davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-12-23
JAPAN DEFENDED.

There has been such widespread
criticism OF the motives aud acts of
Japan. particularly in reference to the
supposed designs that country has in
matters of vital interest 10 the United
States, that it is refreshing to find an
eminent American authority on far
Eastern questions who takes ND the
eefense OF Japan
Professor George TrumbuIl L.add Of
Yale university, who has made many
voyages to the far east and has spent
muca time in Japan. refers to that
country as that interesting. brave
and on the whole admirable nation.
md takes upon himself full RESPONSE
bility fer the truthfalness and accur-
eey of the statement On his third
visit TO Japan in fa1e-07 he found that
the United States was admired ana
loved in spite Of the recent action OF
the San Francisco school board in ref
erenee TO Japanese. Today. he SAYS.
there is no denying the fact that this
feeling has changed in no small de-
gree and, In his opinion. the fault lies
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-12-23
THE MONUMENTAL FAILURE

While Chicago police affairs are Of
little or no moment outside of that city
the recent utteTances of Mayor Thomp-
son, wherein he violently denounced
his police force. are of more than
passing interest as an example of ex-
pert ground and lofty passing the
buck
When MT Thompson assumed the
mayors chair some nine months ago
he proclaimed ia loud and vehement
accents that the crooks would be driven
out of Chicago and the city cleaned as
white as the driven snow. He named
his own police chief and every facil-
ity was afforded him to carry out his
housekeeping plans
Strange TO relate. the crooks refused
TO leave and the administration of MIR.
Thompson up to the present time
ranks as a record breaker for criminal
sctiyity In the city of Chicago.
The people commenced to ask uues
lions and the mayor In order 10 save
bis face, blames the police depart
ment, summing up his condemnation
In the far from elegant sentence that
"the police force stinks" Mr.. Thomp-
son has thus acknowledged his own
Incompetence, his monumental failure
4 all but fourfiushing.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-12-23
TOO BIG TO DIGEST

There is no particular mystery about
the slump in Anglo-French bonds on
the dissolution of the underwriting
syndicate.
The loan of 100000 600 was much
the largest that ever sought a market
at one time in the United States and
the largest external loan that ever
sought a market at one time in any
other country. The consideration
alone disposes of any wonder that
$1S0,000,000 Of the bonds are left IN
sold in the hands Of the underwriters
with the price down points below
what was paid for them
There are other considerations.
These allied governments have been
making no progress with the war ex-
cept in multiplying it's promised costs
toward infnity and assuring the
worlds capital Of many more vast
bond issues to come Tendencies
meantime in the United States have
all been in the direction of making
home investments more attractive than
has ever been known before in our
time for the hong look ahead
The Anglo-French debt will be paid.
There is no doubt Of the security. But
its price will necessarily fuctuate with
the fortunes Of war. and as matters
are now it will evidently not be price
to encourage the placing of more war
issues here.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-12-23
ARIsToCRACY HIT BY WAR.

A Rotterdam dispatch published a
few days ago gave this information
The Almanach de Gotha for 1916.
which has Just been published shows
That in the first ten months Of 1915
1856 German counts, 456 German bar
ons, 500 members Of the old nobility
and 552 members Of the newer German
nobility have been killed. Among those
killed were Is members Of the Won
Wedet family and II members of the
Won Buelow family"
1t is well known that the titled fam
lilies OF England have been among the
heaviest losers in the war. two full
pages Of the London illustrated pa
pers being devoted almost every week
TO small photographs Of the sons Of
first families who have fallen in battle
There is nothing to confirm the
charges made in the earlier stages of
the war that it was a struggle pre-
cipitated by the upper classes" with
the lower classes taking all the
risks. The war spirit may have been
promoted indirectly by the fake pat
riotism' of the nobility in the several
countries involved, but there is am
pie evidence that the mobiles are doing
their Bit in the actual fighting.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-12-23

Anything that makes child self
conscious, gives ideas of superiority
over the general average of young
folk, or exhibits childish accomplish
ments-no, not childish, but precoci-
Gus accomplishments the public
Is bad for the child's nervous system.
Perhaps little private schoolroom
speaking or entertainments, without
outsiders present. are beneficial, if
sensibiy managed by teacher who
knows the danger OF stimulating van
ity. But performances in which the
innocent school child IS made show
actor, or allowed 10 play part en-
tirely unsuited 10 a chiId's capabilities,
are downright cruel. we care not who
conducts them.
We beg OF all our readers who have
children OF school age thar they take
a firm stal-d in this matter, in the in
terests OF the child's future health.
When you push" 2 child. you are
bound TO hurt him. Dent try to make
vain little old men and women OF them
and don't lei the teacher do so either.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-12-23
HOPEFUL.

The SPECTATORS in war brides and
the promoters Of munitions industries
are licking their chops in anticipation
Of a whack at the big preparedness ap-
preparations which promise to be
forthcoming from the next congress
The European war. according 10 the
Chicago Trihune's financial expert,
has made a new crop Of miliionaires"
in this country. It is the fond hope Of
the munitions makers and stock sharp
ers to reap more millions of easy
profits off Uncle Sans augmentation
Of his defense program.
This hope is not unreasonable
There have been profits ranging from
25 to so per cent in the munitions and
armor place supplied to Uncle Sam in
the past. Why, these parasites ask
themselves, shouldn't an enlarged ap-
preparation swell the velvet
There is d simple and easy way to
head Off the proving Of the profit seek
ers. That is to cut out the middlemen
by making the manufacture of all war
materials strictly a government job.
There is no sound reason whatever
why the people Of the United States
should be taxed 10 nay IS to so per
cent profit to the munitions specuta-
tor.-Peoria Journal.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-12-23

cf1iefv at our door rather than at the
door Of the japanese.
Professor Ladd calls attention to
the faisehood and misrepresentation
with reference to the doings OF the
Japanese In Korea several years age.
and asserts that the same sinister mo-
tives are behind the criticism OF ia
pan's present relations with China
Professor Ladd attributes the criti-
cism Of Japan in both cases to promo
ters and would-be eOncessionaires %
Who we're thwarted in their selfish pur-
poses.
Japan was fully justified, Ia Profess
sor Ladd's opinion. in carrying through
the recent agreement" with China,
even at the expense OF employing a
certain display Of a threatening Of
force. China, he says. will not make
and keep obligations On fair terms
with foreigners, or Of her Own free
will enter into the comfy of nations,
He asserts that the main features oil
the agreement as 1t was finally con
Cluded are even more moderate and
fairer than under existing could have
reasonably been expected
Professor Laid insists that nations
will stop going to war with one an
other when they aim chiefly to sppre-
ciate one another's virtues and excel
lencies, to regard Ieniently one anoth-
er's faults and deficiencies. and always
10 deal fairly, IL not generously with
one another He, therefore, greatly de-
plores the feeling in this country TO
ward Japan.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-12-23
BY M. Quad.

appeared at the back and attacked
what he Judged was the pantry win
dow.
Professor Longbody went into tbs.
window like a monkey. He was M,
mistaken about its being the pautrr
The door leading into the dining rnom
was shut. and 1t was tine for ths,
dark lantern. 1t was fashed~that I.
there was no fash. A dark lantern had
been bought all right, but the profas,
sor had not bought any OH to fill IL. IA
must hunt for matches In stranra
house at midnight He had forgottao
to post himself as to whether tba
house was lighted by electricity. On,
or lamps. but be softly opened the door
and found himself IN room almost q,
dark. Where was the match safe 4,
there was one? In the kitchen proba.
bly,. He Aent feeling his way for
about ten feet. Then he humped y,
against table and inyoluntarily mr.
out bis hands. and they struck a pile q,
8A1ssC7 aNAE aaAlhtsFAE tAitilt 10 TIE uG1r
The professor crouched on the eoor
and waited with beating heart And
lie had only a few seconds to wait
The room was suddenly flooded with
an electric light, and man came run.
ming downstairs, revolver In hand
No move was made to get away. On
the contrary. the teacher of philosophy
and logic got to his feet and sat down
on chair.
Well" queried the man with the
gun as he sat down on another
rs it Of any use to say anythingY'
replied Professor Longbody.
"Oh. yes" replied the householder.
''You see, / know you. You teach phi,
losophy and logic at the school. but
you don't practice what you teach"
Il was making an experiment" was
the rather weak reply.
Eyes; I have expected you since you
first saw that open window. hap.
pened to be watching you that day.
You had convinced yourself that you
were smarter than the smartest crimi-
nal"
Yes"
What are you going to DO with
me:' asked the professor.
why, nothing. professor. nothing at
all. You are free to 60. You have
made your little experiment, and it has
| been stupendous blunder and dire
failure"
~ thank you, sir, for understanding
it that way" replied the erudite man.
ooh, no thanks, my dear man. Be
fore you go, however, let me tell you
that a robber came around here while
you were at work in the back and
effected an entrance to the house next
door. which is taking care OF itself
while the family are away. ! presume
his plumber viii be valued at $500 at
least. Good night. Professor Iongbody
Keep it up and stick to your text.
books"
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-12-23
EASTERN EXPERIMENT

While the rate On land has been ad-
yanced, that on buildings has been
lowered. AS one Of our authorities on
municipal affairs has pointed out, the
holder Of idle land can share in the
modified tax plan any time he desires
property; in other words, by doing
something himself to add value to his
acreage instead of depending upon the
Improvements made by his adjoining
neighbors"
The Pittsburgh plan follows closely
along the lines OF the much discussed
Houston plan" under which i'm
proyements are taxed at considerably
less than value, utility franchises at
full value and personal property ex-
empted Houston has enjoyed more
municipal progress and witnessed
more private improvements since the
inauguration of the system than ever
before in her history. Illinois stud
ents of the tax problem should keep
their eyes on these two cities.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-12-23
The Daily Story
The Professor Experiment - BY NJ Quad.

Professor Brixton Longbody was H
born philosopher and iogician. AT
fifteen years old he had read more phi
losophy than forty average men COM
blned.
At the age of twenty-five young
Longbody was appointed professor OF
logic and philosophy at state uniyer-
sity
One afternoon the professor was
crossing the campus when be picked
IN q book that some one had dropped
or thrown away. 1t was entitled THE
Life OF VIdocg" Never In all bis
DAYS had he read a criminal or a de.
tective story. He had never let his pro-
found mind dwell for three seconds on
such literature. Behold, the time had
come, That night IL sat up untfl past
midnight reading that book. 1t was
new revelation 10 him, new world OF
thought
He analyzed Vidocq's logic and phi
losophy and found fault with them.
He counted up the number of blum
ders that the average criminal made ia
q case and was amazed that the fellow
had not been overhauied ia half day.
After reading the book twice over he
laid it aside with sigh Of:
Dear me, what a pack Of idiotsl
And how easy 10 have been sensible!
As detective would have made a
great success. AS O criminal / fear
that should have been more success
full"
Do what he would, Professor Long
body could not drive away these
thoughts In a couple Of weeks, as he
walked cut, be imagined himself either
Il criminal or a detective, Sometimes
he was ashamed and indignant at him
self, and at other times he was rather
pleased. In passing down a certain
street the professor noticed that par
Tor window in q certain house was
half raised. A night or two later he
passed the same house an hour before
midnight and noticed that the same
window was still up.
Careless people-yery careless" he
whispered TO himself. That's a plain
invitation for a robber to enter and
plumber the house"
1t made him angry with the owner Of
the place Was it his duty TO teach
the man a lesson? Would you believe
that the great philosopher argued that
it was?
The professor would enter that house
by night. By the open window? No,
sir, he was too sharp for that. That
would be the road Of the common Grim
inal. and 1t would be fearful blunder.
The owner of the house was inviting a
would be r0bber TO climb in that win
dow TO get caught in & bear trap or
lose his life by spring gun.
The professor bought q dark lantern.
He put few tools in his pockets and
set ont one night to commit a philoso-
phical and logical burglary. He was
expected at the front Therefore he
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-12-23
Sidelights on the European War

ed reports have brought news Of
fresh volcanic outbreak on the island
of Ambrim in the New Hebrides group,
a spot which experienced a most de-
structiye volcanic eruption in Deem
Der. 1918.
The Rev. A. T. Waters. a mission
airy stationed on the island of Oba,
about so miles from Ambrim, writes
that on the first few days OF October
last smoke and volcanic ash clouded
the sky SO thickly that the sun gave
only a weird light like the moon, and
lit eventually became so dark that the
people on Oba had to light lamps EY-
erything became gritty with ashes In
doors, and out-of-doors they were so
thick that the sea could not be seen
There was for a time some panic
among the natives Of Oba who thought
one OF the mountains on their own is
land was in eruption. but the source Of
the trouble was later traced 10 Ams
brim, and it appeared as though the
entire island vas burning. The mis-
sionary's letter did not say that any
one ventured TO visit Ambrim during
the eruption, and the extent Of the
damage or loss of life. if any, is W.
known.
The previous eruption at Ambrim,
in December, 1918, was reported TO
have cost the lives Of 500 natives, and
to have completely altered the face
and coast line of the island Accord
ing to the natives Of Oba the recent
trouble appeared TO have been still!
worse than the previous eruption.
Little is known as to the interior
of Ambrim, which has been visited but
rarely by white men. No census has
ever been taken, but among the coast
settlements there are number OF
mission stations, mainly Roman Cath
Ole and Presbyterian, whose mem
bers had narrow escape in the pre-
vious eruption.
The New Hebrides islands have been
controlled since 1906 by joint COM
mission Of British and French officials
under the supervision OF two resident
commissioners. one appointed by each
nation.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-12-23
TOYS OF FRANCE.

The present holiday season finds
the French toy shops stocked. prob
ably for the first time in four years.
with toys exclusively of French man
ufacture. The Germans with what
was practically monopoly on toys,
formerly exported into France some
81 o00.000 worth of toys every year,
particularly leaden soldiers and doll
heads.
1t is probably also true that the
children OF France, who form an army
of some 100000. were never so thor
oughly equipped with war toys as they
will be this year. There is no evi-
dence from the stores that the prepa-
rations Tor the Christmas and New
Year celebrations ere any less elaboF-
ate than usual, and it is everywhere
noticed that the windows and
shelves are filled with aeroplanes, Yep
pelins. hand grenades, forts. rifles, pis-
tolls, sabres, machine guns. cannon and
soldiers dressed in uniforms of the
British. Russian. Italian and French
armies. and German soldiers. too. for
opponents. The old-time playthings OF
children have entirely disappeared
from the stores. The children will not
have anything that isn't modelled for
warfare. So warlike are the girls that
the toys Of the boys serve fer them al
so, save for the dolls, and even they,
instead OF wearing their usual fnery
Of silks aud satins, are plainly dress
ed as Red Cross nurses with whole
outfits of bandages and surgical in
struments at their disposal
A surprising fidelity to truth and
fact is shown in all the war toys, for If
the toys were not SO made they
would not sell All the children are
thoroughly yersed in military affairs
and they must have everything faith
full TO detail. Even the tiny guns shoot,
the searchiights shine and the harbed
wire for the trenches really cuts.
The favorite outfit appears TO be
that % mine and trench construction
toy which when properly put to-
gether, constitutes an entire set of
French and German trenches.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-12-23

Illinois taxpayers, who are soon to
be confronted with the difficult task
Of readjusting their taxation system,
should be greatly interested in the ex-
pertinent which Pittsburgh is under
taking Next years assessment will
witness a general raise in land taxes
in the city, according TO the site
value" idea; that is, lots which have
become Of especial value by reason Of
location will be assessed at higher
rate than lots which have not the ad-
vantage Of preferred location. AS an
Offset to this increase in taxes. i'm
proyements will be taxed but so per
cent OF their value. Under the Penn
sylTania system no taxes have been
levied on merchandise, household
possessions or money in banks.
The Pittsburg Post in commenting
on the new plan, says:
An effort has been made to encour-
age the owner Of real estate in Pitts
burgh who will improve his land
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-12-23
y
William Drady,n.D.
St. Vitus' Dance and School Life

Chorea or st Nitus' Dance" is an
acute, probably infectious mot con-
tagious. but Of bacterial origin dis
ease which runs course of several
weeks or months and terminates in
complete recovery--if the patient is
not injured by ill-advised treatment 1t
is Enthusiastically a disease Of chill
dren of school age, and of children in
homeopathic families-that is, families
with a tendency to nervous troubles.
As for cures, the particular mode of
treatment. or charm, or prayer, or
neglect, which happens to be in use to-
ward the latter end of the attack gets
the whereas nature produces
the cure. The important part of medi-
cal treatment for chorea is to protect
the child from injurious things.
As for the cause, the nervous ten
dency or vulnerability has already been
mentioned If the parents or others
OF the household are nervous" the
child Will be, by association and by
reason Of bad habits-such as being
up late nights. poor control OF temper.
100 ready qualification Of every triaing
craving, and faulty discipline in gem
eral.
But there is one very common abuse
which We think should be stopped. So
many little ones in the lower grades
of school are drilled to take part in
performance" about the time
the great performance is to take place,
the poor little overdriven child deveI-
opes chorea, directly as result of
the nervous strain incident 10 the
preparation, and in spite of the fact
that the little one is apparently anxi-
GUS and pleased 10 take part.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-12-23
Au0ther's Opinions.

Cupid can see silver lining Of g
dark cloud
A hot temper warps a mans better
judgment.
He who starts out to meet trouble
has short journey,
But it is more blessed TO receive
than to be given away.
To realize the hardness of this world
step on banana skin.
When a woman's age begins to tell
on her she just can't make it shut up
When an intelligent crook makes a
mistake he fixes things SO that an
other gets the blame,
The chap who always tells the truth
is apt 10 tell nine unpleasant ones
out Of possible ten.-Chicago News.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-12-23
Selected by Tavenner
To the Readers Of The Argus:

To the Readers Of The Argus:
Argus generously agreed to permit me TO mans
regular contribution under this head to use the space
as # were my am left free TO make my seieeto
from where will whether It Ia timely or untimey' 10
search the highways aud the hyways for what may III
press ne as O. interest and value to the people
/ assure nay readers shall try TO make the most Vi
the opportunity To must forget that party hhes
exist and WILL Just as wish II might DO pFactlcsi i"i
them not to exist principal issue on eec
tion dav might be not whether candidate belongs to tne
or that political party but whether he Is willing 10 SERVE
the masses OF the people the few who exploit them
In ether words, my idea Is 10 submit Information %
a thought that would give to the world Ii myS9hA
edited a newspaper, the only mission Of which was W
serve mankind 20 90 this and nothing more.
When I personally write the contribution will sign
f. and when present the thought and work OF others
Will indicate. clyde H TAFEHSNhis'
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-12-23
MlLITARIsH OR DEM0CRACYl

When the preparedness extremists
talk about universal military train
ing" for the United States. what do
they mean? CONSUMPTION If they do
mean CONSUMPTION, why not say con-
scription?
We can conceive Of no universal
military training that is not conscrip-
ton in some form or another. To be
universal it must be compulsory, and
compulsory military service means
that every Gble-b0died man in the
country must have military training
whether he likes It or not
How many votes would such a pro
p0saI receive in congress? How many
congressman who voted for such a
measure would ever return to Wash
ington?
The United States refused to toll
crate CONSUMPTION in time Of war when
the very life Of the nation was at
stake. What was called Consumption
during the rebellion was only half
CONSUMPTION, and the scandals, the
corruption. not TO say the violence,
that resulted from it destroyed all Of
its military effectiveness, The coun-
try would have been better off with
out the draft than with it; and yet it
is proposed that in time Of peace we
shall adopt a system that proved a
failure in time Of war,
A year ago men were confident that
the destruction of militarism would be
civilizations great gain from the most
devastating war that history has re-
corded. But is it militarism or de-
mocracv that is to be engulfed in this
conflict New York World
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-12-23

bic 10 do this. Even now says Sec
rotary Of the Navy Daniels. the i'm
provements in armoE and the designs
worked out by the navy have been EN-
bodied in the warship of another ma
ton recently finished by the Bethle-
hem Steel company and put into COM
mission. This is not an argument
likely to be disregarded in favor Of
government armor plant, nor has 1t
been overlooked, for instance, by ia
pan, which has erected its own armor
making plant and surrounded it with
such secrecy that none of the other
nations is able to tell whether or not
at this minute the Japanese armor may
not be superior to any other in exist
ence. CLYDE H. TAVENNER.