davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-08-14

Chaplin OF the Potomac Archers re.
Gently. in an unofficial trial. eclipsed
the American long record with a
mark Of 343 yards. 1t is probable that
DR.. Chaplin, J. G. Pratt, W. o. Robin
son and Paul CARRIER will represent
the Potomac Archers at the national
tournament to be held on Boston Com
mon in the late Summer.
William Tell, using a crossbow
many years ago. contributed an cpl
sode to history by shooting an apple
from the hes d Of another. A certain
Washington scientist recently per-
formed some scientific sharpshooting
almost as remarkable. He was on his
way to the Smithsonian grounds for
the Thursday meeting Of the Potomac
Archers, when he came across a small
crowd Of spectators watching what
seemed to be two spiral columns Of
smoke rising from linden trees on the
Mall. Close observation showed that
flying insects. instead of rising smoke
caused the phenomenon. This scien-
fist was an entomologist and naturally
wished to secure specimens.
The swarming insects were circling
high above the tree tops, about 80
feet above the ground. The Govern
ment expert happened to remember
his bow and arrow. Why not smear
liquid glue on the arrow feathers and
then shoot into the column of insects
in an attempt to secure specimens?
Hurrying to his laboratory, the archer
scientist prepared several arrows and
then returned to the street. where.
after several shots. he secured salts
factory specimens.
Government entomologists classified
the archery specimens secured in this
unique manner as unidentified gnats.
Previously chronological science has
been unable to obtain specimens of
these for study. Various expedients
for sharing and trapping such inha BIZ
tants Of tree tops have failed. The
use Of glue-coated arrows may solve
certain riddles Of insect collection
which previously have baff1ed modern
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-08-14

nodder snuzZ, nodder hail. nodder
sturms, nodder benenda pills could
tall her she's de hidol from mine
heyesM Den she got a job She should
be maid.! BY dot meeserable wratch
Squire klotZ. she got a job dot nicer
dot piker dot griddy critchure wot he
deedn't he'd In de houze a telaphun.":
Lattcrs?? Coud / write?? Could she
ridd?? Dunt esk.!m How could | YVES
liable l should corresponding witt
mine switthott?
Den wan day he came by me in d..
bobber shop, Squire Klotz-Et lest.
Messages l could sand to mine lie.
luffed! How? Heb heh-Two cots
on de laft chick minns "I'll see you
by de moofies tonight. dirriem.' Tree
cruises on de right chick minns
Saturday hefternoon by Palisades
Pock, dolink." Dots hall dere Is, dere
isn't amy more.
Vas. vas. sad Inspector Mitzie, DO.
how obbout de lag? Heb hen heh
seng a chirry voice wheech 1t was de-
property from Shoilock Holmes
Geeve a look in de paper undernitt
from de foist hotticle a sacund hot
ticle so:
Preence Thipotsky. de Woild-Fa-
nous Tree-Lagged Man from de b.
nom witt Baily Cicus retfres. Plens
to gat reed from spare lag so he could
take opp Transatlantic Flying--Heh
heh heh-noo gentlemen. Hozz oh.
bout a leedle shot prewurr hootch?
As fCopyrght. 1927
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-08-14
American Adventurer Broke Historic TAPPING Rebellion

Army" He recruited $500 men. Ten
thousand of the victorious enemy ap.
preached Shanghai. Ward held his
Chinese against them and whipped
them, driving them in panic into the
interior. Soon afterward the govern
ment permitted him to raise his army
to 5000 men. And from that day he
never met with another reverse.
Gold steel" was his motto, because he
found that while his Chinese soldiers
were splendid with knives and in
hand-to-hand struggles, they were I'M
steady under longrange rifle fire.
Once, when they wavered under a
savage fire. he called Them to halt.
and. standing with his back to the
enemy, drilled these Chinese until they
had regained their nerve. Then he
turned ard at their head stormed the
city and drove out the Taipings. Only
master Of war could do thing like
that. as every soldier knows.
FROM then on Ward led his wor-
shipping yellow warriors against
city after city. The French. British
and other nations began more heartily
to back the government, and on occa-
sion marines of these governments
fought at his side. City after city fell,
and Ward religiously collected his S75.-
JOO toll for each victory. When the Civil
War came in the States he sent the
Northern war fund $4,000 and offered
TO come and fight for the Union. but
ms services were never accented.
After all. his critics said, Ward was
not and never had been an American
soldier, no matter how brave and able
ne was, and, besides. there were stories
that he had taken a Chinese bride.
Whether this hurt the man and
spurred him to even greater effort ONLY
the gods can tell but he began T.,
prosecute the war on the Taipings
with increasing energy. He raced hiy
army across country, striking surprise
blow after blow. never letting them
have a rest. He performed feats of
valor and skill that any warrior
might have been proud to acknowl.
edge for an alien people and an alien
nag while his own land fought for it's
life. The back Of the TAPPING rebel.
lion was broken. Peace and the re-
wards of such a victory seemed Jus.
ahead of him.
He was standing outside the city of
Tseh. one OF the last strongholds of
the revolutionists. He was about to
give that savage fighting yellow line
or his the word to charge. when an
ignominious stray bullet caught him
full in the breast. He fell back into
the arms of his friend Forester.
They rushed him aboard a British
warship in the nearby harbor. He
reached up and caught Forester's hand
as they laid him down.
Go take the city, Ed" he whis.
pered.
And Forester went back to the
battle.
As Wards Ever Victorious Army"
swept forward late that afternoon to
another triumph. the man who made
it passed on to his Maker-or. in the
minds OF his Chinese friends, to an
eternal abode among their own gods.
He was gallant gentleman. n great
soldier and man who could take the
hearts OF other men into his own
hands Is lesser humans take in coins.
fCopvright, 1927
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-08-14
The Stars by Day.
rs it possible for astronomers to .

rs 1t possible for astronomers to see
the stars in the daytime? OF
course. the astronomers have devised
way. Any one can see stars in the
daytime if he chooses to go to suf.
ficient trouble. At the bottom of q
deep well an observer on looking up
will see stars If the sky is clear and
the sun does not happen to be shin
ing directly into the we'll.
Why cannot the stars be seen from
the surface of the ground? They
certainly give out their usual amount
of light. and il will be remembered
that the moon is frequently seen dur
ing the day. The question resolves
itself into the capacity of the human
eye. During the day the sun shines
on particles suspended I'm the at
mosphere and on the atmosphere it,
self. and its rays are reflected in every
direction from the various particles.
We thus have diffused light, by means
Of which we can see objects not di-
rectly in the sunlight. If it were not
for this diffusion of light. or irregu-
lar reflection, as 1t is called. we could
not possibly see anything not i'm di.
rect Sunugnt. NOW these rays IT.
regularly reflected enter the eye in
enormous numbers, so the intensity is
comparatively great with starlight.
But to a person in a deep well. or
mine shaft, only the perpendicularly
reflected rays enter the eye. and from
only those particles directly over the
mouth of the shaft. Thus compare
lively little light enters the eye. and
any starlight that comes down at that
time is easily perceived and the pres.
ence of the star is recognized
The astronomer applies this rule to
his telescope and places long black
tubes called shields on the end Of his
glass. Field glasses to be used at
night have these also. They are en-
tirely necessary for good work with
heavenly bodies even at night. when
the observatory is in a large city Of
many lights.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-08-14

scoutmaster, he passed the archery
tests. lie took his first lessons in
archery under the direction of a
Manumuskin Indian, one of the last
survivors OF that once important New
Jersey tribe.
1t so happened that a cousin of Mr..
CARRIERS owned large farm in New
Jersey where Buffalo Bill, Col W. F.
Cody. kept some of his equipment dur
ing the regular Eastern show season.
The venerable Manumuskin warrior
was left in charge of the supplies
during a certain Summer when young
CARRIER was visiting the farm. The
Indian made bows and arrows and
taught the youth to shoot The Wash.
ington lad soon acquired sufficient
skill so that he could make better
scores in target shooting than his
teacher. This was because the
Indian, typifying the craftsmanship
Of his race, shot from instinct, while
the American boy gained scientific
skill from practice.
Every Thursday afternoon at ;
o'clock. in favorable weather, the out
door music Of swishng arrows and
swapping boWstrings rcsounds on the
Mall only n few blocks from the bust
ness heart of Washington Flights
of arrows are shoWered by skillful
archers at brilliantly painted targets
40 or SO yards distant.
Miss Grace Sherman represents the
fair sex on the membership roll of
the Potomac Archers. and shows by
her workmanship that her correla
ton of muscle, eye and science is
equal to that of the men.
Several archery golf matches have
! been played between seasoned bow
men and prominent District lnksmen.
In these unique contests, which are
played on the ordinary golf course,
the archer uses bow and arrows and
counts the strokes in going from the
first tee to the eighteenth green, while
the golfer players his customary game.
The archer shoots at small paper discs
placed on the greens. Usually a good
archer will force a victorious golfer
to play par golf to win such a combi-
nation contest. In the last local
match Paul CARRIER and DR.. f. Scott
Avery. Columbia Country Club fin
:7hed I'm tie, witch has not since been
decided
Some Of the original Potomac Arch.
ers are still living in Washington and
occasionally shoot with the modern
clubmen. Among these are r. s. Sud
worth, r.. Clement and F. Q. Cassel-
man, a retiredAlumber dealer. Mr..
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-08-14

horse ever pensioned by the United
States Army and the only one ever to
be given a funeral of full military
honors and pomp.
THE road to Picking is one Of the
oldest. quite probably, in the world.
1t was worn through the softer land
over which it runs to a depth varying
from 6 to Is feet. When it rains that
road is a sea of yellow mud. and when
it doesn't the mud changes TO fine
dust, choking to your throat and like
felt beneath your feet. The way Is
narrow and tortuous. When the men
of one battery got up near tb1. tity
gates. when they began to .,ear the
firing of the Boxer garrison. they
we~a in one of these deep cuts. Tire
road was jammed, soldiers, horses.
field pieces, supplies, ammunition. all
piled together, and unable because of
the firing from the gates to move out
at the other end. Word came back
that they must get the gun out and
into action. There was nothing to do
but take her up one of those sides OF
the cut, at an angle Of at least Is
degrees. 1t looked insane, but It had
to be done.
The order was given to advance
The two leaders dug their hoofs into
that soft, sliding bank and heaved up
Rattle. noise. shouts, the thud of the
gun behind. Old Putnam struck the
bank in turn. Up they went. Then
the two-ton gun smashed into the yell
low mass and stuck. The horses
sWayed, strained. struggled Their
drivers shouted and spurred them on.
Overhead the bullets whined. But
their noise couldn't silence the report
that gave evidence the forward toggle
trace of the gun harness had snapped.
Instantly the team was in confu-
sion on that hillside. The horses quit
cold-all save Putnam. The great
old veteran took the bit In his teeth
as if he knew the danger that the
whole mass of humans animals and
supplies in that big gutter might he
cut and shot to pieces while at dis
advantage. Up he went. ewes bullying
and red muscles swelling az IL to get
out into the open. from under his
skin. that they might work better his
hoofs sma shing into the earth.
Up. up, dragging other horses. all
confused and rearing against him,
plunging. snarling. kicking-guns and
loaded timber chests with him. Be-
fore he knew what was happening.
old Putnam stood at the top of the Is.
foot cliff. black against the sky. big.
ger. stronger than the horses around
him, his head thrown up in triumph.
The soldiers cheered, they called him
by name. and from the height that
he had gained appeared for the first
time the gates of Picking. the great
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-08-14
BY GEORGE HI. DACY.

IF you go cunning this Fall during
the open season of small-game
shooting in Virginia and Mary
i land. and if you run across fellow
nimrods who have substituted
bows and arrows for shotguns, do not
think that the ghosts of Robin Hood
and his band have returned to earth
These District of Columbia bowmen
whom you may meet during your
cunning excursions are members OF
the Potomac Archers, one of Amer
ica's outstanding clubs of its kind and
one which has contributed to the
making and writing of archery his
tory.
Doctors, business men. lawyers.
scientists. photographers, aeronautical
experts, Government clerks and stu
dents. after the business or school day
is done, seek diversion on the archery
courts.
At the office of Public Buildings and
Grounds it is learned that between
375 and 400 Washington archers use
the public courts provided for that
sport on the Monument grounds. in
Rock Creek Park and on the Mall
between the old Museum and the new
National Museum. Last year some
4,200 spectators watched the archery
contests with keen interest, and dur
ing the current season the crowds Of
bystanders have been considerably
larger.
Practically all the leading girls
schools of Washington have added
archery as a regular sport to their
athletic calendars. These young WON
en- practice on both their school es.
tates and on the grounds which Uncle
Sam has staked off.
The Potomac Archers are the major
active organization in fostering the
remarkable bow -and-arrow sport in
the District. This club is one of the
oldest groups of its kind in the United
States and is listed in all American
books on archery as a pioneer or
ganiZation. The United Bowmen OF
Philadelphia, founded in 1894. were the
first.
Archery developed in Washington
under novel circumstances. Col. Johr
4. Pickett. a prominent Washing
tonian. during a visit to the Patent
Office one day CHANGED to come across
Capt. Bartlett. one of the patent ex
aminers. trying TO draw a rawhide
backed bow which had been sent tC
thu National Capital as a model or
which patent protection had been re
aUested by the originator. Col. Pick
EFT. who was trained in amateur arch
cry. showed Capt. Bartlett how Il
handle the bow. The Potomac Arch
ers, established BY Col. Pickett ir
1879, were the logical outgrowth OF
that chance meeting.
subsequently Capt. Bartlett became
An enthusiastic bowman. and even
tually succeeded in interesting one Of
his intimate colleagues, l.. w. Maxson
in the fasf mating sport. MaXson, q
large, powerful man, who had former
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-08-14

Clement still preserves the fine yew
bow with which l.. w. Mason made
his remarkable record.
J. G. Pratt, president of the Poto-
mac Archers, makes the equipment
which he uses of Lakewood. He be-
came interested In archery three years
ago. 1t CHANGED that after replacing
an oaken floor in his Washington
home he made bow and arrow from
some of the scrap material for his
boy. In teaching the lad how to
handle them Mr.. Pratt became inter
ested in archery. Eventually he ex-
perimented in making Lakewood
bows and spruce arrows, as well as
straw targets. He now makes the
targets used by the Potomac Archers.
They are feet in diameter, made of
rye straw, and represent much tedi
Gus work They are made Of rolls
of Straw, to inches in diameter.
bound together with strong cord. The
targets have to be soft enough so
that the arrows will stick and yet
hard enough to withstand severe
service.
During the open hunting season the
Potomac Archers hunt rabbits and
quail with bows and arrows. Such
Pratt and w. o. Robinson have killed
plenty of game during their hunting
trips to the woods and fields OF near.
by Virginia and Maryland. They
have to stalk the small game and
birds as did the American Indians.
The hunters by stealth steal up until
they are within % to 80 yards of the
quarry. Then they let fly their deadly
arrows.
In target shooting both Pratt and
CARRIER of the Potomac Archers have
scored as high as 207 apiece at 40
yards. in 30 shots. where 4-foot tar
gets were used. This is good marks.
manship, as 1t meant that the major.
ity of the arrows had to be bedded
close to the bull's-eye. In archery con.
tests a bulls.eye counts Q. the sur.
rounding ring and the outside con-
centric rings s. and /. respectively.
Using bow of Usage orange. DR..
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-08-14

w YlTH great Chinese armies,
n ! equipped aud drilled like
IN, Credentials and following
Y Western strategy and or
ganiZa ton. now swarminG
over the teeming land of the Celcs-
tialy il is indeed an amazing thing
that it was n young American soldier
of fortune who in the first place began
training the Chinese in our ways of
war--an education. by the way. that
may in time change the maps of the
world much moro than did the late
World War.
This y0ungStcr of destiny was Fred.
erick Townsend Ward. called Hwa to
toI. day throughout China. The sol
Siers OF the warning factions still often
invoke his spirit as a god of battle.
Born a New Highlander. Ward con-
tractcd to win cities for the hard
pressed Chinese Government in the
great TAPPING rebellion at $4,000
city. He hecImc rich and respected
among the CclcstialS. conquered city
after city, and died at -. While his
own yellow army was laundering
forward to victory. Priests and
rulers of China. admirals. diplo-
mats and leaders OF Western nations
followed this YOUTHS body TO the sa-
cred Temple of Coniucius at sun
kiang, where il now lies. BY order
of the Emperor. his name was enrolled
among those of the ancient gods Of
that alien race.
Ward was first heard of in China
when Chaffee was on the march from
Tientsin to Picking. during the Boxer
uprising. The route Sc miles long.
lay up the Peiho River. then slug.
giSh mud stream Cholled with the
bodies of Chinese slain by the Boxers
THE Fists of Righteous Harmony"
Or starved TO death in that war
scOurSed land,
Two or three hundred thousand
Chinese soldiers lowered about that
road uncertain whether to go. over 10
the Boxers or s. lie with the little com
pany Of Americans, British. French,
Russians and other allies gathered on
the coast. 1t may be that the spirit
Of Frederick Townsend Ward or at
least the memory that he was of the
same racial stock as the white fight.
eSs held the hordes back.
'The other leaders of the allies were
all for waiting until there were more
reinforcements before they marched
into the mysterious interior. 1t was
Gen. Chaffee who finally settled their
hesitation. Like true soldier Of for
tune. he arose finally and said:
"Gentlemen, YOU may do as you
like. but | march at dawn"
So it was that the American flag.
at the head of paltry $500 mon, leo
the march against the Boxers. A
flevilish march, too. with yellow hordes
looking down from the hills and yellow
Snpers in the rice fields picking men
off and slipping away.
Every one performed astonishing
feats of valo for Chaffee. who was
beloved by hie men for his courage.
But it was horse that put spirit into
his men--the last touch of fighting
spirit needed to take Peking after Sc
miles Of heroic struggle and sacrifice.
This horse was old Putnam. the only
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-08-14

ligious war on the religion Of Con.
fucius. Fanatical malcontents, like
the Boxers. had tiocked to his banner
and he had swept the Province of
Human. Dropping down the YangtZe
River. he had made Marking his cap.
ital. and then inaugurated a reign of
terror throughout Is of the IS prov.
inces Of the empire. Once, gathering
5000 enemy captives in field and
having established a sort of throne
from which to watch the exhibition.
he had sent 100 executioners into the
field with great swords to kill them.
China trembled at his name. The
government had retreated to Shanghai
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-08-14
Local Archers Lead in Revival Of Ancient Sport

| ~ rowed on the varsity crew at Yale
developed into a champion archer, the
most skillful bowman who ever shot
flying arrows in the District. The Pc.
tomac Archers persisted as an organi-
cation until 1905, when bicycling and
tennis gained such popularity in the
| Nations Capital that the archers laid
aside their yew bows and their Quiv-
ers of arrows in favor of the new
| pastimes.
Previously L. W. Maxson had be.
come the outstanding archer of the
United States. In 1891 he won the
national championship with a flight
shot OF 290 yards, free style. This
record stood until 1924, when 1t was
beaten by Prof. c. ID. Curtis OF South
Dakota. with a mark of 304 yards
In breaking the flight record. however,
Prof. Curtis drew his powerful bow
with both feet and hands. He lay on
his back, and while he pressed out
ward against the bow with his feet he
pulled the bowstring and shot the
record arrow with his hands.
For many years Mr.. Maxson's office
in Washington was the official head
quarters of the National Archery AS
ISOLATION. During the days when bow
manship was at it's lowest ebb Mr..
Maxson persisted in continuing the
annual national tournaments. On sew.
aral occasions only one or two other
Washington archers competed. Max.
son was determined that archery
should not die out as a sport in the
District while he was still able to ma.
nipulate bow and arrow,
Records of the National Archery
Association show that l.. w. Maxson
was the American archery champion
continuously from 1890 up to 1895,
and again from 1896 to 1900. In 1895.
c. f. McNabb and D. F. MCGOWAN,
members Of the Potomac Archers.
were the holders of certain American
records in bowmanship.
The temporary sunset OF archery In
Washington covered a span of about
90 years. 1t looked as though the
swan song Of the sport had been sung
here and that archery was to be cata-
logued among the lost arts. Again.
chance played an important part in
the revival of bowmanship. for with
the meeting and friendship of two
| amateur bowmen and the publicity
given their favorite diversion, the Pc.
| tomac Archers were brought back
from the grave. and now flourish here.
To Paul CARRIER, aeronautical expert
Of the Smithsonian Institution. and
J. G. Pratt, a Government photog.
rapher, credit Is due for the revival.
These men for several years enjoyed
| archery on their home grounds and on
hunting trips, as a favorite pastime.
Finally, they happened TO meet and
learn Of their mutual hobby. There
after. they shot regularly together.
They practiced archery on the grounds
near the Smithsonian Institution,
designated for that purpose
Other Washingtonian ms became inter
ested in the ancient sport. AS a re-