davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1915-12-25

number of business houses are evolving
a set of standard tests.
These tests have been prepared by
the cooperation of commercial schools
and business houses. They apply to SOC
called beginners-offlce boys and girls.
general clerks, beginning stenogra-
piers, secretarial stenographers, book
keeping clerks and correspondents.
The tests have been put in the hands
of twenty large employers. and when
they have been thoroughly tried out.
the resulting averages will not only
give the business man something to
go on in estimating the ability of a
new applicant. but also furnish prac-
tical standard for the.use of business
departments in the schools.
The new cooperative movement is
broadening daily. At present in big
cities the vocational education has
made it's greatest progress in purely
commercial work-training for office
positions; in rural districts, agricul-
tural work leads. But so fast is the
scope of activity widening both in
training the student for work and the
worker in school, that even conserva-
tive authorities say that in five years
the child who leaves school to go to
work will, nevertheless, get exactly as
good training as his more fortunate
companions.
Evening star., 1915-12-25
pouring. I telephoned for a mechanic,
and he. tho BRIGHT man. After getting

pouring. telephoned for mechanic.
and he. the bright man, after getting
into the vitals Of the car. observed
that he believed it would run all right
tank. He spoke truly. Fifteen gallons
OF gas at the prevailing price is ter
rtble financial setback.
But even then it wouldn't work. I
sent for the mechanic again. This
plumber and unscrewed a small jigger
half way between the carburetor and
the magnetic.
Shell run now" he said.
What happened?'
She was air bound"
He meant that a small bubble Of air
had formed in the gasoline pipe and
had taken a position like a fat man
on the end of an open car seat and
that small chunk Of air no bigger
than a pin head could hold UP q three
thousand-pound automobile
Then it began to freeze and in try
ing to go up Macomb street hill the
machine skidded into every possible
position and finally stopped short,
while the wheels buxzed around. The
Ice was too thick and slippery and we
couldn't make her climb. I walked
home and brought out chains $3.50
the pair) and by the aid of a pirati-
cal colored hoy who was lurking on the
hill just to take advantage Of such un-
fortunates as L the chains were fas-
tened on. Just as we started her going
discovered that / had been running
with the hood cover closed UP and the
water in the radiator had turned to
steam. Unscrewing the radiator cap
let loose a gigantic torrent of rusty
scalding water, steam. smoke. sparks,
ashes and lava which shot into the air
like a geyser ten feet at least and came
down in heavy splash, covering the
nice gray machine with a fine coat of
thick muddy rust.
/ put her up for the night. and the
next morning ran or a terrace getting
out of the garage. sank her up to the
hubs, and had to send for a pair of
tow mules to- drag her out.
Oh, the pleasure of automobiling.
Who wants to take ride with me?
X + X X
One day Private William Hassett of
the National City Troop of cavalry was
lying prone upon his khaki-clad front.
poking a rifle in the direction of the
target. Standing over him was another
Evening star., 1915-12-25
WEEKS STOCK TRADING
OF USUAL CHARACTER
High Grade Rails Feature Strength
and Industrials Recover Ground
Yielded Early in Month.
Bank Clearings in All Parts Of Coun-
try Reach Unprecedented Volume,
Denoting Trade Expansion.

NEW YORK, December 25.--In most
essentials the weeks trading in the
stock market was of the usual ante
holiday character. the tone being often
dull and irregular except for spasmodic C
movements in the specialties. Those
issues reflected considerable realizing
for profits. particularly oils and the
automobile shares.
Railroad stocks of the higher grade
were materially assisted to a higher
level by the ruling of the interstate
commerce commission which granted
increased freight rates for various
articles of merchandise and other
products to roads traversing west
ern and southwestern states. In
quiry for these stocks was also quick
ened by the few November statements
already at hand which indicate record
breaking earnings for that month
Coppers were among the strong and
outstanding features of the week, the
steady advance in the price Of the metal
to highest prices in years. together with
the increased demand from domestic and
foreign sources, being primary factors.
Industrials of various descriptions. par
ticularly United States Steel, recovered
much of the ground they yielded early in
the month.
Evening star., 1915-12-25
Merry Christmas. friends.

Merry Christmas, friends!
That is sincere and heartfelt / sup
pose that none of the ordinary phrases
of the street have the genuine stuff in
them that Merry Christmas" has. You
can say Good morning" when 1t Is
raining like fury; and you can say
Good night" when you really mean
go to blazes"; and you can say How
do you do?'' when you really mean I
hope you choke"
But few people say Merry Christmas
when they do not mean it, 1t seems
to have SO much ring to it. 1t seems
to mean green holly and red berries;
a cracking fire and snow and Ice with
far away a lot of little boys skating
madly on the mill pond or shooting
belly-whopper down hill on new sleds;
little girls with new dolls or tea sets
or little fur pieces for the neck-God
bless 'em U don't know much about
little girls, having been brought up in
a desert of brothers,.
And when we are grown up it means
a warm fire in the heart and on the
hearth. too; and l believe best of all
it means bringing from SO many pock-
cts money to buy at least one day OF
comfort Ger SO many of the unfortu-
nate poor whom we always have with
u.s. There is a lot of charity abroad;
some of 1t ostentatious. some of it like
that of a chap I know who for years
has collected bag of money which he
has spent on one grand turkey dinner
for a lot of orphans without advertis-
ing himself And once / know of a
remarkable little girl named Florence
who induced her parents to give her no
gifts at ALL but to allow her to have
big party, with a tree and lights and
mammoth feast, together with gifts for
the poor"
And today let us old fellows who are
likely to have grouches because the
car conductor won't give US a civil
answer, or because the cold little news
boy throws the paper on the wrong
Evening star., 1915-12-25
SANTA CLAUS GIRL THROUGH.
Final Distribution of Christmas
Cheer Completes Annual Task.

Five hundred and thirty-three gifts
were distributed yesterday by Wash
ington's Santa Claus girl, and eleven
baskets, each containing a complete
Christmas dinner for some family who
would otherwise have gone without the
seasonable cheer were sent out from
the same source.
With these gifts in the hands of the
grateful recipients the work of this
genuine. and competent disciple of st.
Nicholas was ended for the present sea-
son. And, through The Star, she de-
sires to express her gratitude to all
those who, by contributions of money
or toys, made possible the happiness
which prevails today in many of. the
homes of Washington which would
otherwise have been overlooked
Evening star., 1915-12-25
WARREN J. COFFIN BURIED.
Funeral Services Held Yesterday
Afternoon at the Residence.

Funeral services for Warren j. Coffin
were held yesterday afternoon at
the family residence. lib 4th street
southeast. Mr.. Comm, VINO was hfty--
one years old. was manager of the
lunchroom Of the bureau OF engraving
and printing. and was Tor eighteen
years in charge OF the luncnroom at
the House Of Representatives.
tarv Masonic services being held. The
nalibearers were representatives from
the knights Templar and The New
Jerusalem Lodge of Masons. with two
Representatives from Rathbone Superb
or Lodre. Knights Of Pythias. Mr..
Conn was a member of all of these
organisations. The pallbearers were:
l. n. Troutman. E. c. Enyder. George
w. Smith, T. r. Jenkins.sJ. c. Coombo
and DR.. William F. r. Phillips.
Evening star., 1915-12-25
GAS VICTIM IN HOSPITAL.
Police Believe Asphyxiation Was
Result Of an Accident.

Suffering from inhaling illuminating
gas, an unidentified man was taken to
Emergency Hospital in a serious con-
dftion this morning from 500 9Th street
northwest.
A post card and two bank books
found in the mans pocket bore the
name of "E. E. Montgomery" or Earle
Montgomery" Efforts are being made
by the police to locate his relatives.
At the 9Th street house the police
were told the man rented a room there
last night for a week. He entered the
room about 1880 o'clock last night.
This morning, shortly after o'clock.
the otlor of gas was detected escaping
from his room. The door was forced
omen and the man was found uncon-
scious.
omen. and it is believed that when he
extineuished the gas last night he ac-
cidentally opened the jet again. ="
Evening star., 1915-12-25

Accounts of the federal reserve
agent at Richmond are as follows:
Federal reserve notes received from
controller. $17,000.0O0: chargeable to
federal reserve agent, $17,000.O0O; in
hands of federal reserve agent, $780,
900; issued to federal reserve banks
less amount returned to federal re-
serve agent for redemption, $15,63O.-
600; credit balances, with federal re-
serve board, $9.550.000; as security for
outstanding notes. commercial paper,
$6.0S0,000; total. $15.63O,O00: amount of
commercial paper delivered to federal
reserve agent, $6,120,000.
The resources and liabilities Of the fed
eral reserve bank at Richmond are:
Federal reserve notes, received from
controller. $4,000. 900; cbargeable to fed
eral reserve agent. 81, ZOO, 900; in hands Of
federal reserve agent, $1,370,0 900: issued to
federal reserve banks less amount re-
turned to federal reserve agent for re-
demption. $15.63O.0oO; credit balances
with federal reserve board, 1850, 900;
as security for outstanding notes: COM
mercial paper, $6,0S0,00O; total, $780,
900; amount of commercial paper de-
livered to federal reserve agent, $780,
900. y
Evening star., 1915-12-25
HELPS POLICE PENSION FUND.
Check for $3.50 Is Contributed by
John r. Mclean.

Pensioned policemen of the local
force and widows of policemen will get
a larger percentage of their pension
allowance this month. for today there
came in the mail check for $3.50 to
be applied to the police pension fund,
1t was the annual boost given the fund
by John r. Mclean, Yuletide express
sion of the appreciation of the work
of the local police force.
Mai. Pullman said he was happy to
receive such check to be applied to
the small fund upon which the retired
members of his force and the widows
must depend for their allowances.
Evening star., 1915-12-25
INJURED MAN NEAR DEATH.
Unidentified Visitor in City, Found
Unconscious. Is in Serious Condition.

An unidentified man, who was picked
up unconscious at 18th and F streets
northwest last night and hurried to
the Emergency Hospital in taxicab,
today lies at the point Of death. 1t IL
believed that he either fell from q
street car or was struck by a passing
vehicle.
Although the man was taken to the
hospital about 1850 o'clock last night,
the police say they were not notified
Of the fact until about II o'clock this
morning. Maj. Pullman, superintend.
emf of police, was indignant when he
heard Of the delay in notifying the po-
lice.
closed a card bearing the name Of Miss
Laura Crutchheld. Norfolk. Va; a
restaurant meal ticket. a railroad
ticket from Manchester to Petersburg
and an Identification card, No. 1870,
Of the du Pont Powder Company at
Hopewell, Va
Detective Springmann has bssu DE-
tailed to investigate the case.
Evening star., 1915-12-25

porch-let us make a solemn oath new
er to have a crouch again. Try to
make that promise after dinner. with your
feet in front Of the fire, pipe I'm mouth. 1t
will be as easy as pie-mfnce pie or
pumpkin pie. at that. But let's make
And speaking of mince pie-my
mother can make the best-What?
Heard that before You pet you nave
and it's true, too. Plum pudding also
family recipe-eighteen generations.
Um-um. Goodbye; Merry Christmas
IT wouldn't seem bit like Christmas
IL cha rlie O. Connor did not drag in that
ancient Yuletide jest about the book
What. Is it possible that the there ere, is Is
annual story about Maude and Hor-
tense? II it is possible, all right then.
Here it is again for the fortieth time.
1t seems that Charles friend. Hor-
tense, was discussing with Maude the
very important question of what she
was going to give her George for
why not give him a nice book?" sug-
gested Maude.
To which Hortense must reply. an
nually, "oh. no. He already has a
book"
new congressman grabbed me by
the buttonflole and fixed me with a
glance that left a scar.
"What do you want?" / gurgled.
"i have a bunch of red-hot speeches, "
he said, "the finest stun in the world
INV own They are the best l ever read,
and l know, too. because 1 have hired
more speech writer's in my day than
any other public speaker in my state"
"Well? I gasped.
"And / want 'em published. And yet
r don't want 'em to be buried in the
Congressional Record alongside of a lot
of motions to adjourn"
said.
''Nor do I want them to be bound in
calfskjn and hidden in some library
where no one will suspect their exist
ence."
"Well?" said.
Here are the best speeches in exist
ence, on red-hot daily topics. TOhey deal
Evening star., 1915-12-25
BRITAIN CURBS EXPORTS
IN STRIKING AT FOE

=. LONDON. December 25.-By q royal
proclamation published in. last nights
Gazette. the expectation to Switzerland
Of virtually everything that might be
OF service to Germany is prohibited
unless it is consigned to Societe Suisse
de Surveillance Economique. which
corresponds with the Netherlands
Overseas Trust. with which the gov
ernment has a similar agreement. Thus
the British policy Of preventing goods
from reaching Germany through neu-
trail countries has been carried step
farther.
Evening star., 1915-12-25
PARIS is IN NO DANGER
OF COAL FAMINE, CLAIM

PARIS. December 25.-Paris is in no
danger OF a coal famine, Marcel
Sembat. minister of public works, an
nounced in the chamber of deputies
today. while speaking on a bill regard
ing the sale and distribution of coal
NJ. Sembat said the stock of coal in the
capital actually exceeds 100000 tons.
and that all danger OF a crisis regard
ing the supply was ended. There has
been imported thus far, he explained.
a total of 100000 tons, of which
zoe. 900 tons belong to the government
NJ. Sembat took occasion to deny that
the government is under the domina-
tion OF the socialists, and declared that
their only idea regarding the bill under
discussion is to cure the Ills from
which the country Is suffering and not
to practice socialism.
Evening star., 1915-12-25
GERMANS PROCLAIM
new POLAND TARIFF

BERLIN, December 25-Field Mar
shall Won Hindenburg has proclaimed
a new tariff for Russian Poland which
shows many great reductions from the
Russian tariff. Leather. for instance
is reduced from 232 marks per metric
hundredweight to so marks. steel plates
form IL marks 80 pfennigs to marks,
steel bars from 8 marks SO pfennigs
to marks 40 pfennigs. cutlery from
270 marks to 40 marks. glassware from
220 marks to IL marks, rice from IA
marks to 4 marks. potato -four from
rs marks to 16 marks and beeswax
from A marks to 10 marks.
Evening star., 1915-12-25
EXPRESS BUSINESS GREATER.
Increase in Six Months Regarded as
Indicating Prosperitv

CHICAGO, December 25.-Officials of
express companies here, after pointing
to a huge increase in express business
in the last six months, drew from it
the conclusion that the country is pros
porous.
Christmas business, they say, has been
30 per cent more than last year
and in the last half-year the volume of
express business has increased to such
uroportions that special trains have
been run and thousands Of feet of floor
space have been, added to their working
quarters.
Evening star., 1915-12-25
HEARD AND SEEN HERE AND THERE.
By Earl Goodwin.

In whether We should be prepared with
weapons or with candy canes that
some one Is likely to take from US;
they deal in rural credits, seal fisheries,
international relations. torpedoes, taxes,
traffic, railroads, tariff - everything.
How can ] get them before the Ameri-
can people?"
/ suggested: "Why not have them
syndicated?"
He didn't know what that meant and
SO l told him, thus: ITO syndicate an
article is to get some wise chap with a
Evening star., 1915-12-25
MAI. GEN. WOOD HOLDS
ACQU|HA[ UNJUST|F|ED
-
Rebukes Court Martial Which Tried
Col. Robert L. Hirst, Sd
Infantry.

Mas. Gen. Leonard Wood, commanding
the Department of the East, has officially
rebuked the officers comprising the court
martial which acquitted Col. Robert L.
Hirst, commanding the Sd Infantry. of
the charge of conduct to the prejudice of
good order and military discipline.
'It appears" says Gen. Wood. in re-
viewing the proceedings Of the trial. that
Col. Hirst caused Private Green of his
regiment, prisoner awaiting trial, to be
kept handcuffed to an enlisted sentinel
almost continuously from about the 25th
be kept secured by chain to a tele-
graph pole from about the 2Sth of August
to about the 5th of September, which
was done; that on and after the later
date he again caused him to be hand
cuffed to sentinel. All this in camp
at the post of Plattsburg barracks, N. Y,
and Notwithstanding the fact that there
was at that post during the time specified
a suitable and secure guardhouse, with
ample guard available. where the prisoner
could have been confined.
Action Unnecessarily Harsh.
'In the opinion of the reviewing au-
Col. Hirst's action in this case
as above set forth. clearly constitutes a
of the sixty-second article of
war, and was unnecessarily harsh and
highly improper exercise of power-an ex-
ercise strongly prejudicial to the best in
terests of the service.
I'm the opinion of the reviewing au-
thority, the findings of the court in the
case have resulted in an entire m;scar-
riage of justice. and placed the seal of
approval upon an exercise of power which,
in the opinion of the reviewing authority,
was entirely unnecessary and regrettable
from every standpoint.
'.The acquittal is disapproved''
Col. Wilbur E. Wilder. 5th Cavalry,
Fort Myer, Va. was presi-
dent Of the court which acquitted Col
Hirst.
Evening star., 1915-12-25
Show Window Robbed,

:. Solomon Oppenheimer, Az and d
streets southwest, this morning COM
plained to the police that his show
window was broken open Thursday
night and robbed of $50 worth of
articles of wearing apparel. The stolen
property included furs, waists and a
IA
Evening star., 1915-12-25
Foreign Offerings Taken Readily.

Continuous foreign liquidation Of our
securities, hastened in large part by the
proposed mobilization order of the British
treasury officials. attained larger proper
uons, but offerings were readily taken,
presumably in anticipation of the COM
ing years investment demand. The
Anglo French 5 per cent war bonds were
heavily sold. with some deterrent effect
in other quarters of the bond list.
Bank clearings in all parts of the coun-
try reached unprecedented volume, and
denoted the steady expansion Of whole
sale and retail trades. Most lines of
manufacture, including textiles. are now
working at or near full capacity, with
orders running well into the coming year.
Evening star., 1915-12-25
Condition of the Treasury.

The condition of the United States
Treasury yesterday was:
Net balance in general fund. $10S,732,-
576.
Total receipts, S1,409.094.
Total payments. $S51.576.
The deficit this fiscal year is $49,S31.-
$50, against deficit of $56.054,007 last
year, exclusive of Panama canal and
public debt transactions.
Evening star., 1915-12-25
Sir Edward Grey Back at Work.

LONDON. December 25.-Sir Edward
Grey. secretary for foreign affairs. has
returned to the foreign office. apparently
much improved in health by his rest of
more than a week in the country. He
was visited by Earl Kitchener. secretary
for war, and later by the Greek minister
to London. with whom he had a long con-
versation. =
Evening star., 1915-12-25

Standing over him was another private.
private, who seemed to be engaged in
an active monologue:
Whats that chap saying to you,
Bill?' asked friend.
II just made a bulrs-eye," replied
Hassett,. and he Is telling me how to
improve my next shot"
Evening star., 1915-12-25

newspaper experience to send out no
tices to the big papers that he has ex-
elusive right to your stuff-the most
virile, vital, voracious and vitupera-
tive in the world; that he will soon be-
gin publication and that his price is
hundred dollars story, to be released
for publication only on certain dates.
1t is the way the slick article gets him
export, Iowa, gets it's name in the COL
umns of the Squantico, Mass, dailies.
It's the way ordinary information is
emblazoned and made rarifed It's
what Virgil McNitt did for William
who was this McNitt person and
what did he do for Bryan" asked the
congressman.
Virgil McNitt is the man who syn
dicated the reports of the Baltimore
convention which were written by will
liam Jennings Bryan, who at that time
had not had chance to experiment on
whether one can live in Washington on
$4,000 year. He was the fellow who
handled the copy for Bryan. McNitt
duplicated, sent out and collected the
money for the Bryan reports of the
convention. His name was on every
news page that carried the Bryanized
version of the national conventions do
ings. Like a simeon, like a water
spout, he arose upon the horizon, swept
over the land and then passed on. L
have looked for his name everywhere
since. But I have never found q man
who ever heard Of him before, or who
saw him then. or who has heard Of
i'fs, that all?" asked my congressman.
l"It is."; ~ -, =
Good night he gasped, and ran
away.
But to save my life. cannot. get the
name Of Virgil ,McNitt o,it Of my brain.
Unless find out where he Is fear me
I will have a spell o. sleepness nights.
+ y
There are so many queries coming in
about that automobile that used to run
a weekly diary in this column. that
am constrained to give you my version
Of one single day with that invention
of the evil one.
the machine had its tor. down. 1t took
three men and boy ana lots OF cussin'
Evening star., 1915-12-25
INCREASE OF 100000
IN BILLS DISCOUNTED
Statement Of Federal Reserve Banks
Covering the Past Five
Days.
Comparison Is Made With Previous
Week-Resources and Liabilities
Shown December 90.

Bills discounted by federal reserve
banks during the last five days in
creased nearly s2.ooo.ooo over the, previ-
ous week. This weeks statement,
the banks condition Decem-
Der 23. was issued yesterday by the
federal reserve board. a dav earlier
than usual on account of the holiday.
1t shows:
Evening star., 1915-12-25
Money to Loan

Secured by First Decd Of Trust on Real Estate
Prevailing interest and commission.
Joseph |. Weller, GA F St. NV.
Evening star., 1915-12-25

to get the one-man top up. Then 1t
required five minutes to get her going
and ten minutes more to become
warmed up" SO that the engine would
proceed normally without coughing
itself to shreds. 1t ran down the street
for half a mile and stopped with q
quiet but determined sigh. cranked
her, 1oggled her, beat her, kicked her,
but she wouldn't move. Rain was