davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington times., 1919-08-17

A FASCINATION cings to the ode Medici, -
~ as to that of other family in history. 1t was,
therefore, a matter of worldwide human interest
when noted London firm year ago announced that
766 authentic letters and documents of the Medic family
were to be sold at auction.
Italy then became excited about the matter and the
Italian Government obtained order from the British
pospOnng the sale the ground that the letters
had been removed from Italy in violation of the law
regarding the sale of objects of national historical in
terest At the time it stated that the Italian
Government would prosecute crminally the Marquises
Cosimo and Averardo de Mediei members of younger
branch Of the famous family for secretly smuggling the
letters out of Italy.
After than year Of litigation the Italian Govern,
ment reservng few of the documents as of national
Importance has just allowed the sale to proceed in Lon
don 1t curious fact that Gordon Selfdge the we'll
known American merchant in London, purchased for
$1,000 the account books of the Medc the greatest
chants and bankers Of medieval times The letters
sold for a larger amount.
These letters reveal few Of the colossal crimes Of the
most magnificent but perhaps the most bloOdstaned Of
the Italian medieval families The authenticity of the
documents has been subsanated by the long controversy
which has centered about them the British law courts
For nearly three hundred years the Medici were the
central figures in unrvaed drama Of spendor luxury
The Washington times., 1919-08-17

ton or at least the form of One upon the Grand Duke
revealed it was said advanced disease of the liver the
consequences of his unwsdOm in the of cordas and
exirs With the connvance of the court physicians Fer
dnando put proclamation that the Grand Duke and
Grand Duchess-he compelled to use the title then
in speaking of Bianca-had died from attacks of
laria fever induced by the unhealthy atmosphere of
PoggiO CaianO."
Grand Duke COsilO de Medici Stays His Son
Garzia for Killing His Brother GiOUanni.
NOUNG Garza de Medci turned to his father pleading
ly and kneeling to him, grasped his legs imporing
pardon for his crime (llng his brother) for neither
father nor son doubted but that Giovanni dead
The Duchess Judging that COsimo actually intended to
say his son. and knowing how futess any effort of hers
would be to avert such terrible calamity fell upon her
knees and prayed aloud to Heaven to the poor young
boy and spare her own broken heart
Cosimo prayed most earnestly to God to ap
prove the Justice of his deed to pardon him for execu
ing the Divine wrath and for peace for the souls of his
young son. Then, bending toward the unconscious
Garzia he exclaimed 81 will have Cain in my family,
and at the moment he plunged his weapon into the
heart of his boy.
HOuO Cosirlo de Medici Killed His Daughter
and Flung His Cory Dagger at Her LOUer.
OWE we all know cares neither for locks nor bars,
l. and lovely young Maria de Medci was surely made
to love and to caress. She had many adOrers, whose
ardor was all the fierce by reason OF their inability
The Washington times., 1919-08-17

crime and intrigue They the patrons Of Michael
Angelo, Leonardo da Vne Benvenuto Cellini and Ra-
phael and also of Machiaveh and countless host Of
other of genius and talent They patronized assas
sins as well artists They made Florence what many
consider the most beautiful city in the world They were
originally chiefs Of the republic then dukes of Flor
enee, then grand dukes of Tuscany. They gave two
queens Franee-one Of them the terrible Catherine de
Mediei
History has accused the Mediei of many crimes Their
letters prove it. Compared to the Medie the Borgias
were but dabblers in crime Poisoning, assassination
many forms Of murder episodes in the life
OF this historic family. One of the letters offered for
sale practically confession that Lorenzno de Medic
one of the most villanous members of the family
sinated his cousin Duke Aessandro de Medc the head
Of the house
Six Of the letters are written by Lorenzo the Mag
nheent the patron of Michael Angelo, and the most
illnstrious member Of the family They are in his own
characteristic handwriting. he was the object Of
amazing assassination plot staged in the Cathedral Of
Florence which cost the life of his brother Gulano and
many others Lorenzos letters reveal his toruous Ma
chiavellian statecraft
Some OF the most conspicuous tragedies and crimes IN
the history Of the Mede upon which light is thrown by
these letters and documents pieuresquely
lied in the accompanying excerpts compiled from these
letters and the pages Of the old italian chrOnclers
The Washington times., 1919-08-17

a chased silver goblet, BE-
longing to tie Msdief. which
may have heid ths deadly
poiSons they served to thsir
friend" ," tbs composition Of
which Is nov = mystery
The Washington times., 1919-08-17

Queen Marie De Mediei,
daughter Of Duke Francssco
De Mediei, who married
King Henry ". Of France
and was banished for her
intEiguss. From ths painting
,by Franz P0urbus
The Washington times., 1919-08-17

his unhappy victim Again Lorenzno heaved at him with
his reeking weapon and fell away and lay breathing
heavily in fearsOme heap. Then LOrenzinO chucklng
with endish glee roared out See Mchaee my brother
the wretch is deadP'
Duke FerdinandO de Medici POisOns
His Brother and SisteT-ia-Lau1.
r HE Grand Duchess Blanca de Medici though only
partially conscious knew well that her brotherin.
law Ferdnando de Medei had poisoned her. and rallied
at him for his cruelty In derium she made passionate
appeals for francesca (her husband was pOisoned),
and wildly denounced her treacherouS brOtherin-aw.
Her cries resounded through the villa but they stirred
no feeling Of regret or compuneton In FerdinandO's
breast BE gloated, fend-ke over his victims
suffeFings It was not by chance he procured the
potent poison he had used. The empirie-medieoat N
Salerno had been well paid to furnish potion
that should by its slow but deadly action pro-
long the tortures Of the sufferers A less vim
dictive murderer would have secured his vic
TINS quick release, but during ten terrible
days Of sickness delirium and agony he
witnessed the inevitable progress Of his
vengeance.
Biancas illness followed precisely &
the course Of the Grand Dukes cher
husband) The fearful faces Of her
attendants and the noise of prep
Evening star., 1919-09-24
KING DRINKS LITTLE, BUT
MANY CLAIM PATRONAGE
List of Royal Warrant Holders Is
Striking Contrast to British
Rulers Abstemiousness

LONDON. September IA (Correspon-
dence of the Associated Press).-
Everybody knows that King George is
one of the most abstemious of men
with respect TO alcoholic beverages
Yet list of rolay warrant holders
published in the London Gazette, the
official organ of the government,
shows that eleven distillers of whisky
are entitled to call themselves pur-
veyors by appointment to the king.
Nineteen brewers. or dealers in beer
may claim the same distinction In re-
spect of wines. the kings official rec
ord is in most striking contrast to
his well merited reputation for alb
stemiousness. Something like fifty
wine producers and wine merchants
can boast of receiving his patronage
1t may be taken for granted that
King George never even samples most
of the brands of strong drink which
his name is used to advertise. There
is much that is mere make believe"
in the acts that are ascribed to king
Evening star., 1919-09-24

club service as where the soldier and
sailor boys overseas had a real home.
where there were no rules or regu-
lations. the boys being actuated on
honor to do as they pleased.
Miss Arnold had nephew in the
service who was killed at the battle
in the Belleau woods, and another
who died from influenza the day that
he had been scheduled to sail for the
front overseas.
During her brief stay in the city
Miss Arnold is being shown social
and other courtesies at Knights of
Columbus headquarters, where she
is meeting many of her friends among
the soldiers and sailors made in her
work overseas. One of the objects
that brought her back to America
was to locate one or more of the
comrades of her nephew who made
the supreme sacrifice for his country
IN the Belleau woods fight. and
through those comrades locate the
grave of her kinsman.
Evening star., 1919-09-24
TR0TSKY [|STSU. s.
FOR REDS COMBAT
Includes England. and Far
East in Outlying Program
Against Capitalism.
By the Associa ted Press.

BY the Associated Press.
STOCKHOLM. September 24.-Leon
Trotsky, the bolshevik minister OF
war and marine. speaking at Petro-
grad recently, gave a detailed pro-
gram of bolshevik military operations,
saying, among other things: 1T is
not in Finland or Esthonia that the
immense world combat against capi-
talism can be fought, but in America
and England and above all in the far
east"
Outlines Military Program.
The bolshevik armies, Trotsky con-
would continue their previous
methods of beating their enemies
Singly. Gen. Denikine'S turn would
come after Admiral kolchak had been
Poles would follow and after them the
Rumanians would be dealt with.
I'VE have proposed peace to all the
Baltic states, which are insignificant.
Trotsky said. "At the same time we
cannot tolerate the provocation of
Finland. which must guarantee the
cessation Of preparations for inter-
vention in Russia. in which case not
one red soldier will cross the frontier.
But if Finland wishes war it will be
necessary to begin against her
campaign of determination such as
hitherto has been unknown to his
tory"
Reds Reported as Taking Tomsk.
LONDON. September PA bolshe-
vik wireless message received today
from Moscow says that red troops
commanded by Gen. Lubkoff are re-
ported to have occupied Tomsk. 500
miles east of Omsk. the all-Russian
seat of government on the trans
siberian railway line.
The foregoing report, if confirmed,
would seem to indicate an insurgent
rising behind Gen. Kolchak's lines
which had resulted in the seizure Of
an important strategic point on the
transsiberian line in central west
-ern Siberia. While Tomsk is not on
the main railway line. it is at the
terminus of a short branch line eX-
tending northward from Taiga. and is
the principal strategic and trading
center of a vast region.
Evening star., 1919-09-24
MACHINISTS' REPORTS
SHOW UNIONS GROWTH
Progress of Those Connected With
Government Plants Depicted at
District Council Session.

The third days session of District
Council, No. A, International Associa-
tion of Machinists' today was taken
up in hearing reports of the dele
gates in attendance showing the
progress of the work of the local
unions stationed at and connected
with the navy yards. arsenals, am
munition plants and other activities
of the government where the MEM
bers of the International Association
of Machinists' organization are en-
ployed
General progress and expansion of
the unions were shown at all the
Evening star., 1919-09-24

total balance s7,551.47. To that sum
$4,000 is added in liberty loan bonds
Evening star., 1919-09-24
A. E. F. HEADQUARTERS
AUTHORIZED IN D. c.
Gen. Pershing Empowered to Con-
duct Temporary Office With
Staff of 105.

The Secretary of War has informed
Gen. Pershing that he is authorized
and directed to maintain temporarily
the headquarters of the A. E. F. in
Washington, with personnel Of thir-
teen regular officers and twelve
emergency officers, forty-five field
clerks and thirty-five soldiers. This
personnel will be entirely under his
command and subject to his orders.
This authority covers granting of
leaves and issuance of travel orders.
These instructions, it is stated, do not
contemplate that he shall exercise
court-martial jurisdiction.
The relations which have been main
tained between Gen. Pershing and the
War Department during his absence
in France will continue and the orders
he issues will be those usual and con-
s;stent with regulations and policies
as established by the War Depart
ment. The usual channel of commun1-
cation from the War Department,
through the adjutant general. to him
will remain in force.
Evening star., 1919-09-24

Miss Hannah H. Arnold. the first of
overseas workers who served with the
American expeditionary forces 20 arrive
at national headquarters of the Knights
OF Columbus in this city, is a guest at
the National Catholic War Council. COL
street, awaiting orders to return to
work with her organization, with
the American army of occupation in
Germany. on the Rhine. Miss Arnold
returned to America on personal mis-
sion and in an official capacity. Her
stay IN this country will be of short du-
ration. Miss Arnold is native of Lex
ington, Mass, but makes her home in
Boston.
She went with the Knights of Column
bus contingent that sailed from Port
land, Me, early in the war with Ger
many, going to France, being stationed
at Knights OF Columbus headquarters,
at 16 Place de La Madeleine. Paris. She
was known to thousands of the boys
as Mother Casey" Her work attract
ed attention of the officers of the serv
ice. When not engaged at headquarters
at night Mother Casey' devoted all of
her spare time to the care of the sick
and wounded soldiers and in giving
motherly advice and comfort to the SOL
dierS.
While in France she also was con-
nected with the activities of the Ma
tional Catholic War Council work,
with headquarters at the Etoile Serv-
ice Club, being associated with Mrs.
Millar, internationally known in that
service. Miss Arnold describes that
Evening star., 1919-09-24

government activities, with a growing
membership and influence of the or
ganization that has resulted in an
increased output of the various yards
and plants.
The annual report of the council
shows the expansion of the organiza-
tion for the past year by the addi-
ton Of eight lodges. making total
of thirty-one lodges, with member
ship in the District of 1928. The
total receipts from dues and other
sources were S34,T06.75, and disburse-
leaving balance of s4,416.1s. to
which is added funds that make the
Evening star., 1919-09-24
Working in Sec1usion.

Gen. Pershing and several members
of his staff are now in seclusion
somewhere in this vicinity" engaged
in the preparation of plans for the
reorganization of the Army and the
final report Of the operations of the
American expeditionary forces. Sec
retary Baker today said that he does
not know exactly where Gen. PERISH
ing is. but added that if it were found
necessary to communicate with him
he was confident way to do so could
be found through his intimates" still
in this city. Adjt. Gen. Harris un-
doubtedly has Gen. Pershing's address,
as required by Army regulations, but
he will not admit it. When he left
the city Saturday evening Gen. PERISH
ing said he probably would be away
for about two weeks.
Evening star., 1919-09-24
JAMES WATTS GARRETT
TO ADORN MEMORIAL
Quarters at Handsworth to Be Re.
moved to Building at Bir-
mingham.

LONDON, September Correspond
ence of the Associated Press).-The
garret in which the engineering ge-
MUS James Watt pursued his me-
chanical studies is to be removed in
tact if possible from its position on
the top of Heathfield Hall at Hands,
worth, where Watt spent his last
years, and re-erected in the central
memorial buildings to be opened in
Birmingham. where the recent Watt
centenary celebration was held.
When Watt died the garret was
i locked up and remained unopened for
about fifty years. and even now it is
| still in exactly the same condition as
when Watt worked in it.
| The piece of iron Watt was last en-
! gagged in turning lies on the lathe. The
ashes of his last fire. where Watt used
to do his own cooking. because of his
wife's objection to seeing her husba nd
Cooking like a blacksmith% are still
| in the crate; the last lump of coal is
! in the scuttle. The Dutch oven is in
| its place over the stove and the fry
ling pan in which he cooked his meal is
hanging on it's accustomed nail.
Evening star., 1919-09-24
PLANS AlRPLANE FLIGHT
FROM ROME TO TOXIC
Trip of Nearly 10000 Miles by
Six Machines Being
Arranged.

TURIN, September 10 Correspond
ence of the Associated Press|.-An
airplane fight from Rome to Tokyo is
being arranged in this city. The trip
will be undertaken by a whole squad
ron of the fast S. v. A. type. consist
ing of six machines. The details of
the trip are now being worked out
with the greatest care. Each machine
will carry a pilot and a mechanician.
Stops will be made at Saloniki,
Adalia, Bagdad, Delhi, ARA. Benares,
Rangoon. Bangkok, Kanoi, Canton,
kiao-kiao and then Tokyo. The dis
tance to be Travelled will aggregate
nearly 10000 miles. 1t is planned to
fly an average of between 500 and 900
miles a day.
Evening star., 1919-09-24
Voile Waists, CSC

Dainty plain and self-check-
ed white voile waists, in lace
trimmed and embroidered
styles. Also dotted Swiss
xroiSfS
Evening star., 1919-09-24

Sizes 6 to a, in full. long
coats. of cheviot. with beaver
fabric collar. Brown, green
,rl h,,rOrndv
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1919-11-02
.BRAz|L'S FINANCES
IN SERIOUS SHAPE
New President Says so Per
Cent of Revenue Goes for
Government Salaries

Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, September g..
President Epitacio Pessoa gave warn
ing in his first message to the Bra
lillian congress today that the govern
ment must practice economy if il is
to avoid financial difficulties. I'VE
are at this moment in position which
warns up of our DANGER" he said
Four-fifths of the nations revenues,
according to the president, now are
absorbed in paying the salaries and
expenses of what he characterized as
the '1nordinate and ever-increas.ng
but 20 per cent of revenues for the
purchase of materials, including
equipment of the army and navy.
The President pointed out that
twice since the beginning of the re-
public the country has been forced to
suspend payment on the public debt
and had been compeiied to issue bonds
secured by customs revenues to meet
excessive disbursements. These bonds
were held by foreigners and have not
been redeemed and the president stated
that instead of economfzing to pay off
these obligations Brazil had allowed
them to remain unpaid.
Criticism was made of the mourning
in the last five years of deficit of
250,000,000 and of the issue of loans
to meet it. This was described as a
step which aggravated the financial
situation. disturbed economic condi-
tions and forced into circulation an
unexpected amount OF paper money,
continually depreciating IN value"
Although the war reduced the GUS
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1919-11-02
NJ ADDOC K SPARK
PLAYERS IN DAWN
O. THE MOUNTAIN
Delightful Play of Love and
Interest, Romance and
Comedy This Week at
the Majestic

For the tenth week OF their sue
cessful stay at the theatre, Manager
Maddocks will offer the Maddocks-
Park players in a play new to Biz
mingham, Dewitt Newing's latest dra-
matte success. Dawn o the Noun
tains." story of the hills of Virginia
and of their people in four acts.
Dawn McNair is a girl of the hills,
beautiful but as uneul.ured as the
great trees that have been set down
by nature to be her only friends and
companions She knows that some
where beyond the last line OF purple
hills must lie different country, a
different life. Then comes youns
mining engineer in search of rev coal
fields He discovers them on the land
of her granddaddy, Buck McNair, leader
OF the family who are the s~ orn enc
mics of the Boltin s
friendship springs up betw cen girl
and man and as it develops into love
it brings about the hate Of Jud Nc
Nair, who, in his jealous anger and hate,
commits shooting that poems the long
sleeping feud between the McNairs and
the Boltins One incident follows an
osher shootings occur on both sides.
Dawn is buf:eted about by the waves
of Fate. but through It all she holds
steadfast and true s'li il the end
energies happy, triumphant
Mr. Newing, the author, has given
the stage a rare character in Dawn, y
a combination between June" in The
Trail of the Lonesome Pine and OF
the girl in Tess OF the storm Coun-
try but he has written play that
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1919-11-02
MANY FAVORITES
/. ON BILL FOR WEEK
At KEITA'S LYRIC
Programme Includes Big
Attractions, in Which
"Class" Predominates0"
Harmony Four Commit

Regular patrons to the Lyric will re-
member at least one act On the bill
opening tomorrow. which is Howard
and Fields, assisted by Oscar Lee, in
1.-THE Rag Time Dining Car" This is
blackface act and built 70 rlaughing
purposes only Howard and Fields are
comedians from the old school and
have supplied themselves with all new
material.
For singing and real harmony, too,
wenave the Harmony Four, which
comes direct from New York with
reputation yard long, and we trust
they will live up to this reputation in
Birmingham.
Difficult feats of juggling usually
accomplished by men are done with
ease and grace by Selma Braatz, who
rank. Miss braatz is a comely young
woman with steady nerve, keen eye
and unusual dexterity.
Two girls in perfect harmony is pos
sible when the young women in ques-
tion happen to be musicians, and Mar
Garet Haven and Suzanne France are
musicians, both vocally and instru-
mentally. They sing and they play,
and with the two accomplishments
contribute an exceedingly pleasant
quarter of an hour to vaudeville. The
Misses Haven and France have that
something that is a great deal more
important than mere ability. Ability
is a raw material the rendering is
finished product, and they are a sort
of refinery that turns the ore into
m etaL
Between feats Tuck and Claire Joke.
Their acrobatic innovation is conlbi-
nation of patter, gymnasts and contor-
ton. These men are contortionists,
athletes and comedians. The three
talents have been laced in a container
with showmanship and makes one of
the neatest little packages of the kind
that vaudeville has to offer.
he screen magazine will be shown in
conjunction with this classy programme
and should round out bill up to the
Keith fashion of variety.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1919-11-02
THIS GERMAN BARON
BEATS TAXGATHERER
Says His System Is to Spend All He
Has Before Tax Collector
Arrives

Berlin October S-A brand new way
has been found to beat the new Err
berger taxes and a German nobleman,
who served throughout the war as a
cavalry captain, is the one who has
made the discovery. 1t is very simple
you simply spend all your money be-
fore the taxes fall due.
The baron of ancient family, whom
the correspondent has known for years,
telling of his plan, seemed not to care
who heard him, for he spoke in loud
voice. He was Immediately clad in a
new suit that probably cost 1000 marks,
and wore new pair of shoes that Ber-
Inns most famous bootmater would
make for 500 marks.
That suit is just about the finest
thing that can be bought or made in
Germany" said the baron. And what
is more, I have several of them. All
brandy -spandy new. 1 have suits to
keep me for the next five years.
See those shoes? Well, / had them
made and nine more pairs. 1 never had
so many shoes in my life, but I've got
enough now to last some time. And
everything else in accordance. New
shirts, socks, underwear, the best
money can buy. 1 haven't spared a
mark, because 1 am going to get rid
or all possess betore the lSt OF Janu-
airy, when L have to make my tax
declaration
The baron then continued to tell of
having gone from Berlin to Cologne,
from Cologne to Frankfort from there
to another city, and finally back to
Berlin to avoid the tax collector The
agent had caught the baron finally in
Berlin, had served him with the legal
papers making it necessary to make a
tax declaration within three months. So
the baron began to see whether he
could use his fortune UP before that
time.
He declared that he had served
through the war and had given up his
comfort, many marks for uniforms,
and had had in general wretched four
or five years. He had no intention, he
said, of making further sacrifices He
was going to be broke" by January