davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-09-21
EU ening Chat
And He Was Half Blind.
BY RUTH CAMERON.


An astonishing discovery has just
| been made by some friends of ours.
| Their twelve-year-old boy is practi-
cally blind in one eye. The doctor says
he was born with one eye very much
weaker than the other and, the ten
| dency being to use the stronger mem
| Der, he has almost lost the use of the
weaker eye. He has been promptly
| fitted with glasses and they hope he
will recover some of his lost sight.
AS she looks back and wonders how
| her son could have grown to that age
without her realizing his handicap,
| his mother reproaches herself for one
| unkindness. He was always tripping
over things" she says, land now
come to think of it, it was almost
always something on his left side. L
thought he was awkward and I scold-
ed and even punished him for it. And
just think, it was simply because he
couldn't see things on that side of
him.
Now, of course, there are very few
children whose awkwardness arises
from any such handicap semi-blind-
I ness, but I have chronicled this little
story because L think that there are
many children whose awkardness
| is not much more their fault than this
child's was.
A childs motor control is not so
perfect as a grown persons. The ner-
vousness which shows itself in an ad-
ult in ir-itability, loss of appetite, in
somnia, etc , will often in child
manifest itself in lack of motor con-
| troll. The child fidgets, stumbles over
things, falls down, drops things, tips
things over, and in far too many cases
is scolded or even punished. That,
| of course, makes him more nervous
and this completes the vicious circle
Mind you, don't mean to deny that
there may be the element of control
able carelessness in some of these
accidents.
The child does not realize how much
trouble he is causing and does not
| try as hard as he might to avoid
| breaking and spilling things. But
| this element is much smaller than
| people realize and the best treatment
| for 1t is not scolding or whipping. The
! child does not realize the trouble he
causes you. Devise some way to make
him realize.
If possible, let him share in the
trouble of clearing up Let him lose
| some of his playtime to do it. If he
has caused a financial loss let him
help make it good out of his allow
ance. These things will teach him
to be more careful if it is carelessness
| that is causing the trouble.
But before you impose such penal
| ties be sure it is carelessness. If a
guest in your home upset something
you would pity his embarrassment
| and would try to make light of the
sometimes suffer just as keenly from
| embarrassment as your grOwn-up
| guest and that very embarrassment
may make him more awkward
| All through my childhood 1 was
| afraid of tipping over things and
being scolded for it, and that only
made me more awkward" girl con-
/ fessed to me the other day. She is of
! the deliberate type that would never.
even in childhood, have been guilty
of carelessness but she is left-handed
lsand thereby liable to accidents
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-09-21
OUR DOLLAR THE sTANDARD

During the past year Europe has
purchased from us a billion dollars
worth of supplies, writes II. H Wind
sor in the October Popular Mechanics
Magazine. We in turn have absorbed
many millions OF our own bonds and
stocks which have been sent here for
sale. Patriotism ana the opportunity
to purchase bonds of their own gov
eminent at favorable prices have
caused foreign capitalists to give up
cur securities, many of which had
been held abroad for twenty years.
That prices of our securities have
been so we'll maintained is, CT course,
highly gratifying. There will doubt
less be millions more to follow in the
next Twelve months.
On the other hand, the United
States Dollar is now the standard
measure of value thrCughout the
world, and the only unit which is not
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-09-21
TRADE RESPONDS TO CROPS.

In his current weekly financial re-
view. Henry Clews, the New York
banker, notes the probable final salts
factory settlement of our controversy
with Germany relative to her methods
of subj airline warfare, and he sug-
gests that with the possibility of the
United States becoming an active par
ticipant in the European struggle so
greatly removed and with the success
of the AngIo-French loan so clearly in
sight the outlook for the market for
securities may be regarded as having
correSpondingly improved.
The favorable money outlook will
not be modified materially by the
practical. steps that will be concerned
in the credit that is being arranged, "
Mr.. ClewS insists. 1.-THE proceeds of
the loan are not to leave the country.
They will remain on deposit in the
banks and trust companies until need
ed and will return to the banking in
stitutions when the payments for sup
plies for which they are intended are
made.
with such a large supply of idle
funds as at the moment exists
throughout the country and is as
likely to continue for a protracted
period" Mr.. Clews continues land
with our own country the single ex-
the world that has not been drawn
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-09-21
Jayhdwker Jots

An empty wagon makes the most
noise, says the Lincoln Sentinel, and
that's why the fellow who talks the
most says the least.
"I Tenn Hunter is the nom de
plume of the Rose Valley correspond
ent of the Wilson County Citizen, and
ne manages to find a lot of interest
ing ones each week.
The persimmon crop looks promis-
ing, reports "Gasaway," the Gas Gluch
correspondent of the Wilson County
Citizen, but, he advises, don't all
speak at once or you won't have time
to quicker.
Sunflowers ought to be a joy even
to the farmers when they glow forth
in all their golden splendor, thinks the
Manhattan Tribune, for when sun
flowers are good the corn crop is fine.
Give us sunflowers and corn.
Alice Murdoch of the EIdorado Re
publican cannot work up much grief
over the fact that the hmburger
And she suggests that they probably
need it all in Germany for offensive
purposes.
Does the horse that loses the race
know that he has been licked and
does he go back detected and discour-
aged? asks the lola Register, and it
continues: Or does he figure he came
out last because there is where the
man who was driving him wanted him
to be? Or does he reflect: well I
done my durndest," and let it go at
that What do you suppose a horse
does think about it all?
Refleskons. by the Marysville Advo-
cate-Dernocrat: A man with wheels"
often imagines he is the whole ma
chine. :. A good deed is like the
dollar spent with the home merchant.
1t often returns to YOU With
everything going up it is a bad time to
save money. The longer you save it
the less you can buy with it. .
Now that the kiddies are fitted out
with new school suits and shoes, there
is some satisfaction in rolling in the
dirt. It's an ill wind, etc.
Anyhow the atmosphere this year has
not been punctured so often with that
idiotic question, rs it hot enough for
you ?"
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-09-21
ADVICE FOR CORN FARMERS

A prophetic vision, or, at any rate,
a wise one seems to be possessed by
the weather bureau at Washington
when it lays aside the business OF
prognosticating the weather and de-
votes its energies to more mundane
matters Proof of this is to be found
in a suggestion that the bureau put
out recently and one that should be
needed by all the corn farmers in this
section of the country and to the
north. Owing to the generally back
ward state of the corn crop this year
in many of the northern, but import
ant growing sections of the belt, there
is danger, advises the weather bureau,
of injury to the crop by killing frost,
the occurrence of which may be ex-
pected at any time. 1t is therefore
important that every effort possible
be made to secure good seed for next
years crop. Where any of last years
corn is left, it should be gone over
and the best ears saved for seed.
Moreover, as corn natures unevenly
it is possible to secure seed from the
early ears before the rest of the crop
is matured,
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-09-21
POINTED PARAGRAPHS.

[From the Chicago News
Grounds for divorce-love's ceme-
terry.
No argument can discount genuine
happiness.
Most of our socalled troubles are
miss-branded.
Some men marry at leisure, then
hustle for the divorce court.
People never help a man to blow
his own horn because they like music.
Why is woman more sensitive about
a wrinkle than man is about his bald
head?
1t takes a woman to lead a fool man
around, even when he imag ines he is
driving her.
It's as difficult for an eligible man
to dodge a young widow as it is for
him to understand women.
Don't pine away, Cordelia, if the
young man asks you to return the en-
gagement ring. Spruce up and go aft
er another.
About the first thing a woman does
after moving into a house is to look in
all the closets to see if the last ten
ants left any family skeletons.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-09-21
WATER POWER REGULATION.

One of the most important problems
in the political economy of nation
| is the control of water power, and
the fact that congress recognizes its
| importance is shown by the time de-
voted to the subject by the house OF
representatives during the latter part
! of 1914. 1t is always interesting and
usually helpful, in considering the con-
ditions involved in this problem, 10
find how other countries have dealt
with somewhat similar conditions, so
that Water Supply Paper 23S-The
Public Utility Powers and their Gov
ernmentaI Regulations-issued by the
United States Geological Survey in
1910, contains much valuable data.
This report, prepared by Rene Taver-
nier. chief engineer of the Depart
ment of Public Works of France, in
conjunction with the United States
Geological Survey, treats of the man
ner in which France, Switzerland and
Italy have dealt with the problem of
utilizing more satisfactorily the water
powers afforded by the streams of
those countries. The French regula-
tons take cognizance of two kinds of
streams-first, rivers that are navi-
gable neither for vessels nor RATS,
over which the French minister of
agriculture exercises certain police
| powers and in which the riparian
| landowners possess certain rights; and
second, streams that are navigable by
vessels or RATS, which lie within the
public domain and which are adj
ministered by the minister of pub
lie works. In Switzerland control
of watercourses that are navigable for
neither ships nor RATS is retained by
the cantons and communes; in Italy
the waters are public property, con-
ces-icns for development being issued
by the Government. The laws in force
! in France, Switzerland, and italy are
given in the report. tt gether with a
brief discussion of the results of their
operation, as we'll as their defects and
the probability of future changes in
the laws.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-09-21
Clio be Sights
BY THE ATCHISON GLOBE.

The good losers don't figure largely
in history.
A saloonkeeper usually drives him
self out of business.
The busher who belongs in the big
league will eventually get there.
The man who finds tobacco smoke
offensive is the lonesomest creature.
1t sometimes takes an expert to dis
cover if a man is fool or hero.
The only real system for beating the
other mans game is not to play it.
While women don't do much treat
ing, they have several other fool
streaks.
When there is a baby in the family,
the weather gets a rest as a topic of
conversation.
Times change, and even in the
movies the Wild West isn't as wild as
it used to be.
Sometimes a man likes to tinker
around home better than he likes to
work downtown.
When a man is mad about one thing
there isn't any use talking to him
about another.
There can be a quarrel without any
cause for quarrel, some people being
built that way.
causes hunters the least worry of any
thing We can think of this evening.
Some women devote their knowl-
edge of domestic economy to saving a
ball of Irvine from strings around the
packages.
While horses may become scarce in
the course of time, there always will
be several horse laughs in each com
munity.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-09-21

into the maelstrom of the war and mas
not had its resources of labor and
property paralyzed and, furthermore,
with taxation, present and prospec-
tive, in comparison with other coun-
tries on completely negligible scale,
there is active encouragement to look
for the profitable operation of our
railroads and of our great industrial
combinations that are thoroughly
repreSe ntative of our national activ1-
ties. 1t still is desirable to exercise
caution in the selection of investments,
but there are opportunities to obtain
securities paying for instance between
and 6 per cent on the investment
that appear attractive. Returns above
such basis must necessarily be ac-
companied with a corresponding de-
gree of risk. $50. General trade and
Industrial conditions are beginning to
respond more freely to the excellent
crop outlook The usual statistics of
clearings, railroad traffic returns, etc,
are likely to make more favorable
comparisons than has recently been
the case since they include a period
year ago when the first shock of the
war was in progress; furthermore, as
the New York stock exchange was
closed the bank exchanges necessarily
are upon faulty basis. The recent
statement of untitled tonnage of the
Steel corporation showing a decrease
of about 10000 tons as the net result
of operations in August was below
general estimates. This disappointing
result is, however, readily explained
when it is considered that the decrease
was due not SO much to backward Of
ferings of new business but to the fact
that the plants of the corporation are
virtually on a full capacity basis and
deliveries consequently are taking
place on old contracts at a phenome-
nal rate. Meanwhile in a number of
instances there is a disposition to re-
frain from taking new business at the
present scale of prices"
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-09-21
From Other Pens

WAR CRAFT ON THE LAKES.
There are some editors of metropol-
ttan papers who are densely ignorant
or who deliberately encourage fakes
of the worst kind. Not long since it
was announced that an effort woJild be
made to create a large flotilla of mo-
tor boats on Lake Michigan and the
other great lakes, as a defensive meas
ure and that the mayor of Chicago,
backed by other citizens of renown,
would go 20 Washington when con-
gress assembled to push it through
and some of these editors made ia
vorable comment upon the project. At
first editors of common sense made
no reference to the matter until the
story began to get wide circulation
when it was deemed necessary to re-
ply to the absurd proposition.
Every man of average intelligence
knows that there is a treaty a hum
dred years old between this country
and Great Bratain in which it is stipu-
lated that no war vessels of any kind
shall be built or put into commission
on the lakes and there shall be con-
structed no fertilization by either par
ty the whole length of the 5000 miles
of imaginary line between this country
and the Dominion of Canada. There
has been a hundred years of peace
along this line, 1t is claimed by many,
simply because there was not a war
ship, a soldier or a fertilization along
the whole distance. The celebration
of that hundred years of peace was
held not long ago, but some of these
metropolitan editors never heard of
the treaty or the celebration. The
story was creating some ill-feeling in
Canada and that has mace it neceSSa-
ry to refer to it. There are metro
politan editors in some of the states
east of us who should be sent for a
term or two to a common school
Omaha WorldHerald.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-09-21
!a!e96
kagnnzslsAaS @can hsran1uaon< -
A RAINDRoP scoLDING.

"Raindrops, raindrops. won't you
go away?
"Raindrops, raindrops, please 1
want to play!
Over and over again seven-year-old
Ned chanted the little rhyme he had
made. And over and over again the
raindrops splashed down on the porch
as though they had not heard a word
he said.
"Raindrops, raindrops. won't you
go away?
"Raindrops, rajndrops-"
Down on Ned's nose there splashed
a raindrop SO tiny that you would
hardly guess he could be brave
enough to splash right down on a per-
sons nose that way-but he did!
why do you want us to go away?''
demanded the raindrop firmly Here
we come to earth and come to earth
and come to earth! And every soli-
tary time we come, somebody wishes
we would stay away! I'm getting very
tired of it, 1 assure you! And more
over, 1 don't consider IL very polite
so there
And with that, the raindrop slid
down Ned's face, around his collar
and disappeared = goodness only
knows wherei
Hardly had he gone, when another
little raindrop landed squarely on
Ned's nose (raindrops seemed to be
liking noses that dayi) and said in a
dampish whisper. Are you the per-
son who was chanting that rhyme
about me? Are you the boy who
wished raindrops would go away?''
And as Ned didn't deny that accu-
satfon the rafndrop said. Then I'd
like to tell you right now that you're
far from a polite person, How do
you suppose we raindrops feel when
we are sent to earth on mission for
the sun; when our work is all good
and kind, and when we are greeted
like that2 How do you suppose we
feel? Tell me that"
And the second little raindrop slid
down Ned's face. around his collar
and disappeared - goodness only
knows wherei
Hardly had he disappeared when a
third little raindrop pumped down on
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-09-21

to make you remember me as well as
my silly talk"
Walker was too much surprised to
do anything more than stare for a few
moments, and Alberta presently be-
came more serious than he had
thought possible for her. why, Mr..
Walker, you've done that girl seri-
Gus injustice. She went into that
walking club because the doctors had
told her that outdoor exercise was all
that would prevent a nervous collapse,
and rather than burden you with a
nervous wife or be compelled to break
the engagement, she went in for every
thing she could afford. She's strong ger
and better looking than eyer now. 1
see her often, but as didn't know you
at all, she never mentioned you to
me. 1 heard of you through others,
but had forgotten your name. Now,
you see," she concluded, there are
two sides to a difference. Don't you
feel pretty much ashamed of your
self?" Alberta asked no more, for a
glance at the man was a sufficient
answer to her question For several
minutes, during which the closing bell
rang, he said nothing.
Yes he began slowly, I'm enough
ashamed to tell Alice SO if thought
she'd listen to me. Do ynL suppose
she would ?''
"Oh, no telling what a girl will do"
laughed Alberta. 'I wouldn't forgive
you to save your neck, but Alice is
such dear, unselfish thing there's no
telling what she might do. I'll tell
you what I will do if you say SO.
though; I'll telephone Alice right now
and fix up some scheme to bring you
two together. Shall II"
IF you can manage it; but how on
earth could your"
"Oh, pshaw! Leave that to me-"
Alberta reached for the telephone and
called for a number. May 1 speak to
Miss Mills? Hello. Alice
this is Bert. 1 just happened to STUN
bic onto something today that you
lost and forgot about ages ago. At
first glance you may not think it's
worth picking up in the road, but
I'm going to bring it by tonight and
let you give it the once over
Never mind now; no ques-
lions asked. No. it's not
the cameo pin, and you could guess
from now till doofnsday without COM
ing anywhere near it.
Once upon a time I'd have said, It's
a BEAR but that expression is out of
date now. I'll bring it over at 8
o'clock tonight. Good-by."
Turning to the bewildered Walker,
she added: "And you just put that
crouch in the waste basket, and come
for me tonight promptly at a quarter
to S."-(Copyright, 1915. by the Nc
Clure Newspaper Syndicate.)
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-09-21
Journal Entries

Perfect happiness is as rare as it
is temporary when it does exist.
+ + -
It's easier to forgive the enemy who
is considerably larger than you are.
= = j.
Some people are kinder to dumb
animals than they are to the other
variety.
!. = j.
Among the unreasonable folk are
those who think they can be on the
right side of every question.
i. i p
A little caution of speech, and peo-
pie wouldn't say nearly SO many things
for which they are sorry afterwards.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-09-21

below par When business transac-
lions in South America are discussed
in terms of dollars instead of pounds
or marks, a great advance has been
made toward the day when the imam
cial center of the world shall be in
the United States; but when that day
arrives, its sun will flash the light or
freedom from our flag on every sea,
and in a hundred ports, with a navy
which will assure to every American
that same courteous respect which IS
afforded every Englishman.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-09-21
MIGHT MAKING RIGHT AGAIN.

Evidently the Pan-American con-
ferees on the Mexican muddle are
sticklers for the theory that might
makes right. A report has it that they
are about to pick as the head of Mex
leo, or the man to whom they will give
support and recognition, the one who
has the biggest armies behind him and
who is therefore in the best position
to enforce a stable government. This
seems to be the only sensible thing to
do, at that. But how long are the
Pan-Americaners going to wait for
this chosen one to set the Mexican
house in order? That is the crux OF
the Mexican problem.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-09-21
BEAUTIFUL. THINGS.

Beautiful ground on which we tread
Beautiful heaven above our head.
Beautiful flowers and beautiful trees.
Beautiful land and beautiful seas.
Beautiful sun that shines so bright.
beautiful moon that beams at night.
beautiful summer and beautiful spring.
beautiful birds that merrily sing.
Beautiful lambs that frisk and play.
Beau t1fu1 night and beautiful day.
beautiful lily and beautiful rose.
Beautiful every flower that grows.
Beautiful drops of pearly dew.
Beautiful hills and wales to view.
Beautiful herbs that scent the air.
Beautiful things that grow everywhere
Beautiful everything around
Beautiful grass to deck the ground.
Beautiful fields and woods so green.
Beautiful buds and blossoms seen.
Beautiful flower and beautiful leaf
Beautiful world though full of grief.
Beautiful every tiny blade.
Beautiful all that the Lord has made
r. E. S. in the Toronto Republican.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-09-21

Officially speaking, summer will
end in another day or two. That at
least is the dictum of those who di-
vided the seasons for the purposes of
calendar making. But 1t feels as if
summer weather is going to continue
for some time. If it doesn't, a whole
lot of summer weather for 1915 will
take its place among the things per-
msnently missing.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-09-21

This is free country and anybody
could appoint himself as a peace en-
Voy extra ordinary to Europe as Mr..
Bryan has done, or is planning to do,
but, of course, it isn't incumbent on
Europe to ratify such an appointment,
or welcome with open arms such an
envoy, which Europe probably will
not DO even in respect to such dis
tinguished personage as Mr.. BRYAN.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-09-21

There isn't the slightest disposition
here to enter into the uncertain bust
ness of weather prophecy. But the
chances are that this week, now that
the Topeka fair is thing of the past,
will be one of perfectly grand and de-
IiehtfllI weather