davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1916-05-20
Better Cities, Not BIqcer.

1t is not a very important fact that
Providence is a city of more than $780,
600 inhabitants. 1t has passed the
quarter-million mark within a few
months, and there is a sentimental sat
isfaction in knowing it, but it is OF
more Importance that we are develop
ing our harbor resources under a com.
bined federal, state and city scheme;
that a city plan commission is con.
stantly studying ways and means to
make the city more beautiful; that the
habit of public generosity is growing
among us; that larger and more fire.
quent sums are being given to good
causes, and that the sense of COM
munity and cooperation is on the
gain. We are glad that Providence is
steadily increasing in population, but
we ought to be yet more glad that it
is also growing better.-Providence
Journal.
The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1916-05-20

tance by wireless an electric shock similar to that
produced by touching a charged wire. One can
think of no other way in which effects perilous to
life and property could be obtained with cleo
tricity.
With this idea worked out to it's ultimate per-
lection, one might foretell such appalling events
in warfare as this: An entire army, in its
trenches, is without warning seized with the death
agonies of a wretch in the electrical chair, and is
exterminated by a silent enemy, using no bullets.
Or, at a given moment, every living thing in a
great city is struck dead as if by lightning, by
means of a force unleashed hundreds of miles
away by an officer who merely pulls a lever in a
wireless tower.
Tesla appears to see in the future a warfare of
electrical appliances more deadly than all the can
non ever made; he sees entire areas electrified
and made untenable for any living creature.
Death and destruction will be dealt out at unheard
of distances, with zones of action more spacious
than we now dream of. There is foreshadowed
a conflict in which not armies but nations may
be destroyed in a single action, by men armed
with thunderbolts more mighty than those of the
heavens. No wonder that Tesla, his own imagi-
nation recoiling in horror, says:
II hope this is the invention that will make war
impossible"
Another device for which inventors are seeking
is one that will be able, by means of the wireless
current, to explode at a distance the enemy's
magazines of ammunition. If this were perfected,
one man in London, by pressing a button, could
set fire to all the explosives in the Krupp factories
and blow that institution into bits; or he could
blow up all the cartridges and explosives in the
German army. Or another man in Berlin could
with one stroke blow the English fleet out of the
water with its own powder. In an article in a
Paris newspaper recently, Marconi, father of wire
less telegraphy, declared that such an invention
would mean the abolition of firearms and a re-
version to hand-to-hand fighting.
A Dutch inventor named LanZius, now in New
York, claims to have made such a device. An
Italian inventor won considerable notoriety for
himself two years ago by demonstrating an appa-
ratus which he declared would explode ammu-
milton at a distance by means of a wireless cur
rent-but he was shown to be a fraud. A young
New Yorker, who already has several authentic
inventions to his credit, declares he has perfected
a method of emitting wireless current which will
melt all metals within a certain radius. A Cali
fornia inventor asserts that he can create a fame
at a distance by means of wireless, and offers to
set fire to any feet approaching the Pacific coast.
The Germans are reported to have used heat to
destroy the barbed-wiree n~tanglements of the Rus
slams, Tesla believes that the result was obtained,
The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1916-05-20

and through the top and bottom of the
box into the ends of partitions A.
Cut the scroll rollers d Gigs. 5 and
81 from pieces of broom-handle. a
trifle shorter than the distance be-
tween the partitions A, and get four
large spools, such as crochet-cotton
comes on, for the end knobs E Gigs.
5 and e.. Rollers D turn on the nail
pivots F Zig. 81, which must be long
enough to run through the spool
knobs E. through holes C in partitions
A, and half an inch into the ends of
the rollers. The spools must fit tight.
ly on the nails. Wrap nails F with
paper, and then coat the paper with
glue so the spools will stick fast.
A tough wrapping-paper should be
used for the scroll. Perhaps you can
find a store dealer who has a roll of
paper from which you can get the
length you want in one piece. Tack
the ends of this paper to the scroll
rollers Gig. y. Be careful to get the
The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1916-05-20
ELECTRIC FURNACES

An electric furnace for the heat treatment of
steel used in construction has been
introduced. Its method of producing uniform.
dependable heat that is SO urgently sought by
automobile manufacturers is quite novel in cleo
trio furnace practice, although its principle is
comparable to that of the well-known Nernst
lamp. Both the floor and the domelike covers of
this furnace are of a refractory material which is
practically nonconducting at ordinary tempera-
lures. To start the furnace, a current is passed
through a bed of coke laid on its floor. On bein-
sufficiently heated the floor becomes a conductor
and in turn heats the wall and top, rendering
them conductive, until finally the entire furnace
becomes incandescent. 1t is stated by those who
have tried the furnace that it's use in the heat
treatment of automobile parts promises to be
extensive in the future.
The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1916-05-20

the cover boards, too, because you
will need them for the hinged drop
leaf. The first thing to do is to re-
enforce the mailing of any boards
which show signs of coming loose.
Then prepare the pigeonhole parti-
lions. Fig. 2 shows the inside of the
desk. Partitions A should be fastened
seven inches each side of the center
of the length of the box, or ID inches
apart, and shelves B should be so
spaced that there will be a small top
and bottom %pigeonhole and a larger
one between. Holes G in partitions
A Gig. 81 are provided for the rollers
of the scroll to turn in. Bore the up
per one about three inches below the
upper end Of A, and place the lower
one ten inches or so below it. Nail
partitions A to the end of shelves b;
then stand these assembled pieces in
the box, set a temporary brace be-
tween partitions A to hold them in the
right position, and drive nails through
the ends of the box into shelves B,
The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1916-05-20

sleeve that fits over the lower part of
the candle Gig. 81. This post is fold
ed out of n piece of cardboard, and a
flap is provided on one edge to lap
and glue to the other edge. The top
cap projects over the sides of the sup
port all around, and has a hole cut
through its center large enough for
the candle to slip through. This post
is glued to the center of the base, and
is braced with the candle stick han
dies Gig. 10). After preparing the
handles, cut the two pair of slots A
and B Gig. 81 through the base, for
the handle ends to stick through.
Glue the inner upright of each handle
to the candle post, glue the end OF the
outer upright to the ends of the box,
and glue the end of the inner upright
to the box bottom.
The candle shade is made of a band
of cardboard bent into a ring and GOV.
cred with a strip of paper that has
been slashed along it's edges Gig. IL
to form fringe. Red paper will look
The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1916-05-20
Home T0wp
Y Helps Y
GET THE LOT CLEANED UP
Sound Common Sense in Having Va
cant Property Present an At
tractive Appearance.

Have you a lot or a block of lots
you wish to put on the market the
coming season? Are they rough? Are
they weedy or brushy? Have they
been made more or less of a dumping
ground for the past years? If SO, you
will have two chances to n Of sell
ing them if you take the trouble to
put them into sale shape, says the
Minneapolis Journal.
A wise man selling a horse would
see to it that the animal was in good
flesh and good coat before putting him
in the sale stable. Any grocer knows
that he can sell more goods If his
wares are attractive to the eyes Of
the prospective customer. Nc mer-
chant will risk his sales to the mag
ination of the customer.
The average buyer of a city lot is
o. gifted with a rosy, constructive
imagination. He cannot make a men
tai painting of a beautiful home
grounds out of a rough and ragged
vacant lot. In selling anything, from
a pair of trousers to a city lot, the
salesman should have the help of good
looks in his goods in order to make &
quick or profitable sale.
Il costs little to put the average
open, vacant city lot into sale form.
If but the front third of the lot were
sm%oothed. grassed, clipped regularly
and one door-yard tree properly plant
ed and kept the lot would have two
chances of a sale where it otherwise
would have but lie.
You may add this little expense to
the sale price, if you like, and it will
not hinder the sale. If you put your
rough property into an agents hands
you should not be disappointed if it is
left lying at the seasons end, or if the
agent is obliged to shade the price to
the ugliness of the lot.
The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1916-05-20

paper square on the rollers, so it will
roll up evenly. The pictures should
be put on before the scroll is pivoted
in the desk. Cut out and paste these
in place.
Fig. 4 shows how the box-cover
boards are fastened together by
means of the end battens G, and how
the pair of hinges are placed for
Ringing this drop-leaf to the desk. To
support the outer edge of the drop
leaf, when the desk is open, a pair of
chains must be provided. Screw
screw-eyes into the drop-leaf and the
other side of the desk. to attach the
chains to.
Putty all joints and nail holes. Then
a coat of stain, or two coats of paint
or white-enamel, will complete the
desk. By screwing a pair OF screw.
eyes into the top. the desk may be
suspended from a picture-molding; or
It may be hung upon a pair of long
hooks screwed into the wall.
The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1916-05-20

A substitute for gold is obtained by
combining "a parts of copper with six
parts OF anthony and adding a little
magnesium carbonate to increase the
weight. 1t is said that this alloy can
be drawn. wrought and soldered very
much like gold. and that it also re-
ceives and retains a golden polish. 1t
is worth something like rs cents a
pound.
In the Southern Pacific a large I'M
dersea desert was recently discovered.
Over its whole ares not a vestige of
plant or animal life could be found.
The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1916-05-20

Russia and Serbia. also Austria, may
allow young women | fight in their
armies, but Canada will not, although,
according to a recruiting officer in
Winnipeg, several have applied, and
two could hardly be kept from joining
by force in response to a call for
"stenographers for the second service
unit OF the Nineteenth battalion
Biologists are trying to estimate the
ages OF the oceans by comparing the
amount OF sodium they contain with
the noun they receive annually by
washings from the continents.
The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1916-05-20
CONVERSATIONS

Russia is said to be The only war
ring nation whose people are actually
growing more prosperous during the
conflict, change and the forced devel
opment of new industries explaining
the rest Of It.
In some OF the small streams In the
interior Of Honduras there is a pecu-
liar small fish whose eyes protrude
above the surface of the water. serv-
ing probably as insect-huntipg peri
scopes.
The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1916-05-20
The Aotress and the anla.

playing Katherine in The Tanning
of the shrew' brought me much salts.
faction, but a very bad reputation for
temper" Ada Rehan said.
Il have often been amused at see
ing the effect that a first performance
OF the 'Shrew' in a strange place pro-
duced on the employees OF the stage.
They summed me as something actu-
ally to be feared.
During a long run l have heard IL
said that l hated my Petruchio. /
looked upon this as a compliment
The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1916-05-20

The tuberculosis death rate of New
York. Philadelphia and Boston COM
bined declined from S0S.6 a 100, 900
population in 1882 to 1916 in 1914.
The 1914 death rate was, therefore.
only 1872 per cent Of that of 1882, or.
to put 1t the other way. the death rate
of 1889 had by 1914 fallen 56.S per
cent.
Cellulose from wood fiber is being
used in Europe as a substitute for alb
sorbent cotton, which has become rela-
lively scarce because Of the war de-
mands.
The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1916-05-20
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.

best for the covering. The supports
for the shade are a pair of cardboard
strips Zig. 12). Glue the upper end
of these to the inside of the shade;
stick the lower end through a pair of
slots in the base &c. Fig. 81 and glue
to the box sides.
The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1916-05-20

In case the United States were involved in war,
however, he says he would place his device I'M
reservedly at the disposition of the military
authorities.
st is, of course, possible" he said to a repre-
sentative of the Post-Dispatch Sunday Magazine
a few days ago, ito produce electrical efects at a
distance by means of wireless energy. But the
insurmountable difficulty thus far has been to aim
an electric wave in one direction only, with all
of its force concentrated on a given target.
81 will go so far as to say that after twenty
years of application to the problem of
energy by wireless, | have Just made a valuable
advance in this direction. The stage has been
reached where to an extent it is practicable to use
this force in war, and to predict such a develop
ment as will make electricity %supplant cannon in
battle.
1T is impossible to give details at this time, but
in a general way my invention can be used in
three methods.
In the first place, it will be possible to send
an explosive body through the air-an aerial tor
pedo flying many times faster than an aeroplane-
and to direct this p%rojectile to the spot desired,
where it can be exploded by wireless. 1t will be
possible to guide the projectile by wireless after
it has passed beyond the range of the eye, and the
aim is so accurate that it is possible to reduce
the error to a few feet in a thousand miles.
Tn the second place, it will be practicable with
this apparatus to produce effects at a distance
which will interfere with the enemy and tend to
make him ineffective.
IN the tnlfu place, II PROMISES 10 De dole 10
produce at a distance such effects of electrical
tension as will jeopardize life and property"
The inventor declined to go into specific details,
saying that it is safer to be specific after the
fact. But one would gather from the words he
did speak that he has contrived a torpedo of the
air flying under its own power as a torpedo swims
in the water, which can be steered by wireless
and exploded by the sam force. Such a p~rojectile
would have a range not of some twenty miles, like
the highest power cannon, but one limited only
by it's own flying endurance. 1t would be harder
to hit with shell and rifle fire than an aeroplane
because of it's smaller size and swifter velocity,
and it need not be manned by a crew who would
be exposed to death at every instant.
Such a missile, aimed according to the mathe-
NAUTICAL formulas used today by gunners whose
target is beyond the range of eye and telescope,
could be dispatched for the destruction of a bat
tleship long before her own guns would be able
to come into play. Safe from the shells of the
greatest ordnance, it could start from a point
miles beyond their range and destroy the batteries
without the possibility of a reply.
The second and third methods of which Tesla
speaks are discussed in rather cryptic language.
but leave the inference that he believes himself
already able, in some degree. to produce at a dis
The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1916-05-20
Far-Fetohed Idea.
"Care much Tor astronomy?"

"Care MuCH lot HblrOnOnyT
mot a great real" replied the slight
ly pessimistic man. But some phases
of the science interest me-"
'Fur instance?"
There are the Martians. you know.
They are said to be farther advanced
nan we are. Since the war in Europe
began | have had such a poor opinion
OF humanity In general. that like
10 think there are people somewhere
in The universe whom | can regard as
superior beings"
The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1916-05-20
Appropriate.

II want a pair of earrings, cheap but
purity. They be fur a present" yes.
sir" said the jeweler. "You want some
thing rather quiet, l suppose?" "Well,
doan't ZEE go to making they too quiet,
now" replied the farmer. my girl be
deaf In one ear."-Tit-Bies.
The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1916-05-20
A HOMEMADE DESK WITH A PIC
TURE SCROLL.

Every boy can own a desk, because
it is n of the simplest pieces of fur
niture to build. have designed a
great many desks for boys to make.
but / believe that the one shown in
Fig. l will be the most popular yet.
This desk is made out of a small
packing-case, or a grocery box. Select
the ~best-looking box you can find. Get
The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1916-05-20
A Hint.

Kind sir, o behold me a child of
Misunderstanding"
"On your way. You're the fourth
touch of nature I've had this morn
ing"
The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1916-05-20
COME A

These signs face toward the town,
so that they are read as the visitor
drives out across the borough line.
Such signs will be placed along the
borough line at every road or drive
way. They are large and elevated.
The background is black with large
white letters. The attitude is that
such a movement will advertise Had
donfield, rather than make the visiting
motorist feel that he is suspected of
being a speeder.
The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1916-05-20

in cas- of war. what do you think
we ought to have in addition to the
general STAIR" Il think We ought to
have an advisory board Of moving pio-
tire ac~tresees..
The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1916-05-20
!: HANDICRAFT FOR BOYS AND GIRLS :
By a.
A. Nicely HALL end DOROTHY PERKINS z
~
HOMEMADE CANDLE STICKS.

The candle stick in Fig. 1 has a base
made of a small cardboard box Zig.
p. In this box is fitted a piece of
cardboard having its edges turned
The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1916-05-20
TEST OF YOUTH

You often see a woman at the market pinching
the end of a chickens breastbone to find out how
tender-in other words, how young-the fowl is.
Oddly enough, the same test with human beings
is one of the most reliable known. If in advanced
life the lower part of your breastbone feels elias
tic when pushed inward, you may assume that
no important changes have yet taken place in
your arteries, or otherwise in your anatomical
makeup.
The human breastbone is shaped like an ancient
Roman sword, and the upper part of it is like the
sword handle. Its point is a piece of cartilage.
which anatomists call the "~xiphoid' cartilage. The
early hardening and stiffening of it indicate that
the changes that accompany old age have prema-
turely ~begun.-Youth's Companion.
The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1916-05-20
DEFINED

Knicker-What are a congressman's duties?
Bocker-To run, sit, lie and stand.
The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1916-05-20

Mrs. Kawler-Do you consider Alice very good
looking?
Mrs. Blunderby-oh Alice is pretty enough:
but / wouldn't call her an Adonis.
The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1916-05-20

OR THEY WOULD BE MucH TROUBLE.
AS a rule women look at things differently from
men--and it's a good thing for most husbands
that they do.-Indianapolis Star.
The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1916-05-20
Glad Hand for Visitors.

Haddonfeld, N. j., has hit on a new
scheme to make visitors feel they are
welcome. In most towns roads enter
ing them are marked with signs call
ing attention to speed laws and other
regulations. Haddonfield is erecting
a new sign, which reads:
The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1916-05-20
HEMMED IN,

HEMMED IN.
How did you get that stitch in your side?"
"Oh. l got hemmed in a crowd"
The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1916-05-20
MIKOLA TESLA,
electrical scientist,
says not armies alone but
Bhole populations qvM
be destroyed BY use of
4ureless currents His
.oqvn air torpedo deadly

on chemistry but future warfare will WELD enormously more gyntcp oe of destruction pro- &c
vd by demHya cndhgu ga writer in the St os PotDpath
Then it will lot be question of the humiliation of armies; it will be one of the determination of
whole populations 1t will not ba matter of denohshng cities H1h ThesSs but of wpng whole
nation at ones stroke from tn he of the earth. Tes scientists in fact offer us oeu ultimate alternatives Either
innate mudeous instincts and cease from ware reBem he@ end the human mow perish in universal dd s
haG fTeod RMhn by the uspambea agencies of destruction hw which science will inevitably arm US
For 600 years. gmrowde and it's derivatives have ruled the d@nhs of mankind A fahh from the peMe
Roger Bacon blew judaism off the GLOBE and made po@bet the coming of democracy, Gmpowdng gave to the
over the whole world; it subjected to them America Asia and africa Little dit Bacon dream of these on@Q
mtw with lptAa dy sulphur Perhaps as Titled VI hdy realize thu possibilities the wireless current VIII
the spoken word rom Arlington to Honolulu
hhe tnnhHond very scientist the world y there Ba vn of a machine with key by mean
electricity will fhe1 through ue air to explode heem enys bombs trpNoe5c cartridges and magazines
hHde device will gb down in history ayh historians are lta alive as greater man than oG Bacon mhsM inv
and pnc acid obsolete and will send rifles cannon and dr@dnmghu0 hej nkh heap
Oyo one scientist SO far Makes claim to have advanced soonest steps towards hep perfect electric mmkmr B
uanN noa Tesla. electrically wizard, who hast tbn awarded pt of hsy years Nobep prize rr hydca In
day he laid down these pophed@:
l. This is tn last var in which the explosive power of chemicals will ee the ISSUE
g. In the next war electricity will be the force of organized slaughter
Thee confidence with which Tesla uttered he predictions is hd un an invention which he says he has
detail of which he is for hep present jealousy guarding for fear they might bw worked Otb one ofhe bngr
The Julesburg grit-advocate., 1916-03-30

the thought that he would see Betsy
Barbara in ofice hours as we'll as out
rendered 1t very feeble. So Betsy.Bar.
bara fell to work on the secondhand
typewriter: and she had SO far pro-
greesed that she could write a pass.
ably good business letter in four at.
tempts and a mornings time.
On the scene Of brisk business ac-
tivity suddenly entered Rosalie Le
Grange. AS she stepped into the door,
she was largeeyed. serious. a-quiver
with inner intensity. She broke into
a smile, however as she surveyed the
Thomas W. North Advertising Agency
at work. Both Tommy and his anna.
teur stenographer had heard the
steps; but each. as people will do
when they are intent. failed to look
up from his uncompleted line until
startled by Rosalie's:
my! Such a pair of little work
ers!"
Tommy grinned.
"Ah. customer" he said; 'busi-
ness bad at the boarding -housei Any
thing can do to advertise you? l
recommend our A A Campaign-cheap
and fetching for establishments OF
your class. How's this for a line:
Our eggs straight from the hen-our