davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The daily commonwealth. (Greenwood, Leflore Co., Miss.) 1916-1919, 1916-12-29

can ever be given Germany and her allies for ask
ing their enemies to discuss peace. The end Of
the strife at this time will undoubtedly be a Ger
man victory; no one denies this. Nevertheless
if in the end the terms are not materially bet.
tered through the fighting of the Allied troops
if in the end the offer is shown to have come from
an undefeated and unconquerable enemy, the
world may well afford to give credit where credit
is due.
Senator Reed may jaw and ~splutter about
the Marquis of Queensberry rules to Senator
Aashurst, but they won't settle their differences
under EN-.
1t would have been too much to expect a ses-
sion of Congress without the annual Panama
Canal scare.
The male resident of Washington who isn't
on the inaugural committee must feel mighty
lonesome.
Surely the yellow peril ought to be put to
sleep, now that it's known that the Emperor Of
Japan is not a poet.
Senator Poindexter's bill imposing three years
imprisonment on grubcornerers is entirely toe
mild.
Billy Sundays failure to save Boston froi:
the rum demon may lessen the talk Of Bryan's
hooking up with him.
Every man and every nation has a right to a
place in the sun, though, alas, not all of either get
it.
Lots of US have urgent deficiency bills without
a Congress to appropriate the money to pay
them. f"'
We opine Bryan would not have bucked on
signing that last note to all the warning
powers. ...#..
Though no bounties were paid, Gen. Scott
says recruits since the Mexican fare-up have cost
$50 each.
Still, Belgians can't be expected to appreciate
the court-martial merhos of ending their troubles
by execution.
Like other givers of Christmas presents,
Woody is not sure that his to the belligerents is
properly appreciated.
Should Washington be made dry" some men
will be less anxious to go to Congress.
1t can't be denied that this administration
know how to stop "leaks" when it wants to.
Both the cause and the objects of the war can
be expressed in a single word-greed.
Good intention and good judgment do not al
ways square.
Barring the allies, the world agrees it's time to
talk peace.
If lack of open opposition counts, Dictator
George has England in a sling.
Playing peace music is one thing; making the
fighters dance to it quite another. ~
Anyhow, let's hope it won't come to an alli-
ance of ~neutrals to force peace.
Greece is also an ~aspirant for the Underwriters
championship. ,a. F.. o.
just now the devil must be glad he does not
burn coal.
Lloyds bets A to / against peace before July /,
next. l.a, 4
Fighting to wipe a nation off the map is only
justified by the radically prejudiced.
Like this, the next administration will have
only one mouth piece-his name you know. !
The high cost Of living continues both high
and costly. 'lt5 F1t1 sA
Christmas is coming; shop early.
The daily commonwealth. (Greenwood, Leflore Co., Miss.) 1916-1919, 1916-12-29

Lloyds bets A to l against peace before July l,
next. 4..a,
The daily commonwealth. (Greenwood, Leflore Co., Miss.) 1916-1919, 1916-12-29

= III CHc SLdCC VI washington, WHICN WdHtS OONkIcSS
to appropriate $4,000 to exterminate crickets.
Congressman Emerson, of Ohio, is too doggon-
ed inquisitive-wants Secretary Baker to tell
whether it is still intended to capture Villa.
Independents of the next House are said to
BE- planning to have a say in its rules. They
can-if their backbones are stiff enough.
Playing both ends against the middle-Sena-
tor Smoot says: 1.-THE situation lin Europe) is
not hopeless, but it is not hopeful"
John Lind is probably sitting up and TAX
ing notice, now that Deval West has been made a
Federal Judge.
Nevertheless, there's manipulation as well as
lack Of preparedness in the railroad car shortage.
One might almost detect sarcasm in Wilson's
reference to the objects of the war, as stated by
both sides.
Luther Burbank has entered Q new line of pro-
pagation-married his secretary the other day.
Everybody knows that no dickering is posi-
bic until terms have been stated.
Though Mexico has a few, if any, aeroplanes,
flying from bandits is common down there.
But for that matter regular army officers new
er were much in love with the militia.
". Wilson just decided to tel EuTope's pulse,
The Topeka state journal., 1916-03-08
FAILURES IN FEBRUARY.

Following the seasonable tendency
commercial failures in the United
States showed a material contrac-
ton during February, the latest sta
tistics making the best exhibit since
last November. Total insolvencies, as
reported to r. G. Dun & Co., num-
bered 1858 and supplied an aggregate
indebtedness of SIS, ,744.16 as against
2,009 for SIS, ,S63,2s6 in January; L.
7O4 for SIS, 9,6O5,274 in December; L.
565 in November for 15,694,434 and
no less than 2,27S for s32,404,630 in
February, 1915. With the number of
firms in business steadily increasing,
it is not unnatural that the February
returns disclose more suspensions
than in the years prior to 1915, yet
last months liabilities were the
smallest for the period since 1911 and
were also exceeded in both 1910 and
1908. Nearly all of the numerical re-
duction in February, as compared
with the previous month, was shown
by trading defaults, ,1S6 against L.
494-while the amount involved was
$9,19O,214 in comparison with $12,-
360,53S in January. In February,
1915, there were 1853 failures in this
classification for $16.117.46 two
years ago the record showed 1,06S for
$11,S79,463; in 1913 the number was
1864 and the liabilities $13,369, ALB
and in 1912 there were 1902 such in
solvencies for $S,792,306. In contrast
to the decrease in the trading reverses,
there was ore more suspension in
manufacturing lines last month than
in January-41S against 417-al-
though the total debts declined from
$11,759,745 to $7,227,216. During
February, a year ago, 525 manufac-
turing concerns failed, owing $685.
346; in 1914 the number was 374 and
the amount only s6,335,41S, while in
1918 and 1912 the defaults numbered
| $40 and 3S7, with liabilities of $14,-
172,5O4 and $11, 1,245,116. respectively.
Among agents, brokers and similar
firms, there were "a failures last
month for s2,32e,735, these figures
comparing with 9S for $1,743,003 in
January; 80 for $6,640,S16 in Feb
ruary, a year ago; 63 in 1914 for $4,-
1887; so in 1913 for the small
sum of $60O,336 and 60 in 1912 for
440.501
The Topeka state journal., 1916-03-08
LET THE DUCKS FLY BY.

Wise sportsmen will deny them
selves the pleasure of banging away at
the ducks this spring. Or rather the
game-hogs will. For the real sports
man wouldn't indulge in the spring
shooting of game birds on general
principles. 1t is at this season of the
year that the mother duck is winging
her way north to locate a suitable
home for her prospective family of
ducklings. But the spring shooting of
wild birds is still under the ban of the
federal migratory bird law, notwith-
standing statements to the contrary
that have appeared in some newspa-
pers. These have been to the effect
that the federal department of agri-
culture had suspended the enforce
ment of the federal regulations under
the migratory bird law. This is de-
MED, of course, by the department,
and as it points out in a recent cir
cular on the subject, it has no author
ity whatsoever to suspend the enforce
ment of any federal law or to par
don violations of the regulations for
its enforcement. Doubtless the erron-
eous impression, on which the news
paper statements in question are bas-
ed, has grown out of litigation involv-
ing the constitutionality of the migra-
tory bird law that was passed by con-
gress in 1913. The lower federal courts
disagreed as to the validity of the
statute and the issue was carried to
the supreme court of the United
States. The case was argued in that
court in October last, but has not
been decided, and the law is still in
force and win be until the supreme
court makes its ruling. Even after
the conflicting decisions in the lower
courts congress appropriated money
for the purpose of continuing the en-
forcement of the law. And the fed
eral department is bound to report to
the department of justice any viola
tions of the law that are brought to its
notice. OF course, the supreme court
might declare the law unconstitution-
al, and that would nullify any actions
that might have been brought against
persons under it. But if the court
should declare the law to be good, the
punishment of all its violators would
follow, so the man with a gun is TAX
ing big chance this spring if he goes
| duck hunting.
The Topeka state journal., 1916-03-08
JAPAN FLoURIsHING.

The position of Japan in the great
crisis is unique, says the Bache Re
view. While she is one of the belliger-
ents, she has not been intimately in
terested thus far. AS an ally of Eng
land, she entered the war and not be-
cause her own position was in danger.
For these reasons it has not been
necessary to increase army or navy,
ard after her first activity in helping
to clear the seas and in capturing the
important German colony of Kiao-
Chau, Japan's military operations
have been quiescent. The part she did
take has not been expensive, and in
the meantime and since the Man
churian war, she has been putting in
operations to improve her financial
condition. These economies were GO
ing on successfully until the opening
of the war, when the closing of the
Dardanelles shut Russian trade off
from all European points. Russia,
like England, was not equipped for
war and turned for munitions to the
edy this-Japan and the United States.
At once Japan began to be able to
manufacture for Russia upon an enor-
nous scale. This has resulted in the
piIing up of a great Russian debt to
Japan. These operations have been
carried on, it may well be believed. as
in war orders given other countries.
The Topeka state journal., 1916-03-08
QUAKER MEDITATIoNs.

CF'rom the Philadelphia Record.l
Half a loaf is better than 10 crumbs
of comfort.
Many a man starts to kick before
he knows where the shoe pinches.
Pay a man compliments and he
won't make fun of your grammar.
Luck has an unpleasant habit of
favoring those who don't depend on it.
Some people seem to regard friends
merely as opportunities, to be taken
advantage of.
Perhaps it's all right for a woman
to be interested in business if it's her
own business.
Life is a cocktail" cried the Opti-
mist. And death is the chaser"
added the PeSsimist-
A skeptic is person who won't
a grain of salt
Even on the road to success some
people never get there because they
always want to change cars.
The man who has the greatest re-
spect for his alma mater is the gradu-
ate from the school of experience.
Sometimes Il seems as though the
seat of government was almost as
patched up as the seat of a boys
trousers
First Chauffeur hit a man this
morning." Second Chauffeur-.sWere
you running teo fast ?" First Chauf
feur-"Naw. He was running too
slow"
The Topeka state journal., 1916-03-08

If France suffers a serious reverse
st Verdun, there will be loud lamen-
tations in the land that a considerable
force of the French army was spared
from the western war zone for ser
vice at Salonilxi. And there was con-
siderable criticism on this score in
France before the Germans began
their Verdun drive. Some of the
French statesmen insisted that it
would be a mistake for France to send
any of her soldiers to Saloniki or any
other place as she would be certain to
need all of her strength in the western
arena of the war some day.
The Topeka state journal., 1916-03-08
EDening Chat
Shedding Things.

wouldn't you and I shed things? i?
That's the way to live, to shed
things. .'-Herrick.
Il try to send something out of the
house every week." a woman said to
me the other day.
She had just given away to a cir
culating library for shut-ins a half
dozen novels with which her friends
had provided her on the occasion
of a trip abroad.
why should I keep them?" she
says. 'They are pleasant to read,
but they are not books for reference
or rereading. And as to the feelings
of those who gave them to. me, 1
know they would be glad to know
that,i having enjoyed them myself, 1
have passed. them on to others who
will also enjoy them"
That is eminently sensible, isn't it ?
And yet, how many of us from con-
ventional inertia would have put
away the books and left them inde-
finitely to cumber our shelves and be
taken out and busted at houseclean-
ing time.
How most of US do permit our lives
to get cluttered up with the para
phernalia of liYiDgi
We really need, even for civilized
living, so few things. and we have SO
many The clothes we actually wear,
utilitarian furniture (and about half
as much as the average person has)
perhaps one piece of beautiful bric-a-
brac per room, the books we want for
reference or rereading-that's about
all we need. If we could only keep
our possessions down to that how
much simpler life would be-
l. 1 love this woman's rule of some
thing sent out of the house every
week. Count that week lost whose
seven days are spent and from thy
house no needless object sent-With
apologies to the copy book.
One of the many methods by which
she keeps her possessions down is tc
have an arrangement with a charit-
able agency to call once a week for
her magazines and newspapers. An
other is to go over her clothing fou1
times year thoroughly and give
away the things she doesn't need, in
stead of putting them away.
| The way those who have hang or
I to what they have on the bare chance
of wanting to use it is one of the
most shameful results of our inherit
/ ed mania for acquisition and posses
sion. 1 refer particularly to the way
we let a garment hang in the closet
for whole season simply because we
can't make up our minds to give il
away.
]
fectly good suit one day, not much
worn and in not half bad style
You're not going to give that away!'
said her mother in horror.
Yes" she said, II am. 1 know
wouldn't wear it a half dozen times
and those half-dozen times 1 could
perfectly well wear something else
Why shouldn't someone who coulo
use it steadily have it before it ha:
gone completely out of style?"
Why, indeed? Besides, think of tht
extra hook and hanger she will havt
when she gets rid of that suit.
Most of US don't have room in oul
homes to live comfortable, uncrowd-
ed life. We dream fine dreams of en-
larging the home some day. Why noi
do the simpler, immediate thing, re
| duce the contents 2-( protected BY
The Adams Newspaper Service.)
The Topeka state journal., 1916-03-08
RATING NATIONS BY COAL.

The index of a country's industrial
Standing as formerly recognized was
its consumption of sulphuric acid, the
nation that produced and consumed
the most of this chemical substan nee
in her arts and industries being ac-
counted the most prosperous; and
Judged by this standard Great Britain
was for a long time reckoned the
leading nation of the world. Accord
ing to the Scientific American for
March 4, 1918, however, a new and
more accurate standard is now en-
ployed-a nations coal consumption
per capita; and, judged by this stan
dard, the United States, with a per
capita consumption of five tons,
Glands at the head, outclassing both
Great Britain and Germany, who are
second in the scale, with an equal
7ednsumption Of four tons per capita
France stands third, being credited
with a consumption of only 1.6 tons,
while Russia, with its abounding pop
NATION and great extent of territory,
Is away down on the scale of indus
The Topeka state journal., 1916-03-08
Jayh hdwker Jots

Green chauffeurs make fat repair
shops, points out the Selden Observer.
The worst thing one can take for a
cold, declares the Geneseo Journal, is
advice.
AS the Lafontaine correspondent of
the Elk City Sun observes: A man
doesn't have to be smart to ne a
knocker.
Love is a mighty good thing in the
home, says the Ellis County News, but
corned beef and cabbage get.there just
the same.
According to the Thirty Years Ago
column in the Gaylord Sentinel, eggs
were then selling in that town at 7
cents a dozen.
It is amusing, to the Lower Twelve
Mile correspondent of the Ports In
dependent, to see the farmers let go
of their hogs and cattle before the
first of March to keep from paying
taxes on them.
Evidently the prohibitory law is
pretty well enforced at Clayton. The
correspondent there for the Jenhings
Gazette reports: Lemon extract seems
to be the main drink of some Of our
local drunks this week.
''Those good old days" as recalled
by the Route Three correspondent Of
the Lyndon Peoples Herald: The more
we hear about the dropping of bombs
from the clouds and summarizing un-
armed vessels. and the cowardly and
contemplate killing of innocent men,
women and children, the higher yoes
our regard for the late noble redmen
and their scalping knife.
The Topeka state journal., 1916-03-08

two yolks beaten. Add slowly one-half
cup vinegar and one-half cup water or
milk. Mix thoroughly, place over fire
and stir constantly while cooking.
When thickened add one teaspoon
butter and beat all.
Cocoanut Cream Pie (from the third
egg olk)-Make a rich pie crust and
bake. Make the following custard:
two cups milk, three level tablespoons
flour. three tablespoons sugar, one
half teaspoon salt. Mix all thorough
ly with a little of milk, add the one
yolk beaten, and cook, stirring con-
stantly. When thickened add one
teaspoon vanilla, and fill crust. Sprin-
kle cocoanut on top.
You may depend on three delicious
things made from only three whole,
large eggs.
The Topeka state journal., 1916-03-08
Clio be Sights
Hurry is a habit.
BY THE ATCHISON GLOBE

Hurry is a habit.
Wait minute. Prejudice is not an
opinion.
There is also the man who has more
dignity than anything else.
A peeved church pillar can often do
more harm than forty devils.
A town is becoming a city when a
silk hat no longer attracts attention.
Out in this great Democratic west
there usually isn't much under a silk
hat.
Men are so chivalrous that the girls
get credit for most of the broken en-
gagements.
Some men seem to be proud be-
cause they can make smoke come out
of their noses.
If you don't want to have anything
to some conversations.
Rufe Hcskins says his ancestors
were so poor that all he inherited
from his father was his politics.
An old man doesn't marry a young
true that most of the rules work both
ways.
AS a general rule, a woman is su-
perior to man in the matter of fig
uring out trouble that will never
happen.
What has become of the old-fash-
ioned man who studied the Scriptures
to be better able to argue with the
preacher?
Short jerks, while arguing theology
today, shouted out this: when Exc
dus wrote Exoduse he didn't mean any
such thing"
The Topeka state journal., 1916-03-08
The Table

Chicken Fricassee-This recipe will
work wonders in even a tough fowl.
Clean and cut up in usual manner.
Melt half cup butter in frying pan and
smooth into it two tablespoons flour.
Dredge pieces of chicken in flour and
fry in butter. While frying boil one
cup rice furiously for five minutes.
When chicken is well Drowned add
rice well drained and one quart boil
ing water. Cook in casserole or a
tightly covered vessel in the oven. Six
or eight hours slow cooking will give
toothsome, nourishing dish.
Round Steak is cheaper and can
be made to taste well. Sprinkle flour
over the steak and pound it vsll with
the edge of saucer or meat pound
er: repeat until you cannot pound any
more flour in; this will make it ten
der. Then brown the meat in the skill
let and afterwards cover the meat
with water and stew one-half hour
with a cover on
The Topeka state journal., 1916-03-08

with great profit to Japan, and the
assistance to Russia was also very
great. Japan has not only used her
existing facilities, but has erected new
plants for war manufacture. and all
these are now working at full head
The effect, beyond this, is to place
Japan on a highly efficient plane for
protection of her own interests in case
of future war, by means of facilities
for accelerated and enormous manu-
facture of war munitions. The debt
which RuSsia owes to Japan is being
partly 1iquidated by the negotiation
of a loan IN Japan for $z5, 900, 600 at
per cent, sold at a discount and
issued through the Yokohama Specie
bank. This loan has been taken by
the japanese and the whole amount of
the proceeds will be spent in Japan.
Some indication of the prosperity
which Japan is experiencing and the
sound basis upon which she is con-
Quoting her government, is seen in the
reduction of her national debt, which,
at the opening of the war, amounted
to $1,2S5, 100000. At the present time
it amounts to $3.50, 1876. 900, so that
her debt has been reduced thus far
over $35, 100000. In 1915, Japan's
imports showed a decrease compared
with 1913, of $9e, 900, 900, while the
exports showed an increase of $685.
500, 900. Japan is the only country in
tional debt since the opening of the
The Topeka state journal., 1916-03-08
POINTED PARAGRAPHS.
GFrom the Chicago News.l

GF'rom the Chicago News
A winter imperialist-OId King
Coal.
If you are in hurry avoid the
train of thought.
Some men value outward show
more than inward worth.
Envy IS an acknowledgment of the
good fortune of others
The plain, unvernished truth is bet
ter than questionable rhetoric.
Spend less time in apologizing and
more in improving your conduct
Most people have lost more by
crowding than they would by
waiting their urn.
Never argue with a man who is
over 20 years of age, or with a woman
of any age.
Don't wait until it begins to sprinkle
before starting to lay up money for
a rainy day.
An obese woman tries to console
herself with the belief that she knows
some other woman who is fatter than
she is.
Every man thinks he could invent a
lot of things that would startle the
world if he didn't have to waste his
time in trying to earn living
The Topeka state journal., 1916-03-08

Jack and Betty and their ten little
friends sat around the birthday table
and looked at the remnants OF the
feast. Such a party as it had been.
You see, Jack and Betty were
twins, and it was only fair that their
en-year-old party should be very
nice one. It's important enough
when one person is ten years old.
No wonder it was a big occasion
when two peopIe arrived at that dis
tinction the same day
The ten little friends who had been
invited to celebrate the day with Jack
and Betty had enjoyed the party quite
as much as had Jack and Betty. There
were goodies of all sorts to be eaten,
paper caps to open and put on, rid
dies to guess (though mostly the an
swers h d to be toldD, and verses to
read.
Then, last of all. there were the two
great birthday cakes Betty's was
surrounded by ten blue candles, while
Jacks looked very grand with ten
bright red ones.
Such fun as it was to blow them
all out: to make wishes and every
thing tkst goes with birthday cake
fun.
But at last everything was over
and it was time to get up from the
pretty table.
Il wish we knew another game to
play" sighed Jack Il don't want the
party to be over"
You've played every table game I
know laughed his mother, for she
was happy to have them all enjoy the
feast she had prepared.
I'll tell you, let's play, What I
hearn" cried Mildred, one of the
guests. It's lots o. fun, I'll begin
by whispering to my right hand
neighbor any sentence 4 want to.
She will whisper to her right hand
neighbor what she thought / said, and
so on around the table. Then when
it comes back to me, III tell what is
told me and what ] started the game
with-and you'll laugh to hear the
difference"
Everybody thought that game
would be Jolly and the play began
The Topeka state journal., 1916-03-08
Journal Entries

More often the way is in the direc-
ton the will isn't.
= + j
No human can get along very far
without a little encouragement.
= + +
Neither is it always the most val
liable dog that's the smartest.
= - =
As a matter of fact, few people are
more gloomy than they have reason
to be.
If shoes too small for ones feet
were cheaper, there might be some
reason for buying them.