davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-02-13
BY STEPHEN LEACOCK.

" HE Earth, or Globe on which
we collect stamps is organized
by the International Postal
Il Union, which divides it up into
countries. The Postal Union
turns on its axis every "a hours, thus
creating day and night
The principal countries of the
world are Cochin-China the Gilbert
Islands, Somali Land. the Gaboon,
the Cameroons. Nankipu, Johore and
Wango-Wango. Alongside these great
stamp areas are others of less impor-
lance. whose stamps are seldom if
ever worth more than four cents, such
as the United States, Great Britain,
Canada, France, etc.
Some of these countries, however,
are of Importance as exercising a
control over the stamps of places of
the first rank. Thus, England comes
into prominence as having been recog-
niZed by the Postal Union as con-
trolling Sarawak, Uganda Inhambane
Irag and other great centers. Sim
fairly, the Philippine Islands, after
centuries of misgovernment, were
transferred by the Postal Union TO the
United States and Portugal. OF no
account in themselves, they are
known, all over the world. as issuing
the stamps of Lorenzo Marques.
The Stamp Book can teach us,
among other things, the reason and
srigin of government and how it
comes into being. Whenever a part
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-02-13
STAMPALBUM WORLD Through Opcso JuveneC oeco

catches a glimpse of the coast of
Dutch Guiana, which issues a half
golden orange stamp of great beauty.
Striking eastward across the Allan
tic, he sees Teneriffe from the ocean
with a 2-cent Spanish issue) and near
it Funchal, whose stamps, issued in
1892, carry a picture of the King of
, Portugal.
His journey now carries him south
ward past the Gold Coast, Ascension.
Dahomey, Angola. Anjouan. Whango-
Wahnga and other great world cen
tiers.
Rounding Africa, he catches sight of
Madagascar Republique Franchise, 10
centimes), Diego Suarez Djibouti, and
some of the principal places in the
! world.
AS he crosses the Indian Ocean he
finds himself, to his renewed enchant-
ment. in the land of Oriental wealth h,
the Indies. Here he disembarks on
the soil of India and visits the great
centers of Bhopal. Bussahir, Chamba,
Charkari, Nowanuggar and Jaipur.
Here his album leads him to the scene
of the great battles between the Brit
ish military postal authorities Il shill,
ing. very rare) and Burmese expedi-
| tionary force.
Leaving on his left Macao and on his
right the Caiscos Islands, he reaches
the territory of the Chinese expedi-
tionary force military commissioned
| postal service and the area represent ed
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-02-13
By Donald Ogden Stewart

! Were early" I said.
Nav you amt" replied the driver.
You're late. It's been padlocked
since three months now"
That's fairly late" commented my
wife.
"Oh"' I said. "Well-how-about--
and i gave him the name of another
club.
1--WE can try it," he replied, "but
I doubt it." and off we drove.
His doubt was correct.
'"Ten days ago." he reported. after
examining the sign posted on the dirty
glass of the front door.
Were gaining" said my wife
But at the end OF the fifth attempt.
with the meter standing at $685., de
cided to give up-or at least pause for
breath.
Lets go back to Eddie's," said.
for another of those rickeys."
1 handed the driver the slip OF
paper on which Tom Gould had writ
ten Eddie's address and 1 heaved n
up at the curb.
But hold on I exclaimed, as [
climbed out. This isn't it,
The driver handed me the paper.
dis is dat address," he said. He
seemed very positive.
/ looked up and down the street.
Nothing was in the least as 1t had
been earlier In the evening. The en-
trance seemed to be into a basement
rather than up a flight Of brownstone
steps.
wait a minute" I said.
l walked in and pressed a bell. In
a few seconds n little panel in the
door was pushed open and a. pair OF
eyes peered through.
I'm a good friend of Tom Gould"
I announced. ''He told me to ask for
Eddie
20. r." was the answer, and the
door swung open.
Are you Eddie?" I asked.
Sure" he replied. "Mr. Gould was
here a few minutes ago-but i guess
he's left. Come on in"
Just a second" I said, and T re-
turned to the cab.
Il want you to meet Eddie" said
to my wife.
/, Again." she said
mo- / replied. THAT first driver
must have made mistake"
l paid for the taxi and we went in.
The gin wasn't as good, but we stayed
quite late. 1t was our last night in
America.
| Copyright 1927
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-02-13

Inevitably other countries were
drawn in. First of all the British
expeditionary force q penny, and
then the Austro-Hungarian K. and X.
post go pfennig). and then the Italian
posta della gherra and other powers.
Presently the Canadian eXpeditionary
force e cents) Joined in the World
War, and the final advent of the
United States Army post g cents
brought the struggle to it's climax.
The final result of the war was the
issuance of a scent stamp by the
League of Nations.
One of the chief advantages of the
stamp album is that it brings us to
an intimate knowledge of some Of the
great men of the modern times whose
faces and names are recognized by
the Postal Union as official designs
for stamps. Here is Prince Ferdinand
of Lichtenstein. one of the chief SOW
ereigns of the world: here Gen.
Bingerville of the Ivory Coast, and
here Marshal Spudski of Polish Para
quay.
Some of the faces and names leave
us perhaps in little doubt, but a
little imagination will always help
US through. Here is q beautiful de-
Esign sof the Panama Canal Zone rep
resenting. we presume. Theodore
Roosevelt wading across the Panama
River and waving the Portuguese
flag. Here is King Edward VII, die
tator of Nyassaland, eating a giraffe,
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-02-13
THE LOCO WEED

OCO is a pretty plant with white,
purple and red flowers, which grows
in our Southwest. 1t takes it's name
from a Mexican word meaning mad"
Indeed, it is often called the ''craZy
weed" by reason if it's direful effects
upon cattle or horses feeding upon it
to any extent.
At first the poison is slow in making
itself felt. The first symptom is usual
ly a dull, CLASSY expression of the eye,
which gradually dilates and becomes
finally wild and staring. If. after
this, the animal be left to Craze on
the herb. the symptoms will become
still more pronounced. The vision
becomes impaired and the victim
develops an aptitude for grotesque
antics, sometimes rushing madly
about. A 'locoed" horse will balk,
back rear and hurl itself backward.
The last and final stage of the
disease is a gradual wasting away
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-02-13
"River Music"

THE mysterious music of the
Pascagoula River was first heard
by white men when Iberville anchored
in the Pascagoula more than two CEN
turtles ago. No explanation has been
given for the mysterious sounds ex.
cept in Indian legends, which have
it that the music is the singing of
braves and maids of the peaceful Pas
cagoula tribe who marched to their
death in the river rather than be cap
tured and scalped by the merciless
Biloxi tribe, which had made sur
prise attack on their village, situated
on the present site of the City of Pas
cagoula. A New Orleans scientist who
has tried to find the reason for the
musical sounds states that he Is in
clined to the opinion that they are
produced by the same means as the
singing sands of Hawaii and other
parts of the world. But he has no tes-
timony to support his theory.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-02-13
Xxx NgSaH MsSgH Mg>8H

| Wont YOU sit DOWN." he said pc.
litely.
We sat down.
Indeed he replied. land how is
he, these days?"
Hes fine" / said. At least-he
was this afternoon"
He offered us cigarettes from
handsome silver box.
'"Tom told us to be sure to drop
| in here this evening" l added.
THAT was nice of him." said our
host. rs there anything in particu-
| lar that / can do for you?"
! There certainly is" I replied.
1--WE would like very much to get
| something to drink"
| The old gentleman's eyes seemed
| to open a little wider, but the friendly
| smile remained.
II see," he said. II see"
| He walked over to a button and
| pressed it.
II don't see why that couldn't be
ARA nged," he remarked, with smile.
| Don't let us keep YOU" l urged.
1--WE can just give our order to the
| waiter"
mot at ALL he replied. Not at
ALL"
| He offered me another cigarette.
| You're from the Middle West,
aren't you. Mr.. STEWART he said.
extraordinarily" I replied.
II thought so." he remarked.
| do you know Ohio?" I asked.
No" he replied, Il have never
| been West"
| We We're interrupted by the arrival
| OF the servant--the same one who
had opened the door
| I'VE both want one of those famous
| gin rickeys of yours" [ announced,
| in response to his invitation, land
won't you have something-on us?"
l added
| He bowed.
Thank YOU" he replied, II believe
/ will"
| The servant returned presently with
| the rickeys They were excellent.
These are the best ] have ever
| tasted" / announced.
I'm very pleased" he said. Shall
| 1 order some more?"
l looked at my wife.
II really think that we had better
be going" she suggested.
Perhaps We'll be back later" I
said cheerfully. The nights still
young. And by the way-how much
do we owe you for those drinks?"
He smiled and shook his head.
"Those were on the house." he as.
serted.
80, now, look" I began.
He waved me aside.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-02-13
Strange Fish Nets.

IT appears that fish nets cost moth
= ing at all at Valley, New Guinea. In
the forests nearby spiders about the
size Of small hazel nut weave them.
and as soon as they are finished the
native fishermen go in and take them
away. The webs are as large as six
feet in diameter and are woven in a
mesh that varies from one inch square
at the edge Of an eighth Of an inch
at the center. The webs are exceed
ingly strong and. moreover, are water
proof.
At the place where they are most
abundant the natives set up long
bamboos bent over into loop at the
end. In short time the spider
weaves a web in a convenient frame
and the native has his fish net ready.
He goes down to the stream and uses
1t with great dexterity to catch fish
of aboutsA pound weight; neither the
water nor the fish can break the mesh.
The usual practice is to stand on a
rock in back water and when a fish
appears dip it up and throw it on the
bank.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-02-13
THE OTHER DAY

" HE night we sailed for Europe
was our last night in America.
We ought to celebrate |
suggested to my wife as we
were dressing for dinner. It's
our last highland tomorrow we shall
be on the Atlantic Ocean--that final
resting place of so many countless
souls.
My wife shivered.
If ever die she said, Il want
to die on land
SO We decided to go to night club.
What night club?" asked my wife.
You leave it to me- replied. Il
know this town like a book
What book?" asked my wife.
My reply was dgnified silence, and
after the theater | gave an address
to the taxi driver and we drove off.
It's little early / explained. ITO
60 to my favorite club right away.
So ] thought we might drop in on a
place | know on Forty-seventh street
for drink or two first
I'm very proud of YOU" she said,
''and your extensive knowledge of this,
Americas wickedest city"
In the old days-''I began, but at
that moment the taxi pulled up along
side the curb and stopped. We got
out, l paid the fare, and we began to
mount the brown stone steps toward
an impressive door.
1T looks very respectable" was my
wife's comment, ''and quite a bit like
a private home
! chuckled.
"A natural mistake" | said. land
one which a stranger to New York
or prohibition agent-would be apt
to make"
We came to the top of the stairs
and | pushed bell
Its run by man named Eddie"
/ explained. Il got the address from
Tom Gould at the Yale Club this
afternoon, He says | added that
YOU can get the best gin rickeys in
town here
There was a. clicking of bolts behind
the massive door and then the sound
of chain being withdrawn
It's very exciting" whispered my
wife.
The door swung slowly open and
a face appeared
Eddie?' l asked. in a low tone.
The door opened farther. The man
who was behind it seemed to be
dressed in some sort of livery. He
regarded us thoughtfully for a mo-
ment.
We're friends of Mr.. Gould" ex. |
planned. I'VE know him very we'll" |
That seemed to reaSsure him.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-02-13
BY RING LARDNER

%O THE EDITOR: Every city in
the United States and Canada,
from New York to the smallest
hamlet in North America, is
today face to face with an i'm
portant problem, the traffic problem.
Editors note: Probably refers to
the traffic problem)
He, or almost anybody, who has
ridden in a motor in Gotham. san
Francisco, Niles, Michigan; Miami or
Austin or has tried to find parking
space for that motor in those towns
or any others irregardless of popula-
ton, realizes that the thing cannot go
on that radical steps must be taken,
and soon, to remedy the impossible
conditions which we now face. In
New York they are talking about re-
constructing the entire city into
double-deck affair, with one level for
pedestrians and another for automo-
biles. This scheme must have been
thought out by man who had FALLEN
out of tree in infancy, because II
the cars are all upstairs and the pedes-
TRANS downstairs, or vice versa, how
are you going to get on a bus, hail a
taxi or thrill at the sight of Flo Zieg-
field in his custard-colored r. r.?
Detroit is considering a plan to per
nit each auto owner to run his car
only one day week, but that won't
do any good, because the way 1t is
now out there. the first time you drive
downtown you get collided with
enough times to lay you up In a ga
rage till the following Monday.
What we ought to do is follow the
example of foreign countries. ] have
Just returned from a trip abroad tNo-
vember, 1924 and may be able to re-
count how some of the larger cities
on the other side have successfully
COPIED with the problem,
Editors note; He undoubtedly
means the traffic problem.)
Wiesbaden. for example, goes on
the theory that a drunken man is a
fool for luck. A man or woman is not
allowed to drive "A car sober. and some
of the narrow escapes are miraculous,
vet they are escapes. There is no
marking problem, because everybody
is going too fast to stop.
EDITORS note: Wiesbaden has not
had an automobile accident since
1922
lAuthor'S note: 1910
Editors note: Perhaps you are
right
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-02-13
Fishes on Land.

AMONG fishes that are able to live
Ia considerable time out of water
and that habitually invade the land
IL ffie climbing perch which can
1emaih for days out of water, and
which is even said to climb palm trees,
whence its name. The hopping
soby." which leaves the sea to skip
along the shore in chase of insects and
sand haunting mollusks, has an ell
bow joint i'm it's fore fin which thus
serves for a leg. It's gill cavity is
enlarged so that ii can contain con-
siderable air. 1t is believed. however.
that respiration is aided by the thin
skin of the tail fin. In the climbing
perch the gill cavity contains a spe-
cial organ which seems to play the
part of lung. Land crabs possess
an analogous organ in their gill
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-02-13
Antwerp System of DEFEATING Tires
Takes Place Among Traffic Schemes

| stiletto and assigned to a certain dis
trict. In the wee sma' hours, he visits
| every garage, private or public, in
| his district, and punctures all the
tires, including spare tires, on all the
cars. This virtually keeps the streets
clear of motors, at least throughout
| the forenoon.
| Editors note: The system just
described is probably responsible for
Antwerp's new nickname. "The City
of Flats.")
| authors note: No. 1 believe its
| large number of tenements is re
sponsible for that sobriquet.)
Editors note: Possibly
| Toxic has solved its problem by
giving the right of way at all times
to the rickshaws Ca kind of wheelbar-
row. These browse up and down the
middle of the street at such a lazy
gait that it is impossible for motors
to disregard the speed limit, because
the Toxic law provides that any
| motorist running into a rickshaw
must promptly get out of his motor
and commit harum scarum.
| Editors note: There is a saying in
Japan--"Don't bear down on a rick
shaw.")
| (Author's note: Japan Is beautiful
in May, when the cherry trees are in
| blossom.)
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-02-13
Gross Exaggerations From Heestory:
Spacial Chepter on Leencolns Boiday
BY MILF GROSS.


| (Spacial Leencoln's Boiday Chepter,
bling wot it's dees wick de sizzon
from Leencolns Boiday.)
IT HIRD FLOOR
Isidore-Baba. tell be about
Abrahab Lidcod--
a Mr.. decentralization
Habrahem Leencoln you want
you should loin, ha?-So geeve d lees
ten, goot-for- notting--m
Habrahem Leencoln was born in a
log kebbin, wot 1t deednt was dere
stim-hit (smack) he should scraping
huff from de radiators de paint
(smack)-odder he should putting on
dere de weX-froOt it should melt yat-,
| (smack|-wot it deedn't was dere gless
| weendows he should breaking dem witt
| binn- shooters, it should be by de fod-
der from de lendlor luSsoots witt de-
| meges vat (smack)-odder he should
| making dere witt de feengers Dolby
feenger-mocks (smack) it should hev
to CHM 1t de momma (smaclO.
Ulso wot it deedn't was dere bottobs
vat he should tsailing in dem tsail-
boats a whole day witt Muttimer
Meetzic (smack(--odder he should
geeving in de battob to a Dolby dug
a bait, he should be by a moungrel
vat a wallet (smack) it should breeng
| by de fodder in de houze fiizz, ha?
| (smack). Pay attention..
SO hevery monnink when Habe got
opp he should go to school--so foist
! he he'd to chop down brench from a
| tree he should geeve it witt q knife
a Wheetle 1t should be n panholder.
| Den gradually he rem hefter toikey
| odder a gooZe he should pool 1t bout
a fadder, SO de queel from de ladder
was by de pan de neeb. Den he was
fused he should geeve a squlzZe a
quot bleckbarrizz it should materilllZe
from de jooze hink. So den he was
liable he should write in de copy book
proWoibs, witt heXioms, witt mottuZ,
| witt haddageS, witt maXlmumS-ln-
stat ne should prectice he should writ
| ting de folders name (smack) it
should be by 3D. reputt cod. Odder
a counduct book fudgery vat! tSmack)
Pay attantion--Teeck-tec poz-
zles he deedn't made (smack) odder
Mott witt Jaff pictures (smackl-Las-
sons arretmetic ones he made witt
| chocull on de beck from de shuttle wot
| he deedn't he'd paper (smack) he
should make from it speetz balls, cd
der hairoplanes. fullish ones, dey
should fly some one in de heye
smack}-Neecknames dey gate heem,
Honest Habe"---
| Looy--Well, well--Still tryin' to
make a President QUITO stoopid huh.
Pop?--Ho; ha!-'at's rich--"Hon
est Isidore"--Liftin pickles offa
Goldsteins store-'at's hot!
Mr. ELECTROMAGNETIC! You here
allrady, ha dope?-witt de fullish
recon coatm
Looy-Shure.,--L he'd a
coonskin cap. didn't he? Ha ha--
An here's me wild a whole coonskin
coat. Well, well-great minds-run
in de same channel-Ha. ha!-Who
knows-but wot it I'd timber up a
bit and loin politics
Mr.. Feitlebaum-Hm!- would
be Reconsideration Dope. He's
quire, witt a Vic President Spike
odder Mike odder "Ike"-wot would
be by de White Houze on de weendows
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-02-13
Dust as a Shield.
THE British Royal Commission

THE British Royal Commission on
Mines has made some interesting
experiments on explosions Of mixtures
of coal dust and air. 1t has demon
strated that such mixtures are emf
nently explosive, and also that the
explosions can be mitigated, or con-
fined in area, by means of stone dust,
which is not explosive.
A coal dust area was placed between
a dustless region and one spread with
stone dust. after which an explosion
was produced in the coal dust by
firing cannon. The results appeared
to demonstrate that the effects of an
explosion may be transmitted to a
considerable distance over dustless
zone by the coal dust driven before
the air blast, but that the stone dust
has a restraining effect.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-02-13

Cattle born on the prairies seem in,
stinctively to avoid the loco. High.
grade beasts most easily fall victims
to their Partially for the weed.
Westerner who undertook to
drive a cow from a loco patch to a cor.
raj found that, though the distance
was not more than a mile, and he had
the aid of another rider, it took two
hours and a half to get the animal
to the corral
The cow ran aimlessly about in a
silly, dazed way until the two men got
their horses close alongside of her, so
that she could not turn easily. Her
sight was defective, and she fell into
an irrigation ditch that normally she
could easily have crossed. Again,
coming to d fence pole lying on the
ground, she stopped abruptly and com.
menced dancing and plunging in front
of 1t for some minutes: then, with q
great bound. she jumped over 1t as if
1t were two or three feet high.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-02-13
Giant InSulatOrs.

THE greatest difficulty in high
voltage transmission is the insu-
lation Of 100, 1000 or more volts. The
current transmitted at such a high
potential difference has a tendency to
jump to any object which Is not too
far away. This Is the case especially
where the conductors are fastened to
the poles or towers and where they
enter the power houses. Special in
sulators of a tremendous size are con-
structed for these purposes, which in
some cases attain a height Of or
more feet and a. diameter Of or 3
feet. They are made of porcelain, and
the wire is carried inside of them
Many such fnsulators may be seen Ct
the power plants at Niagara Falls.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-02-13

sound of footsteps coming down the
long carpeted stairs.
THAT would be Eddie" I stated,
adjusting my black bow tie.
You'd better call him Mr.. Pritch-
ard" whispered my wife.
The slow, even footsteps came near
err, and in the doorway appeared a
gray-mustached gentleman in a din
ner coat. He stood for a moment
regarding us with a quite friendly ex-
ticed a white carnation in his button.
hole
I'm Mr.. Stewart" / explained,
land this is Mrs. Stewart, I'm a
very good friend of Tom Could
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-02-13
Moon and Clouds.
THE popular impression that /

THE popular impression that the
full moon has the power to clear
away clouds disappears slowly, not
withstanding the almost unanimous
pronouncement of modern scientists
against it. That may be largely due
to the fact that so great an authority
in his day as Sir John Herschel re-
garded the idea as probably correct.
After a study Of the Greenwich OBJ
servations 1t was suggested that the
impression may be due to the fact
that change from the cloudy to the
clear state is much more likely to
attract attention when there is a full
moon In the sky. and many meteorol-
ogists agree with this.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-02-13

Won't you come imp he said.
THANK YOU" l replied, and we
entered.
He took our coats and hats and
ushered us into a parlor on the side
I'm tell Mr.. Pritchard that you
are here" he announced and with a
bow he retired.
Il have a feeling" remarked my
wife. that this is going to be very
EXPENSIVE
| looked around at the heavy oak
furnishings of the room.
eve won't stay very long" 1 as
Sured her.
In a few minutes there was the
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-02-13

Looy-There, there now--don't be a
cad and a bounder, old thing.
Mr.. Feitlebaum-You'll gerradahere.
dope, odder--
Isidore-Look Baba--Ai't sbart
Bahia? l didd't have eddy ped or paper
so l did by arithbetic exapple odd the
back of the yictrola--Baba-Th
pedcil didd't show Baba-so I used the
cad-opeder-Ai't 1 sbart, Baba-
(SMACK)
Mrs. tlebaum-Mowriss- in
de had!
(Couyrirht 1907