davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-01-01
Phofopiays Theatres
Dancing Music
A MAN OF TWENTY-FIVE WHO
WROTE HIS FIRST PLAY BACKWARD
Elmer Rezensein, Author of "On Trial." Talks About
Himself and His Work-The Remarkable History
of Remarkable Play

HTF A oNE-IEGGED MAN or q one
L eyed woman writes play, why that's
all very interesting. but It doesn't make
the play itself any better. Even if ! am
only 21, don't see what that's got TO do
with my play"
The New York reviewers once having
caught him. the lanky boy author of ION
Trial" exploded thus with a mild sort of
wrath in his tone, and then subsidized again
into bashfulness. A voluble lady whom he
had encountered on his first night" had
steadily refused TO believe him the au-
thor of the drama that had taken New
York by storm, and referred preslstently
to his fathers story
For Elmer l.. Reizenstein Is nothing
short of an infant prodigy. over night
he became the subject of Broadway
chatter over night he accomplished
what many seasoned playwright cannot
hope to accomplish with a single mag
mum opus In lifetime-the awakening
of the critics curiosity.
There's not new thing in the whole
piay-everythlng there is as old as Aris-
totle,' explained the precocious Mr.. Reiz-
Funny. Eth, What7
"The only thing that is different is the
way | wrote It."
"The way you wrote it7"
Backward"
But why backard2'
Practice" Mr.. Relzenstein smoothed
his already smooth red hair and twiddled
his derby hat nervously. He isn't spoiled
yet.
Last winter I was reading a criticism
by Clayton Hamilton In which he said
the plays then on Broadway were SO
poorly done they could be acted backward
as well as forward.
ut occurred to me that II would be an
interesting experiment to try play
backward Just to see how 1t would work
QUITO make 1t analytic instead OF anti
thetic-d oductive instead of inductive-to
make 1t break down instead of build up"
This he said quite calmly as II It were
nothing to upset all the conventions of
playwriting that have obtained since tn.
days of the stagyrite. More important
conventions, too, are violated in "On
Trial.: conventions the disregard of
which Broadway has strictly forbidden.
For instance, there Is no comedy what
ever. There is no TRADE full of noble and
generalizing sentiment to bring a volley
of applause. There are no quotable epi-
grams. There is, on the other hand, no
literary finish. The conversation is sim
pie and direct.
II just wrote 1t backward, you see,"
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1916-07-13
TWO WEEKS WITHOUT RAIN
SURPRISES 1915 RECORDS

Although sweltering temperatures
of 100 degrees and above were re-
ported over the state yesterday, the
government thermometer here reg
istered it's highest at "a degrees
and at 3 o'clock this afternoon il
had not gone above that mark. The
two weeks Of clear sky and not a
drop of rain surpass any weather
records for 1915 and already high
er temperatures have been register
ed than were recorded during last
summer.
The ground is very dry on the
surface and the roads are covered
with two and three inches of dust,
but there is much moisture in the
subsoil and at present there is no
crying need for rain. Should the
dry weather continue the corn will
suffer.
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1916-07-13
SMALL VOTE PREDICTED
FOR THE PRIMARY ELECTION

Predictions are for a small vote
at the coming primary election.
While 1t is a presidential year
there are few statewide contests to
stir up the voters. The Democrats
have but one candidate for any
office except governor, representa-
tive and county commissioner. The
Republicans have no contest on
state ticket except auditor, treas
urer and superintendent. There is
a lively local contest ~on register,
district clerk, county clerk. sheriff
and county commissioner.
Two years ago, the first time the
women voted at primary, the Re-
publican vote of the county wss
1870, Democratic 992, Progressive
209, Socialist 81. The Republicans
and Democrats had lively state and
congressional contests that year.
In 1914 when there was much
excitement over U. S. senator and
other candidatts the Republican
vote was 2183 and the Democratic
$50.
The total vote of the county this
year is not likely to exceed 2500.
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1916-07-13
IL. w. WIS PLANT MANY BOMBS
Firebugs Have Planted Hundreds OF
Ignition Tools Over State

w. G. Studebaker of Salina, dep,
uty state fire marshal, has hit the
trial of l. w. w. experts who make
phosphorus bombs and plant them
in wheat and alfalfa stacks.
He left Salina Monday night fol
Hays and Ellis where it was report
ed explosive experts of the organi-
zation were at work.
He returned Sunday from Hois-
ington where he investigated the
stack fires of last week, He brought
home two of the bombs which will
be sent to Lawrence for analysis
They are believed to be phosphorus
but to make sure they will be an
alyzed.
"Clever men engineered hat deal
said Mr. Studebaker. "The bombs
were placed in the stacks at night
when there was no danger of igni-
ton. BY daybreak the men were
miles away and chances of detec-
tion were slim"
The bombs are made of pure
phosphorus wrapped in a rag. The
rag is wet when placed in the stack.
This prevents the phosphorus from
igniting. Enough of the rag is left
out of the stack so that it will dry.
When the rag dries the phosphorus
burns. The bombs were placed on
the south side of the stacks, the
hottest part of the stack. A few
hours after sunrise will dry the rag
and the stack will be on fire before
the owners know it.
Another type of fire brand is a
wooden rag soaked in linseed oil.
These are pushed into the stack. The
natural heat of the stack and the
lack of ventilation causes this fire
ball to ignite within a few hours.
1--WE found that eighteen stacks
had been treated to one of these
two methods" said Mr.. Studebaker.
mine stacks we're burned before
the farmers discovered the cause of
the fire. The work was done with
system and | imagine that hun
dreds of stacks in western Kansas
contain these bombs"
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1916-07-13
M~yl


Solomon. July 10.--Mrs. George
Benfer died at her home three miles
west of town Wednesday morning
at 1:15 o'clock from heart trouble.
She became i'll while getting ready
to go to Solomon to the celebra-
tion Tuesday. She began growing
steadily worse about o'clock in
the afternoon and died at 1915
Wednesday. Mrs. Benfer was "a
years old. OF her immediate family
only a husband is left to mourn her
death, her only child, Mrs. James
Laidlow, having passed away only
two months ago.
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1916-07-13
MRS. PHOEBE WENGER, 32-
YEAR RESIDENT, is DEAD

Mrs. Phobe Wenger, the wife OF
John Wenger. East Seventh street
died at the home at 10:30 O'Clock
this morning after lingering ILL
ness of several years but only since
spring has her illness been serious.
Mrs. Wenger, as life long men,
ber of the Brethren in Christ
church, was a woman of strong
Christian faith and the husband
and only son, Harvey, have the
sympathy of many in their loss. The
arrangements for the funeral have
not been completed as she has a
brother, d. H. Wenger, living at
Chambersburg, Pa, from whom they
are waiting word
Mrs Wenger was SO years OF age
and has been a resident of Dickin-
son county for 32 years, coming
here from Pennsylvania and settling
on a farm near Buckeye, ten miles
north of town. The past several
years she and her husband have
resided in the city. The direct cause
of her death was heart trouble.
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1916-07-13

Harry Anderson, twenty years old
and the son of H. A. Anderson, liv-
ing two miles east of Enterprise,
was drowned while swimming in the
Smoky Hill river at the Hollendoff
sand bar a mile east of Kansas
Flour Mills dam, at IL o'clock Sun
day morning. Without any indica-
tion of trouble Anderson disappear
ed beneath the surface and his body
was recovered an hour and half
later with graphing hooks. Alword
Anderson was in the water with his
brother and transient who was on
the bank witnessed the drowning.
This is the second death from drown
ing at Enterprise in two months.
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1916-07-13
THREsHING BY ELECTRICITY
Pennington Electric Threshers' AS
sociation Has Been Organized

Close the switch, the motor purrs.
the bundles fly and they are thresh-
ing wheat ON what was formerly
bleak prairie with electric power.
The Pennington Electric Threshers'
association is the name of a new
organization OF nine wheat growers
in the Pennington district southeast
of town and today they set their
outfit, a new threshing machine
driven by a 25 horsepower electric
motor, in motion, and for the first
, time wheat was threshed by cleo
trio power in Dickinson county. The
farmers have organized so that they
could get their wheat threshed and
sold in good season.
It is estimated that by trading
work and labor and using electric
power they have reduced the cost
per bushel fifty per cent until 1t
now costs them four cents per
bushel to thresh their wheat. One
thousand feet of transmission cable
and electric lines in that vicinity
enable them to thresh practically
any place in the neighborhood.
The outfit represents an invest
ment OF $500. The motor and cur
rent are furnished by the Riverside
Light and Power Company.
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1916-07-13
AUTOISTS COULD DIM LIGHTS
ON SIGNAL FROM OTHER CAR

Abilene has not an ordinance re-
quiring automobile owners to dim
or adjust their lights to remove the
glare and no rule has been adopted
or generally needed by autoists.
The following plan has come into
general use in some towns and is
said to be effective:
When a driver becomes blinded
by the dazzling lights of an ap-
preaching car which he is to meet
he flashes his electric lights. dim
ming them for an instant. The
other motorists gets the signal and
both dim their lights until they
have safely passed each other.
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1916-07-13
RURAL MAIL CARRIERS
MOTOR CAR INTO DITCH

John Brinkmeyer. rural mail car
rier on Route 6 Abilene, driving his
automobile, went into the ditch a
short distance east OF VIM Neeley' IS
on the Enterprise road east of town
at o'clock Sunday evening. Brink
meyer was cut on the face by fly
ing glass from the windshield and
received other minor bruises. A
faulty steering gear caused the ac-
cident. The car was damaged to
the extent Of a broken wind shield
and axle and two bent tenders. The
ditch is four feet deep where the
accident occurred end this prevented
the car from turning over.
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1916-07-13
DIR. DUTTON TO LECTURE IN
INDIANA AND MISSOURI

DR.. Dean G. Dutton left early
this morning for Maryville, Mo-.
where he will lecture and teach fol
six days in the Missouri Epworth
League institute. From there he
will go to Battle Ground, Indiana
for another weeks lecture work al
the Indiana state institute. After
several other lecture engagements
and a visit at Chicago he will re.
turn home at the end of three weeks
other pastors of this vicinity will
supply in the pulpit here.
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1916-07-13
River at Enterprise
Gets Another Victim

Oliver Krehbiel was in Enterprise
yesterday at the time the tragedy
occurred and he said this morning
that reports vary as to the cause of
the swimmers death. Anderson was
fairly good swimmer and so it is
attributed to cramps. The water is
ten feet deep where he sank.
Two brothers, Alword and Ed
gar, two sisters, Helen and Mabel,
and the father survive the young
man. Mr.. Anderson, who runs a
harness shop in the western part of
the state happened to be home visit
ing his children, who manage the
farm. The relatives have the SYM
pathy of many in their sad loss.
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1916-07-13
BUILD TEMPORARILY
BOARD OF EDUCATION PROVIDES
FOR INCREASED ENROLMENT
w. H. Saylor of Kansas City En-
gagged as Supervising Archi-
tect in Case New H. S.
Bonds Carry

In an adjourned session last
night the board of education au'
thorized the construction of a tenn
porary wooden structure 60x30 feet
on the grounds north of the present
high school building to care for the
overflow and demand for increased
facilities with the increasing high
school student enrolment and the
crowded condition of the present
building. The manual training de-
partment will be housed in this
building. The building and grounds
committee is receiving sealed con-
struction bids from plans and spe-
cifications drawn up by w. H. Say
lor an architect from Kansas City.
Mr.. Sayler was engaged to draw
up the plans, specifications, water
colors and blue prints for the pro-
posed new high school building and
as supervising architect in case
the bonds carry. He will complete
the preliminary plans Immediately.
Mr.. Sayler is a competent school
builder. He had charge of the con-
struction of five school buildings at
Atchison, three at Moberly, Mo-, and
the structures at independence, Mo.
and Manhattan. The members of
the board inspected several of
these buildings.
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1916-07-13
ABILENE BOYS AT EAGLE
PASS, TEN, FEELING FINE

A postal card to the Reflector
from Otto Smith, a member of the
Second Kansas hospital corps, sta
toned at Eagle Pass, Texas, a bor-
der town, says that he and Ralph
Lucier are feeling fino and enjoying
themselves. He writes that they are
expecting to be called into actual
service anytime now, as reports of
Villa activities just across the line
are numerous and frequent. Aside
from the picturesque buildings shown
in the postal photograph, Eagle Pass
appears to have the trees and shrub
berry typical of any Kansas town.
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1916-07-13
Auto Theft Caught
With Topeka Dr's Car

Twelve minutes after Grant Le-
land, driving Ford roadster with
license tage No. 59913 and stolen
from Dr. Walter H. Wedding at
Topeka between 1880 and IL
o'clock yesterday morning had at
tempted to make his getaway from
Ed. Arnold after getting seven gal
Ions of gasoline at the Ed. Arnold
G. Son garage, Chapman, he was in
the hands of Mr.. Arnold and Deputy
Sheriff James Hinchon after an ex-
citing chase of seven miles on the
Golden Belt, where there was some
driving that would put Barney Old
field to shame.
Leland, a nattily dressed young
man who says his home is In Tonk-
wa, Ok, but letters in his clothes
show that his name is Leland Lam
bert of Browning, Mo-, drove up to
the Arnold garage yesterday at 4
p m. and got z gallons of gasoline.
He inquired as to the price of lubri-
eating oil and agreed to take
quart. Mr.. Arnold started to get the
oil and had not gone father than
ten feet when Leland jumped into
his car and whizzed off without
paying for the gas. Arnold readily
realizing the predicament and anti
cipating some trouble .lephoned
Deputy Sheriff Hinchon that the
driver was headed this way and then
jumping into a new automobile with
his son Ersil at the wheel they
started in pursuit.
At the same time Hinehon with
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1916-07-13
HARRY STYLES TAKEN
TO INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL

Harry styles Of Herington. who
was adjudged incorrigible and sen
fenced to the boys industrial school
for his connection with the shoot
ing Of Roy Appleberry of Herring
ton, was taken to Topeka today by
Sheriff Hassler. Under the honor
parole system as worked at this
institution Harry may gain his
release after two years
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1916-07-13

Barney Riley in a Ford livery left
Abilene and going east on the Gold
en- Belt met the runaway roadster a
mile this side of Detroit. Riley
drove his car diagonally across the
road and stopped. The oncoming
car was forced to slow down but
when it did not stop Hinchon jump
ed on the running board, shut off
the gas, and arrested Leland. Ar
mold and his son were only half
mile behind, with other cars from
Detroit where notice had been sent
to stop the runaway but he left
only a streak of dust through that
town. In the car was found load
ed 32 revolver.
Leland is now in the county jail
and will be taken to Topeka this
evening. DR.. Wedding came after
his car and drove 1t home this morn
ing. Leland at first denied stealing
the car and said he was from Kan
sas City where his father is doc
tor. Then he said he had stolen the
car in Wichita. Hinchon telephoned
j. T. Botkin, secretary of state, dis
covered that the motor car belonged
in Topeka. He then got in commu-
nication with Hugh Larimer, depu-
ty sheriff, and learned the particu-
lars.
1t is not exactly clear how any
auto thief would attempt to steal a
car then some gasoline from gar
age in broad daylight and attempt
to make his getaway in this day of
good roads and long distance phones.
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1916-07-13
Weeks Camping outing

Mr.. and Mrs. Harry Leonard and
son Gale and Mr.. and Mrs. Michael
Hogan left yesterday on a weeks
camping trip on Chapman creek
three and one-half miles northeast
OF Buckeye. They made the trip in
the Leonard automobile and when
they left town the car was heavily
loaded down with tents. poles,
stoves. cots and all the necessary
camping psraphernalia
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1916-07-13
Inspect Bridge in solomon

The board of county commits
sioners are in Solomon township
today inspecting a bridge which the
residents of the neighborhood want
repaired. New approaches are need
ed, the citizens told the commits
sioners recently.-Salina Journal.
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1916-07-13
NO PICNIC AT EAGLE PASS
Ralph Lucier Writes Interesting
Letter to Home Folks

The following letter received from
Ralph Lucier, with the Kansas ma
tional guards at Eagle Pass, Texas,
by his father, p o. Lucier, was
given to the Reflector for publica-
ton:
Dear Folks: Well, here we are at
last; arrived here yesterday morn
ing after a somewhat exciting trip.
Just out of Temple, Texas, some
Mexicans tried to burn bridge in
front of us. A little latter on a fire
was discovered in one of the bag
gage cars. From then on our train
proceeded slowly and under heavy
guard. Every bridge and culvert in
this part of the country is heavily
guarded.
Our camp is just outside of Eagle
Pass and overlooking the Rio
Grande. Just across the river are
two thousand Yaqui (Mexican In
dians) encamped. They tell us that
they are the fiercest fighters in
Mexico. Just below us, on the flats
and around the town is bunch of
U. s. regulars. The Vermont and
Massachusetts militia are also en-
camped here but are not nearly so
we'll equipped or drilled as the Kan
sas boys. Everybody seems to think
that we will be the first to cross
the border. You can tell any of the
boys at home that il they are look
ing for a Sunday school picnic that
they had better stay where they are.
The inhabitants are Mexicans, liz
ards, scorpions and rattlesnakes.
The landscape cactus, sage brush
and alkali hills. The thermometer
registers over 120. Thank the Lord
we have our camp fixed up in fair
iy good shape. We have cleared the
grounds of all shrubbery, have in
stalled a water works system, show
er baths and toilet. You can't real
ize the work that a bunch men can
accomplish until you see them in
action. Everything has its place and
every man has his work. Let me
tell you it is fine training. If you
think we have much time for fool
ishness you are mistaken. Reveille
Everybody out of bed) and half
hours exercise before breakfast.
After breakfast we police" the
camp. Every match, cigarette snipe,
etc. must be picked up. Believe me,
sanitation of all kinds is strictly en-
forced. After that we drill until
noon. After dinner we have our
time to do our washing, write let
ters, etc. No one is allowed out of
camp after retreat" 5:45 in the
evening. After tonight we are to
sleep in our clothes and with guns
loaded.
There have been many raids up
and down the river in the last few
DAYS and conditions are much worse
than you can imagine. These peo-
pie live in constant terror. | know
you would say move out but they
are American citizens on American
soil and have their homes and all
their money tied up here. I had
quite long talk with an old ranch
er last night and from what he said
these Mexicans are worse than
devils. never TO be trusted. Well,
guess I've "raved on long enough
Must say that / feel fine. Your low
ing son and brother, Ralph Lueier.
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1916-07-13
FnnernI for Aped Resident

The funeral of Mrs. Anna Smitl
who died suddenly at her home
sos West Sixth street. Saturda,
afternoon was held yesterday after
noon at the house at 2:30 O'Clock
with the Rev. E. r. Brown officiat
ing. Mrs. Smith had been resi-
dent Of Abilene for many years. Hei
sudden demise was due to apoplexy
Burial was made in the Abilene
cemetery.
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1916-07-13
100 ACRES WHEAT AVERAGED
351s Blu. FOR WHITEHAIR'S

John Whitehair, Sr., living south
west OF town in the Smoky Hill bot
toms has completed threshing the
wheat grown on 100 acres and the
average was 35h bushels to the
acre, a thirty-five hundred bushel
crop. His oats yielded forty-five
bushels to the acre.
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1916-07-13
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ORDERS IN WATER BONDS

The board of city commissioners
In its regular session this morning
ordered in two OF the $1,000 water
bonds on which payment is due
August /. The legal procedure
takes some time and 1t may be sixty
days before the bonds can be pro-
cured. Other routine business was
transacted by the commissioners.
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1916-07-13

Dickinson has reached the Il
cylinder car class. c. L. Brown re
ceived today a 12-cylInder Packard
touring car. one OF tile most ex-
pensive cars now made. Ralph Hoff-
man Of Enterprise has a 12-cylinder
National roadster on the way
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1916-07-13

Mrs. Joseph Page Of Hayes re-
ceived news today Of the death Of
her father at Harrisburg, Pa, and
viii leave in the morning to attend
the funeral.
Turner County herald. (Hurley, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1916-03-23
The Beauty Mark Musical Revue
Coming to the Star

The billing is upon the boards an
nouncing the appearance of the
Beauty Mark Musical Revue at the
Star Theater for two nights. COM
mencing Thursday, March Both.
This is the largest and best travelling
popular priced musical comedy or
ganization on the road today and
present the livliest kind Of per-
formance, laugh minute is prom
ised with this show. The company
is headed by the greatest of all He
brew comedians, Harry Schuman
and throughout the humorous situa-
tiens is seen a constant vision of al
Turing eyes and bewitching smiles of
a score of dancing dolls in an end
less number of handsome costume
changes that form a kaleidoscope
display of color and beauty. 1t is
! the kind of an entertainment where
thoughts of the morrow are brushed
aside and those of yesterday laid
away and the pleasure and laughs OF
the present day only hold sway.
During this engagement an en-
itirely different bill will be presented
each night and the company makes
/ a complete scenic production OF
every show. Beautiful girls. beauti-
full costumes, special scenery and
effects, funny comedians and that
great quartette, The Beauty Mark
Quartette" tend to make this attrac-
tion the best that has ever played
our city. fhe popularity of this
iclass of performance is easily proved
by the mammoth business of this
company everywhere and the man
agement easily predicts house capac-
jity here as we'll Those that are
wise are now getting their seats vel
in advance at the Pioneer Drug
Store. Don't forget the date and
don't miss the big opening show,
The Gay Deceivers', Thursday
evening, March 30th.