davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-08-09
SIDE TALKS
Roderick's Unselfshness.

Mrs. Martin came into the room
where Roderick was reading. with a
match safe in one hand, the telephone
book in the other, and a much mussed
pair of Rodericks trousers over her
arm
Frederick, didn't you say yesterday
when Rose wouldn't lend you her ten
mis- racket that you thought selfish
ness was the very worst fault?" she
asked.
Yes, 1 did, and I meant it too"
do you think you're selfish? %
Roderick looked up at his mother
incredulously.
Didn't L just save up my money
for weeks to buy Rose that toilet set
for her birthday" His voice showed
hurt and resentment.
His mother laid her hand on his.
Yes, 1 know, son; you're not a bit
stingy, but stinginess is only one
form of selfishness, and it was selfish
ness that you said was the worst
| fault.
This is the match safe from the
bathroom. 1t isn't a bit like the safe
for burnt matches, is it? And yet you
keep putting the burnt matches in it.
Your father can't see in the dark as
well as you and several times he has
| had to grope his way back into our
| room because he has tried several
matches and found them all burnt.
I've told you about this again and
again, and you just said you didn't
think, and went on doing it."
Mrs. Martin took up the telephone
book. II had just a few minutes left
| after / finished my sewing yesterday
to take a walk before dark. 1 had TO
make two calls on the telephone first
and I spent the whole of that time
looking for the telephone book. II
was up in your room, where you left
it the night before"
The trousers came last.
81 pressed these a few days ago."
| said Roderick's mother land look at
themi Instead of putting them on a
| hanger, you threw them over a chair
| when you came in that wet day and
now they need pressing again.
IF you look in the dictionary, Ro-
derrick, you'll find that the definition
of selfishness is preferring your adj
vantage or convenience before an
| others When you make Father and
the rest of us all that trouble about
burnt matches rather than bother
yourself to put them in the right place,
isn't that preferring your convenience
to ours? And when you made me
miss my walk because you wouldn't
bother to put things back in their
places. what was that?"
There was a deep red color in Ro-
derick's face as he bent over his book
with a half audible murmur that
sounded ike, Il QOnI KNOW
But the next day when Ro-
derick's mother came in from walk.
she found him in the kitchen bending
over the ironing board
Look here, Mother" he asked, with
an elaborate affectaticn of careless
ness, do you press the cuff, or not -
Too wise to admit that she read any
significance into his act, or to offer
/ to help him. Mrs. Martin casually AN
swered that it wasn't good form to
press the cuff. But that night she
did venture to put her arms around his
neck ami give him n specially tender
hug when Roderick came to kiss her
good night.
And Roderick Unsatisfactory
right by George Matthew Adams-I
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-08-09
A peculiar wen in FLORIDA.

In their investigation of the wells
and underground waters of Florida
the biologists of the United States
Geological survey have noted many in
teresting things. Among these is a
well at Welaka, on St. Johns river,
from which two kinds of water are OBJ
tanned - ~,,--s .
This we'll is 500 feet deep. The
length of the casing is ITO feet The
we'll was first drilled to $50 feet, and
from this depth ordinary sulphur"
water was obtained. The drill was
then carried to a depth of 500 feet,
where it encountered a strong min
eral water, having disagreeable.
salty taste. In order to use both
kinds of water an inner tubing was
run nearly to the bottom of the well.
Both this and the outer casing were
connected with pumps, SO that ordi-
nary water and mineral water can be
pumped at the same time. A favorite
joke played on visitors is to give them
a drink of the weaker water in the
first glass and to replace 1t with the
brine in the second.
Not more than half a dozen wells
of this kind are known in the coun-
try. but there is no reason why similar
wells can net be obtained in regions
where the waters in the upper strata
differ from those lying deeper.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-08-09

blEMBER:
Associated Press.
Audit Bureau of Calculations.
American Newspaper Publishers
Association
HOME NEWS WHILE AWAY.

There is no accounting for tastes,
but the reputation of the people of
France for having palates that require
the most DELICATE of viands TO tickle
surely goes a-glimmering under the
blow of the report that they are show
ing great partially these Grys for
chewing gum, and the made-in-
America kind, too. OF course. Ameri-
can chewing gum is as good as any,
probably the best in the world, but
that isn't much to recommend it, at
least to the tobacco-chewers Still if
the sweet young girls and the sour old
er ones have to chew, perhaps it is
just as well that they use gum as a
substitute for tobacco. Imagine, If
you please. a peaches and cream COM
qlexion decorated from the ends of the
mouth down with stripes of tobacco
Juice.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-08-09
ON SPUR OF
TME MOMENT
BIZ ROY H. MoULTON

Some Climate This.
When l get up l daily don
My suit of porosknit;
The morning sun is very hot,
The thin stuff is quite fit.
At 10 O'Clock l hurry home
And do the fleece-Hned stuff;
The mercury has dropped like lead.
The weather's very rough.
At noon, I'm sweltering once more,
l plainly see the cause,.
The summer sun is out again,
1 hurry home to gauze.
At 3 O'Clock, I'm shiyering,
/ think it's going tos now;
The wind has shifted to the north;
Back to the fleece l go.
1 let the furnace fire go out
Three times a day, and then
Each time / have to hurry back
And start the thing again.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-08-09
QUAKER NfEDTTATIoNs.

tFrom the Philadelphia Record.1
Pride, going before a fall, doesn't
seem to soften the bumps any.
Hard work is really the magnetism
that gets things coming our way.
Joy isn't damaged il you crack a
smile, or even If you burst into laugh
ter.
The people who are at war with
themselves don't always respect a flag
of truce.
We can generally choose our friends,
but every man must bow to the in
evitable.
An expert is merely one of those
unpleasant persons who impress us
with how little we know.
On the sea of matrimony the hand
that rocks the cradle shouldn't be the
one that rocks the boat.
Most of us suffer from financial
astigmatism. The size of the dollar
depends upon how many we have.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-08-09
sTANDARDIzING THE FLAG.

The American flag is among the old
est of national flags, although an or
der to standardize it. due to the use
OF some sixty-odd sizes and shapes of
the national emblem in the govern
nDent departments. was issued as late
as last May. writes Kathleen Hills in
I.sslie's. The American flag is older
than the present British Union Jack,
the tricolor of France, and the flags
OF Spain. Germany and Italy. While
the Stars and Stripes have been used
since 1877. it was not until October
IS. 1912. that definite specifications
were drawn up. Further specifica-
tons were found necessary this year.
According to an executive order dated
May 20. 1916. the flags and union
jocks of all government departments,
with certain exceptions in the army
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-08-09

Little bird of dusty brown,
Why do you stay here In town.
In the noise and dirt and heat
Hopping in the dusty street?
Other sohgsters choose to go
Where the grass and clovers grow,
Where the dew is on the hill
And the shady woods are still;
Where the baby rivers skip,
And the cool green MOSES drip.
There tomorrow / shall be!
Sparrow, do You envy me?
Saucy bird, alert and quick,
Lingering on stone and brick
Little children Hnger too,
Who perhaps are fond of you;
Pale and pltiful to see,
Sick and sorry too, maybe.
They can dream but never go
Where the ferns and daisies grow.
All the suitry summer through
They will hear no bird but you,
Cheap and common, sharp and shrill,
chirping. chirping, chirping still,
Picking bugs and crumbs and things.
Yet-you have the gift of wings;
They can see you dart and fly
Free and high to tree and sky
Only little comrade given
Who can bring them news of heaven!
Sparrow, when I go away,
Is that why you choose to stay7
-Abbie Farwefi Brown. in St. Nicholas
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-08-09

Mr.. Garden Toad sat by the puddle
the three days rain had left and
primped quite shameIessly. Why
should he mind? Wasn't a puddle the
very incest kind of Iookingglass any
body could find? And after staying in
his shelter near the log for three
whole days didn't he need primping?
/ should sayy he did
And he got it, tool And then, be-
cause Mr.. Garden Toad was a tidy lit
tie creature. he felt much better.
There now" he said as he settled
himself in his green and black coat
guess that will have to do for today.
And now I'll see after breakfast"
As matter of fact, it was the mid
die of the afternoon, but Mr.. Garden
Toad always called the first meal of
the day breakfast, no matter when he
took it. With the hard rain falling all
the time, he hadn't had a chance to
eat bite before and he was hungry
now, you may be sure. He looked
around and up and down but never a
sign of fly did he see You must re-
member that the rain had only just
then stopped, and likely the flies
hadn't started their trips around the
garden as yet.
Toad to himself, this doesn't look
like eating to me. 1 think I'll try
somewhere else" And he turned
around and hoped up toward the
porch.
Oftentimes he could find 4 fine
meal near the back steps. for that was
where the children always ate their
between meal sandwiches. and be
tween meal" sandwiches mean crumbs
nd crumbs mean flies-Mr Garden
Toad had it all figured out
He hoped and hoped and hoped
till he found himself close by the
back steps Then he stopped and
looked carefully around to see what
was going on.
1t was all just as he had hoped it
would be- Ned and Mary Jane were
sitting there eating bread and sugar
sandwiches and half a dozen great
fat flies were sitting on the still damp
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-08-09

Italy is rejoicing greatly because of
some recent successes of apparently
material proportions that her soldiers
have staged in their difficult bouts
With the Austrians. But it may turn
out that the rejoicing of the Italians
is as premature as have been several
similar celebrations among the Ger
man populaee. notably the one Incl
dent to the official announcement in
Germany. of now some months ago.
that the army of the crown prince had
captured Verdun and that the road to
Paris was open again; and also the
one that was incident to the official
apnouncement in Germany of vic
tory in the sea fight off Jutland that
had. wrested the control of the seas
from the navy of England.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-08-09

her mother returned She took down
curtains and did them up herself,
painted shabby floors. made chair COW
ers, polished the furniture, cooked de-
lectable meals and kept the children
happy.
David came twice in the evening, but
she was too tired to talk to him.
Parties she lad given up. Then one
humiliating day when Mrs. Doyle
couldn't come she and Ellen had
tackled the washing by themselves.
She was out in the yard hanging towels
when David came around the corner of
the house. Il saw you from the street,
he said. Cant you chuck that and
come for a driver
NO" she answered, the blood sud
denly flaming into her face. Why
couldn', he stay away? He did not
need to feel under obligations to keep
up the friendship.
Whats wrong, Margery?"
Nothing. I wish you'd 60"
Certainly. if you wish. I wanted
to tell you something, though"
He lifted his hat and turned away.
Margery rushed to her room and
sobbed her heart out on her bed, and
when the phone rang and Mary Por-
ter told her eXcitedly that she had
just heard that David Winter and Pris-
ella were engaged, her heart skipped
two beats, but she managed to answer
honestly enough that she wasn't sur
prised.
That night, the twins bathed and
asleep, Bob, Mary and Philip tucked
in and Ellen out with her beau, Mar
gerry put on a cool white dress,
brushed her hair back plainly and
slipped out to her bench among the
roses.
Suddenly David was beside her.
May I tell you now?" he asked.
Il know it," she whispered
"What?'
THAT you are engaged to Priscilla"
But I'm not. The Harris have been
very kind to me, but 1 never thought
of Priscilla in that way. It's you,
dear that I want. / am going west
in a month and 1 am going to ask you
to go with me. Won't you go with
me, Margery?"
He did not hear the answer. but
1916. by the Mcclure Newspaper Syn
dicafe
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-08-09
JOURNAL ENTRIES

There's also a lot of "watchfu1 wait
ing' for guests to take their depar-
X X *
If time were really money think of
the fortunes the loafers would pos
SesS.
X X x
The man who won't take mo" for
an answer generally wins out either in
love or business.
x = y
A girl is seldom in a hurry to ac-
cept man unless she happens to
know that some other girl wants him.
X X *
There are spring poets and fall poets
but no human is nutty enough to rave
in rhyme over the delights of the
summer that is 100 plus in the shade.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-08-09

Richard T. Crane, Jr.. the Chicago
manufacturer and philanthropist, has
offered a prize of $4,000 in cash
te the physician or scientist who can
offer the best cure or preventive for
iEfantile paralysis within the next
year. And the parents of the country
are no doubt in a mood to contribute
their mites in sufficient quantities to
make the reward a round million. of
dollars. Such a cure. or preventive,
would be easily worth such a bonus,
and then some.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-08-09

- All seems well with the Deutschland
SO far, but the world stands a poor
chance of learning of her fate or luck
unless she arrives in due time at a
home port. Her possible destruction
By warships of the Allies might be
covered up for public consumption
only at some date in the distant flu
ture
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-08-09

Governor Hughes is also showing
himself to be as strenuous a presiden-
tial candidate as they make EN-. And
there is the fire of a real enthusiasm
in his words that bespeaks sincerity.
Governor Hughes also has the advan-
tage of having an administrative rec
ord behind him that is as remarkably
strong in deeds as it is in fine words
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-08-09

Crate gingercake and sprinkle over
them; or cream cheese is good.
Flannel Straining Bag-Cut 4
square of flannel, fold 1t diagonally
through the center and sew up one
side with a short. strong stitch. Be
fore using, dip in hot water and wiring
out lightly.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-08-09

Rain would be most acceptable
.hereabouts but fairly brisk breeze
such as has been blowing lately from
the northern points of the compass
helps a whole lot
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-08-09

Lazy things'" thought Mr.. Garden
Toad seornfully. Imagine flies 80
sleepy that they sit and watt I'll
eaten tnem easily enough. never fear.p
And he hoped nearer.
Just then one fly flew down ,o IL.
walk to see IL it was any war,ner
tnere and-snap!-he was gone, A..
other flew in circle near MI Ca
aen road and-snap! he was gone
100 :, Anothermwell. that's just the
lazy flies! No sooner did the,, lose .e
than Mr.: Garden Toad ate them nm
And finally Mary Jane saw bir,, up
LOOK. Ned" she cried "Iool. -
ina .nat nice toad He's eating up ali
inr.t mes res ina. came to eat our lunch.
after that the toad and the chtIdr.
were warm friends-( copvrt yhsH
Clara Ingram Judson.l
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-08-09
HOUSEHOLD HINTS
Gooseberry jim.

To five pounds of granulated sugar
add one quart of currant juice. Boil
and skim, then add eight pounds of
ripe gooseberries; simmer gently for
three-quarters of an hour, remove
from the stove and put the fruit in a
cool place for two days. Bring again
quickly TO the boiling point and cook
until berries are transparent, then
pour in glasses and seal. Half the
quantities given are sufficient for the
ordinary family.
The Table.
Pressed Beef Loaf-Grind two
pounds lean beef and five cents
worth of suet. Crush one-half pound
soda crackers, mince one small
onion, add piece of butter size of egg,
one teaspoon salt, one-fourth tea
wellbeaten eggs. Mold to baking dish
and cover with sweet milk; bake one
and one-half hours in moderate oven.
Cover baking dish. Serve cold or hot
Vanilla Cookies-Two cups brown
sugar, one cup lard, two eggs, one
fourth teaspoon salt, four tablespoons
vanilla, one teaspoon soda, flour to
make very stiff dough The more
these cookies are kneaded the better
they will be.
Bohemian Peach Dumplings (boil-
ed)-Take four cups of flour and one
in flour, add water TO mix dough
same as biscuit. Roll out, cut in
squares. Put on each tightly together
so they don't break open. Boil in
salt water twenty minutes. When
done take out and cut in half. Take
two tablespoons butter, melt, put
peach dumplings in this. Very good.
This takes the place of meat and po-
tatoes. You can use plums instead
of peaches. When plums are used,
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-08-09
DINNER STORIES

Robbie walking across the fields
with father, saw a cow for the first
time
what is that, father?" he asked.
."That is a cow" was the response.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-08-09
Why Worry.


Leave it to the bewhiskered old
boys of science, they of the square
spectacles and ear muffs, and this
world will be pulled through its
rather precarious existence. Some
time ago somebody who needed the
money wrote an alarmist article for
a magazine, stating that in a very
short time. in fact. within eight or
nine million years, the earth's food
supply would be entirely exhausted.
That set all the scientists going like
horoscopes, and in the dizzy whirl of
investigation some very interesting
things came to light. 1t was up to
the scientists to find something for
the people to eat eight or nine mill
lion years hence. 1t was not wholly
new problem Scientists long ago
evolved the scheme of saving up
timber into breakfast food and said
that a man could go forth with
bucksaw and get enough sawdust out
of a fence rail to keep himself and
his family supplied for some time.
One learned scientist thinks that he
has solved the problem for all time.
He says that the nut trees could, in
a pinch, supply food for the entire
world.
This knotty question has become
nutty question, and one which he has
apparently solved. Those who are on
earth now should be of good cheer;
they will not have to starve eight mil
lion years hence.
Very Good, Andy.
Notice-Mrs. Mehlek, my wife, left
me and don't stand for no credit. If
| anybody sees her, please let me know.
Mr.. Andy Mehlek.-Pueblo (Colo.)
StaF-Journal.
Contented.
| I'm glad I'm not in politics;
| Nobody heaves the festive bricks
At me.
! l go where'er 1 want to go;
| Nobody seems to want to know
Or see.
| 1 say whatever I may like
| That's what l do, so help me, Mike.
! And no one seems to give a hang,
| Nobody seems to care a dang.
| They do not twist what l may say
| Until 1t reads the other way.
My past life is an open book,
But no one takes the time to look
And see what they can find
| 1 am not held up to rebuke;
| l can make good, or l can fluke,
Just as l have mind.
| I've got a job that is immense,
| am not burdened with expense
| Upon election days. - --.-sszsF
Folks do not yell, II knew him Which,
| l am a private citizen,
1 have the job that pays.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-08-09

Reader-"Have yeu any modern fiction -
has been on a six months trip."-Jutige.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-08-09

Once there was a lazy servant who
wished she was rich.
lamp.
Rub that lamp" explained the
fairy, land you can have what you
want
But the lazy servant was not i'm
pressed
ITS just a scheme to get the brass
work polished" she yawned. And so
her fortunes remained as they were.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-08-09
BED Time TALES
MIR. GARDEN ToAD,s MEAL
BY CLARA INGRAM JUDSON

steps waiting for their ahare of the
feast.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-08-09

And what are those things on her
head ?"
Horns" replied his father.
The two walked on. Presently the
cow mooed. Robbie was surprised
(which horn did she blow, father? 2"
he asked.
Katherine and Margaret found
themselves seated next each other at
a dinner party and Immediately be-
came confidential.
Molly told me that you told her
that secret told you not to tell her,
whispered Margaret
"Oh, isn't she the mean thing!"
gasped Katherine. why. told her
not to tell you'll"
well" returned Margaret. 81 told
her 1 wouldn't tell you she told me
SO don't tell her I did
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-08-09

Custom in China discourages the photo.
graphing Of women.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-08-09
FULL LEASED WIRE REPORT
OF THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

The State Journal is a member nf the
Associated Press and receives the full day
felegraph report Of that great news or
sRanfzation for the exclusive afternoon
qualification in Topeka.
= The news Is received in The State FORMAL
building over wires for this sole purpose.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-08-09
Very Good, Andy.

Notice-Mrs. Mehlek, my wife, left
me and I don't stand for no credit. If
anybody sees her, please let me know.
Mr.. Andy Mehlek.-Pueblo (Colo.)
Star-Journal.
The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-02-15
BRIGHT SPOTS IN SAHARA
| Where Water TrickIes Down Mountain
Ranges There Will Be Found
Little Vegetation.

Most of the Sahara is a part OF the
French domain and, south of the des-
ert, British Nigeria begins; the French
and English marked their boundary
in 1898; and this boundary has since
been fixed little further south so that
the French need not travel through
the encroaching desert in passing be-
tween French West Africa and their
possessions on Lake Chad.
The vast rock plateaus are just as
forbidding as the sand wastes. In
their worst phases these high table
lands are perfectly barren, utterly de.
void of life. On the best maps we see
these bare, waterless regions with the
name "Tanezruft," a Berber word sig
nifying their inhospitable character
The French travelled, three years ago
for 10 days over one of these areas
without finding water.
But there are brighter phases even
of the mid-Sahara. Some OF those
mountain ranges, browning the pla'
teaus. are high enough to condense a
little water vapor and streamlets come
down the hills, creating bits of wood
land and pasturage at the base. These
are gardens of Eden amid the sur
rounding desolation and in such places
are the inhabitants of the desert no
maids. The Ahaggar mountains are
blessing amid the vast expanse Of
desolation.