davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-07-29
The German Line.

1t is futile to talk of any military
line being "impregnable." Certain re-
ports have been published recently to
the effect that officers of the army re-
turning from abroad have stated that
the German front in France cannot be
have made such statements, but in any
case they probably did not say that the
lines were impregnable. The battles at
Verdun. the Somme, the Aisne and
Ypres all prove that the strongest line
can be broken in the sense of modern
military conditions. Germany has con-
fessed that her line can be broken by
the great withdrawal of last winter,
when Won Hindenburg drew his troops
back many miles to prevent a renewal
of attacks that would almost certainly
cause rupture in the line of defenses.
Breaking" line does not mean the
forming of breach through which the
assaulting forces can pour in great num-
bers to encompass the fanking of the
enemy. In modern warfare there is no
such thing as an absolute puncture. For
the cline" does not consist of single
trench or even a single series of trench
es, but is network of veritable fortress
es constructed on new principles from
the earth itself. The German cline" is
probably at the thinnest point at pres
ent on the western front no less than
two or three miles deep, and a rupture
at such a point as that would simply
carry the assaulting troops into a po-
sition of great danger, for they would
be in salient fianked by German po-
sitions. 1t is possible, however, that so
deep dent might be made, by series
of actions over relatively wide front,
as to throw the defensive organization
into confusion, but short of a rout,
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-07-29
The Wrecked German Ships.

When diplomatic relations between
the United States and Germany were
severed and war became imminent the
crews of the German merchantmen in
termed in American ports wrecked the
ships in many instances in order to de-
stroy their usefulness to this govern
ment in case of break of war. There
was great indignation in this country,
although it was recognized that in
wrecking the ships the officers and crews
were entirely within their rights, assum-
ing that they had acted under orders
from their owners or their government.
As soon as war was declared the United
States formally took possession of these
vessels and set to work to repair them.
Some of them had been very seriously
damaged, some had been only slightly
injured, and the latter were soon put
to service. 1t is now announced that
the Vaterland, one of the largest of
the German liners, has been put in COM
mission after repairs that have cost
slightly less than one million dollars.
She will be used probably as transport.
and it is estimated that she will carry
about 10000 men. This large merchant
fleet, however great the damage done to
it or the cost to repair that damage, was
a windfall. The Berlin government did
not act with particular shrewdness. Had
it correctly Judged the American dis
position it might have known that the
procurement of a ruthless submarine
warfare would, under the terms of the
American note of May, 1916, in the Sus.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-07-29
"The Last Horse Car"

Every little while for some years past
it has been announced that the "last
horse car" in New York had made it's
final run, and thus attention has been
brought to the fact that the big city
has retained the old style of conveyance
throughout the days of real rapid tran
sit. But regularly this announcement
has been disproved. Now it is again
stated that "the last horse car" has
gone, and this time it is positively as
sured that this is the actual final APP
pearance of the "last horse car" Call
ers in New York have little chance to
verify the truth of this ultimate end of
the horse car service, for these cars
have been maintained in the downtown
section, where tourists and business WIS.,
itors seldom go, far away from the
glitter of the Broadway lights and from
the financial district. Though most of
these car lines have been operated on
the horse basis simply to hold fran
chlses, in some cases the horse traction
has been continued as an actual
economy. People really did ride in
these cars as they went jogging along
through the truck-infested streets. Per-
haps in truth the "last horse car" has
disappeared from New York. There
should be public celebration there for
the day of final emancipation from
system that is regarded as obsolete by
even the smallest American towns.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-07-29
DENMAN AND COCKTAILS.

From the New York World.
Public opinion will unreservedly ap-
prove President Wilson's action in the
shtpbutlding controversy, which had
reached the proportions OF a national
scandal and become an obstacle to the
winning of the war.
From the Philadelphia Press.
unfortunately the shipping board has
Jurisdiction over the feet. and Goethals
the expert was checked and frustrated
from the first by the civilian lawyer.
From the Philadelphia Ledger.
Much as the American people will re-
gret the separation of Gen. Goethals
from the task Of replacing the toll of
ships taken by the German submarines.
that regret will be softened materially
by their entire satisfaction at the re-
moval of Mr.. Denman.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-07-29
CALL TO THE cotoRs.

From the Springfield Republican.
1t was the most impressive lottery ever
staged in the United States. of which the
winners were honored by tho privilege of
serving their country. as Secretary Baker
put 1t.
From the Boston Transcript.
Tho Stacker bemoans the fact that in the
draft there 10 a reversal Of the old pyovorb
that the first shall be last and the last
shall be first
From the St. Louis Globe Democrat.
But there will be no resistance, except
In isolated cases. Philosophy, pride and
patriotism will come to the relief Of the
reluctant soldier. In time he sHiil be As
France.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-07-29

From the New York Times.
The President has ended in the best
way the quarrel that has delayed the
building Of ships for war service
There was no other way: doubtless 1t
is way that should have been ADOPT
ed weeks ago.
From the New York Tribune.
Gen. Cocktails reputation is dimmed
and his great abilities are sacrificed
in order to cover the humiliation OF
one of the administrators most inef-
ficient political appointees.
From the Chicago Tribune.
1t is better now to look to the future
and not to the past. The substitution
for Gen. Goethals, If any substitution
was to be. of our leading naval con-
structor. Admiral Caps. cannot but be
welcomed.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-07-29

From the Chicago Tribune.
For thousands and thousands of men
tho uncertainty as to whether they would
be asked to serve has been more disturb
ing than tho possibility that they would
be drafted.
From the Chicago Journal.
America took the draft quietly. as she
took the registration quietly. There was
deep Interest. Of course. but no hysteria.
From the Chicago News.
Make room for the national army.
From the Columbus Ohio state Journal.
II any man gets exempted from the draft
by, reason Of conscientious scruples II will
make the whole country mad. Such OK
cmptions viii tend to make a virtue out
OF stacking.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-07-29

There il nothing funnier than little
Weber and Fields derby hat now 10
there? A little fiat, fried egg head
piece. light Of draft. suggesting moth.
ing on earth except itself. It adds the
most inconGruous touch to any one who
wears IT. As serious-minded 4 man as
ever breathed invented the original
derby hat, but a genius Of humor and
travesty is he who nrst laid tho keel
OF the little nat thing which has since
become the sine qua non Of tho Dutch
comedian. Tho derby hat rhymes with
nothing. There is no architectural rea
son for It's queer combination Of aus
tere curves and somber color. It makes
mild-visa8ed man look like hard
sned criminal: and when baby puts
Whole family shrieks with Laughter
and parallels tho occurrence to some
thing written by Mark Twain.
II the derby hat three inches tall
should be 80 psychologically imposst-
tall be 50 thoroughly ludicrous? Who
knows?
Now with this introduction. let US
listen to the tale Of a cargo Of little
derbies shipped via the Panama canal
to the San Bias Indians. those wild
head -huntin9 aborisinais who have
changed neither shirts nor caste since
the days when Capt. Kidd sailed the
Spanish main and Morgan dyed the
seas with the blood Of the crews Of
the Spaniards from the waves. The San
Bias boys have many odd customs. ana
one Of them Is to remain aloof from
the rest Of the world to 20 great an
extent that no stranger Is aiiowe eon WIN,
stranger. that is. except man named
Wilcox. And Wilcox won his way to
these horrible head hunters, not with
gold and pearls OF price 49,. Nay y. nay AZ:
Those treasures ne to took he ron gain nne their
love and affection and become a man
much sought because he introduced 10
them the Weber and Fields derby
size six and one-haf.
This Wilcox worked IN the fanam !.
Canal Zone, a government empioye nc
became AFFLICTED with the trading ma
MIA, and saw great possibilities OF get
ting gold and other precious thtnes
from the San Bias Indians II he coulo
but f,nd something they wanted; 50
he sat himself down and figured It all
out, and after eliminating everything
else he staked his pile on q sn1ptoaa
Of those comic Dutch derbies, ana All
were size six and half They were
case; enough derbies to make laughs In
all tho ten-cent vaudeville houses IN
the world. The laugh market was cor
nered then and there.
when the Indians saw them they
emptied their treasure houses upon
wilcox. They gave him everything
from dried enemies heads to large
chunks of regular gold. which was
more than welcome. They made him
rich and bade him go back where he
started from and get more derbies. so
that all of the 10000 San Bias savaees
could gaze upon one another dressed in
nothing at all but those queer-lookins
Kettles.
I told this tale to an old-time actor.
He listened attentively and without a
suspicion Of laugh. When had con-
cluded, he said. solemnly:
We'll, well. You know, i have miss
ed seeing those hats on the stage. I
knew some one must have gone of with
them"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-07-29
THE WHITE ELEPHANT.

The blooming old King Of Siam
Is joining the martialist jam;
He swings up q massey dst:
swears loud I'm no pacinst";
And adds: I'm hero. I am.'
And, II you can smell faint
Aroma Of Elephant.
His white steed Ia to blame.
Though It's part Of the game.
And no reader will call It irrelevant.
The king very quickly determines
To grab all the ships OF the Germans;
feuton foes he. fnternR
As al weakness he spurns;
And priests cheer his acts In their sermons.
Now, hurrah for the King of siam!
The new ally Of old Uncle Sam;
dignihed Buddhist.
His faith In the erudest;,
But that doesn't prove he's q sham.
j. A., IN Brooklyn Eagle.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-07-29

An Indian. full blooded enough to
have stepped out of the Catlin coilec-
ton, went shopping the other day
which shows what civilization will do.
An eagle. fea ther in his sombrero took
the cuss of his job-lot suit and another
concession to tribal custom expressed
itself In slippers that tried to look like
mecca sins and failed.
At one store he paused to consider
a glass case set out seductively on the
bricks, In the. case was a wax-faced
lady bust, crowned with woman's glory.
per puffs Of sausagy auburn, ana
wooden head with no face at all was
comparatively supplied with wig OF
wigs, with neither heads nor faces;
frizzes, fronts. spit-locks as natural
as life and twice as reliable. trans
formations for ladies as needs 'em. and
many long switches Of every colored
hair.
The Indian looked and looked and
bought switch Of long black hair:
And while he was about 1t. two
women, who seemingly had nothing
better to do than trail the red brother,
discussed his state Of mind:
IT bet that hair makes him think Of
the time he used to scalp us
Imagination Of yours. Name. Can't you
see he's civilized? Didn't he picker
white waist when he mighter boughter
red one, and gold chain insteader
beads? 1 bet his wife told him not to
dast come home without bringin' her
that switch-and can't you see he's
wearin' everyday clothes, the same as
other men?"
Il see all that as plain as you do.
You can tell he's got bows and arrows
and warwhoops and things inside him.
or he wouldn't have that feather stuck
in his hat-like that
ions between them the Indian crammed
the switch in the pocket that didn't
hold the waist and shuffied on.
He was an Indian. all right. and his
name may have been Lo: but he wasn't
poor In accordance with poetical copy.
And by the time he gets back to the
reservation-or. the Catlin gallery. over
there at the fnuseum-he probably
won't have an untutored mind.
A lady from Cherrydale went shop
ping in the rain. 1t was coming down
daffodils. or plain cats and dogs. which
ever you prefer, when she left the car
at the Avenue and 7th street. but
praise be-gallantry outlivcs Sir Wal
ter.
The policeman on duty took off his
raincoat and offered her its shelter,
which she gratefully accepted
It was a kindly act. but 1t had it's
dramatic drawback. for as the iady's
hand came In contact with the inside
Of a pocket she touched something cold
and hard-and-
There was a nervous ejaculation.
quick shuttle out of the loaded coat and
a chuckle from the gallant man In blue.
Also, from the lady from Cherry
dale.
Which was real brave in her, don't
you know. considering she wasn't used
to carrying concealed weapons.
You don't see a yoke of steers. every
day in this town-which accounted for
the crowd.
They were big. red steers. with brass
knobbed horns. and they plodded along
with such arrogant sentences that the
vood carried nv the man on the aide
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-07-29
Floating the Ark.

"Dar is sumpin' l don't un'stan' bout
Noah an de flood" remarked Mr.. Eras-
tus Pinkley.
whats that"
"Where did all dat water come FUN
aim KEEP no strict account. But it do
seem to me it's been rainin' at least
forty days right here an de water aim
'nuf to push de river over de bank"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-07-29
The Unterrified Lady.

at has been decided" said the Pill
grim Father, severely, "to take you down
to the river and tie you up to the duck
ing stool"
al don't care,' replied the scold. al
have a perfect dream of bathing suit"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-07-29

Odd you have any luck fshing?"
"Well, 1 didn't catch any fish. But
l made ths same piece of bait last re-
markedly long time"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-07-29
CULVER.

CULVER.
Old Mr.. CULVER once had funny time
He met peculiar people in most Pc
culiar cline.
The Lilliputians tied him as he lay in
slumber deep:
They never could have done IL If he
hadn't been asleep.
Old Mr.. CULVER. when he began to
wake,
Was very much astonished as he gave
himself a shake.
1t cost him some annoyance to untan-
gle all the threads,
And put a little caution into Lilliputian
heads.
Old Mr.. CULVER was like your Uncle
Sam.
A lot Of little fellows thought they had
him In jam.
But when his eyes were open to the
mischief they had done,
He simply stretched his muscles and
he had them on the run.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-07-29

Educational opportunities have been
denied to large percentage of the Rus
sian population. Some branches of our
great chautauquas might do great serv-
ice by carrying into eastern Europe in
structions in the principles of democ-
racy.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-07-29
SHOOTING STARS.
BY PHILANDER JOHNSON.
Narrowing Attention.

"You don't seem to care for speech
making"
"Not any more,' answered Senator
Sorghum. at happens too frequently
now that the man who is making a
speech is the only person really inter
ested in it,"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-07-29
HEARD AND SEEN.

a. . board and Q mighty good scidisn
but he would wear that monocle-
60 the Canadians took to wearing
Eyes. II vas s = horse" on he ~ os sns,r
and he knew II, and At tho same time
did not deign to notice II.
But one day when the battalion vas
drawn up in line the ofheer was almost
formation every solitary mothers son
Of 'em was wearing In his right eye
tho round metal tag giving each mans
name and address. etc, in case Of
injury.
That was too much. He determined
to get even with them. So pluckine
his monocle from his own eye he
nipped It spinning in the air for tan
feet and caught II squarsly and fairly
in the opposite eye. where It remainsd
as II 1t had grown there.
Then he looked at his command. and
said: There. you blooming Kanueks.
Let's sec you do that"
&x
Ever since they placed those four
large buffaioes on the @ Street bridge
there has been 4 question regarding
Just what kind OF animals they are.
Some say their faces are too long.
Some say their amiable ana rather
dull countenances bespeak the Siberian
goshawk rather than the Wild and un-
tamable bull buffalo that made Col
Cody wealthy. There has been 4 ru-
NOR to put 1t mildly - that these
were non-union buffalo. However. II
appears that in reality they are sad
die buffalo. and this discovery was
made by q man who Is today ruefully
recovering from the effects Of 4 ter
rtble ride across the dusty plains Of
the Q Street bridge in company with
John Barleycorn. whom we arc about
to lose from our midst.
A policeman sauntering along toward
the bridge one night last week was
attracted by man who was squirting
one Of the buffaios. The man was full
astride his mount and going like the
wind-at least he thought 10. He was
plying phantom whip like mad and
making noise enough for q Cheyenne
roundup. The policeman said some
thing to the rider. who, in turn. Whis-
pered something else In the buffalo's
ear and away he went again.
Then the bluecoat climbed up the
stern Of the buffalo. and as he did so
the man slid on and made for another
Of the four beasts. Tho policeman
caught him and began reasoning with
him. and came to tho conclusion that
tho proper mount fer the rider would
be q cot in an inebriate ward-and It
turned out the policeman was right.
There is an old Virginia story now
being revived solely and simply be-
cause 1t reminds every one Of the case
Of former Chairman Denman OF the
shipping board.
1t is the story Of an old-time darby
preacher. who wore a grand-looking
frock coat and a majestic silk hat He
wore It In the morning and in the aft
ernoon and at night. and was very
proud Of his ONCE as preacher and OF
the habiliments of his calling.
One day he appeared, stripped OF his
grandeur. and his melancholy. woe-be.
gone look told a tale OF sorrow. Some
one asked him why he did not wear his
silk hat and frock coat. and why 1t was
he looked so sorrowful.
"Ah ain 'preachin' no mo-" he an
swered, g1oomily.
And why?"
He looked sadder than ever az he re-
piled:
"Kase NAH congregation done sent
me NAH resignation"
EARL GOODWIN.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-07-29
Summer Travel.

A man once took a holiday.
He worked like mad to get away;
And then was kept upon the rack
In terror of the journey back.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-07-29

One of the saddest specimens in po-
litical zoology is the congressman trying
to hold himself in line with the pro-
German element of his constituency.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-07-29

The old ecclesiastical prejudice against
science finds its first shadow of justi-
fcation in the murderous uses to which
the Prussians have put their labora-
tories.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-07-29

Summer is usually referred to as "the
silly season." This years summer has
been one of the most serious seasons in
history.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-07-29

An exempted alien should not be
turned loose without some earnest re-
minders of the desirability of becoming
naturalized.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-07-29

Nicholas Romanoff asks no more Just
now than permission to stand around
in his overalls and discuss the crop
prospects.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-07-29

Any one not yet fully aware of the
seriousness of the war situation con-
tradicts the American claim to alertness
of perception.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-07-29

incidentally 1917 has produced sum
mer that does not find the farmer agi-
tated by fears of drought.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-07-29

The anthrax bacillus is at a disad-
vantage. Great as its services to the
kaiser may be, it is too small to wear
the iron cross.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-07-29

Food scarcities do not prevent the
kaiser from seeking the fruits of the
sword instead of the products of the
plowshare.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-07-29

Villa has definitely decided to give up
funerals and stick to fighting.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-07-29
FROM A SNOB.

II could tolerate .
The vulgar bourseoisie,
Nasal. illiteEate-
II could tolerate
The mauvais gout bate. :
How happy ] should be-
II could tolerate
The vulgar bourgeoisie!
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-07-29

One of the paradoxes of the day is
the pacifist playing into the hands of
the war lord.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-07-29

Shipbuilding will now go ahead and
bring the fighting to the ocean instead
of combining it to the office buildings.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-07-29

By restoring the death penalty Rus
sian authority may prevent the Prus-
slams from infiicting it by wholesale.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-07-29

Anybody who mentions million dol
lars now in terms of respectful admira-
ton is considered piker.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-07-29

New York has gotten rid of its last
horse car. The old town keeps moving.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-07-29
Botanic Garden
improvements.

connection The Star says:
"A magical change has been wrought
in these grounds since Mr.. Smith en-
tered upon their superintendent some
fifteen years ago. The shedlike apol-
ogies for greenhouses were then To-
Gated in a miserable swamp. At least
100, 900 cart loads of material have been
hauled in since then and the ground Is
not yet up to the necessary grade to
secure drainage. When the grounds are
fully improved upon. the intelligent
plans of Mr.. Smith the Botanic Garden
will be a subject for national pride. He
aims so far as possible to make 1t serve
as an educational establishment for the
made the first attempt at establishing
an arboretum yet undertaken in this
country The collection Of native trees
is already very fine. There are twenty
two species of oaks to be seen there
for instance; and some years ago we
remember when the list of trees indigo
nous to the state of Ohio was presented
to Congress in connection with the con-
struction of an arsenal there every one
of the trees named In the list was to
be found at the Botanic Garden. When
the arching of the riber and other I'M
proyements In progress and in contem-
plation shall have been completed OPP
portunity will be afforded to make this
Collection of native trees yet more sat
isfactory. Mr.. Smith has set a good
example in causing large. conspicuous
labels to be placed upon tho trees and
upon all the plants that are Of any i'm
nortance in the greenhouses. BY this
aid the visitor Is enabled to get
vastly more intelligent idea Of what he
sees"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-07-29

An English officer was placed on duty
with Canadian battalion and the boys
had a lot of fun with the officer be-
cause Of his monocie. He was tough