davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1916-03-29
HANGING PICTURES.
This Is a Task That Should Produee
Artistic Results.

In going over ones pictures elimi-
nate all but the choicest and best be-
loved and try to group together the
pictures whose subjects are somewhat
related or which have a similarity In
frames. Indeed, even when subjects
are closely related 1t is not possible al.
ways to hang pictures together owing
to too great difference in the kind Of
frames. AS rule. any room looks
better. especially small rooms. where
only one color frame is used on all pic
lures, but If this is not possible then
the next best thing is to keep all of
the pictures Ia gilt frames In one part
OF the ROOM all of the dark framed
pictures on another wall. etc.
Also one can get the best results by
separating water colors and prints,
and etchings or engravings should, of
course. always be hung apart from
other pictures. Another point frequent
ly overlooked is the wisdom OF putting
the darker pictures on the wall that
receives the best light from windows
and contrariwise the gilt framed pic
lures of lighter subjects where they
may serve 10 brighten a dark part OF
Finally do not crowd the walls. Hang
pictures well in line with the eyes of a
person of average height and. of course,
choose plain walls. tinted or papered.
for backgrounds.-Albany Argus.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1916-03-29

J. l.. Edmund, Norwegian, has in
vented q combination suitcase and life
preserver for the use of persons who
travel by water. Ordinarily it looks
like good sized common travelling
bag but folded up into the bottom of
the bag are a pair of leg coverings
and a pair of odd-looking "fiappers'
for the arms. The bag proper is
large enough to hold the articles a
traveller usually requires or it can be
stocked with provisions in case its
owner when starting out expects to
be shipwrecked.
The bag can be locked from the in
side if desired, but it will float quite
as well with the top open. When
closed the occupant is supplied with
air through valves in the top. 1t is
quite bouyant and is capable of keep
ing man afloat for several days. In
case of accident punctures some part
of the suit case an emergency air bag
inside can be inhaled and this will
keep the wearer afoat indefinitely.
A man inside the life preserver can
stand erect, support his weight with
his hands or lean to either side with
out danger of tipping over. He can
propel himself by moving his hands
in the "fiappers" if he desires or he
can simply float about in the water
until picked up. In these days of the
wireless it would probably be wiser
to remain quietly near the scene of
the accident, for ordinarily help can
come in a few hours after the IS. O.
S." call has been sounded.
The upper part of the bag is pro-
vided with a window to enable the
user to see out when he closes the
top. The bag and the suit for the legs
are covered with a waterproof ma
terial so that the person inside is kept
dry and warm.
Another inventor has brought out
an unsuitable mattress for use no
beds on shipboard. The invention is
nothing more than an ordinary mat
tress stuffed with a special bouyant
fiber. The illustration shows a bed
with one of the patent mattresses
strapped to it, floating on the waters
of the Seine river in France.
The idea appears to be good one;
if all the beds on passenger-carry-
ing vessels were equipped with un-
sinkable mattresses and the usual
number of ordinary life-preservers
were carried there could be little
question about any vessels life-saving
equipment being sufficient. The mat
tresses would be specially valuable if
the ship should meet with a serious
accident at night.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1916-03-29

Many an old house has been allowed
to pass into a state of disrepair and
finally has been torn down to make
place for more modern building
merely because the owner has not been
able TO see in the old building a posi-
bility for the attainment of attractive
ness and charm by means of new set
ting. The rarest gem In a battered
setting can hardly show its value. Put
it in platinum and gold. modern in cut.
and the same gem is a glory to its
owner. Provide the old house with ma
lures setting in the form OF judicious
planting. together with tasteful garden
arrangement and pergoia, and
straightway II is given a new lease OF
beauty.-L. G. Hoyt In Countryside
Magazine.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1916-03-29
CHINESE PDMIsHMENTs.


v
Chinese lawgivers are not troubled
with any sentimental scruples on the
subject Of fiogying. Even a criminal
condemned TO death Is given prelim-
mary thrashing instead OF, as with us,
being treated with sympathy and con-
sideration until the hour OF doom. An
other feature of Chinese justice so far
as the lash is concerned. is its strict
impartiality.
Highborn offenders are logged as re
lentlessly as criminals Of the lower or.
ders. The back of many a silken robed
leather thongs of the whips welded by
sturdy Chinese officials. whose duty ii
has been to lay on the lash heavily. re-
CARELESS of the rank of the victim. on
pain of being logged themselves.
The Chinese legal code prescribes the
lash for many offenses so trivial that in
Europe they would be quite outside the
scope Of the law. Not all OF the enact
ments are enforced nowadays. but we
may quote two of them as quaint ex-
amples. Fifty lashes were ordered to
be given to any merchant or trades
man offering for sale goods not Of the
quality they are represented to be.
while self glorification is discouraged
by law that any military man who
raises a monument TO himself for
deeds of heroism which be has never
performed is to receive 100 lashes.-
Parsons Weekly.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1916-03-29
MARK TWAIN'S PILOT DAYS.
A Taste For Fine Clothes and a Plunge
Into Languages.


Old pilots Of that day remembered
Samuel Clemens as a slender. fine look
ing man. well dressed. even dandified.
generally wearing blue serge. with fan
cy shirts, white duck trousers and pat
ent leather shoes. A pilot could do
that. for his surroundings were speck-
less.
The pilots regarded him as a great
reader-a student of history, travels
and the sciences. In the association
rooms they often saw him porting over
serious books.
He began the study of French one
day in New Orleans when he discov-
cred school of languages where
French. German and Italian were
taught. one in each of three rooms.
The price was $50 for one language or
three for $50. The student was pro-
vided with set Of conversation cards
for each and was supposed to walk
from one apartment to another. chang
ing his nationality at each threshold
The young pilot. with his usual en-
thusiasm, invested in all three Ian
guages, but after a few round trips
decided that French would do. He did
not return to the school, but kept the
cards and added textbooks. He stud
led faithfully when off watch and in
port. and his old river notebook. still
preserved. contains a number OF ad-
vanced exercises neatly written out
Albert Bigelow Paine In st. Nicholas.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1916-03-29
Ancients Used Gas and Fire Bombs

What is believed to be the earliest
use of deleterious gases in siege war
fare is recorded in the history of the
Peloponnesian wars, from All to 404
b. G. During this struggle between
the Athenians and the Spartans and
their respective allies the cities of
Platea and Delium were besieged.
Wood saturated with pitch and sui
phur was set on fire and burned I'M
der the walls of these cities in order
to generate poisonous, choking fumes,
which would Supply the defenders and
so render the task of the attacking
forces less difficult. Another form of
the same method of attack used about
this date was to fill a cauldron with
molten pitch, sulphur, and burning
charcoal and to blow the fumes with
bellows over the enemy's lines.
Greek fire was used extensively
during the wars of the middle ages.
The composition Of this weapon is
not known certainly now. The SIM
plest method of using it appears to
have been to fill hand tube with
combustibles of various kinds and
hurl it by hand against buildings or
warships Of the enemy, starting fires
from the flaming contents of the tube.
Sometimes an inflamable liquid was
squirted through the air for the pur-
pose of setting fire to buildings, de-
lenses and ships of the enemy. 1t
was employed to a considerable extent
by the Byzantine Greeks both in mill
tary and naval warfare in the sieges
of Constantinople, 1861 and 1412.
For centuries the Greeks enjoyed
supremacy over their neighbors be-
cause they alone understood the
manufacture and use of various ex-
plosive compounds and succeeded in
keeping their secrets from the rest of
the world. Compounds of inter, sui
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1916-03-29

Every man or boy who has ever
been a patron of the "old swimming
hole" is probably more or less famil-
lar with the leech or bloodsucker. This
little animal, the source of much an
noyance to bathers, was once an inval-
liable asset to medical skill. A few
generations ago blood-letting was q
common practice and doctors often
carried these bloodthirsty creatures
around with them to perform such
operations. They are still used to a
limited extent in some parts of the
world for this purpose.
The leech possesses two cuplike
suckers, one at his mouth and one at
the end of his tail. His mouth is
squipped with three semicircular,
sharp-toothed jaws which he works
together like a saw. With these he
can cut his way through flesh and
even the scales of fish. The body is
composed of IL pairs of sacks and his
appetite is never satisfied until all of
the sacks are filled. When filled up,
his body is two or three times its nor
NAL size, and he can go about year
without another meal. Leeches used
for medical purposes are made to dis
gorge by sprinkling salt on their bod
les.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1916-03-29
SMYRNA

Mrs. Bernice Short of Grand Rapids
arrived Monday for a weeks vnsit
with her cousin. Miss Aldena Harris
and other friends.
Mr.. and Mrs. j. A. Cook were the
Sunday dinner guests OF Mr.. and Mrs.
Ed. Insley.
Mr.. and Mrs. VIM. wacha and son,
Ellis, were the supper guests of Mrs.
Ed. Insley, recently.
Miss Neva Coon Of Belding was the
guest of her uncle, and aunt, Mr..
and Mrs. Alfred Davis, Saturday.
Mrs. George Hanks was in Bedding
last Friday and was the dinner guest
of Mr.. and Mrs. c. 4. Totten.
Beryl and Carl Hull Of Keene were
the Monday guests of Mr.. and
A. L. Hull.
Mrs. Maggie Olds was in Orleans
last Thursday attending a birthday
party for Mrs. Geo. Wiley.
Mrs. Mary Gray was in Belding a
few days last week keeping house for
her daughter and son-in-law, Mr.. and
Mrs. Lloyd Maxwell.
Ralph Van Every has severed his
connection with K. w. Condon's black
smith shop, and has gone to Belding
to work in shop there and will move
his family Thursday.
The death of Mrs. Backus Earle
occurred Saturday at the home of
Fanny Earle, in, portion of whose
house they were living. She was
found on the floor, having evidently
suffered stroke, resulting from acute
indigestion. The funeral was held
Tuesday, Rev. A. j. Blair officiated
and Mrs. Will Wacha, Mrs. Frank
Chase and Mrs. Ed. Insley sang. Her
remains were buried in the Smyrna
cemetery.
The Olympia order of Cleaners will
meet with Mr.. and Mrs. Geo. Philips
Saturday evening. AS there is spec
ial business on hand would like every
member to be there. After meeting
warm biscuit and maple syrup will
be served.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1916-03-29
BLOWING Flowers.

When amateurs speak of flowers
blowing they are not using mere
vulgarism. They are speaking real
old English. In the early tongue the
verb "blowan" was used to indicate
the opening of flowers. Instead Of
blow being corruption of bloom"
1t is the other way about. blossom"
comes from the same root.
We do not grow the costard apple
nowadays. but our forefathers set
great store by the sort and bought 1t
eagerly i'm the streets from the mon
gers"
From costard monger TO costermong-
er is short step Hawthorn, too. has
its interest. The old form OF haw was
haga. which means hedge Hawthorn
is therefore simply hedge thorn.-Lon-
don Graphic.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1916-03-29
PASSING OF THE VETERANS

During last month, the shortest OF
the year, 1884 pensioned soldiers of
the civil war, and 2298 widows of
veterans, are recorded as having died
in the twenty-nine days. In January,
the next preceding month, the loss
was 1856 veterans and 2104 widows.
In the two months a total of 11,641
civil war soldiers and their widows
passed from the rolls of the living.
At this rate the mortality among civil
war soldiers and widows would be
$4,000 for the year. On February 20
the civil war pensioners numbered
374,848, which is all that remains of
the more than two millions enlisted.
The diminution is more rapid as the
years go by. Over 100000 pensioners
will have died during the present
Congress, whose two years tenure
ends March a next. Congress cannot
fail to see that the time to consider
the pension legislation before it is
short. 10 should be considered
promptly and disposed of definitely.
It's course largely depends upon the
recommendations of committees, and
these are often slow to move, not
acting at all in many pension matters,
but turning them over as unfinished
business for a succeeding Congress.
The period is past for further delay
if this kind as far as the surviving
soldiers of the civil war are concerned.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1916-03-29
The Age of ouickness.

The modern wife placed two plates
with knives. forks. spoons and tum-
blers on the dining room table and
took two paper napkins from drawer,
laying one beside each plate.
Then she lighted the gas stove. open
ed can Of soup and placed 1t In a
skillet TO heat. Next she opened two
cans OF vegetables and can OF salmon
and heated these She cut six slices
of bakers bread and quartered q
bakers pie. placing everything on the
table. together with butter. salt, pep.
per and a pitcher of cold water.
"John." she said briskly. your din
ner's ready. Judge.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1916-03-29
SHILOH

Mrs. Julian Miller and son and Miss
Eva Swears returned home from
Brighton, Thursday night.
Mr.. and Mrs. Ernie Morgan and
little Alice Of Orleans spent over SUM-
day with Ben Comstock and family,
Bert Zeller returned from Grand
Rapids Friday night.
Ben Comstock, Jr., spent over Sun
day in Palo.
Ada Leach spent over Sunday in
Sheridan.
L. M. Knowles and wife spent over
Sunday with John Bailey and family.
Callers at Comstock's Saturday
were: Mrs. Wilson and Dolly, Mrs. L.
ID. Easterbrook and two children.
Frank Hoppough and Clarence Eas-
Textbook of Orleans were in town
Saturday.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1916-03-29
The Test of Worth

Wills r.. Johnson
Did you say that he is good?
Tell me what he's good for!
Has he earned the food he ate?
Does he carry as a freight
OF life's burden his own weight?
Goody good is good for nothing,
If he's good he's good for something
Did you say his aim was high?
Tell me what he hitsl
OF what value is his aim
If his sight is always lame
And he never gets the game?
What if he does aim so high
If he just shoots upythe sky!
He lives on lofty plane?
Tell me what he does for men,
If he only turns a clod
In a partnership with God
Who has children on this sod
Tell me of his life on earth,
Service is the test of worth.
Hitch your wagon to star?
Yes, but live on mundane sphere.
Greatest man who ever wrought
Greatest in ideal and in thought
Lived each lesson that he taught!
Life for others is Gods plan
And His type Of perfect Man.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1916-03-29
THE WORD "JEHOvAH."
Its Curious Origin Which, by che Way,
Is Comparatively Modern.


An interesting feature in THE Old
Testament In the Light of Today" by
William Frederic Babe, professor of
Old Testament literature and Semitic
languages in the Pacific Theological
seminary. is the following explanation
of the word jehovah"
THE name Jehovah is of recent
origin. 1t was quite unknown in an
tiquity. AS G.. f. Moore has shown, il
occurs for the first time sporadically
in the fourteenth century. The word
arose in a peculiar way. Until some
centuries after the Christian era the
text of the Hebrew Scriptures was
written with consonants only. The
name of the deity therefore was writ
ten with the four consonants Jhvh.
AS Hebrew ceased TO be a spoken
tongue, words written consonantally
begun TO present difficulties to readers.
This fact led to the invention Of sys-
TENS Of vowel points. which were writ
ten under and above the consonants
Long before the invention OF vowel
points It had become customary. on ac-
count of dread of the name Of the
deity. to read 'Adonay' Oord wher-
ever 'Jhvh' occurred. To indicate this
fact the vowels of 'Adonay' were con-
nected with the consonants Jhvh.' the
short a of 'Adonay' by a regular
change becoming e. when connected
with the consonant j. Persons ignor-
ant OF the purpose OF the vowels be-
gan to read them with the consonants.
and thus the preposterous hybrid Je-
HoVaH' arose.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1916-03-29

The most serious colliery fire ever
known in Britain was undoubtedly
that which broke out in the Tawd val
ley mine, near Preston. in 1872. Thou.
sands of pounds were spent in trying to
get the flames under control. but they
overcame everything and consumed
some millions OF tons OF coal A wall
ten feet I'm thickness was built round
the affected parts. but the heat cracked
the masonry and brought IL down as
fast as IL was rebuilt However. In
1897 the river Tawd over6owed its
banks and went pouring down into the
mine. No fire could withstand such an
immense volume Of water hurled upon
It. and although the flames extended
for 900 yards. they were quenched
after having ragged for quarter OF a
century.-London Tit-Bits.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1916-03-29
Belding Grange

At the last meeting of Bedding
Grange, fifty people took dinner
promptly at 1870. A class of fifteen
we're given the second and third de.
grees. Four ancient Changers also
united with us. Several visitors from
Grattan were present.
A spirited discussion was carried
on though the time was limited. Much
interest and rivalry prevailed during
roll call, each one trying to tell the
most humorous story.
James Johnson recited "The Arsenal
at Springfield" The dinner commit
tee wish it announced that a regular
Easter dinner will be served April 8.
Kindly prepare for this.
For the next meeting respond to roll
call with what new vegetable / in
tend to grow this season and why.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1916-03-29
The Circuit Court

Amelia Conner VS.. Harvey ]. Con-
ner; adjourned one week.
Arthur V. Elliott VS.. Josephine FL
lott; decree granted.
Laura Wilcox, ct al. VS.. Butler, ct
al; decree granted.
Alma Willard VS.. Maria Kennedy,
ct al; settled.
Philo VS.. Philo, divorce; decree
granted.
Bessie L. Howarth VS.. Perry Ho-
warth, testimony taken.
Karl Jakubowsh VS.. H. B. Slocum,
judgement for defendant.
Caroline Cook VS.. ]. w. Fleming
continued to next term.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1916-03-29
Hospital Patient Dead

The death Of Catherine GroIig oc-
Cured at the city hospital Wednes-
day. She was taken there recently
for an operation to relieve some diff
ficulty of the head and blood pressure
on the brain which had been troubling
her for several weeks and which puz-
zled the physicians.
She came here to work for Bedding
Bros. & Co. with her sister, Teresa,
from Austria, and could not speak
English. She was 81 years old and
all her relatives, except the sister,
are in the old country.
She will be buried in the Catholic
cemetery, Thursday, Rev. FIR. j. M.
Zindler having charge of the service.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1916-03-29
brotherhood Meeting

The next meeting Of the Brother
hood of the Congregational church
will be held Tuesday evening, April
IL.
Chas. E. Bedaux of Grand Rapids
has been secured to give the address
of the evening along the lines of
efficiency in Business" Mr.. Be-
daux was for several months in the
trenches of the fighting line in Eu-
rope And it is expected he will have
something to say about his exper-
fences there.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1916-03-29
How He Took Il.

I'm training" said an instructor In
athletics, 1.-The strictest obedience Is re-
quired. Whenever I think OF the the
DRY Of training ! think OF Dash, who.
after eighteen years Of married life. Is
one OF the best and happiest husbands
In the world.
Dash | once said to him. well.
Dash. old man. how do you take mar
ried llfeY
According to directions he re-
Piled"
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1916-03-29
Wanted 20 Be Joined Riaht.

They were going out 10 dinner. and
he had gone into the house from his
Limousine TO get her.
"AIl ready?" he asked. at the foot OF
the stairs.
Almost" came the response from
above.
i've asked a friend to join us. Is
IL all right2"t
Eyes. IL It's the minister."-Yonkers
Statesman.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1916-03-29
FOOD FOR CHILDREN
is MOST IMPORTANT

Every mother and father should be
interested in a special article in the
Banner this week entitled food for
Children is Most Important" The
article is contributed by a noted au-
thority on children's diet and is back
ed by the United States Board of
Agriculture. The proper foods for
children are treated under appropri-
ate heads with a simplicity that all
can understand. You will miss
something if you don't read the ar
ticIe.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1916-03-29
Birthday Surprise

Mrs. Wayne Odgen was greatly sur
prised Saturday afternoon when about
thirty of her friends and neighbors
gathered to help celebrate her birth
day. Mrs. Odgen was presented with
a beautiful hand-painted berry set.
Mrs. Ernest McNally made an elo-
quent address in presenting the set.
A dainty luncheon was served, after
which the guests departed wishing
Mrs. Odgen many more happy birth
days.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1916-03-29
Marriage Licenses

Elmer E. Coates, %, Ionia; Hazel
z. Beckhorn, 10, Ionia.
Samuel L. C. Burman, IS, Collins;
Mabel H. Dorm, 20, Collins.
Fred Courtney, %, Orange; Elma E..
Vinegar, %, Berlin.
Guy HI. Smith, 81, Stanton; Beatrice
B. West, 10, Belding.
John Almer Gibbs, %, Portland;
Ethel B. VanHouten, 81, Portland.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1916-03-29
LONDON BETS ON EARLY PEACE

Wltnln the i2St lew udys "aBelS VI
substantial sums have been made In
financial circles in London that peace
negotiations will be begun within
ninety days. Recent news FROM Ger
many shows that at best the state of
affairs there is depressing. Bank
ruptcy and starvation are said to be
imminent. Other reasons for the adj
vancement of the allies prospects are
statements that Turkey is in a bad
way and anxious to negotiate for
peace, while Hungary is said to be
about to break away from Austria;
Rumania is on the point of joining
the allies, and lastly, the retirement
of Van Tirpitz, said to be due to the
fiasco of the latest submarine cam
paign, owing to serious losses during
the last few weeks of the newest
supersubmarines
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1916-03-29
The Clans Of Scotland.

The clans of Scotland are generally
understood to have arisen about the
year 1908. during the reign OF King
Malcolm H. The legal power OF the
chiefs and the other remains OF herlt-
able jurisdiction were abolished In
Scotland about 1740.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1916-03-29
Statesman

She-rm glad we went II was nm
excellent performance-and for such
q charitable purpose! Her Husband
Yes, indeed! We all feel thrill Of sat
isfaction when we do something for
charity and get the worth OF our
money at the same time.