davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1915-03-16
SHORT LIFE OF BIG GUNS.
Every Time a Rifle Is Fired Some of
Its Bore Is Worn Away.

Every Time a Rifle Is Fired Some of
Its Bore Is Worn Away.
The life of the gun, SO far as its alb
solute destruction by bursting is con-
cerned, is practically unlimited, but
not SO its accuracy life. Every time a
gun is fired some of the interior sur
face of its bore and delicate rifling are
wiped away, and certain degree of
its accuracy is lost
This is true of the shoulder rifle,
with its bore so small that it would
not much more than admit a lead pen
Gil, no less than Of the great sixteen
inch siege gun and the other grades of
artillery pieces.
Fortunately for the infantryman, the
wear on the bore of the shoulder rifle
is much slower. as the wearing out of
the bore decreases rapidly with de-
crease In the size Of the bore. Ero-
sion, as 1t is called by the artillerymen,
is greatest in the large guns and least
In the 80 rifle.
The big guns which form the main
batteries of our warships and are en-
placed in our coast Notifications can
fire from $50 to 25O rounds dependent
upon the pressure and heat in the pow
der chamber) before they begin to lose
their accuracy.-Scientific American.
Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1915-03-16
The Yaws.

On the west coast of Africa the ma
tives call the raspberry yaw. 1t hap
pens that one Of the pleasing diseases
that come out from that quarter of the
globe is characterized by dusky red
spots that appear on the body and soon
grow into ulcers about the size and
looks of the raspberry. So this disease
is called the yaws. 1t is contagious
and downright disagreeable. White
sailors bring it back with them to their
own discomfort and the disgust of
those at home. Yaws prevails also in
the Fiji islands and in Samoa, but in
these two places children mainly are
attacked. and the natives regard the
disease in the same light as civilized
persons look at measles-almost a ceT-
tainty to have and the sooner over
with the better.
Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1915-03-16
They Keep the Keys.

Visitors to Tangier and other settle.
ments Of Morocco notice the keys that
are carefully kept in safety in the
houses of some of the families of an
cient descent These keys belong to
the houses in Spain once occupied by
the Moors before their expulsion from
their homes many centuries ago. The
Spaniards occupy these old houses, but
the descendants Of the Moorish owners
still guard the keys in the hope that
the day will come when they can re-
turn to Granada and once more resume
control of the property from which
they We're driven.
Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1915-03-16
Doors In China.

In China doors are often round, leaf
shaped or semicircular. In placing
them the builder usually avoids having
one opposite another lest evil spirits
find their way from the street into the
recesses of the building. The door
ways separating the courts of a gar
den are usually Of an elaborate kind,
and the octagonal form Is one of the
most popular. Religious superstition
asserts itself in Chinese architecture,
and the universal sacredness of the
numerals 8 and 8 is shown in the ar
rangement of temple doors, There is
a triple gateway to each Of the halls
Of the imperial palace. and the same
order prevails at the Ming tombs. The
Temple Of Heaven has triple roof, a
triple marble staircase, and all its mys-
tic symbolism points either to or its
multiples.
Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1915-03-16
ANCIENT TOOTHPICKS.
They Used to Be Made of Silver and
Were Worn In the Hat.

were worn IN Ine f1ats
The employment of toothpicks is very
ancient. In Grotes History of Greece"
we find that Agathocles, 'among the
worst Of Greeks" was poisoned by a
medicated quill handed to him for
cleaning his teeth after dinner.
Toothpicks were in common use in
the time of the Caesars. Martial tells
us those made of chip of mastic wood
Qentiscus) are the best, but that If you
run short of such timber a quill will
serve your purpose, and he ridicules an
old fop who was in the habit of dig
ging away at his gums with his polish
ed lentiscus, though he had not tooth
left in his head.
Toothpicks occur early Of silver, but
pieces of wood or of feathers with a
red end as quilts in our day were most
usual. The toothpick is the Anglo-Sax-
OH tothgare. The old name was pick
tooth. 1t was imported by travellers
from Italy and France, and the using
Of it was long deemed an affected
mark of gentility. 1t was worn as a
trophy in the hat, and Sir Thomas
Overbury describes a courtier, the pink
OF fashion, with a picktooth in his
hat"
Bishop Earle says of an idle gallant,
His picktooth bears great part in
his discourse."-London Telegraph.
Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1915-03-16
TESTING CONCRETE.
Experiments to Show the Action of
Sea Water and Frost.

Experiments to Show the Action OF
Sea Water and Frost.
One of the largest construction COM
panies in this country is making ex-
periments to determine what is the ac-
tion of sea water and frost upon con-
crete. According to Science Conspec-
tus. the company made twenty-four
concrete columns. each sixteen feet
long and sixteen inches square, re-en-
forced with iron bars near their cor
ners, and in January, 1909, immersed
them in the water at the Boston navy
yard.
At high tide the water almost entire
" covers them, but at low tide they are
completely exposed. Thus in cold
weather the columns are alternately
thawed and frozen as the tide rises
and falls. The columns are made with
various qualities of concrete-miXed
dry, plastic and very wet-and also
with different qualities Of cement. Ex-
perts are studying the effects of the
addition of waterproofng materials.
Clay and other substances are added
from time to time, and the effect is OBJ
served.
Many years must elapse before it
will be possible to tell with certainty
what kind of concrete is most perma-
nent. When last examined many of
the columns were virtually unaffected,
but others were badly eroded. The
columns that contain the largest pro-
portion of cement, mixed wet, have so
far shown the least wear. OF two col
umns made with one part of cement to
one of sand and two Of stone the one
mixed dry was badly eroded over its
entire length, whereas the other,
which was mixed very wet, was only
slightly pitted.
The experiment, it is expected, will
throw much light upon problem that
has long perplexed construction en-
gineers.
Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1915-03-16
Heroic Conclusion.

The Swede knew that he was incom-
petent, but he needed the job very bad
ly indeed. The farmer saw at glance
that he was green hand. but he was
urgently in need Of help SO an ar
rangement was made. After dinner
the farmer sent his new hand down to
plow field and few moments later
followed him. Peering from the con
cealment of clump Of bishes, he Oh
served for some time the frantic but
futile efforts OF his hand to run "A
straight furrow. Finally the Swede
came to discouraged halt. mopped
his brow and addressed the horses
wearily.
"Oh. well, then, go wherever you
pleaser' he said at all ban got to be
plowed anyway. ."-Everybody's.
Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1915-03-16
THE BIG REDWOODs.
One Tree Cut In 1900 Was Nearly
Fourteen Centuries Old.

Fourteen Centuries Old.
The biggest stands of redwood tim.
ber are In Del Norte. Humboldt and
Mendocino counties. Cal, but there are
isolated groups AS far north as the
Chetco river in Curry county. Ore, and
as far south as the Santa Lucia noun
tains. Monterey county. The redwood
belt is from twenty to forty miles wide,
the trees growing on the west slopes of
the coast range.
The enormous height and diameter of
the redwood is due to the great rain
fall in the autumn and winter, from
thirty to sixty inches, and to the sea
fogs which bathe the coast in the sum-
mer. There are two types of the red
wood. those which grow on the slopes
and those on the flats or bottom lands
The slope redwood Is the common type,
and it grows mixed with other woods.
such as red fir, tan bark oak and white
fir. As the slopes become moderate,
the altitude lower, the soil deeper and
the water supply better the redwood
steadily gains on the other species un-
til on the rich fats there is no other
tree.
The extreme form of the redwood
fiat is along the Eel river, and here the
trees attain their greatest known
height and clear length. Under best
conditions these trees grow to be $50
feet high. with diameter of twenty
feet Most Of the redwoods cut are
from 400 to 800 years old. and the old
est tree found during the government
investigation in 1900 was 1873 years
old.
The tree when normal has straight
slightly tapered bOe clear for more
than 100 feet and a crown of horizon
tai branches that may occupy from
one-third to one-half of its total length.
The enemies Of redwood are few, and
1t suffers from them less than other
trees. The wind can scarcely uproot 1t,
insects seem to do it little harm. and
fungi seldom affects it. Even fire, the
greet enemy of all trees. though it may
occasionally kill whole stands Of young
redwood growth. is unable to pene-
trate the treproof sheathing of shaggy
bark with which the old trees protect
themselves.
Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1915-03-16
FEATS OF DIVERS.
Remarkable Endurance of the Pearl
Fishers of Torres.

,,,.,- eJ,, .f 49,, pa,rl
''"'''
ihe sfe"'es' uep'n ieeo.ueu 100 oa s
~, uoie Wy ui'ei III " sui. -. 20 80
LIS uep'h was ieaeneu ~ .Ne 1pt, ;,
uisef, H. anger niostal De' WV 80.
S4o'oVV III SILVER lilso's iioil 'ne m,e.A
ol lhe sIeaihsnip ohyro on cape
'erre' ihe spohse ui'eio VI 'ne % -n
.eriaiiean moiA a' d ,."Niniun Vi ioo
Ieet anu Tue Aus'iaii"h pe''iieiS az
iLO lee''
Tue sreatesC uepths reacheu ny NV
ers WITHOUT Apparatus are useu uy 'no
Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1915-03-16

Mrs. Andersons husband is Scotch.
Mrs. Anderson is an American woman
and she has in her employ as black a
cook as ever descended from Ham.
One day the cook said to her mistress
"Yo' husband he amt no 'Merican. is
he?"
"Oh, no, Phoebe. he is Scotchman."
replied Mrs. Anderson.
"Well," said the cook, II could see
he wasn't like us, missus."-New York
Post.
Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1915-03-16

Some lakes are distinctly blue, others
are of various shades of green, so that
in some cases they are scarcely distin-
guishable from their level, grass sur
rounded banks. A few, too, are al
most black. The lake of Geneva is
azure hued, the lake of Constance and
the lake Of Lucerne are green, while
the color of the Mediterranean has
been called indigo. The lake of Brienz
is greenish yellow, and its neighbor,
Lake Thun. is blue.
Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1915-03-16
Unique Decorative Effects.

Typography is not as popular as it
used to be-" said Mrs. Wasserby.
NO" replied Mrs. Judkins, but Mr..
Judkins sttl does little of it now and
then"
"You surprise me. | had no idea
that he had any artistic inclinations."
HE hasn't. He merely leaves light
ed cigars lying on chair arms and the
edges of tables."-Birmingham Age
Herald.
Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1915-03-16
Horrors of Naval Warfare.

Naval warfare had its horrors before
the day of the mine and the submarine.
Lady Dorothy Nevill, for instance. not
ed evidence given by naval officer
of the Nelson school: (which was the
most solemn and awful moment of a
naval battle? he was asked by lady.
1.-THE moment before the battle, mad
am, when they sprinkled the sand on
the decks to absorb the blood that was
to tlow." was the reply.-London
Chronicle.
Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1915-03-16
The Barrel.

The barrel is of great antiquity, and
in point of time the cooperage In
dustry is venerable. The good tfUK
mentions slack barrel work. and
nearly 1000 years ago Pliny. the "spe.
cial" writer Of his time. devoted an
article to the subject With all his re-
search he could locate the origin OF
the industry in place only. Even in his
time it was so ancient that the begin
ming was hidden in the maze of years.
Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1915-03-16
Doubt.

At a luncheon at the Philadelphia
Country club notoriously poor golfer
said to noted woman champion:
81 am improving. l did the difficult
fourth hole yesterday in three"
The champion smiled.
"Three what-hours /" she said.
Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1915-03-16

''They tell me-" said the new report
er. who was doing an Interview. that
you have succeeded in forging your
way to the front"
"Sir," said the self made man coldly.
you have been mislnformed. I'm no
forger"
Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1915-03-16

Prison Wouldn't you Ike
to be something better than low pick
pocket7 Convict-Yes. But den.
wot's de useg | amt got de eddlca
don ter be a confidence man or de
nerve ter be a train robber.-New
York Globe.
Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1915-03-16
Good Old Dsvs,

The high cost of living wasn't much
Of an item in the old days. when a
dime package of cornstarch was used
to powder the baby after his bath,
make mothers face beautiful and pro-
duce a bowl Of blancmange for des-
sert.-Cincinnati Inquirer.
Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1915-03-16
ahs Was the One.

Trixie IA bit late In arriving,-weIl.
girls. who are you knocking now!
Believe were all here but you. dear.
Puck.
Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1915-03-16
Accident, All Riuht,

Oficer-Did you get those bruises in
an accident? Sad Guy-Yes: l didn't
think the other fellow would fight
New York Globe.
Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1915-03-16

Mother upstairs, calling)-Are you
engaged. Mabel? Mabel from dark
ened parlorl-I will be in a minute,
Philadelphia Ledger.
Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1915-03-16

There is a man who can always be
depended on at pinch"
'Who Is he?"
"a iceman-"-Baltimore American.
Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1915-03-16

If a man empties bis purse into bis
head no one can take II from him.
Franklin
Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1915-03-16

Virtue consists in avoiding vice and
Is the highest wisdom.-Horace.
Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1915-03-16

Give not thy tongue too great a iib-
= lest It take thee prisoner - ousries
New Britain herald., 1915-07-09
BOUND OVER FOR MURDER.
E2mwood Man Held Without Ball for
 Death -of Fellow Workman. ss.

Hartford. July g 9-Jofln Maruszak of South street, Elmwood, was bound over to the September term of the superior court of Hartford county last evening by Justice of the Peace A J. Keeney of West Hartford for murder. Before the hearing, M R. Malinow- ski of New Britain, courtsInterpreter obtained a signed confession from Maruszalx, in which he admitted strik- ing Albert Mirzwienski of New Brit-in avenue, Elmwood, on the head with a club Wednesday afternoon during an altercation, from which injury the man died at 9:07 o'clock yesterda morning at the Hartford hospital. Except that Maruszak admitted striix- ing the dead man, the contents ofsthe confessions, which is sin Polish, were not given out It will be turned over 10 States Attorney Hugh M Alcorn Justice of the Peace Keency found probable cause and refused to allow the defendants plea for bonds.
 The hearing brought cut that there Tad been bad blood between the two men for some time, but it was not definitely esta blished in court jus, from what cause this i'll feeling arose One witness said that when the fami lies. of the two men had lived in the same house on New Britain avenue there had been qIarreling over chick CTS. Another witness said the two men had spoken harsh words to eacl ether just before the blow wa, struck. This witness testified thai each had made derogatoryarefer about tho virtue of Women in the others family SeveraI months agt tf1c Maruszak family moved ava, from the house on New Britain avenu. tc "a home on South street.
New Britain herald., 1915-07-09
UNION OF CHURCHES. .
Predicted in Canada by Rev. w. III. Barraclongh.


 Chicago, July sThe union of the Congregational, Methodist and Pres byterian churches in Canada was pre- dicted in an address before the World Convention of Christian Endeavorers here yesterday by the Rev. W. H. Bar raclough, of St John, N. E. The union,'' he said, lis only matter of time. Practical union has alrady been affected in certain college centers, and the great working departments of the various bodies have introduced wide measure of cooperation and are har- nonizing their methods and plans so as to secure greater efficiency
 ! The conditions existing in Canada today demanded it. Our rapid devel- E,opment nt-Ganada is growing as no tsnatfon has ever grown; the battle for the closing of the barroom, the fgh. for clean politics; these and many other problems make it imperative that in some fashion or other, the ranks of our divided Protestanism should draw closely together. The union of our legal aspects of the ques- tion, the. people are getting ready I for it.''
New Britain herald., 1915-07-09
RICHARDS REINsTATED.
Olympic Star Returns Excessive Ex-
 pcnsc Money and Ban is Lifted.

%
 Philadelphia, Penn, July Ss-Alma Richards, Cornelrs star ali-around athlete and winner of the running high jump at the last Olympic games has been reinstated by the Amateur Athletic Union.
 Y Richards. who is now representing the Illinois Athletic Club of Chicago was suspended by the officials of the Middle Atlantic association because ne demanded more money for ex- penses than is allowed by rule. The Hale and Kilburn A. A. brought the m alter to the attention of the A. A. U officials here, and Richards sus- pension followed.
 Chairman of the registration com mittee Robert A.. Denny of this dis trict received yesterday letter from the Olrnypic champion.
 The letter, i'll part, follows:
 .fI have refunded the money in cx- cess of expenses received at the hands of the Hale and kilburn A. A. of Philadelphia, and want to thank the m lon1bers of the registration commit tee for the hasty readjustment of the misunderstanding. am sorry that the difficulty arose.
 T will always compete for sports sake and never again will I accept money for expenses"
 The exact amount of money re- funded by Richards was $20.79. Twen- ty dollars of this was paid to him for his trip to Eaglesmere, Penn.
New Britain herald., 1915-07-09

This blouse with frills at the front k one of the newest and it is very interesting It is prettily and beconingly full and the collar can be adjusted to form an open neck or it can be buttoned up closely, consequently 1t is an exceptionally avail able model. Here, 1t is made of the fash lionable organdie and the edges are fin 'ished with picot or cut he1,l-stitching, but the design will be found good one for crepe de chine, for the tub silks, hand Jkerchief lawn, cotton voiles and indeed for almost all wasting materials. If pre- ferred, the frills can be omitted but they make new feature and smart one. Tn the back view, the sleeves are shorter with plain bands. s@{ ', '
 For the medium size will be required yds. of material 27 in. wide, sH yds. 3o. 2B yds. A. a.ss
 The pattern No. s7oo is cut in sizes from 34 to AZ in. bust measure It will be mailed to any address by the Fashien Department of this paper, on receipt of ten cents.
New Britain herald., 1915-07-09
PRATT TO SUE BRoOKFEDs.

Brooklyn, July 9.-Larry Pratt, Q formed catcher of the Brooklyn Fed eral league. team, will raise novel legal question if he goes through with his expressed intention of suing for remuneration under the Employers Liability act on the grounds that Ee was injured in the performance Of his duties, and that his ten days no tice of unconditional release, received recently and effective yesterday. is in violation of the law.
 Pratt asserts he was injured in regular league game during the ln&1 series with Pittsburs at Washington
New Britain herald., 1915-07-09
ASSUMES DUTIES TUESDAY.

Hartford, July 9.-Thomas J. Spell lacy, appointed United States district attorney, will take the oath and enter upon the duties of the office next Tuesday MT. Spellaey will succeed Frederick A. Scott, resigned. There are a few matters pending which have been partly tried. MT. Scott at the suggestion of MT. Spellacy is con- tinuing to dispose of these matters. He expects to have them all cleared with the close of business Monday and MT. Spellacy will assume the du. ties Tuesday.
New Britain herald., 1915-07-09
Manchester Feels Effects.

Manchester, July 9.On Monday Arthur Lashinske of Center street, Jo- seph Moore ofa.Garden street and Richard Prichard of Center street were in Westerly, R. l., in company with Leo Schende1 of Main street. While there they went to the Gavitt restaurant and all of them, with the exception of MT. Schendel. ate cocoa nut custard pie. On the way home three of them became i'll and Tues day their condition was such as to re- quire the attention of "a docto-. There was every indication that they were suffering from ptornaine poison Ing, but their condition is improved All will recover.
New Britain herald., 1915-07-09
FLEMING-RIVERS BOUT TONIGHT

Torrington, July 9.-The open air taken place last evening at Freeland's Driving park was postponed on ac. count of the wet weather and will be held this evening. Mexican Joe" Rivers will battle with Wild Bit" Fleming. the Odtown. Me, bearcst ir the main bout of the evening ana there will be three prelim inaries
New Britain herald., 1915-07-09

injuries received in servI'
 Should Pratt file suit. will be eargeriy awaited Of players, 90 it will be tion brought q against a e' liability act. Pratt is a and has spent some time phase of the law. He bel be able to prove that tf ricable to ballpiayers.
New Britain herald., 1915-07-09

Park. Ed Konetchy bumped int- Eim at the plate and badly bruised
 the Brooklyn plsyer's throwing arm. Since then he has been unable to throw with his accustomed accuracy, which, he says. was the reason ad,
 vanced by the Brooklyn club for his dismissal He alleges there is . clause in his contract which sta,cs he must be paid while suffering from
New Britain herald., 1915-07-09

E-
 Here is a a,negligee that is at once grace fui and absolutely simple It consists of three-piece skirt that is joined to a short waisted body portion and this body portion IS shirred. As it is shown here. It IS very attractive garment for general wear. but by simply inserting tape-pr. elastic Tn the shirrings of the blouse 4nd pkirt, 1t can be converted to maternity use. In the picture, the material is one ol the pretty tub silks that are so much used, but the design is one that can be roPied Tn, voile, in crepe, in lawn or in my one of the tub silks. Among the satter IS a very charming Oriental silk t.nown as Corean crepe. It is heavier than crepe de chine, it is more lustrous and washes as perfectly as linen and it would oe . charming for just such a garment in any preferred color. If more elaborate erect IS wanted, the neck and sleeve sogcs can be trimmed with lace frills. For the medium size will be reou;red yds of material 77 in. wide, oL yds. lo, 51s yds. A. O/4 'e'' he pattern No. STA is cut in three
 zes. 3t or 36, 38 or 70, Az or A in. bust.
 t will be mailed to any address by the fashion. Department of this paper, on 'eceipt of ten cents.