davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New Britain herald., 1916-03-09
Dafe Palm FI0uriShes
 M L0wer WeS0b0tamia

Washington, D. C.. March 9.-The conditions today in the lower part of McsOpOtamia through which the river Shalt -el l-Arab, or united Euphrates and Tigris, flows, is told in a state ment on one of the phases of the geography of the European war given out here today by the National Geo graphic society.
 After calling attention to tho fa ct that the Euphrates and the Tigris unite at korna. and that the sands and silt which they bring down through Mesopotamia arc adding ninety feet year to the length of the Shatt -cl- Arab, the statement continues:
 'In spite of every kind of advcrsity that has befallen the region of lower Mesopotamla it continued prosperous up to the outbreak of the war in that region, for there the date palm has hourished as perhaps nowhere else in the world In some parts of the val ley the rich profusion of these trees remind one almost of banana plan tation along the river valleys of Costa RlCa and Guatemala.
 Some one has observed the proper coat arms for all lower MesoDo- tania will be date palm, stating that Il is the banner of the climate and the wealth of the country. It has 1 been estimated that the annual date harvest of the river country of south crn MeSopOtania approXimates one hundred and fifty thousand tons. The date tree consists of a trunk apout fifty to eighty feet high, which IS crowned at the summit by cluster ol leaves dropping somewhat in the shape of huge umbrella. The trunk o1 the tree has the appearance of be Ing covered with scales, and these fought foot-holds enable a man hold = Ing hls body to the tree by loop moose to climb to the top with ease. The Arab is about as successful in making use of every part of the 6ate
New Britain herald., 1916-03-09
President and Press.
(WatcrburY EcpubliCanD


 President Wilson said to tn" men- bers of tho C;ridiron Club "t their recent dinner.
 vo,l1d a great deal rather know what thcv arc talking about around auict nrcSidcs all over this country 1han- what they arc talking about in Inc cloak rooms Of congress. l would .. great deal rather know what the men on the trains and by the way side and in the shops and on the farms arc thinking about and Ncarn- insr for than hear any of the vOcifcr- o,e proclamations of policy which fl is SO casv to hear and so easy to lcad by picking up and scrap of printed paper There Is only ono l way 10 hear these things, and that ! = constantly to go back to tho l fountain of American action. Those l fountains arc not to be found in any recently discovered scources.
 If the President were to be en- Gowcd for a moment with omnisciencc Inc would probably discover that pco- plc around the fircsides and on the trains and by the wayside and in the shops and on the farms are req ding the newspapers. In general each crson is reading the newspaper that pleases him best. If his newspaper should, for any considerable length 1 of time, mako "NOcifercus proclama- tions of policy which were abhOr- rent to his own opinions he would quickly cease to read that paper. It l is fair inference that in these Gays of free choice and multitudinous newspapers few persons will long continue to read a newspaper which consistently offends them in the mat tcrs that lie nearest their hearts.
 There is no way in which any man or any agency can ascertain, absolutely. the feelings of 1O3.000, 900 rersons. Certainly it. cannot be donc by one man at Washington, who, in moments of crisis. retircS to his closet and locks the door upon even his closest friends. There is no agency in the universe which feels the re- action of popular opinion so quick Iy and so sharply as the newspaper. In it's own community it constantly has it's feelers out for this reaction. That is it's business. And if a news 1aper can hold it's readers through a year of stress and controversy, it may be assumed that it's attitude re fleets the opinions of at least fair proportion of those readers as ac- curate1y as any human agency possi- hly could reflect them.
 The President is learning lessons every day. He has said SO. Tn the Beginning he stated that he did not read the newspapers. Now he reads them but disregards the messa SC they carry for him. Ultimately, he will learn this lesson, toO--that it is better to use even this imperfect rIedium of contact with his people 1lian to shut himself in his closet . 1 and refuse all contact beca.use he cannot obtain the perfect contact 1 that could come only with perfect | OmniSCience.
New Britain herald., 1916-03-09
HE'LL ON THE BORDER.

Snese are bandits, to be sure. these 3ardly, craven, marauders who scked the American border town of Hlmbus, New Mexico, at an carly 8r this morning, killing and anding American citizens. As Rtlts, they must be dealt with; shot Bn, killed without mercy. From smentary first reports Villa, Gen Francisco Villa, the King of Out f was at the head of the band directed the nefarious work of hing houses and shooting down h, women and children. Now that has seen fit to cross the border and 8st American soil with his hellish \ k there is no other way out but to sow him into his Mexican fastness get his scalp, get him if the |-ch must extend all the way down l he lower end of Mexico. There ho diplomacy needed in the deal with Villa and his gang. All that Ft take place is an order from the F Department sending a goodly bchment of cavalry over the line. eady Colonel Slocum has sent some bpers from the Thirteenth Cavalry
 pursuit of the murderers. A |DIe of good machine. gun platOOns b bring about the desired end; but the event that this little group of
 ve American soldiers is unable to
 e with the situation, every soldier
 have in the immediate vicinity |Columbus should be dispatched
 t haste over the border and carry
 hell where it belongs, in Mexico.
New Britain herald., 1916-03-09

tree as the American packer IS or every part of the pig. The American pork packer loses nothing but the suueal, but that Arab does not even lose the bark. The pistils of the date blossom contain a fine, curly fibre, which is used as substitute for our rubber sponge.
 "At the extremity of the trunk is a large Whtish terminal bud hun dred times as large as an almond, but resembling it in consistency and taste. This bud is regarded as a very fine la ble delicacy. Syrup and vinegar are made from old dates, and even brandy is sometimes distilled from them.
 The date pit is ground up and fed to COWS and sheep. Whole pits are used as beads and counters for Arab Children. The branches are stripped of their leaves and used like rattan to make beds, tables, chairs, cradles, boats, etc., the leaves are made into baskets fans and strings, while ex- ccllent fibre is prepared from the bark. The wood of the trunk though light and porous, is widely used Tn bridge building and architecture.
 The Arab seldom sits down to meal at which dates are not served, and he proudly boasts that his wife can serve them in different way every day in the month.
 Up until the outbreak Of the war southern Mesopotamia was gradually growing more prosperous because of the steady expansion of the date in dustry. Much money was being cX' ! pended in irrigation projects, one en- terprise alone having been preparing to spend s13O.000,000 for the irriga. ! ton of some 4,OO0,0O0 acres of land i It is estimated that there are 13,O00,' l 900 acres of land in Mesopotamia tlla 1 can be profitably irrigated Thl' would make a territory approXimatcl,
 the size of New Hampshire, Massa ! chusetts and Connecticut.
New Britain herald., 1916-03-09

such attacks has been the post office. custom of appointing the Post master to office, would take this posi- ton out of the spoils system, and put it under the civil service. On top of the many bills that have been intro duced in the House of Representatives to bring about this reform Congress- man Tinkham of Massa chusetts adds another which would place all Post masters, even those of first class rat ing, under the classified list .Df tho civil service
 While everyone admits that it. would be a good thing to remove the office of Postmaster from politics there is not much chance of MT. Tinkham's bill getting through Con- gross. There would be little joy in American life if the time hOnorCI spells system were relcgated ro obliN" ion. It is rather an injustice to tios" men who start in at the bottom of tho
 
 work up to the top,---or as near to the top as they can get, assistant post mastership,-only to have some friend of the politicians planted at the head of the office. In most cases the men who are thus appointed to postmastership know little or noth- ing about the dispatch of Uncle Sams mail Very seldom are they inter- ested beyond drawing down the monthly stipend. If they arc 1t must be only with a four year lease on thclr interest for at the end of that time, the change of an administration, they too must go the way of the lamc duck. In some instances postmastcrS nave proven great men for their posts. In mitted fact that the assistant post master is the man who does the work But even at that we should hate to see the system abolished. Congress men might be glad to have the burden of supporting candidates for the posi- tiOns taken off their hands; but the ma iority of American people cherish the idea that like every little boy having a chance to become President they too have an opportunity to be- come Postmaster. So why take all on and thrive in hopes.
New Britain herald., 1916-03-09
POOR OLD SITIERtS.

sivcrs is dead. No moro shall the millions of circus-goers over the land laugh at the funny antics of the worlds greatest clown, the man who impersonatcd two baseball hines all by himself on the tan bark floor under the great tent. The one-man baseball team is gone. Slivcrs died by his own hand. Frank Oakley, the king of them all, is no more.
 Don't you remember those old days when the circus came to town and you bought, stole, or fcrreted Hn1lr way into the great show, and then how you laughed when Slivcrs. the tall the gaunt the lanl<, the lean, the ludicrous clown. came out of the little entrance and made everybody happy? He so funny, with his big flap 1 pCty-nappetN white shoes. and the way he walked. And then when he l got out ill the center of the ring. how he played the baseball game all by 1 himself Remember how he went to 1 bat and "struck out'. and then had a fight with the umpire" And 1 sometimes he'd knock d home run, and win the game for his side. Oh, It was great fun, and all the boys in the stands used to laugh thor2sclvcs sick at old Slivers and wish that some day when they grew up they could be clowns as funny as he. For SliVcrs
 
 he had on his paint But back in the dressing room his partners knew him for different Slivers, a man whose heart was laden with q great burden, :: sorrowful man, an unhappy soul ! And the while his heart was breaking, he went out there on the tan bark and l made the people laugh. That was his business He swallowed the lump in pranced and stumbled over his big white shoes and the crowds went into uproarious laughter.
 Slivers deserved d better fate thar to die by the hand of Frank Oakley Slivers, the comedian, was too mGcf of a bore to Frank Oakley, the heavy hearted Slivers was the face of com. edy: Oakley. the grim tragedy be- meath the mask. For twenty wears he had amused people beneath the great white canvass and at his deatt ! he was a young man,-fOrty years There at least could have been ter | more years of mirth and merrimcn1 1 for his followers and at the nnd O1 that time he might have retired an( ! spent the remainder of his days tell ing little boys and girls of his life ir the circus ring But he chose diff ferently. Next year when the circu: comes around we shall all miss Sliv CTS the great. Old and young meI and women. girls and boys we vii miss him. No one can fill those bis shoes of his nor play the Ono-mal baseball game as he did. But Whil, we are laughing at the pranks o other clowns we shall soon forget tn e one and only, nor remember that be S meath the masks out there in the rin! n there may be hearts bleeding witt if sorrow It is the strange way of tn II world. Slivers Crank OaiIey) i fl dead, a suicide.
New Britain herald., 1916-03-09
McMITT, ANS NEW BRTTAIN's BUsTnST
 BIG STORE
 "ADwAYS REDIAREE'' Clearance Sale of Chi|dren'S
 Coats on Saturday at $1.98 each

We make this sale on Sat- urday when the children dp not go to school and you can bring them in to be fitted.
 Sale begins Saturday at 8:3O a. m. Coats are in all sizes from ? years up to 14 years. And in this sale you get for S1.98, Coats marked down from S3.98, $500 an1 $7.5O. We propose to clean out all our Children's Winter Coats on Saturday and we expect the $1.98 price will ac- compliSh our purpose.
 Coats are displayed in our window and notice if you please. None sent on ap- proval, no telephone orders accepted. Cash in full must be paid at time of sale. Come for warm coat for the tots S1.9S each on Saturday,
New Britain herald., 1916-03-09
THIS BACHELOR BARS PAINT.
Refuses to "Mess Through Two or Three Coats of Rouge to Get Kiss.

(Elwood (N.. J) Dispatch PhiIa.
 North 'AmcriCan.)
 Robert W. Hunt. of this place, is a retired college instructor, and. lncl- dcntalIN, a good looking, Wcll-to do bachelor. As a result of this com hinatiOn and a recent incident at the iWoud post office, inuuisitiNe persons of E,iwood are looking for lcap-ycar deyclopm entS.
 Hunt recently received letter from 70 cents for "tint" purchased by Mrs. Hunt" Instead of getting angry, Hunt inditcd the following communl- cation:
 we have had several offers of mar riace. and one or two ladies have as ;'ui0rd We were cnga Scd Wlthout making any offer. and it is with fear and trcm bling we pass each day of this year which is diNiSible by four, However. when Mrs. Hunt does ar rive Shc shall come nature painted her, with eyes like the heavens, with checks like the rose and with lips like the damp of crushed stra wberrN. She shall have no need of 'tnt.'
 "To tint the lily. to gild the re- fined gold. or to add another tint to the rainbow would be supcrf1uous and ridiculous excess. When we want a kiss we don't propose to mess through two or three coats of paint to get it."
New Britain herald., 1916-03-09
3. MCMILLAN
 1gs-20f-203 MAIN STREET.

has made it come true before our eyes. life. Bildad the Quill driver, by Wm.
 Caine.
 Drusila with a million, by Elizabeth
 Cooper.
 Mans reach, by. $ N. Roins.
 "A good novel of modern Virgin ian life. The characters are clearly, drawn and the interest well sustain- ed throughout. It is, moreover, an excellent temperance story, though with nothing about if to suggest the tract. ."-Publishcr's note Naval occasions. by Bartimcus pscud Side Of the angels, by Basil King.
 By the author of The Inner
 Shrine" The Wild Glive," etc. Three things, by Mrs. NJ. R. An
 drews.
 "A short story which tell6 how ar American lad learned while fighting for Belgium that his ideas of class pride, race prejudice. and God ana been all wrong and that after all he agreed with his mother'-A. L. A. Booklist
New Britain herald., 1916-03-09
RING ON THE GLADIATORS.

@Nhen at the rally of the Fifth Ward Spublican Club Tuesday night one the candidates for nomination to
 8 mayoralty, o. r. Curtis, failed to Dressed his regrets on the situation #l refused to take advantage of the #entee whom he would have invited Ndebate on municipal affairs It is be deplored that Councilman &rtfs and the Mayor did not meet in M1t debate on that, what would Eve been, memorable occasion It uld have been edifying to have sat Sd listened to. these two giants of the Slitica1 arena. But the suggestion good one and should not be lost the shuffle. Mayor Quigley and the Suncilman should. meet in the foren- forum, as did the orators of old in Acient Rome between the palatine BDunt and the Capitolinc. Why could zt a committee of Republicans 0c ap- &inted to draw up rules and re@!i- ions for such a contest? Let the Nntestants choose their own weapons Sst it he to the finish, or until the Sldience grows weary of tho cn- Favor. In lieu of the market place Ny good size hall could be filled to erfowing with the interested popn s scc Probably it might be good Hing to bar the women. As they hyc not the vote their presence Solld. not be absolutely necessary aldrtfcn the antagonists could go the Emit. Do not miss this chance Shatever else happens. To heal F,-which must mean oratorica tell of what has not beer lone, what should have been done \ ha could have been done, and Wha las been undone by the present ad would be worth SOir!
 niles to record. To listen to perora sons explanatory, confrmatory, ant |xcftatoIy, to see the gyrations, tn of His Honor in render ng his side of the story would be fa blore interesting than a glimpse Q
 hat etherial region wherein they tel IS no man has yet set foot To hay
 ' opportunity of seeing in battl these two gladiators of old pit ed gainst each other in mortal com pat would be an event of a life tir>ac It would rock the very foundations O New Britain. No Roman Empero enjoyed such feast. BrinS ther on. we say, bring on the gladiators Put them in the arena before tn primary. Then let it be Thumb Up or Thumbs Down" for the on or the other. and may the bette
 man win.
New Britain herald., 1916-03-09

Not all children under sixteen who arc employed are engaged in labo;' that wears them out physically ~t an carly age. and by no means all of them are cruelty treated. A majority Y of employees are not heartlcss task = masters. The principal indiCtm ont against early employment is that children are deprived of the cduca- ton provided between fourteen and sixteen years. Tn states where no provision is made for continuation schools there arc no educational ad- vantageS whatever after the ac@ limit has been reached. If the new paternalism means it is crime for any child under sixteen years to bs put to work. some attention should be given to the problems that arise because~the children arc taken out of employment There ought 10 he readiustm ent all around Wilkes barre Record.
New Britain herald., 1916-03-09
Governmental Powers Made Clearer.
(Waterbury Democrat)

(Waterbury Democrat.)
 The recent unpleasantness at Wash ington arising from congressional meddIing with diplomatic matters has had at least one salutary effect. 1t serves to make clear the precise fumes tions of the different branches of gov ernmcnt with regard to foreign rela- tions Many an honest and we'll
 meaning congressman has realized, with a shock of surprise, that our diplomatic negotiations with Germany, England or any other country are none of his official business. The senate, it is true, has good deal to do with our foreign relations, becauao it must approve diplomatic appoint ments and treaties to make them ef- fective. But even the senate has n@ authority to dictate or modify foreign policies of it's own initiative. As for the house, it is @ cipher in foreign relations, until it comes to declaring war or appropriating money. Our constitution places the responsibility for conducting foreign negotiations solely in the hands of the president. Congress may disagree with his policy or method, but congress is not re- sponsible. 1t may help him by it's support or hinder him-as it did late ly-by it's apparent disapproval. But officially it cannot interfere Con- gross can no more take the Lusitania case or the armed merchantmen problem out of the presidents hands than the president himself can take money out of the United States treas sury without a congressional appro- priation.
New Britain herald., 1916-03-09
GOOD ARRAY OF NEW BOOKS NAMED
 IN INSTITUTES LIST THIS WEEK

Art of the moving picture by N "
 Lindsay.
 "1nteresting and original discussion Tn which MT. Lindsay compares the motion pictures to the old Egyptian picture writing, ClasSitieS the several kinds as action pictures Of sculpture Tn motion, intimate pictures or paint ings in motion. splendor pictures or architecture in motion. and prophe- ticaIly speaks of their coming i'm portance. He has initiated photo play criticism. That is a big thing to have done, and he has done it. to use his own style. with action. In- timacy and friendliness. and spIend- or" Francis Hac1ctt in the New Re public.
 Letters from America. by Rupert
 Brooke.
 "They are delightful "tcstifying with charm than increases as he goes to that quest of unprciudicc1 | culture. the true poetic. the visioa of the life of man. which was to prove the 1iveliest of his impulses" l Jerry James
 ] Most interesting American (Theodorc RooSeVelt by Julian Street 1 on the trail of Stevenson. by C. M Hamilton.
 He has himself been a traveller 1 along the trail of Stevenson. has seen inc places he saw and talked with the people he llnew."-A. l.. A.. | Booklist.
 of ct vironnlcnt, life. and art. by IT. F Osborn.
 Tn this volum" Professor Osborn | has done a splendid service. both for l his chosen science and for the read 1 ing public. His work is at once a I creative summary of the latest dis l coverics and a surprisingly human inr ! troduction to PaIa colithic man in his home .''-N. Y. Times. l Spirit of France. by Owen Johnson. Lcntcn Reading 1 Comrades in service. by NJ. F. Bur-
 "Elcvcn biographical sketches. in tcrest1ngly told: of men and women who have found satisfaction in scrv- ing as teachers. social workers.
 
 l little known people, some of other races. Useful for missionary stud" classes. "A. l.. A. RooFlist. Drama of inc spiritual life. by A. L. Scars
 "Materia1 collected from 2 wide range of classic and current litcra. turc illustratinc the social or more or less practical side of rcliciors cx- pcTicncc as opposed to the personal and emotional aspect Tn an intro ductOry note Professor Rovcc nointS ont her claims to Originality''-Orcn i Shelf, Cleveland
  Ephcsian Gospel. by Percy Gardner. "A scholarly. sumpathctic study of the book of John. written from thc viewpoint Of liberal criticism. Tho author believes the Fourth Gospel to he an attempt to rewrite and inter- pret the life of Jesus in the light of the exalted conception of His Per- son which the church at Enhesus had begun 10 hold in the carly scconG ccntury.'-.\. T.. A. Rook1ist. Ethiopc liturgy. it's sources. dcve1or--
 mcnt and present form, by $. A. B. Mercer. A Gift Henry Codman Potter. seventh bishop | of New York. by George Hod ces.
  History of Christian missions, by C. IT. Robinson. Well arranged. well balanced. and up to- date work including the mis- sions Of the Roman Catholic and Greek Orthodox churches. The au- thor has intended this as an outline
New Britain herald., 1916-03-09

Now the doctors come forward with a new disease, "Monday morning paralysis" Too much feeding and no exercise on Sunday are the contribu- tary causes. Horses attacked by it usually die within a few days. But where is the ncWncss of it? It is as old as the hills, this Monday morn ing paralysis. We know thousands who have it regularly once a week.
New Britain herald., 1916-03-09

In the old days A trader had the right to resist even capture. and it would be strange, indeed, were he now to be forbidden to resist cer~ tain destruction. Yet it is nOthinS less than this that the Germans de- mand on the pretext that the sub marine is defensvely weak and that # is impossible to supply prize crews. Overlooking their own utter diSre- gard of tho laws of nations. they offer with a great show Of ma Gnan- imity to mitigate the practice of as SaSsination if their victims will only give up a right they have possessed by common consent from time inn mem oriaI. Germany. without regard to ancient customs. is in short, to enjoy all the advantages to be dc rived from the new weapon. Whiic Germany's foes are 10 abandon even their ancient rights for fear of in turing the new Wcapon--NcW York Tribune.
New Britain herald., 1916-03-09

Lots of fun is now being nokcd at the late Irish American convention held in New York Saturday and Sun day. Its policy perfected there IS held up as the acme of logic: -\hso- lutely neutral, so long as England is licked.
New Britain herald., 1916-03-09
LET THEM LIVE IN HOPE.

Reformers for some years past have directed their attention to various filings in the government service in the hope of doing away with some of the plums that hang on the political tree, One of the main objects of