davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington herald., 1914-12-09
CHILDREN OF DENMARK
GLAD TOGO TO SCHOOL
SIX DAYS EVERY WEEK
Mr.. Foght, of the U. S. Bureau of
Education. Makes Comparison of
Danish Schools and Ours.

Only one person in 100 in Denmark is
unable TO read and write. as compared
with seven out of every 1000 in the
United States. OF $4,000 Danish children
of school age only so failed to attend
school during the year 1911.
These and other significant facts are
brought out by H. w. Foght. Of the
United States Bureau of Education. Mr..
Foght recently visited Denmark TO make
personal Investigations concerning school
conditions. and has published the results
in a bulletin Just issued.
Compulsory attendance upon school
between the ages Of seven and fourteen
years is so strictly enforced in Den
mark that the few who persist in
punished so severely tina: they are glad
enough to change their minds"
According to Mr.. Foght the Danish
schools are run six days in the week,
giving at least 246 school days to the
year The people are so imbued with the
value of education that they will go to
any extremity to keep children in school
School life is made attractive by giving
a large place 10 popular songs. ''An
teachers says Mr.. Foght. must be
able to instruct in music whether they
can sing or not. The teacher almost in
yariably accompanies the songs with a
winch all hnOH nON u
use" School music includes patriotic,
religious and folk songs.
Danish schools do not use a spelling
book Spelling is taught as a part OF the
reading process. Grammar is likewise
taught largely through doing" as Mr..
Fought expresses It. "Dictation is given
from some classic: this is then analyzed
and rules OF grammar are applied as
needed" The Bible is strongly empha-
sized in all the schools.
Children at school wear slippers and
the girls wear short bloOmer-like skirts.
In their physical exercises. which have
a prominent place in even the rural
schools Of Denmark. the peculiar dress
OF the girls serves them well in giving
freedom Of movement
Mr.. Foght says that the secret Of
Denmarks high place in educational af-
fairs lies in the hold which the teacher
has upon the entire people. Every teach
er is a professional teacher. The salaries
are among the highest given to any class
OF workers. Teachers houses. with VAL
liable pieces Of land attached. are fur
nished. in addition TO the already liberal
salaries. Teaching is, from every stand
point. made honorable in Denmark. The
teacher has high social ranking. is a
leader in both church and state, and is
invariably pensioned for disability or
age.
Teachers so thoroughly furnished and
working under such happy conditions
very naturally exemplify a high order
of teaching. Mr.. Foght says: The
Danish teachers draw upon their broad.
general reading and experience for much
OF the classroom materials, instead of
depending upon textbooks to furnish
everything required.
The Washington herald., 1914-12-09
$4,000, 900 Babies Each Year.

1t has been computed that about $780, =
OcO babies are born into the world each
year. The rate of production is there
fore about seventy per minute. or more
than one for every beat of the clock.
With the one-a-second calculation every
reader is familiar, but it is not every
one who stops to calculate what this
means when il comes to a years supply.
II will therefore probably startle a good
many persons 10 find. on the authority
of a well-known statistican, that, cou d
the infants of a year be ranged in a line
in cradles, the cradles would extend
around the globe.
The same writer looks at the matter in
a more picturesque light. He imagines
the babies being carried past a given
poInt in their mothers arms, one by one,
and the procession being kept up night
and day until the last hour in the twelfth
month had passed by. a sufficiently lib
eral rate is allowed, but even in going
PAST at the rate OF twenty a minute, 100
an hour. during the entire year, the re-
viewer at his post would have seen only
the sixth part of the infantile host.
In other words, the babe hat had to
be carried when the tramp began would
he able to walk when but a mere frac-
tion of its comrades had reached the re-
viewers post, and when the years sup
plv of babes was drawing to a close there
would be a rear guard, not of infants,
but of romping six-year-old boys and
girls.
The Washington herald., 1914-12-09
FAMOUS
WOMAN
Her
Birthday
And
Yours
December 9-Emma Abbott
WethereIl.

As q little girl Emma Abbott wandered
about from one place to another with her
father, earning their meager living by
playing and singing IN hotels and pri-
vate drawing-rooms wherever they could
gain an entrance. Emma had q remark
ably fine soprano voice, and she sang to
her own Accomplishments on the guitar.
but she knew nothing OF the technique
of music She could not read a note OF
music and she had never heard q really
first-rate musician in her life. But she
had ambitions and she determined when
she was eighteen to go to New York to
secure a musical education. She board
She carried q guitar, few clothes in a
handbag and enough money to carry her
as far as Fort Wayne. There the young
girl stopped, hoping that by giving a
few hotel concerts she could pay her
expenses over night and get enough
money to continue her progress. But all
she could earn did not pay her nights
expenses. So she pawned her guitar and
proceeded to Toledo. There she stopped
again. She discovered that Miss Clara
Louise Kellogg. the famous singer whom
she had long wished to hear, was in To-
Iedo singing in grand opera. She went
QlTeCIly 10 htllOBB anu
herself to her and asked whether she
might hear her sing. She could not af-
ford to buy a ticket. said the girl, but
she would be glad of a seat anywhere
in the house. Miss Kellogg not only
gave the girl a good seat for the opera,
which was the first time Emma had
heard an opera but promised to pay her
way to New York, and gave her letters
Of introduction to friends in that city
who would provide for her.
Thus encouraged. Emma proceeded on
her way the next day. She went first to
Beecher's Church, in Brooklyn, and was
admitted to the choir. where she first
learned to read music. She managed
to get some other singing TO do. and it
was at Beecher's Church that she met
Mr. wetherell. Within four or FIVE
years Miss Abbott had made such prog
ress that the congregation OF the church
in which she was singing collected funds
to send her to Paris. The music teacher
to whom Miss Abbott first went hap
pened to be the teacher OF the son OF the
Baroness de Rothschild who, on hearing
of Miss Abbotts fine voice and her per-
severence, sent for her and gave her
81 200 to spend in studying music.
Miss Abbott studied diligently in Paris
and before very long Mr. Wetherell came
across the ocean to marry her and car
ried her back to this country. where they
started an opera company Of their own.
Needless to say. Emma Abbott made a
striking success. and is ranked among
the most prominent American singers.
But the fact remains that she was not
highly endowed with the talents usually
necessary to a successful operatic star.
She was a good vocalist and a splendid
musician. but authorities tell US that her
voice was not OF the first order She was
a woman OF interesting personality. but
she was not beautiful. and not even a
person OF great attraction. Emma Abb
bott's life success is a brilliant example
of the power OF sheer ambition and per-
severance.
The Washington herald., 1914-12-09
The Woman and Her Book.

Less fiction and more books OF history
and politics.
Such is the tendency nowadays in the
matter of the woman and the books she
reads. A year ago the woman in the
book store, the woman in the library,
the woman who wished to keep up with
he new books, asked: What is the most
recent book of fiction?' or What plays
are being talked about?' But now the
women of Washington are more apt to
Iay, What are the best books to read
IN the subject Of the European war;"
So now to be thoroughly up-to-date.
when you feel in a reading mood-when
you would fain don a comfortable negli-
gee, sink back on the pillows of your
prite mixture of bonbons at your elbow,
and forget the world, your petty worries,
your servants, the problems Of bringing
up your children, your husbands busi-
ness perplexities and your own affairs,
and lose yourself between the covers of
m interesting book-don't fancy for
moment that that book may deal with
romance, scandal, or adventure. 1t may
not even be a sociological play. It must
be something like this Leon Kellner's
Austria of the Austrians and Hungary
Of the Hungarians," Paul Michaelis'
won Bismarck bis Bathmann," or Max
Won schreiberschofen's Deutsche Heer."
Does that tempt you?
This is just what the Washington IL
braries are recommending to use these
days The libraries are compiling lists
Of selected books on the European war,
and they are substituting on the open
shelves Of the libraries dozens of books
OF European history and politics where
there used to be books Of fiction only.
These war books may not appeal to you.
You may really not care a rap Of your
fingers for the war except TO think
that it is a senseless, brutal, unthinkable
proposition, but if you would be thor
oughly up to the minute you must read
war books nowadays.
The Washington herald., 1914-12-09

and prosperous population are reduced
to beggars, with their clothes all torn
and their hungry. tired eyes fixed silently
upon you. Do you know anything more
heartrendering than the sunerinss OF
innocent childhood?
Whole families who are completely
ruined try to help each other. Old men
and women have seen all they loved de-
strOyed, and yet l have not heard one
OF them murmur against their cruel des-
tiny. Their only wish and desire is TO
regain independence and liberty for their
beloved fatherland.
~ have had four sons killed with
the army. said an aged woman Of Liege.
but 1 sent my two youngest boys to
fight at Antwerp" and she showed me
her six grandchildren, pretty. fair-haired
little creatures, with whom she came to
England.
America is so generous. and I know
with what enthusiasm she always stands
up for every noble cause Surely our
American friends will be touched by such
misery. Many a mother petting her
pretty. smiling babies will remember that
Belgium mothers are unable to give any
comfort to their poor. suffering little
ones"
The Washington herald., 1914-12-09
fCnUTighf. lSil.l
HOROSCOPE.
THE stars incline. but do not compel

Wednesday, December o, 1914.
Saturn and Neptune are in benefc as
pect today. according to the reading OF
sstroloEy. and Mercury is adverse.
1t is a time believed to be fortunate for
all who draw their living from the earth.
Miners. real estate dealers. farmers. for
lists. potters and those who sell coal
should benefit.
The conditions are believed to be par
ticularly good for those VINO study or
ganization and economics. The good as
poets OF Saturn tend to produce a con-
templative mind.
Diplomats are under a favorable rule.
They should find conditions inspiring and
helpful. but there is a prophecy OF seri-
Gus blunder that will have some bearing
on navigation or the commerce OF the
high seas.
The Panama Canal is under a govern
ment that threatens trouble. Congress
will be the center OF serious dissensions
before many weeks have passed. the seers
declare but prophecy Is that national
affairs will be harmonized through grave
foreign complications.
II the stars are correctly interpreted
the winter will be marked by many So
cial gayeties. but dancing will become
less popular than It has been as a public
amusement.
Chicago has an omen that is bright, for
1t will distinguish itself it is prognosti-
Gated. by a public movement that will
win international fame.
There is a sinister sign, which indi-
Gates increase of crime with the new
year. Thieves will multiply and robberies
of a peculiar nature will take place.
A foreign astrologer reads in the skies
the prophecy that vice, especially GER
tain forms OF degeneracy. Will seem to
increase. but that the world will be
cleansed by the baptism of blood that
will compel men and women to return to
saner standards of life.
Persons whose birthdate 1t is may have
many trials during the coming year
They should be exceedingly careful to
avoid disputes.
Children whose birthdate It is may be
too fond OF pleasure to succeed in life.
A tendency to untruthfulness should be
overcome.
tCoDyTiRht. Iel4l
The Washington herald., 1914-12-09
BELGIAN DUCHESS PLEADS
FOR HER STRICKEN PEOPLE

The Duchess OF vendome. Princess Of
Belgium. sister Of King Albert, has writ
ten the following appeal 70 the American
people from London:
80 many thanks for the kind sympathy
you are showing to my poor people. The
misery brought by the war Is indeecrib-
able. In July my husband and went TO
visit my brother and sister-in-law AZ
Lacken, passing through beautiful.
prosperous country. with handsome old
towns containing such marvels that
felt my dear native land to be one OF
the happiest, best and most intelligent
nations in the world.
''Now, alas, II is certainly the most un-
happy. Hunted away from their homes,
which have became a neap Of ruins, our
poor Belgium refugees arrive here In tie
utmost distress. Day after day We see
them coming to US with the same mourn
full tales of woe and misery.
Poor little children OF classes accus-
toned to every comfort OF q rich country
The Washington herald., 1914-12-09
House
wives
Daily
Economy
Calendar
THE CHEERFUL KITCHEN.

II your work-and this Is taking It for
granted that you. Economical Housewife
are a working housewife-is to be pleas
antly accomplished It must be done In
cheerful surroundings. Efficient work, 1t
is perfectly true. can be done In most
uncheerful even uncomfortable sur
roundings, But II must be done with a
waste Of effort-effort which goes 10 as
count the unpleasant surroundings.
So a cheerful kitchen-for II is in the
kitchen that much of each day must be
spent by the houseworker-is an i'd to
eficient work, a saving OF strength and
energy. And IT therefore behooves every
woman to make the kitchen as cheerful
and as convenient as possible
Suppose the kitchen is old, dark and
cherries. What can you do to i'm
prove It?
To begin with, remove all unnecessary
furniture. A stove, a sink, a big table. a
high stool and a comfortable chair
these are all the furniture necessary, ex-
cepting a shelf or a board fastened to
the wall to hold hooks for pots and pans.
Have the floor painted or secured and
planed clean or covered with oilcloth or
linoleum and have the wall painted a
light, clean color. Yellow is good, or
green. II you cannot afford to have it
painted, buy good inside wall pairt and
Even II it is not perfectly done, the re-
suit will be clean and fresh.
The kitchen windows should admit
sunshine. But sometimes they face
north, and sometimes they are small
Make them cheerful by putting plain
white dotted or figured swiss curtains
at them. These curtains should be very
simple so that they can be easily laun-
dered, for they should always be spot
70 TT7aEa them
retain their freshness longer. few
plants give cheerfulness to kitchen win
dows Scarlet or pink geraniums are
good. A begonia, too, is agreeable. Or
pots of parsley. which are useful a- well
as attractive to the eye, can be used.
II the sink is an old iron one. paint
It white. A painted sink is easier to
keep clean than one of black iron; and
1t is much better looking.
Any old and battered furniture can be
treated to a coat of white enamel-.wo
coats, If necessary to make it white and
clean. This is easy to keep cleat-
Have a high stool to sit on when you
are working at the sink There should
be a rung for the feet Have a low,
comfortable chair for other work. This
can be wicker, with chintz cushion, or
II can be a convenient rocking chair.
Have the tables covered with white OIL
cloth. This can be simply laid over
them, or else tackled in place. EveT -
dark kitchen a light wall, white curtains
at the windows, white sink. white-cov-
cred tables and clean, light furniture will
do much to produce a look Of light and
brightness. A foot stool to put under the
feet when you sit long in one position
a board on the wall near the stove with
pegs to hold the pots and pans and
spoons most needed, a little table on
wheels to carry dishes betwee- dining
room and kitchen. a paper and pencil
hanging near the kitchen door for re-
cording orders to grocer and butcho--
all these things add to the convenience
and the eventual cheerfulness O. the
kitchen
CCopyright. Is14J
The Washington herald., 1914-12-09

to disclose a sort Of eton decorated with
braid embroideries, and in this combipa-
ton of eton and basque is found the be-
tween-seasOn style to which allusion has
already been made.
The sash is used in a comparatively
new manner in this model
BY way Of accentUating the white note
introduced in the buttons, the chapeau
worn with this interesting costume is OF
white velvet. small in shape and posed
low on one side of the head to show the
close-brushed tresses Of the opposite side.
The trimming consists OF a fur fun at
tached to the side, which adorns. without
marring the simple and excellent lines
OF the hat.
For those of conservative tastes the
model could be reproduced in the service
able navy serge. with buttons OF blue
velvet or smoked pearl. and the sash
of dull plaided taffeta- In this case the
hat would be black or dark blue velvet.
with the fur ornament left intact or re-
placed by one of dull gilt.
The Washington herald., 1914-12-09
Il SIeepy-Time
By Frances Marshall.

Let's all take a walk" suggested Little
Brown Bear one cool day. He had just
walked from long nap and he felt very
frisky.
IAN right" said Mrs. Red Squirrel" ="
I'm always ready for exercise"
'TIl come too" said Old Gray Wolf.
''And SO will l." said Red Fox.
Fat Mr.. Hedgehog happened to be hunt
ing for roots near by and the animals call
ed him to join them
well" said he, maybe I will But
I must get back in time to Ind some
roots. promised Fat Mrs Hedgehog
that I'd get dinner while she went to
make q call on Blind Mrs. Mole.
Just then Mr.. and Mrs Blacksnake
and all the Little Blaeksnakes came up.
White Rabbit jumped behind Mother
Brown Bear with a little squeal Of fright,
for he was afraid Of all the snake family.
Where are you going?' asked Mr..
Blacksnake.
we are going for a walk" said Little
Brown Bear.
'ITl come too" said Mr.. Blacksnake-
And so will l." said Mrs. Blacksnake." >"
"And so will we," said all the little
Blacksnakes.
well. let's start" said Little Brown
Bear. II was my idea, so / will lead the
way" And he started proudly on toward
the Forest.
You're too young to lead" said Mother
Brown Bear.
"oh dear" pouted Little Brown Bear
'T want to-"
mo, indeed" said Mother Brown Bear.
''You are only a child
"Oho." said Old Gray Wolf, 'I suppose
you think you'll lead the way. don't you.
old Mother Brown Bear? Well. I'm going
to lead the way. Now. all follow me-"
NO, indeed" growled Red Fox You're
not brave enough to be leader, Old Gray
Wolf I'm the one for that I'll take the
lead"
The Washington herald., 1914-12-09

Old Gray Wolf and Red Fox pushed
and Jostled each other about trying to
get first place. At last they began to
fight. They rolled over and over and
snarled and snapped. till the tears
came into White Rabbits eyes he was
so frightened. Finally they ran snarI-
ing and yelping and chasing each other
into the Forest
'Tn lead" said Mr. BIacksnake, when
they were gone, for you all know am
the wisest dweller in the Forest"
Yes. indeed" said Mrs. Blacksnake.
and Yes. indeed" said all the little
Blacksnakes
White Rabbit began to trembIe. Il
won't go II Mr.. BIacksnake leads the
way" he said.
Then Mr.. and Mrs. Blacksnake ana
all the Little Blacksnakes gave a hiss
and started after poor White Rabbit
He ran OF squeakinE into the Forest
with all the Blacksnakes after him.
We'll. come on" said Fat Mr.. Hedge
hog. I'm in a hurry. III lead the
way"
mo, indeed" said Mrs. Squirrel.
you're not half so quick as I am and
you wouldn't make a good leader"
Look out" screamed Fat Mr.. Hedge
hog, iii prick you with one of my
sharp quills, and then you'll be sorry
And he chased Mrs. Red Squirrel. scold-
ing and chattering, all the way home.
Little Brown Bear Clung to his moth
er's big paw. frightened and unhappy
1T was your fault. Little Brown Bear"
said Mother Brown Bear, for being
proud and trying to lead the other Ami
mails"
I'm sorry" said Little Brown Bear.
Il wish l had been good
Then we'll take walk" said Moth
er Brown Bear, and I'll lead the way"
An right said Little Brown Bear,
content now to follow his mother And
they went for walk in the Forest to
look for nuts.
The Washington herald., 1914-12-09

In certain Of the fashions OF the mo-
ment one notes a combination of the
styles about to depart and those just
coming in. Strange as it may seem, there
is not wanting an atractiveness about
such models that will, doubtless. tide
them over the trying in-between season
when women are tired or the fashions
that have been and are not yet prepared
to accept those that are offered in pure
ly a tentative way.
Such a model is the costume shown in
the sketch. 1t is made Of biscuit colored
cloth in the popular, covert weave. The
skirt is short and wide. Skirts, by the
way, are getting wider by, the day
one could almost say by the hour. The
circular cut is favored, but a sort OF
compromise model has the front and back
in panel arrangement and the sides with
the modish circular flare.
The long. pointed basque, such as the
shepherdesses of Watteau always wear.
is introduced as the salient feature of
the model 1t is slashed on either side
The Washington herald., 1914-12-09
DAILY MENU

Dainty bits make rich the ribs but bank
rupt quite the wits"
SHAKESPEARE.
BREAKFAST.
Stewed Prunes.
Sardines and Bacon.
Bakers Rolls. Gomez.
LUNCHEON.
Minced Ham Sandwiches.
Potato Salad.
Chocolate Mullins
Tea.
DINNER.
Roast Leg OF Mutton
Sweet Potato Croquettes.
Creamed Caulifower.
Apple Pie.
Sardines and bacon-Drain sardines and
rub OF the skins. Wrap each in thin
slice Of bacon, and fasten with tiny
wooden skewer or a toOthpick. Drop into
hot. deep fat and fry until bacon Is
crisp. Drain and remove skewers and
serve very hot.
Sweet potato croquettes-Mashs six cold
boiled or baked sweet potatoes and add
two beaten eggs and a teaspoonful OF
melted butter. Season with paprika and
salt, form into croquettes, dip in egg and
crumbs. and fry In deep fat until brown.
Chocolate mufins-Cut cold mullins,
left from yesterday, in three or four
crosswise slices and spread chocolate
sauce between the slices. Sprinkle the
top of each with powdered sugar. II
there is chocolate sauce left from the cot
tage pudding Of the day before, use that.
II not mix half a cupful OF sugar with
six teaspoonfuls of cocoa and gradually
add three-quarters Of a cupful of boil
ing water. Boil carefully, stirring, for
three or four minutes. until smooth and
thick, ard then COOL