davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1915-12-17
AMMUNITION CITY BURNS
HopeWelI, Va, Where War supplieS
Are Made, Wiped Out by Flames.
Save Du Pont Plant.

Hopewell, Va.-This mushroom town
of $4,000 people, grown up since last
summer with the great new gun cot.
ton plant Of the Du Pont Powder Com.
pany, was completely wiped off the
map on Dec. 5 by a fire which started
In a restaurant and did property dam
age estimated as high as $3,0OO,0oO.
The Du Pont works, outside Of the
settlement, were unchanged, but were
seriously threatened. Villages A and
B, near Hopewell, built to house the
families of married employees Of the
factory, also escaped.
Scenes Of wild disorder accompanied
the fire. and citizens lynched a negro
for looting. There was no loss Of lie
otherwise. however, and only a few
minor injuries were reported.
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1915-12-17
WILLING TO TALK PEACE
German Chancellor Says at %Relohstag
Opening That Berlin win consid.
er Offerings Of Other Countries.

Berlin.-So long as uncontrolled ha
tired OF Germany and the belief that
Germany is approaching a collapse
continues to be the dominant idea oil
the enemy countries, It would be folly
for Germany to take the initiative in
proposing terms of peace. Germany
however, is ready at any time to con
slider a peace suggestion from the
countries with which she is at war
does not wish a continuation Of the
war, and associates herself. under
these circumstances, from responsible,
ity for its proIongation.
This Is the substance Of the German
imperial chancellor's reply In the
Reichstag to Socialist Interpolation
on peace, In which he painted a pic
ture of Germany triumphant on all
sides and supplied with everything,
even IL not In abundance, necessary to
the continuation Of the war.
Many officers who had returned
from the front were present in their
field gray uniforms. decorated with
the Iron Cross. including the Radical
member, Ludwig Haas, and the Social.
list, DR.. Albert Suedekum. The CALLER,
les were crowded to their utmost ca.
paCity. During the last few days be.
fore converting members of parliament
had been busy telling, writing to and
wiring their constituents that no more
admission cards were at their dlspos,
al. The members OF the diplomatic
corps were almost all present, among
whom was the United States ambassa-
dor.
In discussing the subject OF peace,
the chancellor said:
AT present they speak OF a war Of
humiliation against us. We have to
count with this fact. Theoretical argu.
ments for peace or peace propositions
will not advance us, will not bring the
end nearer.
III our enemies make the peace pro-
posals compatible with Germany's dig.
nifty and safety, then we shall always
be ready to discuss them. Fully con.
scious Of our mistaken military sue.
cesses, we decline the responsibility
for the continuance of the misery
which now fills Europe and the whole
world. Nobody can say that we are
continuing the war because we still
want to conquer this or that country
as a pledge"
This statement was greeted with
general and enthusiastic applause.
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1915-12-17
The Cakes Were Baked.

The great Dutch feast Of st. Nicho-
las the first week in December last
year was celebrated in Holland with
difficulty. For n thing, the wal cut
OF the supply of almonds, for cen.
turtles a constituent OF the famous
figures, o. ~"speculaas,t' baked out Of
st. Nicholas cake, as we'll as of the
seasonable CONNECTION known as ban.
ket.' At the last moment, however,
a single shipload Of almonds arrived
from Spain and partly saved the stu.
alton There still remained the short
age Of white -four due to government
restriction, and OF cooks owing to the
mobilization Of the troops. But the
government removed its embargo for
The festival, and the bakers called up
to arms were granted q weeks leave
at their ovens, and so the feast Of st
Nicholas held It's traditional sway.
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1915-12-17
RELATIONS MAY BE SEVERED
Danger Of Diplomatic Breach Between
United States and Austria Over
Ancona Affair.

Washington. - Diplomatic relations
with Austria Hungary are in danger
Of being broken off by the United
States unless the urgent demands of
the American note to Vienna for a
disavowal Of the sinking of the An
coma and reparation are compiled
with. .. .@
Furthermore, 1t is stated here on
high authority, the United States ex.
poets a prompt reply to its communi-
cation. Austria's delay in furnishing
answers to the questions submitted
to Baron Burian. minister Of foreign
affairs, by American Ambassador Pen.
field a few days after the Ancona
went down, has not served to ease
the situation.
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1915-12-17
FRENCH CHRISTMAS OMENS
Ancient and Curious Beliefs Regarding
tho NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Cures
for Various Ailments.

In France, particularly. superstition
dies hard, and there Is probably nc
other country where the people still
retain 80 many ancient and quaint be.
lfefs In connection with Christmas
day. Several OF these relate to
miraculous cures of all the ills which
fiesh Is heir to. For instance, the
chilly proceeding of bathing on Christ.
mas day Is supposed to insure one
against both fever and toothache dur.
Ing the coming year. another proven.
tive OF fever being the a%hstention from
all meat on December 25th, a great
sacrifice for the average man; while
a remedy for ulcers could be obtained
by those who refrained from eating
prunes On that day.
A cure for everything. however, can
be found in the large loaf chiefly made
In Provence, and called lie pain de
calende." It Is very large and very
white, and from It Is cut a small piece,
marked with a knife with three or
four crosses. This is carefully pre.
served as a remedy. and used when
required, the remainder Of the loaf
being divided among the family on the
Feast of Epiphany.
With regard to bread, It is believed
that loaves baked on Christmas eve
remain fresh for ten years, and during
the whole OF the holidays q portion of
bread was left out on the table night
ana day because the Madonna might
come In to share 1t. But unless she
wishes to bring misfortune on the en-.
tire family, It behooves the French
housewife not to bake any bread be-
tween December 25th and the Festival
OF Circumcision.
Cattle can be kept in good health
oy giving them something to drink
Immediately after midnight mass on
christmas eve before entering the
house. And a good harvest could be
insured If the corr about to be Town
Is carried to its destination In the
cloth used for the Christmas dinner.
IL you visit a fountain or a well on
new Years day and place In It either
an apple or a nosegay. the water viii
De rendered wholesome throughout the
year NO %Frenchman, however, will
,end anything to anyone on January
'or !. IS believed that by 30 doing
ne would bring i'll luck upon himself
Tor the ensuing year.
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1915-12-17
A Christmas Carol.

Twiddle-de-dum,
Twiddle-dum-de,
Playing the game of Expectancy.
Under the glare of the Christmas tree,
Blending Of craft and philanthropy,
Marvellous game of humanity, ,
Twiddle-de-dum,
Twiddle-dum-dee.
Twiddle-de-dum,
Twiddle-dum-dee,
The rules are as s~imple-just listen n
see;
The gift you receive should be worth
about three
OF the one you bestow u~pon-possibly me,
Annually tempting the powers that be;
Twiddle-de--dum.
Twiddle-dum-dee. Life.
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1915-12-17
The holly-or h~oly-tree IA
called Christ's thorn in Ger.
many. and the early Christians
referred to 1t as the righteous
branch"
Stepping oak.

very good temporary stopping for
leak IN either a gas or q water nine
may b produced by working nav.
oered whiting and yellow soap into !
pssse. Press It into the leaking bart
- ne pipe, and put on sufficient to
make the hole alright. This "A onlv
: temporary remedy, and should M,
prevent sending for the plumber A.
the iirst possible moment.
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1915-12-17
MARRIED. pead man.

Paris.-The custom Of marriage ~
proxy which has come into vogue dar.
ing the wal has placed : young Paris.
ian woman in the position Of havins
married q dead man. She was married
by proxy on Nov. II to Sergt. Joseph
Conduche. On Dec. / she was inform.
ed officially that sergt. Conduche nag
been killed at Souchez on Sept. ~
several weeks before the marriage. AZ.
though the marriage is invalid in law
the authorities will give Q widows
pension to the woman.
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1915-12-17
Al Chrlstmaa Tina.

II the mother Of the family Is q very
busy person, and II the trimming OF
the Christmas tree seems one thing
too much. try giving the Riddles the
fun Of trimming 1t themselves. This,
Of course, Applies only to the children
who have grown out Of the baby stage.
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1915-12-17
Explosion Kills One.

South Bethlehem, Pam explosion
at the fuse plant of the Bethlehem
Steel Company resulted in the death
OF one person. The explosion was
caused by a flash from a machine.
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1915-12-17
The mistletoe could tell some
funny tales had It the gift Of
speech.


Shortest Reference TO Christmas.
December 25th-Rained all day"
This IL the shortest reference to
Christmas in any book. 1t ID the only
entry under that date in the diary Of
our old friend Robinson Crusoe.
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1915-12-17
81. ;, ~ Mouth. q e,bee,

Little Edith had been to . picnic
and . ~sleepier miss was never put 70
bed. As her mother finished undress.
ing hor she said: Mamma. l said my
prayers at supper 70 Z ' time"
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1915-12-17
seamander I Remarkable strsam.

oeamandsr . Remarkable strsam.
Tho Scamander IL one Of the most
rsmarkabls rivers for the grandeur Of
III sourcs-A yawning chasm Ia
Mount Gargarus. shaded with enor.
NOUS plane trees, and surrounded with
high cliffs, from which the river I'm
pstuously dashes In al the greatness
Of the divine origin assigned TO II By
ancient fable.
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1915-12-17
Another Aneons Victim Found.

washington. -- Another American
citizen who was on the t~orpedoed Ital.
ian inner Ancona has been located by
me consul,general at Marseilles. He
- Joseph Torisi, and is said to be In a
hospital on the North African coast.
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1915-12-17
To HANG In Guest Room.

Sleep sweet within this quiet room,
o thou, whoe'er thou art,
And let no sad. dull yesterday
Disturb thy quiet heart.
Forget myself and all the world,
Put out each pickering light.
His star Ii shining overhead,
Bright Christmas, dear-good night.
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1915-12-17
EMicacioua.

Philadelphia editor announces that
he has cured stomach trouble by fast.
ing rs days. The same treatment con.
tinued indefinitely will cure all the
ills that flesh Is heir to.-Brooklyn
Times.
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1915-12-17

IN cases where husband and wifs
ars accidentally killed togsthsr. ths
common law prssumss that ~ mAas
bslng the stsuagss. ouellvo1 ~ vo1e
q. - naetee ~ Aow eAsgt attnA
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1915-12-17
Less Than Human.

Tom, The country s~ix.yearold. pr..
ssntins himself n day in ever mora
tnsn his usual state Of dust and di,.
order, was asked by his mother !, ~
would not like to be q little citv hov
and always Be nice and clean n whit.
suils ana shoes and stockings. Tom
answered scornfully: They're nos
Monthly. s
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1915-12-17
FOURTEEN WOMEN SHOT.

Wholesale Execution by Villa Authori-
ties On Espionage Charge.
Ell Paso, Texas.-Fourteen women
have been shot to death at CO.
sas Grandes, chihuahua. by Villa mil
itary authorities, according to a dis
pach received by the Carranza consn,
late. The women were conrt-martial'
ed and convicted OF being spies in the
pay Of the de facto government, the
advices stated.
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1915-12-17
Crude OH advances,

Tulsa. Okla.--Okiahoma crude oil
has advanced 10 cents q barrel here.
The price Is now S1.lo.
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1915-12-17

Berlin.-In tho battle between bar
garian and British forces n y
western Ssrbia ten suns were 80
tured from IL British.
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1915-12-17
Dird,s LIE q v,Ius.

Investigation In Germany has shown
uaAt ~ partridge eats the seeds Of
~ my ncsious weeds and insects do
szseslve y plant lifs. therefore Do.
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1915-12-17
Truth,

Truth d the foundation OF oil know
edge, and the cement Of al societies.
John Dryden.
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1915-12-17

The object Of punishment ID proven
ton from evil: II never can be mads
tmpulsive to good.-Mann.
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1915-12-17
cARisrMAs JOYS.

I suppose you will have . merry
Christmas 1t your house!"
"Oh. yes" replied the sophisticated
small boy. I'VE younger people win
endeavor to make II 10. You know,
20 much depends on the tactfulness
Of children. / always endsavor to
make the holidays pleasant " snow
Ing an enthusiastic interest In the
mechanical toys that aftosd Grown
people % much amussment.s
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1915-12-17

Mora Blessed % Give.
Because you give . ffve-dollar bill
y no reason why you should expect
the same.
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1915-12-17
nanlah ahIa aunk.

London.-The Danlsh liner MinsaI
Aas been sunk. Ihs crew ~ savsd.
Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1915-08-18
Opportunities.

2n our individual life there coms opportunities, which we may miss be canse we have such false standards by which we judge things. We wait for the great event and for the great oc' casion. and We call that great which makes big splash in the world. Or. when the trial comes we shrink from il through false modesty, saying to ourselves that some other more worIhJ instrument should bs chosen. If ou1 general attitude were right, we would see the meaning of all that is called opportunity. We are not alive to tho gracious possibilities of ihe unregard. ed chances of every day. We need more solemn sense of responsibility. ( more serious vtew of the ever-con- stant 1unctures that occur.-Hugk Rlsck.
Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1915-08-18
Hla Translation.

Hello: That you. deaf?" *Yes." I'm going to bring Green lip to sup per tonight. We're on the way now For goodness sake, how many timea aave | told you never to- Invite your fool friends ur here without giving ne notice? haven't thing in the house You make me tired. Fyeabeen work, ing hard all day andlwas going to have just little picked-ur lunes tonight, and now you spring Green on me g: the last minute You mast think like tu stand around a hot stove. tell you right now you're not going to get any swell meal tonight. You'll get yesterdays cold lamb and some warmed-over potatoes, sand If he doesn't like that he can lump it." Yes, dear, that's fine. Just the thing. We'll be right up" What did she say7" She's tickled to death to have you come. Said she'd been wondering why l hadn't brought you up before. Come on"
Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1915-08-18
Borne AnackrorJsnrs.

It is question. parentheticsIIy, whether 1t is truly sportsmanlike to live in a quaint old colonial cottage with 6 furnace and electric lights l have heard amateurs Of the colonial declare that they would willingly die before they would live In an electrically lighted colonial cottage. The anach. ronlsm horrifes them: they would nave death oi candles. Probably they Feel the same way about R furnace and ] bathroom. Yet have no doubt that the builders of this colonial cottage would have opened their hearts to all shese inventions; and I am not sure se4t they would have regarded as anything but funny the idea that their own kitchen paraphern,tlia would some day be used to decorate my dining room. l go further. Granting that electric light, furnace, and a bath. room are anachronisms in, this quaint old colonial cottage-what am but an anachronism myself? We must stand together, the furnace, the cleo. trio meter, the porcelain bathtub. and l, and keep each other in countanance
 ~6rouo the Atlantic. .
Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1915-08-18
importance Of Work.

A negative fife is wicked hfa Someone has said mo angel ever ap. peared to man who was not at work" You cannot make man good ny keeping him idle. T must be about my Fathers business" said Christ iI. the temple. That Is the gospel or ev cry man who is loyal to his own soul is the comment of the Ohio State Jour1ial. There is no excuse for idle ness. Work, like virtue. religion, faith, Is from wltt!n. The impulse toward the right is what keeps man at work. and If he Is Tut at work he lacks the impulse. His religion is too weak to exert itself. A positive life Is the only true life. Nor Is mere altrufsm the only form of work. It is as much g mans duty to help himself as it Is to help others. so that help Is upbuildiug, which is the very condition of ones being benefit to others. A man who loves roses, sunsets, stars, creeks, trees, birds, IS a friend of humanity. Loving Gods beautiful world includes man, or 1t is false love. Not to love these creations of goodness ana grace denotes negative life that h positively wicked
Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1915-08-18
Spock-Rsddun Babytcn,

In lecture in connection with the Egypt Exploration fund, on Burial Customs in Mesopota1nia and Egypt" Dr. L. w. King said the spirit which animated the Egyptians in their varied and changing practices toward the dead was based on affection and rev. erence, but the Babylonian, in the main, was prompted by fear. Tha Babylonians were probably moro spook-ridden than any other nation of antiquity, and their magical texts made it clear that the most terrible class of spirits were the ghosts of the dead who for somo reason had been unable tc enter the underworld. Driven to hunger and thirst, such a 5tost might roam about and fasten on anyone with whom it had relations tn .his life. and it would plague him untll he performed the rites that could give peace. It was mainly to lay the ghost and prevent 1t from haunt ing" that the Babyronians were scru- pulous in performing the due buria, rites.-Loadon Times.
Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1915-08-18
Tho centinede,

The cantipede was formerly reS ident of the southern part of this country, but 1t hxs gradually worked It's way to the North, so that now they are quito common in nearly every DOT. non of the country. It thrives best in damp and warm places and has its sedeeming feature In that it catches and destroys many of the domestic pests wo are well rid of. Its method 0f catching an insect seems to be to spring over 1t. inclosing and caging 1t with it's many legs. The belief occa- sionelly met with tfat the centipede feeds on household goods and woolena or other clothing fS without founda- ton. On the other hand. the bite of this creature is undoubtedly more or less poisonous, the effect depending sn the susceptibility os the patient
Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1915-08-18
v Friendly Fish.

A curious instance of the familiarity sf fishes with human beings has been iobservea in Portland. Ore, at the Uni. ted States barge office. The official boat is kept at the end of the wharf Some time ago one of the boatlnen began to notice fish about eight inches long, and resembling a carr that seemed to wish to scrape acQuain' tance. The fish would come up to tho top of the water whenever the man aI~ peared, and did not seem to be at all afraid. After time all the men get to know the fish: and began to take friends to gee him. At first he might not be in sight, but he would very soon appear and frisk around near the surface. Once or twice te has cume 60 close as to rub his nose against the boatman'e hand, and the sGeu a,s waiting fnrthar devalomneNta
Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1915-08-18
Snow-proof Doots.

Members Of arctic expeditions have ;ound that gum boots are aot proof against the entrance of moisture for snow water seems to penetrate !he rubber where the boots are in more .r less constant use for long period of time. This is prevented by an oc casional application of shellac, which effectually keeps the moisture out
 even when subjected to the hardest wear. Shel,hc can also be made use of to advantage in coating the thongs of snow shoes for the purpose of re sisting thS moisture wnen moving over the wet snow. The shoes thus treated enable the men to make much better headway over the snow with less eft. fort. The thongs which have been treated with shellac are also said tc ary out quicker after use than GtheTs
Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1915-08-18
"The Seven Seas"

The phase "The Seven Seas" has been current for some time-was so current when Kip]ing universalized 1t nearly twenty years ago-to denote all the great waters of the earth. It's use divides into seven parts the "triparStte ocean (the Atlantic. Pacific, and h. dian 0ceans) as the North and South Atlantic, the North and South Pacific she Indian, the Arctic, aud the An. tarctic oceans. It is interesting to note that Roman Italy had it's seven seas," the chain of salt lagoons about :he mouth of the Pc, separated from the Adriatic by strips o1 sand or em tankments. The lagoous were in all cient days much more extensive than now. and the "Septem Maria" afforded 8 continuous means of internal navi gation from Ravenna to Altinum.
 Mountainous Greece.
 Greece is extremely mountainous the only plain region worthy of the name being found in Thessaly. in this province is large quantity of undeveloped water power, furnished by torrents which sweep through the plains in the rainy season, doing great damage. their course for the remaird' CT of the year being marked by dry rAvinea.
Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1915-08-18
An Ancient Civilization.

Where was the most ancient civ. -Ilization known?" asks & recent traY. eler ia Turkestan, Dr. w. J, Parme lee. ip the Springfield Republican. Ex. plorations show that ten thousand years ago (twice the ago of the Egypt ian pyramids) a people lived south east of the Caspian sea. about 1g0 miles from the sea. who had brick houses, decorated pottery, convenient and ingenious household articles, and domestic animals: they raised and ground wE eat, and cooked their food. So far as can be told, they had nc weapons. and lived in peace with their neighbors-a trait that may be taken as evidencing civilization, or it's ab. sence. according to the point of view
Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1915-08-18
|0y REGA|NS
 EI0ST GROUND, |CIObER IS 9.29

y!ssasd' yo.a, Aas' at an n.' advance of 2
 0ps 7 decline of 2 points today,
 ,racts being influenced by
 coa,s erm cables, while later
 soit ' inc effect of Texas ram n
 ls,s rad the general list sold oif
 auo alIoss of eos points during
 ! trsding. vsI Reports from Tex (sted that the. gulf storm was as Ia.9q Inland accompanied by aias ,us but. without excessively Eads ,d and sentiment also ap- ao 'uuI, no bearishly influenced by |eJ ,J reports that the allies haa ! fa to il nlace cotton on the list ol Iand' nj A private crop report a the condition T0.3 per cent {nst .I 10. compared with 76.7 to- aS' end of last month was 1ol- " rallies of 2 or 3 points to- | and of the first hour.
 lnool became a consldefaDle aro m the decline to 9.l6c TOT
 or about 8 points under last
 closing figures, while there Ine local covering on the bull |yate condition figure, but raj \ or } points were barely main |ond prlces were within a point
 of the lowest shortly after ss.iaaG4i market became steadier during synoo1l on covering, which may [een promoted by Washington that the state department had d any intlmation that tho al buld soon declare cotton con 1. and reports that the rains Ianying the gulf storm had not far inland. Trading was qul- Ehe rally to about last nights ! figureS.