davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-04-04

They called the gun Old Nicholas. If
it had belonged to the English the
name Old Nick would have meant
more than it did in Russian.
The gunner who served Old Nicholas
.corresponded in size to his piece. As the
gun was one of the biggest in the Rus
sian service. so was Ivan Yasnovsky.
the gunner who served it, one Of the
biggest men in the army. He was six
feet four inches high and massive in
proportion. OF course he had num-
Der of assistants, but he was plenty
strong enough to put in the ponderous
balls which it sent down among the
trenches And when left alone there
was no diminution in the frequency of
his shots.
A more important auxiliary to IVAN
Yasnovsky than gun servers was the
sharpshooterS who when those OF the
enemy became too troublesome picked
them off one by one until Ivan could
show bit of his person without get
ting a bullet in it. Half dozen of
these sharpshooters were detailed to
stand by the gunner of Old Nicholas.
but as the siege proceeded some of
them were picked off. while others were
needed at other points. At last the
number was reduced to one.
This single sharpshooter was called
Alexis Galieff. Though a man of mid
die height. beside the ponderous Ivan
he looked small. He was especially
marked for being beardless. and this.
too. was in contrast with the Sunner's
bristling whiskers and mustachios.
Then, too. Ivan was dark, while Alexis
was light. 1t was remarkable how
that soft blue eye of the sharpshooter
would take sight at an Englishman.
French man or Turk and ut fash
from his rifle the object would sink
down under the blight of death
No such execution was done by any
two persons in the Russian army as
by this gunner and his protecting
sharpshooter Whether it was the as
sociation under constant danger that
drew them to.sther no one knew. Ger
tain it was that they We're devoted to
each other lexis was constantly en-
the watch while Ivan was busy about
his gun and would warn him when he
saw pun OF smoke or heard bullet
sing near Duck, Ivan" he would
cry. and the big man would lower him
self just in time to be missed by
missile giving that sound which is mu
steal when heard far up in the air. but
terrible when its song is sung close to
the ear.
One day an officer ordered Alexis to
another part of the fortress, and the
sharpshootsr refused to leave Old Mich
olas and big Ivan. The officer ordered
Alexis under arrest. AS he was being
marched away the commander of the
Malakoff came by-he was constantly
going from point 20 point superintend-
luz The iring-and, seeiug What had
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-04-04
THE COMING ELECTION.

Next Tuesday is election day. The
township and local option campaign
is nearly over. We are about ready
TO act after months and months OF
talking
Unfortunately the contest has been
unusually bitter I'll effects will I'M
doubtedly ensue, no matter what the
outcome.
one thing is certain. The vote Is
going to be heavy, even not counting
the number OF women who take part,
and counting the women it is likely
TO be phenomenal. In the struggle
over the local option question the
township tickets and the question OF
annexation are likely to be sighted.
This is an outcome which all good
citizens should work to avoid.
There is a political issue before the
voters. II is forced by conditions
which prevail in county affairs. The
organization which is responsible for
the system of spending the peoples
money at the court house bears the
republican stamp. Republicans have
long had an overwhelming majority on
the county board and that majority
has tolerated and encouraged sys-
TEN of petty political graft which has
come into general notice lately, despite
efforts to divert attention to other di-
rections.
The county revenues have lately
been nearly doubled and there Will
be considerable sums to spend in road
building under the direction of the
SUPERVISORS Bonds will be asked to
make certain improvements involving
other large OUTLAWS. The added reve-
nue. is needed and the other projects
are worthy ones. but il will not be to
the interests of the tax payers to have
the practices which now prevail to
continue The only way TO prevent
this is to change the political COM
plexion of the county board or TO abol-
ish the board and adopt a commission
form. We may not have chance at
once TO adopt a commission form. but
we have an opportunity right now to
elect democrats enough to insure n
new deal With the facts called to his
the intelligent voter will need
no advice.
The annexation propositions, of which
there are five, involving the addition to
the CITY of a tract of more than 200
acres of South Rock Island territory,
should not be overlooked. There is
no excuse for confusing them with any |
other question before the voters at |
this election because they will be on |
2 separate ballot and inasmuch as no |
Dne has any interest in defeating |
them every voter should see to it that |
his ballot is marked and that a cross |
IS in the square opposite each yes"
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-04-04

he was not carrying one at the time
OF the murder. IL was the murderer
only who had the gun in the hip
pocket. He may have been the next
thing to professional thug or one
Of those melo-dramatic characters who
dilate on guns and make the hip
pocket a tenement for gun and Il
bottle Such specimens are great ad-
vocates of eun.toting IN self-defense
and defend themselves by shooting un-
armed men.
In the court scene to which these
glorious careers lead the hip pocket
defense. says Judge Kavanagh. Is sup
ported by false witnesses and stage
set with weeping relatives. II is a
pity that gun-totinG cannot be made
such an onense under the law that the
gun-toters' chances of becoming muir
derers may be lessened by the rapid
confiscation of the guns and the inn
prisonment of the toters.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-04-04
TRIMMING THE TREES.

When one takes note of the reck-
less tree butchery which is being
practiced in Rock Island this spring
he is inclined to regret that the i'm
portance of trimming trees has been
emphasized in connection with the
cleaning up OF the city prior to April
Is.
Not very many know how to trim a
tree. especially if it is of any size.
and the great majority of those who
do are without the proper equipment
TO do the work Nothing short OF an
aerial truck will suffice to properly get
at the superfiuous limbs of a large
tree and large trees, nine times out of
ten. were better left untrimmed. If
their tops are in the way the proper
mode OF procedure would be TO cut
them OF near the top of the ground or.
better. grub them out. Many of the
trees which have been ruthlessly cut
back this spring in Rock Island would
better have been cut down.
In the case of a large tree cutting
Off the limbs nearly always means
death. 81 not ~ once in the course OF
a Few years. The ends OF the large
limbs cannot heal over. They rot and
HFDDN |0NADE MS AhhbA AAhh a AeA bpA
IN the wood and gradually work
through the whole structure. a big
tree never r. slightly after it's main
limbs are cut off, even If it manages
70 survive for a number of years.
Nature has determined the growth OF
the top and adjusted It to meet condi-
tons. The size is fixed largely by the
capacity of the roots to furnish nutri-
ment and the shape by the surround
ings and the chance for the enjoyment
OF sunshine. When the top is ruth
lessly cut out nature usually goes
ahead and does the best It can. but sell
dom Is II able TO overcome the handi-
cap
r the trimming OF the tree is be-
gun early and IL Is trained consistently
and intelligently IL is different. but
unfortunately comparatively few take
the trouble 10 do this. Usually they
try 10 make up for years OF neglect by
cutting everything back at one fell
swoop.
In taking limbs from a tree they
should be cut close and clean. No
stubs should be left standing out, for
they are sure TO rot. being unable TO
heal over. II. however a large limb
Is cut at a point where there IS a
smaller one and the latter is left
here Is a good chance for the growth
o be diverted 10 the smaller limb and I
or the wound TO heal before the tissue |
organisms get a start
There IS more than a chance that /
he city cleaning campaign will over
each itself in the matter OF trimming
rees.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-04-04

ed. and the dollar bore the figure of n
woman dressed in n flowing garment.
The designer forgot, however, to put
IN the thirteen stars, and the coin was
soon called in, the new design having
the woman surrounded by stars. Her
air was defiant and stiff looking, and
in 1898 dollars were issued which were
more artistic in treatment. The first
dollars beaiing the motto, I'm God We
Trust" were coined in April, 1864, and
in 1873 the era OF the trade dollar be
gan, lasting Just five years.
The Liberty dollar made its appear
ance in 1878. Miss Anna w. Williams.
Il public school teacher of Philadel
phia, sat for the portrait.-St. Louis
Globe-Democrat.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-04-04
The Daily Story
The Big Gunner of the Malakof--By T. A. Mitchell
Copyrighted .o1t by Literary Bureau

One of the worlds greatest .sicges
was that of Scbastopol. which occurred
in 1s54-5. The fall of the fortress
marked the end of the Crimean war.
i'm which the English. the French and
the Turks on one side were pitted
against the Russians on the other.
1t was the failure of bluff on
the part of the British ambassador
at st. Petersburg that caused thou
sands of men to kill each other and
leave a multitude OF widows and or
phans to mourn for them. No better
argument for worlds peace parlia-
ment can be derived from any event of
the nineteenth century than this diplo-
matte blunder.
After a good deal of fighting the
Russians shut themselves up in the
stronghold of Sebastopol to resist the
further progress of the allies and stood
one of the longest sieges in history.
extending over a period of eleven
months.
The allies approached the fortress by
that military process which is as old
as war-a system of zigzag trenches.
In these trenches, in heat and cold. in
wind and rain, the soldiers worked
their way toward the object of their
attack From the walls the heavy
guns sent iron balls to plow up the
earth about them and crush those who
stood in their path. On both sides the
sharpshooter was ever ready to pick
off any one who exposed even an in
fnitesimaI norton of his person
Among the guns that did the most
damage to the allies was one on that
part of the fortress called the Mala-
koff 1t was an enormous piece of ord
nance. which acquired n name among
the Russian soldiers taken from the
car who reigned at the time, Nicholas.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-04-04
Where Punishment is Certain

ANY one who has ever examined.
the evidence collected by the govern
ment and presented at the prelim-
mary hearing of a defendant before
United States commissioner has been
amazed at the case with which evil
dence has been gathered. Not until
the case has been touched at every
point and every probability has been
considered, is an arrest made. The
high percentage of convictions. conse-
quently, is not surprising. The fact
that the government will diligently
prosecute even trivial offense, such
as the second use of a postage stamp
or violation of some of the internal
revenue measures, for example, has
become so well known that the Grim
inally inclined have a wholesome fear
of Uncle Sam, compared with local
authorities They know that after
the public has forgotten a sensational
crime and become interested in new
subjects, Uncle Sam keeps his tire
less sleuths on the trail until the Of
tenders are caught and punished.
While the element OF expense deters
local authorities from pursuing in
quiries in many instances, it is a ques-
ton whether it would not be real
economy to establish such a reputa-
tion of certainty of punishment as to
deter many from crime. Such GER
tainty is far more effective than ex-
IRENE penalties, rarely inflicted. Every
failure to convict through insufficiency
Of the testimony, acts as an encour-
agement of crime
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-04-04
Compulsory Education Makes Gains

however, children in all these states
are allowed to leave school at IA years
of age If they secure employment or
have completed the Sth grade in school.
There il a constantly increasing effort
TO safeguard the child between II and
16 years of age, the period of special
Importance for the vocational prepara-
ton of most children.
As little as II weeks of school at
tendance during any ore year may be
required in Virginia. Oklahoma, Della
ware and Nebraska. while in Vermont
and other states there must be $50 or
more days of actual school attendance
every year. Many states require at
tendance during the full time school
is in session." which may mean any
thing from Al to 1874 days Some states
secure attendance during long terms
by conditioning state appropriations
upon the number of days of actual
school attendance
\ variety of exemptions are found
in the laws of the different states.
Connecticut and Arkansas will not en-
force the compulsory attendance law
"if the parent is not able to provide
proper clothing" for the child. Physi-
cal or mental incapacity is a general
exemption; another customary eXemp-
ton is remoteness from school facill-
ties. Occasionally exemptions are
made on religious grounds. Thus the
Michigan law eXempts children from
compulsory attendance between the
ages of II and IA while in attendance
at confirmation classes for a period
not to exceed months in each of the
two wears
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-04-04

HNCE upon a sine, IN the middle OF
~ winter, the fairies got very tired
OF ice and SNOW and cold wind.
and wished very much they could have
their Jolly spring play times.
Don't you wish the summer would
come, so we could play and dance and
find honey" said one.
like to play right now instead OF staying
curled up under these leaves the way we
have 10 in winter time"
Il like to play as we'll as you do, "
said third. but 1 miss the flowers of
spring more than the play times. I
don't like the world without flowers a
Bit"
Nor l." exclaimed another. Il Won
der If the Fairy Queen couldn't make us
some flowers if she only knew how
much we wanted some"
Maybe she couid-let's go ask her."
they all shouted.
Waiting for minute when the sun
shone bright and warm. the fairies
slipped out of their hiding place and
went to the queens winter palace.
Now, of course, in summer the queen
lives in a big white flower by the brook
But in the winter when the flowers are
gone and the brook is frozen, the ice
fairies make her a snug little home under
lichens al the foot of big tree.
There the fairies found her as snug
and warm as could be.
Good morning" she said, What
brings you 10 see me this bright day."
we have come 10 tell you that we
don't like the winter world without
flowers and we want you TO make US
some. can you. please?"
Make you some fiowersp exclaimed
the queen. how can | make you flow
ers in winter time. And what can |
make them of"
we don't know" said the fairies.
eve only know we want-some flowers
and we thought maybe you could make
(Copyri ght-Clari
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-04-04
Isl. Iouis Globe-Democrat.l

est. Louis Globe Democrat
The arrest at Harrisburg, Pa, of a
railway mail clerk charged with the
theft of two letters. each containing
$4,000 in currency, from the mails
of July >, 1912. is accompanied by a
statement that the government has
spent almost as much as the theft
amounted to in gathering the evil
dence that resulted in the arrest. The
case throws a light on why offenses
against the Federal government are
comparatively rare. 1t is not because
the sentences imposed in federal
courts are so heavy. II is because of
the fact that the federal govern
ment is a relentless prosecutor and
that punishment is certain.
The theft resulting in this arrest
took place somewhere between st.
Paul and New York There was no
definite proof as to just where the let
tiers were. rified. This put all the
clerks between St. Paul and New
York under suspicion and the con-
duct of each has been subject to scru-
tiny for two years. There were no
wholesale arrests with attempts to
sweat defendants into confession, a
practice local authorities have fol-
lowed. often in violation of constitu-
tional guarantees. But as many as
twenty different postal inspectors
worked on various phases of the case
and what the government deems con-
elusive evidence was gathered before
the arrest was made.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-04-04
THE SILVER DOLLAR.

Many Changes In les Design SINGS II
Was First Issued.
The silver dollar las undergone
great many changes since it was put
in circulation in 1894. On the face of
the first dollar there 'Tas stamped the
head of young woman turned to the
right and with hair flowing. as if she
was in a gale of wind. But in 1916
congress came 70 her relief and ordered
her hair to be tied up with bit of
ribbon. The fifteen stars which ap-
peared on the first dollar were after
this reduced TO the original thirteen IN
recognition of the number of states.
In 1896 the design was again chang
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-04-04
Rebuked.

The Bostonian who had opened a
grocery in st. Louis was called to the
telephone in great haste.
Does some one wish to speak to
Mr.. Perkins," he asked.
Yes said the young lady at the
other end of the wire, mamma wishes
me to tell you that she wants the eggs
she ordered this morning very bad
Il am sorry" replied the obliging
gentleman, that we have not, to my
knowledge, a bad egg in the house.
Couldn't your mother possibly use,
good ones?"
Dear me-" he said. hanging up the
receiver. Il wonder why she rang In
my ear that way?"
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-04-04


While the Sims bill for the repeal
Il the Panama canal tolls examina-
ton clause Sc resting temporarily in
the senate. Old Man Subsidy has his
press agents busy trying TO create sen
tinent against the measure. resOrting
TO an old ruse OF attempting TO gain
sympathy by arOusing prejudice
against England as an alleged coon in
the wood pile But the people would
prefer 20 trust 20 the judgment and
wisdom Of President Wilson. Though
victory has been delayed for a time
by the opponents OF repeal. the presi-
dent already has won. There never
has been any doubt that he was right.
as he has been on every proposition
considered during his administration
where the welfare OF the whole people
was involved
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-04-04

Although six states in the union are
still without compulsory school at
tendance laws. and four others have
laws that apply only partially. def
mite progress during the past decade is
reported in a bulletin just issued by
the United States bureau of educa-
ton. Since 1905 eight states previous
" without compulsory laws have
adopted them, and it is thought to be
a matter of only n few years when
compulsory school attendance will be
in effect in every state and territory
OF the United States.
The six states still without compul-
sorry school laws are: South Carolina,
Georgia. Florida, Alabama. Mississippi
and Texas. The four local option
states. where the law is in effect in
certain counties only, are Maryland,
Virginia, Arkansas and Louisiana.
The bureaus investigation of the
subject reveals a close connection be
tween lack of compulsory attendance
laws and illiteracy. The states rank
in percentage OF illiteracy very much
in accordance with the length of time
compulsory schooling has been in eff
feet and the completeness with which
il is enforced.
The states vary widely in number of
years and amount of attendance re
quired each year. The period of COM
pulsory attendance is from to - in
North Carolina and Virginia. In most
states il is to IA or 10 The present
tendency is to raise the upper ]imit
of compulsion. In II states the COM
pulsorv age limit is 16 years or above;
in Idaho it is is. AS a general rule,
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-04-04
WhenCHsnnpus
Struck Us

Cheer up" said
Mr.. Gladstone.
AS he and Grump-
us met:
Cheer up. the SUMS
still shining
And the sky's
above us yet.
Cheer up. there's no
use signing:
Fair ahead the fu-
lures lying.
And there's many
a prize out yon-
der still for Won
and me to get"
Cnecr up. sald
MIR. Gladstone.
AS they parted;
whistle, sing;
Who can tell what
Joy. what bless
ings,
Fate may by to-
morrow bring7
Yea. before the sun
goes down
You m a V = { r u {
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-04-04
Remember This
Ballot on April I

Decide now to vote yes" on the
separate annexation ballot which
will be handed to both men and VIC
men when they go int the polling
places April z.
u is important
Further tracts Of South Rock Island
are asking admittance to the city.
ey voting yes" on all five Of these
propositions you will help to eN-
tend the city's territory and will as
sist in preparing the way for future
additions.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-04-04

The last instance OF boiling to death
took place in Persia In 1890 The OF
fender was guilty OF stealing state
revenues aud was put into large cal.
dron of Geld water. which was slowly
heated TO the boiling point His bones
were distributed as warning among
ths nravlncin1 tax collectors.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-04-04
Aoril 4 in American
History.

Is4l-Winiam Henry HARRISON .,. s's.
president of the onteu
died: born 1I1S. -, Rjch
Is65-President Lincoln eh'e'v - n
mond: sequence Of the ia.', e ,ber
tersburg and the evacnaeion y
capital by the Confederate, .nsrte
1870 - Nine. Patterson poos
American wife of Jerome =" ~ss
parte. brother Of Napo''o aal.i
created him King. died !"
: more: born 1873. .,,er,l 81
1911 Acknowledgements eo'
treaty TGudeA
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-04-04

she could and so can everybody snow
and sunshine is good deal"
Yes it is" said the queen.
So she took some snow and few
dainty sunbeams, and made a cluster
of white star fowers-and into them
she breathed the fragrant longing for
spring.
The fairies loved the star flowers and
kept them always.
So, ever since, when the wintry winds
blow and the snow is on the ground.
the white snow flowers bloom, and fill
our house with their fairy fragrance.
And we call the Neutrality-suspicious.
Ingram Judson.)
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-04-04
All, Me!

Did you have a pleasant voyageT
No" sighed the beautiful American
heiress 1T was one of the saddest
experiences of my life. There were
two counts and a duke aboard, but the
weather was so rough that they never
came out of their rooms"
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-04-04

The weakness Of the Huerta resist
ance was further proved by the fall Of
Torreon before Villas forces. The
conquest gives the constitutiOnalists
control over the northern tier of states
and whets the cherished ambition of
Villa to take the Mexican capital
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-04-04
HIP POCKET DEFENSE.

Judge Kavanagh expressed a very
natural cynicism as regards the
great American hip pocket defense"
'ghich he says IS growing This is
the defense for murder where II Is
set I'D that the murdered man placed
his hand on his hip pocket" says the
Chicago RecOrd-Herald.
II has appeared in such cases that
the murdered man was not In the
habit OF carrying a revolver and that
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-04-04
Justly Condemned.

What an unfortunate contretemps
hat was of Mrs. Goldthwaite's at the
Rockingham's last night
Il know it. 1 was tellin Josiah on
the way home that l was surprised
that a woman who's the mother Of
grown-up daughters should of wore
such a thing, and with her long neck.
too"
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-04-04
SNOW FLOWERS.
IZCEaSa INSnnJodeen

Maybe L can said the queen, you
see | never thought about trying before.
let me see, what have 10 make them Off
snow and sunshine-that's about all
could use"
Isn't that enough?" asked the fairies
anNiously-you see, they thought their
queen could do anything she tried (and