davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Norwich bulletin., 1915-12-28
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Schools Receive State Aid and officers
Are Subject to Law.

Mr. Editor: In today's issue of your
paper a person under the pseudonym
of Country Boy, pretends to answer
my letter of the 21st.
Country Boys are not expected TO
be over intelligent and so the writer
seems to think il a good name under
which to seek to muddle the issue.
He first falsely accuses me of as
sorting that schools are an institu-
ton of the state" l made no such
assertion. They may or may not be
such. 1t was not necessary for me
to prove them to be state institutions.
If Country Boy will look over his state
manual again, perhaps he will not fail
to see under state institutions that
the first named institutions are not in
sane retreats, but state normal schools.
However, he was not looking for
schools as institutions, he found insane
retreats and reform schools.
Country Boy next tries to prove that
the school committee are not officers
of anything. and in the next paragraph
asserts. They are town officers" He
also says that. "a town is not an in
stitution." The territory may not be
an institution, but the political cor
porate body-for promoting a partic-
ular object, Webster's definition of
Institution. is an institution.
The writer then goes on to argue
that if the school committee, being
town officers, are liable to be hailed
would be. Perhaps this should be so,
but I made no such claim.
The state. 10 prevent so far as pos
sible the waste Of state funds, passed
this Jaw. which requires officers of in
stitutions receiving state aid, to only
provide supplies for such institutions
when they are the lowest bidders after
open competition.
If we were as wise and careful about
| town funds we would have such a law
enacted regarding town officials.
My whole statement and argument
/ is that our schools are an institution
| receiving aid from the state and as
such its officers. the town school COM
| mittee. are subject to the law as quoted
! in my former letter. (St2ts Statutes
/ chapter So. section 1859
! The Standard dictionary says, In
/ stitution: A corporate body or estab-
Norwich bulletin., 1915-12-28
HER OBDURATE FAMILY

We'll" said the talkative woman
who got on the train at Kenwood, to
her friend in the hat with a gold fence
around it, you may take up that diet
system of getting thin if you want, but
perhaps you have, different family
from mine! If 1 end my days on a
museum platform with people paying
admission to gaze on me it's all Hen
rvs fault and the children's! 1 never
saw people act so!
II had grown tired of having the
reedlike, swanlike saleswomen cough
discreetly when they fitted me to
readymades and murmur things to the
effect that of course that style suited
me so well. the long lines helping to
conceal my stoutness! Or else say
that of course the dress I admired was
beautiful, but-cough-did l really
think I'd like all that gathered effects
around the hips? Not that 1 was in
the least too stout to wear it, only
they thought, maybe, perhaps
And at home Ethel had begun to
help me up steps and Lester was
sweetly calling me his fat little mater
and Henry looked me over seeingly one
day and said jovially that well, we
were getting on in years, mother, get
ting on! l was so mad l could have
slapped him.
instead 1 bought that book every
the family that I was going to start in
on the diet and emerge in a few weeks
slim, young and beautiful again. They
said they though it would be great and
take off years if I'd lose thirty or forty
pounds, mad to go to it!
THAT was all very noble and love-
ly of them, as l pointed out, sitting up
as they were and eating butter and
cream and desserts and everything
that I liked, while fed on diet menus.
But l persisted and after two weeks
1 got weighed. The book said one
couldn't hope to begin to lose till three
weeks had passed but to my hysterical
joy I had lost eight pounds! 1 war
bled about those eight pounds for
hours. J couldn't have been happier
over $sO,0OO,OOO. The family regard
ed me respectfully and excitedly.
Why I cried, in a month more
I'll be way down."
"A month more!" Henry roared,
Why, you couldn't stand a month
more of it! You'd be too thin! You
mustn't. Even now can see hints of
SKINNY
After that they all watched me as
though they were cats and l a nice
mouse, of which they had hopes. You
don't look natural!' Henry moaned
You don't seem the same at all! How
much is it now? Eleven pounds
Great Scott. you've got to stop. You'll
be a bag of bones!'
Il told him 1 never felt better in my
life and I was going to stick by the
diet and that for a man who had
raved about the ethereal Mrs Castle
he certainly was talking wildly. Hen
ry said that was all right in the alb
straCt, but somehow at his sedate age
he could not get used TO the idea of q
sylphlike wife. He said that if I per-
sisted in my mad endeavor it was go
ing to upset him terribly, because
when a man came home tired from his
days toll expecting to be greeted a
the door by a stout, cOmfortable-lOOk.
ing wife he could not get his mind ad-
justed if a thin, waterlike person
Norwich bulletin., 1915-12-28
PAN AMERICAN CONGRESS.

It has long been anticipated that
much good would result from a Pan
American congress made up of lead
ers in the respective nations and call
ed for the purpose of advancing the
/ interests not of any one in particular,
but Of all in general and in the ways
which are most needed. This congress
is now assembled at Washington for
a two weeks session and the results
; of its deliberations should be as pro-
uounced and far reaching as the dis
cussion which can take place within
that time will permit.
. There can be no question but what
the relations between the countries in
the Americas should be on a better
basis. This is nothing which has been
recently recognized for it has been
aimed at for a long period of time by
this country and while persistent eff
forts have been made to impress the
others with the feeling of this country
there has been no time like the pres
ent for bringing about a more intimate
and closer social and trade relation
ship for the mutual benefit of all con-
cerned,
The opportunities of the Americas
and their dependence upon each other
have never been set out as effectively
as they have been as the result of the
war in Europe. The time is ripe fol
them to make the most of the situa-
ton and if It has not been fully appre-
ciated in the past, there can be no ex-
cuse for any failure to reach a better
understanding in the future if the con-
,gress accomplishes half what is eX-
pected Of it.
With the representatives of % re.
publfcs gathered here it will not bt
solely the Interchange of ideas which
will take place there that will settle
the matter, but the carrying bach
1home of the sentiment of that gather.
ing which will make possible the ce.
menting Of closer relationships.
Norwich bulletin., 1915-12-28
GOOD ROADS STOP WASTE.

Surprise is often expressed at the
fact that the driver of an automobile
prefers to go a number of miles out
of his way in reaching a certain point
but it will be invariably found that
such course is followed because bet
ter roads are offered, and better roads
are preferable not solely for comfort,
but because it lowers the cost of oper-
alton and means less wear and tear
upon the machine.
. A Florida driver in giving his eSpe-
rience on poor roads declares that it
costs fully two cents more a mile to
run a machine over such highways
than it would if smooth surfaced roads
were available. Such a sum might
be considered insignificant, but it
mounts up fast and presents a sizeable
amount lost if a seasons driving is
taken into consideration, but there is
the waste also which goes along with
it in the depreciation of the cars value
because Of the hard usage which it
gets on bad roads.
Thus when there is a careful fgur-
ing up of the advantages of good roads
Norwich bulletin., 1915-12-28
TYPHUS IN MEXICO,

With the breaking out of typhus
fever in Mexico that country has re-
ceived a warning that it must begin
a systematic housekeeping, and do so
at once, if it expects to check the
ravages Of that dread disease. The
conditions which exist in many of the
larger cities Of that republic as the
result of the war are just those in
which the disease fiourishes, and where
it will gain a stronger foothoId unless
immediate steps are taken to remedy
the situation.
Mexico is in many waRs like Servia
was when the epidemic Of that disease
broke out in that country and 1t must
undergo the same sort of treatment
and the introduction of sanitary meas
ures before it can expect to check the
disease. The warning to clean up is
therefore one which cannot be disre-
garded if Mexico hopes to escape a
condition worse than the revolution
brought.
, 1t is a situation in which this coun-
try is naturally much interested be-
cause as long as the epidemic prevails
there it is a menace to the health of
this country and it is therefore only
to be expected that the United States
"OuAo ne "iHHS, as II Is, 10 dlQ lts
netghbor to the south in Kidding itself
of typhus. It was a wonderful ser
vice which was rendered Servia under
similar circumstances and Carranza
cannot afford to minimize the impor-
lance Of giving battle with all the
forces he can command to this terror
which Is more destructive than war
but which always follows in it's wake
unless strenuous efforts are made +,
prevent it. Mexico is going to have
plenty of opportunity for applying SAN
ttary measures for long time to come
Norwich bulletin., 1915-12-28

we san beat them back east and west"
Won Hindenburg was generous in
his praise of the Bulgarian army, and
spoke in glowing terms of the Austro-
Hungarians. especially OF their general
staff chief, Conrad Won Hoetzondorf.
"A crushing defeat OF the Italians
would particularly please me-" he said
This war can not close without its
three principal culprits, England. Ser
bia and Italy suffering the penalty
which is rightfully theirs"
Field Marshal Won Hindenburg also
talked in a lighter vein. Reference
was made to the statue OF himself in
Berlin into which people drive nails
as a token of their pledge to contri-
butte to charitable purposes. It was
said that the huge wooden statue was
more impressive OF its size than Of its
beauty.
They can nail me right heartily"
said the Field Marshal with a smile,
so long as doing so brings in much
money for good purposes"
He had merely done his duty, said
Won Hindenburg in rejoinder to a re-
mark concerning his great popularity
among the German people. He did
not wish to be feted, but, IL necessary,
to meet popular wishes. he could have
himself stuffed and placed on exhibit
ton.
Norwich bulletin., 1915-12-28
PROTECTING STEAMSHIPS.

In spite of the efforts that have
been made to protect steamships
against the plotters, who have been
so successful in getting bombs aboard
the ships and in destroying cargoes,
the fires break out periodically, which
makes it evident that while the pro-
tective measures which have been
adopted may be offering a certain
amount of discourag cement and making
the operations more difficult, they are
not entirely successful in putting a
stop to such plots, as is evidenced by
the discovery of another sugar ship,
the Inchmoor, afire at it's Brooklyn
pier, which resulted in a 100000 loss.
While spontaneous combustion may
be possible in sugar and there is no
greater assurance against that now
than at any other time, the situation
is such that little credence can be Civ
en- the excuse The fact is as stated
by Captain Pye of the Inchmoor that
thousands of sugar ships sailed the
seas before the war without such fires
occurring and it is not to be supposed
that there is any more reason for fires
to break out out now from spontaneous
combustion than at other times.
1t is UnquestionabIy the fact that
the fires are the result of we'll laid
plans and that while the wharves and
vessels are being guarded with such
care that it would be impossible for
plotters to do their work there, it is
not improbable that the causes for the
fires have been placed in the sugar
before it reaches the vessels and that
the protective measures for preventing
such fires must include stricter super
vision of the product from the time it
leaves the refinery until it is packed
away in the hold of the vessel. Those
who are seeking the destruction of
such cargoes are getting in their work
even though it is impossible to do it
On the ships or the piers.
Norwich bulletin., 1915-12-28

ffoated out from the parlor draperies
and called him pet names
Ethel and Lester were almost as
bad. l pointed out to them that 1t was
nothing but sheer selhshness for them
to balk my project to become thin and
beautiful, and l half suspected that
they were just plain Jealous.
Henry, as l remarked to him, re-
sembled football, Ethel was decidedly
roly-poly and Lester was no shadow.
Yet they who had not the self-denial
and courage to diet wished to deprive
me of the grand results! At which
Ethel burst into tears and said she
couldn't sand it to have me look so
thin, because she knew 1 was going to
to die. At that moment my waist
measured thirty inches and / seemed
in no danger of fading away When
was 20, told Ethel, l had an eighteen
inch waist and was a fragile person,
wkereupon she assured me that was
perfectly horrible, and an eighteen
inch waist was certain to cause at
least sixteen diseases by the chart
and, thank goodness. she was here to
prevent my being so foolish again!
"'Angeline," Henry said that night
with a quaver in his voice. won't you
please eat some butter on your bread?
When l survey your cheekbones and
gaze upon your fast diminishing form
ceei as though the officers were going
to burst in presently and arrest me for
refusing to feed you! People will
think 1 am too stingy to provide you
with food If you refuse to eat shall
borrow Cy De Vry'S snake feeder and
see that you get one full meal at least!
You don't look natural getting thin,
and I won't have it,"
so" said the woman who got on at
Kenwood, with my family acting so
and standing guard over me at meal
time 1 had to quit. 1t just shows what
an awful thing habit is and they have
been used to seeing me fat But 1
hope you'll have better lucki"
I'd like to see 'cm stop mel" said
the woman with the gold fence around
her hat. fercely. Il never heard of
such persecution in a suffrage state in
my lifeI"-Chicago News.
Norwich bulletin., 1915-12-28

by the autoists there is no question
whatever about the benefit which they
furnish and there can be little surprise
that it is figured that the longest way
AROUND is the cheapest way to the OBJ
jective point. And it is the same with
other users of highways regardless OF
the vehicle or the motive power they
use, so that it is but natural that there
should be a widespread demand for
good roads throughout the nation, for
waste even among the autoists is a
matter which cannot be wisely over
looked under existing conditions. Bad
roads never prove attractive to any
users, but an improved highway meets
not only the demands of the transient
user but of all those in whose neigh
borhood it is located.
Norwich bulletin., 1915-12-28

lishment instituted and organized for
public use.
Our schools are organized and es-
tablished according to state law and
under certain conditions receive state
aid They are, therefore, an institu-
ton receiving state aid. The school
accounts are kept entirely separate
from the rest OF the town accounts and
the money is paid out upon orders of
the town school committee.
ALBERT BOARDAIAN.
Norwich. Conn, Decl "a, 1915.
Norwich bulletin., 1915-12-28
The War a Year Ago Today
Dec. %, 1914.

OS~s GoJ lSl1s
New defenses Of Paris comPlet-
ed.
Germans finished further forti-
fications on the Rhine.
Russians raised siege of era
cow to attack Austrian armies at
emPting flank movement.
American government protested
gainst Interference with Ameri-
can commerce by British war
ships.
Belgian minister to United
tates protested against cancella-
ton of consular exequaturs by
Germany.
Italian government checked plot
to export foodstuffs to Germany.
British consul at saba, Turkey,
freed after threat by American
consul.
United States cruiser Tennessee
| took 500 refugees from Syria.
Norwich bulletin., 1915-12-28

1t is now reported that Backer Sin
clair of the Federal league had much
fun in his venture. There are a lot
Of other places willing to organize a
league under the same conditions for
his entertainment.
Norwich bulletin., 1915-12-28

If, as the result of the sinking of
it's liner Japan decides to take active
part in the war again, the central pow
ers may wish that the. vessel had been
allowed to get away.
Norwich bulletin., 1915-12-28

That our foreign-born population
contains the saving element Of the
nation, financially. is shown by figures
from the postoffice department TO the
effect that seventy-two per cent. OF
the deposits in postal saving banks
belongs TO those who came from other
lands. The spirit Of thrift and saw
Ing is great in the man who knows
The value Of a dollar. It is the Ameri-
can who spcnds his money like a
drunken sailor. Down the years. when
spendthrift boys and girls take unto
themselves life partners who have
Imbued in them the principle OF "a
penny saved is a penny earned" there
will be a happy balancing OF natures
No one loves a miser. and yet reCk-
less speuder Of money is a bad asset
to the nation. There is a golden med
iUm in all things--New Britain Her
AID
Norwich bulletin., 1915-12-28

That member of the Ford party who
thinks it a shame to waste the money,
failed to save his part of the expenses
when he had a chance.
Norwich bulletin., 1915-12-28

From the way in which General
Joffre removes officers who fail to get
results it is quite evident that only
the fittest are to be found in high
places.
Norwich bulletin., 1915-12-28

The absence of Christmas tree fires
this year indicates that much valuable
attention has been given to the sub
ject of prevention
Norwich bulletin., 1915-12-28

From the losses reported from the
Dardanelles it is apparent that the
Charge of the Light Brigade must
henceforth take a back seat.
Norwich bulletin., 1915-12-28

Concrete piles have been patented
with pipes running through their cen
tiers through which water can be
pumped to wash away the earth and
permit them to sink under their own
weight.
Norwich bulletin., 1915-12-28

Even though King Peter of Servia
lost his crown during his escape he
wasn't the first to leave his country.
Norwich bulletin., 1915-12-28

The man on the corner says: Along
about this time of year human nature
appears to undergo a change for the
better.
Norwich bulletin., 1915-12-28

The nature of Mr.. Ford's illness is
only briefly stated, but the actions of
that peace party is enough to make
anyone sick.
Norwich bulletin., 1915-12-28

Between the slippery pavements and
the new law permitting the sale of
horsefesh the old Dobbins of that city
are likely to feel pretty well cut up.
Norwich bulletin., 1915-12-28

Henry Ford makes it quite evident
that he doesn't like to be connected
with a losing proposition.
Norwich bulletin., 1915-12-28

In ordering the name of Nowogeor-
giewsk changed to Modlin, the kaiser
is evidently trying to make it more
popular with the reading public.
Norwich bulletin., 1915-12-28

There are only few days left now
in which to get in the practice on writ
ing it 1916
Norwich bulletin., 1915-12-28
BY ARTHUR BROOKS BAKER

NkEITI charming versatility
w precision place.
diversified uplifting mind stall
fine artistic wthal
fashionable hold aggregations
gold.
- Thames National
with perslstency from such unpleasant till he
became cashier Of interesting with
o F1e
in the famous N G., swing with
aacrity
- made the and
manifested evidences polite
rees clothes looks peculiar
perperated by their cooks accommodating evidence which led him
to insist that Norwich is bully place exist
IL high the but his broadcast of wing
when he leads the joyful choir and teaches them to sing
whose praises roll
he likes listen
social devoting leisure
the sport along.
Norwich bulletin., 1915-12-28
EDITORIAL NOTES.

With the Christmas bills in mind the
shortest days of the year are yet to
come.
Norwich bulletin., 1915-12-28

The government had better go a lit
tie shy in this matter Of a gasoline
and horsepower tax There is no more
reason why gasoline should be taxed
than there is why ammonia should be
taxed, or cord wood The AUTOMOBILE
lists are taxed now so their shoulders
ache, and their pocket books gap.
The fisherman and farmers with their
internal explosion engines ought not
to be taxed. while the saw mills, burn
ing saw dust, and the coal mills, burn
ing coal, do not pay a tax Spread the
taxes around equally among all, is the
best way. And especially tax the
munitions makers. And be sure and
tax the h:okers who sell the NUM-
ton contracts at a great profit.-New
London Telegraph
Norwich bulletin., 1915-12-28

1t is not surprising that there is
objection to the plan to tax electric
signs. Innovations. particularly when
they introduce new ways to take
money from the taxpayers. always
meet with objection The particular
objection which is raised in connec-
ton with the hanging sign ordinance
is that the tax IS out Of proportion to
property taxes This, of course is a
matter tat can be adjusted II the
city really determines on a policy OF
taxing SIZES. II is, perhaps. open to
DEBATE as TO whether the city should
tax signs and marques 1t Is con-
tended that signs are a benefit to the
city. that they aid materially in light
ing up the business section and draw
Norwich bulletin., 1915-12-28
OTHER VIEW POINTS

The number Of people interested in
helping the unfortunate has materially
increased and the work Of the chill
dren Of the public schools, the Boy
Scouts, social organizations and Sc
parate individuals. has given an i'm
petus to the agencies which have
heretofore been considered as the only
agencies to be considered The indi-
vidual who gives of himself as well
as of his money, gives dOubly. The
creation Of the Good Fellows club, the
opening OF their new hall by the Elks
to the Boys club and their plans for
entertainment. are all in line with the
kind of charity which is synonymous
with good will and community inter-
est.-Meriden Record.
Norwich bulletin., 1915-12-28

trade 70 localities thus lighted besides
giving strangers to the city a better
impression than they would otherwise
get Illuminated signs. the contention
Is, make for progress and prosperity
and persons who install them should
not. therefore, be penalized for so do
ing.-Hartford Post
II is highly improbable that at the
Gary dinner or IN any other meeting
Of Republican leaders, the colonel has
been seriously considered as a presi-
Dental candidate. AS a worker in the
party ranks he will be welcomed, but
as a beneficiary of Republican ballots
in sufficient numbers to enable him to
win, he is not even a possibility. The
colonel recognizes this fact no less
honestly than do Republicans What
he seeks IS the defeat OF the Democ-
racv that now rules in the national
capital He would aid in its ejec-
ton. And probably ways and means
were considered at the now historic
dinner that has been so much dis
cussed.-Ansonia Sentinel.