davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-10-17

ularly as British ministers are paid on
a royal scale. Most of them receive
$4,000 a year. few only $4,000, and
some of them as much as $4,000
year.
There are many other fields in which
the country, if given strong lead.
could practice war economy. For in
stance, there is the overlapping of pub
lie and private public services. In Lon
don the county council street car lines
are paralleled everywhere by privately
owned motor bus services. One or other
is unnecessary, for either could carry
the traffic without crowdins.
The borough system in London means
all sorts of overlapping of street clean
ing, sanitary and other services, and by
the unif1cation of these activities prob
ably half the staff could be saved. In
many of the provincial cities the
same conditions prevail. In the
poor law department hundreds Of
warehouses; and workhouse stats are
being maintained. although there are
practically no poor or unemployed in
England today, except few old and
infirm. Some of these institutions have
been ia ken over for military hospitals
but in these cases the stafS have SIM
ply been relieved OF all duties and con-
tinue to draw their salaries, while they
might be employed on some, sort of
useful work.
In the civil service departments thou
sands of young men who ought to be
in the fighting line are employed at
clerical work which could just as well
be done by girls at half the cost.
If some of these economies are sug-
gested to the heads OF the government
they reply. oh. We can't disorGaniZe
the services" The trouble is that the
whole life of the nation is disorgan-
lied now, and chiefly because of the
lack of preliminary organization.
Copyright. 1915, by Curtis Brown)
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-10-17

held sway here for a few years. and
now again it is owned and tenanted by
member of the Corcoran family, Mr..
William Corcoran Eustis, a grandson
of the late philanthropist.
a fine colonial doorway characterizeS
the house adjoining the Corcoran man
sion on the east. and it has had many
interesting tenants from the time 1t
was occupied by the naval hero, Com
modore Stockton. through its tenancy
by Slidell of the Southern Confedera cy:
to various later senators and cabinet
officers.
The brownstone house, with the early
nineteenth century mansard roof and
doorway of the ordinary type of that
period of reserved and nom committa1
architecture, which is situated on H
street Immediately west of St. Johns
Church, is interesting as having been
the British legation in its early days.
Here the Ashburton treaty, which de-
fined the dividing line between Canada
and the United States. was amica bly,
arranged, with Daniel Webster as Sec
rotary of State and Lord Ashburton
representing the British government
among the chief actors In the pro-
ceedings.
Some years later Sir Henry Bulwer
occupied the legation here. His pri-
waite secretary was his nephew, Lord
Lvtton, who wrote his famous 'Lu-
ellie" under the nom de plume of Owen
Meredith while in residence in this
pleasant homelike house.
The modest colonial doorway on H
street, used as the main entrance of
the Cosmos Club. is not the door which
gave entrance to this attractive house
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-10-17

Decatur House reflects his sterner quail
tiles. The house on the southwest corner
of H street and Lafayette Park, to which
the nations chief sailor brought his bride
in 1919, is great square structure OF no
adornment save the little wrought iron
balconies at the door and the second
story front windows.
Hundreds daily hurry along past this
dull building, little dreaming that in its
day 1t was one of the most brilliant
social centers of the young capital, and
was the scene Of one of the never-to-be
forgotten tragedies Of American history.
Although dignfied and reserved to the
point of severity without. the Decatur
mansion is rich in design and decoration
within; it's mantels the work of the
famous Danish sculptor Thorwaldsen; it's
walls glowing with frescoes depicting
Still flushed with his victories in the
Mediterranean. with his country heap
ing plaudits upon him as it's greatest
hero. Commodore Decatur crowned his
happiness by marriage with the young
and beautiful Miss Wheeler, daughter
of the mayor of Norfolk, Va, and,
leading her through the portal of his
great mansion, hoped for a long life
of continuing honors and happiness.
The social attention which focused
on this house needs no emphasis. The
sailors home was a distinct addition
to Washington's sparse social circle,
and it responded enthusiastically. It's
lTOpny-HuH Walls rejected lne lBnl
of a thousand candles; the sculptured
mante1s sparkled in the flame of glow
ing hearths and the great rooms were
brilliant with the rich costumes of gay
ladies and bright uniforms of the men
mustered not only from official So
ciety at home, but also from the neigh
boring town of Georgetown and from
Annapolis, Baltimore and Philadelphia.
For one short year this happy life
prevailed in the mansion. Then, one
cold March morning, Commodore De-
catur went to the duel with Commo-
dore Barron, from which he returned
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-10-17

when 1t was the home OF Mrs James
Madison. The old doorway was on II
street. but has been replaced by a hay
window. To this house, which had
been purchased by James Madison,
came his widow. and here she con-
tinued to exercise. even in old age, the
charm which inspired her great popu-
larity in the White House.
Dolly Madison's receptions on New
Year day and the Fourth of July were
as we'll attended during the last years
of her life as were those at the Execu-
tive Mansion a hundred yards away.
The house was later purchased by Ad-
miral Wilkes. from whose heirs 1t was
bought by it's present owners. The
Cosmos Club carefully guards the his
toric prestige of its home, and will see
to it that as long as II is in its pos
session 1t will always be the Dolly
Madison house"
One of the most attractive doorways
of Washington belongs to a house Of
more modern date. Calumet Place, for
many years the home of Mrs. John A.
Logan, at present the residence of
former Secretary of State William
Jennings Bryan. is one of the most
homelike houses in town.
Mrs. Logan has an especial gift in the
creation of a home beautiful. and the
doorway of Calumet Place forms in its
charming blending of architecture.
planting and decorating a true keynote
of the artistic home to which it leads.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-10-17

possession of a member of this family.
Through the plain square portal of
the Decatur mansion passed every
President from Madison to Grant.
The very unusual portal of the house
diagonally opposite the Decatur man
sion is partly explained by the fact
that 1t is not the original doorway OF
what is known as the Corcoran house.
The present entrance is nothing more
than a-rather fine archway fanked by
a pair OF old-fashioned lampposts lead
ing into driveway, the farther end of
which contains the main door of the
house. When his friends presented
Daniel Webster with this house it con-
sisted only Of the central portion, with
its doorway at the left side. Traces
of this entrance can be seen now.
When he left President Fillmores
cabinet, Webster sold the house, and 1t
became the property of the late w. w
Corcoran, the philanthropst. Mr.. Cor
coran built the west wing to contain
his collection of pictures, the actual
nucleus of the present Corcoran Gal
lery of Art. At about the same time a
corresponding wing was added at the
east side, the original doorway was
made window and the present en-
trance to the house arranged as it
now Is.
Mr.. Corcoran rented his house to, re-
spectively, the British and French min
listers, the latter, NJ. de Montholon, CIV
ing here in 1866 sumptuous and mem
orable ball by order of Louis Napo-
leon. Later the house became the home
of. Senator Brice of Ohio, when the for
mer picture gallery, converted into
great ballroom, was filled, season after
season, with brilliant assemblages, and
of succession of garden fetes
Senator and Mrs. Chauncey Depew
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-10-17

CLASSIC DOORWAY OF THE OCTA-
CON HOUSE.
were given in a most generous manner to
all persons Of distinction who visited
Washington in those days, both Ameri-
cans and foreigners.
In this list are included such names as
Jefferson-for Washington had passed
away before his friends occupancy Of the
Octagon House-Madison. Monroe, John
Quincy Adams, Decatur. Porter. Webster.
Clay. Calhoun, Randolph, Lafayette.
Steuben and Sir Edward Thornton. To
the diplomats situated at Washington,
then little more than wilderness. the
Octagon House was oasis of culture
and refinement to which they flocked.
1t the circular room above the
vestibule which President Madison made
his office. Here he received the soldiers
signed the famous Treaty Of Client. In
the beautiful parlor below, with its hand
some doors of solid mahogany, its glow
ing fireplace ornamented by a notably
artistic white mantel decorated with
graceful figures and flower wreathings
done in relief upon the stone, Mrs Madi-
son received her guests, and in the spa
cious and well appointed dining room OPP
posite the state feasts of many months
were served.
The Octagon House was for long the
most famous haunted house. in Wash
ington, its former gay tenants returning
for midnight round of the gay revels
OF which it was the scene for over thirty
years. Needless to say, the practical DUR
pose now served by the famous old resi-
dence has exercised the last lingering
phantom. e
Latrobe, the Baltimore architect. was
pit more severe than Thornton in his
oesiShs' as seen in several Washington
residences, and the doorway Of the
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-10-17
Paper Money Popular.

TT HE issue of the one-pound and ten
shilling notes in England is adj
mitted to be bold experiment, but IL
has proved so successful that every
effort is being made to increase their
circulation. The Improvements made
on the second series of notes lessen
the danger of forgery and still other
improvements may be made
The notes are convertible into gold
on demand, for which the treasury Of
Great Britain has boarded up a gold re-
serve for the notes, so that in time the
paper issue. instead of raising prices
by initiating the volume of money in
circulation. will represent one kind of
money instead of another.
Practical financiers want the note to
remain in circulation to displace gold,
so as to build up the central reserve
of metal and prevent the usual waste
by handling in circulation.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-10-17
,ried DO0rways Of the National Capital

wisely untouched during the renovation
under the Roosevelt regime.
When the British elected to burn
down the White House as we'll as the
Capitol in their disdain of the new re-
public, President Madison and his wife
took refuge beneath the roof of the
mansion known as the Octagon House,
of which there is more stately or
elegant private portal in Washington.
This splendid old mansion, SO fortu-
nately reclaimed from the fate of many
of its contemporaries by its purchase
''"rn'n n mt headquarters by
the American Institute of Architects,
..nu.t the advice of Gen.
Washington himself, who begged his
wealthy Virginia friend, Col. John Tay-
loe, to build his contemplated town
house, not in Phila delphia the tempo
rary existing ca pital, but in Washington,
the coming federal city for all time.
The house was begun in 1898, and
completed in 1900. That charming early
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-10-17
WASHINGTON Is Rich in Beautiful and Historic Entrances
W. Famous Old HomesThe Front Door of the White House.
Circular Vesbule of Ocagon House-Dooway of Decatur House
Has Witnessed Joy and TragedyPoa of the Corcoan House.
Cosmos Clubs Doorway and the One at Calumet Place.

F0HE doorway provides the key
note as well as the keystone of
a house. 1t is the chief feature
& of the facade. and as a rule
gives a clue to the quality of the in
terror
1t would seem though this archi-
tectural feature of the home had been
more carefully studied in the past than
in the present, for the doorways of
colonial homes present, as a rule. great
er dignity and grace of line, at the
same time bestowing an aspect of
warmer welcome, than do the more
modern home entrances.
Washington has 'numberless beautiful
old doorways and many of them, could
they but tell their stories, would re-
count romantic tales of JOY and sorrow,
and it goes without saying, of history
making events that would enthrall the
jaded ear.
X
What stories the front door of the
White House could tell. OF what JOY
fulfilled, of what ambition realized. of
what keen disappointment and of what
dark tragedy has not that beautiful
north front door of the White House
been witness, This dignified doorway,
with its classic pillars and gracious
arch. finely decorated in chaste relief
design, is one of the original features
of the Executive Mansion, and was
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-10-17

LESSON America the Way Great Britain Handling Her
ats-uch of the Waste Supposed Be the Result
Would the United Be Similarly Penaed She
Military PoVeRed Tape the English Amow
the Fighter
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-10-17
" ~

Il
q thorities that nearly % per cent
of this immense sum is pure waste.
American readers will no doubt jump
at once to the conclusion that the
grafters are having the time of their
lives in England, but this is not so.
1t would be too much perhaps to say
that there is no graft. but the truth is
that there is very little, and what does
exist is of the most petty kind. The
waste in England is due entirely to the
lea would be faced with exactly the
same problem if she We're called on at
a moments notice to inprovise an
army uf something like 5000. 900 men
with machinery designed for a force of
less than a tenth of that number.
X
America would also be faced with ex-
actly the same public sentiment-that
the soldier must not be stinted. The
British army is the best fed, best
clothed and best fitted army in Europe
Its allies, the French. envy it, and it's
German enemies sheer at 1t, and there
is no doubt that in the desire to stint
the army in nothing the British nation
has gone to the other extreme, and is
giving it a lot of food and material
that it cannot dispose of. Germany,
with her years of preparation, her ma
chinery for the management of a great
army and her smaller regard for the
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-10-17

Despite the tremendous demand upon
public officials are well paid-far bet
ter paid in the case of the higher
offices than those of the United States.
Her cities never hesitate to spend on
public Improvements and they have not
realized that they must economic now.
The income tax-the national taxa
tion-has gone up from Ii cents to SO
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-10-17

Who, because of his organizing ability,
In looked upon as n fine business man.
He is largely responsible for keeping
British waste down to its present
level.
tiona1 government, which is issuing
constant appeals and advice to the ma
ton on the subject of economy, would
set the example itself. The formation
of the coalition government added
nearly 100000 a year to the cabinet
salary list
be made is in the payment of mem
berS of parliament. 1t is q new thing
in this country and is disapproved of
by nearly half the members of the
house. A number of NJ. P.'s offered VOL
UNFAIRLY to relinquish their salaries.
but were told that it could not be done.
Parliament got on very well until three
or four years ago with unpaid M P.'S.
and one would think that while the
war lasts at least it could save the
$1,260,000 spent in giving $50 members
$4,000 year each.
The system of political pensions is
also one which might be overhauled.
These pensions are paid to ex-minis-
tiers who apply for them and who
make a statement that their means
do not permit them to live in a style
becoming their former dignities. There
is no provision. however. for compel
ling them to relinquish their pensions
if their circumstances in life improve.
Thus Lord George Hamilton, an uncle
of the Duke of Abercorn, has drawn in
pension from the government over
$125,0O0, although while he was in Of
flee he drew salary over 100000.
Lord Balfour of Burleigh, who is by
no means a poor man, has drawn over
$4,000. and Harry Chaplin. NJ. p. who
drawn $4,000 These pensions are at
the rate of from $4,000 to $4,000
year and might well be saved. partic-
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-10-17
LONDON


British funds, the London county cour
alton comes down to something like
normal:
One or two instances which have
come under the writer's notice of the
lack of control in some branches of
the public service may be mentioned
as typical. At the beginning of the
war a landowner who had a traction
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-10-17

ell continues WORK upon thfs buIIuing.
war office and pointed out that a mis-
take had been made and offered to re-
fund $500. He was implored to let the
matter rest, as the tracing OF the mis-
take and the confusion which would
ensue would cost far more than the
$500 involved.
One would expect, too. that tho ma
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-10-17
DOORWAY AT CALUMET PLACE.

later in the day mortal1y wounded. The
clusion for some time, then left the
great house, which was to have been
for her the scene of SO much social
glory and which, by the mistaken ideal
of honor of that day. had suddenly
been transformed into a tomb of beau
tiful dreams.
The door of the Decatur house saw
succession Of noteworthy tenants
come and go, for it became a favorite
residence of ambassadors from abroad
The first to occupy it after Mrs. De-
catur deserted its shelter was Baron
Tuyll, Russian minister; then it be-
came the residence of Henry Clay, Sec
rotary of State under John Quincy
Adams, and Martin Van Buren,, Sec
rotary of State under President Jack
son. next tenanted it. and when Mr..
Edward Livingston succeeded to Mr..
Van Buren's position in the cabinet he
also rented 1t.
1t was a gay center during the
regime of Mr.. and Mrs. Livingston and
their beautiful daughter Cora, and 1t
was a frequent haven of rest to the
weary President. Sir Charles Vaughan
BRUSH minister, lVed In the house,
and Baron Hyde de Melville next rent
ed 1t, with his charming wife making
1t a pleasant social center. Mr. Orr
while Speaker. was tenant of the De-
catur mansion and dispensed liberal
hospitality. and Senator John P. Ben
jamin was the last tenant before the
war. using some of the splendid furni-
ture of Louis Philippe from the
Tulleries. but entertaining little
The house was subsequently pur-
chased by Gen. E. F. Beale, who sus-
tanned its character as home of
luxury and refinement, and it is now,
although untenanted. the cherished
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-10-17

comfort of the individual soldier. IS
making war at probably half the cost
per man that England is compelled TO
pay.
Red tape. too, is responsible for much
of the waste A certain amount OF req
tape, which is merely another word
for system. is necessary in running
every big business, whether 1t be an
army or a dry goods store. But when
the business gets so big that it means
the feeding and clothing and equip
nlent of 3.000,0 900 men red tape tends TO
become stereotyped, and in the hands
of subordinates of varying ability and
common sense it often defeats the OBJ
ject for which it was created.
This is especially the case in the mat
ter of feeding the army. The kings
regulati lions, by which the army is gov
erned, say that every soldier shall have
SO much food a day. The army service
corps supplies him with one pound OF
meat and one and quarter pounds OF
bread. This is handed over in bulk to
the battalion quartermaster, who is
also allowed Is cents per day per man
for the rest of his food At the pres
ent price of meat and bread the amount
allowed for feeding a soldier is. there
fore. about 40 cents a day, taking the
meat and bread at the lowest wholesale
rates. When they have to be purchased
locally, as is sometimes the case, the
cost is even more.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-10-17

Now, even a healthy Tommy does not
always want to eat whole pound of
meat and over a pound of bread every
day, when, in addition to that, the reg
ulations say that the quartermaster
must supply him with an ounce of
cheese, two ounces of bacon and Jam,
sugar. tea and all sorts Of other trim
mings." If he doesn't eat it, however,
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-10-17
Special Correspondence of The Star.
LONDON. October

HE war is costing England
nearly 10000 day, and it
is estimated by competent au-
rhorities thar nearly % nor cent
TaÌˆgliches Cincinnatier volksblatt. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1885-1919, 1915-01-18

~. r.x. .,fx.tsx ~. -.,,vs,
@ s - su s...s y. pse" ~
uss, ;Hg vs.'oIIsssn Iss$ -. S's .'m 81 o..
!sn5s'aasas is;'s alu1. 81 % nnv .ss..s ss'vu;' ,,ss
~ ~ 1-s u's& ~ eM tl.spaIss" 3. m s;S. gas
~ .as. r.ty -. Ss.ss.' ssssH = .sm.s ms sTs ',s,s
4pw.a..s. srraaa. y. sso!sn :" sAs'u a1D
$500 was sssvt, s1ss'st a.: -. .,.s,,.,
..s -, sl.se '"sn mxI Nv -. s'rlr aun.
s:x. s .asv s.sssrn ss.ss w. Ss,. :" ,',,s.s 49,.
TaÌˆgliches Cincinnatier volksblatt. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1885-1919, 1915-01-18
Ser l,tts @iseritsns.
9Iass R a bsIuns.
hompnna. Dta,mb,r 1al4

5omonna, 9t5ember 1914.
0idt Dor soomonna auf sinsm
Ianessbtbnisn 6ilpslriidtn, Der biz
9anbitrabs unb bas JIahlano I'M
gariDpob bsberrFht. bab.n Die Rui.
len ben l,Btsn Wiberitanb eeIsiitsi.
Gin pdar S@iibsnsrdbsn lisstn len.
isiis Der aanoftraBs gIuf Der anbe
ren Seit, rsib.H iis iid aber eng an,
sindnosr. BEN Neg 5ur aapele aui
osm Siis.IstpfsI folgenb. auf bti5en
Stiieu bss airdsuipeatB ittben elm
asmau,rts 5,iligtnbiIbsr. 3eidsu S.s
sSrisoens. Oi, jeti In bic bIaiissn, TO-
ebsn SdiibsHsrGbsn binein
id,autn. 6intsr einsn iclhtn. iduli
mannsbohu W1uerpfeiltr Iitgt Elm
eidsr. Usibppnsnsr, bIntbtfledier
Soloa,enitrumpf, ndnebsn bliiiae 2sis
nenfsBsn. ruFif1s gloirpHsn nit fh0
mem. ipibblanfem TianteI unb elm
braun.r tceter 6unp. Der gistH'
tbiimsr bi,ir GaGsn 1T aber nid,t ba.
@r 1T OG oslpeIsn, erit un!dnsit ioaar.
nnp isbt f,blt sr irsenofpis i'm 8iIoe.
obid0n bi. anbeutiingsn bic Ct biHs
terlaiien bat, fein 6hidIal eerabt5u
unbsimIi6 usrfhlsisrn gs III Elm
RuiT, ssip,i.u. font bdtis CT ii8 auf
Der nnoersn Ssife, no Der Raltpnb
Don aue.ln Itdrt eepfsffert III. ME
o,ratlaiisn. IS Idbt iid btn gt
funbt mad uihi sntrdtbieIu. oh sr j.
ipisoer bint.r BEN 9eilissnbilb auf ser
eres. bic Isin Blut setruHisu. oont1
iaasno lnisn fpiro Die Sfiibsns
srGbtn iino iebr out gsgrabeu. 3uerii
bat man nit Bell nub 6ode bic ttlpa
sebn 3entimeier bdrtssfrorens Orb
truiie bearbsitst nnb Ddnu oie tpsid).
Gros init oem Spaisu iuis Butter &C.
iiOdkn uno cls Wan Dor oem 8rnbsn
nnigtlporfsn. Die fetis eshmsrbs trdst
nod Die bIanten GpureH Der SpaisnF
iiine, 1T nod, INNER fDeid unb iDdrm
unb froiifr,i, aIs pdrs Iis iotbsn sut'
bl6Bt. mas ia aud Der San IL, psnn
man NIT Elm paar StunbsH ni9t rs9s