davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1915-09-12
SUNDAY MAGAZINE for September 12, 1915


leaning palms that hung over it.
"Master, be good place this, but plenty
bad boy he stop along here" declared Bo,
raising himself from the bottom of the
boat to look about him. II no savvy that
fellow bushman stop here. l too much
fright along him."
"By and by you too much fright along
me; hold your tongue, was Cores reply.
| could see he did not want to alarm
Isola unnecessarily. Bo squatted on the
gunwale, holding on with his black toes
like monkey, and stared hard at the
place as we went up. He was chewing
tobacco, and he spat and spat continually
in the water, with vigor that seemed to
be the expression of some unspoken feel
ing.
There was a little pier of piled white
coral rock built out into the deepest part
of the bay. We ran the boat up to this,
tied up, and most thankfully dsem-
barked. Even two days in an open boat
is enough to stiffen the limbs and weary
the mind with feeling of confinement.
The rocks up to high water We're COW
cred with fine edible oysters. Bo was
anxious to stop and sample them, and
we told him he might do so: we wanted
some one to stay with the boat while we
went up to the plantation. New Britain
natives are terrible thieves, and it was
ten to one we might find all movables
taken out of the yawl if we left her with
out a guard. So we gave Bo tomahawk
for protection, and charged him not to
let any! of the plantation boys approach
the boat.
"Of course, they're tanned and civil
lied boys on plantation, more or less,"
said Gore; "but l wouldn't trust them
near my stores"
WE left the pier behind, passed through
w the belt of cocoanuts that circled the
bay, and came out on a most lovely ave-
nue. of shorn grass, bordered by magnif-
cent Towering trees. There were coral
trees, like bouquets of scarlet geranium,
forty feet high and fifty feet across; kapok
trees, with flowers like golden stars, and
hard brown pods upon their branches,
bursting open to show the silky white
cotton within. There We're frangipannis,
mangos, green as nothing but mango
tree can be; trees like an acacia, with
dropping flowers of pink and white; trees
that could not and can not tell the name
of, but that were as tail as an English
lime, and had punches of blossom like
heliotrope in appearance, smelling like
new-mown hay. All these had been
planted about the same time, perhaps
eight years before, and set in two orderly
ranks along the cleared ground leading
to the house.
The walk up to the house was pretty
long one, and we had time to notice, as
we went, that the place seemed to be
holidaying, for not boy was at work on
any part of the plantation. The shining
rows of coffee bushes looked rather ill
weeded. Somebody had carelessly aban-
doned hoes and clearing knives here and
there among them, and the iron was red
with rust Among the star-shaped ave-
nues of rubber, radiating out toward the
horizon every way one looked, there was
no one busy tapping the trees; no
small white metal cans were hung against
the trunks, filling up with milky latex.
The door of the copra house was shut; a
great heap of unopened cocoanuts was
,,il,I III, oraincf II Aud c+;I1 +boro ,,,,,o
Evening star., 1915-09-12
CORPORATIONS

INCORPORATE YOUR BUSINESS IN ARIZONA
Least Transact business keep books anywhere Free
Laws By Laws and Forms References: any bank in Arizona
stoddard Incorporating Company Box Soo Phoenix Arizona
Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-02-14
THE VALUE OF BIRDS TO WAN

WASHINGTON. February 10
Among the geological articles in the
Smithsonian annual report is "one on
the value of birds to man. in which the
author, James auckland. of London
makes the astounding statement that
although man imagines himself the
dominant power OF the earth. he is
nothing OF the sort the true lords of
the universe being the insects. For
although man has attained predomi-
nance over the most fierce and power
full animals and most deadly reptiles,
he and his works would be of little
avail before an attack of insects, which
include a greater number of species
than all other living creatures COM
bIncd. Some 100000 species have been
described. while possibly twice that
number still remain unknown.
The author says that these incOmpu-
table hordeS feed on nearly all living
animals and practically all plants. and
multiply into prodigious numbers in an
incredibly short time Computations
show that one species developing thir-
teen generations year would, If un-
checked to the twelfth generation, null
tiply to ten scxtillons of individuals
while single pair of the well-known
gypsy moths. If unchecked. would pro-
duce In eight years enough progeny to
destroy all the follaRc OF the United
States. One pair of potato bugs, he
states. would develop, unchecked, Co.
100000 In a single Reason, at which
rate of multiplication the potato plant
would not long survive.
According to Mr.. Bucklands article,
insects are quite as astounding in their
consuming qualities as in their rate Of
increase: n caterpillar eats twice its
weight i'm leaves II day. and. in proper
ton, a horse would consume ton of
hay in twenty-fOur hours. Certain
flesh eating larvae consume 600 times
their original weight in twenty four
hours; in this manner an infant would
devour 1900 pounds of meat during
the FIRST day of it's life. IL is reported
by specialist, that the food taken by
silkworm I'm ffty-siX days equals
$4,000 times It's original weight All
OF which facts show what tremendous
destruction insects may cause.
Through it's prcdominating insect
diet, and on account OF Its exceedingly
rapid digestion the bird becomes the
most Indispensable balancing force of
nature; without its assistance, man,
with his poisons. the weather. and ami
mails, ms we'll as the parasitic preda-
ceous Insects. would be helpless The
author then states how the bird is n
beneft to man in great number of
ways: in checking insect invaslons, In
preserving forests and orchards; their
service in tho meadows and gardens:
their value in protecting live stock,
Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-02-14
Has Germany Gone Mad:

c VENTS will have to prove to what extent
IL the madness that seems to have taken
possession of the German press and of other
opponents of German unofficial opinion has
infected also the German government Bcr-
lin newspapers continue to assert that the
declaration OF the waters surrounding the
country with notice 10 keep out and that
should the warning be disrcgardcd. Germany
is absoved from all responsibility for all
consequences.
Despite these wild statements we cannot
believe that official Germany will give them
SANCTION IN action. Possibly the Kaiser's
advisers had been willing 10 believe that the
United States could be bluifcd into Il virtual
surrender OF its unquestioned and unuues-
l!onaD!t rights as neutral nation Per
maps Germany thought that mere warming
unaccompanicd by any prctensc OF lawful
blockade would keep our ships and our men
outside the war zone. If that thought was
ever held. IL must have been dispcllcd by
the firm and statcsmanlike note addressed
by this government to the German Foreign
Office.
The stand taken in that note is The stand
taken by every loyal American citizen We
want no trouble with Germany and we sock
none. We shall feel sympathy with the Ger
man people If. through the hazard and The
bitterness of war, they are reduced 10 any
portion OF the misery and suffering inflicted
on Belgium. But Germany will moi no nor
mitted 70 visit its resentment against Britajn
on our people. There need be no mistake
about that
Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-02-14
Right to Dissent From Party.

TO the Editor of The Times Dispatch:
Sir.-It is difficult to understand your attitude,
and your open advocacy Of same, toward Demo
cratic opposition to the Presidents ship-purchasc
dement's of this bill at all, hut I do wish to
take issue with YOU when you deny to Con-
gresham the right to vote on any bill accord
ing his judgment just because he happens
be Identified with party the leaders Of
which desire that he shall vote a certain diff
fcrcnt way.
Is it possible that The Times Dispat oh is so
partisan In its Views and policies that II can
demand that the free representatives OF the
people shall vote as directed by the leader or
leaders of certain party. even though It he
contrary to their sinccrest convictions and
beliefs? 1t seems that this is the only con-
cluson to arrive at from the nature of Your
which YOU denounce the Democratic opponents
OF the above bill as traitors to their party. and
In still another express the hope that the Presi-
dent may be able to fnd some means OF enforc-
ing party discipline in regard to those mem
bers OF the party who refuse to as he
desires them.
Now such demands are contrary 10 all prin-
ciples of Democracy. We may question the
sincerity Of such members. but never their in
alicnable right to vote their honest convictions.
we do send our representatives to Wash
ngton to at the direction of any man
ing to their discretion and judgment. Any
other attitude in this matter belongs properly
to the days Of political bosses and ring rule
Though, unfortunately, there compare lively
few Of us who ourselves vote for issues abso-
uicly independently of party lines. there are,
that our representatives should he subject to
party rule" versus "thc rule of reason
HARTER +. WRIGHT
Richmond, February IL, 1915.
Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-02-14
Prudisllness Made Ridiculous

a MORAL wave has struck the town Of
a GRANVILLE, ILL.,, which is close enough to
Chicago to bask in the reflected glory OF a
western metropolis, and the school board has
notified high school girls that they no
longer play basketball in hloomers, but must
henceforth wear long skirts and shirtwasts
The penalty is-well, the penalty is the dis
pleasure OF the honorable board members of
course, plus the prohibition OF the use of the
schools name.
This harks back to the age, long gone,
when for the time bloomer girls on bicycles
made folk shudder until they got used to it,
But 1t is just Il tritie more ridiculous than
any protest against common sense dress that
has recently been recorded. In the day OF
the hobble skirt shadow gown, petticoatless
attire, split skirt and Heaven knows what not
tollies. to prohibit the use I'm an athletic sport
of clothing that makes for proficiency and
guarantees safety is to move the hands Of
the clock away back TO nowhere.
There must be something diseased in minds
that function after this fashion
Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-02-14

and their usefulness'in the preserva-
ton OF health and elimination OF dis
case.
remarkable instances of the birds
service to man include the introduce
ton of the English sparrow into New
Zealand with the resulting elimination
OF the thistle and the caterpillar which
were running the land and crops, and
The saving OF Australian agriculture
from the srasshoppers by the straw
neckcd Ibis, in individual craws OF
which an average OF 2.4O0 Erasshop-
pers was found. The story OF rrcdcr-
lex the Great. wherein no is alleged To
nave ordered all small birds killed he
cause the sparrows had Decked at son,,
OF his cherries, and the resulting lack
OIL lruit, but fine crop of caterpiliayg
TWO years later. proves "a graphic les
son. The Scalp Act of Pennsylvania
winch paid in bounties 100000 for thu.
determination of hawks and owls. losi
Tor the State $3.S50.000 in damage 10
agriculture due TO the increase OF small
rodents which resulted. When Montana
was free from hawks and owls II he
came SO overrtn with destructive ro-
dents that the Legislature offered re-
wards for them-a task which ,hc
hanished hawks and owls had nor
formed free of charge But duriuy
the hrst six months such large sums Of
money were paid out that a special
session or the Legislature was called
10 repeal the act before the State went
bankrupt. In 1922 Lord Kitchener
pointed out the necessity of prohibit
ing the destruction of certain Egvptian
DlrdS which prevented insect pcsts
In closing Mr.. auckland malses Mo,
for the preservation OF all birds as a
valuable natural resource, stating thai
IL their destruction is not checked
mere Will be wrought mischief a
universal disaster. greater than words
can express.
Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-02-14
Chats With Virginia Editors

Says the Bristol Herald Courier: with rhaw
indicted for an escapade which the law SAYS
he could not commit, with Jerome pried
loose from tho Job Of his life,' with Van
for tho war. and With Billy Sunday chasing
the devil out of Philadelphia. 1t docs look
like the whirliSig OF time is bringing in it's
reVenges' Not to speak of Theodore Roose-
welt, informed at Oyster Bay and self labeled
n private citizen OF the privatest sort
.. 1T is the common belief that q must
have lot of money to be rich Is that so?"
asks tho West Point News do YOU not
know men who really have n lot money
and yet you never think of them rich?
There are many such men, and with all their
money they are not rich. The demands
them are always just little more than they
can stand. They just far from being
rich as tho man who earns but sl.25 day
and finds his expenses Sl30 day. II is just
as easy to be rich to he poor Respect
fully referred to that considerable number
of persons who have not yet acquired sat
isfactory solution OF veXed problem.
Here's warning, furnished by the James
River Clarion. to the gulelcss and unsophis-
ticated. of whom. 1t is thought some
times. live here in Richmond: From differ
ent parts of the country stories of
swindle successfully worked farmers. who
thought they were going to get cheap gro
ccres. Two smooth strangers went through
the communities taking orders for house
brand of sugar and Hour cheaply that
every farmer visited took from $40 to $50
worth, and other things besides Because Of
the low prices the flour and sugar had to be
paid in advance 1t Is alleged that In one
community the swindlers picked up some
s., 900. and groceries delivered" Moral"
Buy from the merchants who advertise their
wares In the Clarion. They can't run away.
Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-02-14
FROM CATAPULT TO CORDITE,

When the first man. In the old Stone
Age thousands of years ago, threw his
FIRST javclin against a hairy mammoth
he put his foot over the threshold OF
the problem of explosives. says writer
In the Philadelphia Public Ledger For
IL seemed To him--and our feelings to-
day are with him--that il would be
more plcasurable II one could hurt and
XIII ones enemy without the gratuitous
thrill OF having to sit on the massive
task on the verge OF a cavcrnous mouth
or OF having 10 approach within u few
PAGES OF the huge legs which might
the next moment descend upon him II
would bc more convenient TO stand nj
tn" cave entrance on a dizzy ledge ot
rock. and hurl weapon at the distant
enemy.
Chemical CntnpuIt.
SO man was driven to inyon, the
catapult; and a gun is merely n chcmi-
cal catapult. The trigger is pulled back
IKE the leather of the catapult, and
the sudden and extraordinary cxpan-
sion OF the explosive corresponds to-
the elasticity OF the rubber or spring.
the essential feature of both instru-
ments being the employment OF some
source OF more than human power
which can be made to yield up its cncr-
~ nj given moment, In the required
way.
Explosives are. therefore, tabloid
energy or power. and II is Il lust re-
mindcr OF tho fact that some substances
are explosive generally. whereas quite
number Of common things may u.
made explosive by some particular kind
of treatment. When water boils on
the fire there is no explosion as IL is
changed Into steam, hut If the spout
were sealed and the whole OF the water
could be changed into steam in sec
ond there would be an explosion And
the instance il good because IL is really
Il Kitchen model or a volcano More
over. steam guns were used In America
IN the sixties.
The essential idea OF an explosive
Is. then. the violent release of some
pcnt-up thing; just the opposite from
this standpoint OF the catapult. which
works By allowing a distcnded thing
the elastc-to contract suddenly
whereas MI explosives release Il COM
tom air wave and this. OF course. liz
experienced as Ii sound. II is The sound
which IL popularity called an explosion
What IL "TnbIoid Force"t
Now, IL has been said that an cNplo-
. sive Is tabloid force. power. energy.
How II IL made available? Is II easy
10 follow the mechanism OF an eXplo-
sivc further Explosives ~ commonly
used arc solid Substances, which, bv
burning. produce almost Instantaneous
~ an extraordinary large volume OF
gases. The heat and pressure Of n
blow cause the burning TO start and
the burning also produces heat which.
acting upon the gases. increases tho
Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-02-14

volume still further. II may be suE
aesAed that there IS no obvious reason
"hJ even q sudden and enormous ex-
pansion should cause the damage OF an
/ explosion And the suggestion is quite
Just.
IL Is only when they are confined that
explosives are really dangerous Gun
powder burned in tho open merck
causes noise like "pour' and burns
quickly. Guncotton may be burned OF
the bandit IS not TO be rccommcn ded
as fashionable hobby-without any
scriou: Inconvenience. Indeed. gun.
powder was first used as an incendiary
composition. But lrework or n gun
charged with gunpOwdcr will explode
WITH loud report ana may cause fatal
wounds.
'Iieh" and Low" Ia pIosIyes
NGunpowder is the best-known OK
plosivc mixture. IL is made from IN.
commonest ingrcdicnts--car sui
phur and saltpcte. There arc several
'hodlhcatona of Gunpowdcr. o,hcr
hitrates hciny substituted for. the salt
rttrc-potassium nitrate. This nitratcs
give IN" oxygen 70 the mixture. with
out which IL would not burn at all
other explosive mixtures containing
'hi0ratcs which have the same amour,
OF oxygen as sal;pctrc and the nitratcs
The different powders are used In dif.
iersnt circumstances where a more vio-
49, va al SioNcE OF talS cSplOSlNc H.
required For II is not always the
sam" erect which one asks from an cx-
plosivc. Velocity may at times be sac
r!nccd. say, in favor OF a higher weigh,
Of common shell Gunpowder is a low
explosive: its explosion is slow and It's
effect Is less violently disruptive.
Dynamite is probably the hcs'
known nigh explosive. and the name
does not stand FOR one particular sub
stance. but FOR large class, which
are. in effect. diluted nitroglycerIn,
and which are generally used for blast
ing.
Gcrmnny's New Explosive.
Guncotton may be described az q
nitrate OF cotton wool (Which tho
chemist would call cellulosc.. Both
nitroGlyccrin and gUncotton are less
useful In explosives themselves than
their derivities. although Russia and
the United States use compressed wet
guncotton IN their high-cxpiosive
shells. one OF tho most famous de-
r!rat!cs ia the smokcless prtpellant
used by the British army and navy.
Cordite
Germany Is reported to be using In
the present war a new explosive
It's chemical name is trinitro-tolucne
(picric acid is called tr!nitro- carbOiicD.
but II Is commonly called r " T, or.
in Germany. Tyrotyl. 1t Is not at all
new. In fact, wcll-known member
o! series o; aromatic explosives and
toluene - derivativc OF coal tar. II
has long been known that II much
improved the ordinary decorators. and
that detonators made with T. " r
were being used in Germany
Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-02-14

this purpose. and tho number OF Irregular unions
would be increased. although 1t may be ad-
united that most men who contemplate an
entrance Into the holy cstae> OF matrmony
count the cost 0ftcrward. The bridegroom's
snare OF the preliminary expense indeed, is not
nearly so great as that of tho bride or her
parents. But there are men who find wedding
garments and honeymoon trip 4 burden that
needs no addition. Upon what item would they
save II the license fee were doubled? Probably
the minister would be the first to suffer His
Zee depends, as 1t Is. upon the good feeling of
the Rircr te cannot. ut any rate. does not
demand 1t in advance: like the physician hc
takes his chance of being paid There arc those
who appear to think that anything snvorins of
religion should be free, and this Is IL great salvc
to conscience In treating the minister moanIv-
Philadelphia Public Ledger.
Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-02-14
Won iIindcnhurg Beats Back Inyadcr

ONCE more the tremendous Importance of
- the German system OF strategic rail
ways has been demonstrated and the Russian
INVASION OF East Prussia halted and hurled
BACK by reiniorcements of Won Hindenburc's
veterans rushed TO the field of battle along
the Mazurian Lakes
On the frontiers Of Poland and Eas,
Prussia the forces of the Car mus, ou,nur,
Der greatly those Of the Kaiser. but so adj
mirable are the railway facilities thai thc
foresight or the German general staff has
provided that Won Hindcnburg in almos,
every case, has been able 10 oppose. man for
man, the armies Of Grand Duke Nicholas
wherever they have menaced German soil
Sometimes the Russians actually have hecn
overwhelmed. The military maxim impu,cd
to General Forrest, Ito get thar fustest with
the mostest men," has never had more sue
cessful application than that given il by the
genius OF the Teutonc leader.
Twice in this war the Mazur!an Lakes
have drowned Russian hopes. Accounts of
the later Russian reverse in this field arc con-
Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-02-14
The Voice of the People
Want. Audit Of Gus Department..

To The Editor or The Times- DiApatch:
Sir.-I note Taxpayer" is in favor OF the
lease of the City Gas Works because Il would
nut into circula ion in Richmond within three
years from $500 900 To 100000. nearly alto
Ecthcr among the laboring classes SO far 80
good
However before going too far, l. as tax
payer, would like 10 know exactly just what the
Gas Dcpar really is esrnnB-nct, mean---
year. after all improvcments-"bcttcr ments'
believe they are called by public service com
panics-arc deducted from operating cost. And
would also like 10 know, as "A taxpayer, II
= pre- cati ion is accounted for in tho annual gas
reports Also. again, the State-so in measure
the city--Rets nothing in tho way OF taxes from
the property. Thcse-should be properly charged
against the works we'll any gas used by
the city.
Why not have audit OF the Gas Works?
Whether II leased not. believe
citizens would like know exactly how
this public property stands in account with
them. y VOTER.
Richmond, February IL. 1915.
Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-02-14

fcting. but Berlin accounts it great vic
tory, at least temporarily decisive. UnQues-
tionably, it represents serious setback to
Russian arms.
1t Is noteworthy. however, that every Ger
man triumph is achieved at greater cost
and still the Russian hordes come on and on.
No gallantry no military genius. no strategic
railways. however admirable nor lake and
morass, however helpful to the resistance OF
invasion. can withstand indefinitely the sheer
weight of overpowering numbers.
Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-02-14
An Interesting Fact" Sure Enough

wv Z are particularly and happily affected
wv by one statement in the report the Adj
ministrative Board has just submitted to the
Mayor This statement. which calls atten-
ton TO the probability that the Street Clean
ing Department will have use for a little more
ready cash, is follows:
It is interesting fac, that smooth
paved streets, neglected. become fully
objectionable, if not worse, than the
ordinary streets. and require repeated
and careful cleaning to make them
bcarable
This is indeed an ''inte:estin fact" and
no less interesting than truthful, and we can
understand how forcefully it must have been
impressed on the Administrative Board in
peregrinations over RiChmonds thorough
fares.
Would ii be indscreet to inquire OF the
board, now that the interesting fact has
soaked in:
What are you going to do with lt?''