davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1915-01-17

a RECENT experiment in the bu-
~ reau of plant industry resulted
Is y in a very interesting discovery
in regard to the persistency and in
genuity with which plant, finding it.
self under strange conditions where
growth cannot be naturally continued
and where it is unable to provide for
the formation of it's reproductive seed
in the normal manner, will make ef-
forts to form these seed by whatever
poor means may be left to it.
The subject of the experiment was
the common Irish potato. Now it is
we'll known that this plant produces
the potato. the seed whence it is re-
produced, under the ground, at one of
the nodes or points from which the
roots branch off from the main under
ground stem or root. 1t never pro-
duces a potato above ground any more
than an apple tree produces apples be-
meath. This term mode" is also ap-
piled to those points on the stalk above
ground from which spring the branches
and leaves.
The experimenters first cut off the
stem of a growing potato plant and set
it in barren sand, placing the butt end
of the stem deep enough for the sand
to cover one of the stem nodes. 1t was
then supplied with water from time to
time. The plant. finding no root node
from which to grow a potato beneath
the ground, adopted the next best plan.
It started young potato at the stem
node buried, as mentioned, and bravely
persisted in living until it's young off
suriny had reached maturity. when it
-. ut rncc.
Evening star., 1915-01-17
The Joke on Jim.

TT was "A gay party of FOSTERING
blades that went to tn" station the
other afternoon to meet AN incoming
friend The lined no outside the
gates. scanning every face as tue paS
sengers from the just-arrlNtd tram
came troopinS through
Among them cam" a bflSht -'Fto'
dcyy-lippcd little miss with all tht
artlessness of the country maiden VIII
in every feature of her dainty faet a,''
line of her trim llttl" hSuft' ~ Hl'
trimmed along she gazed now rlght, now
left upon the waiting thronG. "a
though expectant of som" one Wheh
lust opposite the group OF young mn
Waiting for the friend she stopped
fixed her big blue eyes for "A momeit
unon tall youu- Jim. and then. with
an ejaculation of delight. hung ""
round arms about his neck. planted Il
resounding kiss squarelN upon his M
and then hugged the astonIshed !ouh4
fellow with naive unresrrNr
.Oh Jack" she cried. II M so glad 10
see YOU again. and hugging him again.
backed off to get another look. 1htn,
as she gazed upon Jim. standing there
prinnine with delighted embarrass-
ment. the mistake dawned upon her.
She gave gasp and buried her face
in her hands.
oh she exclaimed, Il thought YOU
We're my cousin Jack that ia teie-
sraphed to meet me. I'm, I'm o-o-o-
OH and the damsel hurried away in
confusion and was lost in the throng
before the lucky Jim had time to re-
cover himself and offer to help hunt
Cousin Jack.
Jim's cornpa Mons were loud in their
expressions of envy. And Jim was
copiously loquacious in detailing all
the sensations that titillated through
him when those soft arms enclrcied
his neck and the full. red lips were
dressed to his Jim was a good master
of talk and graphically described 1t all
again and again to the minutest de-
talls-but he didn't say a word more
about it after he came to pay Tor the
treat and searched through every
nn,.k nf h. had for his purSet
Evening star., 1915-01-17
STATUE OF MEHEMET ALI At ALEXANDRIA.

Britain i'll formally declaring Egypt
British protectorate, although at the
same time retaining a puppet khedlVe.
simplifies the international problems OF
the future but it does not materially
change the status of Egypt as Medl-
terranean country.
The port of Alexandria has been to
all intents and purposes British port
since it's bombardment by the British
fleet in 1882. but it has been main
tanned as such without prejudice to the
rest of the world. This condition Will
continue. and AleXandria grow IN IN
population and wealth. although this
growth will be limited by the increase
in cotton growing and other agricul-
tural development of irrigation 1t is a
question. though. whether Egypt is
susceptible of much further agricul
tural development. The area which the
waters of the Nile can fertilize is a
limited one.
Gibraltar. after all. Notwithstanding
England's predominant interest in
Egypt ard Suez and the route to India,
may become in effect as much an in
ternational fortress as British one.
though it always Will remain under
English control. France and Italy are
both vitally interested i'll seeing that
the dominance of the Mediterra mean is
ton.
Had the German dash to Paris sue
ceeded the French colonial possessions
on the African shore of the Mediter-
ranean might have been endangered
Germany's determination to he avenged
for Morocco would rot have been limit
ed to Morocco itself. That Germany
was not satisfied with the big slice of
equatorial Africa given her, without
pf enlIltOrlIl \
was perfectly understood.
Victory over France would have
meant the ACKNOWLEDGMENT Of Algeria
and Tunis as French colonial posses
sions, and the great Sahara desert.
which France hopes one day to con-
uuer and render less of a desert, might
have been considered as a war prize,
too.
No one now dreams of Frances pos
sessions along the African shore of the
Mediterranean being disturbed as a re-
suit of the war. The interesting ques-
tion of the future is how much more
Evening star., 1915-01-17
Riding f4ouns-er Husband
dHerCh mini Outside
Continent Both Before and After
Her Marage-Her Husbands Visit to the United States

he was attached to the staff, and he
was formerly equerry for Princess
Louise.
very beautiful house in Washington on
the outskirts of the fashionable resi-
Dental section, close to Rock Creek
Park. 1t is built after the colonial
type of architecture. with spacious
large central hall. Mrs OBrien has
almost completely refurnished the
house since her occupancy of it, and
it stands now a testimonial to her eN-
Quisite taste.
The drawing rooms are furnished in
colonial and empire mahogany pieces,
with soft green and old rose The
general color schemes. The American
sunlight that She holds in such high
esteem. streams in from the side where
there is Il garden. One catches Il
glimpse of a pergola and a tiny tea
house through the windows and has Il
vision of Mrs. O'Brien dispensing tea
with true British charm when the days
begin to lengthen.
The grounds are remarkably large
for Il townhouse. and the site is so
one experiences the sensation of being
directly in the open country because
of the nearness of the hills and woods.
Here Mrs. O'Brien will hold her little
court to that part of diplomatic So
ciety with which the war does not re-
strict social intercourse. She is a very
beautiful woman in addition to being
very delightful one. and it is newt
able that her home will be a mecca
before many weeks of the season have
elapsed.
Her coloring is blond, her eyes be-
ing of such an intense blue that the
interviewer was inclined to wonder II
she had caught a reflection of the pale
sapphire blue of Mediterranean skies
during her residence on the RIVIERA
that had remained with her perma-
nently. There is nothing of GOODNESS
in her eyes. nor is there the lansour OF
the southland; rather, a vivacity and
sparkle illumine them. which constl-
tute the chief charm of her animated
eNpresson Her hair is of golden col
or, which calls to mind 80 alternative
Evening star., 1915-01-17

the German sea carriers as one of tho
results of the war. tn" share which
Germany heretofore has had in the
traffic OF the Mediterranean would he
worth grabbing OF. and would add
considerably to the Importance OF Eng
lands merchant marine.
The German transatlantic lines were
among the first to provide sailinEs be-
tween New York and the Medlterra-
mean ports. In the Mediterranean itself
they have shared the traffic of Mar
saille with the French lines. of Genoa
and Naples with the Italian lines. and
of the lines touching at Alexandria
Evening star., 1915-01-17
War to D@termine Mastery Of the K1ee1it@rran@

trade with I.ibya, hut il has been as
larp, as that of some of the nearby
European countries. Many of the
American products marketed there
have been sold through Italian com
mercial houses. and are probably cred
tied 10 Italv The only products which
the United States takes from Tripoli
are goatskins. and these do not give
promise of much increase. American u
goods consist of oats. cottonseed on,
packing house products, and a few
miscellaneous articles.
In its commerce with the tnlted
States Tripoli is to be consld-
cred along with Algiers and Tunis as
Evening star., 1915-01-17

at least as we'll defended as any tort
reSs in the world.
The tendency to consider the Med1-
terranean as British lake has not
been due solely to the possession OF
Gibraltar. There is Malta and cyprus,
and the long chapters of diplomatic
intrigue and of the oppressive diplom-
acy of which Lord Palmerston was the
exponent that justified the end to the
means. The German controversiallstS
apparently have not yet got around to
these chapters in their endeaVors TO
show that Germany. III approprlatlnS
ether peoples countries, is only doing
what England did in the Mediterranean.
The practical aspect of 1and-grabbing
in the past as it relates to future com
merce is more important than the con-
trovcrsial aspect.
The Suez canal. in the course OF ms
toric events. became the complement
to Gibraltar. During the Franco
Evening star., 1915-01-17

cr when England had the war with
the colonies ON her hands and WAS
pretty well occupied. Spain sought to
That was in 117? a year of fate for
England in many parts of the world.
Fate. however, did not decree that
she was to lose by the military opera
tions of an enemy what she preVl-
ously had offered to trade off as a con-
sideration for the betrayal of Spain $
ally.
The sea siege on the part of Spain
failed and Gibraltar remained Eng
from wear to year until it is today, if
not impregnable to siege guns from
the land side-such as those by which
Germany laid low Namur and Antwerp
Evening star., 1915-01-17

amount. but usually the most lllEoiouS
literature.
of all things | am most fond of
outdoor sports. and in this line-huut-
ing, as have said, particularly appeals
TO me. though of late have done very
little even of this. In England, my hus-
band and l spent much of our time, up
to about four years ago. with parties of
friends at the different hunting parks
for which the country is famous.
We rode to hounds. as the saying
goes. and l grew to be more or less
of an adept with the gun. The combi-
nation OF horseback ridihs and shooting
is nv faVorite recreation and the fea-
lure of English life that appeals to me
most, though l am fond OF all of its
phases.
we used to go to London for the
town season and of late we have been
spending our winters on the Riviera. l
am especially happy at present because
of the opportunity we have OF being IN
the states The climate is beautiful
here. and | look forward to happy times
riding in the country about Washing
ton when the spring season arrives.
My husband has never visited the
United States before: in fact. this is his
first trip to America. and l take espe-
cial delight in introducing him to the
American climate. ! am continually
calling his attention to the sunshine
that is with one steadily on this side
of the water.
Mrs. OHrien is inclined to feel Il par
ticular sense of ownership as She lauds
the superiority of American sunshine
over London fog and British dampness
because she is an American woman by
birth and parentage. Be1ore heI mar
riaee. eight wears ago to Maj. OBrien
she was Miss Marguerite Lewis of New
York. the daughter of Mrs. Mason. who
owns very wonderful home on Madison
avenue in New York city. Mrs y Brlen $
sister is the wife of Prince Karl Eisen-
berg, who is now fighting with the Ger
man army.
Mrs O'Brien has spent very htt1t
time however, in New York She was
Evening star., 1915-01-17

Prussan war the canal was actually
neutral, and it is recorded that French
and German warships passing through
it saluted each other. No one now
considers the possibility of a German
warshp getting into Suez or getting
out if she happened to get in. So there
is no question of what kind of a sa-
lutte would be given cruiser of the
allies.
When England was ready to yield
Gibraltar there was no Suez canal and
no route to India to be protected. There
was, in fact. in the middle of the
eighteenth century, not much OF
British India as it exists today.
Nor was there an Egypt as a British
protectorate, and an Anglo-E Egyptian
Sudan The recent action of Great
Evening star., 1915-01-17

outside of Paris. and her family lived
at different places on the continent both
before and after her marriage
The visit to the United States on
diplomatic mission came in the nature
of a great surprise to Maj. and Mrs.
OBrien when it was first announced to
them that they would be attached to
the British embassy here. This is Maj.
Evening star., 1915-01-17
EM1RAS@W. AN AMERICAN BY BIRTH

late | am nothing Of Il clubwomah,
in fact have never belonged 10 elup
in my life. ,--,.
.Rut | do know this about the war
the British women are devoting All "'
their energies toward sharing the buf-
dens of the soldiers at the front Inc
society girls and women are ho' 70
ing about i'm pursuit of pleasure thus
season as they always have formerly
Tea and party times are devoted !"
services for the soldiers. The "aF
spirit is everywhere. and every one.
rich or Door. is lending "a helping
hand
Evening star., 1915-01-17

with the British lines. The German
service between Naples and Alexandra
is especially profitable.
In spite of the English aspirations
the chances are that not many years
after the great war is brought to an
end thr German merchant marine VIII
again be atioat in the Mediterranean.
and will be passing through Suez TO
and from the orient
The Mediterranean, whatever may b'
its international political control, ls
100 valuable "A marine highway for amy
nation or any group of nations to "e
able to monopolize its commerce in-
definitely.
Evening star., 1915-01-17

of ,omparison so much as the Blessed
DamoZers tresses' like yellow corn.
She has the famed fair complexion ot
the E.nglishw oman, with skin OF "a
veritable satin texture. She spea KS
with the melodiouS intonatlon OF the
women of her husbands country, ana
with the culture of a personality tlat
has seen much. done 9iss mueh ,i, ,ynu 0'''
Mrs. O'Brien is tail and llthe. she
has the graceful carriage of a sports
woman, and there is a charm apout ner
personal self that can best be De
Scribed by the SlhSle WI"
cratic.
Dressed in :, blue street suit and II
smart hat she was just about TO take
her baby boy, Murroueh. ~, TO Lazy
Spring Rice's dancing parry ne -
boy-Mrs O'Brien's only child-is no
less lovely than herself He Is Il
brown-eyed. fair-haired little fellow.
vibrant with all the health and Nisor
OF his three years of life he slid -oout
the parauetry floor with his dimlnu-
tive white Kid slippers. and half hid
ing behind the curtains said that he
liked the woods and the country better
than town. -
Mrs. O'Brien is at present teaching
him Bible stories, her contribution thus
far to his education. She admits that
il is a very difficult problem because
he seems to prefer play to study.
II must confess" Mrs. o'Brien said,
in the course of the interview. that
am an utterly frivolous person. 1 like
going about III society and 1 am fond
of dancing. Music interests me great
ly, but there also. my taste is frivolous
for the Italian music remains my Ia
vorite | love Butterfly and 'Boheme.'
/ fear that ! am not up on modern
music and l frankly say that Wagner
and the modernistS do not appeal to
me. | play and sing only slightly my
self''-this with depreciating shrug
which the interviewer ascribed to mod
esty-'but beautiful music never falls
to exert its charm over me.
In our home in England" she went
on to say. as the conversation drifted
to other lines of art, I'VE have rather
a notable collection OF tapestries and
Chinese lacquers. / like all of these
things and am interested in painting
and things of this sort, though L do
nothing in this way myself.
Can | tell you something of the
Englishw oman's part in the present
war;" repeated Mrs. OBrien. Il am
afraid not | can give you no definite
information at least about the organi-
cations that are doing relief work. ]
am not acquainted with the English
Red Cross, I am sorry to say, tor We
have lived but little in England OF
Evening star., 1915-01-17

than hIlf u century OF possession Eng =
laHd was most willing to trade IL on
to Spain for the unimportant isiand OF
Minorca in the R;learic group. ihitt
was in the middle of the eighteenth
century. when the Chatham ministry
WAS seeking to bribc Spain to break
away from the alliance with France
State policy seemed to Justify the
withdrawal of England from the Spa n
Ish mainland provided France could be
wea kened
Minorca would have afforded q naval
base but to get to the island il would be
necessary for any English fleet to pass
through the Straits of Gibraltar. Had
the ccSSion of Gibraltar been accepted
England would have regretted II, rs
today she regrets the ceSsion of the
Island of Helgoland by the Salisbury
ministry to Germany.
Net when this bargain was made
tHcS" were very few and ve~y mild pro-
tests in England because nobody really
thought that Helgoland. within i
quarter of a century, would become the
German naval base in the greatest war
that the world has known. and would be
th" means of iufiicting humiliation on
the arrogant British navy
Evening star., 1915-01-17

O'Briens first diplomatic post He is
retired from the British army. and IT is
only for the period of the war that
he is occupying the post of military
attache in Washington. He is replac-
ing Mai Moreton Gage, who is now
in active command at the front. Be
fore his retirement. Maj oBrien spent
IA number of years in Dublin, where
Evening star., 1915-01-17

to the seizure of Avelona, on the Al
bantam coast, by Italy is yet to be writ
ten, because no one can preulct What
will happen on the shores OF the Adll-
attic.
ON the African shore of the Mediter-
ranean there is the moral support of
England and France in STRENGTHENING
Italian control of Iibya, or 1rlpoli-
tana and the certainty of phNSicai sup
port if Italy should be drawn into war
with Turkey.
Before the outbreak of The present
hostilitics confused the international
situation favorable reports were re-
ceived regarding the Italian admins
tration of Libya aud the progress ol
public works. and especially of SANTA
tion.
Agriculture. which, is the main de-
pcndencc. was also progressing II
was due to the Italian administration
that an artesian supply Of water was
secured. Frequent attempts had bcch
made to sink artesian wells. but with
out Success until the Italian army
engineers sank one at Iuara. a coast
oasis west of the town of Tripoll.
They got water at depth OF 80"
feet. This success, was encouragement
for future borings. so that some SNs-
TEN of irrigation may be made cffec-
tive.
BARLEY is the crop which is expected
TO develop Lihya. \ good crop once IN
four wears is AL that has been cN-
pected heretofore. but ii is possible
that under scientific methods greater
production will hc obtained III the
future, and Libya will have con-
tented agricultural population. Dates
and olives are produced for export, as
well as henna. \ million pounds OF
hcnna is considered a fair yield.
The export trade of IIhNa rests on
this somewhat slender basis, the total
exports not reaching S1.00o.ooh The
imports during the presence OF the
Italian troops averaged S6.0ho,0ho Il
year, but in normal conditions they
hardly would amount to S",ooo,ooo
Germany and Austria Hungary supply
less than $30o.o0o. so that the inter
ruption of their trade with Llhya due
to the war was not serious. The mer-
chandise consisted chiefly of beet
sugar.
Italys direct trade with her African
colony in normal years may be placed
at 81 900, 900 to 81 5000 although the
amount was doubled when she was
sending large quantities of military
supplies. AS IL colonial market. Tripoli
cannot be said to be of great value,
but Italy did not go to war with Tur-
kew to secure n territorial foothold on
the Mediterranean shore of Africa and
the hinterland for commercial pur-
poses National aspiration was the
Governing motive. and the natlon:'l
tages will influence TtalyS policy IN
the ad justment of the future control
of the Mediterranean.
The United States has had small
Evening star., 1915-01-17

While the mastery OF the Medlterra-
mean doubtless will continue with Eng
land and her allies, and while they
now are talking of the time when 1t
will be a closed sea to German ships,
these predictions must be taken with
:, large grain of allowance.
Undoubtedly. if England could realize
her ambition to absorb the traffic of
Evening star., 1915-01-17

Recently. as a result of the alliance.
the French colonial administration. and
especially for Frances Mediterranean
posse eSsions. This means that those
colonies in the future will have Eng
lish goodwill, because England feels
the need of seeing France made as
strong as possible i'll northern Africa,
since there is no longer any contention
with France over the British control in
Egypt
The United States itself is somewhat
interested in seeing the French colonial
possessions in northern Africa con-
tinue their development, for there is
an excellent market there for Amerl-
can goods Algeria. for example, takes
approximately $3.O00,0o0 of American
products every year. This includes
agricultural machinery, hardware, lum-
ber petroleum, tobacco and even auto
mobiles When the wheat crop is de-
ficient Algeria helps met the def
cheney by importing wheat from the
United States. In a-recent year 1t took
wheat to the value of more than
100000.
italy is at present the most poten-
tial factor in the Mediterranean sit
uation. England has no Gibraltar on
the Italian mainland to offer as the
price for Italy keeping clear OF Ger
many, and, if she had, it could not be
offered in present circumstances, but
both England and France have what
may be considered strong inducements
for Italy to share with them the con-
troll of the Mediterranean. The sequel
Evening star., 1915-01-17

Means OF
Off That mpegabe Fortress tor an g
Recently
Ared COLONY No Probability That the Meer
ReCl edtnGer nMarhan ShrsA
Evening star., 1915-01-17

Spain ii the middle Of the eight
ceuth century WIS still q nagGrcsSive
maritime power. She rejected Eng
land 5 offer of Gibraltar. probably not
without hope that she would be able,
with the aid of France. to take il
ANYHOW.
y little more than twenty wears lat
Evening star., 1915-01-17

France may do in developing these
colonies with the assurance that the
lake without Germany being in the in
ternational group.
EnGlishmen heretofore have not been
particularly pleased to have colnpari-
sons made between the French colonies
and their own. because these comparl-
sons showed that England was not the
only power which could administer
colonies successfully. Moreover. the
French colonial policy was in conflict
with the English theory of handling
inferior races, and of considering all
races. except the Anglo-Saxons, as in
ferior.
Evening star., 1915-01-17

n Mediterranean trade territory, ratl-
er than as a separate commercial en-
tity.
Evening star., 1915-01-17

Mrs. OBrien has spent very little
time, however, in New YORK. She was
educated III 4 cpnven; in Frt"" j''s'
Evening star., 1915-01-17

Geruauy-yet this outlet
to German Industrial life.
Evening star., 1915-01-17

amount. but usually the most frivolous
literature.