davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1926-10-30
RENT ROOMS-FURNISHED.
o. 4 s.E--so0th front. fine nome. one


7o4 8 s.E.-south front, fine nome. one
3I1s 18th ST. NW-Comfortable room in
modern home for gentleman. Col. 4444. 30s
93Q NJ N.W.-Nice large, bright room; next
to bath for young lady only; SIR. 30'
919 EYE ST. N.W.--Light housekeeping and
sleeping rooms; ami: rooms. So up. 81
143o CHAPLIN ST. NW-Laree and email
rooms. @lth spanish family; reasonable. 80
1l09 X ST. NV W-2nd floor room. twin
beds; modern improvements; adults 30'
APT. SOC. SHERMAN 18th and L NV
Nice room with another girl; vacant Noy: i.
12s s.E.-Ciean, warm. front room, sl5.
lI0I 18th NW--Rooms. double and single
modern house, hot-water heat reasonable
l1s c. ST s.E.-Furnshed room: board If
el0 9th ST. NE.-Tw0 nice large rooms for
light housekeeping. attractive: reasonable
1 bah: oh &c. Sfn@one heat room kl'cnene''e anu
1000. 1000 oh ST NE@Thssee M ss5 unfur3iTsed
sssr,1eni +ss 6 81 s46 Sw-ThFeer00m fnr3l,s'd s6!
hall bed:oom suitable for gentlemen. ---------
1es4 RIGGS PL, Nv mLarse front front room
electricity: walking distance
1904 LAMONT ST, Nw.-Large, single
4l4 End sT NW-2 rooms; Ink. central:
h.-w.h. Franklin 493s. b.
21e s ST. NE.-Bright front room in de
tached house: mod. conv.; reasonable. 81
ROOM and porch in private Jewish family;
reasonable rates. Phone North 1901.
234 10th ST. N.E.-Room for q with or
without board
o2I6 l4th ST. APT. 8--Large, cozy, warm
front room. on car line. Potomac 235.
1925 RANDOLPH ST. NV furnished
room near bath: free telephone. 81
se6 Z ST. NE.-Two furnished rooms for
Light housekeeping. 81.
ONE large room. ami: use. of kitchen;
desirable neiRhborhood. Call Lincoln 1909.
Iare: arc fdambia dumb a 5oss.J Jse --O-' lO0.-
500 KENYON ST Nw-Large furnished
room: one or two young men: reasonable:
sn. s'a. aS ASp rf9ae G2h sn FS@ne as
ami: elevator service. Adams s723.J: -
47l8 9th ST. Nw.-Comfortable room new
All K ST. ,Nw-Large room next bath:
for two or four men.
42o SEWARD So: s.E.EEAttractive front
1eam 1ta2 pS1as MEssTEE family ST Col
Sda / sT wFHrpshed .s3.ansRs rooms for Isht
III c NE large rooms. kitchenette:
sonable: adults in family. L.
1914 10th ST NW-An newly furnished
rooms: ami. 81,
9I3 MARYLAND AVE NE-One large
front room: fine location: reasonable.
1886 d ST. NE.-For a lady: bright room;
g. l., h-wh. i.
WEsTCHESTER, 18th and Q. Apt 81
Front room. adjoining bath: gentleman.
NEAR DUPONT C1RCLE---For 9. Sl5 each;
kitchen and laundry privileges. Pot. 5l32
1888 18th ST, N-w.--Front, hall room. semi
private bath. Sl5 per month. 30.
THOMAS CIRCLE. 1928 Vermont ave. Apt.
T4-WaIm. clean room: gentleman ~
NEW BERNE. Apt 73, 18th and Mass NV.
Large. attractive room; gentleman.
THE ALABAMA, Apt. 505-One large room,
next TO bath gentlemen. 81,
607 H NV rooms: Ink. 81
FOR MEN ONLY-A nice. large room in
downtown section, convenient to all Govern
ment Offices; 925 18th st. NV: rent only
S2b per month.
, PERCY H. RUSSELL COMPANY.
o26 18th st. NV.
Evening star., 1926-10-30

tIU 0th ST. y E.-Tw0 nice large rooms lof
lRht housekeeping. attractive; reasonable.
s14 9th NE.-One room, kitchenette and
oath: NV heat
Evening star., 1926-10-30

9th ST-Large front room. twin beds: also
single room: splendid meals; parlors. piano.
Private family North $50. l.
Evening star., 1926-10-30

ClN1AAN . AI hhA
An apartment especially desirable as
physicians Office. consisting Of reception
hall. waiting room, consulting ROOM bed
room. living or dining room. breakfast room
kitchen and two baths. access to the apart
ment In the front lobby. Splendid legation.
boulevard. Just above Scott Circle. Every
modern convenience. including electric re-
frigeration. soundproof floors and excellent
24-hour service. Very reasonable rental.
Apply manager at 1915 18th st.. or
DAVIDSON e. DAVIDSON
Rental Agents
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-08-15

and a journalist. All three of the
commissioners are college graduates.
The genial Mr.. Wales was born,
bred and launched into the activities
of an adult world in Vermont. At
Middlebury College he acquired the
Phi Beta Kappa key which bangles
on his watch chain.
For a few years before he came to
Washington he was the principal Of
a village school in Bristol. A stocky
man, Immediately dressed and dis
tinguished looking. Mr. Wales is the
movie type of the successful, I'M
worried business man. Everything
about him radiateS a splendid vital
ity. His hair is unusually silky, and
smoothly combed to his large head.
His face is rudy and smooth shaver,
his voice low, attractive, firmly
based.
The bottom runs of the ladder to
Mr.. Wales was a position as clerk
for the commission when Theodore
Roosevelt was the dominating Civil
Service Commissioner. Mr.. Wales
served as an examiner. law clerk.
chief of division, assistant chief eX
aminer and chief examiner on his
way up to his present position as
commissioner.
ANY motion picture director would
cast Mr.. Deming for the part of the
New Englander rather than Mr..
Wales. The representative of the
Great Northwest bears greater resem-
blance to Calvin Coolidge than does
the native born Nermonter on the
commission, retiring in appearance
and manner is slender, wiry and
dark, his hair touched with gray He
has the traditional Western warmth
Of manner, overlaid with fine reserve.
He looks the editor. a perfect listen
err, alert for important facts, patient
with detail and encouraging. Mr..
Deming had no connection with the
Civil Service until President Harding
picked him off the editorial staff Of
his own newspaper in his own State
of Wyoming, where he had already
become a conspicuous public figure.
Miss Dell smilingly claims she is
so, looks 49, and has the genuinely
joyous disposition Of 80. Sitting in
conference. a large woman beautiful
" and quietly dressed. blue twinkling
eyes, brown hair piled softly she
makes a gracious figure.
In the days when the suffrage
movement was gathering momentum.
but a gentlewoman who worked was
J still looked upon with raised eye
| brows. Miss Dell. the daughter of
an aristocratic Southern lawyer. was
studying law in her fathers Office,
with his full and approving consent,
because he believed. in advance Of
his time that a woman should be
able 10 earn her own living.
Upon her fathers sudden and I'M
timely death. Miss Dell came to Wash.
ington and entered the Government
service She was for many years
before her appointment to the com
mission an employe of the War De
partment Today. Miss Dell is still
interested in furthering her fathers
ideas in improving the independent
position Of women generally. and in
the Government employ INF particular.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-08-15

me to take part in the game. Only
in cases of the utmost urgency did
he begin to bark.
During my long sojourn in the
wilds of equatorial Africa, where at
any moment I might have to hold
my own against either some beast of
prey or some unfriendly native, | al
ways slept with q revolver. a hunting
knife and an electric torch under my
pillow. On this occasion / had them
all under my pillow as usual.
Somewhat startled, / raised myself
up in bed, turned on my electric torch
and let Grip out from under the mos
quito net. The dog stood beside the
bed, barking wildly with his head up
toward the ceiling. Turning the torch
in that direction, | saw an eXtraordi-
nary sight. The whole ceiling was in
movement-a wavy, sinuous kind of
movement. 1t seemed to be alive.
I was just about to jump out of
bed, when, to my horror. | saw the
head Of an enormous snake swing
down between me and the dog. The
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-08-15

coiled itself several times round his
body.
Without stopping to think. dartad
forward. trying to get past them 10
the bed In order to snatch my re-
vOlver. Unfortunately, however,
slipped. and fell right on top of them.
In the twinkling of an eye the snake
had coiled itself round me as well.
Now We were in a pickle. indeed FOR
both l and the dog were held fast. ]
yelled to the startled cook TO jump 10
the bed. get hold of the revolver and
put a bullet through the snakes head.
taking care not to miss it and hit GriT.
Luckily the cook had been a soldier In
the Niger Company's service, and had
learned how to handle such Weapons
He found the revolver and, placing the
muzZle near the python'S head. fired
and blew it to bits.
The great bruteS end came none 100
soon, for neither | nor Grip could have
endured that terrible embrace much
longer.
Next morning [ got my servants 20
drag the dead monster out on the sand
outside the hut. 1t was a boa con
strictor, the biggest | had ever seen
in Africa. 1t measured over so feet
in length and at the thickest part Of
it's body was IA inches round
1t had probably been caught un-
awares by the swift rising of the river,
for Mosum was now completely flood
ed and it had found a refuge in the
roof of the unoccupied hut. At night.
when it's habit was to go in search of
food it had caught sight of Grip, who
looked a deleCtable morsel with which
to fill it's empty stomach.
/ felt the effects of the squeezing |
received for several weeks afterward
and as for Grip, he really looked 10
me as though he had been heightened
several inches, But perhaps that was
| just my imagination.
tCOpyright 1890
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-08-15

INDER the 1cononzo Bridge. over
~ the Sumpaz River in Colombia,
South America, is a black gulf 300
feet deep. A few feet below the
bridge is a great bowlder, which can
be reached by going down the rocky
sides of the ravine, and from which
the river can be seen and heard as it
dashes against the rocks. This abyss
was explored some years ago.
Twelve strong men took their places
around an opening in the rocks over
the gulf They fastened stout leather
ropes to Jean Lopez. who was to
make the descent, and arranged an
other rope for photographic cor
respondence," by means of little pieces
of paper, in case Jeans voice could
not be heard.
They lowered him slowly, and soon
he stood on a ledge beneath the great
bowlder Thence he was lowered some
90 feet farther, and stopped again to
explore a cavern filled with owls. He
captured a bird, and took a nest with
some eggs. Thirty feet below, he ex-
plored another cavern, where the air
was black with birds.
The floor of this cavern projected
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-08-15
Civil Board Shows Interest in All of Uncle Sans Workers

be a lessening of efficiency and an in
crease Of red tape.
But we are not ahead of the private
employer after appointment" Mr..
Wales admitted. II don't know just
why" He nodded in agreement to
Miss Dell's observation that the COM
missions authorized supervising stops
after appointment.
The Civil Service law was passed
in an effort to check the spoils sys-
tenn. where every appointment, even
of clerk or a Waterman, was Il mat
ter of utmost importance. 1t was con-
cerned largely with the entrance into
the service.
"A follow-up system would be very
important for us, from one point or
view alone. to see how we'll the APP
pointee Is performing his work. so
that we might see how productive are
our tests. We get it now one way or
another, hit or miss. but there is no
system. 1t is our great weakness
the follow-up. Legislation would. be
required to extend our authority over
this matter.
1--WE ought to he employment ma ma
gers for the Government, but we are
not" continued Mr.. Wales. I'VE have
TO immediate control over the employe.
The commission sees only that ap-
pointments are made in accordance
with the law, and that employees are
promoted in accordance with the law.
Increases of salary within grade
are wholly out of our hands. That
lies with the department heads, gov
erned somewhat by law"
Questioned about a typical day at
commissioner desk, MIR. Demlng
smiled. I'VE commissioners are CON
ttnual1y writing notes to each other
We carry on a tremendous CORE
spondence, giving our personal views
on individual cases in the regular
routine. Papers are constantly filter
ing through from one commissioner s
office to another, concerning announce
ments of examinations, certifications,
reinstatementS of former employees
without examination, transfer cases.
penalties to be imposed for cases of
fraud and many legal questions.
In one conference" continued Mr..
Deming, amused, I'VE had hot de
bate over the appointment of char
woman in the Custom House Building.
1t involved a nice legal point, brought
| up by the fact that the temporary
employe there is an alien. No.
| smiled President Deming, "our deci-
| slons are not always unanimous. But
it's merely difference Of opinion
without any feeling
1T requires no formality to see the
commissioners. We receive and hear
any one. Inquiring competitors may
come in person. and do come, fire.
quently from long distances.
occasionally" added Mr. Wales
we have some presidential post
master examinations to read. Those
are the only ones handled by the com
| mission itself. They are wholly ex
perience and education tests We pich
out the highest three, and send the
names to the Postmaster General. He
selects one for nomination by the
President and confirmation by the
Senate" --A4 -
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-08-15

creatures head was as big as my two
hands clasped together. but when it
proceeded to open wide its jaws they
looked as though they could swallow
q young calf
Quickly 1 reached out for my re-
volver but at that moment the whole
ceiling seemed to fall. Down it came,
topping on to the mosquito net and
myself. the brass rods bending under
the impact like wire. The electric
torch was dashed out of my hand,
the foot of the bed gave way, and l
, found myself entangled in the mos
quito net and buried underneath a
cold. damp mass which | knew must
be the snake.
Grip now had stopped barking.
gathered from the confused sounds
that reached my ears that he was en-
gagged in d furious battle. In the
midst of my desperate attempts to get
my hands and feet free L could feel
the great serpent wriggling about on
top of me-
1t hit me repeatedly with its tail
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-08-15
IN THE NICK OF TIME.

into the gulf, and below that Jean
could not be seen from above. Now
began the dangers of his undertake
ing. He hung like spider on the
end of thread, and could be neither
seen nor heard from above, and the
telegraph line" had been broken.
At the next cavern he was attacked
by the owls. He defended himself
against their sharp beaks and claws
as best he could with his knife, and
shouted to the men at the ropes to
draw him up; but they continued to
lower him.
He went down until his feet touched
the water. He shouted and shouted,
but still the rope was let out, and the
water reached his waist. There was
only one thing to do-cut the rope
and swim out of the gulf, if he could,
at the risk of being dashed against
the rocks.
AS he raised his knife to cut the
rope he gave a last despairing cry.
1t was heard. and the men began
drawing up the ropes.
A few minutes later Jean stood on
the Icononzo bowlder. He had been
badly frightened. but was none the
worse for his adventure.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-08-15

Between conferences, the commits
SionerS, in the solitude of their sep
arate offices, reflect on the case papers
stacked for their perusal. There are
examination announcements to be
approved. certifications to be signed,
requests for transfer and reinstate-
ments to be considered.
From the Bureau Of Investigation
and Review. come papers bearing
evidence that one applicant has taken
10 years off her life in order to fit
into the prescribed age limit. An
other group of papers concerns a
case of fraud in the examination
itself
In a. third, a would.be Government
employee states he was born in New
Mexico, which does not agree with
the findings of the Investigation De-
partment to the effect that he is
native Of Italy.
One department head has sent in
a notice Of a vacancy under him,
stating to his employment agents the
qualifications he wants in the person
to f1ll 1t.
There are letters to and from mem
bers of the congressional Civil Service
committee about the extension of the
service and the classification of en-
ployes, or about the retirement act
and it's workings.
Inquiring competitors. visiting Con
gressmen. comforting department
heads break in on the commissioners
reflections They, too, are a part OF
the routine Of the day In conference
the commissioners compare notes, ar
que differences and settle policies at
fecting many thousands of workers in
one way or another.
THE positions we have to fill are
limited only by the scope of human
endeavor," declared Mr.. Wales. That
is literally true. There isn't anything
anybody does that the Government
does not also do.
This past year the commission con
Quoted 979 different examinations. In
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-08-15

Many years We're spent by Count
Mis- CornStedt in northern Nigeria
in explorations, in mapping the
tributaries Of the Niger River, and
in maintaining order in that Brit
ish colony. His inseparable com
paniOn during part of those years
was an English bull terrier, Grip,
with the bluest of canine blue blood
in his veins, a descendant OF
Champion Charlwood Victor Wild,
OF world wide fame.
Himself a prize winner in many
dog shows. Grip was taken to
Nigeria 6r his master. Sir Fred.
erick If1fard. when he went as
high commissioner of the colony.
There the dog, because of improper
handling. grew vicious and became
as much feared by the natives as
any wild animal. So, regarded as
a ne'er do-Well. Grip was given to
Count Cornstedt. who soon won his
friendship and lifelong devotion.
OF Grip. Count COrnstedt has
written elsewhere. White as snow
and without spot on him. he stood
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-08-15

| the Government service, as we'll as
outside, you will find laborers and APP
prentices, business executives and
chemists. doctors. lawyers, dentists,
nurses, editors, artists. social workers,
accountants. office boys. stenogra-
piers, skilled mechanics and foremen
| The number of large private bust
nesses." continued Mr.. Wales (which
are selecting employees on the same
basis as the Civil Service is increasing
every day. One large employers as
sociation, at an annual meeting,
stated that the Government was many
years ahead Of the private employer
| in the matter Of selecting employees.
| The essence of the Civil Service is
open competition. Through that. We
hope to secure the most efficient force.
| We have to preserve and protect 1t
every day, and see that it Is not re-
stricted. We must live up to it. In
order to do so, we have to set certain
| standards and we must stick TO them
Take the matter of an age limit of
railway postal clerks, for example.
! Taken by and large, we know that
man not exceeding 35 Is bound to be
better for the. position than a. man
over that age. That does not mean
that a man 80 years and IL months is
not just as good. But we have to stop
somewhere. If we let one man in over
the age limit we must let them all in,
| otherwise our open competition stops
The private employer is coming to
this, although he does not have to be
so strict.
II do not recognize that there, is
| any red tape in the Government pro
| cedure in any bad sense declared
Mr.. Wales emphatically. I'm Govern
ment work there cannot help being
more detail, what is called more or
less red tape"
THE reason is" said Miss Dell,
| from the other side of the desk.
that in private establishments heads
| are not responsible to anybody but
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-08-15

night flies. l had been carrying this
towel loose in my hand at first, but
/ had wound it about my wrist to
make sure of not dropping it, 1t now
prevented the panther from biting
through and breaking my arm. My
left hand was being squeezed between
the legs of my instrument and l
could not get it loose.
X X
THERE 1 lay. absolutely helpless,
with the beast on top of
me. l had my hunting knife and re-
volver in my belt, but there was no
getting at either. / strove to shift
my position, but the high grass was
too thick
Very soon the panther had got his
claws into one of my ShoulderS-the
pain was terrific. I had only a thin
shirt on. Now / could see the beast 5
green eyes fixed on me and cleaning
like live Goals, and in my nostrils
had his hot. blood saturated breath.
My right arm was so pressed against
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-08-15

themselves. No record or explanation
is necessary. In a Government de-
partment, you never know when the
least important, the smallest detail
will be raised to the height of i'm
portanCe by Congress. We have to
show a complete record for every act,
every dollar and every cent. It's the
completeness of detail that makes for
red tape. It's public money, the peo-
pies money, that we are dealing with.
We must show records for everything
The Civil Service is everybody's bust
ness.
It's an awfully good thing to re-
member" commented Mr.. Wales, with
President Deming and Miss Dell APP
proving, that when we are dealing
with the humblest servant we are his
servant. l can't understand the cocki-
ness Of some Government officials
Being the humblest servant to the
humbleSt servant, acting as employ
ment agent to engage as employees
the people who, in their taxpaying
ca pacity, contribute to the salaries
of both, the commission desires to
temper efficiency with justice. Great
care is taken in seeing that Civil
Service examinations are rated cor
rectly to a fraction of a point. Any
private employer would consider the
effort for such complete accuracy
wasted energy on the part of his or
ganization.
It's true" said Mr.. Wales. the
chances are that efficiency of the
competitors does not vary much
among those rated in the highest 10
per cent. AS far as the proper CON
duct of the Government business
goes, any one of these might be
chosen and considerable work cut
down. But it would not be just TO the
individual. Every qualified citizen has
as much right to a position as any
other. Who shall get that position is
to be decided in open competition.
It's principles we must preserve strict
~, even when it seems at a glance to
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-08-15

had opened wide it's horrible red
mouth.
Swiftly I shook loose the towel and
wound it round the panther's lower
jaw and held it fast. Now the fight
was at it's most desperate point. We
rolled right round. all three of us, but
neither Grip nor l let go, and 1t was
soon my turn to lie on top-in a sec
ond my knife was out and plunged
right up to it's shaft III the panther S
taWny breast.
The brute had still strength enough
in it for some nasty blows with its
paws. which drew a lot more blood
from me. but in a few seconds more
it's limbs spread out, its claws were
drawn in convulsively and 1t lay dead.
! then returned to the canoe and
attended to my wounds-Grip luckily
had come out Of it without a scratch!
Two of my men went up and brought
the panther'S body down to the boat.
Before they began to skin it l exam
ined it carefully and found that it
had had a bullet through it's back
bone high up. SO my shot had been
lucky one, but it was shot that
never should have been fired.
That night the pain from my Shout
der prevented me from sleeping much,
ana as lay awake I1luSeu upoll Tic
panther and his end. He also had
been in torture, and he had sought
to avenge himself, as he had every
right to do. When you come to think
of 1t, man is the worst of all beasts
of prey, for he kills mostly just for
his own amusement.
Grip at least was entitled to the
sleep of the just. He had not been
guilty of WantOn murder. He had
but saved his masters life.
During the wet season, which in
northern Nigeria begins toward the
end of April and lasts until the mid
die of October. the change in the as
pect Of the Niger Valley is very re-
markable.
The never ending sand banks, which
during the tropical Winter are the
resort of countless birds as we'll as