davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-01-19

/ When the great European war broke
out 1 was in Berlin. Being woman
and not brave, / concluded that ! had
better remain where l was than try
to get back to America. So / stuck TO
my quarters in the capital though |
displayed an American nag at my win
dow and visited the embassy TO make
sure my passport was all right.
/ By October the lines of traffic over
/ the Atlantic had become safe, and
hearing that ! could get passage at
Rotterdam for New York / concluded
to venture upon trip home. The only
danger in my personality lay in the
fact of my accent We Bostonians use
the broad "a" like the English. and on
this account l was liable TO be taken
for an Englishwoman-
At the time l started the allies in
the west were engaged in repulsing
the attacks of the Germans in France
and a part of Belgium which was still
occupied by the Beleians. Having
crossed the Mouse l fell in with the
German army in the rear of the line
of trenches which was being held as
reserve. 1 was conducted to the head
quarters of the general commanding,
and my passport was examined by an
officer of his staff who spoke English,
but with the usual accent of a German.
After a few questions he left me, but
soon returned.
There is fighting on the route you
must take, and it would not be safe to
proceed just now. The general desires
that you join him at dinner, and We
viii see that you have a comfortable
place to sleep"
I was sorry for the delay. but exer-
cised patience, especially since | was
to be well treated. Some British pris- |
oners We're brought in during the day, (
and 1 went among them, chatting with /
them. noticed that they all supposed I
me to be English, several Of them ask /
ing from what part of England I hail
ed. This troubled me, for there were
German officers and soldiers present,
and | was quite sure that at least one
Of the officers was listening to our con-
I dined with the general and several
members Of his staff. There was also
another woman present besides my.
self, who spoke English fuently In
ieel. not every one would know
whether she was English or German,
though to ME she betrayed her nation
Atty in certain words that a German
ian never pronounce. For the W. 4
she used a 'v." For g" she used
'sh.' But it seemed to me that she
must have learned English while !
-oung, for these peculiarities of Ger
nan pronunciation were very slight
After dinner the men arose and said {
hat they would smoke outside, giving
Is two ladies an opportunity to enjoy ]
,ach others society for a short time !
They had scarcely left US alone to- {
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-01-19
Quincy Horald)


The year 1915 viii be a period
Astounding in opportunities for the
qualification OF those who like to put
the history book down and speculate
on what might have happened
for what did take place. a medita-
ton Thackeray thought amusing
and profitable.
Throughout the greater portion OF
its course 1915 viii be dominated
BY Napoleon. The centennial OF his
escape from Eiba will fall on Feb. 20;
OF his arrival at Paris on March 20.
and OF Notwithstanding Waterloo on
June IS. Saint Helena became his
toric from Oct. Il. 1915. when the ex-
He'd Titan landed there for the captiv-
ity he made the discontinue OF his
enemies. But Americans have an IN
terest in the calendar OF centennials
that Is their own. II was 100 years on
Jan. s since Andrew Jackson won the
battle Of New Orleans and-eventu-
aily-the presidency. Jackson's vic
tory was a small affair compared
with Wellington's. but both battles
eNerted great influence on the future
OF the couutrymen OF the victors.
In the century which has passed,
Americans have seen so many and
fought so many greater battles that
perhaps today they do not realize
that Jackson by his energy. his gift
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-01-19
ROCK ISLANDS OPPORTU
NIFTY

Establishing OF a harbor line and
building OF sea wall is without ques-
ton one o. the most important single
improvements that Rock Island has
ever undertaken The city has every
thing 20 gain and nothing TO lose
and the project IS one IN which all
classes OF citizens and all interests
represented here can consistently CO.
operate.
There are many serious obstacles 20
be removed and many greedy private
interests must be kept IN check. The
work viii be one which must neces-
Eariiy cover several years and schen-
ers vii lie in wait for laDses OF vigi-
lance which VIII give them an opening
for private gain from a public under
taking Control OF the rights 20 the
land which Is added 10 the city must
be hedged with every possible safe
guard.
Above all things space should be
reserved all about the new river front
which may be used for a belt line.
giving any and all railroads access 20
every part % the city aid insuring the
success Of the manufacturers addition
in the west end. This can never be
developed unless some such improve
msnt as this 10 accomplished nor can
Rock Island expect 70 compete with I
other cities for Industrial institutions /
While this project Is being gotten I'M |
der way efforts should also be made [
10 secure government aid IN building |
fevee dow the river from the lower /
end o. the Rock Island sea wall 20 the I.
bluffs a. Audalusia Such work as this I
Isl being done under the direction o. I.
the Mississippi river commission and /
there probably are few places where I
q Ievoe ls more necessary than here
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-01-19
BREEDERS OF CATTLE

terbalance the inequalities of compost
ton attributable TO the differing types
might well assume that incidental
factors OF this sort may easily coun-
ct cattle. During the past few years
the laboratory OF food and drug IN
spection of the Massachusetts state
board OF health has made extensive
analysis of hundreds of samples OF
milk from Jersey. Guernsey, Ayrshire,
Dutch Belt and Holstefn cows, as
well as from cross-bred or so-called
grade COWS. The valuable data thus
obtained under controlled conditions
make IL clear that variations In the
composition OF milk are due primarily
to the breed, and to a less extent TO
the season OF the year and the time
since calving. The least variable
milk constituents are the lactose and
the mineral ingredients, both of which
are therefore OF value in detecting
added water incidentally, says The
Journal of the American Medical as
the fact is borne out, con-
trary TO popular opinion, that milk
obtained In summer under current
conditions is, If anything, somewhat
inferior in quality to that obtained in
winter.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-01-19
The Daily Story
Mistaken for spy-By Sarah Baxter.

gether when my companions manner
changed completely. She drew her
seat very near me and whispered:
81 am not German. ! am English
have very important information Of the
German forces which | wish 10 carr,
TO England. But there are officers be.
tween me and the~coast who know me
! and If / proceed l will be arrested for
spy. If you will carry bit OF pspe-
1 through the lines to General Frenoh's
/ headquarters you viii save the lives or
hundreds, thousands. OF our countrv
men,.
This speech frightened me dread.
fully. arose and attempted 10 leave
the woman. convinced that she was
really working upon me for some pur.
pose which did not know. She caught
me by the skirt AID held me. looking
up at me with an expression which
was intended for terror, but which /
believed was feigned.
do not betray metz she cried In
smothered voice. 1T viii mean death
to me-"
Let me 60" retorted. q an not
English l am American"
The woman held me. imploring me
not to betray her I told hsr that
had no interest in her whatever
was neither German nor English. but
a native and a citizen OF a neutral
country. She played her part admir-
ably, and for moment such was the
agony she assumed that I almost be.
lieved her. But 1 remembered how
she had betrayed herself in her speech
and refused to credit her.
I pulled myself away from her and
fled Outside the general and the other
officers who had retired from the
dinner table were seated on camp
chairs smoking. They arose as ap-
peared and turned toward me.
General" I said, Il wish to proceed
on my journey at once. You have set
this woman upon me TO see if 7 am
what I pretend or spy. She IS not
which you know as well as T.
She is German, though she speaks
English better than any German ever
met. But when she tells me she Is
not a German I know better 7 am
an American bearing an American
passport. and I demand TO be allowed
to proceed on my journey 10 Rotter-
4d14s " mere 4 A-DEC ~ ALA-A Bt7oaEc 10
my home in America"
The general broke into a laugh In
which the other officers Joined The
nan who had examined by passport
said to me;
why. if you are an American. DO
you use the broad "a like the Eng.
ish?"
Because I am a Bostonian."
I was not only permitted 10 proceed
Il once. but was furnished with trans
and an escort 7 reached
rotterdam a few days before The sail.
ng of steamer for America and Sc
ured a passage in her
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-01-19
COAL MINING IN ILLINOIS.

Coal mine OPERATOR 70 Illinois have
been able TO take little comfort out
OF their business during 1914 The
production for the state. according TO
the estimates % Edward W. Parker.
OF the United States geological sur
vcy. decreased about 10 per ce.at com
pared with 1913. when II amounted 20
81 900 900 short tons. and as the mar
kets were Oversupplied and cOmpeti-
tloa for trade vas keen. prices we're
a. a general thing below a prOht-mak-
fnE figure. The St Louis traffic bu-
reau report that for the Il months
ending Nov. 30. 1915. the receipts OF
Illinois coal were about II per cent
less than for the corresponding period
IN 1913. In January the receipts IN
1913 were 562.02S short tons and IN
attributed &C the displacement OF
steam power ~ hytroeIectrfc power
from the Keckuk dam For the months
of February from 100000 tons In
1913 to 1.1s0. 900 tons In 1915. which is
accounted for by the storing OF coal IN
anticipation OF n suspension OF opera
tons on April l. pending the adjust
ment OF the wage scale. but IN April .
the receipts for 1914 fell TO II. 800 I
tons. compared with 4of.7OO tons IN .
1914 With the exception OF August .
when there was a small Increase. every /
other month OF 1914 showed n de-
crease. An additional disturbing ele-
meut. particularly N regard TO prices.
Was the output OF cooperative mines.
which regular operators assert Is sold
on q commission basis. and the pro
cecds divided by the cooperating min
ers bring them less than the regular
scale would amount 20 In wages One
statement made 20 the
geological survey says that II the in /
fussyy IN 1914 was not affected by 10
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-01-19

Nephritis means Inflammation OF
the kidneys IL Is another term for
"BrighGs disease" II may be acute,
as in the course OF scarlet fever or
other infectious disease in which a
poison circulates in the blood and in
iures the kidneys; or chronic, as in
those who drink alcoholic beverages.
eat too much. or smoke excessively.
Everybody knows that dropsy or
tioating OF the skin OF the extreme
ties and face IS apt 10 occur in a case
Of acute Inflammation OF the kidneys.
as also in severe chronic cases, but
every one should also know that
dropsy Is a very common symptom OF
failing heart. and OF serious disease Of
the liver and OF plain anaemia
The average case OF Bright's dis
ease develops very insidiously. with
out any backache or noticeable dis
turbance OF kidney function whatever.
The patient simply loses strength. be
comes less efficient than usual. seems
run down" thinks he needs a tonic
and too often squanders precious time
taking 4 tonic.
II he does visit a doctor. and II the
doctor does give him a thorough ex-
OF course the combination
OF circumstances will disclose the true
nature OF the illness. test OF the
a careful examination
OF the heart. a painstaking chemical
and microscopical examination OF the I
urine or more likely a series OF such I
on successive days, will I
disclose the truth. And nothing short i
Of this can. Not even the most exper- I
fenced and brilliant specialist can d. 4
agnose actual kidney trouble without i
such tests. The symptoms :,
alone are insufficient evidence to base
1 positive diagnosis on
Why Analysis Is Essential.
Life insurance examiners often find
hat the applicant who imagines him
self fairly healthy is really in the
,arly stage OF Bright's disease. a man
" woman may have the disease for
.everal years before realizing that
here Is anything very serious the mat
er. Most cases are latent. until some (
farming complication arises; uraemia (
cts in. with its coma or commissions I
II mental alteration; or the heart |
loses efficiency and BREATH
sssness becomes more and more no.
lceabie on exertion or when at rest: {
r asthmatic symptoms arise; or fire. c
uent headaches occur; or the stom- $
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-01-19

The Western Retail Implement. We
hicle and Hardware Dealers assOcia-
tiou's annual convention az Kansas
City brought 10 light the fac- that the
socaiicd top buggy. which might seem
20 be- In a fair way % become extinct
In a country where a billion f. invest
cd In automobiles IL In fact more need
ed than ever. The past year was a
record year for the top buggy. OF which
:. zoe. 900 werc made and sold T. o.
thought that 10 viii never become
really unpopular a. long as 10 can be
driven with one hand
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-01-19
PROTECTING SOIL FERTILITY

The farm lease has crept into Iowa
politics The governor In one OF his
messages referred 10 q third party TO
a lease. the said third party being the
inanirnate soil. He made this refer.
ence because he has become convinced
that the owners and the users OF the
soil are apt 10 be its robbers. They
take from u all they can and leave IL
abandoned. The short term renter es-
pecialIy Is thus disposed toward the
soil He bleeds u and the owner
helps the bleeding by demanding all
the land will bear.
This f. really a form OF conserva-
ton. The soil OF Iowa in one sense
does not belong entirely TO those who
happen 20 own IL The future also has
a stake IN f. The future also must
live. The future has 4 right TO de
mand that the present shall not ex
haust the means OF living.
We are here to use the sources OF
life. not 20 abuse them The man
passing through the desert may par
take OF the springs. where the living
waters gush forth. but he may not.
after helping himself. destroy the
spring. He may not even contami-
nate a.
These questions are going TO grow. I
comments the Cedar Rapids RepubIi-
an II Is well 10 agitate them Il lit
lie. from time TO time Unfortunately
many men who have access 20 the soil .
Ire not only ignorant OF its proper use.
Iuf criminally negligent Their oper-
tions amount "a thefts made on the
ufure. Il will have 10 be stopped some
ime and somehow
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-01-19
loo Much for the soot.

= Scottish farmer paid a visit to q
south of England cattle show and
while walking around got talking with
a native farmer. Neither could well
understand what the other said. The
Scotchman got a little nettled at this
and put it down to the Englishman'
stupidity.
Man" ne said at last, yer cows
moo a right. and yer cocks craw quite
plain. but I'm hanged If I can max
you oot,"-Exchange
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-01-19

In q cinema tCgraph theatre a little
boy was with his Grandmother when
a film started with the title Lost In
the Desert"
Grandma asked the child. what
IS a deserte"
"Hushi" murmured the grandmoth-
err 1T is a place where nothing
grows"
"Oh," said the little boy. pointing
20 an old man with a bald head. rs
that mans head a desert2"
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-01-19
Gets Bumped REGULARLY.

Conductor Mickie Tracy, of one OF
the freights running through Denrocl1
was hurt Thursday by falling off the
platform at that place. His head was
cut and bruised, his arms famed, a
tooth knocked out and several other
injuries, although nothing of serious
nature. Mr.. Tracy formerly run be-
tween this city and Shabbona. but
was bumped by Conductor Edwards.-
Gazette.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-01-19
Sidelights on the European War

! Paris, Correspondence Of The AS
/ ISOLATED Press. Instance of French
/ women who have been widows since
/ early in the war and are still ignor-
| ant Of their husbands fate are often
coming to light.
1t is not only that the authorities
have been slow in communicating
notice of caualities, but that friends
and relatives who have heard OF
deaths at the front have evaded the
responsibility of breaking the news,
hoping that identihcations of the dead
have been mistaken and that the miss
ing one may turn up eventually.
A case which came to the writer's
notice is probably typical of many a
young woman who was accustomed to
dine with her brother, a newspaper
man, at a restaurant largely patron
lied by men of that profession, has
appeared nightly at the restaurant
alone ever since her brother was
called TO join his regiment, and in
quired if his cO-workers had heard
anything of him. From a wounded
comrade who returned to Paris they
learned that the girls brother was
killed more than two months ago, but
none of the mem has had the heart
to break the news to the sister.
There are. also thousands among the
100000 school children of France.
most OF whose fathers are in the ar
my, who have failed to learn the true
answer TO their repeated queries dur
ing the holiday season: why doesn't
papa come home"
The answer cannot be given in =
majority of cases until the publica- |
ton of the full lists of losses, which, |
however. has not yet been decided up /
on by the French government
LOndon.-(C Correspondence of the
Associated Press 1.-The fight for
'Ferryman's House" at Merckem, on
the User canal. provided one of the
most stirring incidents of the recent
lighting around Dixmude.
"Merckem is ON the southern reach
If the User a correspondent writes.
four miles or so east of the road to
I pres. On the eastern side of the
water is a house which on good
french road map may be found tagged
Maison du Passeur' Ferrymanis
House. II is a relic no doubt of the
lays before the building of the narrow
ridge that now spans the waters at
his point
This bridge for some time has been a.,
sort of no mans land 1t was com
handed by heavy artillery on the /
'rench side, and also by a machine
I'm battery on the German side. The /
+ermans occupied Ferryman's House, |
Thich they had turned into small |
1rt. with their machine guns mounted |!
windows, both upstairs and down. :
Neither side cared to destroy the
ridge, because each had hopes to use
in an advance The French finally
eci3ed that things would be easier il
lie Germans we're driven ont OF the
eighborhood and plans were made 10 ,
irprise them. The venture was
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-01-19

General BOtha. the ex-BOeT general
who helped 10 put down the recent
rebellion. fomonted from the outside.
will be h0uored by having a destroyer
nanncd after him 10 - the srst in
stance OF a living person being 30
honorcd since the days % Wellington
IL shows that the British government
puts a high value on the services OF
Bctha. and % means 20 give him an In
centive 20 continue amOus the faith
fIl-
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-01-19

Total security issues In London dur
ing 1914 footed Up s2.5s2. 500. 007. but Of
this total. 81 $50. 500 900 were British
government var loans The largest
previous total issue OF any year was
t.g27. 00e. 900. IN 1910. when only SiZ3.-
O0a.COO was On that governments loan
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-01-19

IL may have been a good thing from
a political standpoint IN a wornan suf-
frags state for Governor Carlson o.
Colorado % appoint bis wife assistant
governor bat nobody will 5eiisVe that
% altered that iady's status IA the
slightest degree.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-01-19

( rather risky one because Of the Wig
lance of the German .sentries aud be-
/ cause the position was so thoroughly
/ dominated by the machine guns.
'The colonel in charge asked for
I volunteers and selected from those
I who offered an even 400 men. one
hundred of them were African troops
who are always eager for any work
Of exceptional daring.
Not long after midnight the dstach.
ment started ont on their mission
They were discovered when they
reached the bridge, and the German
machine guns opened fire al the end
Of the bridge. The French troops
sprinted through the hail of shot. de-
spite heavy losses. and a fair proper
ton of them reached the house fro two
or three minutes. Then il was "a hand
to-hand fight The Germans fought
first from their covering walls cut
side, but were shot down. bayCneted.
or knitted. The garrison retreated in
doors and to the outbundings. en- %
which had been loopholed FOR use ia
case Of attack. The door fell before
an Africans ak. The French troops
dashed in, using bayonets only. Across
the ground floor and up the stairs the
conflict continued, until the only enc
mics remaining were a little group in
the attic, who surrendered when they
saw that resistance was useless.
The winning OF Ferrymau's House
removed the most advanced German
position in this region and gave the
allies command Of most useful
bridge The lieutenant who carried
out the raid has been recommended
for a decoration"
London, Correspondence Of The
Associated Press.) I'm every train
ing camp in England cross country
running is part of the work o. lr
ting the new soldiers for service. L
has developed a number Of well-known
athletes among them G.. w Hutsou,
now numbered among the missing,
who is ranked as the greatest dis
lance runner Of the present day 10
England
The private cross-country clubs.
which have been very popular sports
IN England for many
7ears, have contributed in some cases
IS high as rs per cent Of their mem
'ership TO the army since the begin
ling of the war. AS a result al OF
he autumn fixtures have been can
eiled, but their place is 10 be taken
" district competitions between var
Gus new army units.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-01-19

cent statistics. the insane have in
creased Eve times while the population
has Increased only three times But.
perhaps. they have a lot o. people in
lle atate who merely think that they
are Insane.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-01-19

The ASSURANCE % the emperor Of
Japan % the pope indicates that the
Nippouesc are as ready 10 doctor the
wounds Of war a. they are 90 make
them As showing their good faith
they assert that they are treating their
prisoners with the greatest bouevo-
Ieucs"
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-01-19

General Gutierrez was president OF
Mexico long enough 20 borrow 5000
900. Issuing bonds - the Grgt thing
and the last that the heads o. that
tsnquist country Go.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-01-19
Felicia FeweIothes Saws;

Oswald took me to dancing party
last evening, and when he was doing
the strong arm in the second fox trot,
he said. Felicia, you remind me of a
weather report" And 1 said, why.
Oswald, how do you mean?" And he
said, Fair and warmer"-Detroit
News.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-01-19

Though General StocsseI was retired
some time since his death leaves a
vacancy In the army which Russia
doubtless viii lose no time in filing
n viii not take the cars government
bong 20 Ind somebody else 20 be the
coat
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-01-19

cor,otor etzxia 10 showed acute symp-
toms Of paralysis azitans and that the
weller o: composition was beyond
description
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-01-19
Wed Give Them JoxfuIlv.

Europe continues to call upon US for
doctors and nurses and we are re-
spending as well as we can. But what
we should like to know is. can't our
belligerent friends over there find some
use for our politicians?