding her
work were unsuitable to her, resigned.
The firm then sent check for two
weeks salary and wrote that when
she recovered If they could help her
in any way, either financially or to Sc
cure another position, she was to call
upon them. Fortunately she didn't
have to, and now no one dares to tell
her that New York is cruel and heart
lass to the struggling newcomer.