davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The broad ax., 1916-02-05
Pure Drinking Water.

The geologic resource OF greatest
value to the health Of communities is q
supply Of pure drinking water. 1t Is
generally recognized that number OF
diseases, prominent among which are
typhoid fever and amoebic dysentery-
a disease more common In tropical eli
mates, but found also In the United
States-are contracted through contain
mated water or contaminated food.
Therefore a supply of pure water will
eliminate one Of the sources Of such
infection.
1t Is highly desirable to obtain sup
plies of domestic water from sources
other than the shallow wells, some Of
them open. that are found near many
houses. The water obtained from deep
wells has percolated through sands and
other material for so great distance
that its impurities have been removed
by filtration. and it possesses a sani-
tary value that cannot well be overes-
hmated, for such water is free from
bacteria causing typhoid fever and
Ne protocol causing amoebic dysen-
terry, and its use obviates the necessity
for shallow wells that may serve as
breeding place for Anopheles, the mos
quito to which malarial infections Is
archaeological Survey Bulletin.
The broad ax., 1916-02-05
The Expanding Stone.

In the rock of st. Gowan's chapel IN
Wales, was a natural cavity upon
which the name Of the expanding
stone" was bestowed by popular tradi.
ton, because the strange fancy prevail.
ed that this stone automatically adapt.
ed itself to the size Of any one who
entered the cavity.
The legend ran, as quoted by Mr..
George F. Kunz in "The Magic of
Jewels and Charms" that once, dur
ing the pagan prosecutions, when a
fugitive Christian, holly pursued, reach.
ed this rock it opened up Of it's own
accord so that he could slip into IL
and then closed about him so as to
hide him effectually from his enemies
This expanding stone was believed to
manifest its magic power by bringing
to pass the wish expressed by any one
who entered it, provided he did not
change his wish while he turned
around within it.
The broad ax., 1916-02-05
A Mistake Somewhere.

A helpful friend recently requested
Us to write funny piece about game
we used to play in boyhood's glad
days called hiding in the barn." He
alleged that part of the gang hid and
the rest searched for them. and when
they were found all hands jumped and
yelled most gleefully. This, he tried
to remind us, was very, very funny
Either our memory is failing or we
have lost our sense of humor, for as
we recollect it our father did the hid
ing and we jumped and yelled And
1t does not seem amusing to Us even
yet.-Kansas City Star.
The broad ax., 1916-02-05
Drills Tiny Holes,

Making an adding machine required
the drilling Of ten holes in a steel
plate a thirty-second Of an inch thick.
each hole to be accurate to a thou
sandth of an inch. yet no bigger than
a pin In diameter. Such a problem
stopped the manufacture Of the ma
chine on a commercial basis until the
inventor Of the calculator could invent
a means Of solving It
The machine devised stands but
twelve inches high. The drill which
was built carries ten spindles, each
holding a drill Of No. 6 Morse gauge.
which Is about the size Of a pin
Of ordinary use. Each little silver or
steel that does the work Is dri zen by
a belt operating through a cam head
and therefore works at the same speed
as that Of its neighbors-
The actual drilling requires ten sec
onds.-Illustrated World
The broad ax., 1916-02-05
Persimmons as Food.

The only fruit, says a bulletin of
the department Of agriculture, which
equals the persimmon In its value as
q food Is the date. Nevertheless many
persons with fine persimmon trees In
their possession are allowing the fruit
to go to waste, either through L.
norance Of the many uses to which ii
may be put or through prejudice.
There Is a saying In the persimmon
country that persimmons are good for
dogs, hogs and 'possums." This, how
ever, Is declared to be gross injustice
to a very valuable product
One reason for the neglect Of this
fruit Is the mistaken idea that Der.
simmons are unfit to eat until they
have been touched by frost. As a
matter Of fact, much Of the best fruit
Is lost every year because 1t ripens and
falls to the ground, where, not being
touched by frost, 1t Is left to rot Such
persimmons as are not edible before
frost comes are q late variety of the
fruit, and the reason that they pucker
the mouth is because they have not
yet ripened. In general, the best fruit
Is that which ripens Just before the
leaves fall
The broad ax., 1916-02-05
Don'ts For Poets.

Arthur Guiterman In a recent inter
view gave list Of negative command
ments for would be poets. "Don't
think Of yourself as a poet and dress
the part" he says. Don't frequent
exclusively the company Of writer's.
Don't complain Of lack Of appreciation.
On the long run no really good pub
hshed work can escape appreciation)
Don't speak of poetic license or believe
that there is any such thing. Don't
use 'e'er' for ever Der for over
when as or what time for when or
any of the 'poeticaP commonplace Of
the past Don't say did go for went
even If you need an extra syllable
Don't-don't write hymns to the great
god Pan. He is dead; let him rest in
peace! Don't write what everybody
else is writing. City Star.
The broad ax., 1916-02-05
Luminescsnt Illumination.

There are several substances that be
come luminescent after long exposure
to the rays Of the sun, although none
Of them emits a brilliant light. It Is
believed that this luminescence could
be greatly increased if the problem
were investigated with as much care
as that given to the development Of
the incandescent gas mantle. It has
been suggested that if a luminescent
paint were spread on buildings exposed
to brilliant sunshine they would give
of stored sunlight during the night
and thus preserve one element Of the
radiant energy Of the sun. One au-
thority remarks, THE general use of
such a paint would enable the more
powerful methods of artificial fllumi-
nation to be limited to special locations
and confine the use of existing systems
to indoor service and to spots where
little daylight penetrates. washing
ton Star
The broad ax., 1916-02-05
Could Esa 10 Well ~ Write.

Dr. johnson was a great tea drinkef.
II is stated that he would drink thirty
or forty cups Of tea during an evening!
Yet he lived to affair age and appar-
emily suffered no very Ill effects from
his great thirst for tea he was one
Of the most notable Of feeders and ate
his food in what we should now think
rather a piggish fashion, making great
grunts and groans Of satisfaction or
enjoyment the while and going the
round Of the menu very thoroughly.
Charles Reade, the famous novelist.
n reported 10 have been one Of the
strangest feeders ON record. A contem-
porary, writing Of his meals at the Gar
lick club, says: He took a cauli-
flower, hanked BY q jug Of cream, as
hfs first course, and a great salad to
follow, washed down by curious drinks
Of the shandygaff order. He would
drink coffee associated with sweets,
black pudding and toasted cheese, to
the amazement OF any onlooker."
The broad ax., 1916-02-05
His COLLEGE Handicap.

Fl remember when it was really q
disadvantage to have had a technical
mining education" said John Hays
Hammond. II remember going to one
Of the large mining magnates Of the
day In California. who had got his in
formation and experience by hard
knocks, and asking for a job. He
said: There is one serious objection
to you. You have been at Freiburg.
and you know you have to unlearn a
good deal when you get into active
practice am sorry to say there Is
q great deal of truth In that too.
Well said. 1 will tell you In con-
ffdence. but do not repeat this to my
poor father. who has made every sacri-
fee to send me abroad for a mining
education-I did not learn a confound-
ed thing at Freiburg. Then he said.
Z will take you. And that was the
first job ever got"
The broad ax., 1916-02-05
African Fashion Notes.

The prettiest dress Of the Mpongwe
woman is a cloth drawn up under the
arms, a scarf on the shoulders and a
handkerchief folded over the coiled
hair in a high stiff fold set well up on
the head, rather like childs idea of
a crown. There is a great fancy for
puppies and lavenders set off with
shades Of rose and red and a sudden
keen note Of gilt With black there
will be q touch Of most delicious bright
green. A cloth and a scarf worn by a
woman Of beautiful gesture and Ga
bonnaise is always that-have a certain
mutable charm; the movements Of the
body, the wind that blows from the
sea-these renew and display the folds
Of the garment so that the eye Is in
trigued.-Atlantic.
The broad ax., 1916-02-05
Charley Horse.

Charley horse" dreaded by bah
players, Is an ailment consisting of
displacement and structure of the mus
cles of the leg, often the sartorial mus
Gle. The trouble Is commonly brought
about not by running, but by quick
stopping at bases. The player who
STOPS on his feet IS almost certain
to acquire the ailment in short time.
The overworked muscle. slipping out
OF place. knots itself into a great hump
and exerts pressure on the surrounding
muscles, producing lameness.
Massaging viii bring the muscle
back to place. but the trouble returns
at the next serious strain.
When you see a player make q long
slide which appears unnecessary, the
reason is that he prefers to scrape OF
a little skin rather than take chances
on "horsing" himself by stopping
standing up.-Exchange.
The broad ax., 1916-02-05
The Inns of Chancery.

Most of the old inns of chancery are
no more. Clements inn. where Fal.
staff and Shallow heard the chimes al
midnight" New inn. of which Sir
Thomas More was a member; Lyons
inn, where CODE once taught the stu
dents; Furnival's inn. where Charles
Dickens lived: Thavies inn, which was
one Of the earliest of all the legal set
Elements in London; Barnard's inn.
where Lord Chief Justice Holt was
among the 'principals"-a these his
toric places have lin the change and
chance of time" disappeared from
view. Staple inn remains in its an
cient state by the good will of the in
surance company that purchased it a
number of years ago.-London Law
Journal
The broad ax., 1916-02-05
The Word "Derrick.1

The word derrick for a machine
used to lift heavy weights is curiously
derived from London hangman In the
beginning of the seventeenth century
whose name was Theodore and who
Is often mentioned in old plays. "He
rides circuit with the devil, and Der
rick must be his host and Tyborne the
inn at which he will light" occurs in
'The Bellman Of London" published
In 1916. The name thus corrupted
came afterward to be applied by an
easy transition to the gallows and later
still to any frame or contrivance re
sembling it.in shape.
The broad ax., 1916-02-05
Remedy For Anger.

The greatest remedy for anger b de-
lay. Beg anger to grant you this at
the first, not In order that it may par
don the offense, but that it may form
a right judgment about It If It de-
hays it will come to an end. Do not
attempt to quen it all at once, for its
first impulses are fierce. By piucking
away its parts we shall remove the
whole We are made angry by some
things which we learn at second hand
and by some things which we ourselves
hear or see. Now, we ought to be slow
30 believe what Is told US If
you were about to give sentence In
court about ever 80 small a sum Of
money you would take nothing as
proved without a witness, and wit
ness would count for nothing except on
Ids oath. You would allow both sides
to be heard; you would allow them
t1me.-Seneca-
The broad ax., 1916-02-05
Rememberind Faces.

Hotel clerks have a way Of recogniz-
ing guests as soon as they sign a reg
lister. The most successful hotel keep
ers have to have this power Of remem-
bering the faces of their guests and all
about them or they would soon lose
their custom by the mistakes they
would make.
Bank cashiers carry In their memo
ries the faces and signature Of most
Of the customers Of the bank.
Detectives. too, get into the habit Of
remembering the faces Of every one
with whom they have to deal, whether
criminals or not
81 don't think have ever forgotten
q customer" a clerk In one Of the big
safe deposits recently said. There are
hundreds of safe deposit boxes rented
In our vaults, and I can generally re-
member, without referring 10 our
books, the name, number and pass
word Of each customer.
The broad ax., 1916-02-05
Two Coyotes.

1--WE watched two coyotes In captiv-
fly the other day." said a man interest
ed In humane work. "They were OF
the same age. Of the same parentage
on both sides. They have been nearly
a year confined In the cage One OF
them, the male, Is as restless a crea-
ture as one might ever see, almost new
er. quiet, hurrying back and forth with
rapid steps from one end Of the cage
to the other. apparently never free
from fear. the eye restless and wild
The other, the female, Is as gentle as
dog, likes to lean against the bars
and be petted, is without fear, rest
full, and one might imagine, content
ed animal Here Is the old question
Of heredity. Families Of humans pre-
sent the same problem,"-Detroit Free
Press
The broad ax., 1916-02-05
India,a Hoardad Gold.

For many years London has been
steadily drained Of her gold by India.
In ten years India has absorbed from
circulation 100000 gold sovereigns
and boarded them away. The coolie
has learned that silver rupees are a
poor investment, especially If he melts
them into anklets or a nose ring for
his wife, as over 30 per cent Of the
silver is lost in the melting pot, while
the gold sovereign preserves its value
whether he keeps it as a coin or melts
it. When a coolie collects 10 ru
PEGS which he finds to be temporarily
surplus he buys a sovereign with it
He has come to understand the wis
dom Of boarding away only the gold
coin, which be knows he can always
realize on at its original value.
The broad ax., 1916-02-05
Survival of the Efttsst Among Birds

ouTNtNdi OF Cn0 FttIcor AfuOn9 oHuSs ,
The struggle Of life among the birds
and other wild creatures Is SO severe
that the feeble and malformed, or the
handicapped in any way, quickly drop
out Probably none Of them ever dies
from old age. They are cut of In their
prime. A wedding out process goes on
from the time they leave the nest A
fun measure of life, the perfection of
every quill and feather and unerring
instinct carry them along. They are
always in the enemy's country; they
are always on the firing line; eternal
vigilance and ceaseless activity are the
price Of life with them. The natural
length of life Of our smaller birds Is
calculated to be eight or ten years, but
probably not one In thousand reaches
that age. Not half a dozen times in
my life have I found the body Of a
dead bird that did not show some
marks Of violence.-John Burroughs In
Harper's Hagazine
The broad ax., 1916-02-05
Serious Obstacle.

"Has your boy started in business
yetT
mo. He's been out Of college over
year now. but he's still looking
around"
"Why don't you take him In with
your
"Well, to tell the truth, he's got his
heart set on a job that pays at least
$4,000 a year, and don't make that
much myself."-St Louis Globe-Demo-
crat
The broad ax., 1916-02-05
Bazaars In Asia.

Streets in the bazaar districts of
Asiatic cities are only eight to ten feet
wide. The larger shops are eight by
ten and the smaller ones five by six
feet, with one side giving directly on
the street In each bazaar Is a khan
for every ten or twelve shops. These
khans are two stories high, with an
open court in the center and rooms on
the four sides. all opening into the
court A door leads from the open
court into the street Rooms are let to
different storekeepers for storage pur.
poses.
The broad ax., 1916-02-05
Winning Both Ways.

The Zulu young lady, when suftors
are not forthcoming, takes the matter
In hand herself. She leaves home,
takes discreet friend of her own sex
and presents herself at the home Of
her favored swain. If he regards her
with satisfaction his parents receive
her as his future bride. Should he.
however, be unwilling to accept her
he makes her handsome present In.
stead.
The broad ax., 1916-02-05
Good Reason.

In his book about his distinguished
father the son Of Louis Agassiz tells a
story that relates to the life Of the
great scientist in America, A few
years before his death he came into
his house in Cambridge delighted with
an occurrence he had just seen In Bos.
ton A carriage pushing through the
crowd had knocked down a woman.
Her escort proceeded to pummel the
driver. But why" asked the listener,
didn't the owner come to his drivers
assistanceT' oh" exclaimed Agas-
siz. 81 was holding him"
The broad ax., 1916-02-05
Wasted Apology.

Zone day." says London Journalist.
''the late Walter Emanuel called on me
and chatted delightfully."-. After half
an hour the humorist said he must go
and apologized for having wasted so
much valuable time.
Don't mention it. l rushed TO re
ply. 1t has been pleasure
"'Oh. it's not your valuable time I'm
thinking Off said Mr.. Emanuel as he
picked up his hat. It's miner "-Ex-
change.
The broad ax., 1916-02-05
Henpecked Sparroyys,

Female sparrows are especially ty-
rannical toward their partners, espe-
cially at nest building time, when they
frequently attack their husbands fierce.
" on account Of their laziness. AT
such times the female voice can al
ways be detected, both louder and
shriller than that Of her mate, as she
pecks and tousles him until he beats
birds and thrushes are often very over
bearing and even spiteful toward their
mates when their houses are In course
Of construction.
The broad ax., 1916-02-05
But None For Him.

ANY letters for me"
what name~
"Jason Hewlett"
"Um-m-m. Nope"
THAT'S strange"
Expecting anyT
mo, but Israel Pubbleton was read
ing the other day tibet there was enough
letters sent through the postoff1ce last
year to give every man, woman and
child twenty-three each, an thought
I'd come in for my share."-Pittsburgh
Chronicle Telegraph.
The broad ax., 1916-02-05
WifeIy Optimism,

Husband-When see all these bills
am tired Of life. Do you think the
time will ever come when we shall be
out Of debt? Wife (cheerfully)-Why
not, darling? You know that you are
carrying an exceptionally large life In
surance
The broad ax., 1916-02-05
SETTING Aer RIGHT

Aunt RACHEL see you've patched
It up with Archie and he's coming
here again oftener than ever. He's
asked you to marry him fifty times,
hasn't he? Miss Mandy-Oh, dear, no,
aunty. but I suppose he has asked me
fifty times to marry him.
The broad ax., 1916-02-05
left Handed Revenoa-

Oficer-Your honor, this chauffeur
IRAN his car into tn show windy av a
millinery store. Judge-What millinery
store? Officer-Mme. de Stickum's.
Judge-Discharged. That's where my
wife buys her hats.-Philadelphta Bull
letin.
The broad ax., 1916-02-05
Thu Old Sreek Cuirass.

The Greeks had a cuirass made OF
linen or wooden fbers which was i'm
penetrable to the sharpest darts or
spears That, by the way, is one Of the
discoveries that have not been redis-
covered, for we do not know the secret
Of its manufacture.
The broad ax., 1916-02-05
An OVERSIGHT.

"What do you think Of his nerveT
exclaimed the old man, who was noto-
riously tricky In business. He called
me q barefaced robberr
~Oh, WELL" replied the man who
knew him, probably IN his excitement
be didn't notice your mustache"-New
York Globe.
The broad ax., 1916-02-05
By Way of Contrast.

There Is one good thing about buy
ing a really handsome and expensive
dress" said Mrs. Bunting to Mrs. Lar.
kin
"What Is thatY'
why, you feel as though you really
ought to buy another not quite so good
to save your best one."-Puck.
The broad ax., 1916-02-05
No One to Do IL.

"You say you have three small chill
dren- Can't you find workY
The man with the three days beard
and the ragged trousers wiped away
tear.
"Alas, num-" he said, 1T wouldn't
be any good They amt old enough
to work yet"
The broad ax., 1916-02-05
Considerate.

THE most considerate wife / ever
heard Of" said the philosopher, twas
. woman who used to date all her let.
tiers a week or so ahead to allow her
husband time 30 post them"
The broad ax., 1916-02-05
Caffeine.

Caffeine, the active principle Of cof-
fee. was discovered by Runge In 1920.
In a pure state it takes the form of
long silky needles. In ordinary cof-
fee it is present to the extent Of aboy$
per cent, but Java coffee contains 4
and Martinique has as much as "a ~
The broad ax., 1916-02-05
Where Are Thew

Where are those musical children of
yesterday whose musical education
was complete when they had learned
to play The Maiden's Prayer and
Monastery Bells"-Life.
The broad ax., 1916-02-05
Another Reason.

"They call her the human graphic
phone"
~Just because she buxzes q bitr
Its on account Of the airs she puts
on."-Louisville Courier>Journal
The broad ax., 1916-02-05
life's Dream,

Life is but a light dream, which
soon vanishes. To live Is to suffer.
The sincere man struggles necessarily
to gain the victory over himself.-Na-
poleon.
The broad ax., 1916-02-05
New Acouaintancea.

IF a man does not make new &C
Quaintances as he advances through
life he win soon find himself left alone
A man should keep his friendship IN
constant repair.-Johnson.
The broad ax., 1916-02-05
Sympathy.

Husband-Oh. there's that confound.
ed rheumatism againI Wife-Pm so
sorry. l wanted to go shopping tomor
row, and your rheumatism Is always a
sign Of rain. Isn't 1t provokingl
The broad ax., 1916-02-05
An Artist.

Mr.. Banks-Don't you think my wfe
paints very nicely? Miss Millburn-
Charming! 1t makes her look so much
younger. think.-London Telegraph.
The broad ax., 1916-02-05
Not For His 6u.;n...

But they say" remarked the patron.
he has good head for business
Nonsense" replied the barhar
why, he's absolutely bald"
The broad ax., 1916-02-05

without kind Offices and useful serv.
ices, wherever the power and oppor
tunity occur, love would be q hollow
pretense-Coleridge.
The broad ax., 1916-02-05

Ill bind myself to that which, once
being right. will not be less right when
[ shrink from it-Kingsley.
The broad ax., 1916-02-05
The Worm Turns.

"How much are your four dollar
shoesT asked the smart one.
1.-TWO dollars q foot" replied the
salesman wearily.~Judge.
The broad ax., 1916-02-05
Anatomical

She sang softly leaning in the cradle
OF his arm. her hands In his, their
hearts In each others hands-Isct
London's Martin Eden"
The broad ax., 1916-02-05
Advice

First Senior-Pm going to marry a
poor girl and settle down. Second
senior-Better marry a rich girl and
settle up.-Yale Record.
The broad ax., 1916-02-05
Bored.

Il say, your ears have never been
pierced, Aileenr
mo, but they're being boredr ~
Lehigh Burr.
The broad ax., 1916-02-05
Two Extremes.

There are no chagrins so venomous
"a the chagrins Of the idle, no pangs
90 sickening as the satieties Of pleas
ure.-Ruskin
The broad ax., 1916-02-05
Great Knowledge,

'Does he know anything about q
carr
*He certainly does He knows how
10 sell 1t after It gets worn OUT
Puck.
The broad ax., 1916-02-05

Oft expectation fails and most Oft
there where most It promises.-Shake-
Speare
The broad ax., 1916-02-05

God sends new duty to conquer
zach new pain.-Adelaide Proctor.