davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-08-24
The Daily Story
Truth is Stranger Than Fiction By Ruth Graham.

When a story is ready made there is
nothing to do but tell it. This tale,
the incidents Of which really happen
ed. is one of the improbable kind which
so 10 prove that truth is stranger than
fiction. The only change in it from
the truth is the names of the actors
and the locations.
We must so back to that period
when q German army was thrown into
Belgium; when the French gathered
their forces To defend their capital and
the English threw across the channel
what troops were available to assist
their allies. Yet it was not there that
our story begins, but in a colony of
the British empire War had not get
opened when a girl and her mother in
Canada were discussing a ball dress
for the former, though the girl was
more interested in the expected ap-
pearance at the ball Of an Englishman
than in her apparel
Il hear" said Edith Warren to her
mother, that a son of the MacDer-
motifs has come out from bonny Scot
land to see mis- father and mother
Maybe he viii be at the Scotch ball
this evening"
IT think replied her mother that
you had better wear your pink silk to
the ball, Edith. It is just the shade for
your complexion.
Edith wore her pink silk to the
Scotch ball and met Ian MacDermott.
a captain ia a Scotch regiment. Wheth-
er it was the dress or Edith's beauty
or her charming manners that won the
captain there is no record. Certain At
is that she won him and he carried
her back with him to Scotland from
her home in America on a honeymoon
trip.
Scarcely had the newly welded pair
got settled i'm their home In Edinburgh
when England declared war against
Germany and threw q force across the
chansel into France. The honeymoon
of the AfacDermoJts had not ended be-
fore the captain babe an adieu 10 his
bride and went in command Of his
company to the front.
One night the English and Germans
met in a hot fight. MacDermott's reg
iment was obliged TO give ground he
fore a superior force. The captain
was struck by a fragment Of a shell
and left on the field among the dead
and wounded. Then the British rallied
and recoyeEed the lost ground.
When it became possible for the Red
Cross and the army surgeons TO res
cue the wounded, a surgeon, coming
upon the body Of Captain MacDermott
took the Identification tag from it and
reported him dead.
1t was q sharp blow to the bride.
when she received news of the death
Of her husband She gave up her home
in Edinburgh and removed to another
locality, bat only temporarily, for she
designed TO return to her parents in
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-08-24

America She was not able to leave
at once. but as soon as arrangements
could be made she sailed from a Scotch
port for New York.
There was the usual hustle up0r
the sailing OF a steamer Mrs. Mac
Derm0tt, in deep mourning, stood ON
the dock looking out upon the coan-
try in which SO much happiness aaa
been expected. grieving over the
wreck of her hopes The announce
ment had been made that an wh1
were TO go ashore must leave. Wher
time had expired for this an order
was given to draw In the gaugplaUk.
At this moment an auto came dash
ing up on the dock, sounding signals
for persons to get out Of the vsq
Evidently some beIated passenger haf.
arrived, and the hauling in Of tha
gangplank ceased. An officer ia unit
form jumped from the car and hur-
ried aboard the ship
A thrill shot through the breast of
the woman in mourning She saw m
the newcomer her husband Was She
dreaming? Impossible Had she ne
come demeuted by the shock of pass
ing SO suddenly from @ bride to
widow2 Her brain was iu o. nhtrI an
til the officer, coming up ON tBa dock.
spied her and. running toward her.
clasped her in his arms.
afs
We left Captain AIacDermou on the
field Of battle. the identification tax
being taken from his body. Later while
the work of removing the wounded
was ia progress a surgeon lamms
upon EacDermott saw signs of life ln
him. The captain was removed to
field hospital Then he was sent across
the channel and placed i'm "a regularly
organized hospital for the sick and
wounded of the war. There he iar for
a long while unconscious.
In time Captain MacDem0u was
brought round and was discharged
from the hospital He made all po5st-
BILE haste to his home iu Scotland 10
find that his wife had given up her
home and gone elsewhere His only
means of ascertaining her location
seemed 10 be to send cabieEram TO
her relatives Ia America This he Gid
and received a reply that she was
about to sail from Glasgow fur home
Such is the romance of bride and
groom which, If told In a story book,
would subject the author 30 charge
Of inventing what was SO improbable
as not to he Legitimate fiction. I'm The
war between the states there were
cases of soldiers reported dead vino
we're not even wounded. But nova
days every soldier carries on his per
son his name and other information
concerning him IT would seem that
the old causes Of error are BY this
eliminated Yet Captain MaeDarm8tt
being discovered insensible permitted
the tag to tell q false story which was
d long while being coutradicted
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-08-24
THE JTTNEY ORDINANCE AND
STREET CAR SERVICE.

The city council last evening de-
ferred action on the iitney bus ordi-
nance for another week. but there
seems no doubt that it will ultimately
pass. AS a matter Of fact the Rock
Island and Moline councils are bound
In good faith to deal with the question
identicaily and, in a way. Jointly.
II has been said that Mayor McCono-
chic anticipates getting some conces-
sions from the Tri-City Railway com
pauy in connection with the utney
ordinance. In this connection. it will
be recalled that The Argus has all
along urged that, not as a part OF the
jitney bus ordinance. but BY resolution
or other procedure simultaneously
adopted. the council take such course
as viii improve the service by reduc-
ing the tine on the Fourth avenue and
Bridge lines and assuring better &C
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-08-24
ILLINOIS STATE REGISTER
SUPPORTS TAVENNER'S PLAN

the pockets of the miHtarists for per
sonaI profit, and lead them to take no
further interest in so-calIed *prepar-
edness,"
The State Register hopes Congress
man Tavenner will be able to over
come the manufactu lobby In
pressing his plan upon the attention
Of congress when it, assemblies next
winter.
He is known TO many thousands Of
readers Of the State Register as an
earnest, vigiIant and progressive dem
ocrat through his letters from Wash
ington. published in this paper, writ
ten before and after he became a
member of congress. He is energetic,
ureIess and skllful, and if anybody
can succeed in putting the munitioa
manufacturers lobby out of business
he doubtless can.
incidentally, if Mr.. Tayenner sue
ceeds in securing the adoption of his
plan by congress. one of the results
will be the establishment of the larg-
est munitions Of war plants in the
world on Rock Island, which is within
the boundary Of our own state and IS
an ideal place for the purpose, both
from military and economic business
staudpoints-
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-08-24

a man IS as old as his arteries, runs
a familiar axiom His arteries are as
old as his ductless glands. And his
duotIess glands are as old as his mode
OF living makes them.
SenIiity begins somewhere between
the ages of 30 and 20. depending on
how fast you live It is simply q aues-
ton Of temperament. habit, food, drink
and exercise. Optimism. good nature,
faith in a hereafter and obedience to
the laws Of nature ara the essential tn
gradients Of the prescription. Taks
the case Of Noah, Tor instance; he got
along quite comfortably for some six
hundred years. Notwithstanding heavy
tribulation. then he took TO drink and
his days were soon numbered.
Feeling what we fear may be the
first faint paBgs Of seniIity approach
ing, we have made an interested IN
vestigation Of the disease and gathered
in the form Of ten commandments the
consensus Of authoritative opinion up-
on the vital question Of prevention. Ga
course, these precepts are necessarily
tinctured with our own personal views
for we have a conceited way Of pre-
ferring our own opinion about some
things to the opinion OF authority.
Here is the decalogue.
I. Don't coddlei don't let the house
hold temperature go above IS degrees,
and spend some time in the open air
daily.
2 Eat little meat, but plenty Of
vegetables, cereals. fruits and nuts
drink much milk and water. but no
alcoholic beverages.
3. Take tepid bath each day.
Show vour body to the sun.
q. Wear light weight, knitted wool
or silk and wool underwear nine
months in the year. Wear whatever
else you need, but no more than
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-08-24

commodations for the island work
men. and have some date fixed when
larger equipment may be provided on
the Long View line.
The street car company has already
reequipped the Bridge line and reduced
the time somewhat on that ana the
Fourth avenue line. Bat the time be-
tween cars should be still further re-
duced. and il is believed that the COM
pany would readily accede TO this Il the
council should express a demand fer it.
II would not he fair. however. in view
d the depleted revenues Of the com
pauy, due 10 the inroads Of the 5itney
buses. to reduce in any way its source
Of income. This has never been the
policy of Rock Island. Service always
has been conteHded for and it always
has been provided. 1t IS all the public
has right to expect or to ask nov.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-08-24

Attempts at passage Of the Niemen
river nave figured in the war dispatch
es almost from the outbreak Of hos
tilities. and the banks Of this stream
have formed one OF the most contested
lines in the east. AS the struggling
German and Russian armies swayed
backward and forward, the Niemen has
been crossed and recrossed and the
Teuton invaders are still fighting to
put its line behind them. A descrip-
tion of the Niemen. which has won d
place in history as the most stubbOTnly
defended waterway in the world war
has just been given out by the Ma
tionaI Geographic society. II reads;
The Niemen river, through its
middle course. builds one Of the strong
links in the western line OF Russian
defense From Grodno fortress to the
stronghold Of koeno, it continues the
powerful secondary line Of defense OF
Brest Lit0vsk This whole section Of
the river is now an immediate object
OF German advance, while its lower
course. from Kovno TO the Kurisches
Half and German Memel, was alter
nately the object Of Russian and Ger
man attack during the first part Of
the war Tilsit, the great troops and
munitions center Of the German cam
paign in the northeast, is upon the
Njemen, and from here the German in
vasIon Of Courland was based
AT the beginning of the war, the
whole lower line Of the Niemen was
passed by invading Russian armies,
which swept on westward 10 Koenigs-
burg the capital Of East Prussia. The
Russians passed this line q second
time, and third time, captured and
destroyed Mcneil, the first Baltic port
Of the Niamen The lower course Of
the Niemen is now far behind the Ger
man lines; Koyno. the powerful Rus
sian fortress 70 the north OF its mid
die course, has fallen, and a German
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-08-24
lniiDois SAFE register }


In a letter received from Hon. Clyde
H. Taveuner, democratic member of
congress from the Rock Island dis
trict. he states that he has been inter
ested in the State Register editorials
on militarism which have occasion
ally appeared in its column and is in
sympathy with the views expressed
He has a plan which he proposes to
introduce in congress that will abate
if not abolish the menace Of militar-
.sm ana at the same time provide am
Pie preparedness against invasion Of
this country
In communication from Mr.. Tav-
enner, published in Tuesdays State
Register he gives one feature Of his
plan. which is for the government to
manufacture its own munitions Of war.
and thus do away with the Emporium
tiles and influence Of militarists who
are militarists for the profits they
make in contracts with the govern
meut, Mr. Tavenner urges this course
as a measure Of economy as well as
for the safety of our democratic in
situations. It would save many mil
lions Of dollars for the public treas
ury that might otherwise flow into
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-08-24
NEED MORE MEN LIKE HIM

who IS a cousin of a. j. Torreyson Of
this city, was for some time the
youngest member of congress. but at
the last election a still younger man
was elected to a seat in the national
body. MIR. Tavenner is now but 80
years of age and is serving his second
term in congress. He has made a
good record and has been in the fore
front in the fight against the corrupt
control Of the big interests. We need
more like him
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-08-24

Once on a time China built a wall
There Is nothing on record 10 show
what the Specifications for the Job
were. or whether the materials were
bought from a trust, but it was a fair
iy good piece Of work as walls go, and
it stood up and answered the purpose
for which it was intended. Some thou
sands Of years later China woke up.
and was surprised 70 find that the
world had moved on A study OF Chi
snese history is recommended for those,
Including the organ of obstruction,
who are trying to wall in Rock Island.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-08-24

Out OF the various diagnoses of our
industrial ills that the industrial com
mission. collectively and severally has
advanced, the country stands in fair
way Of reaping some good, in spite Of
the divergence of views as TO causes,
symptoms and cures. There is a great
deal 10 ponder over in the report Of the
commission and the American people
should not suffer themselves TO be di-
verted by thoughts of war from giving
it attention.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-08-24

a'A'.LA tHHt44 q - h'AAittfEtFF
A strong arm may Indicate a weak
head.
No woman ever told another woman
all her secrets
Do not trust your enemies; there are
nc faithful enemies.
Second thoughts are best. especially
when they are less expensive.
Many a man with an abnormal chest
expansion is narrow minded
a tactGuI woman can see the point
Of joke just as well if it isn't there.
How a woman does enjoy quarrelng
with a man who isn't quarrelsomet
Few men are as wicked as they like
to have women think they are.
Being blind, love is unable to see
the many danger signals by the way
side,
a man can easily prove that he is
insane by having some Of his love let
ters read in court.
Trouble is one thing that comes to a
person who butts into d quarrel be
tween a man and his Chicago
News.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-08-24

The Iowa association Of county sup
ervisors last week voted against hard
surfaced roads and deposed its presi-
lent because he was in favor of them.
At the same session resolutions were
passed denouncing county isolation
hospitals for tubercular patients and
demanding the repeal Of the mothers
pension law No comment is Heces-
sarY
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-08-24

Henry Ford believes that the leading
nations engaged in war might have
purchased by bargain and sale ali the
tangible things that they are supposed
to be fighting for, without any loss Of
life and at a mere fraction of the price
they are now paying in treasure. This
seems a plausible view, but Of course
the world viii point TO it as fresh EVIL
dence that the merceuary viewpoint is
uppermost in America.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-08-24
LGaneseo IN News.l

Congressman and Mrs. Clyde Tav-
enuer of Cordova spent Sunday after
noon in Geneseo, coming to hear
United States Senator La Toilette in
some time before her marriage Mrs.
Tavenner was Senator La Toilette 5
private secretary in Washington, and
both she and her husband insist that
lac is really one Of the great men Of
the country. Congressman Tavenner,
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-08-24

one never would have guessed that
the organ Of obstruction was glad
to publish that statement by E. D..
Fisher Of the part he took in annexa-
ton, judging from the wry face It made
when the head Of the South Side In
proyement association accepted its
challenge and forced it to do So One
might have supposed that the pleasure
was all Mr.. Fishers.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-08-24

Experts in acoustics have baen doc
toring up the east court room in the
Scott county court house till it is said
that a whisper can be distinctly heard
in the most distant corner This opens
a great field in dramatic endeayor for
the Scott county bar.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-08-24
The Attainment of Ripe Old Age

enough to keep you comfortable
). Sleep as much or little as you
please. but sleep ia 8 porch bedroom
or a room with open windows 500
nights a year.
6. Walk at least a mile day, chest
out, chin drawn in. stomach held back,
keep your mouth closed, breathe deeply
and toe in.
:. Be a cheerful idiot throughout
your waking hours.
g. Put your trust In God and de-
spise no mans religion.
@ Marry early. and II necessary
often, and always PICK winner,
10. Take as little medicine as Your
doctor will allow, and have just one
good doctor, but have one whether you
need him or not.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS.
Intestinal Indigestion In Children.
Kindly advise me what to do for
chronic intestinal indigestion in boy
of three years.
Answer-To save space, send a
stamped, self-addressed envelope for
personal reply.
Charcoal for Bad Breath.
VIII tablets Of charcoal, taken
after eating, help to overcome a bad
breath due to dyspepsia?
Answer-Yes, but masticate OF
powder the tablet, OF. better, take
half a teaspoonful of powdered willow
charcoal.
Strength of Iodine fer Antiseptic.
What strength Of tincture Of Iodine
should be used to swab wounds?
Answer-About 21z per cent which
is the standard tincture of iodine Of
the British Pharmacop0eia. The Unit
ed States Pharmacopoeial tincture is
stronger-dilute one part with two or
three parts Of grain alcohol.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-08-24
Aug. a In History.

i750-Letitia Ramolini. mother Of Na,
poleon Bonaparte, born; died ls3a-
1sS3-Count Chambord, last Of the
Bourbon line ana heir 10 the thrope
of France, died: bern 1920
1592-Gloucester, Mass, celebrated the
two hundred and dftieth auniyer'
sary Of its settlement U642l,
1914-Japanese warship bombarded
German fortified seaport, Tsuglao,
hiauchau, China
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-08-24
Sidelights on the European War

church by going to the front, and thar
if he worships at held church he
does so free Of charge, SO that his re-
spousibility to his regular cougrega-
ton does not cease-fnauciaIlv az
least.
Only minor proportion 0l Ger
mans are members Of church. OF ar-
tend services of any character '5a-
cause OF the tax iJ has been claimed
but they are nevertheless not inn
mnne unless tRey can prove beyond a
shadow OF doubt that they hold IN
Fellglon whatsoever OF nave mo fe-ls-
lous cohnecfiohs-suea as a wife VINO
ATTENDS chufca' OF such as having oeea
married by minister. Inc sfea. ai."
aleeleu oy the Fa+lhs.
bfusse.s.---Se" postal I41lf.oI.2a5.
as wen as some iurJ1eI peE'A.57 t'a5.
- letter anu postal '-.7- -'4-75 D,
l2Sis luttl anu usl"4sN 3sIs +-- a+'
{ioIiaHo5 nave just oeHt iia4e 5i
i've.
Ihey provide tnat, with tile ekeaR-
ton OF certain business commWlea-
tons, only postal cards may be sen.
% ana rom Holland ana antwerp.
Hasseit ana NeiNenFaeat Business
letters must be limited to TWO sheets
ana must De written plainly ana .s4-
IDLY The same postal communication
now is permitted between ta= ta.at
cites named ana Lieset ferEleTs ana
their suburbs
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-08-24

The organ of obstruction. In its mis-
cry, imagines that the heel Of The
Argus is upon everybody in the com
munity that may in any way have
sympathy with its propaganda But
the organ of obstruction is mistaken.
While The Argus may feel the neoes-
sity. and the public readily recognizes
the necessity. of keeping its heel pref
ty close TO the neck of the aforesaid
organ, it does not do Sc with any in
tent 10 harm, The only object IS to
keep 1t straight. although it may wig
sic. The Argus would no more crush
be life entirely out of the organ Of
obstruction than ii would press down
heavily upon a caterpillar The con
sequences would be Euch the same in
the one case as 10 the other
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-08-24

Eternal vigilance is the price Of a
good many things. including satisfac-
tory street improvement and this is
true NO matter what kind of specifica-
tions are laid down for the work.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-08-24

The Hague. Netherlands.-(C Cores
poudence of The Associated Press -
Tweuty-seyen Belgian, French and
English officers still elect to remain
prisoners on the island of Urk, in the
Zuyder Zee. rather than promise that
they Will not try to escape from Hol-
land and return to their colors to
fight If they were willing to give
their promise not TO try TO escape they
would be allowed to roam anywhere in
Holland, but the p on the island Of
Urk prefer TO remain prisoners. open
IL avowing their intention TO escape if
possible. This makes the situation
something Of q game between the pris-
ouers and their Dutch guards.
The Island Of Urk is itself sort
of geographical Joke, for it is little
more than a small saudbank that was
left high and dry when the sea drown
ed the central part Of The Netherlands
and formed the Zuyder Zee. Some
2,200 people, however. now live On this
little stretch Of land, which the av-
erage pedestrian may cross in 10 min
utes. The islanders are extremely clan
uish and stick TO the dress of 200 years
og They amuse themselves by fish
ings for herring and anchovies and in
building sykes against the terrors Of
the North Sea in winter. The pres
ence of the interned French, Belgian
and English officers is regarded as a
sort Of sporting affair even among the
Dutch guards. The commander de-
scribes the situation by saying, we
are excellent friends with our prison
ers. We greatly respect the men who
try 10 escape and return TO their
country to go on with the fight Only
it is our duty TO keep them here"
Next to Commander Nyssens Of the
Belgian army who was pulled across
the Dutch frontier by his own men af-
ter he was rendered unconscious by
seven bullet wounds, the most popular
prisoner is an Irish major Of the Brit
ish flying corps who actually made his
escape from the island by swimming
for some three hours and who would
have succeeded in his flight but for
the small mishap which landed his
boat in village which was under mar
tial law
Since this attempt, however, the is
land is more strongly guarded than
before The foreign officers are not
to speak with the people from
The village, All foreign and Dutch
yachts are carefully watched. A tor
psdo boat stationed in the little harbor
is kept ready to pursue all future
swimmers, and guards have been
placed on the tower OF the church to
survey the whole island
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-08-24

Apparently, heavy fortifcations are
hereafter to be counted a liability
rather than an asset in military book
keeping
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-08-24

Now that cotton has become absolute
contraband perhaps the boil weeEtl will
be content 80 let 1t alone
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-08-24
CHORDS AND
DISCORDS

LILLIAN Russell has just been mar
RED at Davenport.
DR.. " ". Galley addressed an aud
Ience OF young women at Bloomington
last week
GOOD Money Made at Home runs
an ad in a nearby newspaper. We
thought the only good money was turn
ed out by the government.