davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1916-04-10

If it is true that President Wilson is twice as
strong as his party-an assertion coming from
some of the presidents administration any one
ought to be able to figure out just how much
strength there is left in the democratic party
The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1916-04-10

E: q. 3. Dstss;e
The day book. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1911-1917, 1916-07-28
BIG MUSIC NIGHT AT PIER

Program Civic Music assn on Mu-
nicipal pier tonight is free from the
peculiar advertising of big business
houses seen on Wednesday night.
Lincoln Exposition folk song chorus
tonight sings Mary, Don't You
Weep" Shout All Over Gods
Heaven" Couldn't Hear Nobody
New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1916-11-17
The Mysterious Meaning.

(Beatrice Barry, in New York Times)
A rhymester once fashioned a deaf
little verse,
And 1T was accepted in time
1t might have been better, it might
have been worse
The words had a. musical chime;
Melod1ous phrases just rippled along,
And fell on the listening ear like a
song
AND II 1t was vague as to rnea' ing,
twas strong
On meter and rhythm and rhyme.
The rhymester by accident met with
friend,
Who wiped a tear out of his eye,
And quoth, ooh, how rash were the
lines that you penned!"
(Em1tt1ng a terrible sigh).
of course 1T was clever-the mean
ing was clear
But ali! there was pretty deep stuff
there, my dear!
A bit too advanced, your opinions I
Convention you cannot defy!"
The rhymester was startled and ter
ribly awed-
So rudely he shattered her bliss!
journeyed abroad
Expressed himself something like
this:
Il say; it was funny! 1 laughed tin
I cried.
Who'd think that you had such q hu-
mOrOus side?
OF course it was subtle-that can't be
denied
But no one the meaning could miss"
The rhymester, bewildered, moved on
in a daze,
Till once more man whom she
knew,
Bent on her a mischievous quizzical
gaze,
And said, whats the matter with
you"
I know you have brains, but I'm
bound to admit
That sometimes you really don't use
them a bit!
That last thing of yours-what's the
meaning Of 1t
I'll bet you can't give me a clue',
The rhymester just fell on his neck
with moan
And murmured, ooh, Heaven forbid
That I should deceive you-but lower
your tone
The truth at all cost must be hid!
Twas nothing but language of rhyth-
mical flow
1t hadn't a vestige of meaning-but
oh!
Please promise you'll never let any
one know!'-
And L do not believe that he did!
New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1916-11-17
Farmers BiIIbOards.
waterbury Ron,,hEoor

waterbury Republican,
The Christian Science Monitor calls
upon the agricultural periodicals. to
get after the farmers for the billboard
nuisance. Appeals made to the bill
board companies and to the advertiz-
ers who patronize them have been in
vain The only resource short of
drastic legislation is to the farmers
themselves. The Monitor believed
that If the matter were properly pre-
scented to them. farmers in general
would refuse to allow billboards on
their property, and thus help power
fully to save beautiful natural scenery
from Disagreement and the travelling
public from annoyance.
The farmers business, anyhow, saws
The Monitor, is farming, not advertis-
ing And If he fails to respond to an
appeal made to his fairness and good
citizenship, the especial privilege Of
getting few dollars for permitting
public nuisance will have to be
taken away from him. The public
will demand that the land. on which
billboards are erected shall be taxed
as improved property
1t is recognized, however, that the
farmer isn't the only person to blame.
Property owners Ill Clues permit even
more reprehensible abuse of their va
cant lots. walls and roofs by the
billboard interests. So do transport
tation companies. The Monitor wants
to know why a traction company
privileged to operate vehicles for the
carriage of passengers over public
streets and roads. should be allowed
to fill it's conveyances with ADVERTISE
ments of articles whose sale and use
may be contrary to the public well
fare, or with advertisements which, at
best, patrons should not be COM
pelled> to gaze at. Why, indeed? IT
the farmer is to be asked to sur
render his billboard privilege, others
must be expected to make a similar
sacrifice to good citizenship
It is interesting to note how the au-
tomobile garages and salesrooms are
increasing in the vicinity of the vet
Urinary hospitals and delivery stables
1t is difficult nowadays to remember
just how to get to the horse and dog
doctors office.
New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1916-11-17
BIG BUSINESS COMING.

New Britain, it's very life throbbing
Ith manufacturing industries, yearns
i every word that will express the
lpnomic condition which may exist
Ter the war. It's people therefore
i d comfort in the statements made
members Of the American Indus
Is been studying conditions abroad.
Eese men breathe a new optimism.
/ ey hold a bright light for all those
DO formerly CROPPED in the dark and
Nv America "doomed" after Europe
bps fighting.
Europe after the war will need
Irdware, and therefore New Britain
led have no fear. But even if this
re not so, New Britain could turn
hand in supplying sorne parts of
+ farm machinery and other imple-
Ents that will be needed as much
anything else. According to Mr..
lrquhar who. knows best the need
these things because he has dealt
their manufacture, the losses of
hustrial plants in northern France
ld Belgium are estimated at ap-
Ultimately 100000, 5000. America
tl have to re-equip almost all these
bustries $.<& Tlo .GH @-
What will be needed in northern
lance and Belgium after the war is
Il to be considered lightly; but what
ese two portions of devastated
|lntry may search for will be moth
in comparison to what other parts
Europe must have in rebuilding
Hustries. Foreign goods and the
kchinerv to make their own goods
hst be had in large quantities" by
Europeans, according to the In
Lstrial Commission, and America is
tier equipped than any other coun-
to furnish the goods.
New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1916-11-17

get busy the damage will be consider
able.
The state forester of Massa chusetts
makes some suggestions about these
insects which it would be worth while
to pay some attention to especially
as there would be twofold advantage
| in doing it, He suggests that we have
our yards and in the vicinity of our
homes that are infected more or less
with these nuisances and that as we
need fuel we can combine a little
thrift with guarding against the in
roads of the moths and caterpillars.
Dead branches and infested boughs
will not, probably, keep us in fuel for
the winter; but they will destroy
the predatory insects while pairing
down the coal bill q little
1t is such thrift as this that Euro
pean peoples practice as a matter of
course. 1t is a habit with them;
habit bred Of necessity no doubt, but
one which we as a people would do
well to learn. The high cost of living
is certainly not a blessing, but Meth
err is needless waste a Virture. 1t is
not suggested that burning waste
wood will materially decrease gem
eral cost of living. But it is certain
that the principle of thrift and saving
which prompts the burning of waste
wood for fuel would, if carried out,
materially decrease the burden.
New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1916-11-17

Washington, D. c., Nov. 17.-'The
great bulk of Roumania's population
belongs to the peasant class, for there
are comparatively few cities and
most of them are small" says a bull
letin of the National Geographic So
cietv on ROumanian folklore and
customs, which gives an intimate in
sight into the home life of the nation
that so recently aligned itself with
the Entente Allies in the great Eu-
ropean struggle. The bulletin, which
is based on a communication to the
society from John Oliver LaGorce,
says:
MANY of these peasants live en-
the great estates, where their fore
bears for generations have farnled
for the absentee landlords. And an
interesting class these peasants form,
with their peculiar customs, their
primitive ways of looking at things in
general.
1.-THE evil Of race suicide has. never
invaded Rouminia. 1t is regarded as
worthy of honor to be the head of a
large family. AS in all lands where
many Of the people are more or less
illiteratc, there is a high death rate,
though the fact that the bottle-fed
baby is almost unknown in peasant
Roumania tends to overcome the
high infant mortality that would 9TH
erWise result.
1.-THE average Rounanian peasant
is not given to the kind Of thrift that
leads him often to a savings bank.
The patrfmony of his sons and daugh-
ters is more often good will, good
health, and an honest mind than it is
land, or money, or houses. So narrow
is the margin upon which a young
couple starts out in life that 1t has
come to be a prOverb among them,
married today and out at the elbows
tomorrow For children come apace,
and the prices Of the things the peas
ant has to sell are even lower than the
prices Of those he has to buy, and not
until his own labors are supplement-
ed by those Of hts sons and daughters
has he much chance to prepare for
even the shortest Of rainy days.
' "When a young Roumanian peasant
lads thoughts turn to love and his
mind begins to incline toward mar
riage, he goes to his mother rather
than to his sweetheart with his tale.
The mother acts as an ambassador to
the father, and if he can be induced
to look with favor upon the lovers
choice he calls in two Of his best
friends in the village, tells them Of his
sons dreams, and tasks them to &C
company the said son to the house or
the object of loves young dreams.
Mayhap the girl herself has not re-
ceived from the youth a single hint of
his love. but even so, as he ana his
s2okesmen approach the house she
SUSPECTS the object OF his visit and
peeps through any crack or Granny
that is convenient.
New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1916-11-17
R0umanidn folklore .>.
And Strange Custom

IF it happens to be winter, the
! father of the girl invites the COM
| pany in, and, surmising their mission,
gives some hint as to his attitude by
the way he looks after the fire. If he
keeps 1t burning brightly they know
that he is favorable. If he let's it die
down little they understand that he
is only of an open mind on the sub
ject. But If he lets 1t go out entirely,
there is no use arguing the question.
1.-The Roumanian peasant is much
given to superstition, and he has a
sign for everything. If shingles are
not nailed on a roof in the proper
sign, they will turn up at the ends;
il potatoes are not planted in the
proper sign, they will grow on top Of
the soil and be a failure; if you have
money in your pocket when you see
the new moon, you Will not go
broke at least not until another now
moon has come. On the other hand,
it is held to be dangerous to announce
to those III the house that the new
moon has appeared for in that case
all the pots and pans in the kitchen
will be broken before the waning
moon passes.
"When a peasant child is christ
ened, all Of those present assume the
relation of god-parents, and it is
superstition that there must be no IN
ter-mariages between god-fatherS ana
god mothers. The result IS that
christenings are not widely attended,
and those with matrim onial ambitions
eschew them entirely.
",The utmost care is taken by some
to prevent q child from seeing It's
image in mirror before it is three
wears old, for If it does it will become
a. victim Of the falling sickness
which will send it stumbling through
life
"There are many customs which
still proclaim the ancient rule and
influence of Rome that have persisted
through the centuries since the de-
parture of her glory For instance,
there is the old Pyrrhic dance, the
robes with bells on sleeves and cir
dies. The Roumanians still shout in
unison to prevent Saturn from hear
ing the voice of the infant Jupiter;
and even their oxen proclaim the
glory that was Rome in their Names
for here you may see Caesar and Bru-
tus as ycke-fellows. and there Cassi-
us and Augustus
New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1916-11-17
HOLDING BACK THE NAVY

Whenever Uncle Sam was diligent
in the matter of appropriating money
for the building of battleships and
such other vessels that are needed in
the Navy the first to remind him of
his neglect were the shipbuilders of
cried for national assistance. Now
the order is reversed. Their yards
and dry-docks are filed to overlooking
with work that is of a strictly COM
mercial nature and Uncle Sam with
the greatest appropriation for battle
ships and cruisers is left standing at
the gate not even admitted to press
his orders.
So 1t is true that bids have been re-
ceived for four great battleshtps,
four scout cruisers, twenty destroyers,
and twenty nine submarines, the first
allotment of the Governments navy
program. Yet withal contracts have
been awarded for only four destroyers
and this because the ship builders
have put so many conditions on their
bids. They claim they have no time
in which to meet the requirements of
the bids, and that to do the work of
the government at this time would re-
suit in a loss to them. There is no
chance of getting the steel demanded
in the construction of such ships. So
| Uncle Sam is being held up in. his
| quest for a national defense and the
hold-up men are those who were wont
! to cry and bemoan their fate because
| he was slow in coming forth with new
orders to keep their plants at high
state of efficiency. There should be
better cooperation on the part OF
these great industrial leaders when
the nation is clamoring for a better
national defense.
New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1916-11-17
j. MCMILLAN
1o9-2O1-2O3 MAIN STREET.
SuperfiuOus Legs.
philadelphia Bulletin) .

" Il1lc'NtCApi11ci DullCClI).
In all the cries and lamentation that
arise generally about periodical troll
ley strikes and in ali the solemn de-
liverances Of experts upon the sub
ject, there never is a sign Of that sort
of philosophic perception which
might turn these social phenomena
to account and view the resulting sit
uation logically as it should be
viewed, as an incentive to walking.
Nobody wants to walk nowadays.
Physicians tell you what an excellent
and invigorating exercise walking is,
even on city pavements, and they
themselves hustle for a trolley or a
taXicab rather than walk half a dozen
blocks.
Legs are becoming bore. The day
may come when we shall be actually
ashamed of them They are Of use
now only to tango with and as ap-
pendages adequate to lift one high
enough to view the scOreboard over
the heads Of the crowd. 1t has re-
uuired the recent sporadic Interrupt
tons of trolley service in various
cities to show how distasteful walk
ing has become in America. A man
who goes to his work in a trolley or
motor every morning rather than
walk ten blocks 1aboriously learns
golf, a game which he may detest, in
order to keep fit. And yet as phv-
sicians and philosophers have always
viewed it, walking is better than any
other sort of exercise because it NAV
be enioyed alone, without distractions
and with innumerable invitations TO
meditation and mental exercise.
New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1916-11-17
SIENKIEWICZ.

1t was late yesterday afternoon
that the despatch came over the wire:
Henryk Sienkiewicz, the Polish novel
list, is dead at the age Of seventy-five
There are few lovers Of literature who
do not know the name. There are no
who do not realize the patriotism of
the great writer. There is no military
man in Poland who has done as much
to keep the fires of patriotism burn
Ing with intenseness as did Sien-
kiewicz. There is no statesman who
accomplished half so much for the
sufferers Of Poland as did the aged
novelist. With him in the work of
soothing the wounds of his beloved
country must be linked the name of
Paderewski, the great musician
Sienkiewicz was known throughout
America for his celebrated novel,
|Quo Vadts," a book that had been
translated into thirty languages. Yet
Quo Vadis' is not his best work.
Taken in its entirety his trilogy,
with Fire and Sword" 1.-The Deluge."
and Pan Michael" make one of the
great masterpieces of modern litera-
ture. The trilogy tells the" story of
Poland and the Poles. TO know this
work means a deep understanding of
the Polish people, a knowledge Of the
tragedy of Poland and the causes that
brought about present conditions
Quo Vadis'' is great; "Quo Vadis'' Is
wonderful; it is perhaps one Of the
greatest novels ever written; but "Quo
Vad1s" does not mean as much to the
Polish people and the critics as the
trilogy. The news of the death of
sienkiewicz will bring sorrow to every
Polish heart
Having seen three quarters Of
century Sienkiewcz died before his
real work was completed. Had fate
been kinder to him he would have
been allowed to remain and watch the
working out of a reconstructed
Poland. After the war if Poland is
w AS'e"A1i iAS4 OlO place dS a great
kingdom it's glory must be attributed
In no small measure to the famous
W1elder of the pen who painted it's
picture so that the men of all nations
might read and reading learn to I'M
derstand. What if the names in any
one of the three works forming the
tr1logy are unpronouncable? What f;
II some of the places mentioned are
unknown to Americans? There still !
remains the action and the depletion
of scenes SO terrible that everyone /
who spends the time and energy might
know better the. problem of Poland |
and realize what it means to live in i
the United States of America, a land |
that will ever honor Sienkiewicz the !
patriot as we'll as Sienkiewicz the !!
writer.
New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1916-11-17
MACHINE GUN SELECTED.
Now the Thing is to Buy the Guns AS
Soon AS Possible.
(Brooklyn Standard Union.)

1t is highly important that q board
named by the secretary of war to Sc
lect a machine gun for the army has
made it's decision. but the prompt
purchase of a sufficient number of
these weapons is of still greater im-
portance.
The machine gun has by far proved
the most effective weapon employed
in the great European war, and no
country has fully realized its high
value as did the Germans. But all
have learned the lesson and are pro-
fitting by it.
This nation is, of course. misera-
bly, equipped with machine guns. In ,
fact, it is not really equipped at all,
having only a few. and these are of
a doubtful value. At least, they have
not been developed to the point which
enables satisfactory comparison
with those used in European trenches
1t is the Vickers gun that meets
with the favorable recommendation
of the board. And it is stated that
the government has the money too
purchase $500, which is to be done
without any unnecessary loss Of
time.
When the army has been equipped
our scheme of defense will have been
filled. Our need of submarines is be-
attended to, and 1t should not be long
before ample field artillery is dis
tributed at the military posts of the
country. Gradually we are forming
proper plans to emerge from that =
state of defenselessness which has
caused a pronounced feeling of I'M
easiness since the great world var
started.
New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1916-11-17
HE ART OF GROWING OLDER IS

1T requires but a furtive glance
but us to learn that people of this
n are growing old more gracefully
Rn their forebears; that the old
.ptlemen and ladies of today are in
klity gay young bloods. Chauncey
Depew who has been growing
3unger every day for the past eighty
rec years last night undertook to
fold the secrets of his success be-
Re the New York Academy Of Medi-
be. If he did not wholly succeed in
hing "a formidable formula he did
kpel one horror that has followed
l. race since the incipient days Of
Iilizationf TIlatAis, the three-score
Id ten idea which allots a mans
Il to that period. "David's ninetieth
|alm has killed more people than
lis war, ten times over" said the
bn. Chauncey. "They believed they
Id to die-and died"
[Of course, there are a lot Of people
ho never reach the age allotted by
|e Psalmist, and these the great
htesnan. and philosopher dismisses
[th. a. wave of. the hand. They did
1t know how to live, or they lived
10 many years in their short careers.
he business of crowding a hundred
lars of life into a span of thirty is
Try detrimental to longevity. A fast
Re and a furious one, is a very poor
brking model or slogan. Stretch
Il things out a bit, making the years
line and go with a kindly grace has
much to do as anything with a
Ing life and q merry one. The
ealth question, of course, is al
lie basis of it all; but there
Re those, and Mr.. Depew is
he. who believes that health is also
matter of habit. The keeping OF
lie mind in a serene state is one OF
e rules set down by this exponent OF
te art Of growing old. 1t is an art
There are old men who are younger
ian their years; there are young mer
Tho are older than theirs. The for
! er are the ones who know that life
indeed worth living, that it is 6
fand and glorious thrill. And not
miss any Of the joy of it, the one
Rld only Chauncey says: Get VI
Rrly5 no matter how late you go tt
Ed, giving as his reason for this BIZ
advice that all long-1ived person!
re early risers. This done, all mer
hd women should have some sort OF
hterest apart from their daily avoca
ons. They should take their recrea.
on in the form Of some special ser
ice, or an interest in sport. If mo-
OFF, then service in the church, the
alton, the state, the city. There il
lenty of room for service in this day
0 it necessarily follows there are
1any chances to practice the art o:
rowing older.
New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1916-11-17
The Tent Caterpillars.
{ Meriden JOurnal)

Now that the trees and bushes are
getting bare of foliage it appears to
be an excellent time to start a cam
palgn against the brown tail moth.
the tent caterpillar and the gypsy
moth which have already wrought so
much destruction to the wooded
growth o. New England. We are not
dong our share here in Connecticut
TO eliminate these pests and unless we