davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1928-03-25
SCHOOLBOyS HOLD
AIRCRAFT CONTEST
Miniature Planes Compete in
First Outdoor Meet
of Tournament.

AS Col Charles A. Lindbergh circled
over the Washington Monument with
members of Congress yesterday after
noon. some two-score schoolboys. EMU
lators of the daring colonel flew their
miniature aircraft in the District of
Columbia tournament on the Noun
ment grounds.
The contest was under the auspices
of the Community Center Department
of the public schools and was the first
outdoor competition Of the series of In
door and outdoor miniature aircraft
meets which will continue until next
September,
The classes in yesterdays contest
were Kites, hand-slung gliders and
sling -slung gliders.
John Sumner was adjudged the VIM
ner of the kite contest from the point
of workmanship and Forrest Wilkinson
was rated first for pull" Many kites
OF elaborate design were entered. but
failed to stay in the air long enough
to qualify.
Thomas M. Robbins, jr.. was winner
of the slingshot-sl glider distance
test, his craft going l72 feet. Langf1tt
Wilby won the duration test for sling
shot -slung gliders. with record Of
1912 seconds.
Conant H. Emmons won the distance
test for hand launched gliders making
o5 feet. Allen Moulton won the en-
durance test in this class. seconds.
Thomas NJ. Robbins. ir., was adjudged
the winner in the acrobatic glider con-
test
The Judges were Paul Edward Gar
ber. Lieut. Col. c. DEF Chandler, Wal
ter Hinton. who flew the NC-4 over the
Atlantic. and Arthur l. Ennis
The next meet will be an indoor one
for tractor aircraft at the Macfarland
Community Center. Iowa avenue and
Webster street
Evening star., 1928-03-25
LAST OF VAUDEVILLE HOUSES
PASSES WITH KEITH'S CHANGE
Theater Closes Doors on 15-Year Policy.
Shifting Tomorrow to Movie
Feature Program.

There it had enjoyed popularity for II
years.
Succumbs to Demand.
With the demand for feature reels
forcing strictly vaudeville houses In
many cities to change their policy in
recent years, the Keith management
finally succumbed to what Manager
Roland Robbins calls the spirit of the
times"
There will be no performance today,
as new pipe organ is being installed:
But beginning tomorrow the theater Will
continue its "two-a-day" under its new
policy. On Sundays there will be three
shows the same as now.
While the new addition Is a feature
Aim, Manager Robbins says the same
program of high class vaudeville will be
continued. There will be this differ
ence. however: The matinee perform
ances will begin at / o'clock, showing
the feature film augmented by the Gus
tomary house features. This will con-
tinue for about an hour when the vau-
deville program will be started. the per-
formance closing with second showing
of the feature picture. This will be the
same policy at night, with the per-
formance beginning at o'clock.
Evening star., 1928-03-25
".Jim" Preston Lists
81 Years Service
I'm Press Gallery

James n. Preston. superintendent
of the Senate press gallery, tomorrow
will enter upon his thirty
year of service at the Capitol. Jim"
Preston, as he is better known, en-
tered the gallery March 25, 1897 and
for the greater part of the time has
been in charge
He has been brought into con-
tact with hundreds of men in public
life and has followed closely the
progress Of national affairs. He has
attended virtually all of the quadren-
NAL political conventions of the past
80 years, assisting in working out
press arrangements,
Evening star., 1928-03-25
Lightning Census Urged.

Experts of atmospheric electricity arc
urging a world census of lightning
flashes. Their plan is to have amateur
observers in every country make the
count. Thousands of flashes are said
to occur each minute in some parts of
the world. but only few weather sta
tions and isolated observers report on
them. The total amount of energy set
free by lightning is said to be far
greater than all the power used by man,
and 1t Is hoped that the census will
help toward finding method of har-
Messing some of it,
o a~
Peru is threatened with a water
shortage
Evening star., 1928-03-25
TAKEN IN SLAYING
AFTER FOUR YEARS
Fairfax County Man Charged With
Killing Dranesville Farmer
With Stone.

Spec ~ Dispatch 50 The star
WARRENTON, Va. March "a
Sheriff W s. Wooif of this county this
morning turned over George Dawson 70
Deputy SElerifTs Mitchell and Darr Of
Fairfax County, where ne was wanted
on q charge Of murder.
Dawson Is charged with killing ToDe
Orowson in a fight In 1924. and since
has been hunted In several counties,
where, police say. he found refuge
among friends.
Dawson was captured yesterday on
the road near UpperviIie by Eherld
Woolf and County Offlcers w n.
Hatcher and r. r Hedgpeth, who we're
returning from search for stan
The officers suspected the man because
" description given them OF MS au-
D,rnoDile. When followed and called by
ms name, Dawson surrendered
On a previous occasion SneFln Woof
and mis- assistants surrounded a mouse
where Dawson was supposed 10 be stay
ing ard he escaped by jumping from
winc0w over the head Of one of the
watchers,
FAIRFAX, Va. March 24.~-Tobe
CrowNg's skull was crushed with q
stone during = fight with George Ds@-
son A. q place in the Dranesyi!ie dis
trlet- where II is said the men had
been on 2 party The victim Was about
% years old j. h. said apd was the
nead N large family Dawson Was
. indicted and his aTraignmepi viii come
/ before tho May term Of the Circuit
+ Court he Is held IN the county jail
here.
Evening star., 1928-03-25

An association of chinchilla rabbit
breeders has been formed in Nova Sco-
ffa
Evening star., 1928-03-25
18 Months
To Pay

It's nesting time and
birds and bees and folks in
general are setting their
old homes in order and
planning new ones for
Spring. kaufmann's help
full Budget Payment Plan
enables every family to
have and to hold for their
own the finest of Char
acter Furniture on the
most liberal credit terms.
Eighteen months to pay.
Evening star., 1928-03-25
Quality First
and Always

We don't compromise
with quality here. The
furniture we buy and sell
must come up to a certain
high standard OF perfec-
ton or it does not find a
place in our store. We
term this kind OF furniture
Character Furniture and
with such we are making
hundreds OF new and
staunch friends every day.
Your inspection is invited.
Evening star., 1928-03-25
Cogswell Chairs
$3.50 Up

A wonderfully complete as
sortment OF Cogswell chars,
here in greatest variety OF
woods and upholstery lab
RIGS. ArtisticalIy conceived
and exper,ly constructed for
years Of comfort and service.
Evening star., 1928-03-25

Peru is threatened with a water
shortage.
Evening star., 1928-03-25

Msrylands Student Band will give
concert in Ritchie Gymnasium next
Tuesday evening that will be an invita-
ton affair. In addition TO the band
concert there viii be number of spe-
clzl features. the affair being planned
% as TO occupy about two hours.
Evening star., 1928-12-30

public on Washington's birthday, 1897,
and those attending the reception not
only partook of it freely but also took
away with them large chunks for sub
sequent consumption. Unfortunately,
the carpets were almost ruined with the
cheese that was dropped on the floor
and trampled under foot, and for
months the smell of cheese was prom
inently detected all over the house.
Two years later a piece weighing 700
pounds was sold by the direction of
President Van Burens Gen. JackSon's S
successor, for the benefit of the Female
Union Benevolent Society, an organiza-
ton formed for assisting the poor.
President Monroe's New Year recep-
ton. held January /, 1925, was an un-
usually brilliant one, since it was at
tended by the Marquis de Lafayette
and his son, George Washington La
fayette, then visiting this country and
for the time being staying In this city.
Naturally there was a very large
crowd present who wished to meet him,
and especially to shake hands with the
greatest Frenchman America had ever
known and Its greatest foreign support
during the American Revolution, i'll
which he took such an active part.
Upon this occasion 1t Is said that Mr..
Webster, Mr.. Everett, Mr.. Clay, Mr..
Otis, Mr. Crawford, Gen. Jackson, John
Quincy Adams, Gems. Dearborn, Scott,
Macomb, Bernard and Commodores
cambridge, Tingey, Stewart and Nor
ris, all famous, or to become famous,
IN the annals Of our country, were press
Evening star., 1928-12-30

structure was nothing less than Araeri-
can pine and chestnut that supposedly
had been buried for time in caustic
soda to make it look DID, but none the
less was wood that by no stretch of
the imagination could have been in
England in 1740.
The discounted importer asked for
a day to decide whether he should pay
the $4,000 duty and take his room
now no longer an antique, at least in
Government eyeS-or leave it. Twenty
four hours later he returned, presum-
ably after having seen his client He
paid the money and took the room,
and today, as Mr.. Kracke says, it is
installed in the American home
though reproduction just as good
could have been built by native deco
rators in the first place.
X x *
MORE typical, however, of the rank
A'A and file of American antique VIC
Tins was the man who recently brought
home with him golden armlet which
he had picked up in France. 1t was a
broad band of gold, with two minia-
lures. one fair picture of Napoleon,
and the other of his consort, Josephine
A small frame beneath each picture
contained strands of hair said to be
that of the conqueror and his first en-
press. "A million-dollar bracelet" was
the owners enthusiastic characterize
tion. He believed the bracelet was
true antique and worth a fortune to
some museum or collector.
He had gotten it, ne said. in the
settlement of the estate of a relative in
1@f Oh - f1@.,
property. The story was that the brace
let had been given to a greatuncle. of
his by the Emperor himself in recog-
milton for an act that saved the con-
querors life in Poland in 1914.
Mr.. Kracke turned the bracelet over
to his experts, and four of them in turn
decided not only that the arnlet was
less than fifty years old, but that 1t
wasn't even of French design and make.
The owner was indignant. not to say
enraged. The experts were wrong, in
Evening star., 1928-12-30

TO the Marine Band until the recep-
ten is over. the latter being an espe-
cial attraction in itself.
THE New Year day receptions at the
= White House originated with
was not only customary for the Presi-
dent to receive guests on the first day
of the new year, but also on Independ-
ence day, and in this way Jefferson
gave the first public reception on July
4, 1901, and on January !, 1902, the
first New Year day public reception
Perhaps President John Adams would
have held New Year day reception
here had he occupied the White House
longer, but he arrived here to take up
his residence on November l, 1900, and
left without formality on the morning
of the following March 4. He did hold
there what were then called levees; one
IL days after his arrival here and an
other on December 8, but evidently
these were for men only, since Mrs.
Thornton, who chronicled the events,
speaks of her husband attending both,
while she and her mother, at least upon
the first occasion, went to Georgetown.
AS matter of fact the White House
was then not in a condition in which
to hold public reception. The plaster
ing which had only been begun in the
Spring of that year, was still uncom-
pleted, and not an apartment was fin
ished. The east room-where the car
penter's shavings still remained-was
used for laundry purposes in which to
hang out the family wash, and to add
to his other troubles Mr.. Adams ex-
perienced scarcity of firewood with
which to keep the then barn-like struc-
ture warm. 1t is even said that as late
as 1903 "the walls OF some of the bed
chambers, the great room at the east
end of the house and Of the principal
stairs were still naked" Indeed, this
stairway had not yet been built. Not
only are these conditions referred to
by contemporaneous writers, but one Of
a satirical turn of mind called atten-
ton to the enormous size of the build
ing by saying that it was big enough
for two EmperorS, olle Pope and the
grand lama in the bargain"
Jefferson'S wines were famous and
abundant and at the first New Year
reception those who went to the White
House to greet the President were per-
mitted to partake of his cake and drink
Evening star., 1928-12-30
Fortunes Made in Fake Art Hold-Up

design and style, and as 1t sat in Mr.
Kracke's Office 1t looked, because of
the intricate artistry of its making,
almost beyond price. All of the pieces
had handles shaped in the form Of
deer's heads. The workmanship was
obviously of the first order. Ten thou
sand dollars was the lowest offhand
estimate of its value. But one of the
Government antiquaries discovered that
all of the acknowledgements made by
the maker-had been carefully chiseled
off,
THIS removal of marks caused some
suspicion on Mr.. Krackes part, and
the importer was sent for. He was o
suave, distinguished looking man Of
about IS. He spread his hands in
depreciation of the appraisers slight
refection-there could be no doubt
about the age of the silver! Why, it
had been in his family for more than
100 years. He remembered it on the
sideboard in old Austria during all his
boyhood. Was be sure? , OF course!
How did it come that the halL-marks
had been cut away? He could not say.
There had been a period while he was
in America, and the silver had been in
the hands of relatives. Some silly
notion on their part-for which he was
not responsible. He was so plausible
that Mr.. Kracke was more than half
convinced that his story was true, and
that the beautiful silver was, in truth,
very, very old. He begged for time,
and that night had one Of his trusted
men go over all that silver. On the
under side of the bottom flange of the
sugar bowl this man discovered q small
hallmark with the name Of the maker,
and the date-1898!
Needless to say, the importer pro-
fessed ignorance of everything. 1t might
be that this silver was not the old silver
he remembered on the sideboard of his
boyhood home There was probably
some substitution. Yes, he would pay
the duty and take the silver. Which he
did And whether he sold the silver as
antique, without customs appraisal and
stamp, Mr.. Kracke neither knows nor
cares. He and his men had put their
finger on, and in sense checkmated,
one more possible fraud .. as far, at
least, as the Government was con-
cerned.
Evening star., 1928-12-30
Receptions at White House Under Former Presidents

and Wright. who also were present
upon this occasion.
At this reception 1t is said there were
more elegant and costly dresses worn
than were ever before seen at any
White House function. The Presi-
dent himself was in morning dress and
all black, buttoned to the neck.
X * x*
1T is interesting to read over the
list of prominent Army and Navy
officers present on this occasion. Few
Of them are still living and no doubt
the reader will recall some of them at
least with much pleasure Judge Holt
and Gen. Mckee Dunn, who served as
judge advocate generals of the Army,
were there, as were the aids of the
lieutenant general, Col. M v. Sheri-
dan, Col. Volkmar, and Capt. Gregory;
Adjt. Gen. Drum, Gen. M S. Keever,
Gen. Ruggles. Col. Benjamin, Col Bar
Der, Gen. Feely and Gen. Van Vliet.
In the Medical Corps were Surg. Gen
Murray, DR.. Baxter and DR.. Basil
Norris.
Among the Engineer officers were
Poe, Col Wilson, Mai. Hains, Capt.
Hoxie and Capt. Mills.
Perhaps only few of The Stars
readers will recall the name of Can't.
Richard l.. Hoxie and still it Is a name
that shall live in local history. Captain
how general-Hoxie is still with us
dividing his life between Washington
and Florida; quite interested still in all
that goes on in the Capital City, where
he served as Engineer Commissioner
under the temporary commission form
of government here, back in 1874. He
Is Civil War veteran and must be
getting along in years, since he en-
tered the First Iowa Cavalry as a
private on June IS, 1861, and served
until June 8, 1864, when he was ap-
pointed cadet at the Military
Academy, from which he was graduated
four years later, receiving an appoint
men as second lieutenant of Engineers.
When Gen. Hoxie entered upon the
District engineer service one Of his
first duties was to make a careful sur
vey Of the entire drainage surface of the
District, posting himself as to the
natural flow of the rainfalls.
One must bear in mind that when
Gen. Hoxie took q hand in improving
the sewerage systems in the District,
sanitary conditions here were very bad.
Bathtubs in washington then were
few and far between and only COM
paratively few houses were equipped
with running water, and such con-
veniences as we look upon today as alb
solutely necessary were then only to be
had by the more wealthy or those liv-
Ing right in the heart of the city-con-
fined then to an area of mile square.
Evening star., 1928-12-30

selves and from whence there was a
good view of the troops as they march
ed in front of the Presidents House;
and of the President, the heads of de-
partments and the foreign ministers
who stood around him on the high
steps OF the house, receiving and re-
turning their salutationS as they passed
in review. Mr. Jefferson's tall figure
and grey locks waving in the air (for
he always on these occasions stood with
uncovered head were easily distin-
guiSEed among the other official per-
sonages who surrounded him."
Mr.. Jefferson was a great lover of
nature and was especially fond of birds
and flowers. During his occupancy of
the White House he fitted one apart
ment, known as his cabinet, according
to his own taste. OF this, Mrs. Smith
says:
1T was spacious room. In the GEN.
ter was long table, with drawers on
each side, in which were deposited not
only articles appropriate to the place,
but set of carpenters tools in one and
small garden implements in another
from the use of which he derived much
amusement. Around the walls were
maps globes, charts, books, etc. In the
window recesSeS we're stands for the
flowers and plants which 1t was his de-
light to attend, and among his roses and
geraniumS was suspended the cage of
his favorite mocking bird, which he
cherished with peculiar fondness, not
only for its melodious powers, but for
its uncommon intelligence and affec-
tionate disposition, of which qualities
he gave surprising instances. 1t was
the constant companion of his solitary
and studious hours. Whenever he was
alone he opened the cage and let the
bird fly about the room. After fitting
for while from one object to another,
1t would alight on his table and regale
him with its sweetest notes, or perch
ON his shoulder and take its food from
his lips. Often when he retired to his
chamber it would hop up the stairs
after him and while he took his siesta
would sit on his couch and pour forth
its melodiouS strains. How he loved
this bird! How he loved his flowers!
He could not live without something to
love, and in the absence of his darling
grandchildren his bird and his flowers
became objects of tender care"
TOWARDS the close of President
Il Jackson's administration some of his
admirers felt that he should be remem-
bered as generously as jefferson had
been and started cheese campaign in
the rural district of New York, which
resulted In "Old Hickory being pre-
sented with q cheese weighing l,400
pounds. On its way here, it was ex-
hibited in New York, Philadelphia and
Baltimore and was for awhile displayed
in the vestibule of the White House.
It was finally desided to serve it to the
Evening star., 1928-12-30
Factory Railroad.
HIGH-SPEED electric ra

A HIGH-SPEED electric railroad,
: drawn by 2o-foot locomotive, is
the newest aid to factory efficiency. In
steel mill at Aliquippa, Pa, recently
installed miniature railway keeps the
terrific pace of the machinery in NOV
ing about the material. IT. carries
Atom ingots of red-hot steel from the
furnaces to the rolls, where the pre-
liminary fiattening out is performed.
The locomotive, which is the first of
its kind in the world. feeds the mill
with rs of these ingots each hour. 1t
has a greater acceleration than any
other rail machine. After being load
ed with its red-hot cargo, the engine
speeds down a track $50 feet long. dis
charges its load and hurries back again
all in 48 seconds, including 8 seconds
of standing still. To safeguard against
having huge mass of glowing steel
run wild in case of an accident to the
engineer, dead mans button" in the
cab automatically shuts of the power,
applies the brakes and sands the track.
Evening star., 1928-12-30
noue Executive New
MnresR ReptnU in OhaGa Events Nn

ent to pay honor to the distinguished
general.
Mr.. Monroe was very fortunate In
having a wife who fit in so we'll with
the social duties of the Chief Magis-
trate. Nearly 10 years of her life had
been spent at European capitals while
accompanying her husband ON his va
rious missions to foreign. courts. She
was extremely exacting in the matters
of appropriate dress TO be worn at her
receptions and upon one occasion even
refused admission to a near relative
who was not prepared with a suit OF
small clothes and silk hose"
* n k.*
TT may not be true, but 1t does seem
that we are drifting somewhat away
from the old-established custom OF call
ing on our friends on New Year day.
1t is still within the memory of many
when the newspapers could hardly ac-
commodate the public in announcing
the people who would hold open
house" on January /. This not only
applied to the four hundred, but even
to persons of moderate means; and, of
course, refreshments were always served,
and these generally included wines, egg
nog and liquors of various descriptions.
now ruled out by statute. Many OF
our best people. took this opportunity
to make an annual call on their friends,
which they were unable to do during
the year; and as absence makes the
heart grow fonder, so were they all the
more welcome wherever they went.
Many residents who did not indulge in
intoxicants served ice cream and other
things as substitutes, for Washington
then had its temperance advocates, just
as 1t has Its supporters today.
An idea of what a New Year day
was like some four decades and more
back can be judged from President
Arthur's reception at the White House
on January l, 1884, just before turning
his office. over to President Cleveland.
Mud and slush were in the streets and
a chilly misty rain made travelling de-
cidedly uncomfortable, and withal 1t
is said there were more persons who
kept open house" then than who did
the previous year. President Arthur
received with Mrs. Carlisle, wife OF the
Speaker of the House of Representa-
tives, John G.. Carlisle, at his right,
she being dressed in robe of rich
lavender satin, Powered in white, With