davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1912-12-06
UsinQ the Left Hand.

Why is it that we neglect to use
the left hand so much? asks London
Answers.
Among English-speaking people 81
out Of every 100 are right.handed
when they reach maturity. Out Of
every 100 such persons II are born
right.handed, and the remaining 80
are born without preference as to
either hand. Eighty are influenced to
become strongly right-handed during
the early childhood.
No great asset Of the world is 10
neglected as the average left hand.
Formerly all the world was ambidex.
trous. Primitive man had no prefer.
erence which hand he used. And In
various parts Of the world efforts are
now being made to revive the use Of
the left hand.
Japan has for many years been
teaching two.handedness to the men
of her army and in her public schools.
The German government is following
Japan's example. Sir Robert Baden
Powell hero of the siege of Mafeking
and founder OF the Boy Scouts, does
not consider a man well-trained. sol.
der unless he can mount equally we'll
on either side Of his horse, use the
sword, revolver and lance equally we'll
with both hands.
Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1912-12-06
MARY CIGARETTES SMOKED.

The American people, dre drinking
more whisky and beer md smoking
more cigars and cigarettes than ever
before IN history, according to tax re-
turns. received by Royal E. Cabell,
commissioner of internal revenue.
From July l to October 1, 1912,
more :han 3,So0,O00.000 cigarettes
were sft,oked, an increase of one bill
lion over the corresponding period OF
the pre- ,ious year, which broke all
records.
The notion consumed 33.150.000 gal.
Ions Of whisky during July, August
and September, an increase Of 100000
gallons rs compared with that quar-
ter OF 1851, while nearly 100000
cigars wase smoked during that time.
The cigar consumption promises to es-
tablish record.
A total VI 19,S00,O00 barrels of beer
were con'hmed during the three
months, vhich was 100000 barrels
more thar in the same period Of
1911. This somewhat surprised reve-
nue. off1cial;.. as beer drinking fell OF
considerably during the fiscal year
ended June 90 last. That decrease
was partly accounted for by Commits
sioner Cabe,. by the increased popu-
larity of buttermilk as a summer
drink.
Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1912-12-06
German Red Tape,

Under the headline. "A Criminal
Rescuer," the Berliner Tageblatt tells
this story: "A man who had proba bly,
become weary of the battle of life en-
deavored to end 1t all by hanging him
self He chose for the scene OF his
exit a forest, and had succeeded In
suspending himself by the neck when
a youth passing that way came upon
the grewsome scene. He cut the man
down, who in falling injured his head.
Next day the youth was arrested for
causing bodily injury to the would
be suicide, and In defense could say
only that he did not usually carry q
cushion on which hanging men could
drop He promised never again to
interfere j., In similar cases and was
discharged s..
Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1912-12-06
Tobacco In RoumanIa.

Roumania, the dark horse OF tho
Balkans, may be said to have oe'n
waited into good government on
cloud of tobacco smoke. For 1t was
the tobacco MONOPOLY established by
the degenerate ruler Couza that
brought about his compulsory abdica.
ton. Every Roumanian smokes, ana
Couza came up against a national
habit-with tho usual result. 1t was
in 1866 that the present ruler, Prlnce
Charles of Observation-Disclosures
was invited, in the teeth OF the con-
cert of Europe and the sultan, to DE-
come Couza's successor, and nothing
finer ever happened to Rounania-e&'
cept its queen, Carmen Sylvia. bu'
the good fortune Of Roumania Is also
due to Bismarck, who counseled inc
young prince to accept the onereu
throne, remarking: III, you fall you
will at any rate have. a pieasan.
"Reminiscences for the rest OF your
life."-London Chronicle.
Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1912-12-06
AID FOR THE

Utilization of the schoolhouses OF
the country as employment Offices for
those out of work has been taken un.
der consideration by the United States
bureau Of education. which has ap-
proved any movement that will make
the schoolhouses more general in their
sphere Of usefulness. Professor John
r. Commons Of the Wisconsin indus
trial commission is one of the princi-
pal advocates Of the plan to utilize the
schools as labor exchanges.
The proposed plan contemplates the
opening Of regular channel of in.
tercommunication between the schools
of state with reference to the un-
employed. Through the directors of
the social centers connected with the
schoolhouses, the man out of work. on
registering the fact Of his lack of en-
ployment, could be placed in touch
with employers over a broad field.
Educators and scientists believe the
organization Of such a system would
do vast amount of good in popular
izing education.
while educators have no way OF
anding out" says the bureau in a
statement issued the other day, lust
how far the suggestion will be adopt
ed. the fact that a proposal like this
receives attention proves how wide
spread is the sentiment in favor of any
and all projects involving a wider use
Of school plant for the benefit of the
community.
The study of children in school, to
aid and advise them in choosing their
life work, also Is advocated.
Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1912-12-06
Rat EleaS.

The British Medical Journal in an
article in which the length OF life OF
the rat flea is considered apart from
its host, the rat, would seem to indi-
cate that the harmless necessary cat,
which has excited the luminosity OF
some scientists who demand her ex-
tinction, is yet a needful member Of
the animal kingdom. The cat not
only Caught the rat that ate the malt
that lay in the house that Jack built" y,
but in doing so destroyed the rat fleas.
The Journal concludes that material
injected with fleas and larvae may re.
main SO infected for as long as year
and feas derived from such infected
material readily attacked rats and pro-
ceeded to multiply very rapidly in
short time 80
Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1912-12-06
TO Please the Baby.

Quite the most practical trICe for
the baby thought OF lately is small
best-quality bath sponge. which is at
the same time tub TOW. The ton is the
head of an indestructible cellulold doll.
Joined to the sponge with few tiny
blue bows and fulling Of the blue
satin It is so light that it floats in
the water and SO is always in reach.
and. of course. it affords unlimited
amusement to the child. Any one who
has struggled to amuse child in its
tub and end the bath expeditiously
will rejoice In this delightfully."- at.
tractive dolly.
Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1912-12-06

IKE chairman OF this commission 10
Major J. J. Morrow. U. s. A.. engineer
corps; Alfred II. Brooks OF the geo.
logical survey. Leonard N. Cox. U. 8.
NJ. engineer corps. and c. MGR. In
gersoll, consulting engineer on bridge
affairs In the employ OF the city OF
New York.
This commission, which gets Its
power from the act. passed at the
last session, creating legislative as
sembly In the territory Of Alaska.
was appointed by President Taft.
with instructions to examine he
transportation question in Alaska. tne
railroad routes from scaboard to the
coal fields and to the interior and
navigabl9 waterways, to obtain sur.
veys and other information with re-
spect to railroads. including cost Of
construction and operation. 1t IL be-
lieved in Washington that whei this
commission reports 1t will recon-
mend that the government construct
and operate a federal railroad, either
to the Boring river coal field or else
to the Matanuska coal fields.
Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1912-12-06

"women's chivalry toward women
which has met with much commenda'
ton in London. That women IN
crowded public conveyances should
surrender their seats to members OF
their sex who are aged or carrying
babies or bundles Is not only preached
by Lady Lytton and her scores OF
aristocratic followers, but practiced
on every opportunity. Many society
women now quite neglect to use their
own private conveyances that they
may mingle with the plain. everyday
folk-and demonstrate the sincerity
Of their convictions. 1t is said that
their influence every day is becoming
more evident and incidentally having
its effect slowly but surely on men
of grouchy or unchivalric disposition.
Lady Lytton is the wife Of the Sec
ond earl of Lytton and daughter Of
the late Sir Trevor Chichele-Plowdon.
She is a woman Of great charm and
is noted as a delightful hostess.
Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1912-12-06
WARMTH IN ARCTIC
Road Amundsen Tells How Polar
Explorers Were Clothed.
Protective, Vet Light Garments, In
psrative on Such a Journey-Foot
Coverings OF the Best a rhino
OF Much Importance.

On the first part Of the journey va
used double sleeping bags. The outer
one OF the skin Of reindeer buck. Tho
inner one OF light skin of reindeer doc
or reindeer calf. Both had the hairy
side in. Outside the two we had a cover
Of light linen cloth, somewhat longer
than the bags. This cover was ALWAYS
kept on. both in the tent and on thu
march. In the tent it protected tho
bags from damp. while on the march II
kept the driven snow entirely out,
Our foot coverings had necessitated
much consideration, and were of the
very best. The great thing for US was
to combine sufficient rigidity with soft.
ness. They must be>soft. to keep our
feet warm. but stif IL our skis were to
set firmly. used the following my.
self: Outside all. boot, the sole Of
which was Of solid leather. the outer
covering strong, green, windproof
cloth. Inside these had pair Of
reindeer skin boots. AS for stockings,
next the foot | wore little wooden
sock lined with "sennegrass" Ia had
of soft grass used by Laplanders in
their moccasins). I wore this sock not
so much for the warmth as to keep
the sennegrass in position. Then
stocking Of dogs hair. Then an ordi.
nary wooden stocking and then two
pairs Of gaberdine stockings. With
these my feet were never cold.
Otherwise we were lightly clad with
light clothing under gaberdine outer
garments. Our fur clothing. which we
took for use on the plateau. we never
had much use for As long as we had
them we used them under our sleep
ing bags at night
OF snow spectacles, several kinds
were used-each thought he had dis.
covered the best. Personally, I used
pair of ordinary spectacles with light
yellow glass. 1t may seem unheard OF
to go on an expedition Of fifteen hun
dred miles in these surroundings with
only a pair Of ordinary unprotected
spectacles, in which the light can en-
ter everywhere-butI did it, and, what
is more. without 20 much as suffering
once, from snow blindness. That
speaks for the excellence OF the glass
in them. Doctor Schantz, in Berlin.
is the inventor. BY a process the
glasses have undergone they are able
to keep out the injurious rays.
On my hands l used, from our win
ter quarters to the pole and back, a
pair of ordinary walking wool mittens
with the four fingers together In one
compartment. One pair lasted the
whole way.-Roald Amundsen IN
Hearst's Magazine.
Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1912-12-06

quietly. she says. and prefers that sort
of life to social gayety. "
1t Is said Mrs. Major will establish a
new regime when she moves into the
executive mansion at Jefferson City,
She Is expected to introduce home
atmosphere into the capitors social
life and to dispel stiff formality. Her
guests will always be made to feel at
home, and the sparkle of smart fash
ion will be reduced to a minimum.
Il like above all things a plain. sim.
pie, country life." she said. land that
ia the kind Of a life Railways intend to
lead"
charming woman and Is noted for her
briiliancy as q conver3ationalist.
she Is the mother of married
daughter, Mrs. John Sanderson OF
Bowling Green. Mo-, and of Elliott. Jr.,
fourteen years old, and Elizabeth,
twelve.
Jefferson City Is agog over the pros
pect Of Mrs. Majors. advent as the
states hostess. 1t has became known
there that the old-time air OF dignity
that marked the social affairs at the
governors mansion are doomed to 60
Mrs. Major received her early edu'
cation at district school," WHICH she
attended with number of other coun-
try girls. When she was twelve years
old. however, her parents decided that
she should have better educational ad-
vahtages, and the family moved to
Bowling Green, Mo.
1t was while attending school there
that she met Elliott W. Major, then a
law student and teaching a country
school, She fell in love with the seri-
'ous and ambitious young law student,
and when he proposed she gave up her
studies to marry him.
He was soon appointed principal of
the frankfort schools, which post he
held until he entered the bar at Jeffer.
son City.
Mrs. Major is devoted to outdoor
life and is raising her two younger
children in this manner.
when | was a girl liked horse,
back riding better than any other
sport" she said. land great deal OF
my time was passed in the saddle. AL
though l am a member of the Method
list Episcopal church and am interest
ed In club work, cannot devote much
time to them because my chief inter,
est is my home. l place my home
above all else"
Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1912-12-06
Something Of 4 SIur.

when you try to help other people
such puzzling things happen" said a
pretty young charities investigator to
a newspaper man, and from her subse-
quent remarks he gathered that what
did happen was this: The we'll mean
Ing girl was trying to find out why
the poor man was idle. Cant you
find work." she ventured, sympa.
thetically. Sure, miss, any day l
want it." well, why aren't you
working today. then instead Of sitting
in the house doing nothing?" II didn't
feel good today. You know how It is,
lady, when you've been drunk a
week." And the young woman is still
wondering what he could have meant
by that.-New York Tribune.
Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1912-12-06
Hard to Keen Out.

Mayor Samuel L. Shank of Indianap.
oils was talking about England's inter.
ference with the question OF Pana.
ina canal tolls.
England" he said. seems to be to
be as meddlesome. in this instance, as
the lrishman who was watching the
fight. "..a.
This Irishman watched two chaps
pommel each other for three or four
minutes, and the sight made him more
and more uneasy.
Finally turning to the crowd, he
said:
Excuse me. friends, but is this
private scrap. or moight we all take
. hand in it?"-Toledo Daily Blade.
Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1912-12-06

OF her executive ability. as shown at
the outset In the reorganization Of the
Red Cross, President Taft said:
The moving spirit of the American
Red Cross is Miss Mabel Boardman.
It is due to her indefatigable industry.
her wide acquaintance. her high char
acter as a woman, and the confidence
that wealthy and influential men have
In her, that the association has be-
good"
So, when the selection Of officers
came about, she was made chairman
OF the executive board. which is COM
posed otherwise OF men. Hard.headed
old generals, accustomed to ordering
about battalions of men. and grave
surgeons to whom the minutiae of hos
pital work is sacred. were pleased to
find sterling qualities In this woman
whom they had hitherto regarded only
In the light of society leader.
The work grew amazingly after she
once got lin harness." She was cap
able of interesting the most blase per-
son in the cause. In 1911. Yale con-
ferred degree upon her, the only 9th.
er woman to share the honor being
Jare Adams. President Taft, his
cabinet and other dignitaries were
present when she received 1t. Govern
ments, too, have honored her. Swe-
den presented her with a gold medal
two years ago: and Italy, through the
Marquis de Montegliari, gave her a
facsimile of the Roman Civic crown.
as tribute to the work of the Ameri.
can Red Cross at the time Of the
earthquake at Messina.
Miss Boardman accompanied the
Taft party to the Orient in 1905. While
in Japan. she became interested in
the Red Cross movement there. and
returned home fired with a desire to
place ours on an equally sound
foundation.
Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1912-12-06
Child Labor Prohibition.

During the last year eight states
have prohibited child labor at night.
SIX have declared that eighteen was
the age limit for night messengers,
while four ether states have. made
this age twenty-one. In Pennsylvania
children under sixteen cannot be legal
" employed in the coal mines. and
these laws, together with the laws reg
ulating street trade. and the. adoption
by the American Bar association OF a
uniform child labor law and the grow.
Ing use OF the eight-hour day for all
1aborers, combine to foresha downing
an easier time for the child CT the fu-
ture.-Uncle Remus's Magazine.
Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1912-12-06
, Thought They Were Samples.

A young man who had spent his life
In country village came to London
to seek his fortune. On the day of
his arrival he walked into a restau-
rant and ordered dinner.
r The waiter brought the meal in all
those little side-dishes sacred to res
.taurant-keeping, and arranged them
In tempting array around the young
mans plate.
For half an hour he sat and looked
at the untouched dinner, until, over
come by hunger, he called the waiter,
who had been watching him wonder
tngly. and said:
Look here, mister. If you don't
hurry and bring my dinner I'll eat up
your amples!"-London Tit-Bits.
Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1912-12-06

This years freshman class includes
many notable young men. some OF the
most prominent being Lord Stanley
who has rooms on the same staircase
as the prince; the Hon. M. c. II.
Bowes-Lyon, who war born in 1893 and
ia the fourth of the five sons of the
earl of Strathmore and. Klnghorne,
and the Hon. A. P. Acland-Hood, the
elder of the two sons of Lord st. Aud
ries. Among the freshmen at Mag
dalen, it may be added, there Is also
a Rhodes scholar from Adelaide.
Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1912-12-06
Mere Trihe, Anyhow,

An eminent German scientist who
recently visited this country with a
number of his colleagues was dining
at an American house and telling how
much he had enjoyed various phases
of his visit.
How do you like our railroad
trains?" his host asked him.
ZACH, obey are wonderful" the Ger
man gentleman replied; 80 swift, so
safe-chenerally-und such luxury in
all dhe furnishings und oppindmends.
All is excellent EXCEPT one thing-our
wives do not like dhe upper berths. -
Harper's Weekly. 49,,
Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1912-12-06
In Frlendship's Name.

mrs. Miller, you and I have been
enemies for long while. Don't you
think It time to forget our animosity
and become friends again?"
Indeed, I do" Dir y l-I~s~r%r w.,
well, as my husband has gone out
won't you begin by buttoning my dress
up the back!" -sf
Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1912-12-06
Mystery Of Sleep,

1t is impossible to give any precise
explanation of the phenomenon Of
sleep. Yet many theories have been
advanced. Legendre has shown BY
fairly conclusive arguments that It IA
due neither to brain pallor." nor to
intoxication by carbonic substances IN
the blood, theories that have been in
turn advanced. Legendre intimates
his preference for the view that, sleep
is not the result Of fatigue, but is an
Inherited instinct designed to protect
NE organism against the i'll effects Of
!s.tigue. Harper's Weekly. N
Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1912-12-06
PRINCE OF WALES NOW
AN OXFORD FRESHMAN
The Prince of Wales, who went up
to Magdalen. Oxford, the other day. is

to be more FORTH
than some of his
royal predeces-
sors at the univcr-
sit.y in being left
free to choose his
own friends. Most
Of the new fresh.
men at Magdalen,
1t is said. had
been entered on
the books before
1t was known that
the prince was
going to that col.
lege.
Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1912-12-06

washington ana
90 d business
woman, Is one OF
Americas most
interesting char
acters. While
Mr.. Taft Is titular
head of the Red
Cross. 1t Is Miss
Boardman who Is
In reality Its head
and front. She
has an office In
the Army and
Navy building and
goes there daily.
Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1912-12-06
Crescent a Christian Symbol.

Crescent Z Christian Symbol.
Though now regarded as essentially
Hohammedan. the crescent was
the emblem Of the Byzantine empire
and the eastern church. and the
Turks adopted It O. . badge Of tri-
umph after the capture Of CONSTANT
nople In 1853. Before that the cres-
cent was common In the armorial
bearings Of English knights. and as
late % 1854 Rene. duke ofsAnjou,
founded an order OF knights having
"a badge 4 crescent moon. ItsS use
W the dTurxs. however. led 70 its
Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1912-12-06

Jor, wire OF the
newly elected gov
ernor of Missouri.
has not changed
her daily routine
and does not in.
tond to. Mrs. Ma.
ior, who was Miss
Elizabeth Myers,
was born on q
farm In Pike
county, the near.
est postomce be-
ing Prairieville.
She has always
I;yad simDly and
Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1912-12-06

London society.
just at present
she Is prominent
in the public eye
for her activity
in a movement
quite unrelated to
the froth and
frivolity usually
associated with
smart settlers"
She was the in
stigator and may
now be said to be
the acting head
Of the idea Of
Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1912-12-06
Answering = Point Of Etiquette.

William Henry: II. while you are
making an evening call, the young
lady Of the family is pushed forward
to entertain, and begins to back and
fill and declare that she is so-ee'hee!
hee!-hoarse that she just knows she
can't sing a note, It Is bad form for
you to give three cheers. Etiquette
does not often demand the active or
audible, form Of lying, but the pass3re
form. e., saying nothing. no matter
how painful-is en- regle most any
time. You should always strive to be
gentleman. let the chips foil where
they may.
Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1912-12-06
Laird. of SkIho's Pun.

In response to compliment paid
70 him on the Baltic upon the high
literary quality Of the contents OF the
various Carnegie libraries. Andrew
Carnegie condescended to make a pun.
why, yes" he said, these libraries
are literary through and through. One
OF them burnt down the other day, and
even the smoke issued in volumes" q
Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1912-12-06
Repartee.

A perspicacious young man, passing
where an old colored man was ous'
setting fire to the dead grass IN
meadow. accosted him thus:
Don't do that, Uncle Ed; don "
that"
why so. sab, why so? =.
. you will make that meadow ga
black as you are" ,na
Never mind dat. sab, never NM ~,
dat. Dat grass will all grow OUT a.
be as green as you is."-Judge'
Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1912-12-06
ALASKAN RAIL ROUTES.

An exploring expedition of four
men, each expert in his own line, has
gone to Alaska to make q study Of
Alaska transportation, which will re-
suit in report to the congress in
December, recommending a definite
plan I'm respect to the best and most
available routes for railroads in Alas.
ka which will develop the country and
the resources thereof for the use of
the people Of the United States"
Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1912-12-06

Should 30 Spelled With a "e."
The Serbs have grievance against
the English language for spelling the
name Of their country Servit with =
a''v,. as though It came from "seryus."
slave. observes the Springfield Re-.
publican. There Is really no such con
nection and In other languages It isl
spelled properly with q b.