davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-02-08

| For seven years old John FosdicB
/ had been paying teller of the First
National bank in a western town He
had secured the place through having
the friendship of the president. But
there had been a ring" against him
in the bank Without the president
behind him. even after he had held the
place for three or four years, he would
have been fred by those in authority.
The seventh year was drawing TO a
close when old John was caught up.
A stranger presented a check which
he hesitated to pay and about which
he consulted the cashier. Later on the
cashier stated that he had ordered ii
to be held pending examination. Old
John said that he had been ordered to
pay at once. The check was paid,
and, being spurious, the bank was $500
out OF pocket.
The president being in Europe. the
board took the case under advisement,
and "by order" the old man was fired
out into the world to begin life anew.
There were resolutions, of course, and
one of them was to the effect that the
bank presented him with the sum of
500 for long and faithful services. He
put on his hat without protest. and he
left the bank without taking the
money At his humble home an old,
anxious wife met him and, wifelike,
gave him sympathy and encourage
ment first of all.
Never mind, John; never mind"
she kept saying. I'VE have a few dol
lars ahead, and you are only 55 years
old, and something good is sure to
turn up. You have fought too long
to give up now"
But the weeks went by and nothing
turned up. The business world has
very little use for an old man who has
no capital. John Fosdick's savings
were gradually used up, the generos-
ity of his few friends exhausted, and
there came a day when the question of
food and fuel became a serious one.
He was not one to sponge or turn
beggar. If the world would not let
him earn his food, at least he would
90 out of it and hope that his going
would open the hearts of men toward
his widow After bordering for an
hour he started out with the firm in
-ention of drowning himself in the riv-
ar. 1t was clustering November day. |
and as he passed the bank with bowed /
head, bent shoulders and well worn I
garments even those who had depriv- /
I'd him of his place felt a touch of !
He was making for the I
suburbs and a highway bridge and /
wondering how long it would take to
lrown and what men would say of
lin when dead when he caught sight I
If men and horses sEulking behind an
.bandoned factory. 1t was singular,
,ound on such a mission as he was,
hat he should have seen or wondered
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-02-08

I OF the other Moreover, Mr.. Moore
points out, a general fever for terri
torial expansion has burned wildly
| through the Balkan countries, and
I Roumania has contracted this fever
along with her neighbors.
So IL happens that Roumania is $50
! lated with its ambitions, the more iso-
lated. the writer explains. as its PEG
pie do not feel themselves to be of
common blood with their fellow peo-
pies on the peninsula. but love to think
OF themselves as heritors OF pure Latin
blood and of the glorious traditions Of
old Rome. The Roumanians are the
children OF the Romans who conquered
the ancient Dacians. intermarried
with them, and gave them the Latin
language, which has continued with
few variations. to this day. So the
Roumanians have no place in the light
bonds OF Pan-Slavism which maintain
a degree of cousinly sympathy be-
tween Russia and the Balkan Slavs.
Bulgaria has memories of its prov
ince. Silistria, newly lost TO Roumania
TO keep its enmity alive and watchful.
When Bulgaria fell out with her for
mer allies, Servia and Greece, at the
conclusion of the war with the Otto
man. Roumania added her armies to
the scales. and. at little cost in blood
and money, was able 10 demand the
rich province for her own. The friend
ship between Roumania and Greece
has never been warm. while to make
its diplomatic position still less one
TO be easily forseen in the present
question, its king is a member of
princely German family, Hohensol- +
-Sigmarigen.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-02-08

are sincerely DESTROYS Of ascertaining
Just what the outlook = for next year.
see IN the published figures that the
United States continues TO be very
evenly divided politically. and that no
party can count with certainty on be
Ing successful IN 1916.
The party which wins in 1916 viii
likely be that party which captures
the bulk Of the 1900. 900 progressive
votes Of last November. The total
progressive vote in 1912 was about
1000. 900. The decrease OF slightly
more than 80 per cent IN 1914 Is held
TO Indicate that there has been a
strong tendency on the part OF former
republicans 20 return 20 their former
aIIe<ience That as many as 100000
however. resisted this tendency sug-
Essts the possibility that a consider
able proportion Of that number may
be 50 nearly alienated from republi-
canlsrn as 20 make them open TO
democratic advances In 1916.
Il thus becomes possible that II
the two old parties are TO retain their
present characteristics in 1916. the
democrats will be in position 20 make
quite a. strong an appeal to the 1900
600 progressiyes OF last year as can
BE- made by the republicans
A fairly equal division of this vote
between the two parties would prob
ably result in one OF the closest presi-
dental elections OF a generation.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-02-08
The Daily Story
BY Order of the Board-By M. Quad

/ and speculated on why those men ana
horses were there, but he had scarcel,,
passed the old factory when he sud
denly turned about and ran for The
business part of the twon with speed
that astonished himself.
| In the vaults of the First Nation.t
bank was a sum close upon $4,000 o0a
deposited there temporarily by a rail.
road company. Outside the vault was
big safe containing $4,000 more. 4,
was a quiet afternoon, with few peopIe
moving about over 100 of the me,
living in town had gone over TO tia
new town of Prairie Flower to an auc
ton Of real estate. There hadn't been
better opportunity for years TO make
a dash at the bank II was a civilized
young city, but within striking distance
of No Mans Land and a hundred des.
perate outlaws.
OF a sudden old John Fosdick. bare.
headed and his gray hair flying. burst
into the bank. He was speeches.
with his running, but he did not try
TO use his voice He dashed open the
gate and seized the heavy doors Of the
safe and closed them with abang. Sew.
eral employees tried to seize him. but
he shook them off, and just as firing
and yelling were heard on the street
he slammed the doors Of the yault
He had only turned from it when four
border ruffians rushed into the bank
each with a pistol in hand, while three
others remained outside and fired az
every pedestrian in sight.
Hands up and money Quit" shouted
one of three who entered the bank
and in an instant every official and
employee was covered.
Gentlemen. the bank is closed for
today" said John Fosdick.
open the safe and vaults or III
blow your brains OUT"
81 have key TO neither"
you liar! Take thati"
The old man sank with a bullet in
his brain. and the white faced cashier
would have opened safe and vault
with his own hands but for the arrival
of assistance few citizens had
gathered and killed one of the watch.
ers and wounded another This caus.
ed a stampede on the part of the des.
peradoes. They did not even grab the
money packages in sight, but hastened
to get away as fast as possible. John
Fosdick did not drown himself. but he
lay dead. He had been discharged on
account of old age and carelessness.
but his speed and acumen had saved
the First National bank from being
cleaned out He wondered what men
would say of him after death. They
said he was a hero. He had hoped
men would have pity on his aged wild
wv When he had been laid away the
bank voted her life pension, the citi-
tens and the railroad company made
Up a public purse, and she wanted for
nothing the rest of her life.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-02-08

, piles are brought into friendly relief
by the broad avenue. handsome parks
and large airy squares. A city WITH
such avenues as the Ringstrauss must
perforce react upon its people. accus
toned to daily associations with its
chaste beauty, TO inspire in them the
elegance which is it's own.
vienna. the city of pleasure, Is
properly a city of music and the home
of incompatible waltz melodies.-the
city of which the last haunting mem
DRY is that of some waltz dream 1t
has been the home of Mozart, Bee
thoven. Wagner, Haydn. Schubert,
Brahms, Suppe and the Strausses, be-
sides whom there have been countless
thousands of lesser musicians in each
generation of Vienese.
Among the war capitals OF Europe,
Vienna, Franz Josef's Kaiserstadt, the
home of pleasure and of the most sor-
rowing of emperors; product of the
east and the west, with the one lis
some and dreamy, with the other hope
full and sentimental; gray-wise, gra-
cious, light-hearted, brilliant Vienna
according TO the wondering reports Of
the correspondents-is the least in
clined to break with gayety, TO sink
into the heavy lethargy and depres-
sion of the stern business OF war. The
Vienese have spent centuries in prac-
ticing under all conditions the arts of
happiness. They have learned to
mock at over-earnestness, at fearful
ness. at the serious counting of dreari-
ness in the guise of duty.
"Friendliness. sentiment, beauty,
grace. and music on every hand con-
spire to make Vienna the 'Lotus-flower
City OF the earth. There is only one
Imperial City the Vienese say, and
that city is Vienna"
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-02-08
Sidelights on the European War

Correspondence of The
Associated Press.)-That it is not i'm
possible for English people to make
their way through Germany and Aus
tria is shown by the return to London
/ of Mr.. and Mrs. A. l.. Lantay after a
( business trip to Vienna. MIR. Lantay
had important business interests in
! Austria, which two months after the
war beganu, demanded his presence in
Vienna He had made the trip so
often in times of peace that he scohed
at his friends warnings of the likeli-
hood OF imprisonment and possible
death as spy. He took his wife with
him, and proceeded in his accustomed
manner across Germany. They were
not molested, and remained in Vienna
nearly three months, making no partic-
ular effort to conceal themselves.
Their return was made by another
route, but was accomplished without
accident Mrs. Lantay thus described
her adventure:
"Of course we did not report our
selves, but simply lived in Vienna We
would have got into trouble, no doubt.
if the authorities had known the cir
cUmstances. but my husband, being of
Austrian parentage, although natur-
allied Englishman, was able to carry
things through.
1T is really remarkable the kindli-
ness with which English people are
treated in Vienna. In the shops. I
found it possible to do my trading in
English, which almost all the attend
ants speak fuently. The feeling
among the people whom l met seemed /
to be friendly toward the English. and
an English lady who is teaching in the I
schools told me that she notices no !
in the number of pupils .
studying the English language.
Within the past two or three weeks.
the military authorities in Vienna have
begun to tighten the restrictions sur
aliens. At present, I be
ieve, no alien enemy is allowed to
20 out after S O'Clock in the evening; I
hey are not allowed to enter theatres
md coffee houses. and violations of the
alien enemy restrictions are punish
lble with a fine of $500.
Vienna has begun to feel the pres
ure of the war very severely. The
g ID,
ections the children cannot go to
chool because the buildings are re- d,
uired for hospital purposes. The !.
University buildings and the parliament
ouse are also being used for hos :
itals. In the streets one sees hardly |
lything but wounded soldiers and |
Williams in mourning
The prices of everyday commodities |
re rising rapidly, and the supply is
eing so safeguarded that it is impos-
bile to obtain any more than a sup
~ for a day or two. The big loaf of
read which used to be sold for a cent
: two has dwindled in size until il is
arely three inches around, ana the
rice is four cents Heat is very ex-
easive and petroleum is six cents for
half pint. Dress materials. which
Jenna used to obtain mostly from
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-02-08
TWO YEARS HENCE.

With the presidential election stEl
Almost two years tn the future and
many matters OF the highest Official
importance stffl to be transacted In
these rnomentous times. ~ ts futile TO
make any sound predictions on the
outcome OF the baIIoting- A tabula-
lion OF the figures Of last falls election
has led the prophets to start anew
their predictions for 1916. Taking the
vote for the candidate who led his
yarty In each state. and adding the
totals. IL has been ascertained that the
democrats poiled s.32s-ss2 votes. the
republicans s.0i3.37& and the pro
gressfves l.9Oe.ff7.
Dtsinserested observers. who care
noshing for partisan advantage. but
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-02-08
TALKSI
William Brady.m.
Various Degrees of Catarrh.

night waking me from sleep. or some
times in the middle OF the afternoon
II l can get a little milk at once the
pain is relieved, or n good dose OF
soda. But ! usually feel pretty shaky
Tor day or two afterward. Between
/ times l seem all right Is it from diet
etc errors, and if so. what sort oil
food would produce such attacks?
! Reply
IL seems to be a hunger pain. Pa.
tients with ulcer in the duodenum
have such attacks. with varying inter.
walls of freedom between. However.
1t IS up 10 your physician to give you
definite answer to your question. II
probably is not from dietetic error.
r A writes: Will X-ray examination
show gallstones in the liver?
Reply.
The N-ray photograph will show gall
stones in about sixty per cent of the
cases. II shows stones which have
lime salts in them; other stones would
not appear in the picture
Student writes: Will you kindly in
FORM me. II possible. how many medi-
cal colleges and how many physicians
there are at present in the United
States?
Reply
One hundred and six medical col
ieges; $4,000 physicians
Shoe Clerk writes. Is the Cuban
heel better than the French heel for
ladies' with weak arches?
Reply.
moderate French heel is probably
better than a Cuban heel. because IL |
really gives better support to the
arch. n very narrow heel. however. is i
alwS--s bad for the foot.
Alexander S. writes: What is the
cause of diabetes?
Reply
inheritance, nervous strain or
worry. improper diet. and sometimes
aJury or disease of the pancreas.
Comptroller Prendergast saws New
iork city has no right to undertake
'ubiic works for the sole purpose OF
living work to the unemployed.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-02-08
HOLLAND A GOOD NEIGHBoR

There - something that those try
Ing IN a way to keep up with the wal
story should not overlook. This - the
big and great work tina; Is being done
by Holland in helping victims. espe-
claiiy those Who come from Belgium
Il happens that Belgians are the ones
most IN need of help. IN spite OF the
fact that they are the innocent ones
In this nshfing.
Within a week statements have ap-
peared from writer's OF authority hold
iuE that. comparing area and popula-
tiou. Holland Is doing from ten to
twenty times as much for Belgian
refugees and victims as Is done In
Enxland-And Britain Is the country
that comes next after Holland in the
extent OF this work
II is told that practically every
house IN Holland has taken IN some
refugees from Belgium In many little
homes. where In normal times there Is
refugee has been added This thing
Is the rule in Holland Holland Is a
and IL Is proving a mighty
good one Naturally in a stress of this
kind IL Is called on to do more than its
share: but IL Is answering the call in
style We should put this
iown TO the eternal credit OF Holland.
For centuries they have had mighty |
rood people in that little corner OF the /
world. and SO we now have n demon |
'tration that stock and quality counts. ]
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-02-08

Chronic nasal Inflammation. OF
which "catarrh" is a sign, is some
times apparently one-sided. That is.
the patient notices a discharge only
from one nostril. This may indi-
cate trouble in one of the air spaces
or sinuses in the bones of the skull.
with which the nasal cavity commu-
nicates. Or. in children particularly.
I IL may mean a foreign body lodged
I in the nasal cavity. or in some
cases II may signify unsupported
[ diphthertic infection. though the
child Is hardly ill-a diphtheria car
rier- Pus coming from one nostril OF
child is extremely suspicious in the
eyes OF the medical examiner.
Simple chronic nasal catsrrh in
children and young persons is gen
orally amenable TO local applications
and general regulationsof the health.
Early in life there is not the marked
tendency to overgrowth or hyper
trophy OF the turbinate or spongy
bodies OF the nose which IS so
marked in cases of longer standing.
The sooner one has n chronic catar-
rhal trouble examined and treated by
the doctor. the greater the chance
t4Adb EciAtA tAu De Hdu WITHOUT sursi-
cal measures.
In time the continual congestion
OF catarrh will cause n thickening
and overgrowth OF the turbinate
bones. This places the case beyond
medical aid. so far as permanent re-
lief is concerned. and necessitates /
the surgical removal OF part or all of 4
one or more OF the thickened bodies 4
This, OF course. Is Objectionable. for /
the reason that the turbinate bodies 4
are OF considerable functional import
ance. serving normally TO regulate
the temperature and moisture OF in
spirated air. However. when greatly
or enlarged. and be-
yond hope of reduction by medicinal
applications or general measures.
heir removal offers so much COM
'ort and relief that the operation, IN
Ter a local anesthetic. is well worth
While.
Questions and Answers.
J. b. writes: For two years I have
,een troubled with occasional attacks p,
4 severe pain in the pit OF the stom- !
.ch- 1t generally comes on late at 1
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-02-08
Household Hints.

To destroy ants, pour kerosene down
ant-hills, light with a match. and they
will disappear. If they come in the
pantry, pour kerosene on the edges of
shelves, light match, and call the
fire department.
Where mice frequent. place cayenne
pepper. and when the little fellows
step outside to sneeze. tickle them I'M
der the left ear with button hook
and they will choke to death.
To get rid of a cabbage smell around
the house. have steak for dinner.
delightful bath can be had by fill
ing the tub half full of water. place a
cake of soap in the right hand and a
wash rag in the other Never use a
rain coat in drying.
Never use a carving knife to re-.
move real estate from the finger nails.
To prevent the family cat from hay
ing a fit. give it a teaspoonful of ink.
Thatll make il write"
MAURICE ELLIOTT.
CARNEGIE estimates he has given |
away s324.O00, 900. but he fails to ex-
plain whether it is benehting those
from whom it came.
WE trust John D. Rockefeller. Sr,
is not carelessly carrying around in
his pockets that SIS he received as
witness fees and losing the interest
thereon.
MEXICO has new president. His
Well, what's the difference?
Before you get so you can pronounce I
I successfully he will be succeeded. I,
y. NJ. C.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-02-08
Feb. s in American
History.

ls1D Birth - Lancaster. O. OF NH
liam Tecnmseh sherman. note"
Federal leader in the civil war
died 1891
ls6',-G General P0rtirio Diaz surrender
ed Il Mexican army of 1000 men IL
the Preach under Marshal Bazaine
al Oaxaca.
19l3-JohD George Brown. noted paint
er OF street boys, died; born lS32.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-02-08

The ss.prcme scrivnotOr OF the Con.
eatenated order OF the Hoo Hoos has
just been found. after . mysterious
disappcarauce. With his clothing slash
ed and torn and his mind affected 50
that he i unable 10 give a good &c
count OF his actions during the time
he has been missing. Chances are
that he was trytns out a ueW inifia-
ton ceremony 20 BE introduced at the
next annual meeting
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-02-08

Even II all foreign diplomats quit
the capital Of Mexico the United States
viii not be justified In interfering. es-
peciaiiy So long as the menace OF the
European war hangs over American
shipping as Il does nov. Uncle sam
win do well 10 keep both hands free
While thinss generally are in such n
chaotic state.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-02-08

No matter what ones attitude To-
ward the sIse Of the cigaret. he will
have 60 admit that Wisconsin's pro
posed act Withholding diplomas from
studeuts addicted 20 the habit seems
90 be a pretty elective way OF deal
ing with the problem In the public
schools
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-02-08

One might understand why Ger
many would be willing 70 sacrifice so
many o. the members OF its legal pro-
fsssion In the war. but II Is more diff
cult particularly f. view OF the needs
OF the occasion. 10 account for the
fact that France has placed 50 many
Of its physicians where they could be
Killed
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-02-08

Even n 80 - shown thar purchases
cf European governments are the
cause OF the soaring prices OF wheat
and that there q no conspiracy among
spectators. the information viii be
well worth the trouble and expenses
OF a federal invsstisatiou- The Amer
lean people want TO know.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-02-08

Regardless OF whether II ever &C
composites anything else the federal
commission on Industrial relations
will command Difference because IL
was the FIRST civil Organization that
ever kept John u. Rockefeller walt
ing IN the antc-r0or while T. question
ed Andrew Carnegie.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-02-08

vfIIa admits he - provisional pres.
idens of Mexico a. well az military
ehtef. There AhoGif soon Do enough
retired presidents In ne republic 20
form a considerable. Y rot vsry r.
spectacle. national defense
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-02-08

The custom tailor's definition OF the
perfect man f. one whose chest
measures IS inches. waist -. hips 30
and whose age - IS years. BY dInt
OF labor II might be possible for n
conscientious trainer TO conform to
the first three specifications. but he
would have 70 depend UPON accident
for the fourth.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-02-08

Aftsr reading bow 100 women Of
I'iksvflle. Pike county. KentucEy. sold
their votes for 81 each u ought 20 De
clear 70 the average intellect where
the term ~pikerf originated.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-02-08

That the cost OF the war is stasssr-
ing even beyond all estimates - indi-
Gated By the course OF the British gov
eminent which has ceased 90 make
pablo the sums that IL plans 20 co.
pend
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-02-08
CHORDS AND
DISCORDS

OTTO Tank has a saloon on Roose-
Welt street, Detroit. And the colonel
does not drink, either, he says.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-02-08

, London, are scarcely obtainable at any
price.
The town is full OF smallpox. and
long lines of people are seen waiting
outside the public physicians Offices
for vaccination. The scarcity Of men
laborers is being met b. the use Of
women and cripples for such work as
street cleaning and housebuilding A
short time ago there was heavy fall
Of snow which blocked the streets. a
large force of women was employed 10
pile it up and clear a path for wagons
along the principal thoroughfares
There are many women earning good
wages Is carpenters.
Il think the Austrians are generally
very loyal TO Germany. They look up
on the kaiser as the greatest leader
of century, and they are entirely con.
fldent that he will carry the war to a
triumphant conclusion"