davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Williams news., 1915-04-15
CONSTRUCTING A PLANK DRAG
Road Implement Often Made of Lum- ber Instead of Logs-Two Horses
 Sufficient to Haul Device.

Drags are often constructed of blanks instead of logs. The plank should be strengthened along the middle line by 2x6 inch strip. A triangular strip may be used under the lower edge of the blade to give it the proper cutting slope.
 Usually two horses are enough to pull a drag over an ordinary earth road. The team should be driven with one horse on either side of the right-hand wheel track the full length of the portion to be dragged and the return made over the other half of the roadway. The object of this treatment is to move earth toward the center of the roadway and raise it gradually above the surrounding level. While this is being accom- plished all mudholes and ruts will be filled, into which traffic will pack the fresh earth.
Williams news., 1915-04-15

Copyright, 1915, by W. c. Chapman)
 'If I only had gun!" sighed old Rufus Thwaite drearily.
 What would you do with it if you had, grandfather" inquired little Ned Rogers.
 Ned was a neighbor's boy and no re- lation whatever to his aged compan- ion Everybody in the neighborhood called MT. Thwaite grandfather, how ever. They were in fact more friend ly and indugent than those who had a right to do so.
 "Td go to war;" replied the old man with vehemence. q was a soldier once in Wales. I belonged to the Eng fish army. Look here," and the rheu- matic patriot sprang to his feet with unaccustomed agility, picked up long stick and went through dimly remem- bered tactics of the past.
 It would have been ludicrous had it not been sad. For ten years his mar ried granddaughter and her husband and their family had simply tolerated their aged relative as a helpless, wit less old man.
 They felt bitter towards him be- cause he had lost several thousand dollars in securities, which constituted his sole resources, and which they ex- pected to inherit.
 One day in the long ago MT. Thwaite had gone to the city to see the sights. He was missing for three days and then the A1lertons received word that he was in hospital, having been run down by a street car.
 They had brought him home to find that he had suffered broken arm and almost a total lapse of memory. They
Williams news., 1915-04-15
GOOD ROADS
OPERATION OF A ROAD DRAG
One of Advantages Is Maintenance of Smooth Surface, Free From Ruts
 and Troublesome Holes.

By H. F. HASKELL)
 The successful operation of a drag involves two principles: The first con- cerns the length and position of the hitch, while the second deals with the position of the driver on the drag Each influences the other to a large extent and successful manipulation of the drag is dependent upon an under standing of both of them.
 For ordinary purposes the snatch link, or clovis, should be fastened far enough toward the blade end of the chain to force the unloaded drag to follow the team at an angle of 45 de- grees. This will cause the earth to move along the face of the drag smoothly and will give comparatively light draft to the team, provided the driver rides in the line of draft
 The distance from the drag at which the team is hitched affects the depth of the cutting. Shortening the chain tends to lift the front slab from the ground; a longer hitch causes the blade to cut more deeply. The length
Williams news., 1915-04-15
ServiceabIe Road Drag.

of the hitch may be regulated by lengthening and shortening the chain at the end which runs through the hole in the blade end of the drag. Usu- ally two horses are enough to pull a drag over an ordinary earth road.
 The object of the drag is to move earth toward the center of the road way and to raise it gradually above the surrounding level. While this is being accomplished, all mudholes and ruts will be filled, into which traffic will press the fresh earth. The drag does the best work when the soil is moist, but not sticky.
 In soils full of loose stones or even small powders the drag does good service. The loose stones are drawn into windrow down the center of the road, while the earth is deposited around the powders in such way that the surface is leveled.
 The approximate cost of a split-log drag, labor and material is about three dollars; the cost for dragging one mile, going over several times, team and driver, is just what. you will make it from one dollar up, depending on the number of times required to go over the rough road
 The advantages to be gained from the persistent use of road drag may be summarized as follows:
 The maintenance of a smooth, serv. iceable earth road free from ruts and mudholes. The obtaining of such road surface with the expenditure of little money and labor in comparison with the money and labor required for other methods. The reduction of mud in wet weather and of dust in dry weather.
Williams news., 1915-04-15
PRINCE PACED FOR A COP
And Troubetzkey Responds, and the End Is That Fine of Two Dol
 lars 10 Imposed.

It sounded like subway guard calling Fourteenth street or Bowling Green-you can't tell the difference as a bellhop stalked majestically through the Hotel Plaza paging Prince Paul Troubetzkoy, says the New York Press. The name Troubetz. koy bothered the diminutive page, but he managed to articulate the prince" all right.
 It so happened that Prince Trou- betzkoy, who is sculptor with a studio in "A West Fffty-ninth street, was the only prince in the Plaza at the time, and, giving himself the bene- lit of the doubt, he responded to the call.
 There's gentleman outside wants to see you," the boy told him. Ac- companied by the princess, he went downstairs where at the door he saw Patrolman Cunningham of the East Fifty-ninth street station.
 Cunningham asked the prince if he was Prince Troubetzkoy, and the prince admitted that he was. He was promptly served with a summons to appear in court for violating an ordi- nance by leaving his automobile un- attended in front of the hotel.
 The prince expressed regret. The aldermen hadn't notified him they had passed such, an ordinance. He was too busy to appear when his case came up in the Yorkville police court the other day. and sent Guy s. Switz- CT, superintendent of an automobile company, to represent him. A plea Of guilty was entered, and Switzer paid two-dollar fine.
Williams news., 1915-04-15
Polishing Up the Busted Old Muske,

could not lind his precious securities, He had not even . list of what they were. They decided that he must have taken them to the city with him and lost them. He could not remem- Der.
 Then they began to neglect him. They put him in a small dark bed room over the kitchen, made him take his meals there, and, lonely and cold though he might be, never invited him into the better part of the house.
 For about month the old man had become greatly interested in the war. Every afternoon after school Ned Rogers brought the morning newspa- per from home, and he and the old man would go up to the wretched room and he would read to him for an hour, all war news.
 See here, Ned," spoke MT. Thwaite just now, T feel it my duty to 20 back to my old home and offer my services to the army.''
 Why, MT. Thwaite. exclaimed Ned. you're too old! Besides, that stfn arm of yours. And how would you ever get there?"
 I'd try it, anyhow" replied MT. Thwafte, dreamy expression in his eyes. I'm pretty miserable here, Ned. The folks don't care for me. Now there was my other daughter, Nora She's Mrs. Milton and lives nfty miles from here. She invited me to live with them, but I knew they were too poor. Besides, Esther here got lots of money from me when l had it. All have now is a little mortgage. When I collect the inter. est, twenty dollars every six months, they take most of it away from me. I've got dollar of the last payment left Say," exclaimed the speaker with sudden animation, I've thought of great scheme"
 What is that, grandfather" l. quired Ned curiously.
 Well. up in the old attic-it backs on the kitchen roof is my old gun ana knapsack. I asked them once to let me have them, but they only iaugned at me and wouldn't even let me go up to the attic to get them my self. Say, you could"
 Oh, l would not darei" declared Ned.
 why not?" It isn't stealing. Tneyre mine. You can get up on the Kitchen roof when they aren't watchlng. There's no sash to that as-ic window You can't miss the gun
Williams news., 1915-04-15
Arrests Convictions
The division of !,

The division Of winnings from the dupes was, however, naturally not equal; some of the promoters of the more elaborate schemes during the i've years are stated by the federal authorities to have cleared millions, while others got hundreds of thou In other cases the post office inspec- tors got on the trail of the swindlers before they had a chance to fleece any large number of victims.
 The scope of the fraudulent mail business in this country may be gauged to some extent from the simple state ment that 34,000 complaints concern ing schemes to defraud were made to the post office department during the last fiscal year, in addition to the rou- tine inspections of the post offices.
 Approximately 100 different kinds of swindles are included in the schemes whereby the mail operators have gath cred in the coin of the innocent since 1910. Schemes for stock selling and for treating disease by mail are the two swindles which have netted more money than any other kinds In the report of the solicitor for the post of flee department it is stated that in 1914 of the frauds suppressed through the issuance of fraud orders-which bar the mails to the schemes specified therein - the most profitable were those operated for the treatment of disease. In 1913, on the other hand. 1t was stated that 'the stock selling proposition seems to appeal to the public more than any other one fraud scheme unearthed"
 Of the medical frauds the report for 1914 says:
 These schemes were insidious. vii cious and highly detrimental to the public welfare, while the methods pur- sued were the most unconscionable with which the department had to deal. In view of certain decisions of the courts they were also the most difficult with which successfully to cope. .I
 Al the hearings in many of these cases the testimony of the proprietors of these enterprises, under cross-ex
Williams news., 1915-04-15

ems are so decorated-hair, ears, arms. neck, hands, feet, any part of the per son to which adornment may be fas- tened-so laden are they with gold and 1ewelry that scarcely any part of their natural beauty remains uncov- cred.
 Meanwhile the young men with their flowing caftans and boards are paraded by their fathers up and down before the mute and blushing beauties.
 Eight days after the first bride show the interviews take place at the par ents' houses and through a profession
Williams news., 1915-04-15

and knapsack. I'll give you the dol- lar to do it."
 It took some persuasion to induce Ned to follow out the suggestion of the old man. The bright silver dollar was a powerful argument, however. Two nights later MT. Thwaite had his coveted accouterments and Ned had the dollar in his pocket.
 The old man spent one entire night polishing up the rusted old musket. He begged powder and caps from . neighbor. The old knapsack was near ly falling to pieces. He tied it up stoutly.
 'Tll fix that when I get to Morals" |" he decided. "Tm going to stop there to bid her good-by."
 The following day he stole away from the house and the village and headed for the settlement where the Miltons lived. It was a long, hard tramp for the old man. Sturdily, how ever, he pursued his way, the knap- sack strapped across his bent shoulder, the heavy musket carried proudly. He had no money, but kind-hearted house wives gave him what he wanted to eat. Twice he slept in a haystack. He was looked upon with pity as homeless wanderer. He was pretty glad when one morning from inquiries he found that it was only three miles to the little farm where the Miltons lived.
 Half the distance accomplished, he was so tired out that he climbed a fence and lay down in a straw heap to rest. He was soon asleep.
 One hour later a young man driving horse attached to an old farm wag- on went slowly past the spot.
 Suddenly-bang!
 He had some difficulty in quieting down the startled horse. Then he looked towards the spot where puff of smoke had shown. An old man was picking himself up from the ground. It was Mr. Thwaite. He had gone to sleep. His dream had been full of war and warriors. Awaken ing confused, he had taken a scare crow near by for ''the enemy" had fired, the gun had kicked and over he went.
 It did not take Mr. Milton long to discover the identity of the old man. He welcomed him to their humble home. It's comfort soon put all war. like ideas out of the head of the de- lighted old veteran.
 Nora wrote to her sister about his arrival. Esther wrote back: Keep him and welcome-good riddance to bad rubbish!"
 The old army musket was placed across the antlers of a deer in the dining room. The old knapsack MT. Thwaite unpacked one day, prepara- tory to burning the rubbish.
 Nora had not worried her grand father by telling him of a mortgage on the little home. She was thinking of this sadly when the old man came rushing excitedly into her presence.
 I've found them!" he shouted hilari- ously
 Found what?" inquired the startled Nora.
 The lost securiies-in my knap- sack. They must have been there all these years and never remembered 1t. This time you shall have them, dear little girl! Just give me home for the few years of life left to mo and take the securities for your pay"
 We need no pay for dutifully car Ing for you and loving you, dear grandpa" replied Nora, but the old man was set in his notions and the heavy burden of debt was soon thereafter lifted from the happy
Williams news., 1915-04-15

she finished her story in the witness
 chair.
 One of the few mail swindles which
 touched the wealthy classes exclu
 sively was the so-called de luxe boob
 swindle, by which volumes worth SIG
 or $20 were sold to rich and ignorant
 book collectors for prices running uI
 to many hundreds.
 Among other swindles carried on through the mails are inducing bet
 ting on fake" horse races and ath( letic contests, selling worthless goods through misrepresentations. obtaining commissions on fraudulent orders selling, divining rods for locating min erals, using forged bills of lading in cotton deals, brokerage frauds, obtain ing money by impersonating other per sons, obtaining goods under false pre- lenses, selling state rights and estab fishing fictitious agencies, selling un fair gambling devices, using "no-fund' checks, matrimonial schemes, selling cancelled postage stamps and Mexican money obtaining expense money on promise to sell stocks, collecting feea for imaginary positions. selling rights to a patent many times in the same state, securing advance payments on goods not delivered, obtaining pay. ment from relatives of deceased per sons for goods supposed to have been ordered before death, obtaining money from alleged heirs to estates. obtain. ing money to assist in securing ictf tious inheritances, sales of sham reel pes, trading in green goods, obtainina subscriptions for nonexistent charf table institutions, running sham em ployment bureaus, selling interests in nonexistent moving picture theaters selling diplomas for which no study is required, failing to distribute adver Using matter as called for by contract and blackmail
 In 1914 more fraud orders were is sued than has been the case for some time. In 1910 the post office authort ties began to issue fewer fraud or ders than had been customary in the belief that it would be better to prose cute criminally those operating fraud ulent schemes. Whereas in 1909 there were 225 fraud orders, in 1910 there were but 131, and in 1911 only 77. There was still further decrease in 1912, the number being 19. while in 1913 there were only three fraud or ders issued. The number in 1914 was 45.
 It has been found that criminal is not always successful In stopping the operations-indeed the departmental reports state that ip some cases the swindlers have con tinued the operation of their business during arrest, trial, conviction and i'm prisonment-whereas fraud orders bar the mails to the operators of the scheme. Thus the department is now using both fraud orders and criminal
Williams news., 1915-04-15
The Artist.

The whole function of the artist in the world is to be seeing and a feel ing creature; to be an instrument of such tenderness and sensitiveness that no shadow, no hue, no line, no instantaneous and evanescent express sion of the visible things around him, nor any of the emotions which they are capable of conveying to the spirit which has been given him, shall either be left unrecorded or fade from the book of record.-Ruskin.
Williams news., 1915-04-15
..s351,OOO,00O

The number of persons arrested dur ing the years tabulated was 2,S61. If the money obtained had been divided equally between them each would have had dishonest gain of $122, 1884, proof of the lucrative nature of swindles which are carried on by use of the mails. There were more arrests in 1914 than in any of the other years under consideration, the record of ar rests and convictions being as follows:
Williams news., 1915-04-15
Horse Care.

Don't whip the horse if he is afraid. Talk gently to him. Don't forget his salt. Don't put a rough. dirty bit in his mouth, nor frosty one. Don't hitch him in the cold, unprotected by blankets, and hitch him so the wind will not be in his face. Notice how horses in lot always turn tail to a cold wind. Give him enough to eat of a good, wholesome food, and all the good water he wants.
Williams news., 1915-04-15

al matchmaker the young people are betrothed. The wages of this go-be- tween are as regularly fixed as the percentage of a broker. Months may De spent on his preliminaries-the prospects or dowry. The girl has no voice in the matter. It is time enough for the couple to assume the unim. portant part of becoming acquainted when their fate has been irrevocably fixed.
Williams news., 1915-04-15
The Dairy Business,

It is said that those who don't like dairying should go out of 1t, or not engage in it. Experience has taught us that men seldom make money from any commodity that they do not like to handle. This is as true of hogs as of COWS. There is money in both if you are organized to handle them and give the matter plenty of intelligent care.
Williams news., 1915-04-15

animation by counsel for the govern
 ment, showed that they had little edu-
 cation of any kind, and they made ab-
 solutely no claim to any knowledge of
 medicine. Invariably they were merely
 shrewd, interruptions advertisers.
 Generally speaking they employed
 some man who had graduated as doc
 tor. but was without much experience
 or practice. The business was con- ducted in his name, and he was fea- tured in the literature as a man of singular ability and great scientific at
 tainment in the medical profession, who had spent years in the study of the particular ailments which he ad- vertised to treat and who had made wonderful discoveries of remedies which would cure the diseases repre- sented by number of symptoms list ed in the advertisements.
 Tt was represented that such doctor and his alleged corps of assistants would give personal attention to each case. and that they would prescribe such remedies as they should find by their superior facilities and experi- ence were needed in the treatment of any of the diseases they advertised to cure. Even in those instances where a doctor or doctors were connected with the business this was solely for the purpose of lending color to their fraudulent representatives, and the diagnosing and prescribing were nearly always made by mere clerks"
 Of the stock selling swindlers those who have netted the largest amounts are those who have dealt with min- ing and oil properties, although big sums have also been coaxed out of pockets of the guileless by the golden promises of fortunes to be made from buying stock in land companies and even in industrial companies.
 One of the worst features of the stock selling schemes is that it is largely those who can least afford to lose who buy the worthless securities. In the gray old federal building of New York there have, within the last three years, been told stories on the witness stand by dupes which might we'll leave perpetual blush of shame on the face of any man guilty of such contemptible swindles.
 In one trial, for instance, pale little music teacher told how, after saving for eight years, she had man aged to accumulate $4OO. She had then read one of the prospectuses of the swindlers who were sitting at the counsel table few feet from her when she was giving her evidence. This had told her that her s4OO would make her rich for life if she would only forward it at once for stock in the astounding gold mine | which the swindlers owned. She wrote | to the company, stating her position and how much of self-sacrifice the $40O | meant to her, and received back "a | lovely letter" from the president, tell ing her how interested he was in her case and how certain he was that she would soon be able to give up teach ing music if she would only forward the $40O right away. And the little teacher sent the money, and the mine was worthless, and she half tainted as
Williams news., 1915-04-15
DAY FOR CHOOSING BRIDES
Whitmonday Is Great Occasion for the Young People of Russia's
 Capital City.

Whitmonday Is still a great day in Petrograd when the celebrated festival of the choosing of brides takes place. The daughters of the traders assemble on that day in all their f1nery, marshaled along the fow- CT beds, their mothers carefully sta tioued behind them. The young maid
Williams news., 1915-04-15

III have ake n from the m American public $351,- |n 100000. Those arrested during the fiscal year of |(-S 1914 took $68,O0O,OOO of this total, $14,0OO,O00 more than those arrested in 1913 and l6,00O,000 more than those arrested in 1912, which seems to indicate that the American public is becoming less rather than more sophisticated.
 Analysis of the annual reports of the post office department for the fiscal year 1914, recently printed for public distribution, with analysis of the four preceding annual reports, gives the figures mentioned. In considering the tribute which Americans are yielding each year to the mail swindlers it should be noted, however, that the to- tai of $351, ,O00,0 ,00O, great as it is, is but part of the stupendous total trib- ute which goes into dishonest pockets via the mail route each twelve months, For the $351.000,00O is the estimate of the federal authorities of the haul only Of those persons arrested.
 By no means all the mail swindlers of the United States are arrested: fraud orders do the work of stopping their operations in some instances; in others 1t is impossible for the post once Inspectors to obtain the evi- dence which would justify criminal court action; in still others the activi. ties Of the swtndlers never come to the attention of the authorities at all. Thus it is obvious that the loot of those arrested is but part-no man can say how small or great a part-of the total sum of money filched each year by mail sharpers from the Amer fcan pocketbook.
 The following is the record of the money estimated to have been ob- tained by mail swindlers actually ar rested in the years mentioned:
Williams news., 1915-04-15
His Position,

What is your position on this ques tion?" asked the constituent. The congressman thought a minute and then replied:
 Very uncomforta ble"
Williams news., 1915-04-15

There are more islands in Lake Hu, ron tban in any otber known lake.
Williams news., 1915-04-15
Eggs to Discard,

Eggs weighing less than two ounces each should not be incubated.
Williams news., 1915-04-15
MAIL SWINDLERS GET $351, 900, ,00Q...

HOSE mail swindlers who
 have been arrested by the
 federal authorities dur ing the last five years h ave ta k e n from the American public $351,- 100000. Those arrested during the fiscal year of 1914 took $68,00O,0OO of