davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Middletown transcript., 1916-12-02
CHANGE IN ALPHABET.

Agitation in Japan in favor Of the
adoption of the Latin alphabet is In
creasing in strength. Those scholars
who find little time to devote to 9TH
er subjects besides the war are fol-
lowing the controversy closely. The
japanese, as is well known, had no
letters when Chinese culture was In
troduced in the islands in the seventh
century, says Rochester Democrat ana
Chronicle. The Chinese characters,
which are not letters representing
sounds, but ideographs representing
words, were adopted to represent the
spoken sounds Of the japanese tongue.
The consequence is that, in order to be
able to read Japanese one must have
a knowledge of the sounds and mean
ings of from 1900 to 5000 characters.
Learning to read is a task Of such
proportions that the pupil in the Jap
anese school has little time for any
thing else. AS long ago as 1884 an
association was formed for the pur-
pose of gradually introducing the Lat
in called "Romaji" by the
Japanese-into the country in place of
the Chinese ideographs. Rev. DR..
Hepburn, an American missionary,
was largely interested in the work,
and produced a Japanese-English die
tionary in which Japanese words were
presented to English letters, the con-
sonants being pronounced according to
our usage and the vowels as they are
on the continent. A later system un-
dertakes to improve on this, intrOduc-
ing some new letters.
Middletown transcript., 1916-12-02
Copyright. 1915, by the Mcclure Newspa.
per Syndicate)
SOCIETY,".

Il am not in society this winter"
says a young society woman. 81 am
too busy to go into society,"" remarks
a young man.
What is society anyway, the So
ciety about which the foregoing was
spoken? Really, l don't know, and
the three big dictionaries refuse to
enlighten me. At a guess, l should
say that probably the young people
quoted refer to the collection Of per
sons they meet when they go out,
when they are away from home, at
balls, parties, and other invitation
functions, and not necessarily to the
individuals whom they visit. Perhaps
they are unfortunate enough to be-
long to some alleged exclusive form
OF society, or to some clique or col
lection of conceited people, who, be-
cause they don't know where they
stand, assume to stand for something
about which they know nothing.
Thousands, yes, hundreds of thou
sands, of young people have injured
their presents and discounted their
futures by going into what they call
society" Yes, many men and wom-
en- have sacrificed their souls upon
the altar of society"
Young people should have friends,
they should not be bookworms or
room hermits. They should intermin-
gle, they should exchange expert
ences, play games of conversation,
and other games; but all this does not
mean going into society,"" for "soci-
ety. is commonly understood as sim
ply another word for excess, with or
without the winecup.
1t is a significant fact that our great
merchant princes, our men of prodi-
gious intellect, our famous discover
ers and scientists, our men OF mark
in every walk of life, care more for
sociability than for society, and not
one in a hundred of them is in so
ciety." They live natural lives, make
friends among their kind, and enjoy
social intercourse. They don't care
a fig" whether Mrs Tone invites them
to her most exclusive ball, or whether
Mr. Highbrow Includes them in his
list of dinner guests
Many men of wealth, and more men
who haven't any, sacrifice the vitality
of life to get into society, and when
they get in they spend half OF their
time keeping in. When they become
old enough to know better, they go
out into Natures out-of-doors, breathe
the fresh air, and mentally, and some
times physically, kick themselves for
the folly of their silly ambition.
Don't worry about finding your so
ciety'' level. Your level will come to
you, and any level you try to reach,
which is either above or below your
proper sphere, is disastrous,
Bear in mind, young man and young
woman, that mere money, the ability
to dance the tango, and the capacity
for small talk, are not keys which
will unlock the door of good society.
If your ancestors came here in the
Overcrowded Mayfower, or your sew
eral times removed grandfather
chased Indians, remember that you
may not be any better than other peo.
pie with a hazy past, for the whole
world feeds on the same kind of meat,
sleeps in similar beds and wears
much-alike clothes, if it can get them.
Society" as it runs, starts from
nowhere and ends in the Land Of
Nothing.
Middletown transcript., 1916-12-02

In the middle farming zone of Peru,
at an elevation between 5000 and H.
900 feet, the Cuzco type of corn is the
principal crop. 1t is characterized by
very large kernels, sometimes nearly
an inch broad. Cuzco is a native Of
the cool tablelands of Peru rather than
the tropical valleys, says National
Geographic Magazine. This fact
throws new light on its behavior in
the United States. In the hot sum-
mer climate of the eastern states it
usually fails to set seed, but it may
be of use on the Pacific coast or other
parts of the United States where there
is too little heat for our varieties to
mature.
Middletown transcript., 1916-12-02

What has become Of the banjo? 1t
was barrack craze once. The mouth
organ seems a decadent thing COM
pared with the ''Pilly-willy -winky,
poppw of the banjo on the march
or in the camp. Once it was the
"war drug of the white man round the
world" says London Globe. 1t seems
that there is room for enterprise in
this direction, and perhaps we shall
yet hear the banjo twanging From
Delos up to Limerick and back!"
Middletown transcript., 1916-12-02
Hannah Smell, "FemaIe Soldier"

ECiHdtC SOl0iCi'
Hannah Smell was born at Worces'
ter, England, on April %, 1927, the
daughter of a hosier. In order to
seek her husband who had abandoned
her, in 1745 she donned mans attire
and enlisted as a soldier in Guise's
regiment of foot, but soon deserted,
and shipped on board the slOOp Swal-
low, under her brother-in-law's name
of James Gray. She was wounded IN
the siege Of Pondicherry, but succeed.
ed in extracting the bullet without
calling in surgeon. When recovered
she served before the mast on the Tar.
tar and Ethan, but when paid off she
resumed woman's costume. Her ad.
ventures were published under the
title of "The Female Soldier, in 1850,
and she afterwards gave exhibitions
in military uniform in London. She
died insane in Bethlehem hospital,
London, on February 8, 1872.
Middletown transcript., 1916-12-02

''The Saxons never committed
any outrages. They even paid for
the food they took in France. The
Prussians themselves only did those
fearful deeds in the first days Of
the war. Their motive was largely
to terrorize the territory through
which they passed"
Middletown transcript., 1916-12-02

Golf has been changed to locker
ballspier by German professors so
that it will have no British flavor"
says an exchange. How the Scotch
will roar at this!
Middletown transcript., 1916-12-02
According to lnuuIrIea.

ats wrong Of me to take this food" !"
said the tramp, as he reached out for
the pie in the window; "but," he added,
Fefectively, 1--WE had repeated In.
quiries for it from the department Of
the interior, and 1 shall now deliver
the goods"
Middletown transcript., 1916-12-02

According to Rider Haggard, after
the war EngIand's 100000 super
f1uous women now working will de-
cline to give up their jobs to the men
they have displaced. However, if it
comes to the worst, the men can
marry them.
Middletown transcript., 1916-12-02

In this tropical temperature It is
easy to imagine ones self in Hawaii
merely by grinding one Of those weird
records through the household music
mill.
Middletown transcript., 1916-12-02
NOTICES!

!, FRANK C. PIERCE, the owner
and occupant of the house situated at
Summit Bridge, School District, No. IA,
Pencader hundred, county of New Cas-
tie and State of Delaware, in compli-
ance with the requirements of the Acts
of the General Assembly, in such case
made and provided, do hereby give no.
tice that shall apply in writing to the
Court Of General Sessions of the State
of Delaware in and for New Castle
county, on Tuesday, the second day of
January, A. D. 1917, being the next
term of said court, for a license for
said house as an inn or tavern, for the
sale therein of Intoxicating liquors in
less quantities than, one quart, to be
drunk on the premises; and the follow
ing respectable citizens of said school
district, at least six of whom are sub
stantial freeholders of said school dis
trict, recommend the said application,
viz:
Chas. H. Salmon His
VIM. Bigger Andrew X Davis
His Mark
VIM. H. x Science Witness to mark
Mark c. S. Bigges
Witness to mark Isaac G. Roberts
C. H. Salmon George Robinson
Chas S. Bigger NJ. NJ. Bridges
John Neville Harry Voshell
Thomaa H. Gould Samuel P Roberts
Edward CoOmbs Claude B. Voshell
J. B. Gallagher
FRANK C. PIERCE.
Middletown transcript., 1916-12-02

For the benefit of those persons who
take two bites at the word film" con-
gress might be induced to give it an
other vowel.
Middletown transcript., 1916-12-02

Keeping cool by mental suggestion
is not half as comfortable as taking
Z summer vacation in ones mind dur
ing the month Of January.
Middletown transcript., 1916-12-02

There are said to be "a spots on the
sun, but still a lot of heat seems to
get past some way.
Middletown transcript., 1916-12-02

Think Of it-nothing to do all sum.
mer but talk politics!
Middletown transcript., 1916-12-02

Beware the man-eating sharks that
live out OF water.
Middletown transcript., 1916-12-02
JOHN HELDMYER, JR
notice.!

l, George H. Johnson, owner and oc-
cupant of the house known as the Mid
dletown Hotel, situated in Niddletown
School district, Nos. 80, co. and "a,
County of New Castle and State of Del
aware, in compliance with the require
ments of the Acts of the General Assem-
bly,; in such cases made and provided do
hereby give notice that shall apply in
writing to the Court of General Sessions
of the State of Delaware, in and for New
Castle County, on Tuesday, the second
day of JAN, A. d., 1917, being the next
term of said Court, for a license for
said house as an inn or tavern for the
sale therein of intoxicating liquors in
quantities less than one quart to be drunk
on the premises, and the following re-
spectacle citizens of said School district,
at least six Of who are substantial free
holders of said School district recommend
the said application, viz:
H. L. Davis, J. B. Messick,
u. L. Parsons, John C. Blizzard,
N. Williams, G. NJ. Cochran,
John P. Cochran, Jr. Joseph Gary,
S. NJ. Rosenberg, G. P. Cochran,
w. A. Comegys, Alex. Metten,
Willard B. Biggs, Harry M. black,
w. R. Carey, Chas. H. Morgan,
Geo. Echenhofer.
GEORGE H. JOHNSON,
Niddletown, Del, Dec. I'd, 1916.
The Washington herald., 1916-02-13

retroactive" moving-picture plot fur
nishes the novelty of this thrilling
melodrsma which comes to us. at last
at the New National Theater this
week after rits1sensafionai 4un in New
York.
The young playwright who riveted
the interest of the play-going world
through his first dramatic effort is
still under "a, and is spending his
spare time nowadays teaching en-
bryo dramatists how to prepare stage
material Mr., Rizenstein heads a
club of young folk who aspire to fame
and royalties, with Mortimer Block
associated with him in his work.
At. the Gambler Theater the Rzen-
stein melodrama was fawIessly acted
by a cast, including Mary Ryan,
Frederick Perry, Frederick Truesdell,
Hans Roberts, little Constance Wolfe,
and Constance Collier in the leading
roles. Mr.. Perry and Mr.. Truesdell
continue in the cast, but Marie Leon
hard, young English girl who is a
graduate of the repertory company
of Miss Horniman, in Manchester,
England, foHows/Miss Ryan in the
part of the wife; Jane Wheatley
plays the role created by Constance
Collier and Ethel Downie takes the
place of Constance Wolfe in the i'm
personation of the child witness, Civ
ing promise of as finished and virile
a performance here as that which held
thousands spellbound during the long
run of the piece in New York.
The Washington herald., 1916-02-13
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS.

Weber and Fields Will be the leading
attraction at Keith's this week The
famous burlesquers. who rejoice IN the
description Of ''assassins of the Kings
English" will be seen as Mike and
Meyer" their celebrated characters. ana
the episode which they VIII punctuate
with their ludicrous language and actions
will comprise excerpts from old favorites
like The Pool Game" and The Statues"
tOgether with added material OF recent
vintage. There will be the Weberhelds
sye-punching, throat-throttling, ana
other impromptU "brUtalities" which the
lanlIy Fields Will feloniously attempt
upon the person OF the podEy little
Weber
The supporting bill will include Josns
Heather, OF the English music halls, a.
sisted by William Casey and Bobbie
Heather; Mr.. and Mrs. Frederic Voelker
accompanied by several associate plRyeIs
in Una Clayton's plsyiet, Music HATH
Charms" Marshall MONTGOMERY. aSsisteo
by Edna Courtney; Gertrude Long and
Spencer Ward in a singing act; Bert
Melrose. the clown BURNS and Lynn; the
Grazers; the organ recitsls and the
Psthe pictorial
Today at Reith's the bill win present
Mrs. Langtry and company. Julian Rose,
Nan Halperin, Norton and Lee. The
Old Homestead. Double Quartet, -Four
Meyakos. Daniels and Conrad. Lucy
Giuett and others.
The Washington herald., 1916-02-13
Berasco-"The Princes. Pat"

THE Princess Pat" Henry Blossom and
Victor Herbert's latest musical success
which has occupied the stage OF the Cort
Theater, New York. since the beginning
of the present season, will be seen at the
Belasco Theater this week. with Eleanor
Painter and the original cast THE
Princess Pat is one of those comic
operas. in fact the only one, which is
said to carry US back to the days Of the
Daily Theater when such delightful offer
ings as Three Little Maids" and The
Country Girl' were presented.
The play is about the Princess Patrice
di Montaldo, an Irish girl who has mar
ried an Italian nobleman and who is liv-
ing on Long Island. She is called Pat,
for short. The prince has grown careless
in his display of affection since their
marriage. and to teach him a much
needed lesson, as well as to save her girl
friend, Grace Holbrook, from a union
with Anthony Schmalz, a wealthy old
duffer. she enters into scheme to arouse
the jealousy of the prince and at the
same time the suspicious of Grace by
starting a harmless Irritation with
Schmalz. In this she has the co-opera-
ton of Bob DarTow, a sort Of adventurer
chap, who plans to have Grace marry
young Tony Schmaiz. This all works out
nicely after threatened duels and other
indoor sports.
Victor Herbert's score is said to be in
terspersed with pretty solos, duets, dances
and concerted numbers the title Of some
of these being ALLIES" Make Him
Guess" I'D Like to Be a Quitter, But l
Find 1t Hard to Quit" Love is Best OF
AL" For Better or for. Worse
'Neapolitan Love Song" "Au for You, /"
Flirting" THE Shoes of Husband
Number One as Worn by Number Two
fgFT 7 .-I.u.
dition to Miss Painter the cast will in
clude Sam B. Hardy, Al Shean. Alexan-
der Clark, Robert ober, Joseph r. Ler-
tora, Louis Casavant. Martin Hayden,
Eva Fallon, Leonora Novasio, Ralph
Riggs and Katharine Witchie.
The Washington herald., 1916-02-13
NationaI-.on Trial

"On Trial" which comes to the New
National Theater tomorrow night, is
an interesting melodrama from the pen
of Elmer L. Reizenstein, which has
been repeatedly praised for lite origi-
nality. Prior to the production of
this play at the Gambler Theater, New
York last season. Mr.. Reizenstein was
absolutely unknown. The morning
after the premier his name was on
every tongue and his first effort at
play construction hailed as the most
original piece of stagecraft presented
in a decade.
'On Trial made an instant appeal.
not alone for the compelling power
of its story and the big human note
which throbs through all its acts,
The Washington herald., 1916-02-13
Gayety-BurIesq9e.

n double bill win be offered at the
Gayety this week, when The Sporting
Widows" by Jacobs and Jermon Is 70
be seen, together with the officisl Ger
man war pictures Germany at War. &"
showing actual scenes taken on the bat
tlefields, many with the aid Of telescope
lenses.
Ruth Lockwood is seconded by Abe
Leavitt who is to be seen In a number
of new roles In The Sporting Widows, :"
which Is a musical revue. Impersonations
are introduced during the action by Abe
Leavitt, John Barry. Anna Mack, Billy
Evans Ruth Lockwood, Babe Ames, Vim
cent Dusey and Helen lockwood. Sew
ersl speciality acts are also introduced
A chorus Of girls OF all types Is carried,
and every one Of them Is said to be a
musician. displaying her individual talents
on either a stringed or wind instrument
Today will md a diyerting program at
the Gayety. all OF last weeks features
having been retained and a number Of
new ones prepared. The entire cast OF
''The Social Maids" headed by the Dane
The Washington herald., 1916-02-13
PoIis-"oId HeideIberE.r

A youthful prince. heir to a throne, is
the hero of the engaging romantic
comedy, "Old Heidelberg" whi n will be
the offering of the Poll Players this week.
1t was in this comedy OF student life
at the famous European university. that
Richard Mansfield foremost actor of the
American stage, achieved his greatest
popularity. 4
The play tells a story Of rare human
appeal, presenting an engaging picture Of
student life in one OF the foremost in
stitutions of learning>in the world Prince
Karl, in the opening scene OF the play,
appears as a dfffdent, retiring youth, who
is completely at a loss to know how to
conduct himself when among young men
OF his own age, but under the spell OF
university life, he soon casts of his shy
ness and becomes a joyful, care-free youth
very much in love with life, and enter
ing with tremendous enthusiasm into all
OF the sports and escapades Of his COM
panions
A romance develops between Prince
Karl and the delightfully."- ingenious
daughter of the innkeeper. Prince Karl
makes his home at the inn, and II Is here
that the girl. Katie, becomes so impor-
tant a factor in his life, and wields an
influence over his whole career. The out
come of this romance will be left for the
author Of the play to reveal to the Poll
patrons.
An interesting feature of the produc-
ton this week will be the large student
chorus which will sing the university, glee
and drinking songs. A brilliant touch
Of color will be added to the stage set
ungs in the striking uniforms worn by
the students.
A. II. Van Buren will be seen IN the
role OF the engaging young prince, and
Florence Rittenhouse in that OF Katie.
The role OF Prince Karl's favorite tutor,
the innkeeper and other striking char
acters. will afford excellent acting op-
portunities for ell OF the principals Of
The Washington herald., 1916-02-13

but by the unique manner in which its
scenes were presented.
When the curtain rises on the first
act the audience sees a courtroom
where a man is on trial for murder.
The regular proceedings of the court
are gone through with up to the time
the first witness for the prosecution
takes the stand. This witness is the
wife Of the murdered man and the mo-
ment she begins to speak the stage
darkens, the scene changes to the
home of the murdered man and all the
testimony of the woman, which in
cludes the murder Itself, takes place
before the audience.
The cast includes Frederick Perry,
Frederick Truesdell. Gardner Crane,
Neil Moran. Hans Roberts, Lawrence
Eddinger. Jack Klendon. Marie Leon
hard, Jane Wheatley Ethel Downie,
Jean Meyer and others.
The Washington herald., 1916-02-13
Calendar of the Week.

Ndtiondt-"On Tri@," the
sensational meiodrdmd, by e.
mer L. RiEensteinb 1Oho employs
the retroactive" plot of the
"mo9Tes," 7rithout the use of the
screen, H dchieoTHg q distinct
dramatic nO1rlty.
BeldSeo-"Thc Princess Pot"
operettd, 7Oith score by Victor
Herbert aud Ebrctto BY Henry
Blossom, bringing Hs the most
charming PriDlG donna, of the
hour in Eleanor Painter, UFto
t1Uicc qUoH our hearts in "The
Lilac Domino -
PoFs-"Oid Heidelberg" q
romantic comedy, in 0Uhieh Il. H.
VdH Buren, 1oiH be seen as the
engaging young Price Karl.
KeithS Weber and Fields,
surrounded by q promising
Udndc7THc bill.
Gdyety-BHrlesqac.
COSmos-VdmdeuHe.
CdSiH0-PictureS.
LOe1GS COlmbid-PictnrcS.
GdrdeH-Pictares.
.StrdHG-PictmreS.
The Washington herald., 1916-02-13

"If Shakespeare could rise in his
grave and witness some of the events
scheduled in his honor this year"
Pauline Maurice declares, "it Is rea-
sonably certain that he would go back
to his shroud and consider himself
fortunate to be among the departed"
The Washington herald., 1916-02-13
! UCCEO
By JULIA CHANDLER.

Now is the high tide of the dra-
matte season reached when the wall
of discomfort spreads its dolorous
note from Broadway to the Pacific.
The approach of Lent is the Gus
tomary cue for the producers state
ment that never in the history of the
theater has there been such a disss-
trous year"
We've gotten so used to the as
sertion that we've come to look for
it with as much of certainty as we
look for the April buds. -.-.
So it is something of surprise to
see the chronic lines of pessimism
and discomfort on the managerial
face take an upward curve, and hear
an actual admission from the pro-
ducers themselves that this has been
a big year.
We've known, of course, that the
virus of prosperity that has showered
America with a golden food has en-
tered the theater, but we have known
also that the habit of calamity-wail-
ing has stuck its fangs so deeply into
theatrical flesh that we were not quite
prepared to hear the least confiding
and cheerful of the profession de-
clare complete satisfaction in the
current year.
In New York right now good plays
are turning away thousands; mediocre
productions are playing to capacity,
and pieces that in former seasons
would have been relegated to the
storehouse within a week are having
long runs and making money. Trade
papers throughout the country are
commenting on the splendid situation,
and playwrights who were so dis
couraged last season over the failure
of their work are wishing to heaven
they had gotten busy this year and
written something or other so that
they might have come in on the crest
of the luck wave.
Mr.. L. Stoddard Taylor of the
Belasco Theater in this city told me
one evening last week that not in
seven years has the playhouse under
his management done such excellent
business; Manager Rapley. of the Ma
tional, dittoes Mr.. Taylor's assertion
in talking of his own theater; Cen
eral Manager Thatcher, of the Poll
interests, wears a smile a yard long;
Mr.. Fred Berger's geniahty grows
apace; Manager Robins beams his
satisfaction over at Keith's, and
everybody is happy.
The Washington herald., 1916-02-13

In musical vein comes "The Prin-
cess Pat" to the Belasco this week
with the most engaging prima donna
of the hour in the title role.
The operetta is the work of Victor
Herbert and Henry Blossom, a COM
bination which is security for plenty
of neatly turned musical phrases on
the one hand and an interesting IL
bretto on the other. Whether am
bilious, or otherwise, Mr.. Herbert's
music may always be depended upon
for enticing melody with ripples and
runs abounding. The seeker of en-
tertainment possessing anything
whatever of musical taste seldom
fails to find satisfaction in a Herbert
score. This should prove doubly a
fact when that score is interpreted
by a cast headed by Eleanor Painter.
Twice Miss Painter came to us in
"The Lilac Domino" and twice. she
went away with all hearts conquered.
just as New York thought, she
proved a genuine discovery. Her
voice is clear, strong, sweet, and
we'll produced. She has personality
oodles of it-temperament-more
oodles-and histrionic ability of no
mean dimension.
"The Princess Pat" had Its pre-
miere In Atlantic City early in Sep
tember of the current season; was
heard in Philadelphia, and taken by