davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Middletown transcript., 1916-07-01
Had Reason to Be Proud.

Traveler-I say, what are you peo'
pie SO proud about? Last time came
here everybody was very friendly and
now l can hardly get person to
speak.
Uncle Eben-You1l pardon US, but
it's our town pride. You see, Joe Sum-
meTs picked up guidebook that fell
out Of motor car last week and we
found that the old tannery swamp is
a mountain tarn, Simmons stone quar-
~ a precipice, Bill Moodler's beer
house wayside inn, and the whole
country chockfull of historical anti
dotes and delusions.
Middletown transcript., 1916-07-01
rHIN pERsoNs LAVE roNeEsr.

Recent Investigations show that the
longest life and best health are not
to be found among those Of average
build at any particular age. On the
contrary, it is discovered that in those
at the younger age who are slightly
overweight and at the older ages
among those who are distinctly un-
derweight the longest life and best
health will be found. Overweight is.
above thirty-odd years, a definite dis.
advantage to health. 1t means stale
ness, lack of elasticity, clogged-up tbs.
sues, and lack of the power of adapta-
bility to invading germs. Men from
twenty to twenty-four can be accepted
as healthy and for long life fifty to
sixty pounds above normal. Less ex-
cess weight is permissible between
twenty-five and fifty and increasingly
less as you go up. There are one
third more deaths among men between
sixty-fve and eighty who are fifty
pounds to sixty pounds fatter than
they should be for given height. At
the ages of thirty-four to forty-five
from thirty-five pounds to forty-five
pounds heavier weight than a man
should be doubles his risk of death.
Persons above thirty-ive who are
thirty pounds too obese life insurance
companies hereafter will either con.
slider poor risks or raise their insur-
ance rates.
Middletown transcript., 1916-07-01

There has been much speculation
whether the stray electric currents
that dodge about underground in
every modern city, playing havoc with
water and gas pipes and metal foun.
dations, have any ill effects on trees
growing in their paths. The forestry
experts of the government, who have
been making Investigations, have
been unable to find that trees are in.
fuenced in any way by such earth
currents or by the passage of electric.
ally charged wires through their
branches. And yet something mys.
teriously destructive often happens to
trees along the country roads after
electric wires are strung through
them.
Middletown transcript., 1916-07-01
LETTER WRITING.

A literary critic has issued protest
against the low state Of the art of let
ter writing. He asserts that letters
nowadays are filed with personal gos-
sip and chatter of trivial things; and
that they no longer contain the ex-
change of serious thoughts and COM
pairing of observations which used
often to distinguish the epistles of in
telFigent people. If letter writing has
degenerated, the reasons are not hard
TO find. One is that very many per-
sons see only facts and events, and
quite ignore that most interesting of
tasks, the tracing of relatedness and
causes, says Rochester Democrat and
Chronicle. Another is that it is
somewhat Questionable" to speak
socially of abstract matters or to give
extended descriptions; and even if
one were inclined so to write, he
would refrain for fear of being
thought pedantic. Letters ought to be
friendly, spontaneous and sparkling
with accounts of what adventures,
great or small, have befallen the
writer. A person of open perceptions
sees countless things in the course of
a day which are worth reporting.
Where the dull mind can relate only
what somebody said, or wore, or did,
the intelligent mind will not be at
loss for good topics. One of the great
est thinkers said that it was a mark
of greatness to see the sublime in
commonplace things.
Middletown transcript., 1916-07-01

1t has long been the dream of the
chemists to produce zone pill, one
meal" and now the German chemist
claims success, and has placed the
tabloid not on the market but on the
army. The experiment is being made
and the result of the compressed meal
on the health of the soldier is to be
watched. AS to the result on his TEN.
per there need be no doubt His ma.
tional phrase, "Gesegnete Mahlzeit"
blessed mealtime) - the traditional
grace after meats abbreviated and
adopted as the parting salutation at all
times Of day. The nation which uses
"mealtime" for "adieu'' is not going tc
be put off with pill for dinner.
Middletown transcript., 1916-07-01

The centenary of the independence of
Brazil from European rule will occur
in 1922 and will be celebrated in Rio de
Janeiro. One Of the features of the
celebration will be congress of con-
tinental American history. The ar
rangements for the congress are under
the direction Of the Brazilian His
torical and Geographical institute,
which will endeavor to secure the CO.
operation Of the Pan-American union
with view to having all the Ameri-
can nations participate in the discus
sion and publication of papers on the
history Of the American continent The
plan is interesting and undoubtedly
will offer opportunity for improving
the understanding between all the ma.
tions of the western world.
Middletown transcript., 1916-07-01

Shakespeare described the soldier as
bearded like the pard," but orders
have been issued to the French army,
directing the soldiers to shave off their
boards. Not only the whiskers, but
even the mustaches will have to go.
The order is based on hygienic
grounds, being particularly directed
against trench microbes. They didn't
know about trench microbes in Shake
speare's time.
Middletown transcript., 1916-07-01

Owing to the limited supply of cot
ton in Germany, the sand bags used
in constructing breastworks are now
being made Of specially prepared pa
per. Experience has proved that these
new paper bags are much superior to
cotton bags for durability, and cost
less. After cotton bags have been
in use for some time they wear out
from exposure and must be replaced.
The cotton bags are now being re-
placed by paper bags. These new
bags have been scientifically prepared,
are waterproof and may be used over
and over again, being practically inde-
structible. Millions of these bags are
being used in place of the cotton ones,
which means quite a saving both in
cotton and cost.
Middletown transcript., 1916-07-01

1t is decreed by the authorities of
the Merchant Tailors' association that
the well-dressed man must spend at
least $4,000 year upon his wardrobe,
but alas! few men have tailors who
will trust them to that extent!
Middletown transcript., 1916-07-01

AS far back as the records go human
nature is to be shown to be about the
same as it is today, conditions alone
having changed. There is nothing to
show there ever was any monkey ma
ture In man.
Middletown transcript., 1916-07-01

Even the woman who has had three
or four husbands has no logical reason
for concluding that all men are alike.
The ones she had were alike because
they married the same woman.
Middletown transcript., 1916-07-01
Making Use Of Char Ashes.

Cigar ashes can be used to cover
up hicks or scratches In piano cases
or other fine wood surfaces. Fill up
the scratch to be repaired with the
ashes and polish well.
Middletown transcript., 1916-07-01
No charuel

Observant Manager Catching his
clerk kissing his daughter)-"Now,
now, young man, don't pay you for
that kind of work" Surprised Clerk
MO-, sir. And I don't propose to
charge anything extra for it."
Middletown transcript., 1916-07-01
EIohtInn snlrI+ stronn-

"a heap O. de disturbance in dis
world" said Uncle Eben, comes I'm
de fact dat mos everybody would rath.
er fight dan jes' sit down an be peace
ably lonesome."
Middletown transcript., 1916-07-01
Real Value Of Snaech.

Speech was made to open man to
man, and not to hide him; to promote
commerce, and not to betray it.-David
Lloyd.
Middletown transcript., 1916-07-01
To Turn the Hooks.

When putting brass hooks in hard.
wood use a clOthespin to turn them.
This will save your fingers from ach.
ing.
Middletown transcript., 1916-07-01

Often Nothing to BE Proud OF.
Even IL an idle brain is the devils
workshop, there are times when the
old fellow ought to be ashamed Of the
output.
Middletown transcript., 1916-07-01
Daily Thoudht-

What you were others may answer
for; what you tried to be you must
answer for yourseR-Ruskin.
Middletown transcript., 1916-07-01
Becomes a Bore

The trouble with a man who has a
gift Of language is that he's always
too liberal in dividing it around among
his friends.
Middletown transcript., 1916-07-01

copper-Produeinq States.
Alaska and nineteen states Of the
Union produce copper.
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1916-07-05
Sdndwich FSllinq

"a =. ,.I "
~ Is claimed that one LORD sand
wien was the tirst to conceive the idea
OF piacmg slice OF ooiied nam be-
tween TWO slices OF bread. whoever
y was tnat popuiarized the sandwich
iaea was puoic oenefactor. Since
the introduction OF the sandwich there
nave been many departures from the
, ia ,s 90 e'' a'''oush II sun nous
Cut bread for ali sandwiches mi,
trim off the crust and shane as de,
sired. Spread one slice With h;ob
grade oieomargar;ne the other with
the filling, Fiji The slices together cut
sandwich in two and wrap each sand
witch in waxed paper.
Cream Cheese.
W.. Al. b.
Wo,N .ne very pes' creamery Iheese
snloo.h WIN iork, season WIN pre-
WITH y;nsa.r and snssad " e
49,, So.
meiteo Sneese.
Melt one teaspoon butter; add a
cup OF cheese chopped or sliced, one
fourth teaspoon OF paprika, one
fourth teaspoon OF mustard and few
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1916-07-05
Comquerimg q Devil Fish

Making
a model Of
the Devil
Fish in
the
American
Museum
of
Natural
History.
The
tail has
not yet been
added to
the big
creature.
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1916-07-05

which went home, and all of
which together took twenty-five NM
utes of breathless fighting.
The victors had a gasoline launch,
twenty-six feet long, with all eight
horsepower engine As Mr.. Coles
remarks (and this is not by any
means his first devil-fish"): ITO kill
a manta perfect handling of the boat
is necessary, and a proper crew is
the first consideration in equipping
an expedition This seems to us as
sound as a mathematical axiom, after
reading his story in the Museum
Journal.
There were six men in the crew
including Mr.. Coles. He held the
first harpoon. intended to catch and
hold the fish for the lance; Captain
Willis stood forward at his side with
an auxiliary harpoon, Captain Nc
Cam steered the boat. fourth man
was ready to throw overheard the
drag attached to the harpoon and
then to put the lance into Mr.. Coles
hand. A fifth ran the gasoline engine
and the sixth had bucket ready to
bail out the boat.
Everyone was trained to work like
cogwheel in a clock. They ran into
school Of manta fish. They got a
foretaste by running straight into the
head of big bull manta. The COLI.
sion lifted the bow a foot out oil
water, and the propeller forced the
boat right up on the creatures back
while "the two great, black fins were
flung madly into the air, almost meet.
ing over our heads and deluging us
with many gallons of water"
Another manta, rushing out of the
depths, gave the boat blow that
turned it nearly end for end. The
engineer kept the engine going al
full speed, but the propeller blades
were not catching the water now, and
for short distance we, were carried
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1916-07-05
Advice to Lovelorn
Bg Beatrice Fasrfar

Dear Miss Fairfax: have known young
lady for three years and have become
greatly attached to her. Recently she asked
II cared to have her sever her friendships
with other men. l replied in the negative.
adding. OF course, II don't want you 10 go
to cabarets with them" She has told me
that she loves me. and to all appearances
she does, but would like to know II she
should not of her own accord. dispense with
dancing. for ! do not like to have her fire.
quent such places. Would II be the best
thing to tell her Of my feellngs7 Tell her
/ dislike her acting thus7 We are not en-
gagged yet. but she has promised to marry
within the next sig months. F. A. J.
think you can rely on your own
Judgment in this matter. You seem
to be sensible and digni6ed and en-
tirely free from petty jealousy. Your
fiancee, for after all that is what this
girl is, even If you nave not made
your engagement public, really ought
not to 60 about with other young
men, except in parties, groups OF four
or more. Explain your feelings to
her and I am sure that since she vol
unteered to go so far as to give up
her friendship with other men she
will readily agree with you that she
ought not 60 about to public enter
tainments with them.
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1916-07-05
Summer Styles

Black and white were never SO
smart as now. 81.
Various shades of brown promise
to be popular this fall. -@@
The rather severe waists are used
for sports and country wear, t.
Large quaint brooches are being
worn with the new neckwear.
Brassieres are more closely fitted
than ever and more elaborate.
/ Snake or asp rings set with semi
precious stones are very popular.
Striped or plaided collars and cuffs
appear on pongee-colored dust coats
Collars are very ample, some Of
them extending almost to the waist
All-white skirts, like all-white
! dresses, are more than ever in favor
Painted white kid and navy taffeta
make a pretty combination tor a
handbag.
Broad sailor hats of silk beaver are
one of the latest millinery wrinkles.
There is quite wonderful range OF
yellows among the fashionable colors
of gloves.
There is an almost unlimited NUM-
Der of combinations that can be used
for cotton frocksA
The frill of a white batiste blouse
may be edged with white, rose or CO.
penhagen linen,
Miniature birds travel in procession
around the crowns of some of the
new sailor hats.
The smartest evening gown wom-
an can have is made Of some sheer
black material.
The balloon skirt is losing ground
and we may expect the limp frock
to be the fashion very soon.
The three or two-pieee suits are
more favored by the fastidious WON.
an than the one-piece gown.
A novel trick is the use Of black OF
colored velvet ribbon stitched or
frocks of handkerchief linen.
Many changes in the appearance Of
a gown can be effected by varying
the ncckwcar which is worn with 1t
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1916-07-05

on the broad backs OF the two mon
ster devils of the sea.
Not a harpoon had yet been
thrown. This was only an incidental
skirmish, for Mr.. Coles was looking
for still larger game. Other mantas
made their appearance. After cruis-
ing among them for two hours Mr..
Cole at last selected his intended vic
tim.
Running alongside two harpoons
were flung into the creatures side
and the drag kept it from running
away. Then began the real fight. The
big mania charged the boat. Mr.. Coles
met it with a thrust of the
spade lance. The blow was not NOR
tai and the manta passed under the
boat, breaking off the handle of the
lance. Mr.. Coles seized whale
lance, and renewed the battle as the
manta rushed again at the boat. Then
he saw that the safest place would be
on the creatures back.
So we'll was the steering done that
every time the manta plunged short
NlSldhNS dllu Wdo Dlou6ut uP ny thS
pull of the drag the boat was squarely
on its back.
Every time the great fish rose Mr.
Coles plunged the lance into it. The
victim was a female and its mate
was at hand helping with an occa-
sional head-on blow that nearly cap.
sized the boat, but at last the strick-
en- creature turned over dead. When
they got to the beach they saw on
the surface OF the water where the
fight had ragged dark-red patch two
acres in extent, with thirty pelicans
lowering over it and diving for the
small FISH that had collected there, as
vultures assemble on battlefield.
When the huge model is ready to
be seen in the museum you can re-
call as you look at it this story of a
sea fight.
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1916-07-05
By GARRETT p. sERvIss.


In the American Museum Of Ma
tional History you will soon be able
to see a model of monster devil
fish," cast from plaster OF paris
molds OF the great creature, which
was conquered and killed by Russell
J. Coles, in a terrific fight, about
mile from Sanibel Island, off the gulf
coast OF Florida.
Mr.. Coles fitted out an expedition
for the express purpose of obtaining
for the museum superlative speci-
men of this kind of marine monster,
and he and his crew risked their lives
in as strange battle between man
and beast as has ever been recorded
The description OMIT would have
made Victor Hugo's electric chevel-
ure bristle with extra fierceness.
The devil fish" (Manta birostris,
as the biologists call him with
Ciceronian grandiloquence). is not the
giant octopus, the eight-ar,ned horror
of the seas, although that, too, often
bears the same satanic cognomen, but
it is the biggest and most voracious
of the creatures named rays" whose
description in books of zoology may
make sensitive readers shudder.
Its general form is that of loz-
enge- shaped disk, with cartilaginous
skull, an enormous mouth, lidless
eyes, a long tail like whip, and, most
dreadful Of all, pair of huge, wing
like flaps at the sides of its flat body,
with which it envelopes its prey, in a
mucilaginous embrace before thrust
ing it into the vast horizontal mouth
that resembles broad entrance to a
low cavern.
On each side of the great mouth
is flexible "horn," which can be
rolled up when not in use, to sweep
iood into the gullet. A full-grown
manta--the word means a mantle,
living mantle-may measure twenty
five feet from tip to tip of its side
flap. The one killed by Mr.. Coles
measured eighteen feet.
These creatures will eat man, II
they can get him, with as little COM
junction as we feel in eating .
chicken or swallowing an oyster.
They will, on occasion, drag down
a boat with their sticky flaps, and
they will fight like the devil" Mr..
Coles says he has found that both
sharks and rays sometimes continue
| fighting long after both brain and
heart have been pierced by lance and
bullet, but that death is instantaneous
when the spinal cord is severed at a
certain spot just back of the BRAIN"
! So human intelligence has worked
out physiological fact which the
sand-wasps know by instinct, and ap-
plies with scientific GOODNESS to un-
fortunate spiders. Only the wasp's
instinct is superior to the mans in
telligence. since it makes the stab in
such way that the motionlessness
and helplessness Of death are obtained
without its real presence.
In preparation for his great fight,
Mr.. Coles secured a special Spade
lance" with keen-edged blade four
inches broad. But in the struggle,
when it came, the handle Of this lance
was broken off in the first rush of the
mighty manta fish, and Mr..
Cohs had to achieve his victory
with an ordinary whalc-lance and
twenty-three thrusts, every one Of
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1916-07-05
Do You KnOu That

Efficient muzzling of dogs will
eradicate rabies? .l
The protection of health Of chill
dren is the first duty of the nation!
Bad temper is sometimes merely
a symptom of bad healthl
Insanity costs every inhabitant
in the United States 81 per year?
The United States public health
service has proven that typhus is
spread by lice?
Untreated pelagra ends in in
sanity9
In the lexicon Of health there is
no such word as neutrality"
against diseasel
The death rate OF persons under
As is decreasing; of those over As
is increasing?
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1916-07-05
By BEATRICE FAIRFAX.

The picture of Opportunity knock
ing at the door has never appealed to
me very forcibly. Real opportunity is
much more likely to be found by the
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-10-01

store over to King that morning. Mr..
King had been in the employ OF the
company several months at 1901 East
Main Street before he was sent to the
Addison Street store. His record and
character were shown by several wit
nesses to be good.
Mr.. King explained that there had
been some twenty or more customers
in the store during the morning be-
fore Mr.. Joseph appeared. most OF
them children. He said he thought
one Of the children picked a weight
from the counter and placed 1t under
the scoop. Judge Crutehfield dis
missed his case.
p. NJ. Bealer, OF Washington, super
intendent of the Atlantic and Pacific
stores in Virginia, testified that the
company issued strict written instruc-
tions to store managers concerning
scales, insisting that all must be a,
standard weight, and urging frequent
testing OF scales. These instructions
conclude: "Short-weight robs the
customer; overweight robs you of a
position, as your stock cannot help but
be short"
Attorney David Meade White repre-
scented the tea company and Hill
Carter was Mr.. Kings attorney. The
prosecution was directed by AS
sistant City Attorney George Wayne
Anderson.
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-10-01

ty." he had at least practiced It while
in the White House.
Big Crowd Grt,ets r. II.
All the Republican politicians most
OF the Progressives and a large por-
ton of the population OF Southern
Michigan were here to greet the Colo
mel. He spoke in a circus tent hold =
ing 10000 persons. but there were
30, 600 TO 5000 visitors In town who
wanted to hear him.
It was a Republican-Progr essive
harmony roundup. and there were
more outsiders here than the town
has population.
The crowd that heard the speech
was not wildly demonstrative. but 1t
pas with the Colonel -Th4s -is Pro-
eressive territory. ana the Coloners
auditors indicated by their chuckles
and occas nal handclapping that his
views were as acceptable TO them a.
in 1907 when Michigan gave him Its
electoral vote.
Former Senator la Fayette Young.
of Iowa, and RalI ! Cole. of Ohio.
tried to entertain the crowd before
tho arrival of Colonel Roosevelt. but
with little success against the demand
for Teddy
The Colonel arrived at 1 o'clock
and a parade was put on for his
benefit. He started back to New York
ct e:1s tonight.
Michigan politicians are predicting
tonight that today's attack will have
the effect Of bringing President Wilson
out openly on the stump in his own
defense
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-10-01
MAKE COOL MILLION
ON SALE Of SHIP
Honolufai,. Owned by American
Hawaiian Line. Sold to Norwegian
For Two Millions

Norfolk, Va. Sept S0-The
American Hawaiian Steamship Com
fany Will clear AT least another mill
-a44.44-Aa}laF@= en- thA-salA of their
steamer. the Honoluian. which dis
charged q cargo of nitrate at this
port and went over to Newport News
yesterday ia enter the dry dock for
inspection. Tho sale price IS said To
he around 100000, probably over
that, she cost around seven or eight
hundred thousand dollars Captain
Jentoft of Bergen. Norway. Is the
purchaser
0nlN last month The same Ameri-
can firm sold the new steamer Artt-
san when a. this port for a price
which netteti them over "a million dol
lars above the cost OF the vessel
Captain Anderson is now with the
Honolulan, bot tho new master Cap
tain Lied. will take charge as soon
as the change OF register Is arranged
for
The American Hawaiian Steamship
Company has had the Honolulan In
the Russian trade under contract "a
the government of that country un-
I'll recently It is said that the char
ter rate under that contract amount
ed to 81 50 per minute Cor the entire
time during which the ship was en-
pasaa in~that trade The rhw Nor
weg1an owner is reported 70 have
amassed large fortune during the
past year in the shipping business
and has bought many vessels in this
country.
The Honoiulan was built NY the
Maryland steel Company AT Spar
rows Point in 1870 She tx 49, feet
long, ST. feet in hroa@th, 81 depth
and % 7.oSa gross tons.