davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington herald., 1911-10-01
Source of Great Genius.

Those who bewaif democracy as threaten
ing universal boredom and dead common
place are blind. There never was any real
genius or greatness that did not spring from
the common people.
II is a favorite bromide Action OF aris-
tocraCies that they represent the flower and
fneness Of the human stock. On :he contrary
every upper class every elect group every
chosen people usually chosen by themselves.
whether based on money, birth. or brains.
becomes in time weak cruel. and poisorous
All tina: keeps humanity alive is its ability 10
exC1ete and get rid OF its successive a-is-
tocraCles.
Gustave Flaubert declares that history falls
into three periods. "paganism. Christianity
and mufflism." He goe. on to say, " We are
in the last stage. the degrading insanity
Of equality slaughters the natural aristocra-
cies. The world becomes mediocre ard i'm
beetle. The gods are dead. Babel begins
again. The antichrIst comes" Which is
good sample of the drivel OF a large class OF
medIevaIsts
1t is not true. The ancient aristocracies
as a rule degraded genuine genius TO syco-
phanCy. Ones blood boilS 20 read Beethoyen's
dedication OF one OF his sonatas TO some royal
ass. Mozart was kept hopping about in at
tendance upon the ninn!es who were merely
somebody's sons or daughters
Art. letters, labor genius. and worth OF
any kind can only flourish as they should in
the free air OF democracy
The last and worst enemy OF democracy Is
plutocracy. We are dissolv!ng thai obstacle
now
The Washington herald., 1911-10-01

handles a pen pencil most OF the time
during his working hours. That is physi-
cal habit almost exclusively. though at times
it may be possible to determine whether he
has been poring over figures for long time
The mental effort OF concentration has a
tendency to contract the muscles Of the
fingers somewhat and the thumb and index
finger are nearer at right angles.
There are certain lines Of work which leave
distinct traces upon the position OF the hands
az rest. There's the gambler and the clerk
and the bookkeeper. already mentioned.
It Isn't often that you can be certain Of the
exact profession or occupation. but YOU can
classify them generally. There are certain
forms OF manUai labor where the workman
greSps the handle Of his tools firmly and re-
tains fixed grip most OF the ttme-such IS
Carpenters. bncksmiths plasterers, the
trowel hand OF b-i-k!ayers, stokers, etc.
The Washington herald., 1911-10-01
Democracy Hope Of the World;
It's True Spirit of Progress.
By JOHN A. ROWLAND.

pTGIE only hope for the world is democ-
The only cure for the evils Of de-
mocracy is more democracy
There is great temptation to any man
that has gotten a little ahead Of the crowd.
whether by money or brains or position, to
Gecry democracy.
Kings and mobiles regard 1t as their nat
ural enemy. They are right. It is. Set that
down to its credit.
Men OF talent. such as Carlyle and Chester
think il a passing delusion. a summer mad
ness Many men OF letters. science. and art
with whom l have talked shake their heads
al democracy. They are all wrong. Democ-
racy is the last word of social evolution. 1t
is the finished phase OF progress. II is the
gist anG core and kernel OF Christianity.
on course. I 60 not use the word democracy
party in the United States, or TO any other
party organization. / mean that spirit
among men which moves toward perfec:
equality OF all me n before the law and toward
absolute removal Of all special privilege.
First. democracy IS the end toward which
all government is moving And all govern
ments are moving in that direction with Won
derfu rapiGity. "
Since lS4S. the year OF the great upheaval
in Europe. the people have made more ad-
vance in the matter OF getting their rights
than they made in the two thousand years
preceding.
The Washington herald., 1911-10-01
Philosophy Of Successful Man.
By HOLLIS w. FIELD.

Don't try to gain the approval OF the head
OF the lrm by telling him a funny story. He
DIDN'T hire you for your vaudeville ability.
The good work you did yesterday Is good
only a. a gauge to show you how much you
are capable OF doing today.
A neat appearance. which Is always neces-
sary, doesn't mean that you have to lead the
fashions
or course your flngernails should be i'm
msculate. but the time not to attend to them
Is when engaged In business conversation.
The man who is Ave minutes late in the
morning Is the same one who IL all ready to
leave ten minutes before quitting time"
II you don't like your job and have to keep
1t. be good enough bIuffer not to let on
about It until you have something else It's
pretty poor specimen who will admit that
ne mas to hold a job he doesn't like.
The easier the Job the higher the pay 4"
doesn't mean that you'll get a raise for shirk-
Ing Hs much Of your work as possible.
Don't ask favors because you're mar
ried." The heads of the firm aren't much In
terested in your home life. and besides. you
probably got narIIed because you wanted TO.
Listen respectfully and with interest to the
" man higher up" not because he, Is higher
up. but because he knows more than you or
he wouldn't b there.
The Washington herald., 1911-10-01

sorry stimulations. which produce sleepless-
ness, often <or hours People who suffer in
this way should take means to keep their
feet warm artihciaIy by using sleeping socks.
or slipper baths. or by the use OF hot water
bottles. and by sleeping between blankets.
II is. OF course. fatal to sound sleep to go
to bed with anything on the mind" In
these sensational and pleasure loving days
We often retire to rest after receiving long
series OF vivid sensations which often ac-
count for hours of sleepless tossing. Some
times this may be relieved by a gentle fric-
ton OF the head with a medium hard brush.
We cannot hope to always drive away the
disturbing sensory impulses. for, built as
man it, Joy suffering, grief. responsibility.
and worry last. but by no means leastl.
must find their place in his life at some time
or other. Life without these would be at
best a mere existence. and so we must pay
the bill al such times. And even then
fatigue must cause sleep ere long.
Under ordinary circumstances quiet is es-
sentiaI to refreshing sleep. 1t is we'll known
that the brain can be trained to sleep during
the continuance OF sounds constantly re-
pea:ed. The confused Gin OF traffic. the rattle
OF passing trains. and many other noises
do no: seem 10 disturb the rest Of those ac-
custcmed to them. But. ordinarily speaking
quiet should precede and accompany sleep
In this connection It may be wise not 10 be
too particular about noises when little chill
dren are asleep. At some future time they
may be thankful for learning to sleep while
a certain amount of noise is going on. For
instance. there is no reason why they should
not be accustomed to sleep while a piano is
being played In another room In the house.
The Washington herald., 1911-10-01

fine wires he'd just ove- the wick for a
secorG when the vspor from the alcohol takes
fire and the lighter is ready for use
Recently lighter has been offered for sac
ths: depends upon an entirely different prIn-
cipie from the one just mentioned. This
also comes In two forms.
Cerium, one OF the rare elements found in
the Carolinas. has been used in small uusn-
titles for some time in the better grades o.,
gas mantles.
A short time ago a ne:allurgist working
upon iron alloys discovered that IL an alloy
Of iron and cerium was scratched with a
piece OF steel 1t gave forth sparks that were
intensely hot
Following this discovery came gas lighter
Of the following form: A steel wire abou,
seven inches long is turned in a complete
circle Al its middle around a half inch bar
go that the ends OF the wire almost meet
thus forming, when the bar Is withdrawn. a
small pair OF tongs about three inches long
To one end is then fastened a small steel
file and 10 the other a cylinder. OF the iron
cer!um alloy in such way that the file and
cylinder rub when the tongs are pressed.
This causes the sparkling which will ignite
any gas.
The other form using the same principle
looks just the same as the ordinary pocket
matchbox. However, when a small button
on the outside is pressed. the lid flies open
propelled by a spring that is compressed in
shutting the box: the back OF the lie causes a
small cogged wheel to turn which ruhs
against an iron-cerium cylinder similar TO
the one already mentioned. The entire bot
tom of the box is a reservoir for alcohol With
a wick leading up beside the ccgged wheel
ard this is ignited by the sparks thrown
when the lid opens.
other forms OF lighters have beer producad
from time to time. but the ones mentioned
seem the most practical As necessity de-
mands it, there is no doubt that science will
produce other and better forms. so that We
Will in no wise suffer when we no longer
have a match TO scratch.
The Washington herald., 1911-10-01
Match Wood Fast Disappearing;
New Lighters" as a Substitute.
By ADRIAN BANKS.

TEHE rapidly diminishing supply OF tim
Der in the United States is particularly
felt in respect to woods used for spe-
cial purposes and probably N none so
much as the soft cork pine used for
matches.
The chances are that We will be using
matches for many years after the entire dis
appearance Of cork pine, for there are other
materials which can be used as subst-
tute for it in the stem Of the match. In
a few years We will in ali probability use
matches whose stems are made Of pressed
1ber-jute. straw or fax.
1t has been known to the chemist for many
years that a particular form Of Platinum
called "spongy platinum. has the power TO
absorb several hundred times its own volume
Of oxygen and if placed in a stream OF
gas would cause tire gas to take fire and
burn.
This principle has been recently used IN
a. hast two forms of " lighters that are
making good with the public.
One form is for use with the gas mantles
and resembles much the small mica cover
that tastens to the top oc the glass Chin
ney to.prevent b!ackening of the ceiling
in fact. # also serves this purpose On the
under side of II, however, is a small cone
OF wiEe gauze hanging point downward. In
side this cone is a little ball OF asbestos
mixed with the spongy platinum. When
the gas is turned on it at once comes in con-
tact with this ball and is lighted
The other substitute is about the size and
shape OF a small match box. The lid. how
ever. instead Of being hinged. is slipped on
and of at will. Toward one side OF the
inside OF the lid a stout wire extends down-
ward about an inch and attached to the end
OF this are four or Ave fine platinum wires
each holding a small ball OF spongy plati-
mum. The bottom OF the box is divided into
two compartments. one TO hold the wire when
the lid Of the box is on. the other contain
ing a small supply OF alcohol with a wick
leading through a small hole in the top To
light the wick the lid Is removed and the
The Washington herald., 1911-10-01
Signs of the. Gambler.

'' It might" the older man smiled patroniz-
agly if it wasn't for the way he holds his
land Don't ycu see that the fingers are
close together-EAey touch, in fact-and the
eneraI tendency is for the palm TO be turned
+owards the body"" The younger man
nodded the light -,f comprehension dawning
n his face andj his companion continued:
That's why s;C he's card sharp. Hold
ng the cards has gotten him into the habit
Of Keeping his fingers close together. slightly
curved. with the tUCnb and part OF the base
of the thumb folded over tO'conCeal the cards
from everyone but himself. Naturally. too
re would hold the palm inward all the time.
When he relaxes. even without any cards
n his hand, the old habit exerts its tnfiu-
ence.''
The young man nodded a gain, sout the older
cna saw that he was san unConvinced.
The Washington herald., 1911-10-01

Democracy Includes All Life.
But democracy does not end in mere gov
ernment. 1t extends to business. The day is
coming when the principles Of democracy
will be applied to beef packing, railroadIng,
oil producing. and every other great organ
lied enterprise. Some future day It will be
seen that government OF big business con
Germ by heredity or by-purChase is just as
furitful Of tyranny and injustice as the gov
ernment OF a state by heredity or force.
All labor unions are unconscious move
ments toward business democracy.
There is also democracy in art. Michel
Angelo, Rafael. Correggio and the other old
masters painted nothing but earthly robles
and churchly saints. They were class paint
ers. Millet. Israels, Bonbeur, Halls, and the
more modern painters are democrats: they
show us real people.
There is democracy in literature. The old
novelists and poets wrote only Of dukes and
counts. court ladies and nigh society inci-
dents The common people to them, as to the
classic artists. simply did not exist. The
modern poet sings OF nature and Of the com
mon hUmanities TIE modern romancer tells
Of real human beings
Consequently modern art, novels and
poems are better than the old Itis no dis
respect 10 the old masters 20 say that the
twentieth century has gone beyond them
They went beyond their predecessors.
The Washington herald., 1911-10-01


each day as II you were trying q new
i and wonderful experiment.
- The only way 10 do e. thing we'll Is 10
do all the things before It will. SO you
will have q good foundation.
Don't wait for Jan. TO turn over new
leaf Any other day as far as resolutions
are concerned, VIII do just as well.
When the boss Is away Is the time to con-
vince yourself that you sre really worthy OF
the salary you are getting.
Be Just as polite to the man who comes in 10
ask a question as to the man who Is consum-
mating a big deal. You can never tell when
the auestioner will be customer.
Be true to yourself. TO matter what your
Job is II you aren't worthy OF your Job. de-
yeIop I'D to II. II your Job isn't worthy OF
you. quit You were responsible for getting
II in the first place.
II you can't get the position you want
don't stop doing something else which may
lead up to It. The job that Is easy TO get L.
generally not worth having
, When you buy pound OF butter you are
angry II you only get thirteen ounces. Do
you only Carn SIS OF your S20 salary?
Don't try to give suggestions for the I'm.
provement OF the business until you havs
made Improvements In your own work
The Washington herald., 1911-10-01
Hand of the TYpist.

Then there Is another class OF workers who
use their hands but co not grasp ;he:r tools
at aIl-typjsts. pian;nsts. organists. When
al rest their hands usually take the form OF a
bridge. with the tips of the fingers and the
wrist resting upon the table, seat, or laps.
Nos. Of those who use the typewriter con-
t!nually are !:kely to have the hand trifie
more closed than the pianists. Otherwise
there is seldom any distinguishing mark
though the extra pressure exer;ed by the
musicians may cause the fingers to have
little more splayed appearance.
When you get away from those who use
their hands continually in their work 1t is
more difficult to tell their vocat!ons o. oc-
cupations by the " set of their hanGs." There
is where the though rabits must be studied.
But to accomplish much along this line re-
quires continual application and concentra-
ton.
The Washington herald., 1911-10-01
No Chance Now for "Cold Feet. .
Bv JONAS HOWARD.

be run through the wires. The conductor
becomes warm and heats the carpet The
heat in large carpets can be controlled as
desired and the carpet will remain warm for
two or three hours after the current is turned
or. A small foot rug can be heated and
taken for comfort during a carriage ride
The wiring OF carpets for this purpose is
new. but patents have been issued before
for passing wires or wire gauze through
compartments in table covers. carpets, an5
other coverings for lighting purposes
The Washington herald., 1911-10-01
Manual Labor Leaves Its Mark.

There is a decided tendency among all of
these classes for TIE hsrds to take the posi-
tion of a loosely closed 1st when they are
at rest. Sometimes il is possible to detect a
b-iCklayer by the manner IN which the ends
Of the fingers and thumb of the left hand are
cal!oused or worn slightly raw from con-
tinual handling OF the bricks. The carpenter
and blacksmith is likely to have the muscu-
lar part Of his hand between the bases Of
thumb and index finger rather unusually de-
veloped This results from the reaction Of
the blows continually struck as in beating
iron, driving nails. or in planning work
The right hand Of the plasterer probably
will show a Calloused place between the
thumb ard irdex finger. The right hand Of
the briCklayer may show tine same character
istic little more plainly. In some instances
the mason doesn't grasp the trowel handle
as he would club. but extends the index
finger a.org 1t and uses the point OF the finger
to press down the troWel slightly. II these
cases there is rot likely 10 be a Calloused spot
between thumb end finger. but the tip Of the
first finger viii be hard.
Another class Of workers, such as clerks.
hOOkkeepers. artists. craftsmen. etc. gen.
era.ly hO.d their hands more open when at
rest than do the first class. 1t is difficult 10
distinguish between the different members
OF these professions, though occasionally
there are characteristic marks on the hands
that will help. But these marks vary accord
ing to the " temperament OF the particular
subject. The bookkeeper and the craftsman
who find ;hei- work difficult and perform I;
under nervous tension. probably vii. have
hard places at the same spot-at the first joint
Of the middle finger.
The Washington herald., 1911-10-01

red hot metal which wOu!c, never be recog-
n!zed even by other experts not trained In that
branch Of the work. II there 10 :" sev-
enth sense, the steei Inspector must b.
given credit for originating and CUltIvatlns
IT, for the ability 10 detect flaws, varying de-
grees Of temperature. and general makeup
Of the composition Of red hot steel !tSe!f has
attained its highest plane in him.
There Is one notable example 0. steel
RAJ! Inspector In the United States no has
devoted thirty years OF his life to that ore
particular work. He IL DR.. p. II. Dudley.
His address is care OF the New York
Central lines" that ls all. The particular
spot where he may be found is much 0ff
the beaten path. although Il will be found
invariably on a railroad track, fer the GOctor
Is distin Suished IN one respect somewhat
removed from that 81 TetsilUrEical en-
gIneer," as he Is called. Dr.. anf Mrs Duo
ley have lived tor thirty years in private
railway passenger car htted with g.! the COM
forts Of home. office. and laboratory, and
they have been Ehurted back and forth
throughout the country for more than q
quarter Of q century, always on two steel
rails and always within q great pulsating
steel plant.
Home in Railway Car.
During that long period they nave known
no other home-apparently they have cared
<or none otfe--than the long, narrow pas
Eenger car which IVES transformed for them
The Washington herald., 1911-10-01
Habits Leave Tell Tale Signs.
Are You Insomnia Sufferer?
Bv ALFRED H. HARMER.

~HEEE a-e sound hyg:enic metkoGs b.
which sleep may be induced. Incur
SONS into the realms OF patent medi-
i ciHes. opia;e and all sorts CT slum-
Der eiXirs which are summed up as
dope" should be avoided. But the moral
Of this lesson has been pointed over and
over. yet little has been said about natural
rnethOCs Of wooing sleep. Under this head
does not come the various mental contrtv-
ances such as counting sheep or reciting
the multiplication table.
Oxygen IS as necessary 20 the body cells
during the hours Of sleep as at any other
time. Perhaps IN the case OF children It
Is even more necessary. For them sleep
means the time OF anabOllsm. growth. and
repair. The old prejudice against open win
dows still exists. in spite Of the campaigns
OF education in the newspapers and In the
schools. Dust in the rooms, an imaginary
GRAFT. the fear Of colds, and many other
stupid reasons are advanced in excuse OF
this pernicious prejudice.
The organs OF the body also should be con-
sidered ard no excessive work should be
given TO the heart or digestive organs be-
fore retiring 10 rest. High pillows lead
to an increase in the hearts force at a time
when the heart should have the lightest work.
pillows that are too low may cause head
aches. and even sleeplessness, through an
excess OF blood being in the brain. Heavy
late suppers are unwise. but light meal.
followed by such moderate exercise as short
walk. is generally conducive 20 sound sleep.
The light meal causes a withdrawal OF blood
from the head into the stomach area and
the body generally. The body Is therefore
warmed, and this Is important Cold ex-
tremities. particularly cold feet, cause SEN
The Washington herald., 1911-10-01

@Y means OF electricity 1t is now pro-
* posed to make the carpet. the Persian
rug. or the tigers pelt as warm in
winter as the latter was while wor1
by the tiger. In Germany the ex-
pertinent is now being tried OF wiring the
fioor covering so as to heat the carpet or
rug and do away with cold floors: A patent
has been taken out for run kg Wires
through the carpet In parallel lines In such
a way that an ordinary lighting curreht can
The Washington herald., 1911-10-01

Ever Hear Of Rail Inspector?
He's "Fall Guy" of Industry.
By MARC N. GOODNOw
By MARC N. GOODNOW.

AVE you ever wondered while riding
- to and from your daily worA over
parallel lines~of thin steel rails:
Suppose one OF these rails should
crack or break Or give way and let
this car down on the ties?" There Is hardly
a person has counted the c!ickety-
clickety click OF the car wheels as they spun
around over the joints OF steel threads a:
the rate Of sixty miles an hour and has imaE-
Ihed what might happen II the train struck a
defective " rail.
But did you ever stop to think who would
shoulder the burden OF blame or the storm
OF official censure-probably sacrifice OF po-
-sitlon-should an accident occur? Would II
be the president OF the Ailrosd? No, II never
is. The engineer or conducor or superia-
tendert. do you think? No. 1t would. not
even be the steel company. when the cutting
grains OF responsibility were sifted down -
thei- last resting place.
Responsibility for a broken. cracked. or
bent rail-ore which IS defective as the result
OF the process Of fmanufacture-Would.i in the
last analysis. be boiled down into q hard pill
for one man TO Ewalow-the steel rail In
spectOr He alone, when the llst word is
uttered. is responsible fo- detective rails
which sometimes wreck trains, causing loss
OF life and Untold misery to maimeG, and mu-
tilated passengers.
The Washington herald., 1911-10-01
Expert Away. "On the lob"

One hears little OF the steel raj! Inspector
He doesn't make much noise either in steel
making or In railroad building; but he IL
" there when expert supervision Of steel
manufacture Is reQuired-whe neither Il be steel
rails. steel spans for buildings or bridges,
steel bolts. RODS. or any OF the other 1000
different pieces Of machine wrought metal
turned out in the course OF yea- at great
stee! plant. He Is quiet about his work and
he generally does his work well. That Is
why there are fewer accidents from detective
rails than any other cause. Sometimes.
however. he does not DO so well. That Is
when he enacts the role OF the fall guy"
oS modern Industry
The inspector OF steel IS ..cse scrutin-
izer" actually sensing with highly cuI-
tivated instinct almost unnoticeabIe flaws In
The Washington herald., 1911-10-01

common mass OF men the purer politics will
be. and the more honest and the cleaner
business will be.