April 7, 1907 (Sunday)

THE CASE OF THE MISSING DIMPLE: When Euphemia Kelleher went to the John H. Woodbury Dermatological Institute (at right is a 1988 newspaper ad about Woodbury) in New York a while back, she had some things in mind that she wanted done to her face to improve her looks. Today's Washington Post listed as the "facial defects" eyebrow wrinkles, two side nose wrinkles and a mole on the upper lip. Kelleher wanted to keep a NATURAL DIMPLE on her right cheek. However, the treatment allegedly led to some unfortunate facial features -- an "angry" boil between the eyes, a swollen cheek and a white scar on the lip. In addition, she lost that NATURAL DIMPLE on her right cheek. Sue sued the institute. She won the initial ruling in the state's Supreme Court and recently won the appeal. Now, the institute must pay $1,058. The Woodbury institute will face numerous problems in the coming years.

KAISER WANTS HIS SON TO GO TO HARVARD: Germany's Kaiser Wilhelm (right) hopes to send one of his sons, Prince Oscar Charles to Harvard. Evidently, the kaiser wants one of his sons to grow up near one of President Roosevelt's sons (one of who is already at Harvard). According to today's Washington Post, Oscar can fend for himself:
He can use his fists too, a rare accomplishment in Germany where fighting in this way is considered only fit for Americans, Englishmen and ruffians.
But some concern lurks. The Post says,
It remains to be seen how the young prince, brought up in the strict etiquette and formality of the German court, will be able to adapt himself to the democratic spirit of American college life.

April 6, 1907 (Saturday)

IN HINDSIGHT, IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN A PRETTY GOOD IDEA FOR THE CZAR TO DO THIS: A report in the Mirror in London indicates that Czar Nicholas II (right) of Russia is ready to step down. The report, which is denied at the Russian Embassy, says he will abdicate within the month. His brother, Grand Duke Michael, will then take over as regent until the czarewitch comes of age. A report printed in today's Washington Post says, "The temper of the workingmen, whether revolutionists or royalists, is inflammatory to a degree when spontaneous combustion may reasonably be apprehended." Over the next few years, Nicholas will have plenty of opportunities to wish he actually did abdicate in 1907.

KIDS LIST FEARS AND MAKE NO MENTION OF THE BOOGEY MAN: Today's Washington Post passes on a report from the Scotland's Dundee Advertiser that lists the biggest fears that lurk in the hearts of children. A survey of 1,500 children living in the American West found that THUNDER STORMS rank No. 1 as the most fearful thing or event. After that, the list looks like this: snakes, strangers, darkness, fire, death, disease, wild animals, policemen, water, insects and ghosts. Among boys, fear begins to tail off after age 14; in girls, the dropoff begins after the 18th birthday.

April 5, 1907 (Friday)

FROM OPENING DAY TO OPENING NIGHT: Baseball star Mike Donlin has left the New York Giants. Instead of signing a contract with the National League baseball team, he has signed a pact to be assistant manager of the Whitney Opera House in Chicago. The deal was closed yesterday according to The Washington Post. By last night, he was at the door of the theater. "[Coach] McGraw and I parted company last night in Louisville and I will not return to him," Donlin said after a performance of "A Night for a Day." The cast includes his wife, who is known theatrically as Mabel Hite. She said, "I'll guarantee that he will remain here," she said. "I've got something to say, and am glad Mike has QUIT THE GAME FOR GOOD." Only time will tell. Donlin has an interesting career ahead -- on the field and on the stage.


THANK THE BUSY HENS FOR THE DROP IN THE COST OF LIVING: The Dun's Index Number finds in the barnyard a major reason for a 2-percent drop in commodity prices. You can thank the "Spring activities of the American hen," according to today's New York Times. An increase in the amount of eggs has led to a drop in prices and that, in turn, has led to more consumption of the hens' handiwork. Other factors include a breakup of the railway freight blockades.

April 4, 1907 (Thursday)

UNCLE SAM MAKES SOME CASH BY SELLING -- AMONG OTHER THINGS -- HAIR OIL THAT WAS SENT TO JOHN D. ROCKEFELLER: Some unclaimed merchandise that has been taking up space at the appraisers office (related to unpaid customs duties) in Manhattan brought in between $6,000 and $7,000 yesterday. One of the more interesting items was a bottle of hair oil that was meant for industrialist John D. Rockefeller (right). (Evidently, the oil-king enjoys a less hair-friendly type of substance.) The high bidder was "F. Cuneo," who spent $2 on it. Another item that was sold was an airship that Alberto Santos-Dumont sent here for the St. Louis Exposition. It was not claimed and was sold to B.J. Green of Brooklyn for $80. A stuffed chimpanzee named "Consul" went for $38 to William Woodbridge, who will display it at the headquarters of a social organization known as the Swans.

OUR "SOME THINGS NEVER CHANGE" DEPT. REPORTS THAT A POROUS BORDER IS A PROBLEM TO THE IMMIGRATION BUREAU: Too many workers are being smuggled across the border with Mexico for the liking of the federal Immigration Bureau. But it's not Mexicans the bureau is talking about. It's JAPANESE WORKERS. A federal inspector has gone to Mexico and has interviewed hundreds of skilled and unskilled Japanese laborers who hope to be smuggled into the United States. Some even aim to enter from Vancouver, Canada. The Washington Post says the immigration issue is a difficult one to deal with:
The general situation is regarded as serious by the immigration officials, for it practically is impossible to prevent smuggling across the border of either Mexico or British Columbia.

IS A LOST-DOG STORY WORTHY OF THE FRONT PAGE OF THE NEW YORK TIMES? YES, IF IT'S AUGUST BELMONT'S DOG: Today's Times has numerous stories of importance -- dealing with matters such as the hanging of children in Tegucigalpa by invading Nicaraguan troops and the fate of a man who was sent a bomb by a love-rival. But for some reason, the editors saw fit to include one headlined "Belmont Loses a Beagle." The dog -- a "valuable beagle hound" -- evidently raced out of the stable of August Belmont yesterday afternoon -- just hours after the dog had arrived in town from a dog show in Haverhill, Mass. To help the searchers, the Times included this description: "It is distinguished by a black spot on its body, a brown spot on its face, and very long ears."

April 3, 1907 (Wednesday)

HAMMERSTEIN TOASTS MELBA: Opera star Nellie Melba (right) has said for years that entertainment mogul Oscar Hammerstein is the "man who swallowed the canary" -- meaning presumably that he smugly gets what he wants. With that in mind, Hammerstein headed to the docks early yesterday carrying a cage with a canary inside. He presented it to Melba, who was about to head for Europe on board the Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse. Hammerstein also presented her with a poem:
To you, the brilliant songstress fairy
I give in friendship this canary.
If ever we should part in rage,
I'll swallow the canary and you the cage.
She was so moved that she promised to return next season for five new roles, including that of Senta in "The Flying Dutchman."
Hammerstein must have left pleased, looking like a cat that, say, had just eaten a canary.

INJURED MAN GOES BEYOND SIMPLY GIVING JURORS A PIECE OF HIS MIND; HE GIVES THEM A PEEK AT HIS BRAIN: During his testimony in Flushing's (N.Y.) Queens County Superior Clourt, Harry Hanson unfastened a device on his head. Then he removed a silver plate. He bent his head so the judge and jurors could peer inside. Hanson, 30, is looking for $25,000 in damages from his employer. He was injured on the job when a brick fell from a chimney and hit him on his skull. A doctor says Hanson will likely live only two more years -- and he will become more and more paralyzed as time goes on. Jurors evidently decided not to ask for a peek at the brain of any of the lawyers.

A WONDERFUL BEGINNING TO A FIRE STORY: A fire broke out yesterday in the basement of the Hotel Saranac in Manhattan. Nobody was hurt. I liked the first paragraph of the story, which was written in a narrative style. Here are the first couple of sentences:
From under the clerk's desk in the Hotel Saranac lobby at 2 o'clock yesterday afternoon a little puff of smoke curled upward, expanding as it rose. It was just such a puff as would come from a cigar laid on a table for a moment. Michael E. McNulty, who with "Danny" Mahar, the jockey, owns the hotel, which is on Broadway, just below Forty-second Street, was behind the desk. He lookd for the cigar and didn't see it. Then he pulled open the door of a little closet under the desk. A volley of smoke poured forth.
The unidentified writer (remember, newspapers rarely include bylines) also had some fun describing a man leaving his room by an outside route, wearing only an overcoat -- with bare legs below: "Cautiously he made his way down the fire escape, touching the iron rungs as though they were swords."

April 2, 1907 (Tuesday)

THERE'S NO LOOSE CANNON ON THE DECK OF THE S.S. BLUCHER: A fierce storm has swept over a Hamburg American steamer with House Speaker Joseph G. Cannon (left) on board. The ship, the Blucher, tried to moor in Nassau in New Providence (or, the Bahamas) after a trip from Havana when a gale struck and pounded the ship for hours, preventing it from unloading or picking up passengers at Nassau. The storm also caused the cancellation of a garden party the governor general had planned for Cannon, the other passengers and tourists. "The storm is one of the severest in years," according to today's Washington Post. Cannon and the other passengers were so grateful to Capt. Reesing that they presented him with a gold watch. At the captain's dinner last night, the Congressional delegation sang "Hail Columbia" and Cannon wore a "bonbon paper cap," whatever that is.

VILLAGERS IN OHIO THOUGHT IT WAS AN APRIL FOOL'S DAY JOKE -- AND A HOTEL BURNS TO THE GROUND: Early yesterday morning, residents of Kent, Ohio, were awakened by a fire alarm. Evidently, everybody thought the alarm was an April Fool's Day joke. So, they stayed in bed. Meanwhile the Sperry House, a local hotel, was destroyed by fire, according to today's New York Times.