davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington herald., 1915-10-03

A LTHOUGH experiments are not to be
~ recommended, science now declares
that in ninety-nine cases out Of a
hundred there is practically no danger
in lighting powder or other high ex-
plosives with a match. But accidents
will happen. science admits. and it isn't
advisable to attempt proving this theory.
Unconfined explosives, touched with
flame, burn comparatively quiet.
The characteristic of high explosives Is
the extreme violence and suddenness Of
their detonation. Water is an explosive
when it is heated and when it becomes
steam. but the expansion is SO slow that
explosive results do not usually follow
unless there is gross negligence.
Gunpowder of the old type expands
more rapidly than water and produces a
large volume Of gas, but again it acts
with comparative gentleness. High ex-
plosives, on the other hand, pass instantly
from solid or liquid form to gas and
act with terrific energy. tearing to pieces
The Washington herald., 1915-10-03
High EXPLO LOSIVES NOT Easily Set Off by MATCH

powerful explosive. Attention to its
value as an explosive was first drawn to
England by the destruction of a Lanca-
shire factory where it was being manu-
factured. About the same date it was in
dependently studied in France, and early
in the nineties of last century it was
adopted there for use in shells.
Picric acid is prepared from coal tar
the refuse of gas manufacture. When
the heavy oil of coal tar is boiled and
chemically treated phenol, or carbolic
acid, separates from it. The carbolic acid
is taken, boiled in strong sulphuric acid.
and into the evil-smelling liquid strong
and pure nitric acid is carefully poured.
The resultant is picric acid. 1t has great
virtues as an explosive, but also some
vices. Its virtue is that it is not easily
exploded when pure and dry. that it can
be dropped or even thrown about. and
that it does not act violently when
lighted. To make it explode it needs a
powerful detonator, which usually con-
tains illuminate Of mercury and tetryl.
Its chief fault is that it is intensely acid.
and when moisture is present attacks
lead and many other substances. form
ing exceedingly explosive compounds
which go off quite Unexpectedly.
The Washington herald., 1915-10-03

any vessel which contains them. To make
them act in this manner they usually re-
quire a detonator, which applies q
violent shock to them and starts the
explosion.
Almost without exception high ex-
plosives are composed of some organic
substance. which means some form of
carbon, treated with nitric acid. Without
nitrogen, which is the chief ingredient of
nitric acid, it might be said that there
can be no explosives. Yet by a paradox
nitrogen is one Of the most inert gases
known and the chief ingredient of the
air we breathe. Possibly its explosive.
value arises from this very inertness, it
combines SO exceedingly reluctantly that
on small provocation the compound
breaks up into gas, giving the enormous
expansion needed for explosive effect.
The most famous modern high sx-
plosive and one of the most powerful is
lyddite, which is very similar to the
French melinite and the Japanese
shimose. Lyddite is simply picric acid
melted with little vaseline. Picric acid
is a yellow crystalline substance largely
used as a yellow dye and also very serv-
iceable in medicine for the treatment of
burns. It is intensely poisonous and
The Washington herald., 1915-10-03
Mt. Rainier BUILDS UP and
TEARS DOWN Own SUMMIT

Like ali volcanoes. Rainier has built Up
its cone with the materials elected oy its
own eruptions-with cinders and steam
shredded particles and Jumps Of laya
and with occasional flows of liquid lava
that have sol!dified into layers Of hard
basaltic rock. At one time, it attained
an altitude of not less than $1,000 feet.
II one may Judge by the steep inclina-
ton Of the lava and cinder layers visi-
BILE In its flanks. Then followed a great
explosion that destroyed the top part @:
the mountain and reduced its height BY
some 1000 feet. The volcano was left
beheaded, with capacious hollow crater
surrounded by Jagged rim.
Later on this great cavity, which
measured nearly three miles across from.
south to north. was filled by two small
cinder cones. Successive feeble erupticns
added to their height until at last they
formed together a low rounded dome
the eminence that now constitutes the
mountains summit. The higher por-
tions of the old crater rim rise to ele-
vattons within few hundred feet CT
the summit and. especially when viewed
from below. stand out boldly as sepa-
rate peaks that mask and seem to over
shadow the central dome.
The Washington herald., 1915-10-03

is scarcely SO wonderful as their age. A
tree that has lived 500 years is still in
its early youth; one that has rounded
out I 900 summers and winters is only
in full maturity; and old age, the three
score years and ten Of the sequoias, does
not come for seventeen or eighteen CEN
turtles.
How old the oldest trees may be is
not yet certain. but have counted the
rings Of seventy-nine that were over
1000 years Of age, Of three that were
over 5000, and one that was $780,"
In the days Of the Trojan war and of
the exodus Of the Hebrews from Egypt
this oldest tree was q sturdy sapline.
with stiff, prickly foliage like that of a
cedar. but far more compressed. It was
doubtless q graceful, sharply conical tree.
twenty or thirty feet high. with dense.
horizontal branches, the lower ones of
which swept the ground.
Like the young trees Of today. the
The Washington herald., 1915-10-03

ancient sequoia and the clump Of trees
Of similar age which grew close to it
must have been a charming adornment
Of the landscape. By the time Of Mara
thon the trees had lost the hard, sharp
lines Of youth, and were thoroughly
mature. The. lower branches had dis
appeared, up to a height Of a hundred
feet or more; the giant trunks were dis
closed as bare, reddish columns covered
with soft bark six inches. or . foot In
thickness; the upper branches had ac-
quired q slightly dropping aspect; and
the spiny foliage, far removed from the
ground, had assumed graceful. rounded
appearance. -..
Then for centuries, through the days
Of Rome, the Dark Ages, and all the
period Of the growth of European civil
ization, the ancient giants preserved the
same appearance. strong and solid. but
with strangely attractive. approachable
quality,
The Washington herald., 1915-10-03
Pipe FISH Has
Pouch forYoung
a la Kangaroo

THE pipe fish, near relative of the
sea-horse, might with propriety also
be called sea-kangaroo, as it has
the distinction Of being the only member
of the finny tribe that carries its young
in a pouch.
The pipe fish, easily distinguishable for
its long, slim body, from which it derives
its name, is common in British waters.
and varieties Of it are found in American
waters, especially along the Massachusetts,
and New England coast
The pipe fish has pocket on the under
side of its body nearly half its length.
1t is found in the male species only, and
is the only part of its body which is un-
protected by large flat plates, which take
the place of scales in its protective
armor. If pipe fish is taken from the
water and its little ones are shaken out
of the pouch back into the water, they
always seem either unable or disinclined
to run away. But if the male fish is
placed in the water again, all the small
fish Immediately swim back into the
pouch.
These curious little creatures have
prehensile tails. which they use to hold
on to the seaweed to prevent themselves
being carried away by the tide. The pipe
fish is similar to the small eel, being
about a foot in length and an inch in
thickness. But. unlike the eel. it has
very long jaw and the peculiar defensive
armor already mentioned.
The Washington herald., 1915-10-03
Only HALF as
Many Medical
Collie ges NOW
as IS Years Ago

~ ESPITE the growth and develop
ment of this country, it is notable
fact that in the past fifteen years
the number of medical colleges has
been reduced so per cent and the number
of students has decreased 40 per cent.
All Of which is hailed with Joy by the
medical world, as tending to fewer prac-
titioners and more efficient physicians.
The reduction in the number of colleges
has been brought about by consolidation
organized and conducted for profit.
Scholarship requirements are now
higher, 1t is more difficult to obtain GER
tifcates and instructors are of a more
able caliber than fifteen years ago, when
many so-called medical colleges employed
solicitors to drum up students. In the
heyday Of the institutions conducted
for profit, in one year there we're 2S,142
students and 5.747 graduates.
Although these figures have now been
cut in half by the proper and ethical
organization Of the profession Of teach
ing medicine, 1t is estimated that still
there are twice IS many graduates as
there are vacancies caused by death.
In Europe there is one physician to
every 1900 to $500 people In this
country there is one physician to every
600 to $50 people. On the other hand,
though, in Europe there are hardly to
be found at all any of the numerous
osteopaths, chiropractors, naprapaths and
other forms Of healers found in this
country.
The Washington herald., 1915-10-03
AUSTRIA Has Learned WAY to INCREASE BIRTH of MALES

~ ELLIGERENT nations of Europe are
n facing the problem of population,
and medical science is ION its toes"
to develop new theories for the rehabili-
tation of nations. Medical experts in
Vienna are said to have learned means
of determining successfully the sex of
infants by prenatal measures, of which
the secret is not revealed. 1t is stated
that among the children born in the
Austrian capital within the last few
months the proportion is 1i0 males to
100 females.
Leading physicians in France express
some skepticism regarding these asser-
tions. They recall that there is a tradi-
ton among the more warlike peoples OF
Europe that nature automatically read
tusts the balance between males and
females in the human race; that after
Q great war in which many men lose
their lives the preponderance OF males
among the newborn infants Is vastly
greater than IN normal times.
A more or less scientific explanation
IL offered for this phenomenon and many
medical authorities are willing to admit
that 1t may we'll be that a very remark
able provision Of nature is at work in
s1erting the influence that tends toward
equilibrium.
DR.. Henri Coupin says that a century
ago the ratio Of males to females
In France and in probably all
civilized countries was 10s to 100.
Gradually since then the disparity be-
tween these figures decreased until In
recent years 1t had almost disappeared.
Now the explanation for this Is the
explanation also offered for the great
increase IN the birth Of males In a coun-
try which has been ravaged, by war. It
is the very remarkable provision Of
nature that the increase In the proper
tton Of girls born comedies with an i'm
provement In social conditions. Indeed,
Il is q traditional belief among many
neople In Europe that girls are product
of prosperity, of well-being.
There Is no doubt that social condi-
tions vastly improved in Europe in the
last hundred years. and improved In .
progressive way. keeping pace with pro-
ncrtionate increase In the births Of girls.
In additional argument on this point is
drawn from the attested tact that there
a. always notable excedent Of boys
born Of women Of advanced Year,
Medical publications In the central
empires attach much importance 70 The
The Washington herald., 1915-10-03
SERBS and IRISH LEAD All
Other RACES in Centenarians

r UGENISTS and hereditists are both
puzzled by figures recently COM
piled showing the national longevity
records of Europe. Plague-stricken Serbia
and famished Ireland stand at the head
of the list, while scientific Germany and
Switzerland, long famed for its reputed
healthiness, are at the bottom.
Despite wars, insanitary conditions and
ignorance, Serbia boasts SIS men Of 100
years or over. One man in every $3.50
has passed the century mark Ireland
ranks next, with one centenarian in
every $3.50 Of population, or 57S in all.
Some scientists declare that the two races
have been hardened by centuries of suf-
fering and privation. Certainly, it seems
strange that Switzerland, with all her
The Washington herald., 1915-10-03
FROZEN octopus Of enormor

FROZEN octopus Of enormous bulk
n whose glittering armored body
n rises three miles into tbs sky,
with twenty or more huge wrfn-
kled arms reaching down among thou
sands Of acres Of the most gorgeous and
luxuriant Wild flowers. to squirt from
each fingertip a river af ice water into
the valley oelo1-that is the impress
sionistic picture Mount Rainier presents
to the state Of Washington.
Mount Rainier 10 IS miles southwest
Of Tacoma. It is one Of that celebrated
range of volcanoes which were supposed
to be extinct until, within the year,
Lassen Peak broke forth again. Rain
Ter, though supporting one Of the most
remarkable single-peak glacial systems.
in the world, emits steam from certain
crevices, evidence of continued internal
heat
Seen from Tacoma or Seattle, the vast
mountain appears to rise directly from
sea level, so Insignificant seems the
ridges about the base. Yet these ridges
themselves are Of no mean height They
rise 5000 to 1000 feet above the valleys
that cut through them, and their crests
average 5000 feet In altitude. Thus at
the southwest entrance to the Mount
Rainier National Park, which Congress
created to protect the natural marvel
from private encroachment, the eleva-
ton above sea level 10 1000 feet, while
Goat Mountain, close by, rises to an al
titude Of 6.045 feet
But 20 colossal are the proportions Of
the great volcano that they dwarf even
mountains of this size and give them the
appearance Of mere foothills- In height
Rainier IL second in the United States
only to Mount Whitney.
Mount Rainier stands, in round num-
bers, 10000 feet above its Immediate
base and covers 100 square miles Of
territory. In shape II II not simple
cone tapsring 70 slender. pointed sum
NIT Ike FujiyAma. the great volcano Of
Japan. Il q rather . broadly truncatsd
mass resembling IN enormous tree stump
With sprsadinS hsss and irrssulaFH
broken tap.
The Washington herald., 1915-10-03

THE giant treees of the Yosemite are
not the largest in the world, al
though they are by far the most
widely celebrated. In little known
Sequoia National park, many miles south
of the Yosemite, are to be found the
most wonderful of trees, the veteran
sequoias that were sturdy saplings
when the Greeks we're battering at the
gates of Troy, and the cedars Of Lebanon
were attaining some local prominence Of
their own.
In Sequoia National park are 1,166, 900
Of these wonderful trees. OF these
$4,000 exceed ten feet in diameter. The
General Sherman tree, most celebrated
Of all, is 279.9 feet high with q diameter
Of 36.5 feet The Abraham Lincoln tree
Is 270 feet high with a diameter Of thirty
one feet. The William Mckinley tree il
291 feet high with q diameter Of twenty
eight feet.
The General Grant National park 10
usually mentioned with SeQuoia because.
though separated by six miles Of noun
tain and forest, the two are practically
the same national park. It contains only
1850 acres and was created only for the
protection of the General Grant tree, Q
monster sequoia 264 feet high and thir-
Grant shares his domain with distin-
guished neishbors, notably the George
Warrington tree. which 10 only nine fest
less In height and six feet less In diane
ter.
The sequoias are the oldest living
things In this world. "They afe the en-
Meeting link" writes Ellswofth Hunting
ton. between the ancieut east and tAe
modern west.
'sHuss = The ssquoias ars. thsir -
The Washington herald., 1915-10-03

cabinet and disinfecting tank. The third
car contains the washing machine. the
drying drums, pumps for hot and cold
water, and q condenser Tor steam In case
the only available water Is too hard for
vashine. The fourth car or truck brings
along IN the washing necessaries-soap.
soda- coal essoline and tools.
Tla motor when free Of the mangle
r.ns "a and fro to gather up the soiled
unen- Noet Of the things are rung al.
most dry N the mangie. but the -voolis9
v~nt rsntIer trsatment 70 thsy are put
3 the dryins cansbit which = heatsd By
the motor.
The Washington herald., 1915-10-03
Astor's Flying
Boat Is FOOL
Proof Craft of
De LUKE Type
V1INCENT ASTOR'S new hydroaero-
v plane is described as a fool proof
flying boat de luxe Money was not


flying boat de luxe. Money was not
considered in Its construction.
1t has all the comforts of a modern
limousine, the speed of a monoplane and
the seaworthiness Of a fish tug Carry
ing three persons, Astor's remarkable
craft will make seventy miles an hour il
the air and fifty-fve miles in the water.
The seats are heavily upholstered snd
rested on springs. The pilot sits IN front.
protected by two celluloid windows from
wind and spray. The passengers are
seated In a rear compartment, with no
danger Of the slightest sprinkling.
The stability of the machine is such
that it can be flown for many minutes
with the hands off the control. In test
flight the craft flew for ten minutes with
the levers locked in one position. Gusts
OF wind and atmospheric changes are
taken care Of automatically. For this
reason the flying boat de luxe is known
as the fool proof type Of craft.
The Astor machine is fitted with a
Curtis motor, placed in the rear. and de-
veloping from 100 to 10 horsepower.
A floating hangar of distinctive design,
the first of its kind, has been evolved for
housing the plane. This is built on a
pontoon scow with a freeboard Of from
four to five feet at the bow and one at
the stern. Room is provided for COM
plete machine shop for repairs.
Running lengthwise under the center
of the roof Of the hangar's superstructure
is a strong steel girder used as track
for trolley. The girder extends out
over the water at the stern and the
trolley is furnished with a chain for
hooking into ringbolts on the top Of the
aeroplane. So carefully has the mechan-
ism of raising the boat been worked out
that one man can lift the aeroplane into
the hangar by means of hand winch.
The Washington herald., 1915-10-03

kept has there been such a high number
of twins born IL the Teutonic countries
as in recent months.
Proofs Of the assertions coming from
Vienna now are awaited with interest
In the meantime eminent members Of
the chief medical bodies Of France are
communicating to each other the results
of their experiences and deductions, in
order to establish basis for the presen-
tation to the French government of
practical conclusions on the subject of
birth and repopulation.
The Washington herald., 1915-10-03

reports sent in by military observers
with the armies. These show that of
$50 children born to women refugees
from Galicia and Bukowina, 314 were
boys and 245 girls. They consider this
fact as bearing on the theory Of auto
matte adjustment of the sexes.
What, however, is attracting the great
est attention in this connection is the
assertion made in behalf of the special
lists of Vienna, that they have solved, at
least in a way, the problem of exerting
a prenatal influence to determine the
The Washington herald., 1915-10-03

sex Of the child to be born. It is re-
called that this claim was advanced in
Vienna a decade ago, and aroused much
discussion.
DR.. Coupin, noted French expert, says
that the Germans In this question, as in
many others, prove their theories so well
that they prove too much. They do not,
for instance, adequately explain that
other phenomenon. which has been re-
ported by official observers in Germany
and Austria. namely, that never since
the records of vital statistics have been
The Washington herald., 1915-10-03

health resorts and glorifed mountain air.
possesses not single known centenarian.
Germany has only 7S men Of 100 years.
while Denmark can point to but two. or
less than one to each million of popula-
is a centenarian. Norway has %, or one
to every $4,000. England, Scotland and
Wales are about even, with one in about
177,OOO France has 213 centenarians. or
one in 100000, and Sweden is seventh in
the rank Of nations with one for every
25O,OO0 of population.
The Washington herald., 1915-10-03
-Four Trucks Garry Laundry Plant

~ ddered among the humdrum At.
fairs Of life. but . fsld laundry
system with the British in France II
rather IN imposing spectacle A portable
laundry plant makes IN impressive cav.
alcsde, % eaeh unit consists of four
ENORMOUS auto tEucla When the laun.
dry plant u '.in action" the four trucfs
afe formed IN . horssshos and covered
b. Q tent
On he march. the Arst powrnul tfuca
eaxfioe the movable steam mane1a.
Iho second oas hAe tAe comp3oto steam
oufn1-Sofls1s nash1nssy-a1se dry11e
The Washington herald., 1915-10-03
United States Leads

THREE Of the worlds foremost electri-
cal companies-the General Electric,
the Westinghouse Electric and the
Western Electric-have a total invest
ment of 100000. The United
States does about 65 per cent Of the
worlds electrical business, and since the
war abroad this amount has been prob
ably increased 10 per cent.
The Washington herald., 1915-10-03
Data on Cooking

A N electric light and power company
~ in Marquette. Mich, has installed
dozen electric ranges in homes
where housewives have agreed to use
them exclusively for cooking purposes.
The company adopted this practicable
method of securing accurate data on the
sxact cost of electric cooking. The com.
pany believes that this odd experiment
will populartxe electric cooking in it,
territory.
The Washington herald., 1915-10-03

"viel' Feind' viel' Ehr'" ("Many enc
mics, much honor'') is the new watch
word of the German people. 1t has taken
the place of "Gott mitt uns" ("God with
us'O or "Gott strafe England" ("God
punish England").
The Washington herald., 1915-10-03

Twenty-seven papers are published In
the trenches with some regularity By
French soldiers, SIX or seven By British.
and one b. the Belgians.
The Washington herald., 1915-10-03

wng o
8 and s
Is o he o a
New Britain herald., 1915-11-26
SPEED ARTIST RAY
 BREAKS A RECORD
Thirty-one Members of Boys Club Take Part In Annual Cross
 Country Run.

The annual Thanksgiving cross coun- try race of the Boys Club, was held yesterday morning, and proved to be one of the most successful ever held by the members of the organization Under the capable management of Director A. A. Pilz the event worked out without a slip or break, and the thirty one entrants furnished some brilliant speed work.
 The runners left Andrews crossing at II o'clock, and until Main street was reached, it was case of the con- testants being we'll punched. As the
 finish line loomed up, James Ray with a sudden burst of speed, put a gap between him and the others and
 won the race by about 10 yards, dur
 ing the trick in 15 minutes and 26
 seconds, beating the record establish
 ed last season by Harry Peters of 17
 minutes and II 3-5 seconds.
 Dan" Mcguire the old time bicycle ! racer, acted as starter and the judges were William Mcdonald, John Ryan and William Campbell. The offiicals , were rendered an automobile through ] the courtesy of MT. Mcguire.
 The following were the prize win ! ners: James Ray, first, time 15 min- l utes, 26 seconds; Anthony Gajda, sec , ond, 1 , minutes, 33 seconds; William 1 Stackllak, third, 15 minutes, 54 sec- onds; Thure Sandberg, fourth, 16
 minutes, 3 3-5 seconds; Richard Sand i burg, fifth, 16 minutes, 51 seconds; l Henry Medford, sixth, 16 minutes, i 56 seconds; William Puppell, seventh, 1 16 minutes, 5S Is seconds; Frank l Flosek, eighth, IT minutes.