davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The day book. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1911-1917, 1916-01-13
WHO CAN GIVE THE ANSWER?

WHO CAN GIVE The ANSWER!
Who can explain the following puz-
cling oddities? A bachelor trying to
advise married folks how to treat
their wives, and recommending poly
gamy as the only means for uplift-
ing womanhood. An old maid trying
to advise mothers how to bring up
children and protesting against birth
control An iIliterate employer try
ing to find errors in the work of his
bookkeeper. A high-iving, rich ras-
cal telling poor folks that wealth is
acquired by being economical and adj
vising them that good name is to be
chosen rather than riches. A hope
less sufferer trying to outtalk every
one he meets and posing as a public
orator. Dark Russia rediculing the
German kultur. Enlightened West
ern Europe joining the Russian Cos
sack to fight Germany and calling it
a fight for civilization. A country
that asks nothing for itself which
it would not ask for humanity" send
ing for the sake of humanity,
weapons to the brutal Cossack to
fight with. An ex-president, who was
awarded the Nozel prize for peace,
proving himself to be the most quar-
relsome citizen in his country. Lead
ing citizens of great humane coun-
try trying to impeach a governor be-
cause he does not believe it is right
to send militia to kill workingmen.
A mayor, who was elected only by the
grace of workingmen, proving him
self to be a Big Bill and liability
rather than an asset to the working
men. Union men ignoring the wis
dom of political economy, voting as
capitalists and running up many such
political big Bills" .Shoemakers
unable to buy shoes because they
were thrown out of work by their
own overproduction of shoes. Rather
The day book. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1911-1917, 1916-01-13
THE PUBLIC FORUM
CARL ScHURZ SCHOOL NEEDS

MlRROR.-In your newsy little pa
per / read that $4,000 has been voted
upon for an automobile for Sup't
Shoop of the board of education.
It seems a pity that the board is
so poor that it cannot vote SO cents
to buy mirror for the millinery class
of the Carl Schurz night school
Mrs. Clara HempeI, SAG Windsor Az.
The day book. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1911-1917, 1916-01-13

when confronted by a bowling mob
of judicial hypocrites, giving Him
the third degree and insisting on Him
stating who He was, where is the
conceit in 81 am that l am? Not
'conceit," but nobility, grandeur, dig
nity!-J. Frank Pickering.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-03-26

from the air the charges can he seen
shooting into the earth with the aulcl>-
ness of lightning, tearing into the
ground and tossing II about in a great
fanlike stretch several hundred feet IN
length. 1t wipes clean everything be-
fore it.
Part of the battery is included in the
stretch and the smoke now completely
conceals it Another shell tears across.
this time over the battery. The SOL
diers watching wonder whether the
guns have been seriously damaged
But Immediately following the crash
a fash Of fame shoots from the cloud
and there is a deafenlns report. Heed
less of the bombardment. the men
down there are replying to the German
fire.
Now following each report of the
shriekiug Shrapnel the guns thunder
back in answer. often so short IS the
margin that il seems impossible the
men have escaped death or injury.
Once, a second after replying. another
shell comes on and the soldiers at the
rs battery are confident some of the
gunnerS have been caught. But after
the next shell again the gun thunders
out and the men rejoice that their
companions still live.
At the battery the men can see moth
ing So they stumble about and
through experience find the breechcS
shells in fire the guns and run for their
duSouts. il is the work of second.
They are small guns and the shells are
easily handled. AS they frequently
huddle in their dugouts. laughing ner-
Nously sometimes in the excitement of
missing death by second. an inch or
so. the men are unable to tell whether
all have so far escaped. There is a
chance some may be in dugouts else
where.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-03-26
A Chicken Dinner.

TT T. ERSKINE:. British consu! to
Q Portland. said the other day
"A neutral who has just returned
from Germany declares that the block
ade is making itself felt more and
more unpleasantly. The Germans,
through. try TO bluff IT out
The neutral was invited by a Ger
man business man to dinner at his
pension or boarding house. The Ger
man boarders seemed delighted with
he fare Not so the neutral
Wen. my friendt, how vos dot for a
chicken dinner, helm" the German host
asked as they lit their cigars AT the
end.
"'Pretty good, said the neutral.
coldly: only he added. 1 usually eat
more than a chicken
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-03-26
he Pride Of France is Her Great Artillery Service

is gloom among the men Poor
George they say aud look with We
hement hate at the German lines. They
Will bury him some distance over the
hill where is a group of little rough
~ hewn crosses. They mark the grave.
of those fallen at the battery.
The guns have not been damaged
except for a fresh dent here and there
ia the steel But IT is nothing vital
The cuuncrS work hard cleaning away
the debris which covers eNervthing-
The path running by up the hill is lost
under the debris.
They are stripped tn the waists.
these men. bodies blackcned and SCARED
by smoke aud dirt. Some are cut In
places slight cuts. and they take no
notice of the blood as II trIckles down
1t is from the flying pieces of thinsf.
As We leave them OF our way down
they nod greeting much the same as
they did on the road up only there
is one less.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-03-26

n N-PRESIDENT TAFT said AT res
IL ception in Philadelphia;
THE fighting men have proved then'-
selves very brave, hut also very bar
harous / heard a joke the other dav
that indicates their barbaIity.
"A general. according to this Joke.
said TO a subordinate during the Ver-
dun assault:
We must relieve the hard pressed
Sth Corps at all costs Let the infan-
try reserves advance under cover and
draw the enemys fire by ma king
noise like cathedral.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-03-26

AS we go around in back there is the
report of one of the guns. Follow three
shots in quick succession. The noise
is still sharp and piercing, but it seems
the crashes were even sharper on the
road coming up.
The rear of the shelters is open
for the slope of the hill affords pro-
lection on this side from the shells of
the Germans. The slender barrels of
the guns sticking through the Sits OF
the shelters look toylike compared to
the massive pieces half way down. the
hill. There are four men to gun
They stand at their posts awaiting
orders
You will see what our guns can
do" the captain says.
From this part of the hill one can
look over the woods on the crest of
the trenches. The knoll has a bare
and blackened appearance. For a long
time the fighting has been heavy at
this point. 1t is too far away for one
to see distinctly the first line, but a
general network of trenches gives the
hill a pitted and worm eaten appear
auce.
At one Of the guns stands a man with
a telephone apparatus fastened over his
head TWO others stand at the breech
and fourth works along the left side
of the gun at the middle. He is slow
ly and carefully adjusting the range
finding device. Several feet off to the
side a NTH soldier is stationed at a
large case, its cover thrown off, expos
ing rows of shells
AT an order one of the men at the
breech pulls "A string and the gun
crashes out. A couple of seconds later
a cloud of thick smoke shoots upward
on the barren stretch of the hill. and
following comes the tearing crash of
the shell exploding.
Almost instantly the man at the tele-
phone gets message. 1t is from an oh
server in the trenches. He sings out
an order. the soldier at the range APP
paratuS gives d turn at screw $
here and there. another shell is passed
into the breech and the gun is fired
again. 1t is the work of a couple of
seconds. An instant later again comes
the message over the wire.
The sunners are trying to shoot di-
rect1y intA the German trenches. They
are slightly off. The message this time
was an order TO aim SO much to the left
and 50 much in front The gun is fired
repeatedly. AS the soldiers work away
the distance of the, bursting shells from
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-03-26

There is the miss of a shell. a longer
interval. and now a period of minute
or so. The Smelling is over. The SOL
diers at the IS wait a minute longer,
then venture out.
There has been misfortune at the
battery on the slope Seen through the
clearing smoke the men are lifting a
form from among Il scattering of rocks
and splimtered material under the nose
of one of the guns IT is the mangled
form of George. one of the hammers.
He has been caught and as they pick
him up ne dies. The mouth of the gun
still belches forth smoke. when the
ramming rod lies Splintered among the
debris beneath.
They carry the gunner into one of
the dueoutS and throw a blanket over
the body. He was a good comrade. one
of the merrieSt of the crew, and there
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-03-26

Some distance down the slope near
the exposed battery hangs n great
cloud OF yellow smoke n few Yards
over the ground. From he earth
arises a great fan shaped cloud Of
dust. The Germans are firing shrapnel
of large caliber at the battery on the
slope
There is little danger TO the men
down there. the soldiers say for they
are safe underground. To protect
themselves they prepare to drop down
under the apertures at the first hint of
the next shell. It comes. 1t eNplodes
some feet higher in the air this time
and nearer the battery. The difference
OF fraction of a second in the timing
OF the shell and the battery here Will
be under fire.
Another shell tears down and bursts
low over the ground. They Shrek
down every half minute now with the
regularity of clockwork. AS the shells
send their contents out over the slope
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-03-26

the trench narrows Now the shell
strikes several feet to the right and
ever so little in advance
Almost soon the sound of the
exploding she'll reaches the men at the
battery the observer in the French
trench knows the work of it. He
crouches there. peering atteutively
through little opening near the para
pet. AS the shells break only short
distance away with terrific, tearing
crashes he shuts his eyes. The muscles
Of his face and body contract until the
first scattering is over. Looking over
to the enemys trench he sees where
they fell and telephones back to the
battery. 1t is invisible from this point.
The last shell tore directly into the
trench. SO he telephones back that the
range has been reached. The men at
the battery begin sighting another gun
in the same manner, but it is pointed
at a slightly different section. 1t is the
last gun.
1t is the idea at this battery to get a
fixed range on certain section of the
trench. For several days French AIR
men have reported large masses of
Germans gathered in the trenches on
the NIL. In case OF sudden attack the
French are prepared.
other batteries of the neigh borh ood
have fixed ranges. 1t is possible at a
moments notice to spout death with A
faring wall Of flame and steel between
the trenches to hold back the adj
vancing columns. TO send ShatterinS
charges into the Darbed wire of the
German trenches to make way for
their own soldiers and to blast apart
the trenches and the troops huddled
there awaiting ord RS 10 attack. Work :
ing simultaneously. they can send thou
sands Of shells 10 a certain spot in a
few minutes.
Others of the guns are pointed at
certain strategic points of the roads
in enemy territory. Firing at an in
stant's notice. they catch the troops or
equipment they pass over, being
guided by their airmen or calculation.
Some of the guns have special ranges
parts Of them. SO il happens that a
terror and death almost as well
known in the enemy territory as by
the men who fire them
While the men at the battery are fin
lshine work for the day the Sky sud
denly fills with the Embarrassing roar
and deafeninS explosion of a shell Of
large caliber. Some of the soldiers in =
voluntarily lower their heads and bend
down in the shelters while the pieces
and debris fall about. II was close so
they crowd to the marrow Sits to see
where II burst
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-03-26

hanging from frame along the piece.
while at the massive wheel stands
other adjusting an instrument attached
to a place under the high barrel at the
word of the first man. They are the
range men.
Other soldiers have placed the shell
on a carrier at the back of the gun
and two slide it into the breech. In
back of il they place one of the little
white bags. The breech locks. The
bag contains the explosive for the pro-
pulSve force.
Finished. the men crouch at the back
of the pit slightly to one side. On
the right. with a string in his hand.
attached TO cartridge stuck into the
breech OF the gun stands another sol
der.
CAPTAIN calls out-''fire,'
The soldier with the string pulls II.
lie crouches with his face to one side.
There is a. deafenins consummate roar
1t pushes into the face. sends one
stumbling backward and shoots a
mighty pulse through the trees.
The men in the pit sent back
ward The long. huge barrel of the
gun raises its nose. mounts into the
air points high at the sky and rolls
back on it's wheels. It goes some feet
and seems to he falling over. Then
instantly it is back in its former
position.
Nm beer two, r-e-a -d-y- fire"
the captain SlibutS n Sttpiii ~ y
roar. the earth shakes again and the
gun in the other pit rearS up as
though from the ground, rolls back and
rumbles forward again.
The ears ring with consuming
noise dried twigs and parts of foliage
flutter down one stands there duly
trying to collect the senses. II is but
for an instant.
x =
Meanwhile the hustle is renewed.
Another shell slides into the first pit,
is swung into the breech from which
comes a thick column of smoke, the
lock swings back and closes. A sol
der. face and arms blackened and
greasy rams long rod into the bar
rel from the mouth and the two on the
left busy at the instruments. give oc-
casional slight turns to a wheel while
the squirting goes on. With incredible
speed born of long practice the work
is finished and the men stand by. The
same thing begins TO go on in the
other pit.
The order is repeated and gain
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-03-26
ChiIdren's NeU White Boots

Are here in many stunning new styles. Made Of
Nubuck. Canvas and sea Isle Duck. Priced as low as
popular English Laced Shoe models for growing girls
sizes ne to 2S2so to $3.50. y. TO So to S.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-03-26

There is stock of tobacco regular
and special wines, and enough canned
goods and boxed eatables to fiji out
several shelves of a grocery store 4
soldier comes out and takes The order
It is pleasant here in the arbor AT
an opening in the foliage one can see
through the woods across the valley TO
the hill where the trenches are
on the other side up the slope of the
hill the captain points some distance
out over the ground. There side by
side are five shell holes. each one sew
eral feet across. They line up so even
ly that they almost make a straight
line.
There is remarkable thing" the
captain says. with shrug. Their
range is less remarkable but some of
their guns are good. or their shells no
doubt. 1t is freak, but our ..5s could
not have done better. The guns that
fired those shells are five miles away"
AS he speaks the air is split with two
sharp, piercing reports that tear down
along the hill. They sound like shells
bursting near by. so near in fact that
the head involuntarily lowers Two
more sharp detonations follow imme-
diately. The captain laughs.
Just our las over there" he says
pointing up over the hill. They've
moved them down little. Found their
old range. Now they're back there
half mile
The crashes Of the guns still throb in
the ears The noise. of the - guns
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-03-26

bursts the terrific volume of sound. AS
it pulses out it seems hardly possible
that steel. even the truest, can with
stand such strain. 1t seems that the
gun is brea king into splinters.
The great guns are fired again and
again. They explode about half minute
apart while the captain stands there
between the pits directing the tire.
Every body works at capacity and with
perfect system. Standing directly be
hind the guns with certain amount
of luck and uuickness of eye il is pos
sible to see the shell tear into the air
and disappear into the sky.
The pieces are fired dozen times or
so each. then are silent. The captain
comes over with perspiration running
over his face and a smile. 1t is over.
he says. They have just fred at "a
town about ten miles on the other side.
SO the crashes of the shells as they
exploded were not heard.
They'll learn by dropping shells into
our town. he continues. They killed
forty-seven down there yesterday
Women and children too
He gives a vehement shake to his
fist in the direction of the German
lines as he puts his orders into his
pocket. Written in the orders are the
number of shells. the exact time and
the range of each gun as il was fired.
He had only to follow them out.
Meanwhile the men have wiped clean
the breecheS, rammed the long barrels
and packed away the delicate lookinr Q
little instruments used at the side for
the range finding. Now they lay the
thick branches of evergreens back over
the pieces. In a minute ii is hard to
see the guns at all
We make our way back through the
trees over n much travelled path. It
runs around numerous shell holes II
suddenly pulls up amid ii group of
strange looking. moundlike things
among the trees. They stick several
feet above the ground aud are made of
deep layers of earth, heavy logs and
rocks Al the sides are doors and
sometimes steps. cut into the ground,
lead down to them. Here are the quar-
tiers of the men. Some distance on are
scores of these dwellings,. II is a ba =
terry village
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-03-26

German trenches fixed the battery in the
minds of the soldiers as distinct from the
other guns Of the neighborhood Bat
terIes are changed frequently. almost
daily sometimes. and now. except for the
pieces and allowed to enter the clump of
ceased to give them thought.
From among the trees at the outer edge
OF the cluster two soldiers step out and
He is recognized. they salute. and he
passes. He comes upon an opening in
the trees and gives orders to soldiers
standing around. Instantly there is aC
tivity.
In the subdued light of the afternoon
and in the shadows of the trees it is
some time before the eyes become aC
customed to the men and things that
move about in all directions.
Soldiers spring w from nowhere APP
parentlv as they suddenly stand out in
the distance. They wear long cloaks
daubed in splotcheS like clusters of
leaves. and caps of the same material.
They are easy enough to see nearby,
but at a distance unless Il sharp look
out Is kept on their movements they fade
away and are lost.
There must be at least score OF men
fastening here and there in the small
opening. They move with regularity and
system. Some open large steel boxes
and take out little white bags filed with
something. while others in groups labor
iously strain with the long heavy things
that are shells
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-03-26

distinguish the earthen SheltefS over
the pieces at distance. The bat
teries are we'll concealed.
Frequently the air fills with the
As the shells Shrek by overhead they
seem TO gather IN velocity after leaving
the guns Here. as ia the trenches, is
something oppressiv" and uncanny-
opposed 10 life u is possible that the
Germans viii open fire on the stretch
al any instant. and so no time is lost
In Fastening along, The captain says
the Germans are in the habit of bonn
harding this place late in the after
noon
sort of path leads up the hill. Some
distance along II passes by the rear of
battery. It is dug half way into the
ground. but it is otherwise unshelter-
cd. The guns are of almost obso
let" caiibcr and or the barrels are
painted names. one is known AS
'Marthe" The Germans know the To-
cation Of this battery almost as well
as the men who man it. for it has been
here long time. 1t is one Of the few
exposed batteries the front in
France.
Orders have never been given to
move ii. Those who man ii are among
the braveSt Of the French artillery.
They famed for deeds OF daring:
in keeping up reply fire under the
heavy bombardment of the Germans.
Around the battery the earth is torn
up several feet deep with holes Of all
sizes. The land corresponds almost to
section Of land between the trenches.
As We pass the men stand at the doors
Of their dugouts. loungine around o.
working. unmindful of their danger.
They smile and nod greetings.
Further on is what seems to be an
other exposed battery. Closer "bserva-
tion shows it to be a battery of dummy
guns. They are constructed from cart
wheels and massive logs with branches
of trees laid over to hide the fraud
from the airmen. 1t is to lead them to
believe there is a battery here. The
Germans fire frequently at this battery
1t gives the real battery some distance
away measure of protection
Not far ahead. almost, without know
ing it. we come suddenly upon little
shelters built low over the ground
and made of thick layers of earth. wood
and stone. There are four Of them. In
front Of each one is long, narrow
opening, and on looking sharply are
seen long slender noses of guns stick
ing through. 1t is the rs battery.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-03-26
BY WILLIAM T. MARTIN.

< DALE a mile on the other side OF
ILL the scattering of woods at the
top Of the hull is the first lire.
q q With the woods ends a region
where. after the fighting of weeks. the
air is filled with Il strained. weighted
element. things seem to shiver. and the
soldiers move about stealthily and
speak in whispers.
Here is suddenly gentle land OF
hills and valleys. Down over the slope
across the broad valley TO the hill on
the other side, a mile away. is nothing
indicative of war save for the few SOL
diers plodding here and there and the
gaping holes of various sizes that dot
the scape as far as the eyes dstin-
guish.
In the present hull of the fighting the
auietness is unbroken. except occasion-
ally by a dull crack. a report or muf-
fed explosion back there. over the
land away from the woods is an air of
undisturhed peace.
Concealed from the keen eyes Of the
German airmeu among the many clus-
ters of trees that spring up here and
there and extend over the crest of the
hill yonder are guns enough. the cap
tain of artillery says 20 blow the enc
my's trenches out of existence in few
minutes if it is necessary.
He has charge of a battery of big
guns half way up the slope on the
other side. They are longrange guns.
two of the biggest in the sector. and
he is on his way to them. Within an
hour he has orders to fire on "A town
FAR over on the other side. We must
hurry" he says. There is little time
His guns have been silent now for
over week. From the road that runs
by almost under their noses the two
great barrels. spotted the color of foil
age. covered with evergreenS and hid
den among the cluster of trees, are in
visible. The soldiers passing by day
and night on their way to and from
the trenches have almost forgotten the
battery.
The deep resonance of the pieces as
they figured in the recent attacks or shot
thunder in the dead of night with mes
sage OF death to some town back of the