davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1911-01-20
Congressional Change Needed.

With the assembling of congress
there ONE again the familiar argu-
ment that there should be a change III
the system by which con..ressmen do
not begin their Legislative Gut:es ant!
nearly thirteen months after they have
been elected. This year the matter Is
emphasized because the people ut the
polls expressed themselves as mnis.
takably in favor Of a change. The
present congress is strongly Repub-
lican; the next house of representa-
tives will be even more strongly Dem
ocratic.
The congressman elected Nov. 8 will
begin drawing their salaries from
Uncle Sam March 4 next, but unless
n special session is called they will
not begin their legislative duties until
the following December. Thus the
will Of the people, expressed at the
polls, will have no expression in the
legislative halls for more than a year.
Every one is agreed that this sys-
TEN is wrong and that the newly
elected congressman should have a say
in making the laws at the earliest
practical moment after they are elect
cd. 1t is possible now for even the
delegate from faraway Manila to
reach Washington within five or six
weeks without undue haste, so it
would seem that two months would
be a reasonable time to clapse between
the election and the assembling Of thu
new congress.
But an amendment to the constitu-
ton is necessary to make the change,
and amendments to the constitution
are hard to effect. The subject has
been up before every congress for
many years, but nothing definite has
ever been accomplished. We may cx-
pect to hear the matter debated at
length during the coming session..
The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1911-01-20
Girls Have Best Color Sense.

Interesting experiments have been
carried on by DR.. Warburg in the
schools Of Cologne. Germany, on the
subject Of distinguishing between diff
ferent colors. He found that the pow
er Of telling one color OF shade from
another was much more strongly de-
veloped in girls than in boys. He also
found that the more intelligent the
pupils were the better color Iii they
had.
Some colors. he discovered, seemed to
make a much stronger impression on
the eye than others. White and black
are the easiest colors to recognize. Red,
yellow. green and blue follow in the
order named. though blue Is much
harder to perceive than green. OF
another class and far more difficult to
recognize are brown. gray and violet.
The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1911-01-20
Annual Advice.

Annual Advice.
Buy your Christmas presents early
Is the oft expressed advice.
Who would not be pleased to do so
II he only had the price?
Those who purchase them on credit
Very calmly wait until
They,can get them safely landed
On the January bill.
What's the sense of this excitement
Long before the day is near?
Some would have us at 1t buying
In the middle Of the year.
Or. still better, more fOrehanded,
They would have us bargains nall.
SO we would be sure to have them.
At the winter bargain sale.
But this grand advice is wasted
As into the ear 1t flows.
Without stopping for q moment
Out the other ear 1t goes.
Even one who has the money.
Having harvested his crop.
In q manner almost reckless
Spends 1t at the grocer shop.
ON the whole, It may be. better
To avoid the rush and start
Buying ere the aisles are crowded
In the Christmas present mart,
But procrastination conquers.
90 that late on Christmas ntght
10 procure things for the stocktn9D
It's q foot race and fght.
The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1911-01-20
MYSTERY OF FIREFLIEs.
Light Emitted by Insects Not Due 70
Phosphorus.


Despite the fact that science has
been puzzling over the problem for
many years-experimenting and ana
Lying and dissecting-the glowworm's
secret is still unsolved. We knew
very little more about its mysterious
lamp-physiologic lights the experts
call it-than did our fore%fathers. Even
it's purpose is still hidden.
Except to delight the human eye, the
firefiy's aimless flashing through the
trees. the noctiluc, flashing illumina-
ton of the sea-. seem to he absolutely
p%urposeless. They may have some
thing to do with the reproduction Of
the species. says II. A. McDermott in
the Popular Science Monthly. but this
is mere speculation.
Mr.. McDermott goes on to tell what
little we do know regarding physio-
logic light. 1t may be summed up as
follows: The common notion that the
light is due to the presence of phos-
phorus in the insects body is u mis-
take. Analyses show very minute
quantities of this element and these in
the form Of phosphates. The light is
the most economical form of illumina-
ton known. Its efficiency is 96 per
cent as compared with 4 per cent for
the best artificial illaminant known.
The amount of heat produced by the
freely in running it's lamp is so small
that it cannot be measured.
The light from different phosphores-
cent organisms has been described as
Of very various colors-red, blue. green.
yellow. etc. ~Spectroscopic analyses Of
the common firefly's flashes showed
ian unsymmetrical s~tructureless band
in the red, yellow and green" A fuor-
escent substance may be extracted
from the common freely. When some
Of its luminous tissue is carefully
dried 1t may be made to glow again
by moistening 1t with water. 1t re-
tains this power for considerable peri
DDS If kept dry.
The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1911-01-20
No%veltie. Of the New Congress.

NOVeAClo0 OF tic new
When the "Sixty-second congress con.
venes in 1911 It will contain several
unique features. For one thing it will
have the first Democratic house of
representatives seen in sixteen years.
1t will behold the first Democratic
senators from New York, New Jersey
and Ohio in about the same length Of
time, although in the Ease Of Ohio one
might go back farther yet without
finding a Democrat in the upper house.
Stranger still, it will witness a Demo-
cratic senator from Maine, the first in
more than a generation. 1t will also
be the first time since the days of
Grover Cleveland that a president has
been confronted by a house of an ad-
verse political faith.
The Sixty-second congress will con
tain a Soci list and a Single Taxer. In
days of old Tom L. johnson and some
other Single Takers invaded the house,
but it was so long ago that the fact
Is almost forgotten. Moreover, none
of them was so thoroughly identified
with the doctrine as Henry George,
Jr., the man who beat Representative
William s. Bennett in one of the New
York city districts. AS for the Social
list congressman, Victor l.. Berger Of
Wisconsin, the brains Of the Socialist
party in Milwaukee and elsewhere, he
is the first Of his kind. Mr.. Berger
promises not to wave Il red flag under
the nose of the speaker, but. never
theless he will be regarded with some
curiosity, not unmixed with a%pprehen-
sion, by the country at large.
In the next house will be a Buffalo
newspaper man who was elected by q
plurality Of ten and another repre-
sentative who reported that his only
campaign expense az 5 cents X
pended for Il lemon. This is certainly
a novelty, for in congressional matters
it is usually the dear people who get
the lemons.
The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1911-01-20
The Inevitable.

The winter cometh on apace.
Rare Indian summer routing.
On every moist, convenient place
The ice will soon be sprouting.
The snow will tumble from the sky,
And, taken altogether,
AS sure as you're three inches high
We will have lots of weather.
Anon the winds with hollow tones
Will scud around the corner
And sing a SONG Of arctic zones
That couldn't be f%orlorner.
And men who basked as butterflies
Throughout the dizzy summer
And failed to lay aside supplies
Will own it is a hummer.
Society will trim its lamps
That sent but feeble flicker
Throughout the days of summer camps.
And those outside will smoker
And say the game is all a bluff,
A show Of neck and raiment.
And they will bet that half the stun
Is bought on weekly payment.
The cold will soon be acting smart
And calling us its steady.
And we will say 1t a depart
As O as it is ready.
Those who have reached the age mature
OF ninety-nine or greater
Will all be very glad, I'm sure.
When they can see it later.
The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1911-01-20
Air as a Curative.

AIT Uo a OuEeVAVCs
Pure air. and plenty of it is the best
preventive of tuberculosis as we'll as
the greatest curative agent. All the
remedies ever devised for this fatal
disease are futile when the patient
does not live and sleep under condi-
lions which mean that plenty Of air
will be fed to the infected lungs. Per-
sons who live outdoors, and especially
those who sleep outdoors or sleep in
rooms that are ut all times well ven
tilated, rarely have tuberculosis.
The investigation of the congestion
of population. commission in New
York city has shown that there are
today 10000 persons, mostly adults,
living in Americas metropolis who
are doomed to die of consumption.
The death list is greatest among in
fants Of less than n year and among
adults. Young persons who spend
more time out of doors are less fire.
quently sufferers.
The. tremendous toll that tubercul0-
sis eXacts from residents of great
cities is due to the fact that thousands
Of persons sleep in rooms that never
have sunlight, that are dark eve in
the daytime and have little Or no venti-
lation. The same conditions in a lesser
degree cause thousands of deaths from
phthisis IN the country and in smaller
towns where land is cheap and where
good air is abundant.
The remedy is obvious. Sleep in a
room with one, two or three windows
open. Put more cover on the bed and
let the pure air in. If all the citizens
of this republic were 80 situated that
they could. follow this advice, and If
they would follow it. the great white
plague would be banished from the
land within a generation or two.
The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1911-01-20
HumOr and
Philosophy
PERT PARAGRAPHS.
3y DUNCAN n. SMITH

NHE man who doesn't laugh when he
see a prosperous citizen fall on the
slippery sidewalk isn't to be trusted
with the church collection.
There has to be a person in every
community who is always threatening
to submerge somebody in Il near scl:.-
dial or every one would die of bore
dom.
The unexpected company always
comes when the dinner is made up
Of leftovers and near foods.
When the relative his wife likes least
makes her annual visit the wise man
goes out Of town.
1t is sometimes embarrassing when
the maid speaks better English than
the mistress.
Every man should be master in his
" house, but sometimes his wife
won't let him.
When q man is bosscd by his wife.
bullied by his daughter, patronized by
his son and terrorized by the cook, the
office boy has to bear the brunt of his
baited temper.
If the girl in the fat above plays
classical music seven hours a day buy
a photograph and give yourself the
ragtime treat that is coming to you.
1t is more apt to be Il mans stomach
than his conscience that keeps him
awake.
When you hear men talking about
the fortunes they have made you will
notice the fortunes are like the fish
they didn't get.
The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1911-01-20
LIFTING MAGNETS.
Invention That Has Changed the
Method ct Handling Iron.

w S~ S'O
Method Of Handling Iron.
The employment of lifting magnets
has greatly simplitied the handling Of
pig iron. steel and iron scrap. cast.
ings. rails and other miscellaneous
magnetic matter.
The cost of handling the melting
stock used by open hearth furnaces
from cars to stock pile Or from stock
pile to the charging boxes has been
reduced from approximately 8 cents a
ton by hand methods to 2 cents a ton
by the use Of the lifting magnet in
connection with suitable cranes.
1t is q great convenience and v
time for the crane operator to be able
to transfer an empty charging box to
a new location without the help Of a
ground man or to be able to handle a
The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1911-01-20
Exit Gambling Slot Machines.

Exit Gambling Slot Machines.
A man of the world who recently
| completed a tour of the United States,
having visited twenty-four of the com
| monwealths and nearly all the impor-
tant cities, places himself upon record
as declaring that the gambling slot
machine which was in evidence near
~ everywhere in public eight Or ten
years ago has disappeared from view.
Those who %frequented barrooms a dec
ade ago remember the vast variety of
these cheating ~meclanisms. In dance
halls, theater entrances and at other
places they were set up to catch the
nickels of the unwary.
AS a rule, the person with the gam
bling spirit fairly well developed has
so little control Of his mental faculties
that he will take a fier time after
time on a proposition that needs must
appeal to a person Of average intclli-
gence as a sure thing shot for the
other fellow. Consequently it was not
merely the one nickel, but enough
nickels to make the dollar and more
that were poured into the open maws
of these pestiferous slot machines.
1t has been figured out that Il man's
chance to win from one Of these ma.
chimes is about 1 in 1O1. OF course
a fellow can win Il nickel now and
then, but that merely incites him tc
plunge for the dollar and two dollar
stakes, which not man in a thou
sand ever can win, owing to the dis
honest construction Of the machine. It
is gratifying to know that the slot
gambler has been practically Knocked
out by the laws of the several states,
SO that at present it is seen only in the
most d%isreputable places. The awak-
ening Of public conscience and private
common sense have combined to put
the slot gambling device out Of COM
mission. Glory be!
The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1911-01-20

The price of a pork chop has be-
come as important a standard for the
measurement OF prosperity as the
price of a bushel Of wheat used to be.
The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1911-01-20

Reports of campaign expenses that
amount to Il great deal more than the
salary of an Office are calculated tc
discourage the business Ia in poll
tics.
The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1911-01-20
To Utilize Old Paint.

To utilize old and thick paint when
q paint grinding mill Is not at hand
grind the paint through IN old meat
cutter. using the. nut butter grinder.
Thin It with turpentine and oil. In
this manner all accumulated leavings
IN paint cans can be used.
The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1911-01-20

The board of inquiry may be able to
trace the origin of the sawdust blaze
on the battleship Kentucky to the
packing methods in the blue grass re-
gion.
The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1911-01-20

II the wrights will take to heart the
lesson Of Johnstone's death they can
make aeroplaning something different
from work on the high trapeze with
out a net and more like n true sport
for human beings.
The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1911-01-20

The Berlin man who amused the
guests at his dinner party by jumping
into a fountain and gamboling with
the goldfish compels Newport to look
to it's Iaurels in the matter of unique
diversion.
The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1911-01-20

About the first thing Richard Croker
did when he landed in this country
the other day was to give us 4 few
opinions about the late election. 1t
wasn't really necessary. Plenty Of that
sort Of thing had been going around
without importing any Of it.
The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1911-01-20

Those Ohio girls who organized Il SO
ciety which was to abjure kissing
have not been heard from in some
time. The idea has not yet become
a general fnd.
The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1911-01-20

Reports in New York show that
there are thousands of clerks in that
city for whom there is no employment.
At the same time the country is short
Of farm hands. The farm boys are be.
ing educated for clerkships, but the
city boys urc not being educated for
farm work.
The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1911-01-20

That New York ex-assemblyman
whose friends gave a benefit and rails
Ell $1,000 for him needn't feel partic-
ularly worried about his defeat in the
recent election.
The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1911-01-20
Another Kind,

"Do you know the nature of an
oath?" asked the judge.
"It is what your father says when
the breakfast doesn't suit him." said
the youthful witness.
mo. This only means that you will
promise to tell the truth"
ut must be a denaturcd oath. then"
The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1911-01-20

Every time the Mormon officials read
about the matrimonial doings in the
New York smart set they renew their
declaration that polygamy should be
abolished.
The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1911-01-20

The eating Of the Thanksgiving tur-
key should remind you that 1t is time
to begin thinking Of the Christmas
present.
The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1911-01-20

All that battleships will be needed
for hereafter will be to haul the aero.
planes TO the place where the battle
is fought.
The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1911-01-20

Sometimes a returned hero is inclin-
ed to wonder whether the homesick-
less he felt during his travels was
not IL mistake.
The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1911-01-20

The skepticism of retail meat deal
ers as to whether the drop In the price
Of meat is genuine and will be main
tanned by the packers for any length
Of time is %unhappily based on their
practical experience.
The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1911-01-20

A great many boys will be disap-
pointed this year because flying ma
chimes are too big to be hung Oh
Christmas trees.
The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1911-01-20

Los Angeles, Cal. is SC well pleased
with the census figures that nobody
there. thinks Of asking for a. recount.
The city gained about 200 per cent in
ten years.
The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1911-01-20

It is not likely that many Of the
surviving Mexican war veterans will
care to re-enlist.
The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1911-01-20

The baseball magnates by various
disputes and controversies manage to
keep interest in the sport more or less
alive throughout the winter, but it
wouldn't be fair to say they do it on
purpose.
The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1911-01-20
He Had To.

He HAD 10.
"Let me tell you one thing" said the
belligerent husband.
Gail right" said the saucy wife.
"It takes a lot of money to clothe
you"
"Well, you will have to confess that
it is worth it,"
The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1911-01-20

"What will your mother say when
she finds out you broke the vase?" =
"She will have a st."
"You better take along some fit
medicine for her."
"No; 1 think l will wcar.two pairs Of
trousers instead"
The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1911-01-20
Humor and
Philosophy
PERT PARAGRAPHS.
~ DUNCAN N. SMITH

PERT PARAGRAPHS.
"A BOY doesn't care a copper about his
sisters good looks until some girl
tells him his sister resembles her
brother:
There are people who could tell all
they know a good deal quicker If they
knew more.
A man who persists in trying to run
down q lie has more patience than
brains.
Life is full of surprises, but the sur
prise party is not notably among
them.
They say some men never know
when they are beaten. but none is ever
beaten until he knows 1t.
A woman doesn't admire q man who
swears but she has a contempt for
the man who can't.
The reason that the mistakes that
your neighbor makes look so foolish
is because you don't see them until
they are made; but, for the matter OF
that, neither does he.
1t tickles. a man clear down to his
toes to see another man pound his fin
gers with a hammer.
Having furnished savings banks, if
the government will nov kindly fur
nish dollars to put in them there are
not a few citizens who wouldn't be
averse to standing. around and watch
ing their bank accounts grow.
Every man knows he could settle the
tariff question himself, but modesty
forbids.
Politicians. like Indians. are not good
till they are dead.
The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1911-01-20

There Is room at the top in aviation
but the coming down Is also good.
The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1911-01-20

It IL now easier to foresee the po-
litical status Of Panama than that, Of
some Of the states In the Union.
The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1911-01-20

Some people let loose their terrapin
Ind champagne appetites as oon al
pork chops are cut 2 cents u pound.
The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1911-01-20

The very latest sport seems to be
that of engaging in a football scramble
for relics of dead a~viators.
The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1911-01-20

Uncle Joe Cannon may yet learn
what 1t means to carry on an ineffec-
tual struggle to catch the speakers
eve.
The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1911-01-20

DR.. Cook would have a hard time
discovering the freedom Of a city in
Denmark.
The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1911-01-20
Thrilling.

.The last time l saw you you were
running for Office"
II believe T. was"
"Were you elected?"
ooh, let's talk about the weather"
The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1911-01-20
Duck Il When They Can.

Duck It When They Can. .
Up before the break of day
Doing chores or pitching hay.
In the hot and burning sun
Lifting slowly ton on ton,
Walking fields oblong and square
And not getting anywhere,
Then when other work is through
Still with chores enough to do
That's tho reason, not profound.
Why the boys don't stick around.
The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1911-01-20

It has cost a lot Of time and money
to dnd out that sae.oooyooo Ane Wa
no COED.
The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1911-01-20

IT can tell you all about my first
love affair"
;. "Please don't"
slow uncomplimentary"
"But I'd much rather hear about
your last"
The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1911-01-20
A Blast Of Hot Air.

"Oh, dear"
"What's the matter?"
"I'm all dried and withered up"
"Why, what have you been doing to
.yourself?"
"Listening to Wilkins"
The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1911-01-20
happens

The Panama canal has got to DO
built in time for the fair, whatever
happens.
The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1911-01-20

Don't blame Taft for hosting the
never again flag when he saw trouble
approaching in Panama.
The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1911-01-20
Just Like a Woman.

just cIKe a WVWdU.
"What is your idea of independ-
ence?"
''Independence?"
Eyes"
"Well, my idea of independence is to
be married to n rich husband"
The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1911-01-20
The Reason.

"VNhy do women wear hobbIe
skirts? 2"
because they have hobble minds"
The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1911-01-20

King George is not acting as IL he
would make a record by skillful pour
ing Of oil on troubled waters.