davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New Britain herald., 1914-08-04
BIood-Sucking Bats.
(Theodore Roosevelt in Scribner's s
 Magazine

' Magazine.)
 We were now in the land of the blood sucking bats, the vampire bats that suck the blood of living creatures, clinging to or lowering against the shoulder of a horse or COW, or the | hand or foot of a sleeping man, and making wound from which the blood continues to flow long after the bats thirst has been satiated. At Tapirapoan there were milch cattle; and one of the calves turned up one morning weak from loss of blood which was still trickling from a wound, forward of the shoulder. made by bat. But the bats do lit tie damage in this neighborhood com pared to what they do in some other places, where not only the mules and cattle but the chickens have to be housed behind bat-proof protection at night or their lives may pay the pen- alty. The chief and habitual offen- ders are various species of rather small bats; but it is said that other kinds of Brazilian bats seem to have become at least sporadically and To- cally affected by the evil example and occasionally vary their customary died by draughts of living blood One of the Brazilian members of our part, Hoehne, the botanist, was a Zoologist also. He informed me that he had known even the big fruit eating bats to take to blood-sucking. They did not, according to his ob- servations, themselves. make the orig inal wound; but after it had been made by one of the true vampires they would lap the flowing blood, and enlarge the wound. South America makes up for it's lack, relatively to Africa and India, of large man-eating carnivores by the extraordinary fer ocity and blood-thirstiness of certain small creatures of which the kinsfolk elsewhere are harmless. It is only here that fish no bigger than trout kill swimmers, and bats the size of the or dinary ''f1ittermice" of the northern hemisphere drain the lifeblood of big beasts and of man himself.
New Britain herald., 1914-08-04

own. Yet for her comfort there were the bool1stalls. the ballroom and the stage.
 Over these the early proprieties brooded still. What came over the floats was as decorous as what went into print In the ballroom, though the polka had gone, age had rendered the waltz respectable. Moreover though girls rode, they did so with less grace, perhaps, but with the same modesty that had chara their grandmammas.
 ''Then, presto! One prop after an- other fell. The entire Victorian eGifice crashed. Out from under rode girls astride. Playwrights took to sex problems and box offices to the re- ceipts. Novelists that had padded their wares with scenery and plati- tudes filled them with passion and bad grammar.
 Yet to these things--all of them, even to girls astride-Mrs. Grundy might have politely affected to be un aware, had it not been that what Den mark began Argentina completed. It was the tango that finished the old lady,"
New Britain herald., 1914-08-04

with woodcraft can go into the Ad irondack mountains with small out fit and make themselves as comfort d ble as the heart could wish An expert Woodsman can tell the direc- tions without compass. He will point to the tall pines which invar- iably lean to the east because of the prevailing west winds of the Adiron- dacks which have been forcing them ever ever since they were young strip lings He will look on the bark of the tree to see which side the moss grows the thickest He knows that will be the north side. where the most intense cold strikes.
 Should the camp matches become damp and refuse to ignite he will be able to start a fire by rubbing two sticks together until they spark. He will improvise cups and carrying uten- sils of birch bark with which he can bring water from the spring, and he will make many other things that will be constant wonderment to the novice. He can patch a boat, rig up fishing outfit, or do any of the numerous things that are so import ant about camp. The average man
 
 putting up shelves, mending wiring CTS or doing the various odd jobs that come up in the average household, is but doing this woodcraft in a citifed form. Were he to visit the Adiron- dack mountains and spend summer in rough camp, his ingenuity would know no bounds
 In these days of modern conven- fences it is rare that a man has to start a fire without matches even in the most remote part of the woods, and camping kits with leather pails and similar utensils are so easily port able that. higher knowledge of woodcraft is not necessary In camp he constitutes himself hired man, camp cook and official angler, and each of these jobs dovetails with the other. There are hardships con- nected with this primitive life, but, as rule, men who at home are pos- itive sybarites will glory in the hard ships of camping.
New Britain herald., 1914-08-04
\ Back Platform Talks.
Cleveland Plain Dealer.)

\)iCNCiohu loll lIColCt.J
 The philosopher looked around.
 "Vell," he said, "who hears de call of de blood?''
 T don't said the lawyer, "I've got the blood all right, but my ears are not as sensitive as they used to be. I'm inclined to believe that if all the Cleveland descendants of those troubled European countries should rush to the defense of their mother lands, there wouldn't be much more than corporaIs guard left here to pay 3-cent fares and taxes
 Foolish business, eh?' said the philosopher. II mean war. Killing off a lot of people-many of dem useful, some of dem needed. None of dem fit to die. Of all de wastes of human energy dere isn't vun in it init war"
 You must be one of those peace fellows said the conductor.
 The philosopher stared at him.
 "No," he said, I'm a human slaughter house. I tear 'em to pieces und eat 'em alive. I mow dem init Gatlings and blow dem init bombs Me a piece man! Boom, boom, bang, bang, hooray!"
 Hold on," said the lawyer, you'll burst an inner tube. This war talk reminds me of little story I came across the other day. An Athenian philosopher was lowering in the dis tance while his fellow townsmen mixed it with the Spartans. As he stood there listening to the clash of swords and spears and the hoarse hoots of rage, he saw fellow in a short tunic come pattering down the highway as if the Furies were at his heels. The philosopher stopped him and shook him up and asked him what he meant by such cowardice. I'm not to blame,' panted the fellow. No braver man ever lived. I'd rather fight than feed on ambrosia. My soul hungers for the battle, my hands twitch to clutch the spear my head throbs for the pressure of the hell met, my breast heaves to meet the foemans thrust-but I've got the most contemptible pair of legs that ever stood in sandals. The instant they come within striking distance of the enemy they whirl about and car ry away at full speed my hungry soul, my twitching hands, my throb- ping head, my heaving breast. I'm a soldier every inch of me down to my legs. Wow, here they go now" And drawing away from the philosopher he clattered down the road and dis appeared over a hill.'' The lawyer paused. Its sad thing to have the fighting instinct without the physical backing"
 Public square!'' shouted the con- ductor.
New Britain herald., 1914-08-04
Inexpensive Woods Trip.
(New York TimeS.)

The reduction of expenses in 9 woods trip is possible, especially If those taking it have any knowledge of wood craft and the handling of a boat Even without this knowledge there are few men but could have an outing of some kind. If the woods do not appeal to the vacation ist he may choose the farming coun- try. There are many farmers who have pasture land where they allow a tent to be pitched free of charge, their remuneration being in the sell ing of fresh milk, butter, eggs and garden truck to the visitor. The farmer might even be glad of lit- tie help in having time which in turn would be sport for the city man, and assist him in paying his expenses.
 Unused buildings are frequently found on farms. These can easily be utilized as living quarters if d tent is not available Hammocks may be strung up for beds and improvised furniture put in Such buildings may be rented at amazingly low prices by responsible persons.
 Tin plates, knives and forks, cups, a coffee pot, a kettle and couple of frying pans, making up a practical cooking outfit, may be purchased at the average country store, thus sav- ing the labor and inconvenience of carrying them on trains from the city. Blankets for bedding and change of underclothing is practi- cally all that is needed, unless the camper includes a fishing outfit and, say, his favorite brier- wood pipe.
 The possibilities of a vacation of this kind are manifold and are limit ed only by the ingenuity of the va cationist. Families have been known to rent small, unused barns and trans form them into comfortable summer quarters, by the use of screens and curtains. Many a city man of com fortable income made his first visit to the country in this manner. Barns have later been purchased, made into comfortable summer camps, and oc- cupied by his family each season thereafter.
 A couple of men at all familiar
New Britain herald., 1914-08-04
ANYONE SEEN CARNEGIEo

Has any one seen Andrew Carnegie since war broke out in Europe? He has lectured us all on peace, he has talked about The Hague and it seemed a year or two ago as if Eu- ropean powers would not think of taking the field without first consult ing him. Bombs have now been tossed around, there have been rumors of heavy firing at sea, no one knows what each day may bring forth, the little man with the barrel of money has not been heard from and the European powers have been going ahead as if they did not care a continental about Andy, his peace program or his money. It is remark able that what was supposed to have been a great movement should have lessly, especially. at a time when it should have been of some value. But the strangest of it all is the attitude of Andy.
 Tie mas not stepped IOTWdIu WllH his advice as usual, he hasn't read a paper and so far as the public knows he may be at some shore re- sort fishing or telling his thoughts to the waves. How sad he must be with all his money. his libraries and his influence, and no one demanding that he step forward and stop hostilities in Europe. As he is man of peace and plenty perhaps he feels that it is not his business to stop wars, but rather in times of peace to talk peace. What great man he was and how he has fallen. He has deserted the world when his services were most in deinand. Perhaps he is preparing a paper on peace to be read to the world when the war is over. Just now there is whole lot of talk in Europe but Andy is silent in Ameri-
New Britain herald., 1914-08-04
The Passing of Mrs. Grundy.

Rochester Union and Advertiser.)
 Recently writes Edgar Saltus with a genteel squeak. Mrs. Grundy gave up the ghost"
 Our old friend died, we are told, "of modification morbus, superinduced by what she saw at a tango tea, which, mistakenly, she had entered, thinking it was a sewing class. But previously she had been ailing. She suffered from neglect and also from exposure. After the slit skirt came in she was never quite the same. Yet the mor- tification to which she finally suc- cu1nbed must for years have been latent.'
 Following the old lady from her birth in. England in the early Victorian age down through the years in which she developed and reigned as the cen- sor of discretionary etiquette, Mr. Saltus tells the readers of Ainslee's S that Mrs. Grundy's first premonitions came when the Queen of Denmark "got on a wheel one day and changed the face of the earth.''
 What the bicycle began then, the motor kept And the ways of run chaperon was too fat to keep up. There were sports, after-theater sup pers, all sorts of things. People asked less and less what Mrs. Grundy would say. The Victorian age and idea were passing.
 "Dumbly, in her shaky bones," MT. Saltus reflects, "the poor thing may have felt that that passing was her
New Britain herald., 1914-08-04
TELEPHONE CALLS.
BIG BUILDING BUSINESS,

The report of the building inspector in New Britain for last month shows a larger line of work having been done for July than other month since ApEil, 1911, so that it is very evident |thats business in at least some respects lis of \the best in this city. As has been pointed out before in the Herald there isl a demand for new buildings, but unless money was available they |could not, be constructed and the fact that it is >avai1able may be taken as sufficient proof that out door labor | is being profitably employed and fully said to be hard times in New Britain. When such conditions prevail lin one city is it not reasonable to as- |sume that the same conditions prevail |aln over the state? It can be said with |alltpossible assurance of it being true |thatN manufacturers generally are looking forward to the largest fall and Fwinter Strade this year they have en- boyed inAmany years. The reasons are obvious. The crops are good and with the exception, of unskilled labor to Ismall degree employment has been
 fairly good. .-
 The man who works only nine hours a day when he worked ten be- fore does not suffer. He does not save
 as he did, before, but he supports him. self and those dependent upon him, he clothes them and sees that they have opportunities for pleasure. He lis not as well off as before, but there lis no suffering. except among the un- Skilled classes whose wages are al-
 ways small and who cannot stand
 long period of idleness. But these are
 in a minority and it cannot be said
 the business depression so called has
 caused any hardship, but that on the
 contrary things have gone on pretty
 much as usual and that with a large
 portion of the people there has been
 but little if any change.
New Britain herald., 1914-08-04
LEGISLATIVE REUNION.

The coming reunion of the general assembly of 1913 should be especially interesting this year because of the great uncertainty existing concerning candidates for state offices The re- union will not be confined to mem- bers of the last legislature but the meeting will be a Mecca for all the democratic and republican politicians in Connecticut; available candidates will be discussed and out of all the talk will probably come some definite understanding as to what may be or what should be done this fall.
 There has been a great deal of talk on both sides of the fence but while the democratic situation is more easi- ly understood than the republican, it Is the latter that is arousing the most speculation It is reasonably certain that one of two or three men, whose names have been frequently men toned in connection with the govern orship, will be nominated by the uOAAoS4dISS UuL IAO1 AS LO SuCI1 unanimity of sentiment on the repub- lican side. If the republican leaders were to have their say they would nominate Judge Henney or Judge Holcomb if they would accept but both have announced their unwilling ness to run. Judge Holcomb will soon retire at the age limit and will be given a pension. whereas if he re- signed now and ran for governor he might be beaten and would be de- pr1ved of the financial advantages. that will come to him if he remains on the bench until retired as he will be within year. But when the legislative reunion is held there may be some resourceful gentleman pres ent who will think out plan that can be placed in operation and out of which may come some degree of success. gThese occasions have al- ways been productive of much politi- cal gossip and it would be strange in- deed if this years meeting should be an exception. s-~
New Britain herald., 1914-08-04

There is no reason why any particu- lar favor should be shown William F. Walker. His crime was a peculiarly cold blooded one. Masquerading under the guise of a religious devotee, he in- spired confidence in those least able to lose money through his chicanery. Since his incarceration he has given no help to the authorities in their en- deavor to- locate some of the men mixed up in the shady transactions in which he figured and there has been no disposition to assist in fighting the wrongs of which he was guilty.-Meri- den Record.
New Britain herald., 1914-08-04

The New Britain Herald comes to the defense of the personal tax Per haps it would be unwise in the pres ent stage of taxation ignorance to abolish the personal tax unless some thing better could be invented-and adopted. The invention part of it is easy: the other is not, for very obvious reasons. The chief trouble with the present personal tax is it's glaring unfairness, it's double taxation features and it's numerous unreason- able exemptions. It is a crazy quilt affair from the standpoint of equitable taxation. It is the pet creation of the expert practical politician. and as such doubtless represents fairly Con- necticuts political status, a status in which real intelligence does not cut a very imposing tigure.-Bristo1 Press. .,
New Britain herald., 1914-08-04

Joseph Bergeron, who is under sentence of death at Wethersf1eld for the murder of a New Haven woman year ago, is said to be showing signs of losing the iron nerve which has characterized his attitude since his trial. Several months ago he told his attorney that they "could not get the rope too quickly to suit him." that he had had a short life and merry one and was ready to go, but as the time when he must say goodbye to this world draws near his nerve seems to be failing.-Naugatuck News.
New Britain herald., 1914-08-04
A Word to the Bridegroom. (Pittsburg Dispatch.l

You will think she is an angel, of course. ..-s-.
 At her best, she is; that is as near like one as mortals can be.
 But don't let that scare you, for after all, she's human. She will need three meals a day. surprising lot of clothes. much affection, more forbear- ance and your constant steadying:
 She won't always look or talk like an angel. Sometimes she will seem a fright, and act the part.
 Then, young fellow, is when, if you are wise, you will get right down out of the clouds, cease to worship, and With smile on your face take her into your strong arms, put a kiss where nature intends it, and lay down the law.
 we say this, not in the least ap- proving of masculine tyranny. There Will undoubtedly come times, very many of 'em, when she to balance the account, will also lay down the law. You'll obey without "a word. if vo,,'re wise.
 The point is, do it smilingly. and with kiss.
 It all depends how you lay the ,av down whether you are tyrant ar not. If you do as we say, we'll guar antee that, nine times in ten, she'll like you the better for it; and if. the tenth time she gets or stays huffy. well, that ought to be good enough score for one who isn't an angel in fact.
 And TOW we want to state a bald truth. In spite of eugenics, heredity and all that sort of thing, your wife is likely to be pretty much what you make her. You can make her a slave, doll or 9 comrade.
 Better try for the latter.
New Britain herald., 1914-08-04
Funny Bunny.

(New Haven Journa1-CourierD
 Tn the near future it will not be the ambition of growing children to be- come president of the United States or a policeman, as heretofore. It IS not because the job of president or policeman is not happy one. It is because the way to fame lies along new and untrodden path.
 One man so far has found it. Is he the czar of all the Russias? No! Nor the kaiser. He is simple Amer ican with a face as peculiar in it's and yet he is not the late MT. Nor gan.
 Untold wealth he has not. No king of finance is he. Yet he sways thou- sands of subjects by his smile. Let him appear before the masses and they are his. Children scream with delight. Women smile. Men laugh out Ioud And though he ignores them, they are not cast down. Though he goes his way unmindful of the presence of hundreds of thousands of spectators, not one of them loses sight of him or fails to watch him with affectionate interest.
 Who is this man? Children of the movies answer.
 Who is it that is Pockson in the humblest Russian village? What visage excites the swarthy natives of Mombasa to screams of laughter? Who is it appears the world over
New Britain herald., 1914-08-04
D. MCMILLAN l99-2Ol-2O3 MAIN STREET.

every night, his entrance and exits all marked by cackling mirth? Friends, patrons of the movies, who is it that will amuse the inhabitants in every European country this very night, though signs of blood are in the air and signs of death? Who is it makes them laugh? Who is it has per sonal following such as has never been equalled in the history of the world"? Friends. patrons of the movies, it is an actor-a fat-faced gentleman who grimaces, who is probably known by more kinds of people than anyone who ever lived before.
 John Bunny! The man who makes them laugh
 Let philosophers ponder, roman ticists scratch their hairless heads. and naked realists write their utter rot.
New Britain herald., 1914-08-04

In spite of all that is said about careful driving of automobiles, every few days one reads of children, and sometimes older people, who are run over in the streets. In large cities heavy truck wagons are also cause of much fatal injury. Various agencies are at work to compel drivers to maintain due vigilance But laws and regula- tons are difficult to euforce. There are all kinds of human types at the steering wheel. Officers of the law do not always want to see too much. Bridgeport Farmer.
New Britain herald., 1914-08-04
WAR SITUATION TODAY.

sDipIon1atic relations between |France and Germany were broken off today: the latter has stgnif1ed it's Intention to begin hostilites against Belgium if it, feels that such course Is necessary and from now on it will regard it as an enemy. There is some talk of Japan participating in the Struggle, and while 1t is all talk the continue to tend Towards general war in Europe. An early battle of any great consequence not looked for for several days. There may be some skirmishing but his will in no way give any inform ltion as to what the probable result will be. r&,.r+
 It is thought in Europe that the var will not be a. long one because when the armies meet there will be
 wful slaughter, that a few such neetings will convince the powers of what the end will be, that there will De cessation of hostillt1es on such a fapid fire basis and that there will Ie an inclination to talk over the sit
 ation instead of continuing the pro- Eram of destruction when there is uch little grounds for 1t. It appears hat the feeling between Germany and France has become intense and that ,fo xrri1J oJ,o
 atred back of them that Is possible b create: The opportunities for sea attle is likely to hasten the end after he real fighting begins as all the ountries, they are not interested in yell equipped for fighting on land nd sea and when the armies and avies are gotten we'll under way t ill be an almost continuous struggle
 nti1 the forces are virtually wiped ut or the powers begin to see light.
 The United States has begun to take neas,1res to insure safety of Ameri- ans who are visiting the countries Involved in war An appropriation of 2,0UU,OOO VIII pc IHduC ~ oApooi.0 he work It ought to be an easy mat er to get those men and women away. .hev are in no way bound to these ountris, they are not interested in henn. their homes are on this side of 4,e Atlantic and it ought not tc be a ;fficult job to arrange for their de- barture. They are anxious to get bone and under the conditions no Sne can blanc them.
New Britain herald., 1914-08-04

Now that the necessity for Sunday court no longer exists, word of pub lie thanks is due to Judge O'Meara. It was his willingness to sacrifice sev- eral successive holidays for human itarian reasons that saved this com munity from a continuation of it's sham eful treatment handed out to suspects in. the Grand avenue precinct lookup. Such service deserves much more applause and thanks than it gen. erally gets.-New Haven Journal Courier ..