davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-04-22
LONELY sPECKs ON THE SEA.

OF all the paths which vessels fol-
low in crossing the busiest of the
oceans, the one most occupied, least
lonely, is that in which the Titanic
was hurled to destruction. There the
chances of seeing and hearing other
ships are best. There the spaces be-
tween big steamers is shortest.
Yet when the giant White Star liner
collided with the enormous mass of
ice which crushed the greatest ship
afoat, no other steamship was within
sixty miles. 1t took four hours for the
nearest boat to reach the scene of the
tragedy which has shocked the world,
after the wireless call for help was
first heard.
This fact conveys an idea of the i'm
mensity Of the ocean spaces and the
utter littleness by contrast of the ships
that go to and fro upon the waters.
They are lonely specks on the sea.
II all OF the vessels in the world that
are flt for deep sea traffic could be
placed on the oceans at regular inter
walls, as IL on the squares of an enor-
nous checker board. no ship would be
il sight from any other, though there
are at least $4,000 such craft in use.
AS for bulk and weight, the biggest
ships, by comparison with the sea, are
like chips on a great river. The Ii
tanic drew about 35 feet Of water. Be
meath the bottom OF the giant liners
hull there was water for 10000 feet.
The biggest steamer in the world was
like peanut shell denting a quarter OF
an inch the surface of a wide pond
six feet deep.
Peary calculated the weight of one
ice mass which he saw floating in
Baffin's bay at about two billion tons
That means at least twenty times the
weight of all the vessels, from scows
and canal boats up 10 the ocean liners
and battleships. in all the countries Of
the earth. with every vessel fully loaded
! There is three cents worth of gold in
a ton OF sea water, or in thirty-three
tons OF water enough metal for a gold
dollar, but so vast is the bulk Of the
ocean that dissolved in the water Of
a strip 200 miles wide, from Europe
to America. there is sufficient gold to
balance the $4,000 tons the Titanic
weighed. or more than four times as
much gold as the known stock of the
world.
Among mans achievements there
are few which compare with the de-
gree Of success which he has attained
il mastering and making a servant OF
thing so immense as the sea, so
violent, at times. and so uncertain in
its moods and conditions.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-04-22
It's time to think Of flies.

It's time to think Of flies.
Nobody likes to think of flies. But
the best way not to be compelled to
think about them a whole lot later is
to do little advance thinking now.
We hear a good deal about fly traps
right now. The other day, in maya
zine, was picture Of a boy and a
heap Of flies, and fly trap which the
boy had used to catch the flies. There
were something like $4,000 flies in that
heap. The boy won a prize of s25
offered for the largest catch of flies.
Fly traps and fly swatters, of
course, have their use. But they are
the pound of cure" Wouldn't it be
far better not to have so many flies to
catch or to swat?
Here is the ounce of prevention
Don't give the flies a chance to breed
in your immediate vicinity. Clean up,
Allow no manure or garbage about
your house. Teach the children the
value of cleanliness. Teach them, al
so, not to leave doors open, so that
when the screen door is up they will
be thoughtful enough to close it when
they go out.
Keep all foods covered, for If there
is no filth around the flies will feed or
your edibles and infect them with di
sease.
And, for goodness sake, screen your
house from attic to cellar. Leave NJ
way of ingress for the fly and you will
have no cause to complain of his com
pany.
Too many people are stingy about
screens. Stinginess in screens means
either that you are not getting suff1
cient air into your house because yol
dare not open unscreened doors anC
windows, or that you are letting il
filth and disease with the flies whe1
! the unscreened windows and door
are open.
If you can't afford wire screens fit
/ ted to every window, tack nettin!
across the window frames. It's cheal
and will last until cold weather kill
( the flies.
/ 1t is not necessary to fill the hous
with nasty fytraps, poisoned fypaT
er or to organize the children into
a swatting brigade. Keep the flies GU
of the house and keep the place cleal
that's all.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-04-22
CAPITAL COMMENT

and the huge dividends of the steel
trust. Hundreds of such measures
were introduced in both the house and
the senate while Mr.. Roosevelt was
president, and every one of the least
consequence died in committee. Mr.
Roosevelt never raised his voice in
protest.
Mr.. Roosevelt is now candidate
for office. Every politician in the
land is aware that he is spending
more money to obtain delegates fav-
orable to his nomination than any
candidate for the presidency has spent
in this country in the last quarter Of
a century.
Where is this money coming from?
Let US see:
ROOsEVELTvS CAMPAIGN AID.
Elton Huntington Hooker, treasurer
of the Roosevelt league, has just filed
with the secretary of state of New
York a list of the contributors to the
Roosevelt fund. This sworn report
reveals that in the state of New York
alone George w. Perkins, organizer of
the harvester trust and director of
the steel trust, spent $4,000. Frank
A. ,Munsey, the largest individual hold
er of steel stock (common) in the coun.
try, contributed $4,000 more. Thirty
thousand dollars of steel trust money
spent for Roosevelt in New York state
alone, and there are 81 states in the
union! This sworn statement shows
chat in New York 59,126.75 was spent
to get about $4,000 Roosevelt votes
or practically 81 a vote.
This is twice as much for each vote
as Stephenson spent in Wisconsin
and he was threatened with the loss Of
his seat The point to this article, how
ever, is that the steel trust stands
! by its friends.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-04-22
KEEPING YOUNG.

An old mems brotherhood has been
formed. with parent lodges in Mont
gomery. Mo. where 20 rosy and chip
per old fellows in their eight or ninth
decades meet regularly for rem
iniscence and debate. Among the
matters which they find il instructive
to discuss are the habits conducive
to longevity, and such questions as
whether the inventions OF the century
have added to the sum OF happiness.
whether hospitality is on the wane, or
II there has been any improvement IN
morals and manners since the days OF
their youth.
In their brotherhood the old gem
tlemen find a new interest in life,
and younger generations listen TO the
debates with pleasure. They have
discovered a fact which some people
have stumbled on. and others have
reached by reasoning processes.
which is that It is the intellectual or
spiritual interest which keeps people
young, alive and alert as years creep
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-04-22

Ismay, the practical owner OF the
White Star line. who saved himself
when the crash came. it develops was
the buttinsky all the way across the
Atlantic. Instead of leaving the run
ming OF the ship TO the experienced
seaman. the actual master, Captain
Smith. he was constantly on the
bridge directing the voyage, urging
greater speed and advising the taking
OF all kinds of chances to establish
a record. and in the end saving himself
while others persisted. Then he at
tempted 20 escape the law on this
side by seeking TO be transferred to
the Cedric OF his own line before the
rescuing ship reached New York.
Now that the investigating commit
tee has fits hands on him he should
be made to answer for the part he
played in the awful catastrophe
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-04-22
The Conqueror.

The Conqueror.
The country schoolma'an has her way,
And captious is her rule,
Particularly with the boys
Too big to go to school.
She may not hit 1t with the kids
To mischief much inclined.
But she can crook her finger small
And make big brother mind.
She comes a mystery to youths
Just turning into men,
Who think they never saw her like
And never will again.
AS they observe her passing by
Their hearts go double quick.
And she makes eyes at all OF them
And calmly takes her pick.
Within the schoolroom she Is stern.
A mark is there to toe.
For dignity must rule the roost
AS children come and go,
But she relaxes when outside
And Is a girl once more
It's easy then to look at her
And easy to adore.
o schoolma'am, pretty little miss.
On charms and grammar strong,
We do not wonder as we see
The way you get along!
II we were only young ourself
And you should come our way
Wed ask you something some bright nigh
And see what you would say.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-04-22
TALKS 5, suitL-
WOMEN PEAERS
b0
Edna K.WoolQ1

Il wish 1 knew of some way of hav-
ing my window open at night without
making the rest bf the house cold,
sighed a delicate looking girl. "The
rest of the family complains that my
open window makes the whole place
uncomfortable for them and that they
must get up and dress in the cold just
TO accommodate me. The doctor said l
must have all the fresh air possible,
but feel guilty about making every
body else uncomfortable"
In this instance each side feels that
it has right to accuse the other of
selfishness.
It's no fun to jump out of warm
bed into cold room and dress while
the shivers run up and down ones
spinal column. Even the girl with the
open window must suffer from the
cold in her early morning rising.
Usually the bathroom is kept warm,
so that one might hop in there to
dress. But the whole family can't get
| in there at once, SO that doesn't solve
the problem.
A great many Of US, while we have
! profited from open windows at night
! all through the winter, have suffered
/ also from the same cause. I wonder
| if it wouldn't be good idea to adopt
more generally the window tent idea
put in use by the tuberculosis society.
| What has been invented for the sick
might we'll be utilized for the COM
| fort of the healthy, or those who
would be stronger and healthier than
| they are.
The window tent is made of canvass
stretched on a frame in box like
shape. 1t extends from the open win
dow over the head of the bed, and one
may breathe fresh air all night with
out visions of goosef1esh in the morn
ing, as the window tent does not allow
cold air draft in the room. Neither
does it permit draft over ones head,
as the plain open window SO often
does.
1t one does feel able to improvise a
homemade window tent, there are
number of styles now being offered by
manufacturers. Some are quite elab
orate-a sort of miniature room where
one can sit up and read, with a place
to set the breakfast tray, etc. The
tent may be folded together behind the
window curtain. during the day.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-04-22
BY CLYDE II. TAVENNER.

Especial Correspondence of The Argus.)
Washington, April 20.-That the
steel trust is willing to spend money
to elect men to public office, who are
willing to serve them after they get
into office, is again being demon
strated.
When Theodore Roosevelt was presi-
dent of the United States, he per-
mitted the steel trust to absorb its
principle rival, the Tennessee Coal and
Iron company. This transaction was
worth millions of dollars to the steel
trust, because it practically assured
the trust a monopoly on its products
in the United States, and when a
trust has q monopoly on American
markets, it is in position to extort
from consumers most any price it
desires to ask.
A DIRECT VIOLATION.
The absorption of the Tennessee
Coal and Iron company by the steel
trust was in direct violation of both
the spirit and the letter of the law.
No one denies this. Not even the
attorneys for the steel trust deny
that this transaction was unlawful.
Yet the deal was carried out with
the direct approval of President Roose-
welt, who had given in to the desire
of George W. Perkins, partner of ].
Pierpont Morgan and other millionaire
steel trust magnates.
This is not the only favor Theodore
Roosevelt did for the steel trust while
he was president. The most exhaus
tive search of the records OF congress
during the years that Roosevelt was
president fails to show the passage
Of any measure that even in the most
remote manner affected the monopoly
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-04-22

half in Lee county and one-half in De
kalb county. the main street Of the
village being on the county line. In
the election last week the Lee county
side voted dry and the Dekalb county
side wet. Yesterday a village election
was held, resulting in a dry victory by
five votes. W. L. Edwards, o. A.
Halsne and George Beals were elected
trustees and viii refuse to grant sa-
loon permits for this year.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-04-22

The Titanic seems 70 have been
Jonahed as we'll as mismanaged from
the start OF the fatal voyage. There
was a dangerous FIRE in the bunkers
from the time it set sail, which in
creased IN fury and became more
dangerous as the ship progressed, and
yet instead OF turning back before it
was too late, the liner sped on across
the Atlantic-anything to beat rec
ord. And 1t was accomplished.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-04-22
Dedicate New M. z. church.

Bloomington, April %. German
Methodists from central Illinois
points went to San Jose to assist in
dedication of a new church of that de-
nomination. Sermons were delivered
by Fred Munz, Cincinnati. and Rev.
o. E. Kriege, president of Wesleyan
college, Warrenton, No. Ten Illinois
clergymen assisted.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-04-22
An Exclamation,

An Explanation.
'oThey do everything differently In
Mars"
How do you know?"
"It is fair to presume"
well. what do you get when you
presume that?"
II draw the deduction that they dig
canals on that planet as an expression
Of culture. just as we paint a picture
or write a poem"
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-04-22

Getting Ready.
1.-THE Chinese are rapidly becoming
civilized"
"In the matter of government
81 was thinking of baseball"
"Oh. if they are taking to that. the
practice they have had in revolution
will stand them in good stead when
then want to address the umpire"
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-04-22

One pretty good idea Of trouble is
what the committee gets that will be
compelled to decide the contested dele
cation cases in the Chicago conven-
ton.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-04-22

One Accomplish.
ment.
~ gu haven't
succeeded In any
thingT
No"
&c a n t y o d
think of one ex-
ception?"
Il am a great
success as a fail
ure."
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-04-22
Angels to beckon me.
Nearer my God to Thee,
Nearer my God to Thee,
Nearer to Thee"

Peace-the peace of God that pass
eth all understanding, came to them
as they stood there waiting. in a
moment all mortal hopes and plans
and ambitions had been torn away
from them. There had been despair,
the anguish of parting forever from
loved ones, the icy touch of the fing-
ers of Death. Then came. like a bless
ing, like a divine benediction, the
strains of the band on the doomed
vessel, playing simply the hymn which
our fathers sang, which above all
others in the world, is dear to the
human heart.
1t was their requiem, those brave
heroes VINO went to their death be.
meath the seas.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-04-22
Discretion.

First Lawyer-It seems to me you
let that last witness down pretty east
~ In your cross examination. second
Lswyer-l had to. he Is my tailor
and owe him q big bill.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-04-22

The Modern Cook.
'Ts your wife good cookT'
you bet!''
"Just like mother. Ell"
'Not exactly. She can make two
kinds OF welsh rabbit and four kinds
of fudge ia the chatting dish"
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-04-22
Get Exercise.

Regardless of the money cost.
1t seems to those who brave the fan
IT'S better to have run and lost
Than never 10 have run at all
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-04-22

New York's republican delegation is
without instructions. II won't need
any by the time the Chicago conven-
ton IL held.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-04-22
Drys Elect Trustees.

Dixon. April 22.-The village Of Lee
Is divided in an unusual manner over
the liquor question. II is situated one
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-04-22
Monday, April q, 1912.

"One man in every twelve in Indi-
ana is an Office holder" And no doubt
The other eleven would like to be.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-04-22
strona on SAVING

Strong on Saving.
you might call him a self made
man"
Gould you. thought
"He started in life with only ST."
"And he must have IS cents of it
left"
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-04-22
Humor and
Philosophy
PERT PARAGRAPHS
~ DUNCAN ~. SMITH

MANY an apparently brave usan has
the tall timber well located in his
mind and knows something Of the
road leading thereto.
Love at first sight frequently calls
for the mystic second sight to help 1t
out Of the hole 1t falls into.
Some persons end up steerage who
started on the matrimonial voyages as
swell first class cabiners.
Most girls care a sight more about
putting something on their complex
ions than about putting something into
their heads.
Most Of US know lot of rapid peo-
pie who fall so far behind that we
have an excellent chance to forget
A man with too stiff a spine is likely
to get jolt occasionally that will dis
locate it.
Black eyes are contagious, especially
among impulsive people.
Even a man with a new brand Of
trouble is apt to get Che merry skiddoo
sprung on him If he attempts to make
1t the subject of common interest.
People who are too dignifed to earn
living are seldom too dignifed to ac-
cept one as a gratuity.
A man who is inclined to straddle Is
about as helpful to any interest as a
proclivities in active operation.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-04-22
BoozsIsss.

"Are you on the water wagon"
mo. / don't like the model they are
using this year."
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-04-22
THE ARGUS.

Published Daily and Weekly at qesS
Second avenue. Rock Island. III LEn-
tered at the postofnce a. seeond-clsss
matter.l
Rock Island Member OF the Assoeiated
Pres.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-04-22

Make al you can. save all goa can,
give all sou can--WesIey.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-04-22
Nnthinn 70 Eat Be sura.

"Our cook has left"
"Yes? What did she leaveT
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-04-22
April ID in American
History.

lT9I-James Buchanan. fifteenth pres
ident Of the United States. born:
died 1868.
ls15-Andrew Gregg Curtin. famous
war governor OF Pennsylvania.
born; died 1894.
1903-Alexander Ramsey Of Minneso-
ia. the last of the ''war governors
died; born 1915.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-04-22
Heroic Treatment.

Glow did you learn to make a iv-
fngT'
by getting hungry"
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-04-22

Some persons end up steerage who
started on the matrimonial voyages as
swell FIRST class cabiners.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-04-22

Love at first sight frequently calls
for the mystic second sight to help it
out Of the hole 1t falls into.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-04-22
Two Unpleasant Habits.

Two Unpleasant Habits.
isn't it 'orrible the way 'obbes drops
is hasplratesT
40 more 'orrid than the way he
drops is vowels- I've got 'alf dozez
Of Is IoU'sp-London Mall.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-04-22

Most girls care a sight more about
putting something on their complex
ions than about putting something into
their heads.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-04-22

MANY an apparently brave psan has
the tall timber well located in his
mind and knows something of the
road leading thereto.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-04-22

Most Of US know a lot of rapid peo-
pie who fall so far behind that we
have an excellent chance to forget.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-04-22
BY TIE J. w. POTTER co.

TERMs.--DsiIy. 10 cents per week
Weekly, 81 per year IN advance
Complaints OF delivery service should
be made 10 the circulation department.
which should also be notified in every
instance where It ia desired to have
paper discontinued. as carriers have no
authority In the premises
All communications OF ssgumentatfve
character. political or religious. must
have real name attached for publica-
ton No such articles will be printed
over fictitious signatures.
Telephones IN all departments: Central
Union. West 145 and l146: Union Eleo-
trio. b146.
SGT ss1@
TRAogsl E Es.1r coINcIES 20
lH cffI
Monday, April q, 1912.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-04-22

A man with too stiff a spine is likely
to get jolt occasionally that will dis
locate it.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-04-22

Black eyes are contagious, especially
among impulsive people.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-04-22

Even a man with a new brand of
trouble is apt to get Che merry skiddoo
sprung on him If he attempts to make
it the subject of common interest.
The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1912-09-19
Mark rwain,s Profanity.

william Dean Howells read the TON
Sawyer manuscript and thought 1t
the best story he had ever read Glenn
ems consulted him regarding the use
of a certain vigorous expletive. How
ellis advised that 1t be cut out Glenn
ems wrote back:
Mrs. Clemens received the mail this
morning. and the next minute she lit
into the study with danger in her eyes
and this demand on her tongue: Where
is the profanity Mr.. Howells speaks
Oft" Then had to miserably confess
that I had left it out when reading the
Ms. to her Nothing but almost In
splred lying got me out of this scrape
with my scalp. Does your wife give
you rats like that when you go little
one sidedi-HarpeFs-
The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1912-09-19
CHINESE SIGNB0ARDS.
Poetic Gems to Attract Business to
Shops In Pekino.

Poetic Gems to Attract Business to
Shops In Pekine.
W. Simpson in Meeting the Sun"
writes: II saw in Peking a list Of
signbOards, and few samples of them
will illustrate their general character:
Shop of Heaven Sent Luck Shop VI
Celestial Principles. The Nine Felici-
ties Prolonged Mutton Shop of Morn
ing Twilight The Ten Virtues All
Complete Flowers Rise to the Milky
Way
'In these signs we can see that the
Chinese can combine the soul Of q poet
with the pocket of shopman- Con-
trast such efforts with The Noted
Eeipie House of the London streets.
and one must feel that we are outer
barbarians. Carlyle quotes a Chinese
signboard, mo Cheating Here but
could not find anything like It in sbe
list. Good and Just According to Heav
en- ought to satisfy the ideal notions
Of the author of 'Sartor Resartus
THE Honest Pen Shop of L. implies
that other pen shops are not honest
The "Steel Shop of the Pockmarked
Wang" suggests that any popularity
Of shopman may be used to impress
the memory of customers. Snub noses,
squint eyes. lame legs and hump backs
might all be used In this way.
A charcoal shop calls itself the
Fountain of Beauty" and place for
the sale Of coal INDUCES In the title OF
Heavenly Embroidery" An oil and
wine establishment is the "Nelghbor-
hood of Chief Beauty" a description
the realization of which it is hard to
conceive anywhere In Peking. The
Thrice Righteous" one would scarcely
expect from an opium shop.-London