davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The broad ax., 1916-12-09
PAY FARES AFTER 20 YEARS.
Charity Finally Took 81 That Railway
Official Refused to Accept.

Findlay, o. Philosophers for CEN
turies have attempted to analyze the
conscience Of the human race and what
prompts it, but have been unsuccessful.
That such a thing does really exist,
Charles F. Smith, general manager OF
the Toledo, Bowling Green and South
ern railway, can now testify.
Recently he was sitting in his Office
when two men walked in and each
threw a fifty cent piece on his desk, ex-
planning that twenty years ago they
had ridden from the north side to the
Tangent depot without paying fare.
That was because they were compelled
to stand most Of the way. During all
this time their consciences, they said,
had troubled them and they got no rest
until they had returned the money
with interest.
Mr.. Smith refused to take the money,
but DR.. J. P. Baker, head Of the As
sociated charities, who happened In
Smiths Office at the time, confiscated
the money for that purpose.
The broad ax., 1916-12-09
Maina,s Gum Industry.

Gathering spruce gum has long since
become one of the steady minor indus
tries Of Maine, where every year about
1900 tons OF crude gum, valued at
third Of a million dollars, are harvested
The crude article is formed as the re-
suit of injury to red and black spruce
trees. Hedgehogs feed upon the inner
bark of trees, and the injuries they
cause, known as hog cuts" are fruit
full sources of gum. Lightning scars,
frost cracks, old blazes and the abra-
sions caused by falling trees and even
sap sucker drills are other occasions
for gum formation. Around the edges
of such wounds little nOdules appear
and gradually develop into Jumps or
teats. A wide scar heals slowly and
may produce gum around the entire
wounded area, while a narrow seam
closes so quickly that only a single row
Of these nuggets" is possible.-Argo,
naut
The broad ax., 1916-12-09
Whs. the soldiers Eat.

The food Of soldiers In the field va
ries according to their nationalities.
The principal meal Of the Russian SOL
dier consists of stchee, something be-
tween a Cruel and soup, the chief In
gradients Of which are cabbage, pota-
toes, oatmeal and fat meat, preferably
pork. These are boiled together, with
salt and other seasoning, the result be-
ing a thick, nourishing and by no
means unpalatable dish.
The Italian soldiers, who are splen-
did marchers, live largely on fartna-
ceous diet-mearoni, spaghetti and 30
on. They are also very partial to fruit,
which is issued, together with wine
and cigars, as part Of their rations
whenever possible.
No German soldier considers his da1.
ly menu complete without sausage OF
some kind or other, and the stronger
its flavor she better. A nutritious pea
soup is also staple Of the army ration
The mainstay of the French soldier
consists of his beloved soup" as he
calls 1t. 1t is really thick, nourish
ing stew, made Of meat, potatoes and
various other vegetables.
The English Tommy" is omnivor
Gus. but the things he loves above al
else are bacon and jam.-Youth's Com
nanion
The broad ax., 1916-12-09
Transformed Mine.

An old abandoned mine near Saal-
field, in the Thuringian forest, which
in the time of Luther was worked for
silver, copper, alum and vitriol, has
been discovered by Berlin geologist
to have developed into one Of the most
beautiful caverns. In the course Of
centuries the water percolating through
the minerals has built up throughout
the mine a wonderful labyrinth of stall
actites and stalagmites, thrown to-
'gether with a profusion and brilliance
of color which is said to be without
parallel. Deep greens, vivid blues, the
purest white, yellows Of all shades-in
fact, the entire scale Of color Is repro
duced over and over again, and yet
the colors melt into each other so
gently that nowhere is the impression
Of disagreeable contrast produced.
The broad ax., 1916-12-09
SEVEN THOUSAND MILE
VOYAGE IS MADE BY TUG
Mistaken a Dozen Times For Sub.
marine In Trip Across
Atlantic.

New York.-A remarkable sea voy-
age of 1000 miles, from Dordrecht,
Holland, to Tampico, Mexico, in tug
boat but sixty feet in length, with a
draft of three feet, has just been COM
pleted by a crew Of men under the
leadership of Captain ii. Waltaker.
CAPTAIN Waltaker and his crew, OF
whom one was e. NJ. Eden, a young
artist Of Amsterdam, who made the
trip to satisfy a longing for adventure,
started home on the steamship Nieuw
Amsterdam.
The voyage required eighty-four days
time and was made doubly hazardous
by the fact that the tug could carry
only twenty-seven tons Of coal. Ere
quent attempts to stop passing vessels
to replenish the bunkers failed. Each
time the presence Of the small boat In
the path of a steamship would send the
vessel zigzagging away in the BELIEF
that the tug might be disguised sub
marine.
1--WE were taken for a submarine a
dozen times during the trip" said Mr.
Eden, "and each time the vessel took
to flight and we could not catch her
although we were badly in need OF
coal and provisions"
The tug was the Fuerta, built by the
Corona Oil company in its shipyards
in Holland for use in towing oil barges
in the Panuco river. In ordinary cir
cumstances the tug would have been
transported lashed to ships deck, but
the freight rate demanded was deemed
exorbitant, and Captain Waltaker was
selected to make the voyage with the
tug under her own power.
The broad ax., 1916-12-09
fWo THOUSAND VOICES IN
CHORUS CHRISTMAS EVE
VIII Be Supplemented by soloist and
Orchestra Of Seventy Pieces.

New York.JThe New York Commu-
nifty chorus, under the direction or
Harry Rarnhart, will try to have al
most all New York sing on Christmas
eve. There will be Christmas songs
around the Christmas tree in Madison
square, and later the chorus and as
many other people as the place can
hold will I'LL Madison Square Garden
and sing HandeIs Messiah"
The chorus probably will contain be-
tween 1,5OO and 1000 persons, who
have been .practicing the oratorio for
two months. They will be supple
mented by a soloist and an orchestra
of seventy pieces:
Mr.. Barnhart, who, with Arthur Far
well, the composer; w. kirkpatrick
Brice, the treasurer, and Claude Brag-
don. the architect and thefcreator of
the Light" half Of t;'Song and Light, I"
was impressed first by the national in
eptitude for music When listening to
q band concert in a park at Rochester
he suddenly was struck by the idea
that the mute and enchanted crowd
would be glad to sing if they had only
the opportunity and training.
To fill this need he organized a COM
munity chorus in Rochester and later
q smaller one at Lyons, N. Y. 1t was
only in January Of 1916 that the New
York Community chorus was attempt
ed, but since then its ranks have been
expanding rapidly until it now is neces-
sary to transfer it from the auditorium
of De Witt Clinton high school to Mad
ison Square. Garden for the Christmas
celebration.
The broad ax., 1916-12-09
Salaries With Silver Linings.

The highest salaried man in Japan
does not receive enough money In that
form to pay for the gasoline used By
his automobile, for salaries Of the man.
ayers Of business corporations are IN,
significantly small, says the Japan
Times. Salaries, however, are not TIE
total income of business men. Under
the japanese custom there is hbefl
bonus system, and the bonus amouns
to 300 or 400 times the monthly sal
ary in some cases.
The Mitsui company is regarded =
the biggest corporation in Japan, anO
its directors are noted for their largs
incomes. Each director Is said to re
ceiye in the form Of a bonus aoOu'
100000 a year, although his saiaf!
may be only $3.50 a month.
The broad ax., 1916-12-09

from English sources states that the
bottom of the canal through this sec
ton is found to be bog, which Is con-
stantly being pushed up and through
which the dredges have difficulty In
maintaining channel; further. that 1t
Is acknowledged on the part Of those
In charge that the canal Is a failure
and that American engineers are seek
ing information in England relative to
the Nicaragua route.
"Such reports are false, and there Is
no foundation for them. Gaillard cut
extends from Pedro Miguel to Gamboa,
a distance of SIS miles. Every foot OF
the existing channel was excavated
through rock, all of which had to be
drilled and blasted. The bog theory Is
a myth.
1.-THE cut has been stable with the ex-
ception of the portions in the vicinity
of Culebra and at Cucaracha. The
slides at Culebra are on both sides of
the waterway. occupying a length of
$500 feet, while the channel affected
by the Cucaracha slide is less than
1000 feet long, so that out Of total
length Of S.75 miles only O.SS mile is
affected"
The broad ax., 1916-12-09
FINDS HIDDEN ROOMS
IN HOUSE OF MYSTERY
CARPENTER Work on Old Place Re-
veaIs Apartments None
Knew About.

Chicago.-At 1924 Ellis Park is an old
three story frame building that was
home when Ellis park was woodland.
For the last eight or nine years, In
remodeled form, it has been an apart
ment building.
A few days ago a carpenter, tearing
away old planking to build a porch,
broke through a wall and made discov-
cries which made 1924 Ellis Park a
house Of mystery.
Between the second and third floors
he found a hidden apartment, Of which
not even John Chamales, new owner Of
the building, knew. Carefully Frank
Wilder. the carpenter, entered through
the hole he had made in the wall.
He found a complete set Of rooms
running from the front to the rear of
the building. The walls and ceiling
were unfinished. There were no WIN
dows and no visible means Of exit.
There was a small table In one corner
with a few dishes on it and an old cop
per lamp. Rust covered, but with q
frying pan of ancient days still on it,
there was q stove. Some straw In
corner seemed to indicate where the
mysterious occupant Of the mystery
chamber had slept
A piece of wire between two walls
served as a hanger for an old coat.
Over everything was a thick layer OF
dust.
In hunting for an exit Wilder came
upon a panel in the wall fastened with
a hinge, two big iron hooks and bal
that fitted into iron clasps. 1t opened
upon the staircase and so matched the
paneling that it was invisible from the
outside.
The broad ax., 1916-12-09
Our First Theat..

In 1752 the first theater IN a.
ed States was opened in the co,, oss
Virginia at old Williamsbn,s Z
originator was an English scto, e. ~
liam Hallam, ST., who brought n. WI
company from overseas and 80 'h
'The Merchant Of Venice q. n ata
itial performance. The idea e u
rapidly, and soon New York ph,,a d
phia and the other leading con-
ties Of colonial America each -
theater. While the Virginia nla.S s ~
was the first in the United St,t..
tors had played In the colonies -, a>
this date. The first Is said n O's
been the English strolling plav.. ave
thony Aston, who was known =. =, AZ
Medley. The actor and his art !, - A'
day were generally despised h1 "a =
Puritanical colonists. The M,ss,.s s
setts legislature passed a Law sS"..,
after amateurs had given sTha ~
phans" at the Coffee House IN r.. or
In 1749 which forbade such narto."
ances, prescribing a penalty for :.
tors and spectators alike of So s.as s
Exchange.
The broad ax., 1916-12-09
DEER ATTACKS POSTMAN.
Herd Within Three Miles of Pennsylva
mia Town.


Huntington, Pa.-Clark Smith, the
oldest rural route agent attached to the
Huntington postofice, met with spir-
tied attack from big buck deer while
on his return trip few evenings ago
within three miles Of this place.
A herd of six does, led by a large
buck, had been feeding in a mountain
meadow and were about to emerge into
the open highway just as Smith was
driving leisurely past.
His horse, a calico colored bronco,
seemed to have aroused the ire Of the
buck, which leaped a fence and at
tackled the bronco by rearing up and
endeavoring to strike 1t with its fore
feet. Mr.. Smith used his whip vigor-
ously on the deer. The bronco took
fright and finally drew itself and
driver to a place Of safety.
A herd of ten deer, including one elk,
has been seen by a farmer at the
further end of Smiths route.
The broad ax., 1916-12-09
Honesty Extraordinary.

A traveller writing in an Italian mag
azine says that the Swiss canton Of
Ticino is inhabited by the most honest
folk it is possible to imagine. In most
Of the Ticinese villages, the writer
says, the oldest inhabitants do not n.
member any case Of thieying, however
petty, within a lifetime. Lost objecn
when found must never be taken
away. They must be left where they
were dropped or placed in conspicE
GUS position, so that the rightful own.
er can find his property more easily.
The case is cited Of an American WON.
an tourist who lost her purse on n
excursion In the Val Capriasca. The
purse contained gold coin and Jew
eled watch. Upon returning from hei
trip she found the purse with its con
tents intact on a little heap Of leaves
SO placed that it could not fail to d
tract her attention.
The broad ax., 1916-12-09
CHINESE HAVE PLAN TO
RID HOUSE OF GHOSTS
Urge Novel Method Of Taking Haunt
From American Legation.

Washington.-A legend has gone
around Peking that the American le-
cation Is haunted; that the shade Of an
officer who lost his life during the
Boxer massacres Of white men In 1900
is In the habit Of occasionally visiting
his old quarters In the legation, greatly
to the discomfort Of the occupants.
This aroused considerable interest
among the Chinese In Peking. Their
own spooks, being daily or rather night
" companions, do not excite much at
tention. But a foreign ghost is quite a
new thing. A Chinese gentleman named
Hsu Mai Hsuan has taken the matter
seriously to heart and has felt moved
to write to the American minister eX,
pressing his sympathy for the aftiiction
which the legation Is undergoing in the
matter of a haunted room.
He says that experience has shown
In China that the way to rid a house
of ghosts Is to remove the roof OF the
building, leaving the interior OF the
room exposed to the sun and air fol
some tens Of days, after which the
roof may be restored and the ghost will
no longer frequent the place. Mr.. Hsu
said that he humbly offered this sug
gestion, "as foreigners may not be ia
miliar with the proper method Of han
ding ghosts in China"
If congress, says the Tokyo Adver
tiser, is asked to appropriate a sum fol
the reroofing of the legation at Pekine
the American people will now under
stand what it Is all about.
The broad ax., 1916-12-09
GETS ses A WEEK WASHING.
Girl Gave Up stenosraphy to Take In
Clothes.

Girl Gave UP Steho9rePhy 20 'eNs "'
Clothes.
:. Norristown, Pa.-Quitttng her posi-
tion as stenographer to go to the wash
tub. Miss Georgianna Cuthbert Is max
ing s6S q week, and she handles only
FIVE washes to do II, according to her
testimony in the equity action In which
she is defendant and Mrs. Marie Lus-
son, her nefghbor, plaintiff.
Miss Cuthbert Informed Judge Swartz
that one family alone paid her $50, an
other S12, two 50 and a fifth So a week.
She gets the business, she says, be-
cause she does not use bleach or acids
In cleansing them.
"None of the clothing I handle Is
soiled, only mussed," she said.
Mrs. Marie Lusson seeks to prevent
Miss Cuthbert erecting a laundry In
the rear of her lot in Ardmore, Pa
Mrs. Lusson says that laundry there
would be undesirable, unhealthy and
In violation of building restrictions.
In the testimony experts said laun'
dry would be unobjectionable; that
there would be no dirt, no noise, nc
smell and, In fact, no reason why this
woman should not be permitted to pro
ceed with the laundry.
The broad ax., 1916-12-09
Why In It?

Why Is it that when there are two
swinging doors IS per cent Of the peo-
pie open the left hand door? Why don't
they open the right hand one?
Why is it that 60 per cent Of the peo-
pie walk on the wrong side or In the
middle Of the sidewalk? Why don't
they walk on the right side?
Why is it that 80 per cent Of the peo-
pie don't know how to turn corner or
enter a store? Why is it that they
keep close to the building when they
ought to be on the outside edge of the
sidewalk to enter as they should?>
Why is it that people will stand like
this q. on the sidewalk and talk. Why
is it they will not stand like this -.
Thereby taking up one-half as much
space. Why is it?-Boston Post.
The broad ax., 1916-12-09
SAYS He BURIED GOLD.
Old Man on Way to English Workhouse
Tells of IL.

Slo MAN on way " IuSioh WI NhSeSe
Tells of IL.
Corning, Cal.-Mrs. T. L. Barkle of
Newlyn, England, In a letter to her
son, the Rev. T. j. Barkle Of this city
states an old man named Kempe, who
came from California less than q dozen
years ago, was found on the verge of
starvation and taken to the workhouse.
Among the old mans effects was found
nearly $1,000. This was all made in
California, and on the way to the
workhouse Kempe said he had buried
about $1,000 in California in a hole
five feet deep, but never could find it.
Little is known Of Kempe except that
he was a miner In California and re,
turned to England eleven or twelve
years ago.
Somewhere in the mining district OF
California a bag containing $1,000 is
buried.
The broad ax., 1916-12-09
CANAL A SUCCESS
Major General Goethals Says
Slides Will Cease.
MAKES REPLY TO CRITICISMS.

Declares That Notwithstanding calam
. ity HowIsrs Obstacles Will Be Over
come For All Time-6og Theory q
Myth. a. Existing Channel Was Ex-
eavated Through Rock.
Washigton.zDeclaring that the earth
movements which have frequently IN
terrupted traffic through the Panama
canal will finally be overcome for all
time, Major General George W. Goe-
thals, in his final report as builder OF the
canal and governor Of the zone, made
public by the war department, replies
sharply to criticisms Of the giant cut,
which he charges have seriously affect.
ed its commercial rating.
"For some unaccountable reason" he
says, ''there seems to be general be-
lief that the entire length Of the cut Is
affected. A report emanating recently
The broad ax., 1916-12-09
DREAMED ABOUT SNAKES.
Then He Woke Up to Find Three Foot
Ra.tIer In His Room.

Then he woke UP 10 riho ihree Foo'
Ra.sIer In His Room.
Altoona, Pa. - George Merits OF
Franklinville, Huntingdon county, toss
ed In the throes Of frightful night
mare and dreamed Of rattlesnakes. In
bed with Merits was Samuel Alley OF
the same place.
When Merits came to himself he still
believed himself dreaming, for a hid
eous rattle sounded In his ears. Alley
also heard it.
The frightful whirr maintained
steady cadence, and both men were
then aware that a rattlesnake was in
their room. Having no light handy,
the men were imprisoned in their bed
for some time.
Finally q match and lantern were
procured. The snake, more than three
feet long, with seven rattles and but
ton, was coiled in the center OF the
floor. 1t was killed.
The broad ax., 1916-12-09
WANTS TO GET OUT OF JAIL
Amandus KessIer's Plea to Join Marine
Corps Likely to Go Unheeded.

Corps Likely TO 20 Ohheeoeo'
New York.-Because he Is a good
porch climber, rifle shooter and has
other marked accomplishments, Aman-
dus Kessler wants to get out OF jail at
Easton, Pa. and become a fighter for
Uncle Sam in the ranks of the United
States marine corps, according to an
appealing letter addressed to the ma
rine recruiting station in this city.
Amandus wrote several pages In his
patriotic outburst and promised to use
his influence to awaken his fellow pris-
oners to the call Of the flag If the ma
rines would only come and get him out.
Although the young man claims to be
a good, healthy feller," unfortunately
his morals are not in the same flourish
Ing condition, so Amandus and his pals
must languish in prison while the ma
rine corps remains heartless but un-
contaminated.
The broad ax., 1916-12-09
Very Free Verse.

Vers libre is certainly taking hold.
Much might be said in this connection
Of its form, its content and whether
proficiency in it is innate or acquired.
Let it suffice for the moment to record
what happened when a music teacher
asked her pupils to make up little
verses and then make melodies to &C.
company them. One little boy said he
never had made up verses.
"Just little verse;" said the teacher
"Well," said the boy, dreamily:
Sometimes the sky at night
Looks like a spotted egg.
New York Post.
The broad ax., 1916-12-09
HID FOR TWENTY-FIVE YEARS.
Fled After Killing PIaymatsi Comes
Homo For Trial.

Murphy, n. Gin an alteration
with playmate twenty-five years ago
R. L. Phillips threw a rock, striking
the other boy on the head, killing him.
Fearful Of the consequences, he fed,
and for a quarter Of century his
whereabouts have not been known
even to his own father.
Recently Phillips appeared here and
gave himself rEo the authorities after
revealing his iGentity. He had been in
the west and had accumulated consid-
cradle means. His own father and
brothers did not recognize him.
He will stand trial for the death of
his boyhood playmate.
The broad ax., 1916-12-09
Woman Overtakes Bear.

Newport, Ore.-Miss Dorothy Lowe,
a schoolteacher at Agate Beach, start
ed recently to walk to Otter Greek to
visit friends. In the gathering dark,
ness she saw what she thought was q
woman few feet ahead Of her. Wish
ing company, she quiekehed her step
Catching up with the stroller, Miss
Lowe discovered she had overtaken q
black bear. She permitted the bear to
proceed without announcing her pres
ence.
The broad ax., 1916-12-09
PRIZE DOG SAVES MASTER.
Barks an Alarm When Auto Pins Or
Hair Against Garage Wall.

Bridgeport. Conn.-Dr. James E.
Hair, widely known in this country
and Canada as a dog expert. probably
was saved from death by one Of his
prize pets when the automobile he was
cranking shot forward and pinned him
against the wall Of the garage.
The barking of the dog brought
neighbors. who found DR.. Hair uncOn-
scious. He was severely bruised in the
abdomen, but Is expected to recover.
Apparently he had thought the engine
neutral and had started 1t without set
ding the brake.
The broad ax., 1916-12-09
Fine Luck.

Mrs. Exe-So you've got a new gVND
after all. l thought you said wv
couldn't afford one this season! MS
Wye-So I did. But you see my nu' m
band had a streak of luck recenp
He broke his leg the next day alss
taking out an accident policy that P"''
$50 a week.-Boston Transcript
The broad ax., 1916-12-09
leual Wit.

A lawyer was walking into court re
Gently with his length of arm taAeu
to hold a pile of law books. -,
To him said a friend, pointing 10 nD
books:
"Why, 1 thought you carried all tnA'
stuff in your head"
$50 do" quickly replied the learneu
counsel, with a knowing wink. Ine''
are for the judges"
The broad ax., 1916-12-09
Work Min. In U. 8. Supreme Court.

NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS., motors and
other electrical apparatus whizzed and
whirred in the supreme court chamber
at Washington when the justices view
ed a miniature mining plant in full op-
Grafton. The demonstration, unique In
the courts history, was held to give
the justices an actual view Of min
Ing patent In operation, one used In
many countries and attacked as In
valid In q case recently reargued.
The broad ax., 1916-12-09
Struck the Wronq Spot.

A man lost his wife ana us
both in the same week. His neisn.,
tried to console him hy hintms -,
they would see that he got anV''
wife.
"Yes; you're willing ~ get m "a
other wife," said he, "but none u
offers to get me another cow
The broad ax., 1916-12-09
Shot at Movie Picture,

Hammond. Ind.-Patrons Of the
Lytic theater were thrown into q panic
here when John Sebastian, q foreigner
whipped out q revolver and killed the
villain. who was choking the beautiful
heroine In the movie. The shot pune
tured the arch fiend's breast. He was
choking the lady" said John. a. q 20
liceman led him away.
The broad ax., 1916-12-09
No Inke. Eithar.

isn't it awful the way prices have
gone upT
Sit surely is. Just think, my hus-
band will have to work three weeks to
get money enough to pay for this SIM
pie little gown I have on."-Detroit
Free Press.
The broad ax., 1916-12-09
Scholars Read Original Poems.

westmont, n. J.-Eighteen grade pu-
plls In the public schools read original
poems during the afternoon session,
creating considerable amusement and
uncovering some latent literary talent
Recently each pupil In this grade was
required to make q ave minute address
without manuscript.