davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Punta Gorda herald. [volume] (Punta Gorda, Fla.) 1893-1958, 1915-08-05
TRICKS OF GUNCoTToN.
khen Dry the Explosive May Be Burn
ed In the Hand Without Harm.

ed In the Hand Without Harm.
If some one should place a wad
of guncotton on the palm of your
hand and threaten to touch it off
with lighted match you would be
frightened. Yet you need not be,
for, although guncotton is one of
the most powerful of ordinary ex-
plosives, it would not hurt you.
When dry guncotton is exposed
to the air it does not explode when
ignited, but burns with great rapid
ity. So rapidly does the burning
take place that if a loose wad of
the material be held in the hand
and touched with fire there is a
sudden flash, and an instant later
not trace of smoke or a mark on
the hand remains to indicate what
has taken place. Guncotton does
not detonate unless it is confined,
as in the barrel of a gun.
When dry, however, guncetton
can be made to explode with great
violence by being struck sharply be-
tween two hard surfaces. Detona-
ton, as such an explosion is called,
is quite different phenomenon
from burning. 1t seems to consist
in the instantaneous disintegration
of the molecules of the exploding
substance. 1t is as though all the
bricks in great building were in
fraction of Il second to be scattered |
about the city.
When moistened sufficiently with
water guncotton is not affected eli
Their by fire or blows. In this state
It can be compressed, mashed to a
pulp or worked into various shapes
without danger. Only the explo-
sion of piece of the dry material
Or printing with illuminate of Jper-
Jury can make wet gllncotton deto-
late; Oh this account wet guncot-
on has been made use of in blast
ng.
Guncotton is mixture of various
litrates formed when clean dry cot
on is treated with strong nitric
cid land, for most purposes, with
ulphuric acid also). If the product
as low degree of nitration-that
to say, if little nitric acid be used
the making-it may be partially
issolved by certain estcrs, such as
cetone, ethylacetate or mixture
ether and alcohol. 1t forms
olloidal solution, and the resulting
lily is particularly well fitted to {
Sc in a gun on account of the saw
lg of space.-New York World.
The Punta Gorda herald. [volume] (Punta Gorda, Fla.) 1893-1958, 1915-08-05
Aunt Judith S
Silver Spoons
They Played a Part In the Life 81
Peggy and Dick.
By TEMPLE BAILEY.

The Merritts' wedding presents
had been very plain and practical
They had few rich friends, and
their relatives had confined them
selves to furniture and useful arti-
cles for the small fiat. Peggy's girl
companions had given her center
pieces and lingerie, and Dicks office
colleagues had dubbed together and
had presented cut glass punch
bowl.
But Aunt Judith gave silver
spoons = heavy, solid and richly
chased.
81 think it was lovely of her,"
said the little wife as she set her
own table for the first time. "a
little good silver is such a help.
Some day we will buy forks and
knives to match, won't we, Dicky,
boy?"
Sure" said Dick easily. "They've
got to appreciate me at the office
soon. | won't let them grind me
down this way always"
But raise in salary was slow in
coming. Dicks worth was evident
ly not as apparent to his employers
as to himself, and gradually the fur
niture and carpets began 10 grow
shabby, and the silver spoons were
still the only sign of elegance in
the Merritts' home. Peggy polish
ed them every day.
"You see," she told Aunt Judith,
who came from her little home
town to visit them, eve don't seem
really poor when we can sip our
tea from shining silver"
at is you who brighten things
up" said Aunt Judith, ''you with
your cheerful face"
ooh" suddenly Peggy's voice
broke and her eyes filled-"oh,
Aunt Judith, you don't know how
hard it is to smile sometimes"
"Why, child"-there was conster-
nation in the old lady's tone
aren't you happy"
"lt's on account of Dick. Things
aren't going right with him at the
office. They don't seem to get on
with him or he doesn't with them,
and he gets blue, and it isn't easy
for me to cheer him up"
81 see," said shrewd Aunt Judith, r
ind that night she asked the young
husband, "How are things at the
office?'
"Rotten," was the Illuminating
'eply. "They promised to give me
! raise a year ago, but they haven't
lone it."
"Why not?' asked Aunt Judith.
"They don't appreciate me-" Dick
lung out. ,
perhaps" Aunt Judith began '
md then stopped. 81 am not going s
o help him out" was her mental {
omment. "He has his own lesson /
o learn"
But Aunt Judith did not realize /
hat while Dick was learning his t
esson Peggy must suffer.
"He thinks too much of himself" il
'as her further thought as the DAYS p
-ent on. ''I'll let him work hard
nth some of the conceit is taken
ut of him."
And with that she packed her bag Q,
nd went back to her little home Il
own. W
Dick was not made of stern stuff. b
nd as the days went by the clouds g
n his face grew darker and darker
ld at last he came home early one e'
'ternoon and threw himself heav- n,
Y into the chair. ii
"Mell. I'm out Of job" he said OF
The Punta Gorda herald. [volume] (Punta Gorda, Fla.) 1893-1958, 1915-08-05
Discovery Of Mahogany.

In the year 1897 one of Sir Wal
ter Raleigh's ships in an expedition
against the Azores put in at Trini-
dad for repairs. The workmen used
the first wood that came to hand,
and it happened to be the now ia
nous mahogany. BY this accident
it was first introduced into Eng
land, where it was much admired,
but it did not become an article of
commerce until century later.
The Punta Gorda herald. [volume] (Punta Gorda, Fla.) 1893-1958, 1915-08-05
Trials of the Great.

Right Honorable Secretary Of
State-You have long been lead
ing supporter of mine, Colonel Buff
fer, and | shall be glad to do what
| can for your son, but-er-what
can he do?
Fond Parent-My dear sir, if he
could do anything l should not
think of troubling youl-Passing
Show.
The Punta Gorda herald. [volume] (Punta Gorda, Fla.) 1893-1958, 1915-08-05
Fallaeies About the Hair.

According to DR.. John A. Wyeth
OF New York, the ancient idea that
the hair upon freshly shaven face
will grow after death is a falacy,
because death is the cessation of all
growth.
FOR the same reason no ones hair
ever turned white in a single night,
nor in a dozen, for hair turns white
through the stoppage of the supply
of coloring matter.
The Punta Gorda herald. [volume] (Punta Gorda, Fla.) 1893-1958, 1915-08-05
Varieties of Finance.

Mrs. Touchley-I hated to do it,
but | had to take some money out
of my husbands pockets while he
was asleep last night to pay for his
birthday present.
Mrs. Chargely-Mercy! wouldn't
dare do such thingl l used the
market money and then had things
charged to him. Kansas City Star
The Punta Gorda herald. [volume] (Punta Gorda, Fla.) 1893-1958, 1915-08-05

Booster envelopes, with printed
return card blank for individual s
name to be written in, Is cents
per package of twenty-five, two
packages for 25 cents.-THE
HERALD.
The Punta Gorda herald. [volume] (Punta Gorda, Fla.) 1893-1958, 1915-08-05
Necessity Has No Law,

Il wish | could afford to own an au
tomobile," remarked Brownsmith, who
was taking spin In Flubdubs tour
ing car.
Il wish l could, too replied Flub.
dub.-Life.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-09-23
DR.. Dumba's Excuse.

If ever there were any reason TO credl'
DR.. Dumba with candor and sincerity IN ms
late lament to the Secretary Of State, 1t IS
finally disposed Of by the publication OF
TIE papers found in the hands Of his faith
full and obliging messenger, Mr.. Archibald
The only excuse that could reasonably be
offered for his conduct is a certain dulness
of wit. for on no other ground, except
sheer effrontery, were it possible to ac-
count for the assumption of an air of out
ragged innocence with regard to accusa-
tons which he must have known were
fully established and bound to be proved
out of his own utterances in the next few
days.
But dulness alone cannot account for
the evident duplicity involved in DR..
Dumba's apology At the most, DR.. Dunn
ba overrated the gullibility of those whom
his friend Captain Won PapeD calls the
"idiotic Yankees" for surely none above
the grade of an idiot could be expected
TO swallow his explanation of the notori-
Gus memorandum or his attempt to dis
miss il as in the main visionary and gro
tesuue." 1t is untrue, and the untruth
was bound to be discovered, that the chief
proposal was for the expenditure of sums
for entirely legitimate purposes" The
most weighty and significant proposal was
to stir up mems feelings" and to promote
strife in our workshops and factories, ar
express stipulation being that ito the
union agitators only a certain amount
should be given at first and larger sun
+ in case Of success or of a serious strike or
the formation Of a union" DR.. Dumbs
has committed himself plainly in writing a:
warmly recommending the proposals.
and his soicitude for the condition Of hi:
fellow countrymen in America was only
secondary to his enthusiasm with regarC
to the project "to arrange for strikes"
As DR.. Dumba knew well that his let
ters would be given to the public few
days after his protest to the State De
partment, his attempt to explain away his
part in this enterprise was not only in
sincere and impertinent, but incredibly
stuDid
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-09-23
Organized for Preparedness.

To the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir: I note with interest letter in your
paper of yesterday signed D. P. Smith, in
which the writer asks if some wealthy and
true American citizen cannot come forward
with fund in opposition to that provided by
Henry Ford and Andrew Carnegie, which
those gentlemen have given to advance the
cause of appropriateness.
do not know Of any wealthy man who will
provide such fund, but the American De-
fence Society has recently been formed to
urge the duty of preparation upon this coun-
try, and it certainly hopes and expects to
collect some funds with which to spread our
propaganda of the necessity of adequate ma
tionsl defence. This society is national In
scope and branches are being organized
throughout the different states in the Union
and also in the principal cities.
have the honor TO be member of the execu-
tive committee of the New York State branch.
Our organization will be aggressive. We
shall go the limit in bringing to bear all the
pressure in our power TO accomplish the re-
suits we seek, and we care not whose head we
hit, provided il is the head OF one Of those
who seek TO block what we are convinced Is
the most important matter before this coun-
try at the present time. We are convinced
that the only way to do this is TO put the
fear of God into the hearts Of the pork
barrel" Congressman and others who for
various reasons refuse TO vote adequate
money for our army and navy and unjustif-
ably interfere with their development. To
those who wish to understand just where
the trouble lies recommend an admirable
article by Richard Washburn Child in Sol
lier's" for September Is.
cursory examination Of the daily papers
shows the fact that there are hundreds and
thousands of men in this country who be-
/ ieve as we do, but individual efforts count
for little. We must have organization. We
must all pull together.
urge young readers to join the American
Defence Society, which will provide the nee
essary organization. New York State head
quarters are at 3O3 Fifth Avenue, New York
City, where any questions will be gladly an
swered. LYLE EVANS MAHAN.
| New York, Sept. II, 1915.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-09-23
A Good Policy to Extend.

After one of the hearings at which
Young Mr.. Rockefeller testified before the
Federal Commission on Industrial Rela-
tons Mother Jones challenged him to
visit Colorado TO see the actual working
conditions imposed by the concerns in
which the Rockefellers held large inter-
ests. Now he is there, making an inspec-
ton of the Colorado Fuel and Iron Com
pany properties. He has come personally
into touch with mine laborers as well as
superintendents and managers and visited
the scene of "the battle of Ludlow as
we'll as the company's general Offices.
The Standard Oil Company of New Jer-
sey recently announced that it was the
policy of this company to keep its wages
and working conditions equal to or in adj
vance of the wages and working conditions
Of other men doing similar class OF
work" That is an enlightened policy and
il is as beneficial to the concerns which
adopt it as TO their men. If it had been
in force in Colorado, the lamentable
strikes which produced the Ludlow muir
ders would not have been likely to occur.
The country at large will hope that Mr..
Rockefelers Investigations will lead HIM
20 urge the adoption of this policy for the
Colorado miners. He has splendid oppor-
tunitv to work for social betterment.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-09-23
What the Militia Offers.

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: Since the European war there has
been considerable publicity in reference to
strengthening the defence Of our country.
With all the magnificent and complete armo-
ries in this state there is vast amount Of
room for recruits, very few organizations
being up to the standard in numbers, which
is much to be regretted Take, for example,
the attractveness OF the ODD Corps of En-
Gineers, ~ G.. n. Y, 16Sth Street, near Broad
way broadway subway station, 168th Street
and Broadway. It's new armory erected and
appointed at an outlay OF nearly S1,OO0,OOO,
is attractive in the highest degree known to
present day art and science. 1t contains
everything conducive to utility, health,
pleasure and comfort. Each company has
its own handsomely Quilted parlor with its
locker room on the floor above, and for the
use Of members Of the regiment there are
complete gymnasium with a competent in
structor, hot and cold baths, fine plunge,
fifteen shooting galleries Of long range, bill
ards, pool parlors and bowling alleys The
regiment has its social features in athletic
games, dances and frequency Of enjoyable
entertainments. Uniforms and full equip
ment are furnished free by the state.
DrlllS are heId one nlSnt III eaCH Weeh ioi
about seven months of the year, and every
year there is a camp service with pay. The
armory drills and instructions and the camp
work are prime factors in improving men
morally, mentally and physically.
Possibly many of your readers do not know
Just how to go about it to become members.
For their benefit if they will call any Mon
day evening at the armory inquiring for me, |
will be very glad to furnish complete infor
nation. The following copy is respectfully
recommended to those "who have a boy"
sung to the tune of 81 Didn't Raise My Boy
To Be a Soldier:
didn't raise my boy to be sissy,
And have less courage than his sister
Claire
When our dear Old Glory needs defending,
I'm patriot enough to want him there.
didn't raise my boy to be a coward
want him TO be brave and good and true.
I'd disown him II he were not ready
To die defending country or virtue.
CHARLES J. DIEGES,
Captain Company F, 22d C. of E., N. G. N. Y.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-09-23

"the party will be ruined unless l escape
war, and will not be vindicated by re-elec-
ton" stop thinking of party, or or re-elecuoh'
and realize the bitter truth that in the past
wear the American flag has been defled, no'
once. but deliberately many times; that
shameful treacheres and breaches or am
bassadorial privileges are of constant oc-
currence: that only n few spasms OF pleas
ant rhetoric, without a single unqualihed
concrete act Of manly anger and resent
ment, have come from Washington. II the
President be conscious Gas his conduct
shows) that he is not leader, but must
be told what to do, let him lift his ear
from the ground where he listens for indl-
cations as to party interests, and call
special session of the Congress, the sole
lawful representatives Of the entire nation!
From that great constitutional oody ne
will hear not only views Of his own party,
but Of all parties And in that great body
it would be passing strange II there shouiu
not be found some items of manliness and
wisdom not yet monopolized by the admin
istraton.
But he will not call the Congress he vii!
continue to drift as heretofore. until the
regular meeting in December. Every great
opportunity in the war has been neglected
offended nation received manly expression
The greatest sin ever committed by an
American officer was the unutterably
shameful silent acquiescence in the viola
ton of Belgian neutrality; it still continues
and so does the acquescence. And so to the
fast succeeding assassinations Of merchant
ships. instead of manly and curt demands
we mail qures of scented notes in the
daintiest style Of an accomplished professor
Of belles-lettres. We have had some Presi-
dents who were not too cold to get angry,
"too proud to fight" or to use when needed
fighting words" And for that reason every
natural man, not party's slave, still loves
and honors Washington, Jackson, Lincoln,
Cleveland and Roosevelt. Call Congress,
Mr.. President, and emulate the manliness of
the great men | have named.
JOSEPH CULBERTSON CLAYTON.
Brooklyn, Sept. IT, 1915.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-09-23
All. WOMEN NEED THE VOTE
Some Misstatements on Industrial
Statistics Corrected.

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir. was amazed to learn from the let
.ors ~ two ladies in The Tribune last week
.ho, working women should not vote because
,ho orent majority were ain the business
world only a few years at the most and be-
cause "42 per cent" of the more than 8'oOo,-
600 women workers are engaged in domestic
and nersonal service in the homes Of other
women"
cannot understand where the writers OF
these letters obtained their facts. find from
the United States Census of 1910 that in
that year 9250OOo women over forty-hve
wears old were at work for wages. Certainly
these women are permanent factors IN IN
dustrv and should be treated accordingly.
And by the same token many of the young
or women are in industry to stay. find
also from the census that 80, and not AZ, per
cont Of all women wage earners are engaged
in domestic and personal service But
find that almost half of these women are not
"servants" Of any kind. ! find, for instance
over 10000 women Of this group are board
ing and lodging house keepers, naturally with
a vital interest in the tax rate; 75,OO0 are
laundry operatives, whose exhaustng WORK
is in special need Of legal regulation; nearly
$4,000 are mattresses, who may work unllm-
tied hours in New York State.
There are only 100000 SERVANTS fewer
than the women in factories. Many OF them
are not in private families, but in hotels
where. in this state, their hours are not linn
tied. In some Of the best hotels In New York
City women are working regularly from sew
enty to eighty hours weekly. In suffrage
California women workers in hotels have the
eight-hour day by law.
There remain the women who are really IN
domestic work in private families. Why
wouldn't the vote help them secure their in
clusion in laws compensating for accidents,
from which they are too often shut out, and
laws regulating the Intelligence offices
through which most of,them must find places
Married women, we thought even our anti
suffrage friends realized. have a vital interest
in laws securing pure food, water and milk
street cleaning and garbage disposal, In
school laws and playground laws.
But apart from special laws, factory WORK
srs and married women and domestic ser
wants alike need the vote just as carpenters
and gardeners and lawyers do to make this
a truly democratic country, in which we all
have a voice in our own government
MARY f. SMITH.
New York, Sept. 10, 1915.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-09-23
Stand BY the President.
,ditor OF the Tribune.

To the Editor of the Tribune.
Sir: | am a regular reader Of your fine
paper and admire greatly the strength and
Amercansm displayed in your editorials,
but must take exception to your good judg-
ment in publishing such letter as the one
of this morning under the caption Half
Pedant. Half Poltroon." 1t is decidedly un-
fair to the President to print such criticism.
Mr. Wilson is in a terribly embarrassing po-
sition. and instead of being jeered at should
be heartily supported and upheld by every
man with a drop Of American blood in him.
W. II. JOHNSTON.
Caldwell n. j., Sept. 10, 1915.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-09-23
Precaution and Punishment.

Whether the snoring Of the subway cut
IN Seventh Avenue was cardboard OF
whether the persons in charge Of the blast
mo were criminally careless with their
dynamite remains to be disclosed. The
regulation Investigations by the Public
Service Commission, by the city authorl-
ties. bv the District Attorney, will folio"
Yesterdays shocking accident, and some
where or other the Investigators ought to
be able TO get at the truth Of the affair
Meantime the fact remains that many
deaths resulted in the course Of work
which the city has regarded for a decade
as routine business-safer than house
building-and that unrest and apprehen'
sion will be manifest for a long time re-
parding other subway construction.
Two things are imperative. The first is
an inspection Of such subway work as is
now under way to assure the public that
there is no danger from improper snoring
The second is the pushing of inquiry to
the point where definite responsibility for
this accident rests upon individuals. The
system Of subway construction heretofore
has been splendid. Most systems are
splendid until they collapse. Now the
smash in this one has occurred. For the
protection of the public in the future 1t
las become necessary TO find out why 1t
occurred. who let it occur and what pun
ishment is proper for having let it occur
This is assuredly a case where guilt is per-
sonal. Furnishing the guilty will not re-
store the dead to life, but it ought to OPP
crate as an effectual preventive against
other kindred disasters.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-09-23
A Scrap Of Paper.
lFror The Dundee Adrertistr.

(Frop The Dundee Adpertiser)
According TO lie Figaro" the famous ex-
preston, "A scrap Of paper" was used as
long ago as the eighteenth century by Lord
Chesterfield, and, strangely enough, to brand
the conduct of an ancestor of William Il
the great Frederick himself. The latter, be
traying the French alliance TO negotiate in
an underhand way with England, had or
dered his minister, Podewiis, 10 explain TO
Lord Chesterfield that the invasion Of Be-
hemia had not been a real act Of aggres-
sion, but a precaution Of legitimate defence
taken against the threats and snares OF
Austrian politicians. 81 very much doubt"
replied Lord Chesterfield, az these fears,
whether they be we'll I'll founded, are
sufficient grounds for taking up arms against
a neighbor. The most solemn treaties are
only scraps Of paper II the powers that be
have sufficient reasons 10 authorize their
being broken" This conversation is related
by Chesterfield himself in letter dated
February 81, 1745.