davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1914-01-25
Names or Numbers.
From the Boston Transcript.


1t was customary fifty years ago. and
earlier. to give names to the units of
equipment in our general utilities. The
old locomotives started that way, and
bore designations like the De witt Clin-
ton, the Planet, and SO forth. In fact il
is within the memory of men still ac-
tive when locomotives upon the lines
running out of Boston were known by
names instead of numbers 1t was the
same in the old fire department. The
hand-tubs were Hero 6 or Cataract s,
or whatever the chosen title might be.
Even when both names and numbers
We're employed the former over
shadowed the latter. Perhaps in the old
volunteer days this fitted into the
character Of the service. 1t helped TO
individua1ize it and intensity the loyal
ty Of its members. Even the first of the
steam fire engines that succeeded the
hand machines had to be christened
with the name of some individual place
event that had enjoyed prominence in
the annals of fire-ffghters, and the custom
prevailed for long time afterward. In
Boston the last piece Of apparatus to be
deprived of its title was the original
fireboat Flanders, and that was only
about twenty-five years ago.
The retention of names is somewhat
provincial practice which has been
pretty thoroughly discontinued so far
as the Boston fire department and the
Boston railroads are concerned, but we
have not yet Invested the city of all
suggestion of it. At meeting of the
Portland city government this week An
order went through both branches to
the effect that the wharves of the city
be numbered. and that the word pier
be substituted for wharf. This was SIM
ply preliminary action, but after hear
ings have been given. IL no serious oh.
jections are encountered. the proposi.
ton will take the form of an ordinance.
The Portland Express offers some very
practical arguments why this would be
an improvement upon the present sys-
tenn. 1t would avoid the confusion in
the matter of fixing localities among
those not we'll acquainted with the
shore line region
Evening star., 1914-01-25

shrill. penetrating. fraught with disgust.
1.-THE blame fool it said. He don't t
even know how to commit suicide!"
The show broke up right then.
And, needless to say, the property
man, who had forgotten to load the gun
went out in search of employment else
where
The most difficult job a property man
ever encountered in Washington was
when Richard Mansfield and his company
came here in mammoth revival of King
Richard Ill Shakespeare, say the property
men. probably arose in his grave and
waved his tombstone enthusiastically
when that production started forth on
its way to glory. There were 40 people
in the cast. Every one of the magnih-
cent scenes provided for was staged to
Evening star., 1914-01-25

triving to impart to the character an un-
beIievable amount of imbecility. The
tragic moment of his dissolution arrived
He tottered on the stage, holding the
property mans revolver in his right
hand.
"I must end it, he moaned. Il must
kill myself
And he stuck the revolver under his
left arm, turning sideways, SO that this
would be away from the audience. and
pulled the trigger. There was a gentle
clicking sound. The actor repeated, in
narrowing accents:
II. must kill myself
Again there came a gentle click.
Then from the rear of the darkened au-
ditorium, where the audience sat in ex-
pectancy, came the sound Of voice,
Evening star., 1914-01-25

This is the song OF the property man.
Hummed in his back-stage room:
Hummed as he fixes clock or fan
There in the twilight gloom.
Painting a vase of the fairest hue.
Mendins chair gone wrong,
Making forest OF wood and glue
This is his cheerful song:
''The actors day Is a day Of play,
OF laughter ami light and song.
he thinks OF props he does of drops
As things that will help along.
But he'll ne er forget when the scene Is set
That things should be changed just so.
And he'll yell for props though the whole snow
stops,
And 'props'-vell he'll save the show
-Fclksongs of Property Men.
Evening star., 1914-01-25
are no eyes SO calmly, coldly
discriminating as those Of the un-

@vaERE are no eyes SO calIIlly, coiuiy
discriminating as those Of the un-
= dergraduate college woman. She
makes no allowances.
OF course, you know that the reason
your little freshman friend Maud is SO
reticent with strangers is because her
doting mamma has always taken the
lead when strangers were about. You
make allowances for her reticence and
know that she is dear, sweet girl all
the same, who blossoms out on close ac-
quaintance.
is always button of Peggy's blouse
Peggy, too, is in her first year at col
lege-and why her scant locks are al
ways pinned on her head as II she for
got when she was half way through ar
ranging them, what she meant to do with
them, is because she has been brought
up in a family of boys and has led a
rough-and-tumbleso sort OF existence.
You know that the little farmers
daughter who has never been ten miles
away from home before has the max
does wear a homemade, robin-egg blue
cashmere frock to classrooms.
That is to say, you know these things
If you are an outside observer.
X
The college girl does not know these
things. If she does she doesn't stop to
consider them. And the laurels Of col
lege favors. popularity and admiration
are bestowed according to more un-
bending standard than ever held sway in
the most exclusive society. A great
many college graduates who did not
achieve all the social honors they might
have wished for while they were in col
lege have the impression that college
standards are superficial, that college
girls are unkind. Perhaps they are un-
kind-youth is proverbially supposed to
be unkind. But it is the unkindness Of
perfect frankness. And really the stand
ards are not superdcial-they are simply
critical
This, of course, concerns popularity and
social distinction. 1t has little to do
with intellectual achievement That. for
tunately, can be attained by any girl who
has the brains. energy and strength to
work for it. But to most girls intellec-
tual achievement without popularity. the
liking and admiration Of their fellows, Is
only half the prize they are working for.
One of the first things that college girls
notice In one another naturally relates to
appearance.
It is not because college honors go to
the girl who dresses expensively or be-
cause they go to the girl who thinks a
great deal about dress. It is simply be-
cause to the college girls mind certain
details Of dress and appearance indicate
certain traits. So first OF all the college
girl sizes up newcomers from the point
of view of appearance.
The girl with neatly arranged locks.
whose clothes are becoming and appro-
pirate, whether or not they are expensive
or many; whose hands are nicely cared
for, whose shoes are well cleaned-this
girl passes muster as one who would
probably work well on committees look
well as . leader. and generally be . good
Evening star., 1914-01-25

OU gotta wait
till / finish this
apple" said the
property m a n,
looking up gloom
lily from the pile
of miscellaneous
and half-complet-
e d decoration
around him. Now.
the property man,
as you know. is
the fellow who
Evening star., 1914-01-25

Everybody in our family's some kind
of an animal" said Bobby to the
amazed lady visitor. What nonsense
she exclaimed. Well" replied Bobby,
mothers a dear, my baby sister is
mothers little lamb. I'm the kid and
dads the goat"-Dundee Advertiser.
Evening star., 1914-01-25

The audience. enjoying the show.
doesn't realize what care must be exer-
cised back stage; how the property men
must anticipate the actors; how simple it
is for them to spoil an entire scene by a
small error Of judgment. Everything
must be in Its place. The players must
know just where they. can put their
hands on things. A mistake in an elab-
crate BIT Of staging may destroy an
otherwise perfect effect. And this is
what the property man must keep in
mind all the time.
Wise actors keep on the good side Of
the property man, knowing that he may
Evening star., 1914-01-25

that in her tone which suggested an
II you hurry" she said. you can
reach the stage door before the stage
manager finds this out
The property man hurried.
Lohengrin." that glorious opera of
Wagner's. always gives property men a
shiver They don't mind the trees or the
grin. singing that wonderful tenor adieu.
departs in his swan boat. The swan
boat. everybody remembers. is drawn by
ropes concealed by the Scenery in the
back of the stage.
When man is singing a tenor solo
and a whole herd Of violins are playing
wonderful accompaniment to his song
nothing disconcerts him more than
sudden interruption. And that is why
property men fear. with the righteous
Of the opera
Once small opera company SANG
"Lohengrin" IN Washington. 1t wasn't
one Of these elaborate affairs where the
scenery is SO arranged that hitch is
we'll nigh impossible. 1t was discovered
on Monday afternoon that Lohengrin's
swan boat had gone to the bad in some
mysterious manner and the property man
and the stage carpenter between them
fixed 1t up so they thought 1t would work.
When the fourth and final act was set
the swan boat seemed in perfect running
order. The .heave-ho' boys were ready
at the ropes.
Upon the stiffness there broke forth
that strange, crying prelude of violins.
cellos. violas, basses. Lohengrin stepped
into his boat !, He opened his mouth like
an alligator preparing to have dinner and
sent forth the first note. The swan boat
did not bulge. The other principals and
supers who were gathered around to
watch the exit of Lohengrin's excursion
steamer fidgeted. Still Lohengrin sang
ON and still the boat refused to move.
In the back of the stage the property
man swore hoarsely
"Yank them ropes-' he commanded, "or
the audience'l think them swans have
gone to sleep for good"
The heavo-ho boys gave another yank
that would have lifted n battleship' s
anchor. And they gave the yank just as
Lohengrin had nailed one Of the highest
notes in the solo.
All the audience saw was a singer, who,
in the middle of tremendous vocal ef-
heavily in the boat. Then the swan boat
started Off the stages jerk by jerk, with
Lohengrin still seated and trying man
fully to catch up with the orchestra.
They say that when the temperamental
tenor finally got of stage he arose from
that swan boat and proceeded assiduously
to kick 1t to pieces. and refused to per-
form again until a brand-new swan boat
had been built for him.
These are a few of the trials of the
property men.
Evening star., 1914-01-25

Il knowed one man in props said
the property man, refiectively, who used
10 do singiIi' turn in the old melodrama|
5sys when they used to have olios be-
tween the acts. But he got fired"
What was the trouble?'
The property man shook his head sadly,
Evening star., 1914-01-25

The property man hurries around back
stage again. There is small arrange
ment, something like tiny tool box
which has crank attached to it. He
walks to the spot behind the canvas
scenery where the telephone is Then he
waits. From the stage he hears the
word "suicide'-then the revolver re-
port. He waits for FIVE long seconds,
then he turns the crank of the little box.
twice shortly. once lngeringly. And
the woman answers the phone on the
other side
Now, think what would happen if that
property man had forgotten to load the
gun. Or If he hadn't examined the tele-
phone bell before he took 1t ON the stage
That suggests the story.
In Washington during the good old
melodrama days a particularly rank
company struck town. There was one
Of those idiotic. good old men who ness
ed up everything until the fourth act,
when he was supposed to aid the situa-
ton by shooting himself. And this part
was intrusted to a man who enjoyed the
reputation Of being about the worst actor
in America.
Tho actor waded through his part. con.
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1914-10-22

Medium Mixed Cloth especially
each.
Plain Hblne Cloth stylish
$1200
Full Length of Astncfan Cloth Satin
lined all eolors Black, $1,000 each
but Fur $3.50 each
Stylish Cloths lined all through
bestg ted SIS 90
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1914-10-22
Several New lots of Coats
This week that are Very Good Styles and a
Little Different from Any Seen This Season

New Wootex Coats guaranteed for satisac
Navy Green and
$500. $4,000
Many other Coats New $780, $3.50 $780, $1,000 and
each.
Chidren's $1,000
lot of ~Chdrens Corduroy Hats
Toques and each
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1914-10-22

A new lot OF ga Horse Blankets just
received al the Blunt Hdw. Co
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1914-10-22

\ government official sent out from
Washington To study municipal pro-
blems and especially the methods OF
accounting In use In the towns and
cities of five TO twenty thousand popu-
latlon, recently called ut the Munich
pal building and spent some time in
examination OF the records He was
kind enough to say of our last annual
report that II was the most compre-
hensivo OF any he had thus far seen
This is compliment to our munich
pal officers and we trust they will al
low the Independent Reporter n mo-
dest share M the volume was Issued
from our job printing department.
Rock Island Argus., 1914-06-18
WAGNER's s REVIEW
Morning Grain Letter.

Chicago, June 1S.-Another attempt
is on to declare the wheat break end
ed. Large amount of short wheat was
covered on Wednesday. Liverpool
helps this idea by sending firm cables
in October and December wheat
Newspapers hint at very large sales
abroad. Foreign news shows that the
continent outside of Russia will raise
1OO, 900 900 less wheat than in 1913.
Temperatures were cool all over the
United States on Wednesday. Canada
was cool. but Medicine Hat reported
95. which suggests warmer tempera-
lures for the United States. About
sixty reports arrived in first mail.
Corn Is mainly in a 80 per cent condi-
ton. The reports as a whole are ex-
cellent on corn. The complaints on
corn come from parts of Texas, north
Alabama and parts of Missouri and
Pennsylvania There Is also a drouth
strip OF 100 miles around Chagrin
Falls, Ohio. Wellington, Kan, south
west Kansas, 10 for wheat, 80 for
corn and 10 for oats. Peck, Kan,
wheat and corn 100, oats so. Sixty
per cent of the oats reports received
this morning are poor. running from
20 to 10 per cent in sections of Penn
sylvania. Missouri, Illinois. Texas, In
diana. Ohio. Kentucky and Tennessee.
The dry weather appears to have hurt
oats and the bad reports run 90 to rs
per cent, with many at 65. Accumula-
tion of oats on Wednesday was of ex-
cellent character. Would buy oats.
Bulges are due in corn, but the good
crop start may check bulges in De
eember corn.
Strong interests are long in July, |
but there are no signs that they antici- |
pate big advance. Real corn scarcity |
will hardly develop for several weeks |
Question of rain in Canada will now |
come to the front About 65 per cent /
Of our Illinois reports on oats are |
poor. with estimates from 20 10 so per
cent. the average of the poor reports
being probably 60 to 90 per cent West
central Illinois is a great oats COM
palmer Philo reports oats heading
short in Champaign and Douglas coun-
lies, with a possible condition of 72I
per cent, and very dry.
Rock Island Argus., 1914-06-18
Business Summary.

New York, June 1s.-Bank of Eng
land rate unchanged at 31a per cent.
J. J. Hill says reason for declining
railroad earnings is that the business
is not in the country.
Marvin Hughitt says crops never
looked better or gave greater promise.
Illinois Central to spend s10,OO0,000
on improvements.
Report in Washington that eastern
rate decision may be held up till the
supreme court passes on principles of
the law involved in intermountain
rate case
Southwestern Steel Development
company, Galveston, a s30.00O.0 900
company. has been financed by Euro
pean capital.
War tax on marine insurance upheld
in suit of government against Thames
& Mersey Marine Insurance company.
American stocks in London steady,
generally Is TO g higher
Rock Island Argus., 1914-06-18
NERVOUS
DRINKING MEN
Find Immediate Relief in the N..I
Treatment

The Neal Treatment is compounded
from purely vegetable drugs, il is taken
internally-no painful, dangerous bypo.
dermic Injections ever being given
and acts in natural way to neutraIize
and eliminate the alcoholic poison from
the system.
1t Is the most successful Drink Habit
Treatment ever prescribed for the re-
het OF the lnebriate because it strikes
al tne root Of the Drinkers trouble and
removes the cause o. the craving for
liquor. II will entirely free you from
the necessity or craving for drink I'm
only Three Days Time, and IL posi.
lively leaves no bad after effects.
Full confidential information sent in
plain sealed envelope upon request
Call' write or phone the Neal Institute
ezl Farnam Street, Davenport, Iowa.
Phone 1899.
Rock Island Argus., 1914-06-18
WEATHER CONDITIONS.

An area OF low pressure whieh has
extended from Alberta sOutheastward
10 the upper lakes has been attended
by showers in Iowa and the upper Mis-
sfssippi valley and at occasional sta
tions IN the Canadian northwest
Showers from the gulf sections north
ward 20 Kentucky have attended an
area OF relatively low pressure which
IS central over Alabama. High pres
sures prevail on the north Atlantic and
north Pacific coasts, and another high.
accompanied by cooler weather. is
central over northern Saskatchewan.
The continued eastward movement OF
the northern low will be attended by |
partly cloudy weather IN this vicinity /
tonight and Friday, probably with
-.
Rock Island Argus., 1914-06-18
Closing Grain Letter.

Chicago. Ill. June 1S-Wheat news
mainly unchanged. but selling pres
sure very small Large takings for
export in past three days helped the
steadiness. No change in the north
west and Canada. Oats reports from
Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and Missouri
are very poor. with claims that large
sections OF Illinois. Indiana and Mis-
souri, will raise half crop. Reports
On the new corn crop are excellent,
but half OF central west is very dry
and 40 per cent of the corn acreage of
the United States will require heavy
July rains. The forecast is for some
rain. Cash corn demand slow. Coun-
try sales of corn all week are small
Oats news indicates further interest in
buying side.
Rock Island Argus., 1914-06-18
"Read the Eternities.u

The only large values are those in
which our ancestors participated. The
Oldest of wonders is the greatest-life.
An ironclad, as such is commonplace
besides ship, and society merely as
society is more stupendous fact than
Rome or England. The Iliad is less re-
markable than speech, and the aero
plane is only more in the sky. Land.
scape, the family, the nation, religion
their origins are lost in the science
or gray antiquity. The now-the
presents indeed sacred, but its sa.
credness is inappreciable to those who
are circumscribed by its limits; il is
reserved for minds that escape it's
bounds. DO not read the times" said
Inoreau' In words that become the
more memorable the less they are re-
membered; read the eternities. %
w. Firkins in Atlantic Monthly.
All the news all the time-The Arpus
Rock Island Argus., 1914-06-18
1852 CLEARED BY
GOOD ROADS BALL
Commercial Bodies of Three
Cities Endorse Work OF
Highway Association.

Last evening at the Moline CONNER
ial club rooms representatives from
the commercial clubs of Rock Island
Moline and East Moline and the Great
er Moline committee met the executive
| officers of the association in joint
committee session. After thoroughly
! discussing the present and future
plans of the association, the following
resolution was offered by Sol. Hirsch.
Resolved, That we as duly. named
delegates representing the commercial
clubs of Rock Island, Moline, East MO
| line and the Greater Moline commit
tee. heartily endorse the educational
aim and object of the Rock Island
County Highway improvement associa-
tion, and pledge ourselves to use every
possible means to promote its welfare
an to induce our respective and other
leading organizations to become sus-
| tanning members of this public ser
vice association"
After being duly seconded, this reso-
luton was unanimously adopted.
A further resolution was offered and
adopted naming a representative COM
mittee of five members to canvass
leading organizati and firms with
a view of having them become sustain
ing members of the association. This
committee is as follows: Devore n.
Simonson, Rock Island club; William
J. Bal, Moline Commercial club; E. V.
Bickler, East Moline Commercial club;
A. T. Foster, Greater Moline commit
tee; E. W. Woodcock, Rock Island
County Highway improvement asso-
citation.
This committee was requested to re-
port progress to the joint committee of
another session to be held at the Mo
line Commercial club rooms Wednes-
day evening, June "a.
An interesting feature of this CO.
operative gathering was the report
that Secretary Woodcock made of the
proceeds of the good roads ball. Not
withstanding the lateness of the sea-
son. this function added 431 names to
the membership of the association,
aid added to its working funds the sat
isfactory sum of 1852. with a number
of ball tickets still to be accounted
for
To stimulate and arouse further in
terest in the work of the association
is the rural districts, it was decided
to arrange for a mass meeting to be
Saturday, June 2. The East Moline
Commercial club is to have charge of
the. arrangements for this meeting.
Rock Island Argus., 1914-06-18
Liverpool Situation.

Liverpool. June 1s.-Weakness In
Buenos Aires yesterday and more IA
vorable weather reports from Europe
were offset here by better inquiry for
Canadian parcels and the opening was
steady and unchanged During the
morning July wheat was under pres
sure and declined Is with larger cargo
arrivals and awaiting orders and quiet
spot demand, while the distant months
were supported with September up u
from the low of the morning. There
is less pressure of winters and better
continental demand, with Russian Of
fers smaller and more firmly held. At
1870 the market was irregular, un-'
changed to q lower. with pressure in
July. Worlds shipments expected to
be liberal.
Corn opened unchanged and later
advanced Il for the near months. Fa-
vorable Argentine weather was Offset
here by fewer plate offers and expecta-
tions of lighter Argentine shipments
this week At 1870 the undertone was
steady and prices unchanged to Is
higher than yesterday.
Rock Island Argus., 1914-06-18
Worry ana seIfishness.

Worry, when you come to analyze 1t,
is not a social vice. We work chiefly
over those things which concern the
me" Show me that what impends
will leave my bank account intact. my
health impaired, my friends and fam
lily out, and any further tormenting
solicitude that l may feel is frankly
academic. l may still take thought and
use preventive measures, but 1 cease
as If by magic to worry over the out
come. On the contrary, I can now
work for the accomplishment of my
object better than ever before, for
most worry is not only an arch form
of sefishness. but it is the great inhib-
itor of action. We say II am wor-
ied;" We mean Il fear for myself
Elliot Park Frost in Atlantic.
Rock Island Argus., 1914-06-18

Friday: probably local Showers; cool
er in northeast tonight.
Iowa-Partly cloudy tonight and FIJI
day: probably local showers and some
what higher temperatures in northeast
tonight.
North Dakota = Unsettled tonight
and Friday: probably local showers
somewhat cooler in south tonight
South Dakota-Partly cloudy tonight
and Friday; probably showers in east
and central tonight; somewhat cooler
in north tonight.
Nebraska = Generally fair tonight
and Friday: slightly cooler in east to-
night.
Kansas-Generally fair tonight and
Friday; no important change.
Rock Island Argus., 1914-06-18

Chicago and New York markets fur
nished by E. W. Wagner & Co. mem
bers Chicago Board OF Trade: grain.
provisions. stocks and cotton; private
wires 10 all financial centers. Core
spondents on the New York Stock and
Cotton Exchanges. Tri-City Office in
suite 500. Best building. Phone Rock
Island $50.
P.J. MCCORMICK. Manager.