davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1912-11-07

resources that can only be met by
high standard of living. How,
would ask, is any human bein
forced to live in large city able to
maintain themselves on less than
ten dollars per week? 1t is impos-
sible. Then why do not clerks or
ganize? Impossible again. Then,
how do the employees of large
department manage to live and
keep up prosperous appearance?
Well, kind reader, to explain this
apparent mystery it will be neces-
sary for me to disclose a few trade
secrets. for. like the old soldier, /
have been there" and know whereof
| write.
First: the increase of income is
secured by stealing; one third of the
clerks in the department stores of
New DIRK and Chicago steal.
Second: the increase of income
is derived by system of commits
sion, or "pergs'' or Splits" as it is
called. These are given clerks who
work off old, stale or shopworn art
ticles on innocent purchasers. In
plain English, this is robbing the
customer. / knew clerk who sold
over twenty dirty yellow boys reef
ers and made two dollars on each
sale.
Third: An increase of the week
~ salary is effected by substituting
an article of less value than that
selected. This method of course
can only be worked on out of town
customers who order the goods de-
livered. And who, in the last anal
ysis, pays the extra money taken by
the employees? Why, the dear public
of course, the ultimate consumer.
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1912-11-07

singular effects of 'santonine,'' may
be attributed to the action of the
drug VI on the nerves of the retina.
changing their tension and Migratory
action under the impression of light"
The results of experiments with the
drug, so far, have not shown it to be
applicable to any useful purpose.
but it is thought that it may per-
haps prove the germ of some useful
invention for the treatment of blind
ness and defective sight.
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1912-11-07
SCHOOL REPORT.

Following is the school history
for the mouth of October 1912:
Number of school sessions, Ii; School
attendance at opening session Oct.
End, 1912. 1877; Average attendance
during month. ITO, Highest. 172;
Lowest, 1877; Average, compulsory
attendance, %; Average voluntary
attendance, lat; Number excused
by medical department during
month temporarily, 4; permanently,
/; Number excused by Deputy War
den, during month temporarily, 2;
permanently. 4; Number enrolled
during month, ID; Discharged from
institution, 4; Pupils reported for
breach of institutional rules, 2; Pu-
pills reported for Incidence and lack
of interest in school work, 0.
r. M. Coles.
Deputy Warden
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1912-11-07

The meanest husband in Hartford
has been discovered. His wife asked
him to dig potatoes in the garden
and he consented. After digging
for few minutes he went in the
house, remarking that he had found
a coin. He washed the dirt off and it
proved to be a half dollar. He put it
back in his pocket and went back to
work. Presently he returned to the
house and said he had found another
coin, which, on being cleaned, turned
out to be 25c piece. He put it in
his pocket, saying to his wife, l
have worked pretty hard; | think
I'll take a short nap" When he
awoke he found that his wife had
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1912-11-07

I'm guilty. Pm an old convict.
I've been in the penitentiary so let
me 90 back there again. 1t can't
hurt me any more than it has. But
this boy was led astray by me. 1t
was my fault, not his. Don't ruin
him by sending him to the pen l
know how it blasts mans life"
Such was the plea made bV- Mao
>II-~-,-a -highwavman. In
Chicago court recently, in behalf of
a young lad he had led into trouble.
The boy was sent to a reform school
and Magnus went back to the peni-
Tertiary. 1t is pitiful that life so
full of nobility must waste itself in
the gloomy shadows of prison walls.
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1912-11-07

MosT people are familiar with the
effects of opium, morphine, laudnum,
etc., upon the human system, and by
actual experience, or having read of
the experience of others, understand
the power of these drugs to make
one see unusual things. 1t remained
for Frenchman, however, to dis
cover a drug which, when taken,
creates process by which the eye
can be made to See every object of a
uniform color. The drug which
produces this strange effect upon
the vision is called "santonire" and
is described as the bitter principle
of worm seed" A small quantity
of santonine" is usually sufficient
to make one see everything of a
green color, but the quantity of the
dose may modify the effect consid-
erably, and there are some persons
upon whom it acts in such manner
az to produce some other color be-
sides green. A physician who has
made number of experiments with
santonine" writes the following
description Gifts effects: A young
man, to whom / administered five
grains of the drug, in few minutes
saw all things yellow; upon repeat
ing the dose, in about half an hour
he saw everything red. Half an
hour later the red changed to orange,
and that gradually to yellow again.
To another person everything ap-
peared blue. without regard to the
quantity of the dose, and to third
the color was always light straw.
Tie phenomena are moi permanent
in all cases, but return at intervals
of five or six minutes, and they new
er last longer than a day." The
physician goes on to say that these
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1912-11-07
Gbautauqua
Quarterly Meeting Sun. Nov. 8.

The Chautauqua Circle met in the
chapel with all members present.
Meeting called to order by the Pres
ident. Upon roll call each mem
Der responded with a quotation.
Being honored with the orchestra
and the presence of Miss Hanson, of
GAINESVILLE, Wis, and many visitors,
business was suspended and the fol-
lowing program carried out:
PROGRAM.
Orchestra. ............Airs of Our Country
Paper Lesson From the Heathen... MI. E.
Selection. Elizabeth Hanson
Paper: Shadows and Sunshine Mr.F.
Selection ..... Elizabeth Hanson
Paper Just Dreams Observation-Disclosures. Mr.. H.
Orchestra. The Myriad Dancers
eoio Webb
Miss Hanson's entertainment was
thoroughly enjoyed by all members
as was also the special music and
good papers. This was one of the
best and most entertaining meetings
the Circle has enjoyed aud we hope
Miss Hanson will find it convenient
to visit US often.
Prof. w. favored us with a coup
lie of rousing Negro songs which
were thoroughly enjoyed.
We were glad to have so many Wis
itors present and hope they will
come again and bring their friends
with them. The President thank
ing Miss Hanson for her entertain
ment and the visitors for their pres
ence adjourned the meeting.
j. E. M. Sec'y.
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1912-11-07

Mr.. JOHN Soups has discontin-
ued eating crabs" states an Iowa
paper: AS he had eaten them so
long, that everything he undertook
went backward. He had a brother
who dug a well, till he found he was
getting down in the world, when he
gave up the business and turned as
tronomer. He then looked up a
little"
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1912-11-07

THE individual who tried to
clear his conscience with an egg"
remarks an exchange. is now en-
deavoring to raise his spirits with
yeast If he fails in this he ought
to blow out his brains with bellows
and sink calmly into the arms of a
young lady.
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1912-11-07

A RETIRED PHYSICIAN, whose
sands of life, etc." says an opium
pill is one of the best things to ap-
pease hunger. We prefer pork
chops, followed by strawberry short
cake.
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1912-11-07

A VERY bad pen must have been
used by the Lord on some men. of
whom it is said, He has written
honest man. in their faces.
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1912-11-07
Sunbedin$ and Shadows
By Blackstone.

Capital and Labor will end when
Gabriel blows his trumpet-and the
lion and the lamb gather feed in the
same pasture, side by side. An ex-
tended experience in clerkship Of
various sorts compel he candid
statement that clerks do not organ
ize' because the antagonism of the
forces controlled by capital is too
powerful to be overcome, OF put in
more homely phrase: the clerks
are scared, they dare not.
In large department store in
Chicago where l held a position as
manager, it was well known to the
superintendent that secret solicita-
ton was active among b e four
thousand clerks, for the purpose of
Organizing a union. 1t was also a
matter of common report that I'M
mediate discharge would be the pen
atty of openly joining any clerks
union.
Did you ever hear of the clerks
in any department store striking to
better their condition? Never. and
the chances are you never will.
Why do not clerks organize? Yes,
indeed why not. Take the stores
and conditions as found on State
street Chicago for an example: Here
are Marshall Fields, Hillman's, the
Boston store, Carson, Pir:e. Scott,
Stevens, Mandels, The Fair, Roths-
Cn1Iu anu DIegIe OUOper 8, repre-
senting many millions of invested
capital and employing thousands of
people at wages ranging from five
to twelve dollars a week.
Did you ever think, kind reader.
as you wandered from store to store
in search of wonderful bargains,
what 1t means to stand behind a
counter from $50 to 6 o'clock with
a half hour for lunch?
One of the largest State street
stores advertises daily, Offering all
kinds of merchandise at prices way
below cost, and in spite of this daily
apparent loss 1t has divided over
100000 dollars net profits among
its four or five shareholders in
single year. This particular store
was asked to increase the time of
lunch to one hour and to permit the
clerks to sit when not actively en-
gagged in selling; both requests were
haughtily rejected. The laws of
Massachusetts and New York COM
pei stores to provide stools so the
clerks can rest when they have the
A. r. Stewart, the
New York merchant prince, was
one of the first to place stools be-
hind the counter and never tired
telling his customers how glad he
was to make his clerks more COM
Portable. He never confded to the
public his instructions to floor man.
ayers, which were: to instantly dis
charge any employee who was found
sitting down.
This same spirit still animates all
department store bosses. Yes, the
rest room looks nice and comfort
able but we dare not linger too long
nor too frequently.
At least, the Chicago stores are
consistent. Many do not make any
provision for rest. Said one of the
clerks in my department when Gen.
sured for sitting on box: How do
you expect me to dance all night
and come on here and stand behind
counter all day?' / submit this
to general managers for a choice
specimen of feminine logic. The
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1912-11-07
wit.

Prudence protects and guides US wit betrays;
splendid source Of ill ten thousand ways,
A certain snare to miseries immense.
gay prerogative from common sense:
Unless strong judgment that wild thing can
tame,
And break to paths of virtue and of fame
Young.
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1912-11-07

AN eminent Psychologist has dis
covered that it is the drunkard' 8
carbon which being retained,
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1912-11-07
TO SUBSCRIBERS

blank the right signifies that your subscription
fill the accompanying subscription blank
immedi-
The MIRROR so DON
vance
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1912-11-07

AMAN who takes proper care of
himself, should enjoy high range
of health all his life.
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1912-11-07

long day is sure to be severe
strain on the clerks store of pa
thence and courtesy. There is the
woman shopper employed by the
store to purchase in all departments
and to tease or torment the long
suffering clerk until something is
said or done that will insure a re-
port to the GIN. One such profess
sional shopper bought a two cent
paper of pins and ordered them de-
livered; another talked with floor
manager for more than an hour,
thus securing his dismissal.
Some shoppers are petty thieves.
They purchase five or ten cents
worth of braid and pretend to lose
twenty-five cents in change that
was passed through the cash girl
or clerk. These sly customers know
that they will be given a small
amount by the manager rather than
run the risk of losing trade. The
customer who claims the loss of a
nickel or dime and who does rot
hesitate to raise a fuss over it is a
frequent CRATER that takes the cigar
money away from a good natured
floor manager, for either the clerk
or the little cash girl must be the le-
gitimate and ultimate loser; the loss
of dime to either of them means
no lunch or a walk home of several
miles, so down goes your hand for a
dime or two-bits and the sun shines
once more where gloomy despair
prevailed.
Then there is the shopper who al
ways faints in a crowd or who ap-
proaches you and says confidenti-
ally: Il have heart trouble and al
ways faint in a crowd. Now you
have a sale on corset covers today
and / can save six cents by buying
two OF them. Yes, l know / had to
leave Blue Island before daylight,
you always give such excellent val
ues that / could not resist the temp
tation. Now Mr.. Floor Man, If |
should faint promise to take good
care of me" promised. Reader,
did you ever see young gentleman
| fault4O1D attirc- steering reo}in-
ing chair through a Christmas mob
of shoppers, the occupant of said
chair being the aforesaid lady with
weak heart! Like the old soldier
whenever mention of Libby prison
wasmadealways said: Il was there"
But theabsent-minded shoppers real
ly the bette noir" of the department
store. One such came running to
me crying, my pocket book, oh,
my pocket book" Well, madam,
l haven't got it, (smile you kids,
search me). No, no, I left it on
the counter and went across the
aisle to look at really wonderful
bargain in scrim. Oh you don't
know how cheap 1 can buy scrim
down here in Chicago. Why. way
down in Skowhegan, Sam Cheats
place charges two cents more
yard. Oh, yes, / lost my pocket
book, now dear me what shall do?
What will my husband say?" We'll,
madam, % l said, i can't tell just what
your husband will say to you when
he discovers your loss, but | can
tell you exactly what the general
manager will say to ME when he
flnds that he must pay your fare
home.'' Yes, indeed was l not held
responsible for all mistakes of
clerks, cashiers and customers? Ev-
cry morning did not the G. NJ. call
me to his Office and show me a stock
of merchandise taken away from
booster" pardon, l mean, shop
lifters-and did | not know by heart
the censure? Now Mr.. B. this
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1912-11-07

dug the potatoes, but she had found
no coin. 1t at last dawned upon her
that she had been fooled.-Hartford
(Ark. Observer.
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1912-11-07
TO INMATES.

arrivals and all others desiring to- SEND n M Wt
this office with and
received and placed your door every RI
comply whether nog out
o not.
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1912-11-07
CHURCH NOTICE

Service o'clock Sunday morning Protestant
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1912-11-07

Mirror Minnesota State 1T was
managed them 1t aims to be
the prisoners
oogca
ipeng that prejudice which has ever @ ns
OF funds the money
will be expended lin inteesto library
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-06-29
SOCIAL WORK IN STEERAGE
Good Time, Says Writer, to
Teach Immiprants.

Rosamond Kimball has an article in to-
days issue Of The Survey" advocating So
cial work in the steerage Of ships bringing
immigrants to this country. She says. com
ment!ng upon the fact that the Dillingham;
bill contains d provision for inspectors and
matrons IN the steerage
The need IS not only for government Off
Gals to see to IL that no violations of the
law occur but for officials who, as trained
social workers shall enter into friendly
relations with the immigrant and start him
With the proper equipment a social worker
could DO more for the immigrant in a few
days aboard ship than in a month on land
Here are several hundred foreigners with
absolutely nothing to do for from five 10
fourteen days, such respite from work
and care as may never come 10 them again.
America lies ahead like the Promised Land.
Their cup Of Joyous expectation is full and
they do not guess that bitter dregS may lie
at the bottom. They are as eager as child
TO learn Of this country toward which they
that are set forth at such time wall re-
main 70 fortify them against other impress
sions which will come later on.
Such scheme was tried once by Yale
University student, a Pole by birth. and
the article contains an interesting account
Of his experiences teaching his fellow pas
sengers English, telling them about the
places TO which they were going and even
rescuing young gambler who was about
70 lose his ell before reaching his new
CouutrN
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-06-29
FIGHT DOLLAR-BEER PARKS
Working Girls Champions War
on Drinking PiCniCs.

Mrs Charles n Israels. chairman Of the
Committee on Amusement Resources Of
working Girls Is making 2 study % the
amusement parks.
We are starting out" says Mrs Israels.
TO night the dollar beer racket IN picnic
places. and have tuat written 20 the License
Commissioner asking him II he VIII not
pass regulations similar 10 that against
tough dancing. telling the picnic park pro-
prietors that such methods or conducting
their places viii endanger their licenses.
In Queens and Richmond there are more
than one hundred parks 20 say nothing Of
Coney Island and all the resorts IN The
Bronx and Westchester COUNTY and any
number Of places run on that plan That
is. they charge 81 tor admission and in
clude all the beer you can drink.
We are starting out to make our usual
summer investigation OF amusement parks,
and have completed few Inspections The
Psllsade Park We found IN good order.
Clason's Point Is very much better this
year Last summer we complained about II
10 the Police Commissioner and he
Strengthened out things
The committee was incorporated more
than year ago, and recently issued its
annual report submitting a programme Of
work ahead, Of which the following ere
essential features.
A series OF conferences and demonstra-
tons 10 standardize dancing
Social dancing OF the right type 10 be
taught in the public schools ss part Of
this effort
Improvement Of the general amusement
resources for working girls, such as the
cheap variety shows and motion pictures
social centres and bathrooms
Establishment Of model and municipal
dancing opportunities for young people
Passage Of a law 20 remedy conditions
on excursion steamboats,
A constant system OF inspection OF all
picnic places which young people frequent.
Model dance halls 10 be established 20
point the way for municipal effort.
Cooperation with city departments-the
License Bureau. In enforcing the law; the
Buildings Department in establishing
structural regulations. and the Fire De-
partment, in elimination OF fire risk caused
by the indiscriminate scattering OF thou
sands OF cards and circulars on the floor
Of bathrooms
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-06-29
Notes and Comment

According 70 Leonard P Ayres, director
~ the division OF education IN the Rus
sell Sage Foundation, It has not vet been
determined what effect the recent educe-
tional exhibit, in Greenwich, Conn, Will
have upon that town, although the demon
stration, which cost about $500, was
financed principally by Greenwich women
10 wake UP what Dr.. Ayres told reporter
for The Tribune was the worst case Of
stagnated public conscience I ever saw
However, the Connecticut press and Green
u1ch citizens are still evincing interest In
the project
Deficiencies IN the Greenwich school
buildings which we're shown in the exhibit
are also recorded in a pamphlet portray
ing existing conditions graphically by
means Of pictures, diagrams and some text.
The worst things brought 70 light were
the overcrowdlng, meaning IN some cases
the use Of cellars as classrooms and stair
ways as desks, the lack Of sanitary facih-
ties, the lack OF lockers and the situation
OF schools close to undrained swamps and
stagnant pools
The one redeeming feature IN the edu-
cational system OF Greenwich. according
20 this exhibit, is the fact that the teach
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-06-29
MAKE WEE ALIENS LEARN
Settlement Members Promptly
Enter Children at School.

The Nurses Settlement, in Henry street,
has made a special effort TO see that the
immigrant children of its neighborhood
lose no time at school through delay in en-
tering.
The names Of newly arrived young
sters were learned from the North Ameri-
can Civic League for Immigrants within
a few days after they had landed at Ellis
Island A list Of 299 children Of school age
was received by Miss Clark during the
school year Just closed. OF these thirteen
were found to have moved out Of the neigh
borhood al once Therefore 2SS we're really
looked up
OF these Miss Clark found all but thirty
eight. Is per cent. That the percentage Of
not found was so small was due 10 the
fact that Miss Clark made a door-to- door
trip through each tenement house Of which
she had an address, refusing TO take the
janitors word that no such family lived
there. In most cases she found the chill
dren within a week Of their landing, and
l02 Of the 2S6 were already in school before
she called.
She found that q few were working
chiefly those fourteen or fifteen years old
OF the younger ones, almost every child
not IN school already was intending 70 GO
and Miss Clark thought il probable that q
few days more would have seen them safe
y Installed without assistance from her
Her experience shows, however, that in
cases from twelve years 10 sixteen there
IS great temptation 10 go TO work. and
that II they can elude the attendance of
fcer they will do SO
The names Of children not attending were
reported 70 the district superintendent
and returns from three Of these show that
all were put IN school, although IN some
places this was done only through actual
or threatened prosecution