davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New Britain herald., 1916-09-05
Ar American Depicts
 Vatipe Life in Mexico

Washington, D. C., Sept. 5.-A striking picture of native life in Guanajuato. the treasure chest of mercurial Mexico, is given in 8 com munication to the National Geo. graphic society by Frank II. Probert, a part of which is released today from the society's Washington head quarters. MT. probert reveals tho Mexican peons as they are known only to the American who has lived among thom.
 Leaving the walled nclosure of the railroad yards" says the writer. "one looks down on the apparently oramped and crowded city of Guan- aJuato, capital of the richest of the south central states of Mexico. Hard by, to the right, is the bull-ring. tho scene on Sundays and fiestos of far cical cOmbats between two-lcgged brutes and four-legged beasts.
 Tn the soft sunshine of summer days the first vista of the city is striking indeed. Churches of magni- fcent proportions; ancient and mod ern architecturcs stra1 s ly blended in the same edi11ce; st' 1s'7y buildings; imposing market stor~~ of all de- sCriptions; and dwelling places, rude ly bare, variOusly CC'o%d with neu- tral tints of calsomi1 (, tAeir grated windows and open dGOrs exhibiting to all the parsely furnished interior where bird, beast and human eat and live together Tho sordid squalor of the many contrasts ~trikingly with the oppressive Opulelpe of the few.
 ''The cobblestOne streets are crook cd and narrow; so narrow, in fact that caballerOs must take to the side walk to permit of the passing of any kind of vehicle. The dingy tram-cars arc drawn by relays of mules, three abreast, beaten into subjection by the stinEing lash or cOaxed into action by the curses of the youthful drivers. whose vernacular Is wonderfully ex- pressive and effective indeed, I doubt if anything but a mule can really ap- preciate the depth of feeling and IT, resistible persuasiveness of the vile expressions
 What strange sights one can see in these main arteries of the city! I have set my camera on the balcony of my room at the Woods hotel and will snap what passes by. At first, a nerd or patent plOdd1ng burrOS load ed down with slabs of the pale green sandstone, quarrted nearby and used for building purposes; a legless crip- pie shuffles along on @ board, propel- ling himself with his hands; a carga- dor trots along tirelessly with his awkward burden, in this case a sew ing machine; more burros overloaded with charcoal; another pack struggles under the weight of sacked ore from the mines; still another bearing grain
New Britain herald., 1916-09-05

to the market, and tho strec4 car de- manding loudly a clear track; a fun eral procession where laughing chil- dren carry a baby's basket, swaying from side to sido to the accOmpani- ment of anything but appropriate music and behind the mournerS in silent sOlemnity.
 strangely superstitious are these people. Grossly ignorant, constant in their faith, pathetic in their simplici- ty, kindly and respectful, their life is epitomized in the verse:
 Let the world slide, let the world A fig for care ana fig for woe!
 If cant pay, why I can owe,
 And death makes equal the high and
 low te
 ''Tis Easter Sunday morning. I am awakened at carly dawn by the footing of tin horns accompanied by the sonorous sCreeChes of bass V1ols and fiddles as sounds are saWn from their strings; by the shuffllng or sandaled feet over the stones of the street, and by the babel of voices or passing poons Church bells clang, sirens scream, whistles wildly mingle in tho melody of morriment; for is
 
 is to be hung in effigy?
 "A grOtcsQue dummy figure is par aded through the town, followed by the Jeering and cheering crowds, who have risen early to give expression to the righteous indignation against the betrayer After circling the city the procession halts, Judas Is promptly yanked by the ropes from the bear p1 In mid air sorry sight. spit upon. cursed, condemned, consigned to everlasting purgatory, to which place, at sunset, he Is sent by the explosion of dynamite concealed in his carcass. RibaldrY runs riot as the day advances and night falls on an exhausted though happy people. What matters if the prison is over crowded that night, or that the sup ply of pulque or mescal is depleted almost to the degree of exhaustion?
 ITO the casual visitor from the States the habits and customs of these lowly people are strange, but fascinating. They do not need our commiseration or sympathy; they are content in their mode of living, and who shall say that they are the less happy or human In their habitat than many 0f us?
 The Mexican peon knows that he is born to serve, as the old southern darky, and caste or class distinction Is emphasized on all occasions. The mozo rides silently behind the 1ord- ly caballero; the peon woman steps into the street and bows her head as the padre passes; In the plaza on Sunday evenings, when the melody of martial music fills the air, the upper classes parade in one direction, while the pCOnS gyratc as an outer ring In
New Britain herald., 1916-09-05
The BabytOwn Express.

There are trains that roar and rumble at the call of human stress. But the fastest and the gladdest Is the Babytown Express, It runs from Dawn to Twilight and you couldn't count the miles, For the track Is made of fancy and the ties are laid in smiles, The good old backwoods pasture gate is train and engine, too. With Bud, on top, as engineer, to make the choo-choo- choo! Big Sis, the sweet conductor, takes the tickets on the way. Collecting hugs and kisses from the ones who have to pay. And sometimes, In merry mood, she stops the train and then Goes round among the passengers and takes the fares again. It's funny how the tourists. too, arc willing that she should. Because 1t takes a lot of fares to make the service good. The Babytown Express makes stops to gratify each wish It waits at Cookie Station and at Noo- dles-in- -the-Dish. The noon stops Milk-and- Crackers and again at haf-past four It halts ct Bread-and-Jelly, nearest point to Kitchendoor. The days last stop is Twilight, where the evening shadows fall :. Then they tumble in the sleeper train crew, passengers and all.
 Exchange.
New Britain herald., 1916-09-05
AnaIyZing Congress.
Waterbury Republican,. .

The Minneapolis Journal Is rather concerned about the quality of our congressmen Following the publica- ton of an editorial on that subject n reader sends in this bit of experi- ence:
 Tn a recent visit to Washington I had occasion to visit the house and senate several times, and was aston ishcd to find so little interest exhibited bv our c0npressmen. On ono visit not more than twelve mem bers of the sen- ate were present and but three showed any interest In the house about twenty-four were present and three interested. The others talked or read. It is time the people analysed their congress-
 The Journal then editorially de- clares that the general apathy of American voters toward the history
 or capabilities of the men they vote for Is Apparently Illogical, but ex- plainable.'
 "The average congressman Is not an
 important parsonage says The Jour nal "because his business Is not im- portant. Though congress is still in session, there has not been a quorum
 since the middle of July. At the final house vote on the army appropriation | bill, distributing an unprecedented1y | large amount of money, only ninety cOngressmen out of a total of 43B | were present. Where were the oth- | CTS? At home, attending to the moro | important business of campaigning" | The Journal explains this apparent neglect of duty by saying that less
 than ninety men fill all the import | ant places of power and practically direct Legislation, that few members l are allowed any important work in | their first term and nearly half never | come back for second
 The situation, thus reckoned, is un-
 derstandable. But 1t Is not excusa ble
New Britain herald., 1916-09-05
A BIG AMERICA.

President Wilson's speech of ac- ptance will go down in political his- ! ny as a masterpiece. It is a logical
 \ mming up of a record of three and ' half years of an administration that Hls gone through moro history mak- 8g than any two administration 8nce Abraham Lincoln. This speech kould be read by every man who is xterested in the coming elections. frankly admits mistakes made; but blnts out they were not for a pur- fbse. There is contained a challenge all those opponents of the admin 8tration who base their opposition N picayune foundations. There is so a broad defiance to that coterie H citizens who take their loyalty to Rmerica from a spoon of foreign lould. To them the President says: am the candidate of party, but am above all things else an Ameri- kn citizen. l neither seek the favor Ror fear the displcasure of that small lien element amongst us which puts Byalty to any foreign power before kyalty to the United States" And ! here is no real reason why any Pres Bent of the United States should fear < bat small band of disloyalists There ! 2re still enough true Americans to 8Ffset any such activities.
 # Some thought that when Candidate Hughes sounded the slogan, America first and America Efficient he had *pstered an idea that would sound <own the ages and reverborate to his 2wn victorious ending in November. fresident Wilson's idea for q Big 4nerica overtops all previous efforts.
 Ne believe with the man in the White House that the day of Little Ameri-
 bnism. with it's narrow horizon, has last and gone. We are Americans E,r Big America" Those are the lords. We are Americans for Big America. We are Americans for an America that knows no bounds when |he spirit of justice and humanity '-as the place of that narrower ideal
New Britain herald., 1916-09-05

the opposite direction. As class they are industrious and skillful 1T the time element Is eliminated.
 "The peon miner Is competent workman when unhampered by mod ern machines and has @ nose for ore that is truly remarkable. As ul- lers of the soil their methods are primitive but productive; they stllI use oxen and the wooden blow share, and the fields are fenced with inn perishable dry-rock walls. In the making of pottery and basketry they excel; in tanning hides, saddlery and the working of metals they are him itable The women, too, can grind corn on q metate, cook tortillas and frijoles, raise families, launder clothes on a rock near tho creek, mako the most exquisite laces and the finest of drawn work with equal sl<il1''
New Britain herald., 1916-09-05
HOW HE HAS BLUNDERED.

"They say he has blundered. Perhaps he has. But I notice that he usually blundcrs forward" This is the way Thomas A. Edison expresses himself in announcing his intention to support President Wilson for re- election. Incidentally, Edison's an- swer to the critics of the President carries a world of wisdom. They say he has blundered. Perhaps he has. But if strict attention is paid to the Wilson brand of blundering it will be noticed he usually blunders forward.
 BIundering forward is not a bad trait, after all. Blundering backward is the blundering that upsets the reg ular order of things. Mr. Wilson has blundered. He admits 1t. In his speech of acceptance at Shadow Lawn while touching on the Mexican ques- tion the President said: Mistakes I have no doubt made in this perplex- ing business, but not in purpose or object"
  committed in handling the Mexican situation has been blundering of the sort described by MT. Edison. It has been stamped with the mark of pro- gress because in all his dealings with that country Wilson has applied pro- gressive doctrines, the new methods tbe Spirit of fair play. Had he held strictly to the old lines in all his deeds he would not have blundereC | because men do not blunder Wher they go backwards. It is the path 1 finder who always encounters the difficulties. It. is the man go 1 ing forward who blunders forward and laundering forward is a sign O. achievement. All of our great Pres1 dents have blundered forward,- | from Washington to Wilson.
New Britain herald., 1916-09-05

which has had 0 tendency to bury it. self in the bosom of the nation. America, if is to be the great source for universal good that it's founders intended it to be, must be baptized anew in the faith of the fathers. This is the day of regeneration, when all the petty attributes of a very small past shall be discarded and done away with. Only the great principles shall survive, only those builded and main tained on broad, generous lines. Out of the sacred font of America's tra- ditions has come the fundamental idea that this country wants no terri tory from any nation unless such land is purchased by good American This will go into the future as part of the doctrine of a Big America, a Bet ter America a Great America. And these things shall apply in all walks of life, in the field of business, in com merce, and in social activities.
 Woodrow Wilson has accomplished more than his critics will allow. He has done so many great things for the advancement of the nation that their support and meaning cannot be com- prehended when viewed in the pres ent. They will be brought forcably to the attention of other generations yet to come. When his America shall develop into the Big America he hopes it to be. then shall the chill dren of that America go down on their knees and thank a divine Providence for placing at the head of the nation a man of such keen intellectual pow CTS at a moment when the whole fu- ture of the country was at stake. With another man than Wilson In the White House during the trying events of the past two years there is no telling what might have happened. With Theo- dore Roosevelt in the place of Wilson we have a slight inkling of what would now be in force. It remained for Wilson to guide the ship of state past the many rocks that threatened it's destruction. And he has brought it safely up to this point. He has proven himself a master mind. He is so great and big we cannot meas ure him accurately because we are standing too close His true worth will never be known until distance shows how high the mountain towers over the foothills. Then also may be seen the road he paved to a Big Big America.
New Britain herald., 1916-09-05
TIME TO START THINKING.
No Kaiscrs Or Cars to Look After the Peoples Mental Activities
 In This Country.

I want you, my friend, to give just @ moments consideration to ono proposition which it seems to me ought to be perfectly obvious to everybody, but which seems to be about the most difficult of all things to bring to the realization of the average person: If you and and the man over the way don't take an ac- tive, intelligent interest in the affairs of this country, this state and this town, and assume our full share of the responsibilities for those affairs, who, pray, is going to?
 The difference between the govern ment of this country and the govern ment of Germany or Russia Is that over there somebody higher up Is sup posed to do all your political think ing for you; over here you and I and the man over the way are supposed to do It. And if we lie down on the job and let George do it for us, we haven't the first trace of an exouse for kicking If George devotes his mental efforts to fixing things up very nicely for George and very badly for you and me and our over-the-way neighbor That's @ simple enough matter, isn't 1t?
 Well, now suppose we think for just a few minutes about this railroad strike that appears to have missed us by a fraction of an inch instead of knocking our heads off our shoulders Suppose it had gone through and had been as successful as the brotherhoods planned to make 1t; suppose it had tied the country up In a hard knot; suppose it had finally become neces- sary for the government, in order to keep millions of people from dying of famine, to seize and operate the roads that would be a matter of brute force, wouldn't It? It would have re- quired, likely enough, lot of military power to put the rescue through. And we all know that, aside from the lit tie army distributed along the Mexi- can border, there would have been scarcely any military power available
New Britain herald., 1916-09-05

don't we? In short, we can realize without half trying, that this govern ment would have been in Q pretty pickle, in such an event. for the want of a real army, of sufficient, trained and organized militia.
 Now for a number of weeks there
 have been extraordinary efforts mak- ing for the recruiting of the existing National Guard organizations up to a war basis. Half q dozen new re- cruiting stations have been opened in this state and at each a competent officer and several soldiers in the fed- eral service have been doing their level best to drum up recruits for the Connecticut regiments out on active duty. l don't know precisely what their record Is, but I'm quite sure that they haven't secured 20 men alto- gether. In the meantime the Connec- ticut regiments on the border are tho merest skeleton organization. They lack somewhere near q thousand men each to make up their full quota And nobody, apparently, gives a Whoop, Nobody takes the slightest interest in the business of providing the United
 States with it's desperately needed
 military force-exCept those natural
 born military enthusiasts who have
 been in the service right along for
 sheer love of it. Not one young man
 in a thousand ever seems to think of
 such a thing as owing a duty to his
 country and his state. Duty" Is a
 word that he scarcely ever has heard and never has sensed.
 I tell you, this is a pretty serious state of affairs It's full seriousness might very easily have been brought home to us disastrously, if there had been a general railroad strike. It may be brought home to us with more 1 disastrous effect yet, tomorrow or next year. And it's all because you and and the man over the way look upon our national and state and municipal problems from the detached positions of spectators-1ust as though we were Germans or Russians and had nothing i to do but take what was handed to us by a higher authority. You see there isn't any. higher authority In this country than the authority exert
 ed by you and me and our neighbor-
 so if we let things go as they happen to that's precisely the way they will go and it's the way they do go, most generally.
 ms matter or creating a Teal Hllll- tary power in the United States-the
 kind of a military power that Is liable to be desperately needed any moment to prevent national starvation, or na- tional invasion, or national disaster in
 various forms--is your business and my business and the business of the
 man over the way; or it isn't any | body's business. That's the price we 1 pay for our liberty, for not having a
 kaiser or czar to do our thinking for
 us; that's the obligation that those l old boys assumed down in Philadei-
 phia, in our behalf. along back In l 1776, when they decided that this 1 country should do its thinking for it. , self. And if we folks welch on that obligation, what have we to expect of
 the future? We can guess if we try 1 hard enough.
New Britain herald., 1916-09-05
IN NEW HAVEN.

NConnecticut's political eyes are @rned today toward New Haven Shere the Republican state convention @sembles this evening. There are five #ndidates for gubernatorial honors- 8olcomb, Hcaly, Blakeslee, Wilson @d Webster. It is conceded before Ne gavel falls that the last two named &e practically out O. the running. The #nor HolcOmb, Frank Healy of Windsor Locks, or Dennis A. Blakeslee \ New Haven.
 % New Britain's delegation goes to the @nvention pledged to Frank Healy. @lose who have been following the a uation closely from this point of &ntage claim a victory for the Wind Mr Locks man on the third ballot. The #asoning ia dressed up in this style: #vernOr HOlComb is being played as #e headliner by the Roraback gang, @d when the final show down comes
 
 &r the Governor and dump them into Ne bag for Blakeslee. If this Is done Se opponents of Blakeslee will flock & Frank Healy, this for the reason lat the New Haven man is not popu-
 with the representatives of the #nmon people. They claim Blakcslee 8 lined up too close with the special
 erests'', with the money bags, to # it the hoi-polloi.
 MWhatever happens it promises to be #merry fight. The outcome, unless 8vernor Holcomb succeeds in over #'ning all predictions, should be ex- &edingly encouraging to the Demo- #ats of the state. It is well known #at Frank Healy has many enemies # his own party who will do any # ng within the realm of respecta bill N to prevent him from sitting in #e gubernatoria1 chair. He will have &e Blakeslee element against him 8til the final ballot is cast in Novem- Mr. Likewise, he will have the vast x jority of the HolcOmb supporters #ainst him. The same thing applies n the event of Blaskeslec'S victory.
 e Healy men and the Holcomb Exporters will not countenance him. &vernor Holcomb, it is conceded Buld be a strong drawing card even #hong the Democrats who have Earned to think we'll of the grand old #ntleman from Southington. But if &blcomb does not garner the nomina- ' bn, Democracy has the chance of it's #e-time provided the proper man is
 lected to run against the Republi- \ n nominee. To this end, the men in #e ranks of Democracy are saying \ thing, but saving wood.
New Britain herald., 1916-09-05
The Breal<-Up of Austria.
Providence Journal.)

It has been commonly said that the breakup of Austria Hungary might be expected shortly after the death of Francis Joseph.
 But the old man, who lately passed his eighty-siXth birthday, still sur wives, while the dissipation of his po1yglot country seems imminent.
 The Rumanians are marching west ward through his province of Tran sylvania almost unopposed. Italy has taken Gorizia and is menacing Trieste The Russians have overrun Galicia.
 These are sad days at Vienna, where the glamour of the German partner ship long ago began to fade.
New Britain herald., 1916-09-05

At Lewiston, Me, Col. Roosevelt de- clared that when the war with Spain was through 1t was through He may recall the war In the Philippines, which lasted for years, and about which, both as to the methods prac- ticed and the cost Secretary of War Root sought to conceal the facts. Tho colonels history is partisan and frag- mentary.-New York World.
New Britain herald., 1916-09-05

The Tribune insists that all the great achievem ents of the Wilson ad- ministration were of republican ori- gin. Then all republicans ought to vote for him. for no republican ad- ministration was ever able to carry out these republican measures.-New York World.
New Britain herald., 1916-09-05

Someone pertinently inquires: If Charles Evans Hughes Is a Progress sive, what is Boise Penrose? What is Reed Shoot? What is Charles Fair What is Murray Crane?
New Britain herald., 1916-09-05

A cat in MiddletoWn, N. r., lost its litter of kittens in some unknown manner and then adopted three nice baby mice Raising her own meat supply. Yet scientific writer declares that cats have no intelligence. Hartford Post.
New Britain herald., 1916-09-05

In California the face of Harmony looks blubbered and scratched. AS for MT. Hughes, amiablC as he is, he must wonder why his western progress has been so clogged by otficious dun derheadS.-New York Times.
New Britain herald., 1916-09-05

Have we a navy? The admiral says we have. The politician says we haven't Which should know a navy by sight ?-Louisville Courier Journal
New Britain herald., 1916-09-05

According to reports there are to be no freak styles In mems clothes this year There will, however, be the usual number of freaks in mems clothes.-Detroit Free Press.
New Britain herald., 1916-09-05

Lieut. Robert Fay has added jail breaking to his exploits in defiance of the laws of peace and order in the United States Is the Kaiser still proud of him and ready to pin an iron cross on his noble chest?-Fall River Herald
New Britain herald., 1916-09-05

No one has accused this Jap ten- his champion of looking over our concrete courts with a view to possible gun emplacements.-Syracuse Post Standard.
New Britain herald., 1916-09-05

Detroit has now a population of 734,562 persons. according to the wa ter board figures. Would a water
 board estimate of the population bs
New Britain herald., 1916-09-05
FACTS AND RANCHES.

Greece has decided to let George do it.-BOstOn Transcript.