davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-12-31
Uaes of the Plantain.

The plantain is one of those articles
of food which are at once cheap and
very health giving. Its cultivation is
inexpensive, and swampy places are
its natural home. Its uses are many.
No part of the tree is without its bene-
fit in the economy of life. Its leaves
serve the purpose of plates and dishes.
The ripe fruit is eaten with relish.
The flower. the stem. the green fruit,
are all constituents of the vegetable
curry. Very fine cloth is manufacture
ed from its fiber. In Bengal there are
about thirty varieties of plantain trees,
each one OF which has a special use,
physical, religious or medicinH. Not
much skill or science Is required in
planting the tree. and once it has
taken root 1t dies pretty hard. As a
manure for fields not very favorable
for the growth of other plants and
trees the roots and withered leaves of
the plantain are almost indispensable.
1t will grow anywhere. and 1t has
been calculated that a modest Hindu
family can jog on fairly well on the
sale proceeds of the daily yield of a
plaintain field covering quite a small
area
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-12-31
SMALL FIRE LOSS
DURING The YEAR
Efficiency of Department Shown
by Reduced Number of
CONGREGATIONS.

Rock Islands fire fighting force I'M
der Chief George w. Newberry has
made a most remarkable showing dur
ing the past eight months during
which time the fire losses in the en-
tire city have amounted to only S.
7S5. If this record can be continued
throughout the remaining four months
of the fiscal year, it will set a re.
markable record. The Ere loss for
the year which closes tonight has
been less than any year for sometime
back and considering the size of Rock
Island, the figure is extremely low
and speaks we'll for the fire depart
ment and the water service of the
city. The following report on the year
in his department has been prepared
by Chief Newberry: Number of runs,
$50 (206 in 1910; fire loss for 1912.
STATISTIC (s15,944.50 in 191D; value
of property involved, 1918, 1913, (S564,-
S75 in 1917 and Insurance in force on
involved property, s212,194, (s37O.750
in 1e11).
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-12-31
UTILITIES SPEND
100000 IN WORK
Public Service Corporations
Lay Out Much Money in
improvements.
NEW TRACKS AND CARS
Shops and Extensions In Gas Mains
and Light and Power
Wires, Etc.
NEW TRACKS AND CARS

The public utility corporations.
known locally as the Tri-City Railway
and the Peoples Power companies,
have spent during the year, or will
have spent by the time all the inn
provements under way are completed
100000. The detail of these expendi-
lures is as follows:
TRI-CTTY RAILWAY COMPANY.
Car and machine shop, Fifth ave
nue. between Thirty-fifth and Thirty
sixth streets, commenced, $4,000.
Two miles of track construction,
Second avenue, Fourteenth to Tween
tieth streets; Twentieth street, Sec
ond avenue to Sixth avenue; Sixth
avenue, Twentieth to Twenty-first;
Twenty-fifth street, Ninth avenue to
Thirteenth avenue; Thirteenth ave-
nue., Twenty-fifth to Elm, with neces-
sary switches and turn-outs, $50, 600.
Track grading and paving. $4,000.
Twenty new pay-as-you-enter cars,
100000.
PEOPLES POWER COMPANY.
Satisfaction at Twenty-third street
and Second avenue, new machinery,
ETC., $4,000.
Extensions in gas mains and over
head construction for light and pow
er, $4,000.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-12-31
PEOPLES POWER CoMPA
A TURKISH sINEcURE.
Easy Job of the Man Who Was Ap.
pointed BUOY Tender,

Easy OoD OF InS mdn VINO was Hpe
pointed Buoy Tender.
Some years ago 1t was resolved to
buoy the shoals in the sea OF Mar
mora. some of which extend to a mile
or more from the shore. An English
naval officer was lent by the English
TO the Turkish government in order to
carry out this and other measures.
He laid down the buoys and was sur
prised to find that the Turks thought
that thereJpon the whole business was
concluded. FIe pointed out. however.
that buOys require care. that 1t Is
necessary 10 repaint them from time to
time. to pump the water out of them
and to see that they remain duly an
chored in their right position. To con-
vince the Turks OF this took a consid-
cradle time: but, being at length con-
WINGED. they appointed a man espe-
cially to take charge of the buoys.
Some months later. however. the
English officer heard shocking reports
of these buoys and many complaints
of them, and on going out to inspect
them he found the paint worn off and
most of the buoys waterlogged. Here
upon he wrathfully found the man in
charge and demanded an explanation
The man informed him that be had
never been supplied with a boat and
had therefore never been able 10 visit
the buoys since he had been in charge
of them!-London Family Herald.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-12-31
TACT OF AN ACTOR.
Sothern's Happy Thought and the Un-
ruIy Gallery Gods.

Sothern's Happy Thought and the Un-
ruly Gallery Gods.
1t was in the year 1868 or 1864. Dur
ing the summer months Sothern. with
John T. Raymond and several other
well known actors. occupied the local
theater OF a seaside summer resort. to
which be and his company drew a
houseful of people several nights in
the week to hear and see them act
rehearse 1t really was in preparation
for their next winters New York sea
son-the most important of their plays.
The little building had. of course. a
gallery. and In the gallery the gods"
became so obstreperous on occasions
that 1t was with great difficulty the
play could be proceeded with. The
ringleader, a well known rough of the
town. was a man named Bill Hanra-
han. One night a happy inspiration
seized Sothern. Having learned the
name of this prominent member of the
rowdy element. he addressed him in
the midst of the most unearthly noises
as follows: Mr.. Hanrah han. will you
be good enough to take charge of the
gallery and keep order for me? l shall
feel very grateful"
The result was magical Bill be-
came at once an official of the theater
and as such cracked the heads Of a
few Of his erstwhile fellow rioters
with such good effect that it was only
a little time before the best of order
prevailed.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-12-31
LIGHTS AND SHADOWS OF YEAR
THROWN UPON ROCK ISLAND

were exceedingly discouraging. speaks
well for Rock Island and its citizens.
The organization of the Fifty Thous-
and club. having for its slogan Rock
Island First" and its aim the promul-
cation Of all that is for the best wei
fare of the city, is an important step
in the right direction. The erection
Of new homes for the Odd Fellows and
the Masons marks progress. Many
other buildings have gone up, as emu
merated elsewhere New industries
have come in'o the city and are thirty
ing
In summing up, it may well be SAID
that the things which make for the
best easily Guido and minimize the
undesirable phases. and with a con
tinuation of the spirit of cooperation.
energy and progress which is at pres
ent the predominant one. the outlook
for the future is exceedingly auspic-
ious.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-12-31
A Mattar of Ruaineaa.

There is a reason for everything.
even a train news agents reluctance
to pass through the cars with his
packet of newspapers first. A woman
who had travelled fifty miles out of
New York before she had a chance to
buy the afternoon paper she had neg
lected to provide herself with said to
the boy who finally appeared with pa
pers:
why do you always come through
first with books and then magazines
and leave the newspapers until the
lastY'
"Why?" exclaimed the astonished
boy. Because it's business. If | came
through FIRST with papers everybody
would buy a paper and read that all
through the trip and leave me with all
these dollar books and twenty-five cent
magazines on my hands."-New YORK
Press.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-12-31
CoIeridoe al a Taiker.

Coleridge was a marvellous talker.
One morning when Hookham Frere
also breakfasted with me Coleridge
talked for three hours without inter
mission about poetry and so admirably
that | wish every word he uttered had
been written down. But sometimes his
harangues were quite unintelligibIe
not only TO myself. but to others.
Wordsworth and called upon him one
afternoon when he was in lodging Off
Pail Mall. He talked uninterruptedly
for about two hours. during which
Wordsworth listened to him with pro-
found attention. every now and then
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-12-31
JAPAN'S BOOKS ALL ALIKE.
Originality Not Considered Virtue In
the Mkado's Land,

Originality Not Considered q Virtue In
the Mikado's Land.
The position Of literary men in ia
pan differs in many especial respects
from that which is accorded writers
Of prominence in the western world.
writes Paul s. Reinsch in the North
American Review. The individuality
Of literary fame and literary person
atty in its various aspects have not
been developed in the orient TO nearly
the same extent as in the west The
great books to which men return again
and again for guidance and Inspiration
have been written thousands of years.
and those men who earned fame there
after won their laurels by writing com
mentaries upon the classics. No merit
attached 10 originality. Moreover,
most writings were anonymous. Es~
pecially If they were original was II
advisable that the author should not
make his personality too prominent
While learning was always respected.
authorship never had the position in
Japan and other oriental countries
that it has enjoyed in the west from
the Greeks down TO the present
The japanese mind will excel In the
future in many directions, but the
greatest development may be expected
in those activities for which racial
and social experience has best prepar-
ed the intellect. A strong but selective
realism in literature. delicate word
painting. the successful search for
mastery over the forces of nature. a
grasp of social and political relation
ships-these are among the things we
may expect from the Japan of the
fufIlra
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-12-31
She That Passed.

She had on thin black silk. with
white vaccinations OF some sort.
loose and wavy in the body and fiut-
ferrous in the skirt. May be her shoes
were black and her stockings white.
or vice versa. ! couldn't swear which.
and she was fairly long and fairly
1.-THE. and when she went by she left
a sense of having passed. We didn't
see her face at all. but we were both
looking after her as she turned the
corner.
do you think" said l, ''she Is a
married LADY,"
He considered.
II would not say that, but she did
not somehow give the impression or Il
consistent spinster. did sheT
Not just that impression. noI-Life.
All the news all the time-The Argus.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-12-31

TINE year 1912 has been an eventful
che in Rock Island, and while
there occurred much that may be
deplored II is hoped these Incl
dents may be so overshadowed
b. the higher tendencies as to
be forgotten in future years.
The things which. while unavOidably
included in the history of the 12-month,
may, IL Is hoped. be forgotten in time
TO come, and first and above all the
riot and unfortunate train Of circum.
stances which led 10 It, the number
of suicides. murders, burglaries and
other crimes and the existence of
crooks and other undesirables in the
city.
Contrasted with these conditions has
been the distinctly upward trend The
raising Of $4,000 for the erection OF
a new Young Mems Christian Asso-
citation building in the brief space of
two weeks at a time when conditions
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-12-31

Clerk H. B. Hubbard show that Cupid
was on the job during 1912. One
thousand and 25 marriage licenses were
issued during the u months as COM
pared with the record breaking 500
Of the year previous. when it was sup
posed that all the marriageable girls
in the city had been spoken for. June
and September were the populag
months. the former with 1O7 licenses
and the latter with the remarkable
count of lis. By months the record
follows: January, 65; February. &c;
March, SO; April, 6s; May. so: June,
IO7: July. 50; August. "a; September,
lis. October. SO; November, 1O2. and
December, IS.
Births reported to the clerk during
the year number 1885 as compared
with 1916 IN the previous year. Deaths
number 40 as compared with ia in
1911.
N THE PROBATE COURT.
The work of the probate court and
the probate clerk showed a consider
able increase over that of the year
before The following figures have
been made out TO show in. detail what
was mplished: estates opened
ESQ: closed, 40: guardianship opened
so, closed %; conservatorships open
ed Is. closed 10; entries on docket
1850. and receipts for the year, S..
5000. The office sustained self and
turned over s2,o32.SO to the county
treasurer
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-12-31
Fire Extjncuishers,

About 1910 a Mr.. Thomas Philips Of
London invented an apparatus for put
ting out fire. but it was not much Of
success. When put in action the steam
and carbonic acid which were to ex
tinguish the flames were not gener'
ated IN sufficient quantity to do the
work. Frenchman named earlier
patented a fairly successful extin
guisher in 1862. since which date they
have been used more or less all over
the world to put out incipient fires.
though. of course. they are valueless
after the fire has acquired much head
way.-New York American.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-12-31

nodding his head as ii In assent On
quitting the lodging / said to Words
worth: "Well. for my part. could not
make bend or tail of Colerldge's ora
ton. Pray did you understand itf'
Not one syllable of it" was Words
worth's reply.-"Famous Houses aud
Literary Shrines of London"
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-12-31
Notifying the God.

One of the odd things the visitor to
Burma win notice is the large number
Of bCls about the pagodas These
bells are usually hung on sacred posts
few feet above the ground. Thev
are sweet toned as all Burmese bells
are. but they are not furnished with
tongues The worsbiper who comes TO
pray before the pagoda strikes one Of
these bells with wooden mallet This
Is TO attract the attention OF the god.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-12-31

pairs. They fought In different ways
blindfolded. in chariots. on horseback.
in full armor and with the lasso. Nets
were used by some. who. after throw,
ing one over the head OF an antag
onist, dispatched him with a three
pointed lance or trident
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-12-31

to Eighteenth avenues.
Fifth avenue, Nineteenth to Twen-
ty-third street
Sixth avenue, Twelfth to Seven
teenth streets.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-12-31
COURTS DO MUCH
BUSINESS IN IL;
ONE new OFFICE
Fiches Occupied Fewer Days
But With Better Results
Than In 1911.
RECORDER IS ALSO ELECTED
Sam Ryerson First to Fill Position
Marriage Licenses in Great
Demand.

Inc past year FOUND the main circuit
cou-. in session so days less than in
the previous year and the branch court
was at work only 13 days compared
with 1O4 in 1911. Nevertheless the
volume Of business handed by tho
clerk did not diminish any as IS
shown by the following facts compiled
by CLERK g. W. Gamble.
1911 1912
Number Of declarations of
Intention issued ......... go 2l7
Number Of petitions for
naturalization fled ..... l12 1874
Number Of Ger ificates Of
naturalization issued ..... 81 50
Circuit court was in session
days Decentralization. 2l3 1G3
Branch circuit court was in
session days. ......... 104 13
Grand jury was in session
days. ............ is 80
Grand jury returned into
open court Gndictmentsl 81 70
New chancery cases started POS 25G
Divorce actions included in
above ................... 10 1O4
New law cases started " 1876 179
~ THE RECORDERS OFFICE.
During the year the circuit clerk s
Office and he county recorders office
were divorced Mr. Gamble remaining
clerk Of the former and Sam
Ryersgn who did duty under
Mr. Gamble for many years.
l,g.,,. ,I,.a,,a 5000. M f.-,
population OF the county necessitated
this change. AS usual, the year show
ed a big increase in the number of
instruments OF all kinds that were filed.
the total being 7,474. as compared with
C,7b3 during me preceding ~ months.
These instruments included deeds,
mortgages, chattel mortgages and Ger.
tihcates Of incorporation.
N THE COUNTY COURT.
Despite the fact that 1911 saw enor-
nous increase in the amount Of work
in the county court, this year has sur
passed the mark considerably. Short
~ after the general elections in No
vember Judge X. W. Olmsted resigned
as county Judge in order 70 qualify as
circuit judge TO which position he was
elected That left the county cour
without presiding judge for a time
hut Probate Judge B. S. Bell has been
taking care OF the duties of both posi-
tons of late and the work has been
going ON with alacrity. The follow
,ing fac regarding the year in the
county court are of interest Civil
cases started. 9S; disposed of. So; Grim.
inal cases started, 273 disposed of
2lj; special assessment cases started
81 Opposed Of 80: delinquencies and
dependencies heard. Al: adoptions, -
and insanity hearing. 70 In 1911, CT
civil cases were disposed of, POI Grim
inal cases ended and &c special assess
ment closed up There were only 90
insanity hearings.
MARRIAGE ~ POPULAR.
Records from the Office OF County
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-12-31
ARRESTS
THAN LAST Year
Police Kept Busy Nevertheless
and the Record Made Is on
Whole a Good One.

The police department made Just &c
fewer arrests during the year 1912
than in the previous II months period.
The total this year was 1886. The
force was kept busiest in July when
they were called upon to take 1877
persons to jail. December was as us
ual, the lightest month of the year,
only 81 arrests being made con-
siderable amount of stolen property
was recovered and numerous burglar
were apprehen1ed. During the last
month or so, the force has had 20 com
bat with a series of mysterious bur
glaries similar TO those which are
batting the police over the entire
country. One of the best pieces of
work of the year was the running
down Of Ed Patton. charged with as
saulting a little four-year-old giri. The
crime was committed about 10 O'Clock
one moThing and two days later. the
police had fastened a chain of evil
dence about Patton that bids fair 20
his final conviction. They had moth.
ing TO work on at the start other than
meagre description of the assailant.
Following is a list of the charges
and the number of each in which per
sons we're bouhd over to the grand
jury:
Fornication l, burglary 2. resisting
an officer =. malicious mischief 5. bur
glary and larceny 2, larceny 40, OBJ
tanning food under false pretenses ,,
assault with intent to rape .. embez-
cement l, larceny as bailee l. receir-
ing stolen property l. and one each
on charges Of adultery, arson, horse
stealing, confidence game and rape.
Many persons find themselves az,
feCted with a persistent cough after
an attack of influenza. AS this cough
car be promptly cured by the use OF
1 Chamberlain's Cough Remedy, it
should not be allowed to run on until
it becomes troublesome Sold by all
| druggists ADVERTISEMENT
New Iberia enterprise and independent observer. (New Iberia, La.) 1902-1944, 1912-03-30
MIR. ROOSEVELT AND THE
PRESIDENTIAL CAM
PAIGN.

Colonel Roosevelb was making
public political speeches in Chi
cago last night, and it is plain
that he has regularly embarked
in campaign for the presiden.
tial nomination, can it be said OF
the Republican Party?
The G. 0. P. is so irrecoverably
divided that it is difficulH to be-
lieve that there. is any living man
who can heal up It's breaches and
make present solid front. But
is there any one who can muster
its vast radical element and draw
10 him the great body Of the rad
ical element pf the Democratic
Party and so gain a popular ma
Jority?
There was a time when Mr..
Roosevelt could have done it, but
it is doubtful if he has the hold
on popular favor without regard
to parry that he could once have
commanded. Moreover, Governor
Woodrow Wilson, who is one Of
the most sagaeious politicians in
the country, has got hold of the
radical element Of the Democratic
Party that would have gone to
Roosevelt.
1t should be noted that the Dem
ocratic organ zation is very di-
lapidated affair and is only held
together by the fact that at the
present moment it dominates the
popular house of Congress and
has large influence in the Senate.
The hope of electing a president
next fall is about all that is hold
ing it together, and every energy
and political art should be devot-
ed to and concentrated on the ac-
complishing of that undertaking.
New Iberia enterprise and independent observer. (New Iberia, La.) 1902-1944, 1912-03-30

lect on traffic moving from coast
to coast.
Not only that, but the higher
they can make the rates at the
terminals on the two oceans, the
higher rates they can exact in the
intermediate country. But unless
the commercial bodies of the
country call attention to these
facts, which should be obvious, the
majority report, favoring tolls,
will be adopted.
Mr.. Broussard brought up the
subject I'm the meeting of the del
egatfon held today with regard to
the proper protection of the Jet
ties.sSgd asked his colleagues to
study the matter with view to
coming to a decision on the sub
ject in advance Of the considera-
tion of the bill.
Representative Ransdell said he
was for a free canal. He is SO
because the Rivers and Harbors
Committee, of which he is a men,
ber, recommended the legislation
declaring for free waterways.
Another reason for his position on
the matter is that the Rivers and
Harbors Congress, of which he is
q member, declared for a free
canal, and he heartily approves
its resolution on that subject
Times-Democrat.
New Iberia enterprise and independent observer. (New Iberia, La.) 1902-1944, 1912-03-30
SIX MORE KILLED BY THE
AMMAN"

Columbus, Tex, March "a
man with an ak killed six negroes
at Glidden at about 2 o'clock this
morning. The dead are: Lyle
Finucane, aged thirty-seven; El-
len Monroe, aged fort,y-six; AL
berta Monroe, aged thirty; Jessie
Monroe, aged eleven; Dewey Lee
Monroe, aged twelve; Willie Mon
roe, agd sixteen.
Each of the negroes was hit
with the blunt end of an ak over
the right ear. Lyle Finucane s
head was crushed in and beaten
away from the crown to the nose.
Evidence indicates that the vie
Tins were struck before they were
awakened.-T. d.
New Iberia enterprise and independent observer. (New Iberia, La.) 1902-1944, 1912-03-30
BROUSSARD TALKS OF
CANAL TOLLS.

Washington, March 25.-" As
recently as 1909 Congress declared
Il to be the policy of the United
States to impose no tolls for the
use Of any canal now owned or
hereafter constructed or acquir-
cd" sad Representative. BroEs-
tard this .eveEilfe S1f CONGRESS
row passes the bill reported by
the Interstate and Foreign Com
merce Committee, imposing tolls
npon coastwise trade passing
through the canal, it will COM
pletely reverse the policy adopted
IN 1884. In that year the decla-
ration was made that tolls should
not be exacted for the use Of any
improved waterway or canal.
Three years ago Congress add
Cd the words Hereafter acquired
or construed so as to make it un-
necessary for that question to be
discussed every time the esngi-
neers completed a canal or finish
Cd the improvement of a channel.
1T 'behooyes the commercial,
bodies of the country to build up
sentiment in favor of the mi
nofity report. which says there
shal! be no tolls. That minority
report. taken in connection with
the provision saying that no rail
sroad-owned or railroad-controlIed
sssasp shall use any of the canals
~ improved waterways, gives as
surance that the primary object
q Improving waserways-that is
eompetition between the rail-
Foeds and the water carriers
alah be attained Everybody
ought to know that every dollar
imposed upon commerce passing
tnFoRgh the canal will enable the !
tfanscontinental railroads to add
dollar to the charges they col