davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Norwich bulletin., 1914-11-21

competent to enter a voting booth and had intelligence enough to mark and prepare their ballots properly without the-aid of those one or two imaginary war hosses whom Citizens vivid imag- ination inSinuateS control the cleo tions in the town? Otherwise Citizen insults every intelligent voter in the town, irrespective of their political be- lief
 Citizen wants to know if I can in form the readers of The Bulletin what influenced the 59 voters to elect this youthful citizen. I cannot. am no mind reader. only have a supposi- tion. I suppose the same motive infiu- enced the less than 59 voters who cast their ballots for the defeated demo- cratic candidate.
 { In the parlence of the street, Citizen is of his nut" when he says my opin- ion is that the responsibilities of this office are safe in the hands of even youth as lon as he bears the title of republican. I expressed no such opin- ion in my article on the matter in The Bulletin of Nov 11th. Only a lurid imagination could put any such con- struction on my statement. What I said was: This young man was elected by majority of the legal voters on the republican ticket. I wish to say to Citizen I don't hedge on anything l say or dodge behind a nom de plume when I say it. Citizen please note I have moral courage to come right out in the pen and sign my name to any statement make.
 JOHN w. AVER
 South Franklin. Conn, Nov. 18th. 1914.
Norwich bulletin., 1914-11-21
THE REFERENDUM IN OREGON.

It is now ten years since the refer endum was adopted in the state of Oregon that the people might have the opportunity of passing judgment upon the important questions arising in the commonwealth. It started off with en- thusiasm but 1t has developed into a situation with which the people are either not able to cope or are not dis posed to devote the required time to the study which is needed.
 It is a well known fact that there are but few special questions submit
 ted to voters in states where the ref erendum does not exist which get any where near the vote that is cast for the officials elected at the same time.
 Some of this is due to lack of interest but a great deal of it to lack of suffi cient facts upon which to base de- eieion. Tn Oregon it appears to be working out much the same way. The first year, 1904, all three questions sub
 mitted were voted. In 1906 8 out of Il propositions were adopted, In 1908 there were F out of 19 successful. In 1910. were adopted out of S2. In 1912, 10 out of 37 were approved. while this year there were 3 out of 29 which received a majority vote.
 There can De no QOuDc that the voters find it easier and safer to vote "no'' when they fail to understand or lack information upon a matter so referred to them. while giving the time required to become properly informed upon anywhere from 29 to S7 ques- tions is more of sacrifice than many of them are willing to make. Yet the situation is one which calls for a vote of some kind and 'no" is the safer way Of avoiding radical meas ures. When in doubt they use the neg alive
Norwich bulletin., 1914-11-21
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
More Wanted the Young Man.


 Mr. Editor: In The Bulletin of Nov. f7th Citizen in his letter to the editor states that the judgment of some 59 yoters-taxpayers and property owners -is being criticised. Will Citizen state by whom are they being criticised? and further, by Citizens illustration he at tempts to show that these 59 citizens and voters have committed the absurd and insane act of presenting a real responsible office to a youth 21 years old barely out of school, or. in other words in Citizens "opinions" these 59 other citizens are drooling, driveling idiots, who were whipped into line to vote as one or two political bosses dic- tated. Now Citizen knows that these 59 men in question had the same right that he himself had, of going to the polls and casting their ballots Nov. Sd as they saw 1t. The gist of the whole matter is that 59 men voted for a young man 21 years old that Citizen knows to be moral and respectable, and less than 59 voted for his oppo- nent, so what is the matter with Citi- zen? Does he want the minority to rule? In his letter Citizen lays par ticular stress on the fact that he is a republican and in accord with Voters opinion as expressed in The Bulletin of Nov. 9th over the signature of Voter. infer by the tone of the let ters of both Citizen and Voter that they received a mental. jolt on Nov. Sd and seem to be dividing their kicks equally between the youthful legislator and the 59 legal voters. Now I ask Citizen if he does not think that Iithe 59 men-yoters-in question were
Norwich bulletin., 1914-11-21

noted for its lace for years, many other industries have sprung up with the improvement of Waasland, which in less than century has been trans formed from the most sterile to the most fertile region in Belgium. The old chateau Of the Counts of Bergeyck Is one of the historic points of inter est in the town. About 1O,0 people make their homes there.
 Sambor-.A Galician town, in the large plain of the Dniester, 43 miles southwest of Lenberg and 160 miles east of southeast of Gracow. The town is well-built and has had a rapid growth in recent years. It's popula- ton is about 20,00e and its inhabitants are engaged in the manufacture and bleaching of linen and the making of salt. The town has considerable trade in grain and other agricultural pro ducts Lofty mountains are not far to the south. --------s-
 5asel-The wealthiest and, next to Zurich, the most populous city of Switzerland, two miles from the bor- der of Alsace and 22 miles from the French boundary. The city is a clearing house for merchandise from north and central Europe The Rhine cuts the town into Gross Basel and Klein Basel. The Emperor Valentin- ian founded the town in 374. It was nearly destroyed by an earthquake in 1856 It has a population of about n5.000 and derives it's importance chiefly from it's transit trade.
Norwich bulletin., 1914-11-21

and beast. And yet the anomaly is presented of this enormously versatile section sending annually fortunes away for the necessities of life. and for the bills saddling mortgage upon cotton. The time is come to escape this bondage The lesson of the war In Europe ought to hammer home the wisdom of an immediate beginning. First. sell cotton enough to clear debts. Second. blaze way out Of the system of bondage
 The problem is one which the farm CTS of the south must meet. It cannot be lodged The way to overcome 1t fs to look the actual conditions square in the face and apply the remedy.
Norwich bulletin., 1914-11-21

duty to make a good example of our selves in all that tells for greater use fulness and a nobler individuality. If we attend properly to this we shall have little time to meddle with the affairs of others-our efforts will not be needed. It Is the individual that comprises the mass; and the conduct of the mass is likely to represent the average character of the individual
Norwich bulletin., 1914-11-21

(Written Specially for The Bulletin )
 These long November evenings. as we sit about the table reading the latest war news or the newest novel, before retiring and sssettling our brains for a long Winters nap" as the chill dren's song says, it is not uncommon to hear a sudden barking of the vigil lant watch dog, the stealthy opening of the back yard gate, perhaps the forcing of paddock and a bang, crash, rushi We know that it has happenedi Those pesky boys have stolen the ash barrel
 The landing of a Zeppelin on the Ilousetop or the dropping of a Prus- sian bomb into the quiet sitting room. could not stir up more. excitement or arouse more ire.
 The idea That particular barrel, which we supposed we had safegllard- cd against the visits of the young marauderst
 The man of the house, putting and snorting, goes out in mad chase. Gle forgets that the doctor has warned him not to let himself get excited or oyerheated, with that weak heart of hisl)
 He forgets, too, that the very bar rel "swiping" which he is scoldfng about differs not one whit from what he did himself in his spryer days, and what his father before him did.
 
 For this barrel stealing for Thanks giving bonfires has been going on In Norwich since a, time to which the memory of the oldest inhabitart run- neth not back! F
 But a short time before his death, the late Hugh H. Osgood. for many terms mayor of Norwich, smiled as he related. while in conversation with a few friends, his recollections of barrel 'Swiping'' in his boyiood days. Then Laurel Hill was only a dense woods, and it was there that the barrel SUD- Div was transferred for safety. The leader of some gang" perhaps with a trusty scout, would cross the rocky Shteucket sculling boat. Indian fashion.
 On the 'tmainland," about where the public landing is now, the rank and file waited, ready to transfer the pre- cious barrels across the seething river by means of a rope and pulley, On Thanksgiving day morning, the barrels were brought back from their hiding place in the same manner.
 Mir. Osgood remarked then that he had no recollection of a time when the boys of Norwich did not gather and hide barrels in just that parttc- ular way.
 No; Che boys of Norwich have been shocking their elders for centuries; because as far back as November 1792, the Norwich Weekly Register hoped with ViPtuous severity that "the
Norwich bulletin., 1914-11-21

is many a poor but worthy fellow not living in a fiat" who would be thank full to get ever tailor's goose to press out the wrinkles in an empty stomach.
 c. H. TALCOTT. Norwich, Conn. Nov. 20. 1914.
Norwich bulletin., 1914-11-21

r No one would blame Turkey if it tried to get out of the unenviabIe po- sition it finds itself in every time any thing happens.
Norwich bulletin., 1914-11-21

It 1s impossible to overlook the fact that the forces of all the countries which have enforced prohibition and the curta1lment of alcoholic drinks are headed for Germany.
Norwich bulletin., 1914-11-21

When England puts a tax on tea 1t is reverting to old time practices, but that of course reaches those who would be skipped by the beer tax.
Norwich bulletin., 1914-11-21
OTHER VIEW POINTS

It is the knowledge that the coun- try is at last freed from the prospect of everlasting meddling with the de- tails of the country's business to make them conform to the visionary ideals of theorist that has furnished the greatest cause for confidence in the future.-Bridgeport Standard.
 Apparently, then, the difference be- tween the small or family time" vaudeville act and the the big time vaudeville act Is the same as the diff ference between the old time cop who worked from ten to twelve hours 9 day, and the three -platoon-systeTn cop, shorter the stint, the higher the bill. if the public yoll pay.-Waterbury Republican.
 The great majority of automobile drivers are keenly alive to the dam gers of highway travel and they will not oppose regulations that will de- crease or eliminate perils on hte highways, but while the use of the automobile Is regulated all other users of the highways must be re- stricted in their road habits, if safe ty is to be increased-Torington Reg ister.
 Let Mfr Roosevelt sail on down his ceubtfuI rivers; let him put the punch OL even to l15 Q1GC0S- sion of public matters; let him go on preaching and expounding the strenu- ous and virtuous life, and we shall applaud in full measure. But let him hug his private citizenship now like grim death; it is much more precious and appropriate to him than he or his friends have hitherto appreciated New London Telegraph
 The thought of what might have happened to many of the children, of the Mulcahy school in Waterbury the other day. when fire broke out in the building if they had not been profci- ent in the fire drill should make ev- eryone realize how important it is that the fire drill be practiced so frequent iy in every school that every pupil will know just what to do in case fire breaks out when the school Is in ses- sion. The children of the Muicahy school had the fire drill down to per lection and their proficiency in it un- dountedly saved many of them from what might have been a horrible fate. -Naugatuck News. Boston's prison authorities are again considering the advisabilitY of extend d-i ing to Jesse Poneroy, the notoriously degenrate murderer, few fayorS to hFeak the menotony of solitary con fnement. The treatment of this crinn- inal has for Q long time been consid- cred grave problem. Efforts have been made to give him greater freedom but with the granting of every priv ilege has come corresponding infrac- ton of the rules, some of them so ser ious as to occasion a revoking of the clemency offered. The crime tor which PomeroY was convicted was peculiarly revolting. His actions tn prison have not tended to indicate she change which would warrant the ex- tension of much freedom With past experiences to guide them 1t is for the public safety. -Meriden Record
Norwich bulletin., 1914-11-21

It only takes 8 little of the beautiful to give assurance to the doubting that winter hasn't forgotten any of his old habits.
Norwich bulletin., 1914-11-21

Great Britain appropriates a billion and more dollars for war with as much if not greater celerity than our con- gress hands out that sum to run the government,
Norwich bulletin., 1914-11-21

November Is experiencing some of the difficulties of trying to act like October. November and December all at the same time.
Norwich bulletin., 1914-11-21

The man on the corner says: Not everyone seems to realize it but bow ing to the will of the majority is good mental exercise.
Norwich bulletin., 1914-11-21

Of course there are employees Of Uncle Sam who realize that the send ing out of g tons Of postage stamps for holiday trnde is making propar preparation for coming trouble.
Norwich bulletin., 1914-11-21

When T. R. says he is "a private of the priyatest Tkind'' he realizes that he has been relegated to the rear rank.
Norwich bulletin., 1914-11-21
EpIToRLAL NOTES.

Every additional little favor at this time is 6 quiet reminder of the season of the year.
Norwich bulletin., 1914-11-21

Money isn't the only desirable at tainment Look at those holders of seats in the Yale bowl and as many more denied admission for lack of room,
Norwich bulletin., 1914-11-21

Strange to say the breaking up of the bad egg tradL is likely to be ac- companied by unpleasant results.
Norwich bulletin., 1914-11-21

When it comes to a defense of the Panama canal it must not be forgotten that Culebra can be coaxed into &C., tion without much trouble
Norwich bulletin., 1914-11-21

Unless there is relief soon the time is coming when the submarine will be brought into operation in the flooded districts of Belgium.
Norwich bulletin., 1914-11-21

Of course everything is coming out right in Mexico, but in the meantime there must be 8 little daily fighting just to keep in practice.
Norwich bulletin., 1914-11-21

It looks as if those who maintain that the dreadnought is as necessary as ever would have to change the name.
Norwich bulletin., 1914-11-21

If you do not have care a. train of thought will get off the track, and when it does the unexpected may hap pen. The thought that is on time is the most useful thought. The diction- ary tells us thought is what the mind thinks. There is not much lucidity 10 that definition Thought is an effect the cause of which seems mostly to be our own needs or requirements. Our desires expressed in words give evil dence of thought; theories and con- clusions well voiced or written demon- strate our skill at thought. Thought may be a habit, or it may be delu- sion, It may be incomprehensible, but too many people think of things which are not so. It is up to us all to have a care of our thoughts since they are closely allied to our success or failure Thought rules the world, and it must also be given the credit of confusing it What a man eats may indicate what he is, but what he thinks often gives him away. Do not waste thought upon the unattainable or un- desirable, but apply it to that which benefits and blesses.
Norwich bulletin., 1914-11-21

He who counseiIed US to go slow and keep to the middle of the road did not live in the day of auto traffic. In these days we must keep clear of the middle of the road and move quick on the walk or the joy riders may main us. But fgurativeIy speaking, the old admonition is all right. You cannot in this life be too credulous, for if you are, you become an easy mark; and if you become too incrednlous you become doubting Thomas. There is a straight and narrow path betweNn credulfty and incredulity and blessed is he who walketh therein. And there are the straight paths between hones- tyi and dishonesty, honor and dishon- or. The laws of our being require that we should go straight in various directions. We do not have to go to the coast Of Sicily to find ScylIa and Charybdis, but we must keep our eyes open to avoid the whirl-pools and meanacing perils of life. If we are not compelled to go straight, we have to reap the consequences if we do not.
Norwich bulletin., 1914-11-21

No; Che boys of Norwich have been shocking their elders for centuries;
 because as far back as November. 1792, the Norwich Weekly Register hoped with virtuous severity that "the
Norwich bulletin., 1914-11-21

It is dangerous business to advise a friend even when he orders you 70 stand and deliver. Cordiality and frankness have their uses, but not at this point Most friends who are seek ing advice would prefer to be told you esteemed their judgment so superior to your own that it would be presumption on your part to attempt to tell them what to do. So long as men continue to ask the Lord for things which would be of no use to them, it is well to be a little wary of them when they make requests of you. The friend who asks your advice will be delighted with it if it coincides with his own judgment;
 and 1t is only the shrewd who can strengthen friendship in the relation of an adviser. There is nothing more dangerous than the truth when condi- tioIs are not receptive for it. Go to your enemy for advice and then act to the contrary and you will be likely to come out right. Needing advice is a1- most as distressing as needing money
Norwich bulletin., 1914-11-21

There are people so polite they think they must apologize for doing their duty, and this is weakness. It is true people who do not seenf to know the difference between meddlesomeness and duty do things in the name of duty that they should be ashamed of and try to make amends for. Most of our 6uties are to ourselves instead of to someone else. This is Ruskin's s warning to all of us: Every duty which we omit obscures some truth we should hayo known It Is our first
Norwich bulletin., 1914-11-21

The persons who brink and pose are not the only ones who are stuck upon themselves. Those who know it all and assume the role of a scholarly des- pot, and those who are amazingly pom pous without the grace of learning, are equally stuck upon themselves. This is a good thing to remember: There are few people who are more often in the wrong than those who cannot endure to be thought so.' Any man who fails to study. his own -defi- ciencies is weak. A good opinion of one's self hasn't the strength or finish that has the good opinion of us of another party. Those who devote themselves to creating 8 per-fervid at mosphere about themselves suffer from a precipitation which is self imposed; {; and it is not strange they are cro- chety and irritable. The exaggerat- ed ego Is much more common than most people suspect and nothing causes more distress and suffering in this world. Of all dupes, the man who dlpes himself is the most repulsive and the most dangerous.
Norwich bulletin., 1914-11-21

It is the knowledge that the coun- try is at last freed from the prospect of everlasting meddling with the de- tails of the country's business to make them conform to the visionary ideals of 8 theorist that has furnished the greatest cause for confidence in the future.-Bridgeport Standard.
Norwich bulletin., 1914-11-21

Everything we enjoy is Of the mind. The mind brought man up from cave and a cliff and a tree dweller to the house, the bungalow and the palace which were conceived in the mind and then be designed and wrought in ma- teriaI by the hand of man. If the mind had not wrought nightly, we should not now, have had the flying machine, the submarine or the phonograph, the horseless carriage, the smolSe1esS pow der or the wireless message. The mind can turn out a 50-story building or poems that will last as long as Sappho's or the Songs of David; but how few recognize that it can break down health or better the physical conditions of our body. In relation to our material needs we know it's greatness; but somehow we have lost sight of it's power for our physical perfection. The power of its appeal to a Heavenly Father we pretend to recognize; the divine influx which would make us spiritually and physi- cally whole we reject. Mortal man is strange
Norwich bulletin., 1914-11-21
THE MAN WHO TALKS

It is almost always safe when you hear a person spoken of as being ec- centric to come to the conclusion that he has an exceptional habit of nlinding his own business. He has no time 10 gossip and he doesn't play checkers or auction pitch. You do not find him trying to get into the swim of soeiab;l- ity, or standing among the idle crow,.s waiting for returns from the cham pionshipSgaIne He is just plugging at his business as if his life and his joy depended upon it: and he has as much joy in doing as the sport does ln rowling over every thrill of pleasure he feels. Most people do not believe ther e can be joy in labor, but most eceentr' c people know there is. Employment has been called Natures physician and the eccentric are not the ones who oftenest call a doctor. It Is better to be as todd as Dicks hatband" than to be a lightweight in the industrial world. Do not take offense at being called Eccentric" for the epithet is complimentary rather than insulting.
Norwich bulletin., 1914-11-21
Perhana pou. hava not thonaht ther,

Perhaps you have not thought there are two kinds of war spirit--the splrlt which prompts one to combat, and The spirit which prompts one to speculate. They both create abnormal conditions. The speculative spirit was very we'll demonstrated recently by a little Nor wich girl who had some chestnuts to sell. She was told they were worth fourteen. cents a quart. and she .starte1 out among her neighbors to sell them. Ona woman disputed the price and de- clined to pay it. She declared twelve cents a quart was all ehestnuts were worth. This did not please the little lady who thought they were worth more, and she took it to heart When she reached home it was apparent that she was not in her usual a1niable mood, so her mother asked: What is the matter?" When the. little girl said: Mrs. So-and-So says chestnuts should never be over twelve cents a quart, but I guess, mamma, she doesn't t know there is a war in Europe:"
Norwich bulletin., 1914-11-21

Many a dignified citizen far from Norwich will recall as Thanksgiving draws near the proud skill with whic.i, after appropriating an empty flour or apple barrel, he fled to the nearest stone or iron hitching post-so mary of them had horses heads on themi-- slammed the barrel down with sufti- cient force to knock the bottom put and then made a mad dash for safety {. He might be caught by the owner ot the booty, but that barrel was effectu- ally put out of business, even if re- covered