davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Tomahawk., 1915-12-02

am not the man to spy on anyone.
I did not follow the pair. could
have gained little by it, for l could
not have approached near enough to
have heard their conversation. In
stead, hailed taxicab and ordered
the man to drive to the club. In the
smoking room General Burbidge was
holding forth with his usual vehe-
mence. Everybody knew that the con-
ference had failed.
1T means civil Var now" said the
general. "War, sir" to the empty
chair beside him.
For, at the news, Launceford had
hurried back from his lunch to the
home Office.
"By the way, general" I said, what
has become of Hans? That looks like
a new man over there"
"The management sacked him last
night" answered the general hufhly.
HE was intolerably insolent. The
fellow must have been drinking. Told
Captain Clay to 60 to an unmention-
able place. He'd been with us ten
years, and we'd have tried to get him
another chance, but he went the limit.
Said he didn't care for any d"
Hello. general" broke in CHEEKY
voice, and / looked up to see Tarrant
beside us. Heard the news, sup
pose"
eyes, we've all heard It, Tarrant,'
answered the general warily. THE
conference has broken up and
"Ah. you're a bit slow in these
parts, general" said Tarrant cheerily.
here's later news than that. Austria
has presented Serbia with an ultima
tum>that Serbia can't possibly accept.
"Eh?" inquired the general, stag
gered into good sense.
Fact" answered Tarrant. 1T has
been ready for days. and it was pre-
sented early this morning, as soon as
the Austrian government learned that
the conference must prove ahartive.
Then it's plunge for war;" said the
general with conviction. Curse my
old legs. I don't suppose they'll take
me back now. They're dead sure VI
ster will fight and England become q
negligible factort"
The Tomahawk., 1915-12-02
eyes," said Tarrant. "And thas's

eyes, said Tarrant. "And thas's
wherc they're wrong, general"
81 don't know" muttered the old
man. "Redmond's playing a pretty
deep game. It's my opinion he'll
make the most Of his opportunity. If
l had my way, sir, I'd take the whole
Irish party, every man jack of 'em,
and hang 'em on London
I made my way out of the smoking
room. For the first time in my life
almost regretted that had not tried
to play the spy. What was Hans do
ing with Devlin, the shrewdest and
ablest Of all the Nationalists?
Was Germany meditating some coup
in Ulster which shoYld bring about
the desired confagration instanter?
made my way to the foreign Office.
Clerks were running about; the whole
place seemed in confusion. sent up
my card to Sir Edward Grey. The
messenger came back; Sir Edward
could not see me. tried the pern.a-
nent under-secretary with no better
success. The action Of Austria had
evidently created prodigious excite
ment, but I think should have Sc
cured audience had its immediate ap-
plication to the Irish difficulty been
clearly glimpsed at that time.
I went out Of the building. History
was BEING made each moment, and the
radical government had lost it's head.
It had two problems on it's hands and
did not know that they were one, and
must be tackled together.
I went down to the house of COM
mons at eight. The streets around
the three sides of the edifice were
filed with crowd, silent, watchful.
Each man there knew, better than his
rulers knew, that Fate was playing
with nations, sweeping away old, cher
ished things, fashioning new ones.
Where would England stand?
I sent up my card to a friend, the
member for Breadalbane, with the re-
quest for a seat in the gallery. Five
minutes later I was being admitted
Mr.. Asquith was upon his feet, speak
ing-the same old rigamarole about
Ireland. If he had sensed anything
his voice and gestures did not show
The Tomahawk., 1915-12-02

it. However, it was not he whom I
sought. glanced at the Irish benches.
There sat O'Brien, his patriarchal
beard sweeping his breast; Healy,
alert, a sarcastic smile Gu his face.
But, though Devlin was there, and
O'Connor, Redmond was absent.
Absent on such night! My mind
leaped to the only possible conclusion.
I rose and pushed my way out of the
gallery. Somebody whispered to me
to sit down. An attendant approached
me angrily. I brushed past him.
gained the street. I hurried home in
cab, packed my portmanteau, and
took the first train from Euston for
Holyhead.
At twelve o'clock the next day was
in Dublin.
had not been in Dublin for twenty
years. The city was changed beyond
my memory of it. It was an enormous,
sprawling place, haystack in which
to find John Redmond. And, If |
found him, I did not know on what
grounds I could claim an interview
with him. We had never met; and he
had gone to Dublin for purposes far
more serious than to listen to the pa
triotic pleas of man without the
least claim upon his time or attention.
There is little hotel on Abercrom.
bic street where the Nationalist lead
ers used to stay in the days OF the
Land league. Many famous confer
ence had been held in the little back
, parlor of the Green Harp / found
the place still standing, and thought
there was an expression of interest
upon the jarvey's face when l gave
him the name of the place. He car
ried my baggage in and, while I was
finding my money, said:
"There'll be big doings today down
Howth way, I'm thinking, sor!"
'Indeed?" I asked. what, pray?''
And, to my establishment, the man,
pocketing his fee, mumbled something
and hurried back to his car without
| waiting for his tip.
| My room faced little interior court
with other rooms across, so near-foI
it was a little court-that one could
almost have leaned out of the window
The Tomahawk., 1915-12-02
Perhaps II was tie oxidation of,

Perhaps II was tie oxidation OF
some spiritual faculty of discernment'
In my half-delirious state-perhaps'
Imagination; but, though it was impos'
sible to hear a word, knew that they
were rendering him something that
had not been rendered within the
British Isles for centuries.
It was the crown of Ireland.
And I saw Redmond's strong fea'
lures culver with emotion. the
hooked nose, the little moustache, fast
turning gray, the massive profile were
clear as a shadow picture on screen.
What a drama was being played In
that little back room of the Green
Harp!"
I saw him shake his head; I saw
them crowd upon him, grasp his coat
lapels; in imagination I heard them
telling him that the time was ripe
as it had never been ripe before. BY
nightfall he could rule three-fourths
of Ireland, while England, rendered
impotent by a Continental war, must
acquiesce. Would he take the bait?
Would he?
And at the supreme moment the pic
ture dissolved. saw the room filled
with figures. I heard shouts and
yells Of execration. A mob filled the
courtyard. The streets were infernos
of sound. Then heard the crackle of
rifles. and, with all my remaining
strength I pulled the bell rope and
tainted away.
The victim of a robber, they called
me when awoke, three days later,
and did not deny the statement. For
I knew that the time was past for pri-
vate justice. Justice on the most i'm
posing scale in history was being pre-
pared for errant nations.
It was not hard to learn what had
occurred. My nurse at the hospital
was full Of the story, telling it to mo
with indignation in her blue eyes and
quivering lips.
The soldiers, called out to seize the
arms of the Volunteers, had been as
sailed by the crowd. They had fired
on them without orders, perpetrating
what is now known as the Dublin
Massacre" In the ward that adj
Joined my private room dozen
wounded lay. Ireland was mad with
rage; and, if there had been a man
on the spot ready to seize the pretext,
he could have shaken off England's
yoke forever
What pity, all said, that Redmond
was not there! He would have been
Of more use in his own country than
in Westminster. Needless to say,
kept my counsel.
But when Germany struck at Bel
GUM, and England declared war on
her, John Redmond's speech in the
house Of commons, pledging the sup
port and loyalty of Nationalist Ireland
was received with rapture. Frenzied
English mobs acclaimed him as the
hero of the hour outside. He had
seized the golden opportunity and ce.
mented the union indissolubly be-
tween the sister islands.
Which brings me back to my prel-
.ude, the mixed motives of men. With
that face upon the glass ever in my
minds eye, wondered, and wonder
still.
Did he shrink at the last, against
his will, from Selling the wonder
full gift of kingship? Or would he
have accepted, but for the sudden
irruption of the mob at the exact mo-
ment?
Or, again, did he appear to accept
the German scheme in order to in
duce the kaiser to declare war, know
ing that the shock would unite Eng.
land and Ireland too against him?
Was he a far-seeing, high-minded pa
triot, Or?
The Tomahawk., 1915-12-02

in this dasta1dly plot? Or was this
the doing of the kaisers more or less
irresponsible agents?
lay on the floor in a half coma. I
was partly delirious, I believe.
Events and persons of earlier life
came crowding in on me. know that
it was all could do to remember
where I was, to summon resolution to
move toward the old-fashioned bell
pull that hung at the side Of the bed.
With a great effort managed to crawl
toward it. Then my attention was
suddenly arrested by sight which
almost recompensed me for my stu
alton.
My eyes were level with the middle
portion of the pane of glass between
the curtains. I saw the window across
the court, and, through this, the strong
features of John Redmond, made, by
some optical trick Of late summer
afternoon, as clear as though he stood
within my room. And at his side were
two men.
One was Kaspar Weisknopf, the
Berlin member of the money trust l
had never seen him, but recognized
him from his likeness to Louis, the
leader, at Vienna. The other was a
debonair young man whom 1 mad met
many times in Berlin. He stands so
near the throne that I mention no
name.
And both were pleading with John
Redmond.
The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1915-01-29
MANSFIELD
Woman Petitions King Of
ENGLAND For Release Of
!. Her Husband
(Mansfield News.)


Mrs. Saveta Piszat, 116 Lily street,
has petitioned his majesty. King
George Of England. to release her
husband, John Piszat, from the prison
at Queens Ferry, Flint, England. Mrs.
Piszat went before a notary public
and made affidavit that her husband
is non-combatant and If released
from the English prison, will return
To Mansfield and stay here until the
war is over.
John Piszat left on August |, sail.
ing on the Merton by way of Liver
pool, en- route to Austria to look after
some property his wife claims. When
the ship docked at Liverpool, all the
German and Austrian male subjects
were detained Plssat. though born
In Austria. is a Roumanian. lie was
placed In the English prison where
he has since been kept.
Mrs. Piszat states In her affidavit
that her husband Is not reserylst
but a non-combatant whose mission
to Austria was to dispose of his prop
erty. then return to this country. The
wife petitions the English govern
ment to release her husband ant
promises that he win return to Mans
field and remain here.
The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1915-01-29
BLACKS
Appointment As Rural Carrier
Is Cancelled
And John E. Kerr Get The
Position

A telegram received Monday by
Postmaster 8. G. Dowds from the
fourth assistant postmaster-general at
Washington. ID. c., cancelled the ap.
polntment OF Mr.. Melvin Black as
n. II. carrier No. 7, and substituted
the name of John E. Kerr instead.
Talking to Banner representative,
Postmaster Dowds expressed great
surprise over the telegram, stating
that he Is utterly at loss to assign any
reason for the cancellng Of Blacks
appointment.
1t Is understood that Black, who
is a school teacher, had resigned his
position, on hearing of his appoint
ment. Mr.. John e. Kerr. most recent
ly named, resides on West Gambler
street. He has net as yet accepted
tho appointment.
The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1915-01-29
BLAZE
In A Waste Basket Called
Out The Department

A blaze in the Observation-Disclosures
or grocery, corner West High and
Mulberry streets, attracted the at
tention of a passer-by about $3.50
o'clock Monday evening and a fire
alarm was sent in.
The department made a hasty run
and, as the grocery had been closed
for the evening, it was necessary to
force the door. Entering, the fire.
men discovered the fire in waste
paper basket in the rear Of the room.
1t was not even necessary to use
chemicals to extinguish the flames,
stamping accomplishing the purpose.
The discovery was indeed timely
and probably averted q. very serious
fire. involving the entire block.
The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1915-01-29

Fredericktown, where he has been
nursing Mr.. B. r. Foote.
Mrs. @. G. Snyder returned this
morning to Bladensburg, after a visit
with Mr.. and Mrs. G. G. Church Of
this city.
Mrs. w. A. Hunter returned Tues
day to Bondsville, O., after visiting
a week with her brothers, Messrs.
George and William Sleeman.
Mrs. Efiie Harmon returned Mon.
day to East Liverpool, after visiting
for six weeks with Mrs. Eli Cline,
who resides east of the city.
Mrs. R. T. Salmen arrived in the
city Monday evening from Chicago,
ILL.,, being called here by the serious
illness Of her mother, Mrs. Martha
Ewing.
Mr.. John d. Hunt and Mrs. Charles
r. Hunt of Cadillac, Mich, are the
guests of Mrs. Thomas Hunt, south
of the city. They attended the funer-
al of Mrs. John d. Hunt at Plymouth
recently.
The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1915-01-29
SHORT LOCALS,

Mrg. Sarah Fitzwater returned tc
Newark this morning, after a visi,
with her daughter, Mrs. Ross Coch
ran of the Mansfield road.
Before buying your monumental
work for summer see John Ralston
at Howard.
Mr.. O. c. Hoar of Harrison street
went to Utica this morning, where he
will transact business and visit with
relatives for several days.
Mr.. Clark Smith returned this
morning to Junction City, O., after a
visit with Mr.. l. o. Elder, south Of the
city.
Mr.. and Mrs. ]. w. Salisbury re-
turned Monday to their home on East
Gambler street, after visit with rel
atives in Columbus.
Fifteen hundred new Victor records
now on sale at Frank l.. Young's jew.
elry store. II
Mr.. David Jeffries of the Mt. Ver-
non hospital staff has returned from
The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1915-01-29
Listing
Of Property viii Remain The
Same This Year

Tax returns in Ohio are to be made
in 1915 on the amount of property
possessed on the day preceding the
first Monday in April. Last year un-
der the original Warnes law such re-
turns were made Of property owned
on the day preceding the first Mon
day in February.
The people of the state, especially
the farmers, protested to Governor
Cox that this law worked an injustice,
in that they had to pay taxes on crops
which had not been sold and money
for the payment Of rent which ordi-
rarily is due on the first of March,
and also upon stock which had been
bought with borrowed money and
which had not been sold on the first
day of February.
The legislatures attention was
called to this fact by Governor Cox
and an amendment was passed,
changing the time to April. This
gives the farmers better chance to
dispose of their crops and clear any
Indebtedness which they may have,
which otherwise, they would have to
pay taxes on.
Under the Warnes law this Is the
year for a general re-appraisement
of real estate. Although several bills
have been introduced in the legislat
IRE to change this law it is hardly
probable that 1t can be done before
the time for the re-appraisement of
the real estate and the regular tax
assessment, as bill which is passed
by the legislature and approved by
the governor and then filed with the
secretary of state has to stand for
period of 30 days after filing before
it becomes a law, by recent con
stitutional amendment.
There Is only one exception to this
law and that is where bill Is passed
for necessity, and such bill requires
a two-thirds vote to be passed.
The supreme court of Ohio recently
defined what necessity is, in the mat
ter of the flood relief bill for the
Dayton district, and this court held
that bill cannot be legally passed
as necessity measure unless the
necessity really exists.
There is no necessity for changing
the taxing system of Ohio In short or
der and in all probability the same
system will be in effect in Knox
county again this year, no matter
what the action of the legislature is.
The same corps of assessors Will
handle the work in the county again
this year
The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1915-01-29
MODEL
Husband Is Asking FoI
Divorce At Mansfield
(Mansield News.)

(Mansfield News.)
Michael Malthance, in his petition
for divorce filed in probate court, pic
lures his wife, Magdalena Malthance,
as second Mrs. Rip Van Wrinkle.
He says she scolded him. quarreled
with him, and then went about the
house for weeks at q time without
speaking to him.
The husband recites that he has
always been faithful and obedient
husband but his wife was jealous, and
would quarrel with him II she learned
OF his speaking to anyone she did not
like. He claims his wife would not
allow him to entertain his friends or
even allow them to visit at his home.
Malthance says he was compelled
to resign his position as president of
large business concern in Hungary
because of the embarrassment caused
by his wife. who would strike at him.
He claims he could not endure this
treatment without injury to his
health, The husband relates that
when he left his wife, he gave her
So, 900 and his inheritance of several
thousand dollars In his fathers est.
ate, he gave to his four children.
The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1915-01-29
N THE COMMON PLEAS COURT
OF KNOX COUNTY, OHIO.
alter p. vandergrift, plaintiff,
Olive e. Cotton ct al. defendants.

w eiitVi NduucI6Elltt
Olive Il. Cotton ct al, defendants.
TER Al AN6 PARTfTioN AHaArtt1S LAMBS La HN''i'
To Olive y. Cotton. Anna Bell Wander
grift. The Knox County Savings Bank,
for Aged, The Knox County Branch OF
the Ohio Humane Society, John Keys,
William II. Smith and Charming Rice, as
The Ohio Humane Society, and to ali per-
sons having any interest in or lien or
charge upon the lands or any, part there
fed that an application has been IA filed aGi in
said court by Walter p Vandergrift, to
settle, determine and remove all clouds
from and to register his title in and to
lesser or other estates and interests in.
and. all liens and charges upon, the fol-
lowing described land, towit:
FIRST BODY OR PARCEL. Situate in
the city of Mt. Vernon. Clinton township,
Knox county, state OF Ohio, bounded and
described as follows
Lot No. $40 in town (now city, of Mt
Vernon. Ohio, said lot 140 being all of
said lot, excepting 3 feet in width off of
the North side of said lot heretofore sold
by James Martin to George C: Lybrand
The said tract contains 63 feet fronting on
Main street and bounded on the South by
Front street; and on the West by Plumb
alley"
You are further notified that the plain
tiffs in said application seek to have par
tition of said lands made among the coten-
ants owning the same according to their
respective rights and interests therein.
You are hereby required to answer said
application on or before the 2Oth day Of
February, A. D., 1916, and show cause, if
any you have, why the prayer of said APP
plication should not be granted. And
unless you appear at said court on or be-
fore the time aforesaid and make answer
or other plea to said application your de-
fault will be recorded the said appica-
ton will be taken as confessed, and you
will be forever barred from contesting
said application or any decree entered
thereon.
WITNESS: Park B. Blair Judge of
said Court, this 14th day Of January, in
the year nineteen hundred and fifteen.
Attest Chas. w. Hayes, Clerk.
BY Guy Taylor, deputy.
i-15,22,29S
The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1915-01-29

lOLdl $OSstfd.t0
The new ordinance calls for $s2380
less than the old. The objections to
the old were based on raising the
salaries of firemen and adding an ex-
ira policeman. Although tho 0rdi-
nance, as passed Monday evening. is
approximately $1,4O0 lower than the
one passed at the same time In 1914,
still provisions are made for the
dyke and the Improvement Of the
council chamber. Council expreased
general satisfaction with Tho ordi-
nance.
City Engineer Blinn made mention
of lot in the western portion Of the
= city which Is owned by nobody and
suggested that the city take possess
sion of It, before ''squatter" or the
government could get In. The en-
gineer stated that no taxes had been
paid on this lot for period Of forty
years and offered to divulge liz ioca-
tion TO a committee OF the c0uacii.
On motion, the chair appointed Coun'
cilmen Weaver. Dubinsky and tarris
and City Solicitor Rooms to act.
The engineer also reported that the
plans for West Vine street Improve
ments had been finished and were 0p-
en- to inspection, while Mr.. Walter
Anderson reported likewise IN regard
to the plans for grouping the city Of
fees in the old postofilce room.
A petition from property owners,
asking for the installation Of lights
at the corners of Mansfield and Bel
mont avenues and Mansfield avenue
and Shafer street. were referred to
the light committee.
Public Safety Director Williams in
formed the body that he was rapidly
coinIhg to satisfactory terms with The
Peerless Automobile Co. in regard tG
the auto fire truck and that he would
have a definite report by the nex'
meeting of council.
The sewer committee reported thaI
the error In Mr.. s. B. Church's as
sessment on a trunk sewer had beer
corrected to the satisfaction Of th'
gentleman,
Councilman DEEMS brought up an
other mix-up over the question 0
sewer assessments. The party con
cerned In this case resides in the eas
end and IL not desirous of paying az
sessments on the north and east side
OF his lots for two separate sewe
systems. On motion. the CITY on
gineer and city clerk We're fdirected I
investigate the matter.
A letter was read from Mr. Roll
e @. Mitchell. asking for q position a
assessor, II the new Ohio leSislntur
changes the Warnes taxation law.
Adjourned.
The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1915-01-29
NOTICE OF DISSOLUTION

All persons knowing themselves to
be indebted to the partnership of Sapp
Bros. & Ward will please call and set
tie their accounts at once.
The business has been sold to C. s.
Sapp & Sons, who will continue at the
old stand. We take this occasion to
thank all of our friends for their pat
ronage and wish to say that you will
always receive the same kind atten-
ton from the new firm, that we have
always tried to bestow.
SAPP BROS. & WARD