davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1916-01-06
Murmurs Ever and Anon That the
Worst 10 Yet TO Come.

r ~
uary ii the coal bin will be empty
and father will chop up q parlor chair.
The month Of February will take
only 20 days to pass given point
The weather will be extremely unset
tied, and when it Is not stormy the
air will be quite calm. In spite Of the
cold spell cherry trees will bloom
around February. % in all candy store
windows
March will come In like lamb
afraid Of waking the baby, and will 90
out like a leonine monster who has
lust overheard someone say he is get
ting tat. Rain checks will be issued
in case this condition IL reversed
There will be some warm weather,
which viii cause optimists to throw
aside their overcoats and shed their
thick, prickly underwear. When the
cold spell gets back on the Job. fresh
frozen optimist will be one Of the del
!cacies Of the season.
. April will come In With q sore foot
having kicked an. opera hat which com
Dletely surrounded . brick. April VIII
So ! vet month, and early umbrella
crops will bs reported from many re
sglons. Fido will here begin to shed
his fur. 81
4 Now there's Z prophecy which shows
what I can do 70 confess up. there
va nothing dimcult about Il. Dor any.
oao can 81 : Nov Year prophet YeA
without any rEevious tlaaning. Or q J.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1916-01-06
Much Klssing on New Years.

Much ktsstno on New years
II was the custom ON New Years
tda, for all the citizens. after they bad
called upon each other during the day,
10 visit the governor In the evening.
,,pl, and women together. where II
VAS the custom Of the worthy Peter
4, hrstow upon each Ut the wives and
u,..itipns . hearty smack. TINS setting
a fashion that was no dnuht carefully
t..tlnwed by The rest OF the men. -Ifv.
ing sbocker's History Il NJ
yure 4 e rs,
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1916-01-06
70 the Happy
Little New Year

You bring 10 happiness, delight,
r ,newed each soul and heart tonight.
= cir child Of purity and grace,
W. liken to your soul ana face
A lily bright.
The old year dies; now roseate grove
dawn Ger mountains capped with
SHOWS.
Your breath 90 faint, Of fragrance rare,
, cur smiling lips we would compare
To blushino rose.
Athwart the east rudy bar,
your father, Time, awaits your car
then you alight what glad surprise,
What happiness, shines in your syaA
Bright morning star!
{ n. sweet and happy little one.
every weary mortal run!
Lily and star and rose are you,
:. nd faith and hope you will renew
T. Meath New Years sur.
Walter Beverley Crane in New York
Times.
Norwich bulletin., 1916-07-27
A CANADIAN REASON.

The health board of the province of Ontario makes war upon the mosquito because she is the cause ''of much pro- fanity, spoken or unspoken." Hence the mosquito must be regarded there as an ernissary of hell, as the peacock in the days of witchcraft was believed to be a bewitching agent of the devil.
 Here we are making war upon the mosquito because 1t spreads disease not because 1t increases personal wickedness; and we proceed to spread upon the swamps a surface of oil to smother the 'wigg1ers" which hatch from the egg in two days, enjoy a merry froIic of a week in the water, and then rise on glistenfng wings to sing: Fee, fo, fl, fum, I'm after the blood of an American"
 If pools and ponds and swannps were the only breeding places of mos quitoes oil would be effective, but they breed In water barrels and water gar dens, and old tin cans and broken bot ties which hold a little water and are as impossible of extermination as the gypsy moth upon which four millions of dollars have already been expended.
 But if we cannot exterminate them we can screen them out and use the oil of citronella upon our bodies, or burn joss sticks or Skeeter- Killers to defile the air so they will flee.
Norwich bulletin., 1916-07-27
A WONDERFUL ROOSTER.

This is the season of the year when wonderful discoveries are being made in birdom, so it Is not surprising to learn that there is a rooster in West Rush, N. Y, who has heard the dox- ology in a neighboring church sung so often that he now chants 1t.
 Whether this is true or not there is no disputing that the rooster with his coCk-a- -doo- -doodle-do was many cen turies ahead of the American Yankee dOodle-dO and cannot be charged with plagiarism in the opening strain of his clarion call.
 Canaries have been taught to rem der popular airs and to initiate the chimes of a French clock; crows have learned to talk; toads to answer to their names; pigs to tell the time of day, stalliOns to do sums in cube-roOt and to tattIe so it does not seem so doubtful about the rooster having caught on to the doxology.
 There seems to be no doubt that musicians have taken from the birds many a pretty strain of music in de- velOping a piece of classic music; and the musicians analyzing birdsongs claim they have heard a thrush, also a bIac1bird sing the arDeggio, repeat ing, triplets and accurately singing their notes according to scale.
 These are great days in which we are living.
Norwich bulletin., 1916-07-27
Stories of the War
Germany's Work in Poland.

Warm cOmmendation of the work oOne by the Germans in Russian Po- land during the period of occupation comes from Dr. Karl Heifferich, Sec retary of the interior and Imperial Nice-ChancelIor who has returned to 3erlin from a visit to that country.
 Dr. EIeIfferich contrasted the condi- tion of tlle country under Russian rule with the state of affairs there today Before the outbreak of the present war, the Russians has neglected the country, said Dr. Helferich- Then came the period of hostiities to de- Vastate the land. Under these. condi- tious the Germans took up their work with q success, the Vice-C Chancellor in sisted, which could find few parallels iii history.
 The retreating Russians, Dr. Helff- erich said, had burned villages and towns and destroyed the harvests. The Germans first built roads through the devastated territory and supplied cat tie and seeds to the inhabitants. Now one frequently sees herds of a hun dred or more cattle, while fields of standing grain are on all sides. Once, he said, farmers were given the horses of two regiments for field work on orders of General Ludendorff.
 Dr. Helfferich said he found schools
Norwich bulletin., 1916-07-27

influential friends in Bridgeport, and so the body of the hero, after resting unclaimed at the mOrgue a day or two, was given a paupers burial in pOtter's field. We'll why should anyone Ob- ject? The mans dead, isn't he? To be sure, it is only a sentiment. There are no reasons for removing his body from pOtter's field, save sentimental reasons. But there were no good reasons for his jumping into the har- Dor to save another, but sentimental reasons. That was what made the deed great. And conversely, that is what makes that grave in potters field mean, contemplate, a disgrace to the city that gave it! Rich, busy and prosperous Bridgeport, bustIing along in pursuit of the dollar, has no time, apparently, for GentimentaIists such as Michael Pine who fOOlishly give their own lives to save others. We are glad to announce, however, that Q siCkly old sentimentaist named Carnegie es- tablisbed a hero fund for such cases, and the machinery has already been set in motion by which Michael Pines earthly remains may be removed to A decent burying ground, with some mark of humanity above it to show hat hcrOism has some value even in thc day of the doEar.-Brtdgepo Telegram.
Norwich bulletin., 1916-07-27
HER WOMAN's INTUITION

dark eyes gazed at the huttered little lady.
 T really didn't mean to deceive you" !" he said gently. T am Robert Brown, whom you must be familiar with. You see, have been going out that way, or rather in that disguise, for the last year or so. No one recognized me and was free to stand and watch the world without the world being aware of the sCruting."
 Then" he continued, coming nearer to the indignant little woman whose gray eyes were flashing, you came and I kept it up because it gave me back a new faith when I saw you so dear and helpful In your efforts to be- friend an old tramp
 "But you said you couldn't read" she said. her face not yet resuming it's normal pink.
 T didn't, little woman" he denied laughingly. q said couldn't read the menu, which was and is true. I am forbidden to look at fruit for at least a month. Won't you forgive what de- know that through that experience learned to love you2'
 Miss Allan-or more truly Mrs. Brown (which really answers the above question: is unusually fond of her tall, middle-aged tramp husband He still has a. little trick of bending over her chair before kissing her, and whispering misChtevously, Yes, ma'am, I'd be most pleased to- Boston Post.
Norwich bulletin., 1916-07-27
THE POWER OF PUBLIC SERVICE
 COMMISSIONS.

In the case of the town of Airing ton, Mass, against the Bay State Street Railway company, the supreme court of Massachusetts has supported the lower courts in their finding that the public service commission has the right to increase or decrease fares as the interests of the people require.
 Chief Justice Rugg, deciding the case. stated that the act of 1913 cloth ed the commission with full power to require safe, reasonable and adequate service to the public from all common carriers, as well as to regulate charges, rates and fares so as to enable the carrier to receive q fair return for the service required. There is no roOIn," he said. flor the binding force of stip- ulations as to fares in original grants of locations by local boards in the face of these sweeping provisions. Such stipulatiOns are eEtiuguishcd so far as inconsistent with the terms of statutes of 1913, Chapter 7S4"
 This is Of more than ordinary in terest since there is to be Q contest in the Connecticut legislature of 1877 to annul or modify the present zOnal sys- tenn of the trolley roads which in some instances has increased trolley fares n this state from 50 to GO per cent; and which raised rates upon roads which were paying good dividends.
 It leaves no question as to the sov- sreignty of the state over the town, 9r it's right to annul rates which owns have established by enactment.
Norwich bulletin., 1916-07-27
THE PEOPLES POET.

Thousands felt Q thrill of regret Ehen they read that. James Whitcomb Riley the HoOsier poet, had gone to is reward.
 His verses appealed to the hearts of is fellownen because he was a man nd @ brctha- and wrought in verse he passions aTz5 griefs Of life as no ther writer did. -'7 If he was not classed among the reat from 0 literary point of view, e had to be classed among the pow rfully emotional by his fellowmen, nd as the most popular rhymster of is day.
 It took 0 Riley to tell us how 'the eetle booms adown the gloom and umps along the dusk, and to warm 'the Gobble-uns II git you ef you ont watch outi"
 James Whitcomb Riley was a sweet nger, and his humorous poems have ade us all laugh; and his serious oems have made thousands weep; es- ecially 'The Lost Eiss'' of "the dear tile girl he. scolded."
 He will be missed as Eugene Field as been missed; and it may be said him: that no writer has made a eeDer impression upon this genera on
Norwich bulletin., 1916-07-27
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
The Predictions Do Not Come True.

MT. Editor: Just a few words in answer to our friend, the Cloud Dig ger. Every time he happens to hit the weather right he comes out and makes q great speal. l have been watching the weather i for the last 70 years, and it is real laughabIc to read his predictions for the dItferenJ months. He predicted an early spring-we didn't have il. He predicted April would come ill warm and dry. He has knocked the United States govern ment weather bureau and he has 5IOwed about his weather signs never failing him.
 Just take notice: His prediction of an early spring was wrong. He said that vegetables would have an early start, They couldn't with so much rain. He predicted 8 dry May and June; rained 26 days in May and 21 in June, or more.
 The state board of agriculture agreed that this spring was an unusually backward one. The farmers all testi- fled that field work was far behind, that where land should at this date (lIay 18th, 19l6J be planted, it had not been even plOWed. It was too cold and wet for Cultivating. This was when, as he predicted, it ought to have been dry and all vegetables well along.
 He said to the farmers: Get a good start, as May would be a dry month and would hurt the grass crop. We'll did it?
 He predicted heavy frosts from the 11th to the 16th. Were there any heavy frOsts? From the 18th to the 20th more frOsts following a long warm period. There was no warm period in April May or June.
 He said vegetables would be far ad- vanced. He predicted frost May 25th, and there was none.
 Fruits of all kinds, including ber- ries, both cultivated and wild, will be in splendid shape and loaded far be- yond the average year with fruit. This was his prediction for May.
 He predicted all May chickens would grow rapidly. Well, they didn't as the wet weather checked them. TOads, snakes, mOleS and insects would be numerous. Well, at this time there wasn't an insect dared to come out in fear of drowning, there was so much water falling.
 He predicted all kinds of weather for June, but not any of them mate rialized. He said there wouldn't be much more rain, which was his pre- diction for July; but we have had nearly seven inches of rain this month so far.
 I should think the farmers would decline to follow his predictions.
 Watch out for August and see how near he gets it. He says it will be the hottest August in 50 years!
 I write this letter in a friendly spirit-nO insinuations or personaIi- ties; only I don't like to see anyone knock the government weather bu- reau when they are away off on pre- dictions of the weather.
 Just watch his predictions for Au- gust.
 WEATHER OBSERVER. Norwich, July 26th, 1916.
Norwich bulletin., 1916-07-27
NATIONAL TOURING WEEK.

The automobilists of America are cultivating a "See America First" ypirit, and because of it on Aug. 9th .here are likely to be more automo- oilists on the road than were ever here before, for that marks the open ng of the National Touring Week when men of leisure will take their families and friends to become famil- ar with the beautiful scenery of their own states and of the country.
 There are no more natural wonders 70 be found anywhere than in Amer ca, and most of us are unaware of ho wealth Of our own county, per laps, in this respect.
 The Berkshires of New England may De Overshadowed by the Cattskills of New York, the AIIeEhanies of the iouth, or the Rocky Mountains in the ar west, but for real beauty our green iills do not have to be apologized for, Or they may be as ancient as the un, and We doubt if Mt. Zion, was nore beautiful.
 The natural wonders of Connecticut nd the natural attractions of New England are worth being familiar with ince they inspire us by their majes- and beauty.
 See your home state first" is good .dvice. We should not be unmind- ul of our country's scenic beauty. {,
Norwich bulletin., 1916-07-27
Too Bio For Bed,

No bed can be found long enough for Herman POelken, fl years old, an- itiHerant machinist, who says his home is in Brooklyn, \. Y. Poelken, who is 6 feet IA inches tall was admitted to the St. Louis hospital June 6, suf- fering with malaria, according to a St. Louis exchange. He was too tall to walk through the door to the entry room, so he was placed on a stretcher and carried in. The largest pair of pajamas in the institution have sleeves only long enough to reach to his eI- bows, while the flower part" barely
Norwich bulletin., 1916-07-27

Bradstreet's of July 14 shows @ marked increase of business failures in the United States for the week. end ing July 1S-3O7, as compared with 192 for the preceding week. In the same week, ending July B, of 1913, full protection period, there were 231 business failures, or 76 less than for the free trade week of 1916. Another democratic sign of prosperity,
Norwich bulletin., 1916-07-27

If the allies, in adopting this new customs union, agreeing to trade only among themselves, refusing German goods and building economic walls around the Teutonic powers, intend their action as punishment for the Teutons and compensation for them selves, they had better find some other way. The proper punishment for ag- greSsiVe militaTiSm is to be admins tered on the field of battle, and the proper reparation is to be arranged in the peace conference that shall close the struggle. The war should end with the laying down of arms. The allies will not even compensate them selves for their enforced military ex- penditures by trade conspiracy against Germany, for it is folly for one group of nations to imagine that it can gain wealth by impOverishing an other group. If they persist, they will only hinder their own development, while they drive their foes to despera- tiOn and imperiI again the worlds prosperity and peaCe.-Meriden Rec ord
Norwich bulletin., 1916-07-27

It's an i'll wind that blows nobody some good says an old adage, which evidently still holds good. Dealers in accident and life insurance policies are said to be working overtime because of some of the misfOrtunes which have oVertaken people this summer. The song they sing goes something like this: Are you going to the shark in Tested beaches? Take out a policy and provide for your sorrowing fam fly. Can it be that you intend to take a trip to New York where the deadly infantile paralysis is raging? Don't go away without knowing that in the event of any fatality to you, your fam fly will not be left on the town. Does your skin burn for a dip in the Sound? Be certain that no careless ness on your part will bring distress to those who lose you. No matter where the vacationist is going. these thoughtful and soHcitous agents can find some way to advance their pa thetic pleas for the loved ones" in case anything should happen.-An- sonia Sentinel.
Norwich bulletin., 1916-07-27

After President Wilson had ordered the army into Mexico he informed this people Mexico was suspicious of us. The stranger caught with his hand in your pocket has no reason to complain if he is suspected of being a picl1pocket
Norwich bulletin., 1916-07-27

everywhere now, even at places where none was maintained when the Rus sians ruled the country. The Univer- sity of Warsaw where there is a Iect- Ure course in the Polish tongue, has a large number Of students.
Norwich bulletin., 1916-07-27

Tn potter's field in Bridgeport the other day a young man named Michael Pine was buried He had been drowned while attempting to save q workman who fell into the lower har- bOr. The wouId-be rescuer was re- ported to have been successful in two previous cases, but this time, circum- stances were against him and both men perished Neither Michael Pine nor the man he died to save had any
Norwich bulletin., 1916-07-27

Lincoln knew this about protection: If you buy goods abroad you get the goods and foreigners get your money. If you buy goods at home you have the goods and the money, too!
Norwich bulletin., 1916-07-27

A southern man sues a corporation Tor S2O,O00 for loss of voice; and a southern woman offers only $5 re- ward for lost husband. Both may have been over estimated.
Norwich bulletin., 1916-07-27
EDITORIAL NOTES

There is one thing the pacifsts can not wipe out and that is the militant border.
Norwich bulletin., 1916-07-27

The kaiser thinks the spirituality in the front trenches should be kept up all of the time. Being eternaIIy in the whirlwind of death might make that possible
Norwich bulletin., 1916-07-27
OTHER VIEW POINTS

If the gulf stream does swing in shore and make this a tropical couu- try it will have to get busy and off, set the Labrador current which brings all the cold weather.-Meriden Jour nal.
 It looks almost certain that former Highway Commissioner James H. Me Donald will try to get the republican senatorial nomination in one of the New Haven districts this year, Bridgeport Post.
 The New York Sun is discussing which party, republican or democratic, was least distasteful in it's platform to the suffragettes. It neglects to explain that the prohibitionists are emphatic and unquali1edIy favorable to the cause.'' Why not join them? Are they distastefuI at an?-Hartford Courant.
 It is of interest to recall that ten years ago James H. Macdonald of New Haven, then highway commits sioner of Connecticut, advocated fed- eral aid in good road building, urging that 0 chain of good roads from the
Norwich bulletin., 1916-07-27

The cocktail has just celebrated it's S0th birthday. It is destined to out live all highballers.
Norwich bulletin., 1916-07-27

It has been completely demonstrated that pedagogic methods are best con- fined to the schools
Norwich bulletin., 1916-07-27

Norwich is just as hot as any sum mer resort, so the best of them have nothing on us.
Norwich bulletin., 1916-07-27

The natural conclusion is that the militia system is what the state makes it. If the state is content to have the sort of militia that is sneered at, it is easy to do it, but if it is determined to have a citizen force worthy the name it can do so by paying the price of hard work and concentrated effort. The militia as a whole is Hbeled be- cause some states are slack. Connec- ticUt's experience demonstrates that it is not so much the system as it is the development of the system by those in charge of various sections of it, that is at fault. Here in Connecticut we are not ashamed of our militia. We are proud of it, proud of the manner in which it responded to the presi- dents call and proud of the state of readiness in which that call found it. Hartford Post.
Norwich bulletin., 1916-07-27

Bulgaria would like to be forgiven and return to her neutrality. It may never be too late to repent, but this is an instance of too late to make terms.
Norwich bulletin., 1916-07-27

cover his knees. It is necessary to prop Poellzen up on pillows so that his feet and head will not hang over the ends of the bed. Meanwhile all effort is being made to find a bed that will hold the taIlest man eVeI admitted to the city hospital.
Norwich bulletin., 1916-07-27

When the Kansas farmers got after the l. W. W.'s with blood in their eyes they fled from the state.
Norwich bulletin., 1916-07-27

The prohibition party is in no dan ger of expiring. No party ever dies so long as the campaign fund flows in hundreds of thousands.
Norwich bulletin., 1916-07-27

A fisherman held for cruelty to ami mals says a lobster is not an animal What have the Norwich Lobsters to say to that?
Norwich bulletin., 1916-07-27

The sunny south is said to be maIz- ing hay while the sun shines. That is what New England farmers would like to do
Norwich bulletin., 1916-07-27

Any railroad magnate, or any other magnate, who declares a man can live on six cents q day should be forced to prove his words
Norwich bulletin., 1916-07-27

When shall we know whether Villa is a menace or a scarecrow. It took over @ year for the world to learn that Garibaldi was dead.
Norwich bulletin., 1916-07-27

Twelve million people attend the movies daily: and Charley Chaplin has
Norwich bulletin., 1916-07-27
The War A Year Ago Today
July 27, 1915.

Russians checked enveIopinq movement north and south Of War saw.
 Germans threateneI ViTna-Petro- grad railway.
 Enormous Losses in Fighting along the lsonzo.
 German submarine sank many British trawers.
Norwich bulletin., 1916-07-27

Austrian church bells are going to the melting pot to prOlong war. They will not ding-dong in the service of the devil.
Norwich bulletin., 1916-07-27

Infantile paralysis is an old and familiar disease which has only taken on the epidemic form in the past ten years.
Norwich bulletin., 1916-07-27

The Boston paper that notes war is nearly as expensive as the democratic party is not guilty of exaggeration
Norwich bulletin., 1916-07-27

Carranza is more anxious to es- tablish peace in Mexico than he is to go to war with the United States
Norwich bulletin., 1916-07-27

The Bremen cannot be blamed for not arriving on time. Every under sea boat has her ups and downs.
Norwich bulletin., 1916-07-27

The man on the corner says: Add an s to the second word on the Broad way sign, and all the girls will smile.