davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The broad ax., 1915-12-18
The "What Is tn

when 1 was a boy in Ohio there
came to town one day covered wagon
containing a mysterious animal which
was to be exhibited at the opera house
that night" said st. Louis gentleman
who still recalls with relish some Of
his youthful adventures. "They called
this creature the what is it. and that
night we all crowded into the opera
house to see it. The curtain was down.
Presently there was a rattle Of chains
behind the curtain and a scream. A
man rushed out, leaped over the foot
lights and started up the aisle, shout
ing:
".Run for your lives! The what Is
it. Is loosei'
1--WE got out in a hurry. All Of US
who could not get to the door went
through the windows. After the ex-
element had quieted somewhat we
discovered that the two showmen who
brought the what is it to town had
disappeared with the receipts. 1 re-
member that show better than any
other ever went to. Probably it was
the best."-St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
The broad ax., 1915-12-18
Luck Laden.

An idle person CHANGED to see a
wagon rolling slowly along Fulton
street. Bad luck pursued it. At Broad
way the driver sleepily tried to cross in
disregard Of the traffic policeman's am
pie and warning hand. His number
was jotted down in the book Of that
recording angel and a summons was
handed up. A few yards beyond and
the horse, turning to avoid hot chest
nut peddler, went down in a heap. The
pavement was slippery, and he must
needs be Embarrassed in the shafts be-
fore he could rise. Another block, and
somebody was digging a. hole in the
street to put in some kind Of main
for somebody else. The off wheels Of
the wagon rolled too near, and the We
hicle careened and slid into the exca-
Walton. 1t had to be unlOaded laborf-
ously by hand before it could be lacked
up level again.
The wagon carried load of 5000
CASTOR horseshOes.-New York Post
The broad ax., 1915-12-18
War and Social Changes.

"War," says Emerson, passes the
power Of all chemical solvents, break
ing up the old adhesions and allowing
the atoms of society to take a new
order" That this was pre-eminently
true of our own war is the opinion
Of Professor Fred Lewis Pattee in bis
History of American Literature Since
1870" THE change wrought by the
war;" he says, was far more than q
rise Of new activities and a shifting of
population. A totally new America
grew from the ashes Of the great con-
f1ict. In 1850 north and south alike
were provincial and self conscious.
New York city was an enormously
overgrown village, and Boston, Phila-
delphia and Charleston were almost
as individual and as unlike each other
as they had been In the days of the
Revolution. There had been nothing
to fuse the sections together and to
bring them to a common vision. Until
1860 there had been no passion fierce
enough to stir to the very center Of
their lives all Of the people, to melt
them into a homogeneous mass and to
pour them forth into the mold Of q
new individual soul among the ma
tionS"
The broad ax., 1915-12-18
STRENGTH of Oysters.

II a man, in proportion, had the
strength Of an oyster he could lift a
locomotive with ease. With the mus
cles with which an oyster Of good size
holds its shell closed a weight Of thir-
ty-five pounds can be supported. A
weight Of more than six pounds Is re-
quired to force apart the shell Of a
common mussel, and in the Mediter-
ranean a clam exists that will support
nearly 500 times its own weight
equivalent to a $50 pound man sup
porting more than thirty-six tons.
These interesting facts have been
brought to light by series Of expert
ments and investigations conducted by
Felix Plateau, Belgian scientist. DR..
Plateau has been measuring at the
same time the strength Of insects. Har-
messed to a delicate weighing machine
of special construction, the insects
were prodded into attempts to escape
while weights were added until any
forward movement was rendered i'm
possible. By such means the investi-
gator learned, among other curious
facts, that a bee, weight for weight, is
thirty times as'strong as horse.-Bos-
ton Herald.
The broad ax., 1915-12-18
Putting the Blame on Noah.

A tablet believed to be 1000 or 5000
years old and to antedate the book Of
Genesis by 1000 years sets forth, ac-
cording to the translation of DIR.
Steven LangdOn of Oxford university,
England, that it was Noah and not
Adam and Eve who brought about the
fall of man. Noah was commanded
not to eat of the cassia tree in the gar
den of paradise. the translation has it,
and when he disObeyed the curse Of Ill
health and an early death instead Of
a life span of $4,000 years like that of
his ancestors, fell on him. According
to Babylonian and Sumerian accounts,
the flood occurred about $4,000 years
before Christ, and the period between
that catastrophe and creation ,Oo0
years-was filed in by ten kings, so
that each must have ruled something
like 1920 years. The comparatively
short reigns of later kings is explained
as being the result of Noah's sin in eat
ing Of the cassia tree.
The broad ax., 1915-12-18
The Better Judqe.

Some years ago the Oldham anna
teurs were producing one Of Handel's
oratorios, under the personal tuition
and conductorship Of the late Sir
Charles Halle. Among the orchestra
was the famous and gigantic bassoon
player, George Seel of Ashton-under-
Lyme. At the first rehearsal Halle
went to George and, indicating several
bars for the bassoon, told him not to
play them on the night of the per-
Torrance. George was inwardly boil
ing with indignation, but said nothing.
On the night of the performance
George played the banned music.
When the affair was over Halle went
up to Seel in a great rage and, pointing
to the notes, said, Il told you to leave
them out, didn't I?'
AYE, you did," said George, "but
Handel towd me to put them in, an he
were a better judge than you."-Lon-
don Answers.
The broad ax., 1915-12-18
- - = ,.
Iabits of Authors.

Twas presented once to a lady who
Immediately fixed me with an eager
eye.
81 am making a study Of the habits
Of authors" she announced. Here a
dreadful sinking Of the heart assailed
me.) Kindly tell me at what hour
you retire"
Usually at half past TO-" answer
ed wretchedly.
At that, as 1 had expected, her eye
brows went up. "The author Of When
All Was Dark" she informed me, ''sits
up all night. She says she cannot
sleep until she has savored the dawn"
However, she was kind enough to give
me another chance. what do you
eat?' she asked.
Three hearty meals a day." I an
swered.
mot breakfast she pleaded. "Why,
st. George Dreamer never takes more
than three drops Of brandy on a lump
Of sugar In the morning. Just the
sight of a coffee cup will upset his
work for week."
And then she left me, sure, do not
doubt, that no real author could con-
fess to such distressingly normal hab-
its as mine.-Atlantic.
The broad ax., 1915-12-18
Military Spies.

One Of the ingenious ideas Of mod
ern war strategy Is to utilize artist
skill in making a drawing of FORTH
cation without betraying its purport
on the surface. The spy makes a
drawing which appears to be an ordi-
nary landscape. If caught with it he
might pose with comparative safety
as an artist who had been sketching
for pleasure and was entirely ignorant
Of the existence of any fort and its
surroundings.
Interpreted according to a secret
code, however, the picture reveals to
the spy's government a fairly COM
plete plan of fort. This is indicated
by the character and position of de-
tails. One kind of tree represents an
armored gun turret. A bush is an OBJ
servation turret. Other forms of trees
are gun positions, a couple Of gates
are entrances to the fort, a piece of
fencing is a barbed wire entangle-
ment, lines of bushes are bitches, and
so on.-Kansas City Star.
The broad ax., 1915-12-18
The Things That Come Hard.

81 am happy because it is so easy
for me to WRITE" said a beginner to
one Of the great masters Of French
prose.
go home and pray" said the mas
ter, "that it may come hard"
1t is so of writing, so Of thinking, SO
of life. The easy thing is barely worth
doing. The hard thing is worth do
ing, though the end be failure. A
goal, to make which one fairly tugs at
life and yet misses, is better than a
victory softly won.
So often the man who speaks easily
tells us least, while the sparing words
one wrenches from a taciturn speaker
are imbedded in thought. Shakespeare
said that Gratiano talked more than
any other man in all Venice. But he
compared his speech to a bushel Of
chaff in which lay hidden a single
grain Of wheat and that not worth the
finding-Toledo Blade.
The broad ax., 1915-12-18
What Interested Aer

DIR. Anna Howard Shaw, discussing
the divorce evil, on one occasion said:
Love is the best foundation for mar
rage, of course. But common sense
keeps it cool, and cool things, of
course, keep the best. But selishness
kills all-and some married people are
as selfish as the lady to whom the palm
list said, These lines, alas, tell me that
you are destined to wear widows
weeds oh, dear mep said the lady.
For how long?"
The broad ax., 1915-12-18
The DEVILS Bible,

The devils Bible is in the Royal Pal
ace library of Stockholm, Sweden. 1t
is huge copy of the Scriptures, writ
ten upon 800 prepared asses skins.
One tradition declares that it took 500
years, or from the eighth to the thir-
teenth century, TO make the copy,
which is so large that it has a table
to itself. Another tradition affirms
that the work was done in a single
night by a monk with the assistance
Of his satanic majesty. who, when the
work was completed. gave the monk a
picture of himself for the frontispiece,
where, amid illuminated lamentations,
1t IS still to be seen; hence the name
This marvellous manuscript was car
ried off by the Swedes during the thir-
ty years war from convent in
Prague.-Pearson's Weekly.
The broad ax., 1915-12-18
Clever Ruse.

Even more than fee gratefully paid
does a humorous physician enjoy an
extra fee adrOitly drawn from the
hand of a reluctant payer. Sir Richard
Jebb was once paid three guineas by a
nobleman from whom he had a right
to expect five. Sir Richard dropped
the coins on the carpet, when a servant
picked up and restored them-three
and only three. Instead of walking
Off Sir Richard continued his search on
the carpet.
"Are all the guineas found?" asked
his lordship, looking around.
''There must be two still on the
floor" was the answer. for 1 have
only three" The hint. of course, was
taken, and the right sum was put
down.-"DoctOrs and Patients"
The broad ax., 1915-12-18
Dreams That Were.

The Ounce has disappeared from the
schools and is not even pointed out In
the streets as erstwhile.
And the dear old man who used to
drop in q few hours before supper
and decline to remove his tOpcoat
because he had but few minutes to
stop and who fingered until he was
invited to eat, when he accepted, and
who remained until 10 o'clock in the
evening and then remarked that it was
time for him ITO be shown up the
creek"
And the fine old gentleman who
came in from the farm carrying
change in a pair of saddlebags. When
did you ever see pair Of these bags?
And the gracious lady, the neighbor,
who never baked anything good that
she didn't send some over to your
house? Eth? - Richmond Times-Dis-
patch
The broad ax., 1915-12-18
TeIephone Church Service.

Residents on the island of Guernsey,
In the English channel, are enabled to
listen to church service in their homes
any Sunday evening at a charge of
about 10 cents. Policemen and fire
men, as well as lighthouse keepers and
other government employees, who are
prevented by their occupation from 60
ing to church, are furnished the tele-
phone service free of charge At
Platte Fougere lighthouse station
sometimes as many as eight persons
sit down together to hear the telephone
service from church five miles away.
Popular Mechanics.
The broad ax., 1915-12-18
A Fable.

A woman once came to the cave Of a
sage who was renowned for his pro-
found analysis of her sex.
Master" said she. "let me sit at
your feet awhile. / am but a woman
faulty and foolish and weak-but 1
would fain be the pupil of your learn
ing and the disciple of your virtues"
And the sage. secure in his wisdom,
consented.
Then he laid himself down to sleep
in the shade of rock, out of the glare
of the sun. When he Weakened he was
blindfolded and bound hand and foot
prisoner to love.
He had protected himself against ev-
cry feminine weapon except the most
dangerous one-humility.-New York
Evening Sun.
The broad ax., 1915-12-18
Iireless Camels.

An eastern legend has it that the
camel was fashioned last by the Gre
ator, and so it is held in very high es-
TEEN by the people of the east. AL
though a somewhat mshapely and per
haps bad tempered animal. the camel
is an untiring worker. He will travel
on for hour after hour without appear
ing distressed in any way and on this
account has made a good name for
himself.-LondOn Answers.
The broad ax., 1915-12-18
The Fault of RidicuIe

There is no character, howsoever
good and fine, but it can be DESTROYED
by ridicule, howsoever poor and wit
less. Observe the ass, for instance.
His character is about perfect, he is
the choicest spirit among all the hum
bier animals, yet see what ridicule has
brought him to. Instead Of feeling
.complimented when we are called an
ass We are left in doubt-Mark Twain.
The broad ax., 1915-12-18
Roman Rulers.

Three of the greatest rulers Rome
ever had were Spanish born-Trajan,
Hadrian and Marcus Aurelius. Later
occupants Of the Caesarian throne born
In Iberia were Theodosius and Homo
RUS. Seneca, Martial and Quintilian,
famous in Roman letters, also were
SDaniards.
The broad ax., 1915-12-18
nisraali as a Turk.

At one period of his life Disraeli had
decided leanings toward the life Of
Turk, "very much confirmed by my
residence in Turkey" And the Turk
ish grandee who told him that he must
be one Of the eastern race because he
walked so slowly" won Dizzy's heart
at once.-London Standard.
The broad ax., 1915-12-18
Ieuend of the Pearl.

The ancient inhabitants of India had
a very pretty superstition concerning
the origin Of pearls. They believed
that at certain seasons Buddha show
cred dewdrops upon the world, which
the oyster. floating on the waters to
breathe, received and held until they
hardened and became pearls.
The broad ax., 1915-12-18
Cats Ewes

As showing how widely the perma-
nently blue eyes Of cats differ from
other eyes it is noted that immediate
ly the eyes of white cats that are to
have permanently blue eyes open they
shine bright red in the dark, and mel
ther the ephemeral kitten blue nor any
other colored eye does this.
The broad ax., 1915-12-18
To Thread a Hair Through a Walnut.

To pass Il hair through a walnut
without boring Il hole seems an impos-
sibility, but the feat has often been
done. The hull of the walnut when
examined with strong glass is seen
to have innumcrable small openings,
some Of which lead entirely through
the nut. The trick consists in using a
very fine hair and an infinite amount
Of patience. Pass the hair into one of
these minute crevices and urge it
gently along. Sometimes it will ap-
pear on the other side ut the first trial,
but If it comes out ut the hundred and
first you will be very lucky.
The broad ax., 1915-12-18
Bean Rallnfs

Black beans and white beans were
used by the ancients in gathering the
votes Of the people for the election of
magistrates. A white bean signified
a yea" and black one may" When
a politician failed to get elected he LIT.
orally had spilled the beans"
The broad ax., 1915-12-18
Business and Pleasure.

I'VE want TO keep business out Of
politics." said the reformer.
"Well," replied Senator Sorghum,
you've taken all the pleasure out Of
1t. If you take all the business out
of 1t, too, don't see what's going to
be left"-Washington Star.
The broad ax., 1915-12-18
Finance,

"Hello, Bilkins. How well you looki
All your worries gone up in smoker"
said Slithers joyously.
Eyes, SlitherS.' said Bilkins, I've
got great load of my mind. I've just
been able to borrow enough money to
pay of all my debts" = New York
Times.
The broad ax., 1915-12-18
Outline Combs,

Combs are always cut out in pairs.
The spaces left between the teeth Of
one comb serve TO form the teeth Of
the other, so that in shaping one comb
two are really made.
The broad ax., 1915-12-18
So Plebeian,

Doctor-This prescription will supply
iron in your system. Rich Patient
Iron Is so common, doctor. Couldn't
you make it gold or silver?-Boston
Transcript.
The broad ax., 1915-12-18
Few Paupers In Ianan.

There are few paupers In Japan.
Everybody works, and it is considered
a disgrace to be supported by your
relatives while you have the ability to
earn your own living.
The broad ax., 1915-12-18
Ona lmpnoxemant-

We never hear anybody talking about
the good old times without being re-
minded that our forefathers had to
crawl head first into their shirts.-To-
ledo Blade.
The broad ax., 1915-12-18
Editorial Amenities.

An editor stopped using the headline
Local Intelligence" in his paper not
long ago. A friend from another town
asked the reason. The reply was,
'oThere amt any."-Hartford Courant
The broad ax., 1915-12-18
History,

Brown-Anybody can make history,
you know, but only a great man can
write it. Smith-That may be, but
when history is made it is always sure
to be history, while when it Is written
it is merely some mans idea of his
tory.-Life.
The broad ax., 1915-12-18
What MIGHT Happen.

He-Yes, am still single. She-But
you intend to marry some day, do you
not? Hell do unless some woman
changes my mind.-Judge.
The broad ax., 1915-12-18
A Rassimisf

Pa, what is pessimistP'
"A pessimist is man. my boy, who
can't enjoy fine weather because he
knows 1t isn't going to last"-Detroit
Free Press.
The broad ax., 1915-12-18
SUSPICIOUS.

Friend-So this is one of your jokes,
is It? Ha, ha. ha. Humorist testify
We'll, what are you laughing at, any
how? Isn't it good one?-Passing
Show.
The broad ax., 1915-12-18
fla Grindstnna

Whether the grindstone Of life wears
q man down or polishes him rp de-
ponds entirely on the stun he Is made
of.-Youth's Companion.
The broad ax., 1915-12-18
Relic of Barbar;fv

Balls placed on the top of gateposts
are survival Of the barbaric practice
OF our forefathers, who hung over
their gates the heads of their enemies
killed In combat.
The broad ax., 1915-12-18
Hot Air.

"Have you hot air in your apart
ment2"
Have we? You Just ought to hear
the landlord telling what he is going
TO do for us."-Baltimore American.
The broad ax., 1915-12-18
What Did IL Mean7

A notice board in a Scottish kirk
once bore, 1t Is said. the following
amazing sentence: This church ia II.
censed for the solemnegation of mar.
riages."
The broad ax., 1915-12-18
JUDGMENT Davs

The world Is full Of Judgment days
and into every assembly that a man
enters, IN every action he attempts, he
II gagged and stamped Emerson.
The broad ax., 1915-12-18
Social Aspirations.
likes publicity. eh?"

"She likes publicity, eh?"
"Does she? Why, she thinks the So
ciety column ought to make an item Of
1t when she gives a little breakfast to
a tramp."-Louisville Courier-Journal
The broad ax., 1915-12-18
Cause For Grief,

"why did everybody cry In that last
death sceneY'
Because they knew the actor wasn't
really dead."-Topeka Journal.
The broad ax., 1915-12-18
Retort Courteous.

She-I never helped you to make q
fool Of yourself. He-You didn'tf
Didn't you marry me?- Baltimore
American.
The broad ax., 1915-12-18

Seldom Il knowledge given to keen,
but to impart. The grace Of this jewel
Il lost In concealment
The broad ax., 1915-12-18

One Of the very best Of all earthly
possessions is self possession.-G. ID
Prentice.
The broad ax., 1915-12-18

The love OF beauty Is taste; the ere
alton Of beauty Is art.-Emerson.
The broad ax., 1915-12-18

Self respect Is the cornerstone Of all
virtue.-Herschel.
Bogalusa enterprise. [volume] (Bogalusa, La.) 1914-1918, 1915-09-09
Colored Convention Here

The Twelfth Annual Convention
of the U B of N A of Louisiana
which has been in session in Boga-
lusa for the past several days came
to close yesterday afternoon, after
O le of the most interesting meet
iass in the history of the organiza-
ton. There were % delegates from
oft of the city in attendance. The
meeting was held at the Colored
Masons building and Supreme Presi-
dent E. D. Daniels and the following
o Ulcers were also present. Henry
Haynes V. P. L. A. Harrell Financial
Secretary, M. S. Berry Recording
Secretary. The annual sermon was
delivered by Rev. John Baptiste o;
the A. M. E. church. The address
of welcome was made by Mrs. A
B. Lenoir and Mrs. Mary Roberts
This lodge has about 60 members
in Bogalusa and is said to be
popular organization among thu
colOred citizens.
Bogalusa enterprise. [volume] (Bogalusa, La.) 1914-1918, 1915-09-09
LETS MAkEITATHOUSAN

Boeasa played the prominent part in our political career al
the two recent elections position to take even more
effective position hereafter who entitled to vote Will pay their
no tax and register There reasons why OF vital I'M
to every citizen who entitled to avail himself OF this
important privilege Of Bosusa depends to certain ex
tent upon the citizens advantage Of the ballot Elections will
be coming frequently which will much man the Parish
With the Parish and State elections only few months off, with special
elections always coming who entitled to vote should pay
his DOLL tax and register the earliest possible time.
The politicians any judge the city by the number of votes
has, Bosasa young and growing There will be times the
next few years that Bogaua will assistance from the officers in
power Parish State and National have the number Of
qualified voters we entitled will be in position get better
hearing for our needs you help Beausa and at the same
be in position all public matters then YOUR poll tax
and register:
The registration Bgasa has shown healthy increase during
the past year. Bogaua has 700 in the city, We are
entitled to 1000 or more and you Greater and Better
Boealusa pay your poll tax and register at once
Bogalusa enterprise. [volume] (Bogalusa, La.) 1914-1918, 1915-09-09
PROTECT YOUR CHILDREN

Mothers suppose that your or daughter lett nome
health and latter in the day informed that he or she had met
with an accident that life from the little body or lett h
cppe for life could describe your suffering and nohe
could be done to restore your darling to you!
Yet there are large number of children in Bosalsa VINO SUBJECT
themselves to such an accident every day is reported that large
number Of children and from school through the railroad yadS
the @ G. railroad where being switched and whee acc
~ ;sb occur at any moment 1t also reported that children are
under the lumber docks the Great Southern where cars are
hs switched at all hours day and where lumber falls occasional
w. Almost any day you may expect to hear OF some cho o he
Or badv injured at these places the Fourth street lumber yad uh
loco the naren see that the children the risk which
they are taking
The children Of Bosua who have been gong through
the railroad shops can use the street the north OF the raoad
nopery which would require but few minutes Longer 10 reach Tie
N Bosasa school The children who play in the lumber yards
~ not be permitted under circumstances frequent this place
Parents particularly lets protect the dear ones and see na
h future mothers and men of Boasa take chances whatsoever
Safety First" means no heartaches for the mothers
Bogalusa enterprise. [volume] (Bogalusa, La.) 1914-1918, 1915-09-09
Many Will Leave For College

The annual exodus of some of
Bogalusa's finest young people will
commence in a few days, when the
college season begins for the new
term. Those expected to depart
in the near future are.
Miss Thelma Voss who will enter
Sophie Newcomb, Miss Evelyn De.
Loney, who will attend Belle Haven
at Jackson, Miss, Miss Elizabeth
Sullivan who expects to again be at
Bryn Mawr. at Philadelphia; Miss
Ida Rowan to | l and C, at Column
bus Miss, and Miss Sara Pierce to
Wesleyan, in Macon Ga.
Roger Friou will enter L. S. T.,
and Charley Young will return to
the same school. Alice IRELAND
will 90 to Tulane, llous Keaton to
Mississippi College, SnelIines Pierce
will again be at Riverside, in Gaines
vile Ca, and Joe Rowan at Missis
sippi A and M.