davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-01-23
Spider Silk.

1E'ROM time to time the ingenuity Of
the scientists has been exercised
with a view to devising some substf-
tute Tor the silkworm's product, to find
some other insect that will produce
something very similar at a lower cost
1t is an old idea that the spider might
be employed in this way in substitu-
ton for the silkworm. The problem
has ever been how to obtain a sufficient
quantity of the spider thread and how
tangling.
A Frenchman named Cachot har-
messed a spider to a machine of his
own invention. This machine con-
tanned tiny bobbns that revolved con-
stantly. The thread was wound as the
spider spun it. not after it had been
made. The end of the web. which was
attached to the body of the spider. was
caught and fastened firmly to bobbin.
Then the machine was gently put in
motion. The spider, finding that its
web reeled away, apparently of its own
volition. naturally pulled in the OPP
posite direction to get away. But, it is
said, Cachot found, to his great de-
light. that the spider did not pull with
sufficient force to break the thread,
but actually seemed to enjoy the proc
ess. maintaining just sufficient tension
to keep the web in continual motion.
Many spiders We're tried in this way
and at last sufficient quantity of their
product was obtained to be woven into
a fabric. This, it is alleged. was su-
perior to natural silk in tenuity. elias
ITCHY and tenacity.
But dresses of spider web are still be-
yond the reach of any save the very
rich. A species of Madagascar spider
is the only one that supplies the right
sort of thread. Size for size, this
spiders thread is tougher than bar
iron.
The Frenchman who conducted these
interesting experiments states that an
other advantage of the spider pro-
Queer of silk is that, having been
emptied of its web. il can be fed and
petted back to condition, when it will
submit to another reeling without show
ing ill effects.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-01-23
The Stars by Day.

M OF only have the astronomers de-
~ vised means whereby. they. may
observe the stars in the daytime. but
any one may, If he choose. see them
at such time If he will go to sufficient
trouble to do so. At the bottom OF
deep well an observer on looking up
will see the stars If the sky is clear
and the sun does not happen to be shin
ing directly into the well.
Why cannot the stars be seen from
the surface of the ground? They Ger
tainly give out their usual amount OF
light, and 1t will be remembered that
the moon is frequently seen during the
day The question resolves itself into
the capacity of the human eye During
the day the sun shines on particles
suspended in the atmosphere, and on the
atmosphere itself. and it's rays are re-
fected in every direction from the differ
ent particles. We thus have Unused
light by means of which one can see
objects not directly in the sunlight. II
1t were not for this diffusion OF light,
or irregular refraction. as 1T is called.
We could not possibly see anything not
In direct sunlight Now these rays ir-
regularly reflected enter the eye in
enormous numbers. so the intensity is
comparatively great with starlight. But
to q person in deep we'll or mine shaft
only the perpendicularly reflected rays
enter the eye and from only those par
ticles directly over the mouth of the
shaft. Thus comparatively little light
enters the eye. and any starlight that
comes down at that time is easily per-
ceived. and the presence of the star is
recognized.
The astronomer applies this rule to
his telescope and places long black
tubes, called shields. on the end of his
glass Field glasses to be used at night
also have these tubes. They are abso-
lutely necessary for good work with
heavenly bodies even at night. when the
observatory is near large city of many
lights.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-01-23

with it's lovely play of color and its
charming adjustment of values. that
makes the picture.
So again and again in Mr.. Tarbells
paintings one who is sensitive and
knows runs across little triumphs of
art. His pictures from first to last are
thoughtfully and artistically composed,
and they are to great extent scholar
that art happens" but it is only true
when adequate preparation has been
made. The real artist does not
spring into existence full fiedged:
he must first master his craft II ne Is
!, ever to be able to give his inspirations
satisfactory and significant expression
This is mistake which many make to-
day, and error in belief which
threatens modern painting.
Joseph Pennell tells an amusing story
Illustrating this tendency little boy,
he says, was standing beside an ex-
tremely modernistic painter watching
him work. The painter looked up ana
said: wouldn't you like to be able TO
paint like this, little boy? To whlch
the urchin instantly replied: Il can
And probably he could.
The amateur will not he disposed to
think that he can paint as we'll as Mr.
Tarbell. There is something in TINS
artists work which bespeaks respect
even from the uninitiated.
Mr. Tarbell is the chief representa-
tive of what Mr.. Isham designated as
the Boston school. This school ne
found somewhat similar in it's char
acter to the Glasgow School in Great
Britain To quote directly, 'It follows
more the artists standpoint and seeks
artistic qualities in handling and light
and color. a certain breadth, rougher
texture, a quivering light. The artists
do not confine themselves to ideal PIC
lures of young women. All have paint
ed portraits more or less. But most OF
the men made their studies at the
period which gave them peculiar in
terest in open-air tints and coloring
They painted landscapes. they painted
figures in the open air and in darkened
interiors, they studied all forms OF
light with the resulting shadows ana
reflected tones. and they succeeded IN
producing pictures of brilliant but
pleasing color"
Mr.. TarbelIs paintings are at the
same time conservative and bold. He
has never gone quite as far as the
Spaniard Sorolls in his experiments
with sunlight. but he has adventured
in the same field. He has never re-
sorted SO completely to the art of elm
ination as did Whistler. but he knows
we'll the value of blank spaces. He
has. Furthermore, keen decorative
sense and the color he employs Is true
pathy between this painter and those
Of the so-called "modernists' school.
for he is craftsman as well as
colorist he has mastered his craft. he
builds on tradition, he does not clamor
for notice either through the gro
tesque use of form or the display of
screa aiming color. And yet he has had
honor and reserve. Several of the pic
lures in this exhibition have been lent
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-01-23

4 leaf or two, carries the pose of the
suffragette to the blowing up or
church, herself included, and ends with
the statement and the query: Yes. L
pose, of course. But the question Is
how deep may pose extend?"
SADIE LOVE. BY Avery Hopwood.
author of "Nobody's Widow" etc.
New York: John Lane Company.
Having set a ridiculously farcial sit
uation here the author romps through
it in a gale of laughter and nonsense.
The rule is. as every one knows. that
when a bride and bridegroom go upon
their honeymoon, they invariably go
alone. That is what the honeymoon
is about. In this case. however. the
whole book is taken up with the max
ing and unmaking of no less than a
dozen combinations of people who are
to accompany Sadie Love and her Ital-
ian prince on their wedding journey.
You might think that a story devoted
to this foolish play would prove a bit
tiresome, and il would We're it not for
the fact that Avery Hopwood is first
rate player. who is able to keep readers
In steady run of laughter even
though they know it all to be fun of
the ck-down-and-drag- order.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-01-23

through the day and night. These are
beautiful and helpful thoughts, v1gor-
GUS and tonic ones.
THE FLOWER ART OF JAPAN. BY
Mary Averill, author of Japanese
Flower Arrangement" New York
John Lane Company.
This study of the flower art of Japan
is a supplement to Miss Averill's earlier
work on this subject. With many il
Illustrations to objectify her descrip-
tions the writer shows that the flower
cult of Japan is an organized and in
tricate art system. developed through
certain principles and practiced in a
thousand lovely variants of its CEN
trail ideas and laws. Appealing in d.
rect line to the artist and the artist in
flower arrangement, the study makes
appeal also to the general reader who
is interested in the peculiar character
istics and tendencies of the Japanese
people.
ALLWARD: A story of Gypsy Life.
BY E. S. Stevens. author of Sarah
Eden" etc. New York: Dodd, Mead
& Co.
When Richard Lyddon came to him
self in the gypsy's tent he was more
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-01-23
Odd Perquisites of Royalty.

TT appears that, by curious statute
of the realm, the King of Great
Britain and Ireland is entitled to every
sturgeon landed in the United King
dom. The king has also the right to
the head of every whale caught off the
coasts of his kingdom.
The tail of the whale is the queens
perquisite. the object of this curious
division being that her majesty shall
always be supplied with whalebone al
though, singularly enough, the whale
bone is the kings half
With other strange perquisites of
England'S rulers are a pair of white
doves pound of cumin seed. pair of
scarlet hose and silver needle from
his tailor.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-01-23

6HHE exhibition of paintings by Ed
III mund c. Tarbell of Boston, which
q opened in the Corcoran Gallery
of Art Yesterday, is an event OF much
interest and note. Mr.. Tarbell is one of
the foremost painters of today and he
has Accomplishment of high order of
more, a very versatile painter and has
independent convictions.
In the present exhibition an admir-
able idea is given of Mr.. Tarbelrs va
ried style and vision Scarcely two OF
the pictures shown are in the same
vein. In some he rises to exceptional
height, in others he seems to fall far
below the standard he has set for him.
self. He is by no means faultless
painter, nor is he invariably happy in
the results he achieves, but so con-
siderable are his successes that in COM
parison his shortcomings are to be
Ireckoned as mere accidents, days off,,
for none is always capable of attaining
to ones best
The late Samuel Isham, in his book
on the history of American painting,
listed Mr.. Tarbell with those painters
who have devoted themselves chiefly
10 picturinS maidenhood. interpreting
for us femininity. as it is held in our
American ideal, with grace and charm
and purity. At the head of this list he
placed Abbott Thayer, who. however,
he says interpreted womanhood more
as the Greeks. representing the individ-
uals as young goddesses. On the other
hand he continues, Benson, Tarbell
and Reid paint her with an easier, sur
'er, skill. if with an inspiration less
celestial"
Mr. Tarbell has painted women almost
exclusively. but to a great extent he
has pictured them in their environ
ment-in the home or out of doors at
play We have a suspicion. too. that he
women, but because they were deco
rative and lent interest to the scenes
by which he was allured. And if this is
so ii is not serious charge. Kenyon
Cox in one of his essays declares that
an artists first business is to create
a beautiful surface divided into well
balanced spaces-to produce, in other
words. something charming to the eye.
Subject is significant. 1t is the artistic
rendering or possibilities of the sub
ject which attract and interest the art
list.
1t is surface, texture. color. form and
arrangement which absorb Mr.. Tar
BELLS attention. and it is these which
manifest his art. In his painting Get
ting Ready for the Matinee lent by
the City Museum. st. Louis, it is not
the figure of the young girl pinning
her hat on which signifies half as much
as the way in which the gray wall
serving as her background Is render
ed Perhaps the casual observer will
not notice the wall. but 1t is this wall.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-01-23

this purpose in full and satisfying
manner is plain to any reader who. out
of interest in the theme. may consult
it for any topic bearing upon municipal
progress.
1 POSE. By Stella Benson. New York:
The Macmillan Company.
When a mild and average young man
takes on the pose of a vagabond and an
everyday suffragette, at the same time
assumes that of a desperate woman, and.
when the two meeting by chance. plan
to go adventuring together in an elaborate
defiance of the metes and bounds set to
the comings and goings of members of
society Why! under these circum-
stances. the reader may expect. should
he follow the pair. to find himself in all
sorts of odd corners, tight places. too.
some Of them. And so 1t turns out in this
gay and haphazard satire on a world that
lis peopled for the most part with one
or another kind of poseur. Stella Benson
has the knack of the epigram, or the
rear -epigram, at least. as she has also
la leaning toward the eccentric touch such
as the advertiser makes good account of
in his own business. This vagarious
story is made up of two chapters. One
Of them is full three hundred pages of
the doings of the pair. The other, just
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-01-23

by art museums in other parts of the
country from their permanent collec-
tions. There must be something in
the old art. the real art. the art which
strives to interpret beauty, after all
There are about thirty paintings in this
collection: enough to fill the hemicycle
gallery without overcrowdng, and suffi-
cient to give the observer an excellent
knowledge of the painters characteristics.
These one-man shows. as they are COM
monty known have become very popular
in recent years, and with good reason.
They afford opportunity for study and
acquaintanceship not to be found in the
general exhibition OF all the one-man
shows, however. few are as interesting or
as instructive as this
re- HE Society of Washington Arsists
will open its annual exhibition
in the Corcoran Gallery of Art the
18th of February. The president Of
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-01-23

the society, Richard N. Brooke, has been
seriously ill with pneumonia for some
weeks, but is now reported greatly i'm
proved and well on the road to recovery.
Matters Concerning the exhibition are, as
usual. in the hands of a committee, and
every effort is being made to insure an
excellent showing.
rROM February 8 to March IL the
Peabody Institute and Charcoal Club
of Baltimore will hold its annual exhi-
bition of oil paintings and sculpture in
the galleries Of the Peabody Institute.
Curiously enough. the Washington and
Baltimore societies seem to have paralleled
their efforts this season, for during Janu-
airy the water color clubs of the two
cities were exhibiting, and in February
in both cities the exhibitions of oil paint
ings will be opened.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-01-23
MANY KINDS OF GASOLINE

state of density is obtained. What is
commonly called neutral oil is supposed
to be decarbonized as much as' posi- :
BILE.
The market Is filled with oils with
attractive names. some taken from the
Greek and some, one dealer remarks,
from vaudeville" Experts can detect
the quality of fuel largely by the odor
coming from the exhaust. There is
what they call 1.-The sweet odor," which
sometimes denotes high quality, and
this is graded down to something which
resembles a breeze from glue fac
tory. Poor fuel gives OFF rather
sickening odor, while what is known as
"sweet fuel has little or no odor, al
though the exhaust is emitting a dense
smoke.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-01-23

r. ALTIMoRE is to have an art museum
~ some time in the near future-one
comparable, it is said, with such institu-
tons in other cities Of equal size. An Or
ganization has been formed and a cam
raign for funds is being actively carried
on. This city has. to be sure, the Walters
Gallery. which during this portion of the
year is open under certain regulations
two days week to the public, but this
does not take the place of a public in
stitutfon, such as the majority of our
larger cities now possess. With the Pea
body Institute, the Maryland Institute, a
coterie Of very capable artists and an
art-loving public. there should not be
great difficulty in esta blishing an art
museum and providing fur its support in
Baltimore
X *
MNE of the most attractive pictures
in the recent winter exhibition of
the National Academy of Design was
portrait, painted by Irving r. wiles.
of Charles Bittinger and his little
daughter. Mr.. Bittinger is well known
as a painter of both figures and land
scape. and was represented in the same
exhibition by a picture of a young
woman in picturesque gown. entitled
Becky" which has since been invited
by the American Federation of Arts
for one of its circuit exhibitions. Mr.
Bittinger was Washington boy and
has many friends in this city. The por-
trait which Is entitled Isabella and
Her Father" is an excellent likeness
and very characteristic example of
Mr.. Wiles' work. 1t is to be shown
shortly in the annual exhibition of the
Pennsylvania Academy Of the Fine
Arts, at Philadelphia.
THE first week in February three in
teresting and important exhibit
tons open-the American Water Color
Society's exhibition. at the National
Arts Club. New York: the annual ex-
hibition of the Architectural League,
in the Fine Arts galleries. New York,
and the Pennsylvania Academy's 111th
annual exhibition. in Philadelphia. In
the latter city at the same time may
be seen an exhibition, set forth in
Memorial Hall. Fairmount Park, of
Pennsylvania artists of foreign birth
or parentage. This exhibition Is held
under the auspices of committee on
Characterization through art" In
connection with it will be shown a
very interesting collection of paintings
recently assembled by Mrs. Harry
Payne Whitney.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-01-23
ORIGINAL AUTOGRAPHS BOUGHT.

ORIGINAL AUTOGRAPHS BOUGHT.
p. F. MADIGAN, J61 9TH AVE-. NEW
YORK, WANTS TO PURCHASE, FOR
CASH, AUTOGRAPH LETTERS AND
DOCUMENTS OF CELEBRATED AU-
THORS, STATESMEN, GENERALS
AND PRESIDENTS OF THE U. s. BE
SURE AND WRITE ME- BEFORE
SELLING ELSEWHERE. I PAY THE
HIGHEST PRICE. AND CASH BY RE-
TURN MAZE p. F.. kADlGAN. J61
9TH AVE, NEAR 46TH ST, NEW
YORK.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-01-23
THE PUBLIC LIBRARY.
SELECTED LIST OF BOOKS RE.
GENTLY ADDED.

The following list, arranged by sub
Jects, includes some of the latest addi-
lions to the Public Library.
The lists which appear in this column
each Sunday are reprinted, at the end
of the month. in the library's monthly
bulletin. Copies of this may be OBJ
tanned free at the library or will be
sent by mail for Is cents year
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-01-23
Chopping Him Off.

From Judge.
Il don't want to interfere with your
business, but" began the village bore.
..All right" interrupted Cyrus K.
Snapper. Go ahead and interfere with
t.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-01-23

IN Brooklyn on the 2sth of January
an exhibition of modern works of art
by Swedish artists will be opened. This
exhibition comprises the entire Swed-
fsh section shown at the San Francis
CO fair. 1t will continue in Brooklyn
for a month and then go on a circuit
of other art museums. 1t would be well
If such collections as this might in
variably come to Washington
i
THE state of North Carolina has re-
Gently, by act of the legislature,
established an art commission, to ad-
wise upon the merit of proposed works
of art in the way of public buildings,
monuments, parks and the like, and to
safeguard the state through resort to
expert knowledge against subsequent
errors in this field.
A bill of practically the same char
acter and scope is now before the state
legislature of Kentucky. 1t is largely
on account of the results attained by
the art commission of New York city,
the art jury of Philadelphia and the
federal art commission that such ac-
ton has seemed desirable. 1t is a long
step forward.
X
A NDREw OCONNOR, who had a
q u studio in this city last winter, is
spending the present season in Worces-
ter, Mass, his home city. Mr. OCon-
nor was recently awarded the commits
sion for the heroic statue of Lincoln,
which is to be placed on the approa CHI
to the state capitol at Springfield, Ill.
Mr.. CConnor has chosen to represent
Lincoln without a beard. and as the
man of deep thought and quiet, strong
feeling, as well as action The pose
is said to be striking and the statue
promises to be exceptionally fine. Mr..
OConnor's work is always spirited and
seldom stereotyped. His marble group.
Adam and Eve" is in the Corcoran
Gallery of Art. His statue of Lew Wal
lace is in statuary hall at the Capitol.
THE Fogg Museum of Harvard Uni
versity is showing an interesting
collection of paintings by the Spanish
masters. This exhibition was arranged
to illustrate course of lectures on the
Spanish school Of painting, but 1t is
open to the public as well as the uni
verSity students. 1t is a loan collec-
ton. to which the Museum of Fine Arts
of Boston and private collections have
generously contributed
LEILA MECHLIN.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-01-23
Where Speed Doesn't Count.
rom the Boston Transcript.

From the Boston Transcript.
Mamma" complained a little one re-
Gently, teacher won't let me sing any
more. and I'm the fastest singer In
school. too"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-01-23

~ ASOLINE and lubricating oil come
X q from a mysterious source, and by
W the time these commodities reach
the consumer. particularly IL he pur-
chases from the small outlying dealer.
they have been juggled quite as much
as certain Kinds of food products. Even
scientists do not know whether the
base of oil and gasoline is vegetable
or mineral.
In the United States there are nearly
a dozen states widely separated from
which these 'crudes" are obtained-that
is to say, Pennsylvania. Ohio. Califor-
mia, Texas, Oklahoma, West Virginia.
Kentucky and Virginia. and few iso-
lated districts where minimum
amount of oil has been taken. Penn
| syIvania leads as to quantity, but West
Virginia is the only state which has
produced direct from the ground nat
ural lubricating oil. The oil taken
| from other parts Of the country must
generally be treated very deliberately
| in order to bring 1t to state Of refine
| ment where it can be used for fuel or
| fabrication.
| Gasoline is one of the frst products
taken from crude oil, and the higher
! the density the quicker it vaporizes.
Pennsylvania crude. as it is termed in
the trade, is considered of high quail
lity and possesses the ightest gravity
! AT a density OF 80 degrees refiners get
a very light naphtha. and the lower
the density goes the heavier the oil,
! until IT finally reaches the distiilates.
petroleum jellies. tars and paraftins In
order to produce large quantity at "a
\ density of about rs degrees. which Is
excellent for motors. refners start their
process at approximately 80 degrees
density.
| 1t is said to be almost impossible for
an owner to make private test OF the
lauaIity of his gasoline or oil. as ex-
pensive Instruments and testing para
lphernalia are necessary. Probably the
only simple test to determine the
lamount of carbon in the gasoline or oil
is to burn it in a pure white plate anc
note the amount OF SCOT lett on the
Isurface of that plate.
COMPARISONS can be made with kero'
sene and gasoline, and 1t will be found
THAT the Kerosene will leave great dea
OF carbon, which Ia one of the impor'
liant elements in creating lights. Case
Iline OF 10 degrees density VIII hot iedN'
much carbon. So far 1t is not known
that even the most INSCRIPTIONS deal
ers have attempted to adulterate gaso
lime There is nothing which will mi,
with IL except kerosene.
Gas is usually tested by professional
ANALYSIS by means of hydrometer,
glass instrument which must be handled
by experts. 1t is used to take GRANTEES
and the process is not safe one t.
carry on within a building Unless one
has had considerable experience. II tn,
test is made in the open air . falls,