davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-01-14
LITTLE BURLINGTON GIRL
WANTS TO BE A JUNIOR.

Dear Editor:
l have never written to you, SO
thought I would write. I am little
girl and will be years old Saturday,
Nov. 80. My home is in Burlington,
but i am staying here this winter
with my Aunt Clara.
have two sisters and two brothers.
l go to the Hedrick school, and like
my teacher very much. Her name is
Miss Hildreth will close for this
time.
Vernetta Collier,
South Ford ST.
Ottumwa Ia
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-01-14
CREAM CANDY.

Three cupfuls granulated sugar,
one-third cupful Of water. "a tea
spoonful cream of tartar, Y teaspoon
full vanilla. Do not stir while cook
Ing. Let it boil until it threads. then
add the extract and pour it into but
tered tins to cool. Pull until perfect
~ white. then cut into pieces Of con-
veaient size and put away to harden.
Your friend,
Ruth Gustason. age s,
r. F. D. No. /, Box rs,
Dudley. Iowa.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-01-14
WHAT / DID DURING 1907.

1 will tell you what I did during
1907. l was sick and l spent most of
my time in bed, until August. l help
take care of the children, and wash
the dishes. l went to schfol about one
month and two weeks. l spend good
share of my time going, as cannot do
very much work.
Your Junior friend,
Myrtle Price,,
R. f. D. No. 4,
MelroSe, Iowa.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-01-14

One cup raisins, / soda cracker, l
cup sugar, egg, grated rind of lem
on. Stone and chop the raisins; add
the sugar and the egg well beaten, the
cracker rolled fine: also the lemon
-ind Roll pastry very thin and line
sn,all pans with it. Fill with the mix
ture and bake about twenty minutes.
Yours truly
Mildred Shewry, age ~.
SIT Summit Street,
Ottumwa, Iowa.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-01-14
THE SOUVENIR PosTALs.

We will also send souvenir album
to the first Junior who has twenty
FIVE cards sent by the Courier Junior.
We want more receipts, but the Jun
Tors must send only one receipt at a
time. Every receipt must be accom-
panied by story or nice letter and
must be written on a separate piece
Of paper. We will commence to send
the postals out Saturday and Monday.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-01-14
CREAM CANDY.

Two cups of sugar, one cup OF cold
water, tone-ha'f of vinegar. Flavor to
taste and boil until when dropped in
cold water it will harden Pour into
buttered pans and let cool enough to
pull white.
Jennie E. Plank,
South English Iowa
P. Sd am Tri-Weel1ly Junior
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-01-14

Dear Editor
I have never written to the Courier
Ter Junior page. I am little girl 6
pears old. I have been going to school
one year. l have not missed day in
school this term. / have three sisters
and one brother. My sisters names
are Laura, Jennie and Lena, and my
brothers name is Robert l will close,
as this is all l can think of.
Mildred Kellar,
r. r. D. No. 3,
Charlton, Iowa.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-01-14
SUGAR CAKES.

One cup -four, two thirds cup butter,
one cup -four, whites OF two eggs Rub
the butter into the flour, and sugar and
mix tc dough with the whites of
eggs. Roll out into small cakes.
sprinkle sugar over the tops and bake
IN quick oven.
Yours truly.
Oracle Shewry, age 10.
SIT Summit Street
Ottumwa, Iowa.
nm !. Daily Junior
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-01-14
MY TRIP TO OREGON.
Dear Editor:

Dear Editor:
l will try and write a few lines
about my trip to Oregon
l got on the train at Bloomfield and
changed at Moulton ana then we went
to Minneapolis and STAYED there ~
hours. | went over the Mississippi
river on fiat bridge Then I went
up in the city 1t was beautiful
place.
There was lots of scenery in the
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-01-14
SOME MADONNA STORIES.

We want the Juniors to write some
pretty little stories about the Ma
donna. Today we have Sichel Ma
donna to show you all
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-01-14
ENGLISH TAFFY.

Melt one pound of butter and add to
it one pound sugar. Boil until it will
harden in cold water Pour in but
tered pans and mark off in squares
Florence Skirvin,
Agency. Iowa
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-01-14
LEMON CAKE MUFFINs.

One egg. one cup sugar, one-half cup
butter (part butter and part lard may
be used), one cup milk, two cups flour.
two rounding teaspoonfuls baking
powder, one level teasDoonful lemon
flavoring powder. Bake in muffin
rings in hot over.
Miss Agnes Adcocls age II.
Chllicothe Iowa
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-01-14
The Courier Junior
M Published by
THE coURlE. PRINTING CO.,
oTTuMWA, IOWA.
MATILDA DEvEREAUx.
EDITOR.
A NEW CONTEST NEXT WEEK.

Dear Junior: We will announce an
other big contest next week. We have
received many correct answers to our
word puzzle contest which closes
Monday, Jan. 10 for the Daily Juniors
and Wednesday, Jan. Id for the Tri-
Weekly Juniors.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-01-14
DELICATE CAKE.

One cupful of sugar. a piece of but
'nr the size Of an egg, the whites of
five eggs, one cup of flour in which one
'eaDing teaspoonful of baking powder
has been sifted. Flavor with bitter al
mond. Bake quickly.
Paul Indy,
Hedrick, Iowa.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-01-14

shortening Cor less, if you prefer the
doughnuts not so short). Flavor with
nutmeg or cinnamon; add flour to roll,
and fry in hot lard.
Mabel Skinner, age 9,
Agency, Iowa.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-01-14
Dear Editor.

Dear EQltOr:- ~
AS l have never written to the
Courier thought would write today,
NY papa takes the Ottumwa Courier
and l like to read the Junior stories..
| am a little girl IL years old. l have
two sisters. Their names are Hazel
and Louise. Hazel is Ia years old and
Louise is 16 months old
For pets have rabbit and kitten
and bantam. The rabbits name is
Bunny, the kittens name is Beauty
and the bantam's name Is Bessie.
We have one colt. He is brown
and black.
go to Half Way Prairie school.
I study history, physiology. arithsl
metta language, spelling and geogs
raphy, writing and singing. 81
Your Junior,
Elizabeth Burchby.
R. T. D. No. 4. Abba. Iowa. -
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-01-14
average in department is from ninety

average in department is from ninety
two to ninety-nine.
For pets l have doll, kitty, and a
Teddy hear | have grandpa, who
is eighty-seven $50 years old, He ia
an old soldier that fougat in the war
of the Rebellion. also have a grand
ma eighty years old and papa and
mamma, one brother, and two sisters.
like to read the junior letters very
much.
l will clo-e for this time.
Vera Lang, age 10,
Floris, Iowa, R. R., No, l.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-01-14

Dear Editor:-
The reason whv I haven't written
for long time is that I have been sick
for about four weeks with typhoid
fever.
Well. 1 must tell you what Santa
Claus brought me. He brought me a
football and pocketbook, with soma
money in it, and two little toy birds
and candy. I think he is a nice old
man.. like to see him come.
I received the post card you sent me.
I think it is very nice:
My little brother and sister had thu
fever too. My little sister is able to
be up, but brother isn't. 's5s
I will close.
Your Junior friend,
Harry Strunk, age Z. 81
r. F. D. No. 2, ,f5
Unionville, Ia
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-01-14

spreading their brilliant executions
upon canvas, other artists, possibly
less widely known have also contrib
uted splendid specimens to the collec-
ton of the world. Here is reproduced
Siche's Mother of God" very mod
ern but none the less appealing con-
ception of the Madonna.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-01-14
MABEL PLEASED WITH HER
BOOK.

Dear Editor:
Having received my lovely book,
called Hermit of the Hills, l thought
l would write and thank you for it. |
read it through Christmas day. re-
ceived all the presents l wanted for
Christmas and many more. hope
all the little children that got Christ
mas stocking from the Courier Junior
were happy on Christmas. received
my Christmas postals and thank you
very much Tor tllem and all the other
postals have received. l hope all
the other Juniors that received prizes
were as glad with them as | was.
hoping all the Juniors a Happy New
Year, ! remain, true FRIEND,
Mabel Reifsnyder.
Ottumwa, Iowa.
A TRUE STORY ABOUT AMGoRA
GOATS.
~, tbo GUITAR alne Df Pierre there
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-01-14
LITTLE ELDoN GIRLS FIRST LET
TER.

Dear Editor:
/ thought would write letter for
have never written before. l am a
little girl 10 years old. have one
sister Her name is Gladys. l go in
the fifth room in Eldon high school.
/ like my teacher very well. Her
name is Miss Ruth Roberts. l am a
Daily Junior. Your friend,
Mabel Myers, age 10.
COL Caster ST., Eldon, Ia
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-01-14
EGGLEss DouGHNUTs.

One cup each of butter, milk and
sugar; one teaspoonful of soda;
pinch of salt. four teaspoonfuls of
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-01-14
Dear Editor:

Dear Editor:
thought 1 would write and thank
you for my postal card you sent me.
thought it was very nice and hope I
will get another. l am little boy 10
years old. go to school every day.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-01-14
WE WISH THAT GLADYS WOULD
WRITE A LONGER LETTER
OR A NICE STORY.

Dear Editor:
thought l would write letter to
you to tell you that received the post
cards you sent.
l think they are cute.
l also received three postal cards
from the juniors.
Well. that is ALL
Your loving junior,
Elmer Gladys Gordon. age 10.
Woodland, California.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-01-14

The great masters have all contri-
buted their most brilliant talents in
reproducing the tale of the babe in
the manager. Thanks to the artistic
temperament the Madonna face and
head have come to be the personifi-
cation of highest and truest art. While
the more famous painters have been
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-01-14

thought l would write you some
about Mac. We have just one more
pup left. 1t is black with white feet.
It's name is Mary Jane.
Mac is dead now, somebody poison
ed her.. Three of US boys went out
and got her and buried her and cried.
Your truly,
VIM. H. Phinney,
Abba, Iowa, box 667.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-01-14

I, am in the fifth room study Ian.
guage, arithmetic, geography, spelling,
reading and writing and music.
like to go to school. My teachers
name is Mrs. McKillip. She is very
nice teacher. The fire bell rang and
the whistle blew but it was a false
alarm This is all will write for this
time. Your friend,
Harold Chapman.
R. F. D. No. 4.
Abba, Iowa.
Dear Editor:
This is the third time I have writ.
tie girl years old. For pets I have
one yellow cat and two dogs. go to
school every day. am 20 miles from
home, going to school. stay at my
aunt's. am in the third reader. My
teachers name is Miss Ruth Smith i
like her very much. There are only
four children who go to school.
AS my letter is getting long I will
close, wishing the Junior success and
hoping to receive postal.
Yours truly,
Lille Hannum. age 9. "a
Syracuse. Kansas. Box II.
Dear Editor:
will write you letter as have
not written for some time. l go to
school. l like the teacher real we'll.
We have lots of fun at school. We
have a lot of hazelnuts, and some
hickorynuts gathered. ] have about
eleven or twelve post cards from the
Courier Junior and / would like, to get
an album. We will have some pop
corn to sell this winter. l like pop
popcorn balls so we'll. / think pop
corn is nice to decorate with at Christ
mas.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-01-14
Abba, Ia.

Dear Editor and Courier Junior:
We do not live at the lumber camp
now. 1t got too cold to stay UP there.
We live at Florence, Colorado, now.
My papa works at a mill called the
U. S. Refining and Reduction Co They
make gold bricks at this mill. For
Christmas I got go-cart for my big
doll, a toy range and a blackboard and
a box Of writing paper from papa and
mamma. My Grandma Baggs of N.
Moore street, Ottumwa, Iowa, sent me-
one-dollar bill and mamma bought
me gray bearskin hood with it. MY
Grandma Earring Of Ottumwa sent mo
Christmas card, and a friend, Mrs.
Calhoun, gave me a pair of wool ait-
tens. Don't you think I. got lots Of
things. I will be 8 years old the 10Th
of next March, and mamma has prone
ised me Teddy bear.
Now, good by. A happy New Yea,
wish to you all.
Your little friend,
Verda M. Baggs, age Z,
Florence, Colorado.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-01-14
Your Junior,
Mae Shaffer, age H..
Douds-L eando, la.

Dear Editor:
thought I would write to the Cor
rier Junior again. I have written
once before, l thank you for my
postal card and Teddy Bear. / have
one sister. Her name is Geneva. We
have a pony and cat. Our pony.s
name is Babe We have six little kit
tens. We have dog also. His name
is Ponto. Wishing the Courier Junior
success,
Genevieve Anderson.
Alhia To
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-01-14
eANBURY TARTs.

! am a Daily Junior.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-01-14

A TRUE STORY ABOUT AMeoRA
GOATS.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-01-14
WILLIAM PHlNNEY TEELS ABoUT
MAC.

Floris. Iowa, R. R.. No. /.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-01-14
EDGAR MAcKEYs LETTER.

Ottumwa, Ia,
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-01-14

On the outer edge of Pierre, there
stands an old college, which has not
The Pensacola journal., 1908-11-20
EDUCATION FOR THE
SOUTH AND. MORE FACTORIES
ARCHBOLD. TO TELL
OF TRUST AGREEMENT
Thanksgiving Proclamation
State of Florida


WHEREAS Inere has been handed
beautiful
Thanksgiving Almighty and
WHEREAS The president the of
proclaimed the
and eight, sUch
OF proclaim
y observe
While in
the depression
try there have been in midst
all wished
oed happily wealth mine
receiving
selves
calamity befalen
pous have been favorable
AS The close, there many
the business
all
AlEWse Father suited each of
let
their churches nd
all bitterness all
left
the all
and minds for the abundant blessings which
those who Him.
Of
Tallahassee twelfth
of
independence of the the
n. B. BRowARD,
the Governor-Attest:
H.
Secretary of State.
The Pensacola journal., 1908-11-20
COMMITTEE
PROBING INTO
FOOD SUPPLY
House Ways and Means
Committee Has Taken Up
Subject of Tariff Schedules
on Agricultural Products.
Many Persons Appeared.
BY Associated Press.

Washington, Nov. 19-When the
hearing before the house ways and
means committee on the tariff sched-
ule for agricultural products and pro
visions was resumed today. it appeared
that it would be necessary to extend
the days session into the night.
Tulio Larringa, resident commission
er from Porto Rico, represents the in.
terests of that island before the cola-
mittee- He spoke principally with re-
gard to coffee, but olives and rice
were the principal articles discuss ed
today.
The Louisiana rice industry was
well represented before the commit
tee. The paragraph of the present
tariff law imposing a duty of one
fourth of cent per pound upon iice,
flour and meal which will pass through
sieve, known commercially as No.
II wire seive, having caused some
contention because it is claimed that
sfeves of varying size are known. as
No II" 1t is proposed to amend
the present law so that the sieve will
be prescribed by the secret 4ry nt the
treasury.
Rice culture was begun in this coul-
try over 200 years ago in Soufn Caro-
lima In Louisiana, prior to the Civil
war, the annual rice oGia put ave~aecd
100000 pounds From 1895 tc 1900
the states annual produ -t:cn WIS over
100, 100000 pounds. In 1907 there were
seventy-four establishments with an
invested capital OF ever SS00. .on1 on
saged in the cleaning and polishing
of rice, of which forty-three were in
Louisiana The expectations in the
Same year amounted to 24I3 0GS
pounds and the imporLationS amount
ed to nearly 200. .0OO,0 900 pounds. most
of which came from Japan ana th3
Chinese empire.
The ways and means comnii,tee-<
private room adjoining the committee
room is assuming ne appearance of
an exhibition hall. Several crates OF
oranges, grapefruit and case of
lemons were submitted as samples BY
the California fruit growers. Several
of the members of the committee dis
covered before the session began this
that California fruit makes
good breakfast food
The Pensacola journal., 1908-11-20
WILL SUBMIT
NAMES To POPE
Rector of Catholic Univer-
sity of America Will Be
Named By Him.
BY Associated Press.

Washington, Nov. 19.--As result
of the annual meeting of the trustees
of the Catholic University of America.
held in this city yesterday. three
names, not to be made public. will be
submitted TO the pope. from which he
will select a successor To the Right
Rev. Bishop O'Connell. as rector of
the University. IN February next,
Bishop O'Connel viii aave completed
his sIx-year term as rector. Cardinal
Gibbons, as president of the board,
presided at the meeting. Other trus-
tees present We're Archbishop Farley.
of New York, Ryan of Philadelphia.
and Moeller OF Cincinnati, Bishops
Macs, of Covington, KY, Foley of De-
Troit, Harkins of Providence, and
O'Connell of this city. Monsignor La
velle of New York, Eugene Philbin of
New York and Richard Kerens, of
ST Louis.
Bishop O'Conneli. in his annual re-
port, called special attention to the
offer of the knights of Columbus to
raise S500.000 as an endowment fund
and to that of the Ancient Order of
Hibernians TO establish in the various
states of the union scholarships at
tlc university for children of mem.
bers of the order.
The Pensacola journal., 1908-11-20
National Society For Indus
trial Education Convened
In Atlanta Yesterday.
ELMER E. BROWN
DELIVERED SPEECH
At Banquet Last Night He
Said Education Along In
dustrial Lines is an Essen
tial Factor sin National
Prosperity, and Urged a
Closer Alliance Between
Movement and the Public
Schools.
sx Assoclated Press.


Atlanta. Ga, Nov. I9.-Of signifi-
canoe to the entire south is the second
annual convention of the National So
ciety for the Promotion of Industrial
Education, which began here tonight
with a banquet at the Hotel Piedmont
Industrial education for the South,
more factories, more skilled labor and
in consequence more wealth produc-
ers. was the keynote of many of to-
nights speeches. The material and
moral benefits which the entire Unit
ed States can deEiYe from the i'm
provement of its hlaustrial education
system was also Brought into sharp
relief OF particp1ar interest along
Ellsworth Brown, United States Com
missioner of Education.
A Closer Alliance.
Discussing industrial education as
an essential factor in our national
prosperity Mr.. Brown urged upon the
convention the necessity OF maintain
ing a close alliance between the new
movement and the great system of
public schools already established
Mr.. Brown emphasized the unifying
influence, which ne said, was to be
exerted within the next few years By
industrial art and BIZ the spirit of art
as it was to be found In our general
and in our industrial education. TArt
is that part of education" he con-
tinued, which lays EN- phasis. first, on
the excellence of the work done, and
secondly, lays em4laasss on good taste
in the product of the work"
Taking as the basis for his argu-
ment the fact that the number of
persons in civilized communities who
have had schooling,Eis constantly on
the increase. Mr. Brown asserted that
the markets of ttssASorld must re-
spond not only u growing demand
for modern appliances of comfort and
but also to a growing de-
mand for excellence of finish and de-
sign. The commercial advantage
will rest in the near future he proph-
esied. with the nation that can make
the finest combination of inventive
skill with beauty of design and work
Industrial training alone. he said,
would utterly fail 10 give US that great
army of producers in the field of the
finer manufactures which will be
needed to supply demands that al
ready have begun to appear unless
carried forward in the full sweep of
our great systems of schooling for in
telligence, character and citizenship
He admitted that there was an inn
perative need fer technical schools,
though their value and their success
could be mea sured by the extent of
their connection with the general
of public education.
Il am confident they will not fail
in the end. he said in conclusion,
"but they will wiz their success by
bringing over into their new and Diff
ficult work of special training a full
of that general intelligence
and insight and strength of ideals
whic3l had made the puolic schools
and the public school teachers of our
land so true a source of national pride
and power"
The Pensacola journal., 1908-11-20
VICE-PRESIDENT
TO BE EXAMINED
Man of the Famous .Certi6-
cate of Deposit" is to En-
tighten the Court Upon
Transactions of the STAN
dard Oil Since the Trust
Agreement of 1882.
BY Associates Press

New York, Nov. 19.-With the tell
ing Of the story of the first score OF
years of industrial development of
the Standard Oil company, the testi-
mony of John ID. Rockefeller, presi-
dent OF heoil combine, and the direct
examination in tle federal suit to dis
solve the Standard Oil company was
brought to an unexpected close this
afternoon The head of the Standard
Oil company today told of The process
es and causes of the company's growth
up TO the trust agreement of 1882,
and, after identifying the parties TO
tIiat agreement, counsel for the de-
fense announced that Rockefeller had
concluded Dis direct testimony and
requested adjournment until tomor-
row.
Friday will find Rockefeller under
the sharp fire of a cross examination
by Franls B. Kellogg, special assist
ant attorney general, who is prosecut-
ing the case for the government.
Counsel for the defense let it be
known tonight that the history of the
company from the trust agreement of
1882 is to be told on the witness stand
by John ID. Archbold, vice president of
the company, Rockefeller's testimony
today had to do with the acquisition
of other refining companies. togeth-
ef with the transportation concerns
and pipe line systems which he de-
clared were necessitated by the natu-
raj growth of the Standards business.
The Pensacola journal., 1908-11-20
FROM ST.LOU|S
To GEORGIA IN
4 BALLOON
Aeronaut Compelled to Re-
main in Air All Night on
Account of Forest Fires.
Was Up For About "a
Hours.
BY Associates Press.

Clayton, Ga, Nov 19.-The balloon
Yankee. descended in this county
today about, ten miles southwest OF
here. Aeronaut A. d. Lambert said
ne left st. Louis shortly after the noon
hour yesterday and crossed Illinois at
an altitude of $500 feet He said he
remained in the air all night ON ac-
count of forest fires. The smoke
bothered him a good deal aid at times
he could not see the earth. The bal
loon was uninjured and Lambert re-
turned with it to st. Louis today