davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-04-02

all meaning the same thing: that another
family in Britain or Canada would never
again see the boy who had left little
while before so cheeriiy to edo his bit"
So am willing to admit that I'm afraid
to go back-but that isn't going to stop me
from going. Not when know that there
are Others over there needing me. After
all, you get used to it, in measure; and,
while | firmly believe that there is not a
man living who can get so used to it that
he won't instinctively duck when he hears
shell coming over, and also get that awful
cold feeling at the pit of his stomach, still,
do know that it is possible to stiffen up
few seconds after and laugh, with the
rest, at your own fears.
The Last Stage-Fatalism
TT is fact that, if broken in gently,
the average soldier gets to the point
where he becomes what might be termed
a fatalist.
There are three stages-as l have
found it, at least There are the first
few days. when everything is new and
strange and you are so busy getting
used to things that you don't realize the
danger.
Then-this comes after you have seen
village or two wiped out, and have per-
haps helped to bring out some Of the in
habitants. or maybe a few shells have
landed close to you and have wiped out
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-04-02
By WILLIAM ANDERSON, MD.

WOUNDED four times and finally caught by the deadly gas
" Dr. Alderonwhich, by the way is not his sent
to this country ecuperate The percentage of mortality
surgeons has been great artillery officers. Is
wonder that he is aad back YET since this article
written he has received his He his way bao what?
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-04-02

Just at dusk | saw form staggering
across the railroad track--the little line
that crosses the highroad there and runs
down to Vlamertinghe and Poperinghe.
He was assisted into the estdminet by two
of the bearers, and I then saw it was an
officer of the -shires with whom l had
been talking only the day before. He
was dazed and wandering in his mind,
but l learned enough to know that his
company had been wiped out completely
by shell fire and gas. He swore he was
wounded in dozen places, but on examine
ton it was found that he was untouched.
However, he insisted so strongly that he
was badly wounded that we were obliged
to bandage him up and he was sent to
the base. To-day he is in a home in
England, living in sound-proof room.
and so wrecked mentally by his expert
ences that the slightest noise sends him
into commissions and he lives again the
hours of horror he spent in the trenches
that day.
Crazed by the Sound of Shells
ONE of many other similar cases, though
perhaps more tragic, saw AFTER the
battle of the User. A French soldier who
was the only survivor of his company was
so pcnned in trench that he could not
escape when the remnant of his regiment
retreated. The Germans could not adj
vance to take the trench, as the way to it
was over large piece of exposed ground;
and, for the same reason, the regiment
that had retreated could not return. Each
side tried its best, however. to take it, and
it was case of attack and counter-attack
for two days.
In the intervals of attacking, the guns
kept the ground clear with shrapnel and
high explosive. Consequently, thousands
of shells must have passed over that
trench in both directions. At the end Of
the two days the French retook the trench
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-04-02
1 Was Not Afraid at First

WHEN the war broke out, volunteered
w for medical service. l wasn't afraid
then. War, to me, was thing of fly
ing banners, hand-to-hand charges, flash
ing swords, -afterward-tending the
wounded, with, perhaps, the chance of
gaining honors by some particularly dar-
ing piece of rescue work.
But found it different matter. 1t
was a matter of crouching for hours in
filthy trench knee-deep in mud and
slush; of feeling the way over muddy
roads under shell fire to get out some of
our shattered legions; of delivering wo-
men in fields under the light of star
shells; of being at high tension all the
time, continuously listening for the
phee-,ohee-,phee of the shells; of clearing
out cesspools in fever-stricken villages;
of herding terrified towns-people out of
their ruined homes; of seeing men driven
crazy by shell fire. and-of hearing nearly
every day that some one knew and
liked had been "scuppered,' "sniped,"
"gassed, "conked, or had "gone Vest
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-04-02
Why | am Afraid to Go Back

the battlefront in Belgium-have not for
more than twenty-four hours at time
been farther than five miles from Ypres.
l have gone through all the lombard
ments of Ypres since the first big one of
November, 1914; have established more
than a dozen front-line dressing stations
and vaccination stations (the latter for
civilian inhabitants); have been wounded
myself four times, and ended up by get
ting good dose of poison gas; have to-
day less than half dozen close friends
and relatives left alive out of more than
a hundred who went with me into the
war; have seen my hospitals destroyed
and the people was treating killed and
MANNED; and have seen thousands of the
flower of young manhood gassed, torn,
and shattered.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-04-02

Darkness was just clos
ing in, and the beauti-
full star-shells were
breaking all around us,
from Boesinghe to
Dickebusch.
One, of the doctors
working with us finally
broke down and went
into as violent a fit Of
Mysteries as | have ever
seen. 1t was the utter
uselessness of our efforts
the. sight of those
young fellows gasping
out their lives, and the
knowledge that all our
years of study and prac-
tice were, at that time,
of no avail-that finally
got him.
A n d / am not
ashamed to say that be-
fore morning broke I
too gave way and cried
because l could not
give help to those who
SO sorely needed it.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-04-02

The average soldier oho
has seen service becomes
Vhat might be termed
afatalisf: but he is really
living on his nerves-dnd
he pays the score later.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-07-20
Euening Chat
Stories Lost and Found.
BY RUTH CAMERON.

Did you ever lose a story? Atten-
ton, please, all who have, for I am
starting a Lest and Found Depart
ment" for the stories we read once
upon a time. were impressed by, and
somehow have lost sight of.
The charge for inserting a lost"
notice will be just promise to help
any other reader out, in case you
know where his story can be found.
am going to start the ball rolling
by inserting three notices.
A great many years ago I read a
story about two sisters who had to
spend a night alone in a big. lonely
house. They went into a closet to
get something and the older and
stronger-minded of the two saw man
hiding behind some clothing in the
far end of it. She knew that if she
betrayed her knowledge of his pres
ence, they were lost, so she managed
vent her younger sister from seeing
the man by making some quick move
ment which would extinguish the
light She was not quick enough,
man and shrieked. The man knew
he was discovered, pursued the girls
down the stairs and murdered them.
Not a cheerful story? No. but
partly because of this very morbid
ness, it made deep impression on
had a very big, deep closet in the
house, and I used to mentally stage
the story in that closet, thus giving
it great vividness
OF course, the story might not give
me a thrill now, but if any reader
happens to have any information
about it 1 would be duly grateful.
Another story dealt with the ex-
citing life of two small boys, who
lived in a packing box and sub
sisted on the earnings of one of them,
q newsbOy. How envied those boys
How gladly would 1 have exchanged
my own comfortable little room and
my certain-Sure three meals a day for
their precarious but exciting exist
ence! Perhaps 1 shouldn't be so anx-
ious to exchange now, yet L would
like to meet them again, but, alas.
do not know where to look for them.
Perhaps one of my younger reader
friends-if 1 have any such-can help
me out here.
The third was also a boy story.
(Why are boy stories so much more
interesting than girl stories? Prob
ably because the small boy himself has
SO much better a time-) This tale was
about two or three boys who were
travelling around the world alone The
particular passage that want to read
again was one in which they escaped
in a small boat from the hold of q
Chinese vessel where they had been
stowaways, and where a fire had
broken out. There was a picturA
which showed them escaping. There
were other details, but somehow this
was the only one which remember.
Information about these stories
would be gratefully received. Con-
versely to my first proposition, the re-
ward will be willingness to give you
lo1 inf I oh
your lost story.-(C Copyright by George
Matthew Adams.)
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-07-20
wasn't expecting anything so agree

wasn't expecting anything so agree
able
IT don't quite understand. Mr.. Sails
bury"
me, but I am a little out of sorts today
and things have a way of popping out
that I don't intend to say at all. I
mean that these trees are wonderful,
they are like home and-and you are
wonderfuIyou are like home, 100
There! Don't ask me to explain any
further. I'll only get in deeper. I
want to thank you for not trotting me
around to all those tiresome people to
be petted like a poodle on a chain"
But why should T.
ct don't know why you should, but
it seems to be the thing. I have
feeling that 1 am on exhibition most
of the time" Elsa smiled involun-
You like our trees! They are won
derful, aren't they? But didn't know
they had elms like these outside of
New England. Where in the west do
they grow
When I say home I mean England.
You see, my mother was a western
woman and my father married her
there. They lived in Montana only
two years, where 1 was born Then
nv father took us to England. I've
always lived there. I've spent the last
wear and a half in the army in Bel
GUM and France, however. I'm only
here for a short time on business. Be
ing in this part of the country, l
thought I'd hunt up my relatives
wanted to see Aunt Margaret and
these little girls. I'm sorry their
mother and father are away. But
there are COMPENSATION nave met
you'll"
burning. The Westerner and the won
derful Englishman were the same
then! What a fine mix-up they had
made of things!
ADO YOU want to talk to the girls
now" she asked suddenly. They
will be furious with me Tor keeping
you all to myself"
7 suppose better" he agreed. "bnt
not until you'll promise to give me
some of your time tomorrow. We can
motor, go boating, anything you like,
but 1 must see you," earnestly.
leave on Friday.
''rn be very glad to do anything
you WISH" she answered, her heart
giving a queer little flutter.
And to add to the general excite
ment, when the girls heard the truth
that evening they learned also from
their aunt over the phone that he was
not only a colonel in the army, but
a real live earl besides
We've missed our chance" they
pouted ruefully. What stiles we
were!'
But how about me?" asked Elsa.
smiling happily.
You darling!" they cried as they
threw their arms around her and
kissed her "We'u keep him in the
family after aI."-(Copyright, 1916,
by the Mcclure Newspaper Syndi-
cate.)
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-07-20

had to wait until the end of the war
to make this substitution the chances
in favor of making it easily might be
much less than they are now. The
demand for labor is still very keen;
for time after the war it may be
less than 1t is now. larger it hardly
could be. The men released now from
the production of shells and other mu-
nitions will. no doubt, be able to pass
easily into other work; many indus
tries need them. That would be very
far from being disadvantageous
change. If it is completed before the
war comes to a close its ending would
find the tens of thousands of men
now engaged in munition-making in
the United States engaged in peaceful
production. Their employment in
that sort of production might be re-
duced by The ending of the war
that is not by any means certain
but it would not cease suddenly, as
it might If they were then engaged ir
completing war orders.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-07-20
INCREASED PRODUCTION PAYS

Farmers whose crops are very far
below the average are seldom pros
porous according to a farm manage
ment survey of POS towns in eastern
Nebraskai that was conducted by the
Nebraska College of Agriculture.
Forty-three farmers whose crops
were 80 per cent. poorer than their
neighbors made less than one-fifth as
much money after paying farm ex-
penses and interest on investment as
forty-four farmers whose crops aver
aged 20 per cent. above their neigh
bors.
The farms with intermediate or av-
erage crop yields made average
profits
While it is possible to invest so
much capital and labor in securing
large crop yields that the increased
yield will not pay the cost, the survey
in question indicates that the Ne
braska farmer is much more likely
to put too little work upon his land
than too much.
And what is true of the Nebraska
agricultural situation and the Ne
| braska farmer in these particulars is
also undoubtedly true of the Kansas
agricultural situation and the Kansas
farmer.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-07-20

where in the neighborhood of New Sa-
lem. where he resided at that time, but
the story appears to be without foun-
dalton, states John T. Richards in
the July Case and Comment, for he
himself said that Stuart advised him
to study law during his first campaign
for the legislature, and ut the same
time offered to lend him the neces-
sary books; that the offer was ac-
cepted and the books taken to his
home for study. Had he been sup
piled with Blackstone's Commentaries
in any other way. he would have said
something about it. His great thirst
for knowledge had induced him to be-
gin the Study of English grammar
when he was 23 years of age. which
affords evidence of his determination
to use every means within his power
to acquire such an education as would
fit him for a career of influence
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-07-20
GIVE THE BABY A CHANCE.

Bad air, bad milk, overcrowding,
poverty, dirt, ignorance, heat-these
combine in summer to kill the city
baby, as the United States public
health service so tersely but graphi-
cally points out.
1t seems as though the brunt of the
cities sanitary sins were focused on
the baby.
The baby didn't ask to come, to live
in a hot, dark, alright tenement, or
other squalid quarters; nor to be fed
on dirty, half-spoiled milk; nor to be
pestered with flies and mosquitoes
He is not responsible for any of
these conditions.
And it is his right that he have
fresh air. clean surroundings and de-
cent food.
The United States public health
service issues free of charge to all
applicants a bulletin on 1.-THE Sum-
mer Care Of Infants"
1t should be in the hands of every
mother.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-07-20
WAR ORDERS.

If it be true that few more orders
will be placed in this country by the
Allies for shells and for other NUM-
tions there is no reason for regretting
the fact, says The Annalist. Traders
on the Stock Exchange who are al
ways so solicitous for the national
welfare, and particularly those among
them who are bearishly inclined. were
making much last week of such news
as the laying off of men by a powder
manufacturing company and the
closing of a plant which had been
devoted to the manufacture of shells
on foreign order. Looking at the
matter solely from the point of view
of trade. aside from any considera-
lions of humanity which would well
come the end of the frightful strug-
gle in Europe, this news might seem
to be bad news. Traders did their
best to ! AXE it so appear; but is it
bad news? 1t is certain that we can
not very long retain this ephemeral
business; we would not stimulate the
trade IL we could, and we could not
very well If we would. Europe will
stop fighting and will stop ordering
shells abroad. 1t is not like peaceful
trade which may be retained forever.
1t is most desirable. therefore, from
purely material point of view, that
peaceful trade be substituted as soon
as possible for this war trade. If we
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-07-20

There has been considerable amaze
ment in this country, and even among
the European war experts here, be-
cause the Italians. after a year of
fighting, haven't made greater prog
ress and attained more substantial
achievements in their campaign
against the Austrlans. Great Britain )
premier, Mr.. Asquith. went to Rome
about the first of April to exchange
calculations with the Italian states
mon, and after visit to the Italian
front, he observed: II have been to
see the italian front. without doubt
It is the most difficult of all the fronts
IN this war. 1t is impossible to form
any conception of the difficulty with
out having seen with ones own eyes.
What the Italians have accomplished
is marvellous. marvellous, marvelous!"
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-07-20
Dinner Stories

A representative in congress took a
friend from home one afternoon. AS
the friend looked down upon the
scene, his gaze rested upon the clerical
garb of a man in front of the vice.
presidents chair.
Since he seemed particularly inter
ested, the representative explained:
That's the Rev. F. j. Prettyman,
the chaplain of the senate"
"Oh, he prays for the senate, does
he?" asked the friend.
NO" said the representative, che
takes a look at the senate and then
prays for the country"
A well known card player fell up
against a well-developed faro game
during an unusually fierce and sangui-
nary argument with the tiger, and
quit loser about 800. AS he rose to
leave the gilded arena. the dealer
remarked in very cheerful manner:
Hold on a minute, we're going to
have a lunch of cold ham, etc, in a
few minutes. Won't you join us ?"
Join you be damned" roared the
victim of the combat as he turned on
his heel with an air of disdain and
quit the place; do you think I can
eat $1,000 worth of ham?"
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-07-20
THE FAMINE IN MEXICO.

If famine be permitted to stalk
around in northern Mexico much
longer, there won't be so many MeXi-
cans left there to pacify.
1t has already reached that degree
of terribleness where many Mexicans
are dropping to death in their tracks.
and their bodies rotting on the sand
hills where their relatives or friends
may be too weak to scrape out miser-
able graves for them.
Even the rations of the military
forces in that section, which now have
mortgage on most of the available
food supply, will begin to run away
to nothing sooner or later.
1t is this starvation, no doubt, which
is so general these days in northern
Mexico that is responsible for much of
a banditry there and for the raids on
well-stocked and provisioned Ameri-
can ranches on this side of the border.
Have these United States no duties
towards Mexico and its people other
than those that may be concerned
with diplomacy and military maneu-
vers?
Do not the dictates of humanity de-
mand we meet the famine situation in
northern Mexico in the only way it
can and should be met, and meet it
promptly?
This is a question that assuredly
provides its own answer.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-07-20

Doctor Crumbine, the efficient Sec
Rotary of the state board of health, is
on. the job as usual in pointing out to
the people and parents of Kansas that
while the dangers of infantile paraly-
sis are not to be minimized. even
though this dread disease hasn't any
sAing like a serious foothold in Kan
sas. there are other ailments incident
to childhood which NOW the babies
down with death in the summer time
and which are susceptible to prevent
i've measures. One of these is sum-
nler complaint" and its death toll
among the infants of Kansas in the
single month of last May was 81
Proper feeding and pure food will pre-
vent this disease, and the means along
this line are at the hands of almost
all Kansas parents.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-07-20
Globe Sights
BY THE ArCHIsON GLOBE.

About all some men ever get is an
early start.
1t is easy to start a row in hot
weather, but it's too hot to fight.
woman's careworn look is not
likely to be due to a secret sorrow.
A good story teller is one who can
tell an old story and make you like it.
That soulful look is sometimes due
to biliousness instead of a longing for
the infinite.
A fat woman can't pine away, but
must diet and exercise If she has any
hope of reducing.
Most people know enough of
Shakespeare to enable them to mis-
quote him occasionally.
No matter when a woman begins
to pack her trunk, she won't finish
the job until nearly train time.
A Jealous woman is so clever in
that line herself that it is a wonder
she ever employs a private detective.
The most frenzied financier is a
small boy who has been beaten out of
money he thought was coming to
him.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-07-20
Jdyhawker Jots

You can't always tell how busy a
man is, as the Marion Record de-
clares, by the number of motions he
makes.
Scarcely a rural Kansas paper but
reports that the wheat yield in its
vicinity is much better than was ex-
pected.
And now and then, as the Jewell
County Monitor says, you find a man
who does not know what he believes
until he reads his party's platform.
There is also this advantage of liv-
ing in big town, signs the Americas
Greeting. You can do your trading
at a dozen stores and get cigar from
each one when you pay your bill at
the end of a month; but in a little
town you must do all your trading at
two or three stores and get only two
or three cigars"
81 see the Soldiers Oath is Is lines
long," the Toronto Republican quotes
Bill Slivers as observing, as he looked
up from perusing one of our ex-
changes; (which looks like the soldier
Va eOAoy - AAiPA ONAiA III Ills lang udS G.
When I was in the army there was
lots O. cussin, but I never hearn an
oath strung out that long"
The very latest is the discovery of
French scientist that the practice
of Misunderstanding is a prolific source
of disease. notes the Mound City
Republic, and it adds: IF things keep
up, it will be unhealthy to be buried
in the same graveyard with other peo-
pie. The only place a person can feel
absolutely safe from disease or getting
run over is in a store that does not
advertise"
In many localities of Kansas, re-
ports the Marion Review, women are
employed in the harvest fields. This
condition is necessitated in some
places by the scarcity of harvest hands
and in others by the demand of such
exorbitant wages. The grain must be
saved, and woman is to the rescue.
Never bear more than one kind of
trouble at time, advises Mrs. T. B.
| Matlock in the Marion Review. Some
people bear three-all they have had,
all they have now, and all they ex-
pect to have.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-07-20
QUAKER MEDITATIoNs.
From the Philadelphia Record.

CFrom the Philadelphia Record1
There may be food for reflection in
swallowing your pride.
Many a man sees only the worst
side of his better half.
Don't sing your own praises if you
are looking for an encore.
The man who feels that he has
lived in vain is lacking in vanity.
1t is quite possible to give a man
back talk, and say it to his face.
By stretching the truth many a
man thinks he can make his word go
a long way
Even the pessimist may hope for the
best. but the optimist really expects
to get it.
You never can tell. Many a boy
who has had a good bringing up will
live to be called down.
The only man who can satisfy a
champagne appetite on beer income
is the man who owns a brewery.