davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Cresco plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1913-1945, 1915-09-17
GERMAN FORCES
REACH. RAILWAY
Take Rovno-P etrograd Line Be-
tween wilma and Dvinsk.
WORK OF Won H|NDENBURC

Field Marshal AccompIishes Task
Which Teutons Have Been Striving
for Since the Fall of the Polish
Fortresses-Heavy Artillery Fight
Ing Continues Along Western Front.
London, Sept. 14.-By one of those
battering offensives which, although
costly in men and munitions, have in
variably been successful, Field Mar
shall Won Hindenburg's army has at
last set foot on the Rovno-Petrograd
railway between Wilma and Dvinsk.
The whole Austro-German forces have
been striving to gain this railway
since the fall of the Polish fortresses.
The offensive, which began toward
the end of last week, was carried on
from three directions upon Dvinsk
and the railway on either side of the
town, while farther south the invad-
ers advanced toward Wilma. The Rus
slams, before superior forces, supplied
with the usual mass of artillery, were
forced back to the lake district, which
the railway penetrates. and are now
making a stand there.
simultaneously the Germans push
ed their way eastward towards
Slonim and Pinsk, both Of which are
on roads which join the main railway
line, while the Austrians, with whom
there are many German units, are
fighting hard to reach Rovno, the
southern terminus of the line.
With this railway partly in the
hands of the Germans it is probable
that the Russians will be compelled
to make a further retirement, al
though their offensive in Galicia.
which continues, might save them by
compelling the Germans to send re-
Inducements to this region.
Russian Attacks RepuIsed.
There is now no doubt of Russian
success in this district, as, following
the Austrian admission of their re-
tirement, the Germans announce that,
after repulsing Russian attacks, they
occupied favorable situation situat-
ed some kilometers west of our for
mer position"
The conditions under which the
troops are fighting in the marshy
country, in the center and southern
end of the line, are described by Ger
man correspondents as most terrible.
The country Is virtually all under wa
ter, through which the Austro-Ger-
mans have to advance against well
prepared Russian positions.
The eastern bank Of the Sereth,
from which the Russians are deliver
ing their counter attacks, is verit-
able fortress, from which the Rus
slams emerge every time their oppon-
cnts approach, taking heavy toll Of
them in killed, wounded and pris-
oners.
According to the Russian accounts
nearly 10000 prisoners have been
taken in the fighting along this river.
The operations in the west are
marked by the continuance Of the
great artillery battle from Belgium to
the Argonne. A duel between guns
of all caliber along the entire front
has now been going on for nearly
three weeks and during the week end
has been particularly violent around
Arras, in the Argonne and Cham
payne.
At several points the German in
fantry, after a heavy bombardment.
attempted to storm the advanced
trenches of the allies, but the French
reports say that these attacks all
failed. Fighting Of somewhat sim
liar character is proceeding along the
Austro-Italian front.
Cresco plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1913-1945, 1915-09-17

P. A, CLEMMER, Cresco, Iowa. u
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-07-10
LAwLEssNEss TANNED.

Commenting on the attempt upon
the life of J. p. Morgan. the Boston
Transcript says:
One OF the most regrettable conse-
quences of Iong-continued war is a
tendency toward lawlessness. Famil-
iarity with the slaughter Of human
beings, and with the brutality which
accompanies 1t, makes men callous to
the sufTerings Of others They easily
throw of the ordinary restraints
which would detain them from crime
and are not prevented from commit
ting lawIess deeds by any fear Of the
sight of suffering The daily reading
Of the news OF the present war op-
erations in Europe makes US all ia
Iailiar with such distressful indiffer-
nee TO human life that Il tends TO
break Down our accustomed views Of
Its sacredness. Men are hurried from
their homes, rushed to the front. plac-
ed within the range OF the shells and
shrapnel of the enemy. Some are
soon injured. others killed. and the
wearisome process of moving these
manned ones back TO a place Of safe
" is commenced II is a continuous
round of sending forward strong,
healthy men, and receiving back the
wounded and dying We read the
daily reports OF this process and our
souls become numhed 70 human SUI
fering.
's'rhe effect upon weak-uinded per
sons and those with criminal tenden-
cy is an Indictment 10 crime. In coun-
tries which are at peace these classes
of the community may be expected 10
show themselves even more than IN
countries at war. where they are US
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-07-10
THE UNITED STATES AND EUROPE

DR.. Samuel P. Ortiz, professor Of
politics in Cornell university, has an
interesting article in the New York
Times on the necessity Of preserving
the United States from Europeanism.
He says It is sheer seIf-deIusion to
think that the war is only going to
make victims. 1t viii also make vic
tors and victoTs are likely to be bull
lies when they get their second wind.
The European spirit is TO annex,
crowd and dominate. Europe has
been the world bully ever since the
days of Caesar says Professor Orth,
"and when she ceases to be bully it
VIII be because she IS either dead or
damocratized-"
The writer calls attention to the
fact that no foreign power looks to
North America for aggrandizement,
but. he says. the southern continent
and the isthmus. including Mexico,
are still in the vision of the trade and
land grabbers. They only await their
opportunity" The attitude Of Europe
has never been over-friendly toward
the United States. At least none Of
her rulers has ever quite fully en-
dorsed our democracy.
In the opinion Of Professor Orth.
the result of the European war will
mark the substitution of world bal
auce of power for the European bal
ance OF power, and he asks the ques-
ton whether the United States can
keep out Of this balance as thus far
we have managed to keep out of the
war. lie asserts we should not be
Iured by the glitter OF world infu-
ence, but should confne our efforts
to promoting q better understanding
with South America He continues:
Our place in world affairs depends
almost entirely upon our place in all
American affairs. We cannot escape
this place. We have issued the Mon
roe manifesto and amplifed it; we
fought the Spanish war in its yindica-
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-07-10

An old man lay on the bed of death.
4 doctor sat By him intent upon some
method Of saving his life. An entirely
different problem was in the mind Of
the sufferer.
Doctor" he said presently. cant I
die for a short time. then come TO life
again for a certain purpose?
What purpcse2" asked the doctor.
The invalid cast his eyes about the
room 10 see that no enc was present.
then, stretching forth his hand drew
the doctor to him and whispered what
he had to say. When he came TO d
pause the doctor said
II have suspected as much"
Can it be done2" asked the invalid
1T can be tried"
Some more conversation followed, in
which the doctor gave the sick man
instructions. and the sick man did the
same by the doctor. Then the latter
ended the matter by saying.
Are you ready?"
Yes"
The doctor took from his medicine
case a tablet and placed it in the pa
TENTS mouth.
The sick man, who was lying on his
back. stared at the ceiling, immovable.
The doctor went hurriedly TO the door
and opened it. There stood the wife Of
tine invalid
Madam" said the doctor. n fear
that your husband is dead"
The woman hurried into the room
and stood over the sickbed for few
moments looking down into the pale
face. The doctor, who was beside-her,
closed the eyes Of her husband, then
led her away, saying:
This has been a long trial to you.
Your watch is now over. Go and rest
yourself"
She suffered herself to be led away
and within an hour was in bed and
asleep.
Paul Markham passed away at dawn
the next morning. Preparations We're
made for the funeral, which was held
three days later, and on the fourth
day his widow, who was his second
wife. and her two children by q for
mer husband. all dressed In deep
mourning, entered the drawing room of
the house in which Mr. Markham had
died and took seats. A number of
other persons, including lawyer, en-
tered, and when all were seated the
attorney unfolded q document and was
about to begin its reading when Dr.
Blanchard, who had attended the de-
ceased, entered in company with a girl
Of Is. There was about her q melan-
choly that savored Of despair.
II have here" said the lawyer, the
last viii and testament Of Paul Mark
ham, deceased, executed one year ago"
He then read the will which left all
his property TO his beloved wife, Jane
Markham trusting that she would suf-
ficiently provide for his daughter Ethel
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-07-10

Pittsburgh Dispatch. And now the
rife is TO join the spear, the bow and
arrow and the sword IN the discarded
armory Of arms. Infantry is to follow
cavalry into desuetude. machines are
to replace men, mechanical skill and
chemical lore to take the place Of phys
zeal prowess- The wars of the future
are 20 be fought underground, under
the sea and in the air, and nations
graphing with nations viii perish at
the hands Of invisible enemies by
strange and weird means.
Who knows in these days of poison
Gus gases and lethaI shells that the
next move may not be the Marian heat
ray or the atomic bomb. disintegrating
all it comes in contact with. as so
graphically pictured by that arch flu
turist, H c. Wells.
For the present. the rife Is being
found too slow. Seven-eigbths OF the
wounds inflicted, surgeons say, are
caused by shells. The rife is simply
a toy and infantry merely occupy the
trenches the cannon have won. Rot
terdam reports a German expert say
ing that light machine guns are 10 dis
place the rifle Rife volleys have only
spattered an advancing foe where the
Maxims NOW them down. They are
the modern Whit of grape-shot"
Who can say how much Of military
methods of year ago viii survive
this crucial test. Forts. supposed to
be impregnable, have been crumbled.
Dashing cavalry. regiments have been
set ANONYMOUSLY to digging and fiji
ing trenches. Now the laboriousIy ac-
quired craftsmanship of the rifeman
may be deprecated, a pipe line for
gas. a machine that rips out death al
the turn of a crank, q great engine that
devastates q city q score of miles
away, have compelled the experts to
revise their notions, remodel their
tactics and reorganize their equip
ment
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-07-10

London Corresponding Of The
Associated Press Zeppelin hunting
is not SO easy. as it seems to the land
going critics, who think it gross care
lessuess that any Zeppelin has been
allowed TO sail over English soil and
get away
The first message Of & raid may
+ come from q point in Holland or Elan
ders or some outlying English coast
watch station. Ii gives the time Of
passing. the general direction and the
estimated height Of the airship, On
receipt Of this at the aerodrome, the
scout planes start out.
Usually the Zeppelin chooses a dark
night for a raid Its machine guns
amply protect it's giant frame from
air attacks at its height level and be-
low. But the gas bags render it vuI-
nerable from above. To be at an ad-
vantage the chaser must arise to a
greater height than the invader, which
/. is able to attain maximum height OF
about 1900 feet
Unlike the gas ship, which can
descend swiftly at viii, the aeroplane
has to circle up slowly and laboriously.
The scout probably starts out IN the
pitch dark with clouds to pass through,
After the necessary altitude is reached,
he has to speculate perhaps vaguely
as to his position and then settle on
his course. If he is sailing over coun-
try occupied by the Germans, he has
to dodge the searchlights which are
touching up the clouds Once caught,
the shrapnel from the anti-afrcraft
guns begins to burst. The scout then
has TO dive, circle, reverse and dodge
about until he gets ont of range and
safe into the dark again. It requires
all the nerve the afrman possesses to
keep himself under control while the
shells burst with binding flashes and
the searchltghts play on the clouds
Safe into the dark. the hunter
watches Tor his first clue-a Zeppelin
signal from below in the form of fire
flashes. This seen, he shapes his course
for it.
If the moon is due to come up at this
time, the work is simplified, for the
form of the Zeppelin may be easily
seen if within range If unaware Of
the impending attack, the enemy's
course is regular with the long sau-
sage-lfke form running on level
The problem is now to keep clear OF
the Zeppelin's ears. The Zeppelin's
engines can be slowed down so that
the louder buzz Of the aeroplane may
be overheard.
If the Zeppelin detects the noise Of
the attacker, he flashes lights that
illuminate all Of the surrounding
clouds. Once he sees the object of his
search, his machine guns begin to
play.
There is a case recounted by an
aviator where his pausing aeroplane
took refuge In a cloud and then passed
over and dropped bombs along what
he thought was the zeppelin's prob
able course, which he based on the
sound Of the enemy's machine guns.
At the same time, the Zeppelin was
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-07-10
His Fire Contract.

Giorgio Polacc0's brilliancy as re-
vealed in music does not extend TO the
domain Of business if one may Judge
by story told by Algernou St John
Brenon. MIR. PoIacco was approached
on one occasion by a 8Iilanese agent
offering him an engagement at Lis
bon Mr.. Polacco named certain
price as remuneration. The engage
ment, however, fell through, as Mr.
Polacco had TO 90 elsewhere. The
next season the same agent asked Mr..
Polacco his terms again and for the
same city. Mr. Polacco named them.
The agent. acting with q certain celer-
ity. asked MF. Polacco TO sign then
and there. This was done. and MIR.
Poiacco took his contract home TO his
wife. The latter read it. Then she
folded IT up and looked straight at
her husband. "Giorgfo.s she said, very
TRANQUILITY, tyou have made great
contract "Ah. said Mr.. Polaceo. de-
lightedIy. 7 know I have Yes,
Giorgio, resumed his wife. you have
asked and accepted less than last year
and also the season is a month
longer"
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-07-10
ANOTHER AND OLDER LIBERTY BELL

Down in New Kaskaskia, Ill, there
is an old bronze bell, older even than
the Liberty bell (now speeding across
the country TO san Francisco, that
occupies a place more intimate, if not
as significant. to the Mississippi valley
states than that one that rang out from
the tower of independence hall of
July 4, 1916, proclaiming liberty
throughout the land. It is the bell Of
Immaculate Conception church that,
on July 4, 1878, two years later. almost
to the hour, proclaimed the liberty of
the Mississippi valley from British
rule, ringing out from the tower Of the
old stone church at Kaskaskia in honor
Of George Rogers Clark's conquest of
this far-fung picket post of England
Old Kaskaskia is gone and where it
once stood the mighty Mississippi rolls
along, untroubIed by the fact that it
has eDgulfed these farms, houses and
stores Of what once was a thriving
village The site Of the old log fort
which was captured by Clark and his
aid, Captain Bowman, is now N mid
N421AAAAAEA "a TIC ~ cat LNGE anu the
ground made historic by Father
Gibault, the Renaults, the Rocheblaves
and the Menards is deep under water.
The cornerstone from the priests
house IS now a stepping stone at a
German farmers gate and only the old
bell remains Of old Kaskaskias great
ness.
1t rests now on four bricks in the
vestibule OF Immaculate Conception
church. named after the first edifice.
and Is cracked and corroded. The in
scriptions about it's bronze side are
all but indecipherab1e md the bolt
holes cape large with rust. but the
people Of Kaskaskia revere 1t as the
Liberty bell Of the Mississippi valley
and ii Is the mecca of all sightseers
who came 10 the little village.
The bell was gift to the parish Of
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-07-10

Kaskaskia in 1742 from Louis XIV. of
France, grandson of the grand mon
arch" Louis XIV. It was cast in La
Rochelle, Normandy. France, in 1741,
according to an Inscription on its side,
and is older than the Liberty bell.
which was not cast until 1852 Anoth-
er inscription recites that the bell was
cast for the Church of the Immaculate
Conception, in Illinois, across the sea. -
Until forty years ago the old bell did
service in summoning the descendants
of those early pioneers to mass, but an
oVer-zealous sexton churned his bell
rope too hard one early Sunday morn
ing and the bell cracked. An investi-
cation revealed its condition to be
really menacing and it was removed
from the belfry Of the church and
placed in the vestibule. In constant
service since 1742, old before the
French and Indian wars, battered with
constant riRgings when the Declara-
ton Of Independence was signed. the
Liberty bell of the Mississippi valley
has earned rest at last and an hon
ored place among the historical relics
OF the nation. II the negotiations that
are now making are successful it will
be installed in the museum Of the Illi-
nois Historical society, along With
mementoes of Lincoln and Grant and
other things intimate in the history of
the nation.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-07-10

ton: we have built the Panama canal
and fortified it: we have with eX-
IRENE Iong-suffering awaited troubled
Mexico's Standardization; we have
time and again cbampioned the cause
Of South American states against pub
lie and private ggrandizement. All
Of this, and much more, have we done
to provide for our national defense
which forever foTbids our permitting
foreign dictauon, dominance, or inter
ference over any portion Of these
continents dedicated TO the American
ideal"
In conclusion, Professor Orth says:
1.-THE principal question which this
war thrusts upon US is whether Amer
lea shall proceed 10 develop her ideals
of humanity and democracy in her
own way as she has heretofore at
tempted, or whether she is now TO be
driven into a world swirl Of empires
and thereby lose herself in the de-
structive orgies Of international am
billions and hatreds.
I'VE must not be cajoIed by the fat
terry Of princes and pTemiers. For we
now know that the only treaties that
we can be sure of are those backed
by q resolute and determined popu-
lace with guns in its arsenals and
cruisers in its harbors. We have no
guarantee from any Of the beIliger-
ents, and from the nature Of man
kind can have none, that the new
.dispensation viii substitute brother
Illness for suspicion and Jealousy
And we must. for this purpose,
keep intact the American continents.
Our northern frontier is not guarded
by the guarantees Of Britain. It is
fortified by the seIf-interests and good
sense Of the Americans and Canadians
who live on either side Of 1t. and
imagine the Rio Grande a German
American boundary with Won Kluck
at every ford or bridget
Instead of bringing added security,
this war brings added responsibility"
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-07-10
MORE HOME oWNERs.

A writer in the Protectionist sub
units figures showing that 40 per cent Of
the American people own their homes
and 10 per cent more, who rent could
own a home If they SO desired. The
percentage Of home ownership is given
as u per cent in New York City. II
PEI. cent in Boston. Az per cent in
Los Angeles, 41z in Detroit, SO per
cent in Indianapolis, Al per cent in
St Paul. 449 per cent in Seattle, 56-#
per cent in Milwaukee, 35.2 per cent
lin Cleveland These statistics are
taken from the census figures Of
1910. In 1900 there were 6123.-
$40 farm homes in this country, OF
which 3,838 .33l were owned and 2.575,-
430 were free from mortgage. The
figures show that the American farmer
owns property worth fifty billions Of
dollars with an Indebtedness not to ez-
coed two billions. The Springfield
l0dass.l Republican says that these
figures do not indicate that the United
States IS rushing into a condition Of
tenantry. that there is nothing abuor-
mai in the situation and thar an inn
.provement seems under way.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-07-10
The Daily Story
a Deathbed Triumph-By William Chandler

Markham, Having stated thar the win
had been duly signed and witnessed.
he added that ii would be immediate
iy filed for probate. He was refolding
the document when DR. Blanchard
arose and. drawing a paper from his
pocket, said:
= have a will executed few hours
before Paul Markham death.
The widows couutenauce changed
Immediately
IF you have any such wu." She
said, 1T is a forgery. AT any rate il
was not witnessed. That ! know. be-
cause 1 was in attendance upon ms
husband every day and hour during
his last illness. and I know no one
who could have witnessed a VIII ep-
tered the house"
What time did you go to bed the
night your husband died? 2" asked the
doctor.
at 10 O'Clock"
Your husband did not die till 2
O'Clock the next morning"
HE died at o'clock in the evening.
You called me into the room where he
lay and told me he was dead"
Il told Won feared he was dead
He was very low. He revived. and ~
midnight I drew this simple will for
him. beoueathiug ali his property n
his daughter, Ethel Markham Tive
persons came at my call and Witnessed
the will while Won were asIeeD."
The woman stared at the doctor a1-
though she could hardly believe rsr
sense. For wears she mad dominated
her husband and for q year. since sbr
had forced him TO make a. win In bar
favor. had watched him carefully m
make sure that he did not make an
other. At the very end of his lffo he
had outwitted her.
let me see it," she said to the doc
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-07-10

Eye strain" has had its inning
brain strain occasionally wins q YER
dict of not guilty; now the popular all
nent is foot strain, otherwise called
broken arches, falling or dropped ar
ches. fiat feet, pronated feet. weak
feet
Perfectly fiat feet are not uecessar-
lily painful and may be very service
able Relaxation or weakness insult
dcisnt to be detected by any but the
professional eye not rarely causes
much pain and trouble.
Abnormaliy high arched feet are
more likely to give trouble than feet
with low arches, though this IS not
commonly understood.
The pain and disability in these
cases cannot be attributed to the
lowering Of the arch. but rather TO
the muscle strain, be the case one Of
low arch. or high arch Try 10 hold
your arm out horizontally for five
minutes and you will realize how pain
full muscle strain can be. The mere
fact that the foot arch is not found
fallen or dropped does not prove that
the trouble is not due to foot strain.
No shoe is made which conforms
to the shape Of the normal foot, al j..
though "orthopedic" and anatomical"
uodels-so called by their manufac-
turers-are legion. They do very nice
Iy for the back part Of the foot, but in
front they leave much to be desired,
for every model marketed is too mar
row to permit & natural spreading of
the forefoot; the shoemakers have
taught people to think a narrowed toe
is the proper fashion, so even the
special models construct the forefoot.
We must never forget that the width
of the forefoot is naturally consid-
erably greater than any other part Of