davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Norwich bulletin., 1912-02-03
SHOES AND THEIR CHARACTER

often be found planning and toiling to make sure that his children shall be freed from such drudgery as has been his lot in life, and often with his heavy boots he lays aside his grum- bling, and becomes pleasant neigh Dor and thrifty householder. It Woulc seem that his grievances were re- moved with his boots.
 Once I saw a tell-taIe pair of shoes on child's feet. The little girl seem ed happy enough, at play on a flight of steps leading up to her neighbor's house. Her position revealed the soles of her feet. and literally they were re- vealed. The soles of her shoes were worn away, the stockings were equally ragged, and the poor child's feet wei 2 exposed to view, uncovered and ul} protected from the pavement. What 8 confession of .shiftlessness on the parents part that sight afforded to any passer- by. That any mother coulu be so negligent seemed impossible, but so 1t was
 A substantial citizen walks along, his feet encased in broad, comfortable shoes, and shows by every motion from head to foot, that his life has thus far been spent in good works for others, and now as old age is ar-
 
 look every man squarely in the face, for he has naugEt of which to be ashamed There I espy man whose shifty glance takes a furtive look at those whom he passes as if he dreaded their judgment of him, or feared in- Vesigation of his conduct. Look at his feet They seem small and skinny and inclined to step insecurely. His soul has become shriyeled and cFamped likewise, and he makes US feel that we cannot safely contide in him.
 Have you thought how often feet are entirely out of proportion to the bodies they support7 A corpulentt physician of my acquaintance always surprises me when I notice him walk ing on the street He has such a dap per, tiny, little foot Perhaps because he seldom walks, his foot has not de- Veioped as it otherwise might have done. Stout. heavy women often have small feet and ankles and they todd:e about like Chinese ladies whoae feet have been bandaged in babyhood. Such proportiOnate feet never allow their owners to be free from discomfort. Such people are never good walkers, and usually wear a look of patient en- duranoe on their faces in evidence of constant suffering.
 In some people a small foot is a matter of great pride They crowd the foot into a boot two sizes too small for them, with a French heel thrust ing itself toward the front of the foot, and can never be convinced that there Is anything harmful in the practice. Such shoe looks pretty, they think, and they do not seem to know that 1t pFonounces them vain and shallow Neither do they consider the shoo maEzas them nervous and fretfTIl q am sll run down." they gay. Should the French heels be thrown aside tEe bodily health would improve.
 We are all apt to think the sensi- ble plan is our plan in footwear as in all else. Still l feel convinced that the one who keeps his foot eomforta- hle and well-shod, who wears over shoes on occasion, and goes about swinging a cane when he likes, is to be enVied for his comforts, and his acquaintance is worth cultiyating for the enjoyment thus found by his friends. AN EDLER.
Norwich bulletin., 1912-02-03
CIRCULATION
A DEFECTIVE IN THE LoRIMER
 CASE

The Lorimer case is mostly cele- hrated as a case without end over 3 senator devoid of memory.
 It has been difficult for the govern ment to obtain real discriminating evil dence and it was only when the Lori mer people hunted up a passenger on a railway coach who had overheard aI about the so-called 'slush fund" of sI0o.000 on a train in which he was travelling that a lie was well nailed.
 The Lorimer people found the pas ssueer and presented him before the committee. and then he positively tes- tined that the story was a pure fabri- cation from the brain of the enemy. This was the point at which Detective Burns was brought into the case. be having been brought into the case to see if the passenger was honest; and he created a sensation by coming before the committee, making oath 70 the fact the witness for Lorimer psrjured himself and was paid for it.
 What a real surprise this must be co Mir Lorimer, who is so innocent that he would have the people believe he Is no more guilty of offense than a vhlte-faced humble bee without a sting. .
 Poor Senator Lorimer, who wears self-apphed adhesive purity labels all over himself, must feel as if he needs a few more honest endorsers.
Norwich bulletin., 1912-02-03
LIQUOR AND CRIME.

The way Of drink is the way to crime The excessive use of liquor ssds to almost every conceivable crime as well as to the most abject want and misery.
 Robert Heiuselman, clerk of the Kansas board of pardons. has pre- pared some interesting statistics on he cause of crime as revealed by the records of convicts in the state peni- ientiary. Liquor comes in for the lions share. For instance, S21 prison CTS reporting. a census showed that s12, or 73.s per cent, were in the habit of using liquor. or those who use iauor, nearly all. or s4 per cent. gave what they consider the cause of their downfall and of those who gave the cause of their downfall. e59 reporting on this point, 227, or 40 per cent, gave liquor as the direct cause for their ,rime. and 212. or 37.2 per cent, gave it as one of the causes for their down. fall Only 26.7 per cent of the pris- 0uers report that they did not use liq- uor. ''Whisl1ey and gambling, women and drinking booze and idleness,' ? or equivalent terms. are frequent ana swers where liquor is given as a con ufbuting cause.
 SO that the influence or liquor on
 .. commission of crime is shown by .'e fac, that the pen.tentiary is an institution .n which 73.5 Der cent. of .s inmates use liquor. and in which -l per cent. of those who use liquor Ei.e it as the direct OF contributing ause 0f their downfail
 lt was shown that 90 per cent were away From home when they committed I-me. and tAaJ ll.5 per cent. were a iileuess. It is busy heads and hands which keep men in the path of probity and honor.
Norwich bulletin., 1912-02-03
MEN AND RELIGION FORWARD
 MOVEMENT.

This is the title of the greatest re- ligtous movement America has ever witnessed; and there is nothing mys- tifying about 1t when one understands that it means more for the welfare of men than any religious movement ever before inaugurated.
 This movement not only concerns the future welfare of souls but the well-being of men in this world. It is not a get something for nothing scheme, but a reciprocal movement which commits the church to the in terests of the working classes and in vites men to the support of the church.
 Fred B. Smith, the mental dynamo who conceived of this far reaching movement which Is now active in 76 cities and 1900 smaller communities has this to say of it:
 Its suicide, if we don't go the limit this time on social betterment and the industrial situation. If the churches don't prove their sincerity and fear lessness on industrial wrongs this time the door will never again be open to them. It is folly, suicidal folly, to hold back. If necessary, we'll go out into the middle of the street to preach. realize that there's a price to pay"
 The gospel preached to the band of thirty who were trained to direct this great movement was that justice and piety must go hand in hand, that prayer for redemption and the oppres sion of the working classes by pro fessed Christians is an insult to God and man.
 There is heart as well as energy in the work and surprising results are reported from Western towns where campaigns have been carried through. They report that fin each of the towns a change has been wrought in the per sonal life of one and another-gains in unselflshness, in seriousness of pur- pose, in direction of effort. Wash ington Gladden. characterizes the meet ings as light and power. no noise.
 There was never a religious move ment just like it--in breadth of labor and purpose, in resolute good will and a daring assault upon the wrongs which make of professional piety mockery. The object is not to bleed" men, but to through sympathy and CO., operation convince them that there is netterment and consolation in religion which is worth all it costs.
 The movement is under way in Nor Wich and at stated intervals campaign CTS from larger cities will come here to aid in the work. While no such commanding and all-eonquering per sonalities are at the helm of this movement as used to steer through tempestuous nights in the times ot Moody and Sturgeon and Ffnney, the programme Is more definite, more sct- entifc More men are on the team, the special needs of the town are bet ter met. For one great spirit on fire, 1t substitutes many excellent practical men doing a useful piece of worG. It $ less Of Q tnfire. but 1t supplies d permanent dynamo.
 The able leaders of the non -denomi- national, evangelical work hope to bring into the religious life of America S,000,00 men and youth; and it is to be hoped Norwich will have a successful campaign and show good results.
Norwich bulletin., 1912-02-03

(Written Specially for The Bulletin.)
 Do shoes have character? Of course they do, and show character, too. Of late I have been wondering how there could be so much difference in style and appearance of feet and their outfit. Now that skirts are worn so much shorter than for many years, there is a greater chance to notice feet and footgear, and very attractive display they make.
 There goes a young miss down the street. Imprudent she may be, but she shows a very dainty foot, daintiiy clad in a russet low shoe with dapper heel though the temperature would seem to call for something warmer. How she skins along over the ground!
 Next comes an older woman, show ing an equally trim foot, well attired in carefully laced boot of black. They both show plainly that they take care ful heed to the feet, and the light springing step tells of good health, energy and cheerfulness. Such a one usually greets us with bright smile and cheery word which leaves an iIn- precision of overflowing vitality.
 Next a youthful couple pass dozn the street together. The lady's foot, well clad, keeps step with her com panion's more vigorous gait. His foot is no less trimly attired in low shoe, and the trousers so ostentatiously turned baIak at the ankle display drop stitch stockings, though 1t be crisp, cold day in December. Should trey be reminded of any need of warmer foot covering, they declare themselves perfectly comfortable, while an elderly friend of mine mutteFs, Pride will xr4 a lry v.e, too much engrossed in each other to notice any possible discomfort of any sort.
 A very different foot is the next to be noticed. Poorly shod and heavily placed on the pavement, each step tells of weariness and Encouragement, of depression and sadness. The poor woman does not realize how much of overWork is revealed in that down. trodden heel and misShapen shoe. Cheerful she may try to be, but the shoe tells it's own story.
 The best walkers I ever knew had broad feet, sure, confident and well placed step, and their dispositions were apparently in correspondence, unruf- fled by the small annOyances of life. A substantial, sensible view they tale of life itself, and cast aside all small worries aS tr1rleH unworthy or nOtlee. Faithful friends, they prove to be, and in them we find comfort and sympathy in time of need.
 How that sturdy teamster plodE along in his high rubber bootsl A strong man, he troubles himself very little, I fancy, concerning what does not apply to his own comfort and that of those dependent upon him. A kind husband and father, he is indulgeEt and generous. ambitious, no doubt, for the children. and contributing hiz share to the worlds happiness and prosperity.
 The day lab0rsr, how much he shows of character by his feet. Heay- fly clad. they drag slowly along, and plainly tell of the sluggish, unlnteIli- gent mind; he is the man who drops the shovel with it's coRtents at souhe of the clock and whistle, regardless of aUght else than his own ease. Such as he is frequently heard grumbiina about those In authority over hi1n and finding fault with all existing conditions. Yet even such one will
Norwich bulletin., 1912-02-03
o.-What is meant by the term "Doomsday?" GA. B. c.)

o.-What is meant by the term "DoomsdayT GA. B. c.)
 Answer.-It is that last dreadful day in which (according to the anticipated theories of an obsolete theological for mation) the Lord will return to the earth, and take His seat upon great white throne. and then all nations will be gathered before Him, for judgment. As the judgments proceed, the noun tatns and the rocks will come tum- bling down, and the sea and the waves will roar under the agitations of a mighty storm. About this time a ter Tible earthquake will shake things up so severely that all the things that can be shaken will be removed. In con neotton with these trifling phenom- ena of nature, there will be the sound ing of the last trump, and tremendous voices will be heard on the air. Amidst this deafening uproar, while the wreck Of matter and the crush of worlds' is tranxpirinS the go, ,000,- e00A00 and more of the human race will be judged, and all within the lim- itat1ons of a twenty -four hour dayl When the final summing up takes place, the Great Judge will invite the few saints, the little flock to enter into the conditions of bliss, while to the vast majority of the race He will Issue the command to depart into an eternity of torment in fire and brim- stone With the pronouncement of the final sentence of doom, a terrible fire win break forth; the elements shall melt with fervent heat; and the heavens and earth being on fire shall be dissolvedl This luFid picture of the judgment time was evidently formed by some one with highly de- veloped imaginative powers, who gath cred together a number of symbolic and figurative expressions from the Scriptures with which to produce this amusing sketch of "doomsday.' which has served to frighten some good and bad children nearly to death!
Norwich bulletin., 1912-02-03
HOME MISSIONARY WORK

The Boston Globe in raising a fund for the support of the widow of Phelps inc murderer, and her five children, is doing real home missionary work, and it is pleasant to note that the fund now exceeds S2,10O. which is to be given for the support of the family at the rate of S10 a week, and thus these little ones may be given a chance in life to follow in other footsteps than In the footsteps of their father. A man who knew Phelps says he was grown in the mountains and had none Of the mellOwing influences of civilized life. and that in killing the -herin he did no more than any of his ass would have done under like .niitions Our home mission work r 19t nearly as thorough as it should ua Go not realize how much such ...rs g needed right here in New Eng -rL I IS not so very many years
 that tEo small children were
 uercd iu @ Christian -ommHnity
 'anueDticut who had never heard
 le Biole or the Saviour.
 folessrdk Christian people are not
 r enough 10 instruct their chill ..u. woman who was called into
 frssedly Christian family--a
 res home-to care for the
 deu while tho parents went out
 and opera, found that they had
 .r heard of Christmas or Christ, hen she tried to entertain them with stories of the approaching festi- vel
 Chrstendom is shamefully negligent af its home duties and to this negli- Eence may be charged up a large per eent Of the criminalry which dis sTaceH New England citteG
Norwich bulletin., 1912-02-03

Volunteers writes as follows;
 T have Psuna myself and family  your remedy during the Spanish American War.
 "My Psrun during and consulted will be that the my regiment were of the Army Corps while at Camps in of of course help certainly was great benefit command"
Norwich bulletin., 1912-02-03

can be tanned with patient effort. One should resolutely strive to keep his mind as free from prejudice as he would from cant. He will seek to bring an absolutely level head to every ques- tion and decide each on its merits.
 l have often wished that we might judge religion in this impartial spirit. I recall hardly an objector either to the church or to Christianity whose ar guments have not been colored more or less with prejudice. Some of the harsh est criticisms have been founded on what IS at bottom narrowness and mis apprehension.
 From the beginning 1t has been so.
Norwich bulletin., 1912-02-03

A card came to me the other day upon which was this line: Happiness is a habit-eultivate itI" I thought caught the idea, but I had to seurry round to see if l had room for it in the garden of my mind. It seemed to me if one kept good thoughts in his heart happiness might flourish there, sll right. A grouchy soil will not pro- duee is-water from the river of Doubt will not sustain 1t. A great many things contribute to happiness, but if man possesses all his heart desires he can not be happy unless he thinks he is. Thought isn't happiness, but being per feetly satisfied with what we have got and what we haven't got, is Happiness is state of mind predicated upon our requirements and our feelings unless we are happv because things are no worse-then it is the fruit of thankful ness. True happiness is found in the correct relations of the human soul to the Oversoul.
Norwich bulletin., 1912-02-03
SUNDAY MORNING TALK
The Fact and tho Folly of Prejudice.

The Fact and the Folly of Prejudice.
 In speaking of prejudice one names an inYeterate foe of human welfare. The unreasoning antiquities that men have entertained have kept them from reaching many fair goal. The dust raised by prejudice has blinded their eyes to many splendid opportunity. intellectual stubeornness has been re- sponsible for more defeats than have the clash Of hostile armies or the as- saults of elemental forces
 Nearly every human advance has been made in the face of preconceived notions and narrow assumptions that threatened to block the whole enter prise. Roger Bacon, for instance, upon whose mind, first of Englishmen, the modern scientific temper had dawned, might have set hls countrymen ahead at least half century through his dis coveries in chemistry and physics had they not suspected him of dealings with the devil and thrust him forthwith into dungeon cell. When Arkwright invented his spinning frame the irate mill hands of Lancashire, convinced that he was going to ruin the textile industry. drove him hotfoot for his life out of the country. And one need not speak of the ridieule and abuse heaped upon Calico and George Stephenson and Robert Fulton and Charles Oar win and scores of other pioneers who have cut across the traditions of their times and lifted us to new levels of experience. Prejudice has been the greatest obstacle with which such as these have had to deal
 One should nnf herafA these old time conservatives too harshly for we our selves are probably wrapped in preju- dices as unreasoning in their way as those of a former generation. Let me hazard the guegs that you yourself my reader, have @ little stock of pet antipathies that are very influential in your judgments of men and things, and also very illogical if you should take the trouble Of ., close look at them
 It is not till you try 1t on that you realize with what difficulty prejudiees are overcome. They are often prac- tically parts of the mental constitution and one can shed them about as easily as he can jump out of his skin. Would you get rid of a prejudice? Manage it. says a discerning writer, 'as you would a pulling horse; tickle it, as you would a trout; treat it as you would the most headstreng thing in the world, and the readiest to take alarm the likeliest to slip through your fin gers the moment you think you have got it safe, and are just about to make an end of it.
Norwich bulletin., 1912-02-03

never envy q man who is able to live without work. I am rather in clined to think that he enVies the man who is useful. He cannot fail to see that the clothier's dummy is doing something. The iron that is not being worn out is usually Fusting out; and the man who is not adding to himself IS losing something Of himself. Richter
 says likeness is many gathered mis- cries in one name The way 10 be nothing is to do nothing is d maxim that has come drifting down the tide Of time to us; and another is Activity may lead to evil but inactivity leads to
 nothing good" It is rather poor idea of heaven when it is pictured as one
 grand loaang spell. Utility is written { all through nature, and all over the
 sky; and we shall be surprised if it is not the watchwoFd of the heavens Lack of occupation tends to a misery ] which is worthy of Satan's kingdom. It does Us good to get acquainted with the foes of our own household ! Too many of us live in ignorance of them. Perhaps you have never recog- | nized them, and would like to be intro duced. There are a half dozen you meet with often, namely, selfishness, 1 jealousy, envy, pride, fear and Ill., temper. Any of them can disturb our peace of mind on short notice, if we
 will let them. Once they are recog- nized as disturbers of the peace, they may be held in cheek; but few succeed
 in putting them out of business, The ! more man knows about these foes 1 the better he understands himself and the mastery of them makes him a man | of superior quality. Some people ex- { peet the Lord to master them for ttHf gathering spiritual power. The best ! attainments of life are compensated 1 by something better than dollars and l cents
Norwich bulletin., 1912-02-03

If it is true, as one big city daily asserts. that automobile dealers hold a lot of first mortgages on the prop erty of buyers of machines, it must be equally true that the automobile re- pair men must hold a bunch of liens on the machines. too!
Norwich bulletin., 1912-02-03

The founder of Christianity came from a village so poor and mean that its very name had become a byword. Can any good thing come out of Nag areth2" asked an early critic. His mind had become prejudiced at the start But to that old cynical question, re- peated under so many modern guises, one need only repeat the apostolic re- ply Come and sec"
 THE PARSON.
Norwich bulletin., 1912-02-03

Now that China is calling for mod ern hats, we might send her the laundry basket style with hatpins as long as walking sticks.
Norwich bulletin., 1912-02-03

Now that every knock at Woodrow Wilson is declared to be helping him on his way the inquiry is made, Is he coming or going"
Norwich bulletin., 1912-02-03

If the men who are the cause of the trouble in Lawrence. Mass, had to bear the cost instead of the city and the state of Massachusetts they would be swift to compromise.
Norwich bulletin., 1912-02-03

President Taft stands for economy and efficiency; but he doesn't know how to play the part of a hurrah- booster!
Norwich bulletin., 1912-02-03

President Taft is right in requiring a positive, straightforward campaign, just as if there were no insurgents on earth. That is wisdom.
Norwich bulletin., 1912-02-03

nous. IL is difficult to trap him: and then he will gnaw his leg off and escape to thrive upon future fresh garden truck.
Norwich bulletin., 1912-02-03

pahiia fsnciers are somewhat sur prised to find the collarette dahlias holding first place in the foreign cat alogues. One Scotch firm puts out a Royal Set of six for 1912 under the names of Balmeral. Holyrood, King George, Prince Charles, Queen Bess and Queen Mary. It is believed that great possibilities lie hidden in this variety, and the British hybridkers claim the new British varieties are far in advance of the original eonti- mental introductions. There are now 28 varieties of the collarettes. There are eight new cactus dahlias; but no new varieties of the decorative, show and fancy, pompons or peony dahllas were brought out. The season of 1911 was a severe one for dahlia growers, and the experience in all countries was far from being satisfactory.
Norwich bulletin., 1912-02-03

There were only 113 clear days in 1911, but no one realized that the clear days were a little short
Norwich bulletin., 1912-02-03

Just think of this: The "immortals" in New England number IS. Could fate have decreed anything worse than this?
Norwich bulletin., 1912-02-03

The peat of this country may be worth siO, O,OOO,O6o. eco but 1T will take a few years to realize on it. What are peat bogs worth an acre now?