davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Mexico weekly ledger., 1916-02-10

Dear Ledger:
w. W. Fry besides digesting Kents
Commentaries, Blackstone, Missouri
Court Reports and divorce cases, re-
lieves his mind and digestive appear
atus by raising poultry as a side is
sue. Almost any Sunday during pleas.
mt weather Mr.. Fry can be seen slow
lly vending his way up the Wabash
railroad to his eighty-acre farm about
Swo miles west Of Mexico, where all
his spare moments are spent in the
propagation and raising Of chickens;
capons being a speciality. He thinks
there is only one way to succeed in
this day and age in any and every bus
mess, that Of progressiveness, Tex
cept politics. which he has adopted by
installing an up-to-date steam pro-
cess, with automatic adjustment for
Matching chicks. He also thinks it's
inhuman and cruel to set an old hen
on two dozen eggs tomediate over all
the darn meanness she has ever done,
besides she is subject to debility, jaun-
dice, the pip and other ailments while
thus employed. Mr.. Fry turns out
acres of chickens by this new process,
and thinks to put a hundred old hens
clucking over the farm with the young
chicks would get on his erv as bad
as when he goes in a jewelry store
when all the clocks are running.
He is also quite a dog fancier in late
years, since learning to distinguish the
different breeds of dogs. In addition
to "Old Spot" his celebrated combined
rabbit and bird dog, he has on hand
one of the most "splendiferous" spec
linens Of the canine family yer seen
in this section, being home grown,
home trained, crop cared bob tailed,
brindle in color with white decora-
tions. You can't tell by looking him
in the face whether he is coming or
going. Mr.. Fry being very fond Of
hog face and jowl, has the dog trained
to examine the hog heads on display
by the merchants, gather on to the
best looking one, trot off down Jack
son Street, meet his master opposite
the office, go home together, and en-
joy a feast that can only be described
by the judge. Valuable dog that.
A Nimrod.
Mexico weekly ledger., 1916-02-10
OWE MIGHT HAVE SAID.

DO you ever sit and study over the
things you might have said?
The clever reply which should have
been made to the lady who prides her.
self on the character of her repartee;
the cutting but brief sentence WHICH
should have countered that smart"
remark your sarcastic friend Slipped"
you when you weren't looking; the
smile that should have gone with the
refusal you were forced to give a GER
tain chap when they bothered you
about something during the business
rush. Or on any other occasion when
all you seemed to have in your brain
pan were some excellent acoustic
properties which ever refused to echo
anything but an inane reply.
You are certainly overlooking some
excellent opportunities for establish
ing a reputation as a clever fellow.
Too bad you should have engine
trouble whenever you need your ton
que most.
No you're not a Boob. You're
Just like the rest of us. A little slow
on the 'trigger"-but then why not
safety first"
It's nice to be clever and bright but
its also better to remember and
"salve" your feelings with that old
saw "still waters run deep" If you
have to worry trouble yourself about
something more important. Life isn't
any too long, at that.
Mexico weekly ledger., 1916-02-10
RAG OF LEMONS LAST GIFT.

La Crosse, Wis, Feb. Ia bag OF
lemons terminated a long list of gifts
which included diamonds, furs, and
valuable clothing, given to Miss Mel
lie Dummer, %statuesque blonde, by
DIR. Carlyle Waterson, prominent dem
fist, according to Miss Dummer's tes-
timony in her breach of promise suit
for $4,000, which is on trial in the
Circuit here.
"Snook" and "Toodie" were some Of
the doctors endearing pet names read
in court from a pile of 100 letters in
troduced by counsel for Miss Dunn
mer.
DIR. Waterson, on the stand in his
defense, said he had only loved Miss
Dummer Sin a way" She was just
a "good pal" he testified.
Mexico weekly ledger., 1916-02-10
SAY

az am in favor Of concentrating cur
.dsayors this year on building a
r.;lo Of permanent road in Audrain
~orrtv.p said Nate Phillip. "Perman-
.nt highways are the best investment
IL can make here and If we only
Luild a mile it will be a nucleus from
.rbich more will grow, I'm sure. A
Iormanent road may be a little more
s~vpensive but it does away with the
.o,t Of upkeep and is always in con-
Litiop no matter what weather it has
Ia 10 contend with. Wherever they
have had such highways they have not
onlv been pleased with them but have
built more. Good roads r most i'm
nortant to the growth of any com
,rupity especially one situated as is
Mexico. I hope we can push this
rlan to a successful elimination be-
fore next fall"
Mexico weekly ledger., 1916-02-10
THE TROTIRLE.

THE great trouble with a CONNER
cha Club banquet is that so often
those who should be present to re-
ceive the messages of cooperation
and broader perspective do not at
tend.
1t is easy to convince ourselves that
while We realize we do not know it
all we do not care to hear the "hot-air"
and bunk" TO be spread on such oc-
casion.
The only "hot-air" and bunk" con-
nected with such an affair is just what
such fellows are feeding" themselves
and not that which is a part of the
mental menu of the Commercial Club
program.
I've heard all that stuff, is also
another plea. You may think you
have heard it but IL you are not APP
plying that part of 1t you should,
you only caught a noise which was
unable to-arouse any responsive mem
tai action in you.
1t is not what you hear but what
Mexico weekly ledger., 1916-02-10
WILBUR STARR DROWNED.

Wilbur Starr, who married Miss
Otilia Scott, a former Hardin College
girl, was recently drowned while
driving across an Ohio stream with
his wife. The vehicle in which they
were riding was overturned. Mrs
Starr, who could swim, escaped but
Nh. Starr lost his life.
About three years ago Mr.. and Mrs.
Starr gave a concert in this city for
the benefit of the Hardin alumni.
They refused even to accept their rail-
road fare and were delighted with
their reception. Both were excep-
tionally talented. The news of Mr..
Starts death will be learned with
by many friends here.
Mexico weekly ledger., 1916-02-10
TRACE VOTE FRAUDS TO BOOZE
Dayton News.)

One feature of the election scandal
in Terre Haute has not received as
much attention as it should. That is,
the newspapers have not, in discuss
ing the question of the election frauds
and the men who were sentenced to
the p~enitentiary, paid sufficient at
tention to the question of the wide
open town. There can be no doubt
but the wide open town, as it is call
ed where lawlessness in regard to the
liquor traffic prevails, is responsible
for crooked elections.
In our own state it will invariably
be found that where the liquor laws
are not enforced, the elections are
crooked. In other words, the wide
open town begets lawlessness of all
kinds, including the corruption of the
electorate.
Take Cincinnati as an example.
The elections have been VIGOROUSLY
crooked for years. And the saloons
ran day and night, every day in the
week, regardless of the laws, until
they were regulated through the OPP
Grafton o fthe license law enacted I'M
der the last administration. Until
that act was put upon the statute
book, and the saloon keepers were told
their licenses would be revoked if
they violated the law, Cincinnati was
a wide open town. And the elections
were the merest farces, being domin-
ated by gangsters of the worst type
just such gangsters as r now
facing the ~penitentiary in the Indian
city.
If it were only the people directly
involved who suffer in such scandals
as that at Terre Haute it would, not
be so bad; but the truth is 1t hurts
every resident of the city. 1t brings
the whole town into disrepute. When
we had a revelation of election frauds
in Adams County, it was so humiliat-
ing to the honorable residents of the
country they blushed when they had
to state they lived in the county, just
as the people of Terre Haute must
blush when they leave home and are
asked where they live. But it can all
be charged up to the open town-and
the town could have been "closed" if
the people had desired it closed. There
are always enough good people in
a community to enforce the laws if
they desire to do so.
Mexico weekly ledger., 1916-02-10
MEXICO d. A. RS INQUIRE
REGARDING THE FOUNTAE


The Mexico chapter of the Daugh-
tiers of the American Revolution, of
which Mrs. 7. H. Winans is regent, is
preparing to install a public drinking
fountain in this city. In reply to a
recent request of the Marshall, Mo-,
chapter, concerning the drinking foun-
tain they installed, the following reply
was received:
My Dear Mrs. Guthrie:-
Marshall Mo-, Nov. 1915.--In
answer to your inquiry about u
drinking fountain, will try to give
the information you desire. l am
so glad your chapter D. A. R., are
to put in a public drinking foun-
tain. Ours is a great success, and
a blessing to the community. = -
Ours is of iron quite artistic,
finished in green tall shaft with
bronze plate placed in the middle
containing the names of six Rev
dictionary heroes buried in Saline
County, electric light on top of
shaft. Large basin with four au-
tomato faucets, and an animal
and bird basin at the base.
The County Court was much
pleased to grant US the privilege
of placing it in the court house
square, and also agreed to care
for it after installation. 1t is
constantly lighted by the kindness
of the Electric Light Company,
donated. If there is anything else
you wish to know, will be glad to
write further.
Mrs. Edgar S. Place,
Regent Roger Nelson Chap.
D.. A. R.
Cordially,
Mexico weekly ledger., 1916-02-10
CONGRESSMAN SHOUSE is IN
FAVOR OF PREPAREDNESS

congressman Joue Shouse, from
Kansas, a former Mexico boy, now
one of the leading Democrats in his
state, favors preparedness especially
in view of Japan's Strengthening
her Navy and building up her army.
In reply to a recent telegram from
the Woman's Christian Temperance
Union, of Kansas, asking him to vote
against the preparedness program
proposed for this country he says:
II said a while ago that I believe
this continent is not in serious dan
ger of attacks from a European nation
when the present war closes; but l do
not feel the same degree of compla-
cency with a reference to Japan.
Since she became victorious out of
the Russian war, Japan has been pre-
pairing herself carefully with the idea
of ultimate world domination. She
has grown rich during the European
war; rich beyond her widest dreams.
She has supplied to the allies every
article that she could manufacture,
and nothing has been bought from
US by them until Japan had been
given the opportunity to furnish it.
You know something Of the prosper
ity that has accrued to many and var
led lines Of business in this country
as a result of the war; and through
that knowledge you can gauge m
what the tremendous volume of trade
Japan to Russia and to England and
to France.
"0n the other hand, suppose that
the policy Of those against prepar-
edness should prevail: suppose that
their predictions should prove mis-
taken, and that we should become
involved in a war with a combination
of powerful nations avaricious of our
wealth and antagonistic to our insti-
buttons. Then the losses piled up in a
year or a month or a single week
might far exceed by multiplied
billions all that is contemplated in
expenditures for defense and make
our policy of taking peace for grant
ed seems almost suicidal. Can we
afford to take the risk?
81 am not in any sense an ex-
tremist for preparedness. l do not
believe for an instant in going to the
lengths that are being advocated by
many of the writer's and speakers
upon this subject. But l do believe
in taking the steps necessary to
bring our present forces, both of sea
and land, to a point of efficiency where
we shall be adequately defended and
where we can offer to our sister Re-
publics that degree Of assistance
which we guarantee them under the
Monroe doctrine"
Mexico weekly ledger., 1916-02-10
FASHIONS TOO EXTREME is
VIEW OF WoMEN,s CLUBS

New York, Feb. 2.-"Extreme fash
ions in women's dress will be one Of
the most important topics to be con-
sidered at the General Federation of
Women's Clubs Of America to be held
here next May" says William Grant
Brown, chairman of the local board Of
the federation.
"Ten thousand delegates will take
back to their homes a concrete idea Of
dress reform hat will be a blessing to
the whole country" said Mrs. Brown.
1--WE believe in the decollete gown so
far as it is a work Of art, but it should
be modest and never sensational.
There has grown up a custom of dress
for women, especially young girls, that
is simply frightful. The extreme split
skirt that shocked us once has given
place the the extreme split waist. Eve
ming gowns worn now adays by women
who probably mean well but are fool
ISL are utterly disgusting, being cut
in some cases almost to the waist line.
These women do not do this to attract
attention, but because they are poss-
essed by the idea that to be partly
draped is fashionable.
"Most club women want to establish
a general rule against indecent ex-
tremes in evening dress and a custom
OF making women's gowns conform to
the following four rules: First, in
dividuality, every woman trying to
express her own ideas; second, mod
esty, not p~uritanism, but a decent re-
gard for what is proper; third, good
taste, a degree of art in the express
sion of individualism; fourth, approp-
riateness. Young girls should not be
dressed like matrons. Old women
should not dress like girls"
Mexico weekly ledger., 1916-02-10
JEWISH PEOPLE SUFFERING
MOST FROM THE GREAT WAR

There is a nation wide movement in
this country to send aid to the thous-
ands Of the Jewish race who are war
sufferers. Both the Jews in this
try as well as other nationalties r
united in the movement-one of the
greatest the present European trouble
has brought to light.
The American Jewish Committee
Monday issued a report on the suffer-
ings of the Jews in the Eastern War
Zone, describing their condition as ap-
palling all precedent.
The Committee has maintained an
attitude of strict neutrality as be-
tween the two respective belligerents
since the beginning of the war, and
has no purpose to make propaganda
for or against any of them or to ere
ate hostile or partisan feelings against
any Of the warning nations.
The report shows that the seven
million Jews affected, who constitute
one half of the Jewish population of
the world, have, because of their I'M
fortunate geographic position, actual
ly borne the brunt of the wars bur-
dens in Eastern Europe. When the
war broke out they found themselves
trapped, absolutely shut off from all
neutral lands and from the sea-in
the region of Russian Poland, Austrian
Galicia and the Russian Pale.
"They were overwhelmed where
they stood; and over their bodies
crossed and recrossed the German
armies from the west, the Russian
armies from the east and the Austrian
armies from the south. True, all the
peoples of this area suffered ravage
and pillage by the war, but in no de-
gree comparable to the suffering of
the Jews. The contending armies
found it polite, in a measure, to court
the good will of Poles, Ruthenians and
other races in this area. These suff-
cred only the necessary and unavoid-
able hardships of war. But the Jews
were friendless their religion pros
cribed. In this medieval corner of
the world all the religious fanaticism
of the Russians, the chauvinism of the
Poles, combined with the blood lusts
liberated in all men by the war-all
these fierce hatreds were sluiced into
one torrent of passion which poured
itself out upon the Jews"
In all, adds the report, nearly three
million Jews are facing restitution,
their homes having been pillaged or
destroyed, their industries and trade
ruined and the entire fabric of their
economic life torn asunder.
Mexico weekly ledger., 1916-02-10
0 TIMELY TOPICS.

EVERY year, about this time, when
u roads become a menace to the
nan who has religiously restrained
a vocabulary at one time somewhat
sapphirine in hue, we begin to talk
and agitate good roads.
The interest and enthusiasm is soon
agitated to that point political report
ers term "fever heat" Then the
roads get better; the ardor cools and
before we know it we are emotion
ally senile" at least as regards this
question.
We seem to have been long on de-
bate but short in results. We use
enough verbal powder to charge a
seventeen inch gun but ON actual re-
suits it contains scarcely sufficient
power 80 SHOOT" a sparrow rifle.
Agitation for good roads is neces-
sary but results are far more import
ant
We talk as if we favored "prepar-
edness" against the annual visit of
the mudhosts but the soporifc peace
of pleasant weather has a more dis
arming effect than anything W. J. B.
has yet said.
If the Commercial Club will do
nothing more this year than get the
good roads movement where it will
show material evidence of its life it
will have done a great public SER
vice.
Let us not only talk good roads
but make good roads--permanent and
satisfactory.
The Eight ile-Road Commission
is ready and willing and doing their
part. A little cooperation will send
US far on the good road to permanent
highways.
Mexico weekly ledger., 1916-02-10
INVESTING in BOY SCOUTS.

THE st. Louis Republic said editor
tally recently in referring to the
movement in that city to finance the
Boy Scout movement:
'The climax Of the Boy Scouts
campaign has come.
"What is the Boy Scout movement?
It is a movement inspired by affec-
ton and engineered by common sense,
to make the boys energy and desire
ito get into the game" a society asset
instead of a society liability. 1t is a
conservation movement to take the
eyuberant power of boyhood, make
it trained power and hitch it to tasks
that need to be done.
"Said Charles Nagel recently at tne
luncheon of the teams now raising
the $4,000 necessary to conduct the
work for the next three years:
Mexico weekly ledger., 1916-02-10
SPAN OF LIFE is
DOUBLED BY SCIENCE


Chicago, Jan. 31.-Medicine has
doubled the span of life in the last
four hundred years, according to three
physicians of international repute
who spoke before the Physicians
club. But at the same time medicine
has been less successful than usually
imagined in combating diseases be-
lieved well under control.
DR.. John B. Murphy, DR.. Frank
Billings and DR.. Henry B. Favill were
the speakers.
One of the startling facts brought
to the consideration of the medical
men present was the prominence of
child birth as a cause of death. 1t
occupies third place in the mortality
statistics of persons between 20 and
80 years old.
DR.. Favill blamed poor teeth for
the mortality rate among farmers.
DR.. Murphy, in commenting on sta
tistics covering the deaths of 1885,
1858 persons, presented the following
table, showing death causes in order
of prominence:
Table Shows Chief Causes of Death.
Birth to 10 years-Diarrhoea, pneu-
monia, marasmus, diphtheria, acct
dents, tuberculosis.
Ten to 20 years-Tuberculosis, ac-
cidents, typhoid, heart disease, pneu-
monia.
Twenty to 80 years-Tuberculosis,
accident, child birth, typhoid, heart
disease.
Thirty to 40 years-Tuberculosis,
accidents, pneumonia, heart disease,
Bright's disease.
Forty to so years-Tuberculosis,
heart disease, cancer, Bright's dis
ease.
Heart Disease Takes First Place.
Fifty to 60 years-Heart disease,
cancer, Bright's disease, tuberculosis,
pneumonia.
Sixtf to 70 years-Heart disease,
Bright's disease, cancer, apoplexy,
pneumonia.
Ninety to 100-Senility, influenza,
heart disease, arteries, apoplexy, IAN
Mexico weekly ledger., 1916-02-10
ALLIES BUY OLD MOVIE FILMS.

Chicago, ILL.,, Feb. 2.-Remember
some of those poky, old pictures you
saw with "the" girl a year or two
ago at the movies, Well, you'll never
have to watch them again, for the
Allies are said to be buying up all the
worn out films they can get hold of
in order to make nitroglycerin out of
them.
This latest contribution of the NOV
ing picture enterprise to the big Eur
opean war was revealed by l.. l..
johnson in charge of the laboratory
of the electrical inspection depart
ment at the Chicago city hall.
give just heard that the Allies are
buying up the old and worn picture
films" Inspector Johnson declared.
"They are mainly OF nitrocellulose
composition and therefore are said to
be the ideal material for the manu-
facture of nitroglycerin."
Mexico weekly ledger., 1916-02-10

you get out of what you hear that
counts. The donkey evidently cares
Tor his own music regardless of pop
ular opinion. If it gives him n
pleasure he should seek some secluded
spot out Of compassion for his fellow
brutes ard men. The "ehin music"
Of the knocker is in the same harmon
lous category, except his song doesn't
bring him any joy even if he tries to
convince others it does.
Let us stop being provincial.
Broaden out and cooperate. If YOU
must be a mental clam get on some
other beach.
Mexico weekly ledger., 1916-02-10
panl BROWN Gives s1.OOO.

Montgomery City, Mo-, Feb. T.
Paul Brown, st. Louis millionaire,
who formerly operated a tobacco fac
tory here, has authorized the Build
ing Committee of the Methodist
Church South here to draw on him
for $1,000 toward building a new
$4,000 Church here.
Mexico weekly ledger., 1916-02-10
". W. FRY's

Below we publish a letter handed
the Ledger by a citizen who wishes
his identity hidden beneath a nom de
plume. The letter is of such good
news value that we were glad to pub
fish it Mr.. Fry had better watch
"old Spot, however, for when the
public learns what a good provider he
is, kidnappers viii get him if the
writer of the letter hasn't already at
tended to that duty. The letter fol-
lows
Mexico weekly ledger., 1916-02-10

EVERY now and then Col. Roose-
welt becomes so interested in one of
the presidents speeches that he reads
the first two or three sentences before
debating the customary attack.
Mexico weekly ledger., 1916-02-10
IS MAKING

W. A. Mcclure, formerly of this city,
and well known here, is now filing a
position with the United States Gov
eminent in the Naval Gun factory. He
is employed in the torpedo shop max
ing munitions for the submarines.
Mr.. Mcclure writes Mexico friends
that he is greatly pseased with Wash
inpton. Mrs. Mcclure has been quite
i'll but is now well.
Mexico weekly ledger., 1916-02-10

G. S. Wood Maddox, of st. Louis,
was in this city Saturday. He went
to Fulton to see his brother, Irv.
Maddox, who is ill.
Louisiana is considering the pur-
chase of a motor fire truck.
Mexico weekly ledger., 1916-02-10

HOW Inconsistent people are these
days. Here are the motorists driving
their cars this winter with their muf-
iers open although they let them
wear their mudguards in the dryest
weather.
Mexico weekly ledger., 1916-02-10

A French member of Parliament
was quoted in England this week as
saying that the French casualties
were approximately eigb. hundred
thousand killed, 100000 wounded
and three hundred thousand captured.
1t is believed that the Italian casual
ties exceed one hundred thousand and
that the Serbian and Montenegro
losses are nearly two hundred thou
sand. 1t is probable that the Russian
losses exceed the losses of all the 9TH
er Allies, the total, from the best in
formation available, being approx
mately 4 million. The Russian pro-
portion of captured is larger than
that of the other Allies. This esti-
mate would bring the estimated cas-
ualties of the Allies up to 7,340,000
about as follows:
Mexico weekly ledger., 1916-02-10

As yet T, R. has generously re-
Trained from charging that Mr.. VIII
son personally investigated those
Youngstown riots.