davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-01-05
YEARS FAILURE RECORD.

Although commercial failures in the
United States during 1915 were more
numerous than in any previous year,
the amount of money involved, on the
other hand. disclosed a material con-
traction as compared with 1914. Thus,
there were 22,156 defaults reported to
r. G. Dun & Co., and these supplied
an aggregate Indebtedness of $3O2,-
286,14S against 1920 suspensions in
the preceding year, when the liabilities
were 1857. 9OS,s59. While in point of
number the insolvency statistics make
particularly adverse exhibit, it is
quite apparent that the abnormally
high mortality in this respect reflects
past rather than present conditions. A
study of the returns clearly indicates
that many months elapsed before the
effects of the economic disturbance
caused by the outbreak of the war
were fully shown in the failure record,
and in the first quarter of 1915 bust
ness reverses were notably heavy, both
numerically and otherwise. During
this period, however. many of the
weak spots in the situation were elimi-
mated and thereafter recovery from de-
preston was rapid, the figures for the
third quarter revealing a reduction of
about 81 per cent in number and prac-
ticalIy SO per cent in amount as COM
pared with the opening three months
of the year. Following the usual ten
dency, the commercial death rate was
higher in the closing quarter. although
the increase in the number of defaults
was much less marked than in either
1914 or 1918, as well as in certain
other previous years. Though there
were many more insolvencies in the
central west than in 1914-1.Ss3
against 1.565-thes amount involved
was somewhat reduced, s1S,320,92
comparing with $1s,522,614 in the
earlier year. Aside from Kansas,
where there was no change, more
firms met with reverses in all of the
seven states included in this section,
the most important increases occurring
in Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska and Min
| nesota. While Missouri, South Da-
lkota and Nebraska reported heavier
| liabilities. the expansion in these states
was more than offset by the contrac-
| ton in Minnesota, Iowa, North Da-
kota and Kansas. the latter making
the best exhibit in this respect. The
failures in Kansas in 1915 numbered
| 203, identically the same number as
those reported in 1914. The liabilities
of the 1915 failures aggregated ST.
16q632
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-01-05
Cures Gramophone Tricks.

Gramophones are extremely en-
tertaining instruments, and q large
collection of good records is almost
joy forever; but even the largest
stock of the very best records be-
comes well known at last and, as the
ever-enthusiastic operator lovingly
starts off another on his beautiful
machine, the bored listener comes out
harshly with that awful cry, oh,
We've had that one before"
This is the time to play tricks"
Many remarkable tricks can be done
which one would never have dreamed
of with quite an ordinary machine,
and with q few seconds preparation
only. Indeed. a highly comical eff
feet can be obtained by twisting the
time button" sharply up and down
at every note while you are running a
seminal love duet. Have you ever
run it up to q perfect shrek, and
then, when the loving bass come in,
run him down into the wine cellar.
The effect is charming beyond de-
sc1iption.
Perhaps the most curious expert
enCe in human life is to hear back
wards. Such an IDA seems impossi-
BILE; it is quite a simple trick" on a
gramophone. You have seen, doubt
less, a film run through backwards
at the kinematograDh entertain
ments. 1t can be done in exactly the
same manner on the gramophone,
only we are dealing, of course, with
sound instead of action The opera
ton is very simple. Twist the sound
box" into a perpendicular position, or
rather with a slight slope backwards,
in order that the disc may run in the
opposite direction to what is usual.
Start the pin near the center of the
disc, turning lightly with the finger.
1t will not injure the machinery of
the gramophone, but it is advisable
not to experiment with a favorite
record-at least, not to start with
as one is liable to get a very bad
scratch right across the plate and
very deepi But the effect is worth
the danger; it is unique. If you play
a brass band even the composer him
self would not recognize his master
piece; if you put on a talking rec
ord, the man appears to be speaking
a foreign multisonous language But
the most remarkable effect is to put
on a chime of bells" In this re-
versed manner there is no strike of
the bell; the sound simply rusEes up
in eVer-increaSirg waves, and then
suddenly ceases, just when you are
expecting the clash of the hammer.
The sound of the bell is reversed, and
the ear IS not startled with a sudden
strike. The effect is pathetic and
beautiful, something like cats at
night.-The Strand Magazine.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-01-05
QUAKER MEDTTATIoNs.

TFrom the Philadelphia Record.
Tell a woman all the worlds a stage
and she will want you to be her angel.
Conscience is an alarm clock that
helps a man to rise in his own estima-
ton.
Politeness costs nothing. You can
pay your respects even to the bill col
lector.
We all regret the mistakes of our
youth, even while we are making those
of old age.
Many a man has punctured his van
ity by sitting on another mans point
of view.
A girl seldom entrusts her heart to
a mans keeping until it has been
broken three or four times.
Love is a tonic" remarked the
Wise Guy. Yes agreed the Simple
Mug, 'it intoxicates some people, and
sobers other people up
When a young man is engaged to a
girl, and she laughs at all his stories,
he has an insane idea that she is going
to keep it up for the rest of her life.
Mr.. Gnaggs-''I suppose you women
think second thoughts are best?" Mrs
Gnaggs-"Not always. You may re-
member 1 refused you the first time
you asked me to marry you"
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-01-05
EUening Chat

BY RUTH CAMERON.


A stenographer in big business
house told me this little incident the
other day. The cashier was unusually
anxious to get away promptly.
I'm going to the dressmaker to-
night" she explained. eff 1 don't, I'll
have to wear a cotton waist tomor-
row."
Think of it, Shed have to wear a
cotton waist to work. What a dis
grace!
OF course you may think that the
cashier is simply one very foolish girl.
But she is more than that. She is a
straw which shows which way the
wind is blowing. And it is both aston
ishing and alarming to see how strong
that wind is.
A dear old lady was talking to me
the other day about her grandniece.
That's the second silk dress she's
had this year" she said, rather disap-
provingly, speaking of a little evening
gown which the girl had just bought.
"I don't seem to remember the
other" I said, searching my mind for
some similar gown.
What, don't you remember that
navy blue silk she had in the sum-
mer?"
But that was an entirely different
kind of Dress 1 ventured to pro-
test.
ut was a silk dress, and that's two
silk dresses a year" she said with
some asperity. when I was a girl
if We had one silk dress of any kind
in two years we thought we were well
off. A silk dress was an event then"
Sounds like an echo from another
state of existence, doesn't it, in these
days when many a working girl on a
moderate salary can count two or
three silk dresses of various kinds in
her wardrobe?
Perhaps you and I can't remember
the time when a silk dress was an
event but all but a few of us can re-
call the days when for common folks
silk stockings and silk petticoats were
great luxuries. Perhaps we had one
of each as part of our very best out
fits.
Today they are as much a matter
of courst as the silk dresses they set
off
Fifty years ago or Whereabouts,
when grandfather bought a silver
service for the family, the salesman
told him that heavy plate was all that
any but the richest families used. A
girl in our neighborhood was married
the other day. and among her gifts
were two solid silver services.
The Injuries of yesterday are the
matters-of-course of today.
Will the luxuries of today be the
matters-of-course of tomorrow?
If so, whatever will tomorrow's lux
uries be?
And finally, are we as much hap
pier than our grandparents, as we
surely ought to be?
7 Wonderi
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-01-05
LEGAL STATUS OF CoNsULs.

Many articles have recently ap-
peared in the press concerning the
rights and responsibilities of consuIs
accredited to this country. Some
have conveyed a fairly correct idea
of the law and others were wholly
misleading, states Fred H. Peterson
in the January Case and Comment
The subject has attained more than
usual prominence by virtue of condi-
tions that have aligned nations as
neutrals or belligerents.
There is no doubt that the present
federal law, act of March 8, 1911, con-
fers exclusive jurisdiction upon the
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-01-05

up" he squeezed her again joyously.
And here's another thing. Going
down to meet dad, aren't you? You
just tell him from me that Senator
Lathrop has changed his mind
About the street railway" she al
most gasped. holding fast to his
hands. "Oh, what that will mean to
everyone. Your father lost so much in
it, Earl"
Il think everybody lost more than
dad" said Earl seriously. "And he's
just held people up until they could
get their wind again. Just tell him
that to make him happy right away
Here's the letter 1 got today from
Eldridge, the senator's son. See what
he says: Father is willing to take
over the new road and make good the
losses. That is, holders of the old
stock will be given the new or cash
if they prefer. 1t looks like a first
rate deal. He regrets the misunder-
standing. Hows that? Isn't your
boy a good business diplomatist ?''
DO you think your father will keep
the store?"
IF he doesn't, 1 will" Earl declar-
ed. Dorothy says she'll be married
at Easter, and 1 want a steady job
Copyright, 1915, by Mcclure News
paper Syndicate.)
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-01-05
Jayhawker Jots

According to the Saline Journal the
best figure in society can be cut with
the dollar mark.
Jack" of the Minneapolis Better
Way wants to know if you have
noticed the immense number of peo-
pie who eat well and sleep we'll and
yet are always enjoying poor health.
When a girl comes out in one of
those new tomato red coats it is hard
for the Alma Signal to believe her
when she says she doesn't want her
name in the papers.
Here is a classic poem pritten by
Victor Herbert in his best opera, THE
F'urtune Teller" says the Sabetha Her
aid, and it is particularly appropriate
during the present epidemic of the
grip: 81 had a little bird. His name
was Enza. 1 opened the cage and
influenza"
One Harvey county farmer boasts
of having the finest display of color
scheme in the business, states the
Newton Kansan-Republican He has
buildings painted red, raises red cattle,
red hogs, red chickens, bay horses,
and Turkey red wheat. The only
thing he keeps out of the red is his
bank account.
Entries, in W. C. Markham's Bald
win Ledger: Not every road We are
compelled to take is we'll paved.
A word to the wise is sufficient pro-
vided it is the right word. Dame
Rumor should have her front name
spelled with one less letter. =. AS a
rule the fellow who rides a hobby
doesn't even take time to feed. Say
ing the right thing at the right time
sometimes means to keep still. Re
venge is sweet when you want it but
after you get it, it leaves a bad taste
in your mouth.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-01-05
Household Hints

SQUAD, Duck and Chicken Recipes.
Broiled Squabs-Split squad through
back lengthwise. Split the breastbone.
Brush all over with melted butter or
wrap in thin sliced bacon Sprinkle
with salt and pepper Place under
gas flame broiler or over glowing
Goals. Serve on heart-shaped pieces
of toast, dipped quickly into dripping
pan. Garnish with sprig of parsley
and a crescent-shaped rice croquette.
SQUADS En Casserole-Dress, clean
and truss three jumbo squads. Put
in casserole, brush over with melted
butter, cover and bake ten minutes
Add one-half cup chicken stock,
again cover and cook until squads
are tender. Add one cup boiled po-
tato balls. one bunch cooked aspara-
gus and five Bermuda onions, peeled,
cut in one-fourth-inch slices, broiled
over a clear fire. Brush over with
melted butter and sprinkle with salt
Roast Duck-Clean, stuff and truss
a pair of ducks. place on rack in
dripping-pan, sprinkle with salt and
pepper. Cover breast of each bird
with two thin slices of fat salt pork
If wild ducks are used, bake twenty
to thirty minutes in very hot oven.
basting every five minutes with fat in
pan. If domestic ducks, reduce the
heat and bake one and one-quarter
hours Garnish with watercress and
serve with orange sauce.
Chicken a la Merango-Dress and
clean chicken, cut in pieces for serv-
ing, sprinkle with salt and pepper
dredge with flour and saute in hot
iron frying pan in salt pork fat until
entire surface is well Drowned Put
IN stew pan, pour over merango sauce
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-01-05
yHAT HAVE YOU DoNE WITH YoUR CHRISTMAS rRErp

What have you done with your
Christmas tree? The one that gave
you so much fun through the holidays
but which began shedding needles so
fast that you had to uhtrim it and car
ry it out of doors at the end of the
week. Did you throw it out on the
trash pile? Or did you decide that
you and the birds in your neighbor-
hood would have lot of fun with
that tree?
Maybe you would like to hear what
two children, Tom and Helen, did with
theirs.
Now Tom and Helen live in a big
city and there are not so many trees
for birds to build in as in the country,
and of course there are not so many
birds. But there are some, oh dear
me, yes A great many more than
Tom and Helen ever guessed there
were, And this is how they made the
birds acquaintance.
A few days after Christmas, the
Christmas tree the children had had
such fun trimming began to drop
needles and drop needles till it really
looked as though there would soon be
nothing left but tinsel and ornaments
and branches-bare brown branches
that were none too pretty to look at
What can be the matter with our
tree? ?" the children asked their mother.
when a chance knock brought down
a shower of dry, green pine needles.
Matter with your treei" laughed
mother There's nothing the matter
with your tree. The matter is with
this dry, steam-heated flat. Why
don't you take the trimming off the
tree before it is quite spoiled and set
it up out of doors out there it will
last all the winter"
So the tree was untrimmed (and
careful work il was TOO, for at the
slightest rough touch a shower of
green needles fell to the flourD the
orna ments were put away in boxes
ready for next year. and the tree was
carried out into the tiny yard. and
set I'D
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-01-05
LINKING SCHOOL WITH FARM.

In Farm and Fireside a writer tells
OF the interesting achievement of the
high school at Hamburg. New York
in placing real agricultural work with
in the reach of boys and girls. AS a
result of this. seven out of every ten
male students that are graduated
from the Hamburg high school take
up farming as living. Hamburg"
the writer tells. sis in the center of a
very rich agricultural district on
which Buffalo's half-million persons
depend TO a big extent for their farm
produce. Last June graduates from
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-01-05
Journal Entries

Some people never smile except in
deriSion.
J = =
1t is also easier to conceal riches
than it is to hide poverty.
= = =
The saying that men of brains live
long can only be of satisfaction to a
very few.
i + >
No matter how bad the weather may
be, it's poor memory that can't recall
worse
The marriage that fails is soon
known to all the world, but nothing is
ever heard about the many that are
successful.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-01-05

ed seventeen. and all boys of the class
but one intend to take up farming for
a living. The good effect of the
course on students is reflected in The
increased attendance at school for the
full term from September to June.
Since the course was started not one
pupil studying agriculture has lost
even a halliday for reasons other
than illneSsr
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-01-05
PERMANENCY.

oh, the sun will keep a-shinin'
In the good oldfashioned way
In spite of the repinin'
That you're hearin' day by Gay;
An the rain will keep a-fallin'
Sos to coax. the blossoming,
An the birds will come a-callin',
Same a usual, next spring.
Human kind is dom wonders
An we often fear a smash.
We are borrowin' the thunders
An the fightnin's awful flash.
We're afraid we'll leave behind us
Only darkness an dismay;
But the old world doesn't mind us.
1t keeps rollin on its way.
Washington Star.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-01-05

of wheat kernels These wheat ker-
nels she strung on thread and fes-
TONED them from branch to branch
on the tree Then. of course. they put
bread and cake crumbs and bits of an
pie an over the tree So, when they fin
iSIed, ~ looked very gay and festive
But all the while they were workinv
they wondered where the birds would
come from to eat the feast that was
ready-for not a bird did they sect
Ihey need not have worried. though.
Tor hardly mad Tom and Helen gone
into the housa after the tree was fino
ished when the birds began to come.
And such fun as it was to watch themi
Try II yourself and see.-( CopyriRht
Clara Ingram Judson.)
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-01-05

Germany is reported to be sorry
over the destruction of the Persia and
the murder of her passengers. But
Germany and Austria happen to be in
a position so to conduct their subma-
rine warfare that there would be no
occasion for them to be sorry for any
such nt1trages against humanity.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-01-05

Although the food prices in this
country in 1914 neared the nations
high mark in this particular, not so
much in the way of complaints against
the high cost of living was heard as
was the case a few years ago. Pos
sibly the consumers are so used to
high food prices that they have begun
10 accept them as a matter of course,
and then. too, it never did them any
good to complain about them.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-01-05

1t is not unusual for a man to for
get the year in which he was married
and other details of the great event.
But it has been left for a Missourian,
with a missing wife. to achieve the
distinction of forgetting her maiden
name. He has a faint recollection OF
having seen 1t on his marriage certifi-
cate. but the only name he knows her
~, is ssRubV"
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-01-05

Wonder is frequently expressed in
many quarters as to what has become
of England's great navy and what it
may be doing. But what. by the way,
has become of the navy of France? 1t
is q considerable naval force. one of
the first four of the world, and little
or nothing has been heard of any ac-
tivities on its part since the war be-
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-01-05

Anybody who has been afflicted
with the grip this winter, and who
hasn't, will undoubtedly subscribe in
an unqualified manner to the asser-
'tions of the United State Public Health
service that it has been the worst Wis
itation of this ailment in the history of
the country
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-01-05

Another Before and After that's
been noticed by the Cincinnati En-
quirer: When he is counting her he
always greets her with Smile on his
lips. But after he gets her he wipes
the Smile off his lips and kills it with
a Glove before he ereets her.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-01-05

That there is more or less burglary
in Topeka is not at all unusual That's
the rule in every city. That the local
police force, however, made three ar
rests for burglary in Z single day re-
Gently is most unusual, and is only
more testimony, if any were needed,
of the efficiency with which the police
department is now being conducted
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-01-05
Things Worth Knowing.

When mixing bread If you find
flour too cold, melt the lard before
putting it into flour. Turn melted
lard into flour and cover a few mo-
mentss when the lard will be cool
enough to handle and will sufficiently
warm the pan of flour so it will begin
to rise at once.
For House Plants-Put a tea
spoonful of castor oil on soil at the
roots of a dying palm or a forlorn
fern. l. will pick up and grow like
magic.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-01-05

Associated Press.
Audit Bureau OF Circulatlons:
American Newspaper PuDiisners
Association.
MEMBER:

Russias steam roller appears TO De
working again in a forward direction
as her recent successes in Galicla IN
dictate. Were it not for the marvellous
vitality of the Russian bear. the cause
OF the Entente Allies would have been
on real rocks long ago.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-01-05
On the Spur
of the Moment
An Old Friend.
BY ROY K. MOJLTON.

An Old Friend.
How dear to my heart are the old things
in gener !,
When fond recollections presents them
to view;
Old pewter, old linen. old friends and
china
Old books and old songs are far better
than new.
And old shoes for comfort 1--WE need new
ones badly;
The old corncob pipe 1 shall always hold
dear.
But the old. old subscriber, 1 mention
him gladly,
Ever faithful and true, he renews by
the year
The old, old subscriber, the dear old sub
scriber,
The faithful old friend who renews every
year.
Old wine and old sweethearts, the older
the better;
The old folks at home-what is home
without them?
The old swimming hole-it must not be
The Jewel of Memory's whole diadem
Old times and old customs, and cen the
old dances
CWe1l have to admit we cannot turkey
trot)
But of old institutions, if one must take
chances,
The old. old subscribers the best of the
lot.
The old, old subscriber, the dear old sub
scriber,
The paid up subscribers the best of the
lot
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-01-05

Not few of the minded
males of the species will be pretty
we'll satisfied, in their own minds, at
least. as to the reason why more of
the married mon than the bachelors
Of Great Britain are enlisting for
service on the battle lines
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-01-05
y Clara lr&ramJudson

Then the fun began. Tom went to
the meat shop and got odd scraps OF
suet These he tied on the TIPS OF
the branches where the stars and bells
had been. Helen went to a feed and
gram store. where she got a small sack
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-01-05

About the only peace endeavors that
England seems to be concerned with
right now surround the negotiation OF
a peace protocol with her labor
,,,f.,,s
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-01-05

Speaking of gold bricks, how about
the contracts for fancy salaries that
are in the possession of many of the
quondam Federal League "stars?"
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-01-05

what is the trouble with this tele-
phone;'' said the grouchy person Every
time / want to talk 70 somebody the line
friend, Its an i'll wind that blows no
body good. Maybe it's lucky for the party
you were going to talk to.'-Washington
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-01-05

These Russian artistes who depict
every quality of human emotion in
their dancing must have most of their
brains in their feet
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-01-05
But. They're OFTEN ROASTED.

New York want ad reads: Wanted
BY newspaper man one or two small
rooms with privilege of cooking him
self" Ever hear of a stewed news
p~per man?