davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1916-12-01

the saucer thus formed The pulp itself Is pure
and the water stored in 1t Is likewise pure and re-
freshing.
Not all the water-bearng cacti are as gracious to
furnishing man, however, as the water barrel" for
most of them have protected themselves against
the maraudings of those who would drink and live
by imparting bitter taste to the water they con-
tain. The "peyote" especially, which abounds In
the plains and deserts of Arizona, has trick Of
dscouraging depredations upon 1t, for its plump
and juicy pulp secretes bitter and poisonous
juice.
In the last dozen years scientists have interested
themselves in the study of the cactus for its posi-
bities as food, fodder and economic byproducts.
DIR. Leon p. Landone foremost In the study of this
desert plant several years ago conducted extensive
experiments in Los Angeles to ascertain the value
of the thorness cactus an article Of food for
human beings. In an effort to prove his conten-
ton that it contains food properties sufficient to
enable to work Is hours day. he and his
two secretaries for two weeks lived on a daily diet
of the leaves and fruit Of the cactus, the former
being served green or fried and the latter either
raw or cooked While the cactus squad" sur
vived the experience and professor to have en-
joyed their novel diet, 1t is fact that the cactus
never has attained the popularity of 1let mignon
In the whole vegetable kingdom probably there
Is not another plant family having so many diff
ferentatiOns OF form as the cncti For Il is DOS
sibe to find among them species that crawl and
creep like vines. other than stand erect In single
unbending stalk Like green living monument of
the desert still others that are rooted to the spot
with their highest growth close to the ground and
bearing almost resemblance to usual forms OF
vegetation. and others. again. that branch out in
thick unblooming brunches
Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1916-12-01

In the pursuit of Villa and his bandits through
the arid regions Of northern Mexico the United
States troops trayersed region whose only vege-
tation Is the barbed and forbidding cactus. To
any but cowboy trained painsman of the
Southwest, Inhabitants themselves of the cactus
belt" this plant seemingly has more value than
the veriest weed, but 1t may well be that 1t may
prove of great value to the troops in the absence
of water fodder, food for human beings.
In the punitive expedition there are many COW
punchers of the cactus belt serving as scouts,
and In the cowboy and the Indian of the South
west the lowly cactus has its greatest admirer for
they know what game struggle for life this plant
has to make against an unlaved desert soil. Even
their ponies and cattle and the poor beasts of the
desert know of these uses of the cactus for water
and fodder, says the New York Herald.
There some thousand varieties of this mon
strous vegetable family not counting the 800 va
retes Of the agave, century plant--incorrectly
included by many-in northern Mexico. The va
rietes of the yucca palm and all other forms of
vegetation known to the arid region have the same
faculty Of sucking up from the soil every drop of
the all too little moisture in 1t and storing it up
their tough and leathery leaves and roots.
OF the many varieties perhaps the most remark
able Is that member Of the family known to those
schooed In desert craft as the water BARREL" This
plant is shaped somewhat like q beer keg and Is
about the same size. Through all the years Of Its
growth 1t has been sopping up what moisture the
furnished earth contained and retaining It, 1t Is the
sole reliance Of desert dwellers In time Of drought
and the troops. far from water holes and with wa
ter scarce. may yet be obliged to drink from It
The water barrel is tapped by slicing or the
top with sword or machete and pounding the
pulp until the water contained In It wells up into
Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1916-12-01
EVEN PENNSYLVANIA.

That supposedly impregnable strong
hold of liquordom, the state of Pennsyl-
vania, is, like every other state of the
Union, giving way before advancing
prohibition sentiment. Five years ago
it had two dry counties; today 1t has
eleven. In 1911 there was one saloon
for every 6S1 persons; today there Is
one for every 737. In 1911 there were
about TOO square miles of dry terri
tory; today there are 1890. In 1911,
10000 people Of the state lived in no.
license territory; today there are
1900, 900, nearly one-fifth of the total
population. It is stated that of the
100 saloons in Philadelphia, 200 are
on the market. One broker advertises
that he has 100 for sale.
Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1916-12-01
PRAISEHIM for
Thi5l1o5t Precious
Gift

\ AN evening of this week it occurred
= to man, sitting alone in an upper
room, that Thanksgiving day was
right at hand. So he bestirred his
mind to consider those things for
, which an American might sensibly
offer I'D gratitude tn God
Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1916-12-01
MONEY FOR IMPROVED ROADS
Big Taxpayer Is the Man Who Fosts
the Bill for Every Improvement
of Public Nature

More than $1s,OO0,O00 was paid in
fees for the registration of motor
driven vehicles in the United States
last year. Ninety per cent of this was
spent In the maintenance Of old roads
and the building of new roads.
Additionally the motorists paid by
far the larger proportion Of all taxes
which were levied for good roads pur-
poses.
AS rule the big taxpayer is an au-
tomobile owner and he is the man who
foots the bill for every public improve
ment.--Houston Post.
Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1916-12-01
BAD JOKE.

6AO JUNE.
alcohol as a food is joke, and
rather bad joke at that" affirms DR..
Woods Hutchinson.
alcohol does not do for us q single
one of the things we think it does,
and 1t does a score of other things
which we have no idea of when we
drink 1t.
Thirty years ago we were blandly
confident that alcohol was food be-
cause it could be burned in the body.
Now. we know that the total amount
of alcohol which can be burned In the
body in "a hours is only two
ounces, which would be about the same
amount of energy as one good slice of
bread and butter; that is to say, about
one-tenth Of the fuel required to keep
us alive.
IF we were to attempt to use al
cohol as serious source Of nOurish-
ment we should be blind drunk be-
fore we had taken more than one
fifth of the amount needed for a days
rations.
moicoFci, cfCh III thS ohAoAA oinOuAt
which can be daily consumed and
burned up in the body, its poisonous
effects are at least so per cent greater
than it's food value.
1t throws the body engine out of
gear almost twice as much as 1t puts
fuel into its fire-box. The amount of
malt taken with 1t in beer and fruit
sugars In wine are so trifing as to be
not worth counting In our days food
supply"
Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1916-12-01


He reflected that across the Atlantic millions
of human beings were at that very moment
gagged In the dreadful task of killing other human
beings with every invention which ingenuity and
skill could bring forth from the laboratories of
science and the workshops Of industry
In other lands at that very moment tens Of
thousands upon tens of thousands of helpless
folk-feeble aged men and women, mothers with
babes clingng convulsively to their breasts little
children sobbing in terror vast army of the in
nocent and the anguished-were enduring the ex-
tremites of exposure, of hunger, and of despair
as they fled from their wasted farmsteads and
burning villages escaping from the pitiless cruelty
of savage men only to lie down to suffer and die
under the pitless skies of God In the winter and
the bitter storms.
at that very moment most dreadful war hid
half the world in the blackness of It's darkness
and from that horrid cloud rained destruction
upon unhappy Europe-upon her ancient capitals
upon her pleasant cities, upon her villages her
fields, her temples, her treasures of art upon all
the accumulations of a thousand years of genius
of learning of industry of skill and of patient
advancement of the happiness and the civilization
of the race of man.
SO he that considered all this wickedness that
was being done under the SUM- this drunken dance
of death and hell above the fetid corpses and the
multtudnous graves, this awful nightmare of in
descrbable and wrath said in the bitterness
of his heart that no God ruled such maniac
world and there was no thanksgiving due to the
Giver of Gifts that were not good, but everyone
altogether evil.
And when the man had made an end of his
thinking he went and stood In window and
looked out upon the evening, because 1t was fair
to see.
He saw in vision at that instant the yastness
of the republic and the multitude of the good and
happy folk who live under the shelter of its
strength He reflected how brief time had thus
magnifed the works Of pioneer fathers and
our pioneer mothers, those brave and simple men
and women whose names should never be men
toned with anything but profound gratitude.
And to this American, glad with great pride
In the deeds of his people and the story of his
country and grateful to the Goodness which has
guided and sheltered his fathers and his folk.
lifted up his eyes to the night to the quiet stars
to the brooding immensely above, and said In his
heart:
.sThank God that am an Americana"
And, citizens, that Is the one outstanding.
splendid fact for which each one Of us should
soberiy and most gratefully thank God on Thanks
giving day this year.
The finest thing you possess or ever can pos
sess Is just your American citizenship. 1t Is
neither necessary becoming on this day or
on any other day, to cheaper this birthright OF
ours by brag or spreadeagle defamation.
Brit 1t is highly becoming on this Thanksgiving
day to feel a deep gratitude and manly pride
n this heritage.
Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1916-12-01
Backward and Forward.

Mrs. Styles-So the schoolteaches
said your daughter Is backward?
Mrs. Myles--Yes, she did.
"what will you do about it?'
"Well, was going to have her 60
with your daughter for while. Your
daughters so forward. you know"
Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1916-12-01

Total Mileage at Close Of 1914 Placed
At 14,s17.19 MiIes-se Per Cent
Surfaced.

The total road mileage Of New Jer-
sey ut the close Of 1914 was 14,817. 10,
exclusive of streets in towns. OF this,
5,897. AS. miles. or 39.8 per cent. were
surfaced. OF the latter, 2,S5S.52 miles
were gravel. 1.8O9.24 pntreated
macadam. and 417.63 miles bituminous
nacadam.
Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1916-12-01

nod be merciu and bless and his upon
W Selah That thy be known upon thy saving
health all nations Let the people praise Thee God let all
people praise Thee Then yield increase; and Cod
God shall bless God shall U.S. ends of
the Earth shall fearh him Evmae 6zhPahn
Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1916-12-01
Freak Pitching.

II know a pitcher who can strike 'em
out with either hand"
That's nothing; know of fel-
low who has made a big srrikeout rec
ord with his mouth"
Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-01-18

splendid electro-chemical Industries
unique scope and individuality
When the European off imports and opened
American manufacturers and clamorous markets
the whole Industrial system upset. though a very
high tariff mad been enacted night,
activity started And free will OF the
American chemist in powerfully. The American
chemist his duty and did it there and then. He
did what humanity possible and almost more. Our
readers know now the dye problem attacked, and
the potash problem; how chemical
started, how the old established ones readjusted
themselves to changed conditions are strainine
every in incessant day and night Look at
Niagara Falls how the eectro-chemical industries have
been affected almost without orders Our Niagara
friends have only thing worry them-the power
famine. Quousque tandem?
While snapshot of all this activity would be hashy
enough, would tendencies We believe evo-
lutionary sketches of different branches of chemical
activity published during the present year will be
welcome and useful We begin in this issue
with a of rubber industry which we trust
will found very interesting we also publish In
full Mr.. Macmillan Toch's paper American
barium industry though distracted 1t quite fully
right after in of October Is
1915 (page 710l- Mr. Tochs paper brings out clearly
and strongly one allmportant point is glorious
a critical period in the evolution American chem
zeal industries. Shall they grow? Have they been built
stay? The American chemical industry is child of
the American soil 1t is of the industrial
organism of this country. the American nation
a fair attitude of mind. its intelligent
support Mr.. Tochs paper states 1t detail That
it may get it, let this be New Years greeting to
the chemical industry.
Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-01-18
IndecisiOn
BY n. ADDINGToN BRUCE.

BY "A. ADDINGToNE BRUCE.
TNDECIsIoN is a sin against efficiency 1t is COM
| mon to too many men and women In some cases
- it amounts a disease. ...... ...-.
Thus, a well-known Baltimore specialist in nervous
and mental troubles consulted day by man
who seemingly in excellent health He complaheo'
however. of feeling constantly fatigued, and drew
touching picture of hts suferings. Finally he made
the astonishing statement: -
81 find 1t hard only to do things, but even 10
decide what to do This is true of the most trivial
matters
Sometimes it takes me hours to dress, for can
not make up mind what clothes to put on Tor the
day.
IT lay out one suit, discard it for another;
then L go back to the first, and the choice OF
a necktie gives unending difficulties.
other persons suffer from peculiar form or hde-
csion known "folie de doute Such
persons are strangely. undecided whether they
have have done things which other people do
automatically and with afterthougnt
As one of these unfortunates saio his physician:
After I get into begin worry whether l
have turned the jet off properly. get up ana
try it, back to bed, and then begin 10 worry again.
Nothing will do but 1 must try and retry the gas
jet finally holding lighted match to it to see If the
gas will ignite.
Even this does not always satisfy that the jet
is really turned off, remain in terrible state OF
anxiety until 1 fall into atful doze.
I'm the same way undecided as to whether 1
have locked the front door for the night sometimes
] downstairs several times to make sure the door
is locked And then L remain undecided about It,
live in perpetual cloud of doubt and INDIGESTION"
Pathological like these of comparatively
rare occurrence But any man or woman who allows
habits of indecison to is liable, under certain
conditions find it necessary to call on the services
of medical specialist. -.
And in any event. habit indecision in its mild
est form is a handicap success. Those VINO succeed
best in any calling men and women able energet-
icaIly to make up their minds about every problem
that confronts them, great or small
OF course, il is necessary to- tAnk--to weigh pros
and cons coming to decision But the thinns
should be brisk vigorous. 1t should not De an
less dreamlike wondering And this is precisely
the kind of thinking which the indecisive man IN
dulges
Accordingly. if you find that ability to come quickly
to decisions of your dominant traits, oegln
to cultivate that ability without delay
To be sure, don't the opposite extreme OF act
ing like those mpulsve individuals who decide with
out thinking at all ... ..-
But sternly repress your tendency to vacillation
Every you it showing itself cut matters short
and come to whatever question is before
you ~
1t is better decide wrongly few times than per-
petualIy to put off a decision.
And after all the chances that by coming
brslxIy to decision you will decide wrongly fewer
times than under the old way of snilly shallying-
For the more theoretically think the greater is
the likelihood of you thinking soundly. =
Copyright, 1916 by H. A. Bruce) -
Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-01-18
An Important Difference.

The Hyphens holly argue that inasmuch the
state Department has warned Americans against
remaining in the troublous regions of Mexico it
ought to warn them against travelling on British
vessels which are exposed to submarine attacks.
.Unwittingly. the Hyphens place the Kaiser's gov
eminent in the same category with Villas out
lawry- They imply that Americans may expect no
more consideration from German U boats than
from the bandits of Chihuahua. This aside, how
ever, the important point is that the principle in
the Mexican and the principle in the submarine
issue entirely different. Secretary Lansing
draws the distinction with unmistakable clearness:
The high seas" he says, ARE common
territory TO every nation. Territory is always
under the sovereignty of a nation. and the
s thoritfes of a nation can do what they please
/ in that sovereignty. On the high seas non
eombatant, whether neutral or belligerent, has
1 a right to pass to and fro without having his
life endangered. unless he is on a public ship
(belligerent warship or transport). In a ter
ritoFy he only has the right to pass to and
fro with the consent OF the authorities. II IT
! is uncertain who the authorities are in
that territory. he at once the danger of
loss OF liberty and life"
In the case of Mexico certain desperadoes have
slaughtered American citizens In the case of Ger
many and Austria submarine officers have
Slaughtered American citizens In the one instance
the ofense that of irresponsible individuals
lin the other, the ofiense OF responsible govern
sment. Americans who take their chances in a for
eign land amid manifest dangers are exercising a
very uncertain right But Americans who travel the
high seas peaceful shipsSare exercising one of
THE plainest rights under international law. Had
the German government been as prompt in pun
fishing its submarine offenders as Carranza has
been In hunting down the Mexican bandits reIa-
EtiOns between Washington and Berlin would never
have been strained.
Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-01-18
Business Interest in.
Farm Problems.

IL is significant and encouraging that the
South's representative business organizations OF
every kind are exerting their influence in behalf
of diversified farming. At an interstate confer
enee of bankers held some weeks ago at New
Orleans the main subject of discussion was how
to. prevent an excessive cotton crop in 1916 ana
how to assure the planting of abundant food crops
IN like manner the Texas Industrial congress-
which meets tomorrow at Dallas for its annual
convention. will devote most Of its program to a
discussion of means whereby business interests can
Aid in promoting the movement toward broader
and more self-sustaining system of agriculture.
An official OF the Industrial Congress is quoted
az saving that IF the South should produce enough
food and feedstufs to supply its own needs, there
would be neither land nor labor enough left to
raise a surplus cotton crop" That, after all, is
the shortest and surest way out of cotton diff
entities II the farmers will take care of the food
problem the cotton problem will take care of itself
II they will produce enough grain and meat and
vegetables TO make themselves and the section in
dependent II will not matter largely how much or
how little cotton they raise. For they will be pre-
pared to hold the surplus of a crop in excess of
particular seasons demand, and they will be as
sured OF royal profits if the supply falls below the
demand.
The adequate production OF foodstufs is a mat
ter Of immediate and far-reaehing to every
field of the South's economic interests-industry,
commerce and finance less than agriculture IT
self. II is eminently proper and important that
business organizations employ their influence IN
this respect for safety and progress.
Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-01-18
AMERICAN CHEMICA INDUSTRY IN 1915

- 1TetaIlurgical and Chemical Engineering)
rrERACLITUS the dark" Greek philosopher,
born some twenty-five centuries too early for the
full appreciation of the fundamental idea of his
doctrine panta rel" of being, the sole actual
ftv is becoming or eternal hux change. Harmony
and unity consist diversity and multiplicity. How
IIeracltus would have been charmed by the prncpel
of RELATIVELY in modern physics. But his greatest
delight would have been modern chemistry, which,
while dogmatizng OF matter, discloses
matter in its frailest most heeting forms of
istence and reveals perpetual transtory reactions
where the unskilled eye sees dull equilibrium.
The chemical industries in America today reflect the
transient character chemical 1t would be
lust as ridiculous try and say what the American
chemical industries q this New Years day to
take a single instantaneous picture out of moving
picture show and make believe that tells story
And all the charm would be lost which from
the realization the fact that witnesses of
chemical history the makihg-nay, more, strong
vVfed enthusiastic actors and creators.
Creators just as Luther Burbank is a creator when
=, -rors n snineess cactus works other marvels in
,on+s fruits ard flowers. For Industries lv-
ir, nsms like plants and To greater de-
,ree than plants they be shaped by the
Iii of man. yet they always 'remain children of the
ou without the natural without the mar
Its without facilities without labor Of
sucb NEUROLOGICAL makeup to adapt itself to the
,ast, In hand the most powerful will of is power
less such fundamental considerations have directed
tho evolution o the American chemical industries
that this country the largest producer of
suIphurc acid manufacture of ceulose and wood
distillation made great advances and that its
Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-01-18
BY RALPH SMITH.

WASHINGTON, d. c., Jan. 17.-Tne report of the
wv joint congressional committee rural cred
" ~ its: that drafted the proposed administration
provide system of land mortgage banks in the
United States, is interesting and unusual doeu-
naent It interesting deals most pstruc-
lively big problem; it is unusual be-
and representatives. out
way pay tribute ito those pioneers who have
interest of the American people in rural
credits " =. r. --'@'+ H
1t rarely happens among legislators Washington,
pride of authorship is recognized evil, that
committee charged with distinct duty gives to SEN
ator a representative not member of the commit
any degree of credit for thought or effort he
may contributed toward the particular matter in
It is often the that such committees
and their individual members seek to acquire for
themselves every ounce of commentator and credit
that may attach to the question.
The report because of the unusual feature alluded
to- is of particular Georgians In the first
place. gives native Georgian credit for blazing
the for credits in the United States and in
the place. it acknowledges that another well
known Georgian gave most valuable assistance in the
study of the question.
Some time ago The Atlanta Journal remarked edi-
torally in commencing the administration plan for
rural credit legislation regardless of whose
the might bear when presented to congress.
it hard to convince conversant persons with
the fact that Fletcher of Florida was not in
truth father Of rural credits in America" .
Now observe what the joint congressional commit
tee has Aay Senator Fletcher Senator Hoke Smith
and others
1--WE desire to acknowledge the debt to
those pioneers who awakened the interest of
the American people in rural credits. Largely
through efforts of Senator Fletcher, of Florida,
the American Commission and the United States
Commission went to Europe 1913 and gathered
the information and evidence contained in senate
document No. 214 Sixty-thrd congress, first
sion entitled Agricultural Cooperation and Rural
Credit Europe"
Senator Fletcher was chairman of
sons. Mr.. Moss, of Indiana, member of the pres