davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1924-01-06
History on a String.

MOST persons are familiar VIII,
representatives of the heirc-
glyphics of the ancient Egyptians. e.
| means of the engraved marks found
on the monuments and other record
the old Egyptians could represent oh
ject ideas suggested by objects, and
even sounds This signifying Of
sounds by means~of symbols formed
nearly true alphabet
In Mexico the Aztecs had a crud,
system Of picture writing by which
sensible objects could be accurately
depicted, but beyond that it could no;
go, for it was incompetent to convey
abstract ideas.
Possibly the crudest invention Of
this sort was the mysterious science
Of the Quipus, which was taught til
Peruvian princes by their amautas.
or wise men" While both system
before mentioned seemed prinitfyo
this one Is even more so, and yet j.
served a purpose, and a very goo,.
one, too.
This Quipus was a string of rope
usually about two feet in Iengtl
composed OF many colored strings
twisted together. To this main core
were fastened numbers of strings 3
different colors tied into knots, thu
forming fringe. These knots CAV
the device its name, for the word
quipus signifies a knot" The color
represented sensible objects. For ex-
ample. white might stand for silver
and yellow for gold. Occasionally
they suggested ideas abstractIy-
white signified peace and red war
The chief use of the quipus was
for arithmetical purposes. The knots
took the place OF ciphers and could
be combined to represent numbers
to any amount desired. The colors
of the strings explained the sub
jects to which the numbers referred
and in this way the Peruyians de-
alton. The Spaniards testified to thu
rapidity with which the Peruvian
calculations were made.
It is easy to see how, with a corps
of trained officials, such a system
might be made to work effectually.
but 1t is difficult to understand how
historical events could be recorded
and traditions preserved. For this
purpose were employed Interpreters
Of the quipus, who with knowledge
acquired from other sources, could
use these strings as reminders or
suggestors by which events could be
kept in memory. These Interpreters
bore the title of quipucamayus. Or
keepers OF the quipus," and II was
their business to collect the records
of the various departments of the
government. One was at the head
of what corresponds to census bu
reau. keeping the details in refer
ence to the population of the land
and the list Of those qualified to bear
arms; another had charge of the rev
enues, and still another of the treas
ury. Thus the government kept
stored away myriads of many-col-
ored strings, which comprised what
might be called the national ar
chiyeS
Evening star., 1924-01-06

GO they went out to the golf club.
~ They got a little table on the
shady side OF the veranda, which they
had to themselves, and presently. to
vickers' CONSERVATION, he found him
self having a wonderfully good time.
They finished the last pretense at
lunch by 2 O'Clock, but there still
was plenty to talk about, SO she had
him light his pipe and they moved
over to another corner where. there
was little more breeze.
At 4 O'Clock, the arrival in force Of
a bridge-tea party drove them from
the clubhouse and down to the river.
where, in the shade of thicket of
willows, they found a rickety little
flat-bottomed skiff. Means of propul-
sion were totally lacking. but it was
dry inside and the thwarts were just
q comfortable conversational distance
apart. So they climbed in and went
on talking.
Two of three times, earlier in the
afternoon. he had given himself
terrible fright by saying something
to her that he had already written in
one of Warnings letters, but she had
seemed oddly unaware OF these slips,
and by now he no longer kept any
guard at all-said anything that oc-
CURED to him.
And then this happened.
She was saying something about
not liking presents on occount of an
element Of barter, when she inter-
rupted herself to say:
"Oh, but of course you know all
about that. 1 wrote it to you ever so
long ago. -
And vickers, with nod. said "Yes.
remember"
And then there were two stimuli
taneous gasps, and two red flags of
bushes, that burned brighter and
brighter in two frightened faces. And
for the whole OF a very long minute
they looked at each other, and he
pondered her "I wrote it to YOU"
and she his, "Yes, I remember"
Finally. when" he asked. when
did you know"
She lagAed uneasiIy. "Why. from
the very first, of course. The letter
about buying a typewriter. Any one
could see that he had never written
it,"
There was another silence. At last
he asked another question.
"You knew 1 was writing to you.
But how could you know that you
were writing to me-not to him? Be-
cause. you were writing me, weren't
you?"
Evening star., 1924-01-06
BY
HENRY KITCHELL WEBSTER

Her mothers been having a fit about
her coming here at ALL
Vickers stared, walked ratb.r nm
steadily to a chair and sat down.
Her mother" he echoed, vacuously.
Warfng Iounged back from his desk
and lighted a cigar. Somewhere in
the day he was entitled TO five nil,
| utes' fun.
| You two kids have been GETTING
pretty gay with the old folks, il seems
to me-" ne said
But Vickers didn't look CAV IN ~.
least, and the boss had mercy on hin,
1T seems" he went on, that when
your second letter came in, Suggest
Ing that she buy a typewriter. nv
wife spotted II as something too liter
airy for me. She showed it to our
daughter, Audrey. who's just out Of
college with nothing to do, so Audrey
took over the correspondence"
His eye rested on the big enveIope.
and he allowed himself time for a
grin.
I've been hearing from my wife
now and then lately" he went or.
and she's kept me posted She didn't
think 1t necessary to tell Audrev
about II, and / guess Audrey came
down here with the idea that she
could have a little fun with both Of
US and get away without getting
found out. Did she?"
But the boss grin showed that h.
didn't need an answer, SO, in stead cf
| trying to make one, Vickers went
over to his desk and began rumnac-
ing In one Of the drawers.
Pretty late to start work again.
| isn't ft?" Waring suggested.
I'm not going to work. said
vickers. I'm looking for some pap,
that folds over"
Better stick to the machine" SAID
the boss. shes used to that"
And the secretary took his advice
He didn't get an answer anything
that you could really call an answer.
anyway. But on Friday morning the
boss brought him a telegram and ask
ed him IL he had any idea what :.
meant. It said:
"If you'll both come home for over
Sunday"
That was all. But vickers thought
he understood it.
'T reckon you can make it, any
way" said Waring.
NO said his secretary f1rmly
Both or none"
"Oh, all right said the boss. Mai
1t So
Copyright, lec3.)
Evening star., 1924-01-06
BY Compressed Air.

NOWADAYS, in sinking caissons for
~ bridges over certain rivers it is
possible to make compressed air do
the work of shovels In removing the
sand, through a thick stratum OF
which, in some cases, the caisson is
forced down toward the bedrock deep
beneath The sand is sometimes so
pure and loose that the force of the
compressed air supplied for the work
men in the caisson suffices to drive
it up through biowpipes inserted in
the caisson for the purpose. Jets of
water are directed against the sand
around the bottom of the blowpipes,
and when thus dislodged the sand
readily passes up through the pipes
with the strong air currents that are
continually pouring into them from
the compressed atmosphere of the
caisson.
Evening star., 1924-01-06

ers got UP. took a steadyinE breath
or two, opened the door and went in.
"Oh-yes" Waring said. "Er-this
is Eickers, my dear. He'll look after
you-keep you amused somehow, till
after dinner. And 1 shan't be work
ing late tonight. Not after ten
She was coming toward Vickers to
shake hands. Somehow he managed
to get his feet in motion and meet
her halfway.
The brightness was still in her eace.
There was a sort of adventurous gay
ETY. about it. She hadn't found out
yet!
'TiI do my best" he stammered.
"but I'm afraid I'll be pretty poor
substitute"
'I don't know she said cheerfully.
81 suspect you're a pretty good one"
well, run along now" said War
ing. I'm busy
In daze, Vickers walked beside
, her, out of the office, across brick
paved court-where an idle automo-
bile might have suggested an idea to
him, but didn't-down the shabby,
weed grown street to the nearest
street car line. Here he stopped au-
tomatically.
She was laughing.
We're waiting for a car, aren't
weo' she asked. ''But when it comes,
where are we going on it?"
II don't know" he said, and then
blurted out. "Oh. you must think me
a perfectly dreadful fool, but-well.
I've had something on my mind
that"
She gave him an understanding nod.
part of the worry of this dreadful
business that's driving my-my hus-
band so. 1t was frightfully uncere-
monious of him to bundle me up
and hand me over to you this way.
I hope you didn't mind"
"N-no" said Vickers. II was rath-
er glad-That is to say, of course
not"
81 haven't had any lunch yet she
suggested. Have you?"
I'D forgotten there was such a
thing" he told her. more nearly at
ease than he had been yet. I'VE gen
orally send out for couple of sand
witches. Lunch is a good idea"
And will that car take us to it?''
she asked, nodding to one that was
coming along. It said Golf Club"
on It,
"Of course" he exclaimed. 1--WE
can get lunch out at the club. I've
never been out there, though I be-
long. But I've heard it's pretty good"
Evening star., 1924-01-06

Coming anyway. All the more.
Audrey"
What does she mean-ail the
more?' Waring wanted TO know.
Il suppose" said Vickers, she
means that the reasons I gave her
why she shouldn't come make her all
the more anxious to-"
Pretty good said Waring. II
never could understand her tele-
grams. Well, I suppose she won't
melt. Be sort of nice to have her
around. Only-you'll have to look
after her for me, son. I shan't have
time" ~
vickers mopped his brow.
Look here!" he said, so vehemently
that he made waring blink. There's
something I want you to do. You've
simply got to do it, that's all-before
she comes"
rBefore She Do you mean my
wife? What the dickens has she got
to do with ito Here, Where are you
going?"
Vickers walked to the private file,
opened it and came back with an
enormous manila envelope. This he
held out TO Waring.
'I want you to read this he said.
IT'S the letters she's been writing
you for the last two months. and
| and the carbons Of the letters you
have written to her-that is, that
have"
Automatically waring took the en-
velope.
Yes. sure I'll read it il you want
me to-" said Waring. Cant do II
now. though. I'm going up to the
| hotel for dinner. Coming back this
evening. Til be through with those
auditors by 10 o'clock. Read It then. y
= " X X
60 all vickers could do was to prop
up the big envelope against War
ing's inkstand, and hope for the best
But when he came in, next morning.
Warnings deprecatory guilty air con-
victed him.
worked with those fellows until
after one he said. "Didn't get those
letters read. TIL squeeze them in this
morning. some time, sure
But at half past twelve Vickers was
sitting alone in the office and the big
ienvelope was still propped against the
inkstand, when some one opened the
door behind him.
A woman's voice. with little ac-
cent OF surprise. said: "Oh!" and as he
rose and turned and faced her, went
on, isn't Mr.. Waring here? You're
Mr. Vickers, aren't your
He managed to say Yes" and that
Mr.. Waring was in the next room.
It'll get him for you" he added.
"Oh, no.. she said. ''TIl go right in.
Thanks Just as. much"
She crossed to the door his glance
/ had indicated before he could get
around from behind the desk to open
it for her. In less than quarter of
q minute he was alone again.
And she. was in there with the man
she thought she'd been writing those
wonderful letters of hers to-the man
she thought had been writing the let
ters she had been so pathetically
pleased with and eager about, to her
Well, she wasn't old at ALL Just a
girl, and with a brightness about her
that wasn't wholly in her eyes, that
seemed to shine, somehow, through
her face.
When the buzzer went off at his ell
bow, from the directors room, Vick-
Evening star., 1924-01-06

w AIRING frowned absently
n at his watch, took a turn
wv across his Office and finally
met the eve Of his Secre-
Evening star., 1924-01-06

TT was thoroughly dazed young
! man who caught the next car out
to the golf club. She had forgiven
him everything, even that kiss. The
fiutter of her handkerchief could
mean nothing less. But there was
Waring out at the club, waiting for
them. And waring had got to be
told.
Only Waring wasn't at the club,
and; what was more, he hadn't been
there. Perhaps he had read the let
ters after all. Perhaps even now he
was reading them., down at the Office
That was the next place to look
anyway. And 1t was there that Wick
ers found him.
"Oh-yes," Waring said. Yes
Hello. Sorry I couldn't get out tc
the club. What you done with
Audrey?"
"She-she went back to Chicago or
the Z o'clock express" said vickers
out of very dry throat.
waring didn't seem surprised
"Hmph:" he grunted. Good thins
Evening star., 1924-01-02
G. 0. P. OF DISTRICT
AFTER new MEMBERS
League of Republican Clubs Be-
gins Campaign Work for Ma
tional Election.
WOMEN ARE NOW ELIGIBLE
Two Are Vice Presidents of Local
Organization.

In line with its tentative program
of activities for the coming national
campaign the League of Republican
State Clubs of the District, has en-
tered upon an intensive membership
campaign. In public announcement
incident to this campaign and signed
by T. Lincoln Townsend, chairman of
the membership committee. attention
Is called to the fact that the league
was organized twenty years ago and
that during that long period it has
been instrumental in arousing the
voters living in the District to the
Importance of actively participating
in elections in their respective states.
The league underwent reorganiZa-
tion' during the past year Its new
constitution admits women as men,
bers, and already a number have
Joined. At its annual election three
weeks ago the following were elected
officers: Edgar c. Snyder president:
William j. Dow, Mrs. James Carroll
1'razer Thomas P. Littlepage and
Mrs. Harry Wardman. vice presi-
dent; Gus A. Schuldt, recording secre-
.ary; Miss Florence Fraser stiles,
corresponding secretary. and I. Lin
elm Townsend, treasurer.
Chairman Townsend's membership
announcement follows, in part: For
upward of twenty years the League
of Republican State Clubs has been
the militant republican organization
whose shoulders has fallen much>of
the work of arousing the republican
voters in the several states tempo
rarily resident here to the great i'm
Evening star., 1924-01-02
G. W. u. ALUMNI HONORED
New Year Reception Under Au-
spices of Columbian Women.

George Washington University alumni
and their friends attended the New
Year reception given yesterday after
noon by the Columbian Women Of the
university at the home Of Mrs. De Witt
c. Croissant.
Receiving were Mrs. Croissant and
Miss Elizabeth Wilson, president of the
Columbian Women, assisted by Mrs.
Howard l.. Hodgkins. Mrs. Charles w.
Richardson, Mrs. William H. Heron,
Mrs. Joshua Evans, jr., Mrs. Selden M.
Ely, Mrs. Henry Grattan Doyle. Miss
Elizabeth Peet Mrs. John Paul Ernest,
Mrs. Elmer Keyser. Mrs. w. C. Rue
diger. Mrs. Robert Bolwej. Miss Leonore
Murray, Mrs. Charles Erwin, Mrs T.
Malcolm Price, Miss Julia McCord, Miss
Ruth II. Bennett and Miss Elizabeth
Cullen.
Among the guests were the president
Of George Washington University, Dr.
William Mather Lewis, and Mrs. Lewis,
Dean William Allen Wilbur and Mrs.
Wilbur, Dean Howard L. Hodgkins, DIR.
Croissant. DIR. Charles W. Richardson,
{. X. Bergman and Mrs. Berry
man, Joshua Evans. jr.; Mr.. and Mrs.
Appleton P. Clark, Selden NJ. Ely, Prof.
Robert F. Griggs, Prof. Henry Grattan
Evening star., 1924-01-02
AID PENSION FUND.

Maj. Daniel Sullivan, superintendent
of police. has received a check for
$100 from A. G. Hermann, president
of Southeast Washington Citizens
Association, to be applied to the po-
licemen's and firemen's fund.
In his letter of transmittal he ex-
tended the compliments Of the season
to both the fire and police depart
ments. A similar holiday gift was
recently received from Brig. Gen.
John A Johnston, retired, former
District Commissioner.
Evening star., 1924-01-02

The Tariff Commission has called a
public hearing in this city February
IL In connection with it's investiga-
tion into the cost of production of
wheat and wheat products. The COM
mission is acting upon a request TO
increase the tariff rates on these
commodities
Evening star., 1924-01-02

portance of actively participating In
elections-both state and national.
1T has been a pioneer in urging
upon state legislatures and citizers
the very great need of absentee vot-
ers' laws, and through its intensive
more than half of the states
have some form of absentee voting,
with others on the way.
1T was among the first of the re-
publican organizations in the country
to make comprehensive compilation
of the election laws of the several
states, keeping advised at all times
of any changes made affecting the
electorate"
Evening star., 1924-01-02
CONVENTION rs CALLED.

The National League of Women
Voters last night issued formal call
for the fifth annual convention of the
organization, to meet in Buffalo April
"a. The convention will signal the
opening of an intensive nation wide
campaign ito get out the vote" for
the 1924 election. League officials eX-
pect every state to be represented.
Evening star., 1924-01-02

Doyle, Prof. Elmer Keyser, Dr. w. C.
Ruediger, Prof. Robert Bolwell, John
Paul Ernest, DIR. and Mrs. William E.
Chamberlin and Miss Dorothy Crois-
SAINT.
Evening star., 1924-01-02

"Well,' said the old gentleman.
bumped and jostled while trying to
make his way around the dancers,
this is really working ones massage
around the whirled"
Evening star., 1924-01-02
Remnants In1dId
LlnOIeum " price

Short pieces off, to 10 square
yards. Left from regular stock.
Several matching pieces may be
found in some patterns, perhaps
enough to cover a large room.
All pieces plainly marked, just
deduct Il from the ticket price.
Evening star., 1924-01-02
WOOl-Filled
Comforts, $7.45

Lovely Comforts, filled
with softest lambs wool and
covered with figured silko-
line, bordered with plain COL
ored sateen. A warm, light
weight comfort.
east AnneI-Seeond F1oor)
Evening star., 1924-02-15
FALLS CHURCH CHARTER
BILL ON SECOND READING
Measure in Virginia Assembly Ex-
pected to Be Passed by Sem
ate Tomorrow.
SPECIAL D!sratch TO The Star.

Special Dispatch TO The star.
RICHMOND. Va. February 15-Tfe
bill providing a revised charter for
the town of Falls Church, which has
passed the house of delegates, is now
on Its second reading in the senate
and may be reached today and en-
crossed, and if that is done il will
more. than likely be passed tomorrow
No opposition whatever has appear
ed to the measure.
Evening star., 1924-02-15
PERMITS DEMANDED
OF STOREKEEPERS
Hundreds in Rush to Obtain Docu.
ments Before Deadline Set for
Saturday.

Hundreds OF storekeepers through
out the District who have never taken
out occupancy permits to do business.
as required by the zoning law, have
been notified by the police to get
them imm ediately.
All merchants who were in busi-
ness prior to August 80. 1920, the date
on which the coming law became ef-
fective, will be given permits free.
Those who engaged In business after
hat date will be assessed SO for the
necessary slip OF paper.
1t Is estimated that the decision OF
the engineer department to insist
upon the taking out of these permits
will bring in $4,000 In revenue.
Policemen several days ago in
formed all the storekeepers on their
respective beats that they must have
the coming licenses by Saturday night.
This order resulted in a grand rush
of butchers, bakers and candlestick
makers" on the building Office.
The clerks in the building Office
have been swamped with applicants
since the order was issued and have
had to work overtime to keep up with
their work.
The purpose of requiring occupancy
permits under the coming law is to
give the building office a means OF
making sure that stores are not
established in a residential zone.
Evening star., 1924-02-15
j, D. c. ELECTIONS
FIGHT IS RENEWED
District Confederate Daugh-
ters' Element Will Insist on
Settlement of Dispute.

Decision to inform Mrs. Frank
Harold, president general of the
United daughters of the Confederacy,
; that she has not yet settled the con-
trovcrsy relative to the legality of
election OF officers in the District di-
vision was reached at meeting last
night in Confederate Memorial Home.
1872 Vermont avenue, attended by
those who claim the election of De-
cember illegal.
A letter from Mrs. Harold was
: read in which 1t was stated that the
, officers chosen should be considered
as holding de facto positions. The
assemblage decided that this was not
! the case, in the view Of those present
and the claim was made that this
, explanation does not settle the con-
troversy.>
Credentials Report Attacked.
The controversy grew out of cir
| cumstanceS surrounding the report
of the, credentials committee chair
man at the December meeting, and
! belief was expressed at the meeting
last night that Mrs. Harold was not
aware of all the facts.
| According to members present last
, night, the credentials COMMITTEES.
after having been authorized to In
vestigate alleged padded" member
ship of one of the local chapters, re-
turned, through the chairman. a
report that the votes cast were legal
despite the insinuation that only
tw enty-two of the forty-Seven listed
in this chapter We're bona fide
members. The insurgent element
contended that the report of the
credentials committee represented
the findings OF the committee chair
man only and that the other two
members desired to file an adverse
report.
The presiding officer at the Decem
ber meeting, however. it was charged,
received only the report of the chair
man and when she would not listen
to the report OF the other two men,
bers the members of number OF
chapters withdrew. Those remaining
elected officers. 1t is believed by the
insurgent element that Mrs. Harold
rendered her de facto" decision in
the belief that the report OF the
committee chairman represented the
views of the majority of the COM
mittee.
Mrs. Frank Morrison moved that
special delegate be sent TO interview
Mrs. Harold. but no action was
taken. Mrs. Harold, before render
ing her decision as to the status of
officers elected. had recommended
several methods for bringing the two
factions together, one of which was
approved by the insurgents.
Evening star., 1924-02-15
NEGRO KILLED BY AUTO
NEAR HIGHWAY BRIDGE
Driver Rushes Victim From Vir-
ginia to Emergency Hospital
and Reports to Police.

William Muse, colored, Of South
Washington, Va, was fatally injured
by the automobile of John r. Gorham
Baileys Cross Roads, Va, on the road
near, Vests brickyard, a short dis
tance south OF the Virginia end of
Highway bridge, today. He died be-
fore reaching Emergency Hospital
:. Gorham, employed as engineer at
the Army and Navy Club. was on his
way to his place of employment and
was passing the brick firms place
Of business wheH the colored pedes-
trian. suddenly appearing in front of
his machine, was struck and knock ed
down,
Tie man was placed in the automo-
bile, and Gorham did his best to get
him to the hospital in time to save
his life Death resulted from a frac-
ture of the skull. cerebral hemdr
rhage and shock. Gorham went to
the third pI ecinct police station and
reported the accident.