davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-12-07
PRICES FIFTY YEARS AGO

The present widespread discussion of the
high cost Of almost all commodities. espe-
Ciaily foodstufTs, served to recall the fact
that high present prices are. they have
been exceeded at various times in the past
In the early part of May 1867, spring wheat
flour sold at wholesale In the Chicago mar
ket at $3.50 to SIS barrel and white
winter wheat -four at SIC to $3.50 Retail
prices We're about $3.50 to 81 barrel
higher. Winter wheat flour from Nashville,
Tenn sold at $3.50 During the first ten
days of May. 1857, spring wheat sold In
round lots In Chicago at S2.75 to 50. one
car on track sold at a05 and one car In
bags AT t3,lO delivered \ Chicago miller
sold 10000 bushels choice milling wheat to
AN interior Illinois miller. for which hc re-
ceived a check for 100000 Gold at that
time was worth Sl35 to $i.36 in green
backs which would make the relative
price on gold basis about S22O
In November, 1864 corn sold up to
El4lls Il bushel, and In May 1867, oats
sold at 30 cents bushel, Hams were
salable at 20 to 20 cents "A pound. Live
hogs at times reached $ll.5O to $13 per 100
pounds and dressed hogs In season at
$3.50 to $3.50 hundred pounds
on the other hand. there were times when
prices ruled decidedly In favor Of the con
sumer-when farm products were on the
bargain counter and farming was un-
profitable In August 1858. good cattle at
Chicago sold at 81 tn s225 hundred
pounds, year later spring wheat sold at
4d to % cents white corn sold at G2 to SO
cents. and oats at 2S cents. In October
1861, corn sold at II to 2Oi. cents a bushel
according TO quality. In June 1861 oatn
sold at 10 cents
In 1898. regarded as the year Of general
depression, good brands OF spring wheat
hour sold AT SO to 50 so barrel and winter
wheat -four at S225 TO 81 G5 Wheat sold
range for the year was 4SY to SEN cents
Corn sold as low as 1914 cents bushel
while oats touched a low price Of las,
cents -
In 1895 mess pork declined to $500 n
barrel and the range for the year was So 80
pounds, At the present time the frelpht ON
hour from Chicago To New York Is about
one,eighth that reported years ago.-New
York Evening Post
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-12-07
When Century Began

4. u. R.--The question whether the cen.
tury began January l. 900, or January l..
1901, has been matter of unusually bitter
controversy. The scientific" view has been
that II began with 1901. hut we have Hil-
laire Belloc's word for II that the Catholic
Church has decided that January L. 1900
began the new century As "A matter Of
fact. there is no basis for the so-caIled
scientific" contention, because. as every
one knows. the actual date OF the birth of
Christ s uncertain So that, as our era
Is measured according 20 church con-
VentiOn. IL is as well 10 leave the decision
with the church whose tradition has come
down TO us from the beginning OF the era
The manner in which the 1901 theory was
put forth was I'm line with the notion that
presumably Christ was born about January
I. OF the year l. and that as a century is
100 years the first century was not COM
pleted until December 81 100 hut there
Is no reason why this figuring should be
applied 10 this Instance. Andrews gives
the date OF Chrlsts birth as probably In
December Of the Roman year T4g, or 6
b O. some authorities say H. c. At
any rate the whole controversy about the
century's beginning seems useless. as either
theory, accepted or rejected. would have
no appreelable effect, good or bad
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-12-07

theft elders have faiied 20 accomplish.
Pope Benedict believes that the happy
children ~ America, without distinction
Of faith or class. At this approach Of an.
othor winter which, Il II announced, viii
be even more severe and painful than
the two preceding years. will vie, In their
innocent pride. with each other 20 be
able TO extend TO their little brothers and
sisters ~ the Belgian nation. even
though across the immense ocean the
helping hand and the offerings Of that
charity which knoweth no dlstnnce'
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-12-07
LITERATURE GREATER THAN
DIPLOMACY

HENRY VAN DYKE resigns as Min
A'Aistor to The Hague that he may
have time to write. We have many men
who could serve us acceptably In Hol
land. but there are too few with the
ability to produce story like The
Other Wise Man"
One such story as this IL worth more
to the world than dozen diplomatic
triumphs. When this great war, the
outbreak OF which deprived MIR. vnn
Dyke OF the leisure which ne expected to
enjoy, IN forgotten or remembered only
as horrible nightmare. THE Other
Wise Man" will be on the reading table
OF the devout and In the libraries Of
those who like literature for it's own
sake.
The whilom Princeton professor OF
English proves by his resignation that
he has proper appreciation OF the
relativity of values.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-12-07
Tom Days Column
AuNT BErsY

AUNT BEIht
Aunt Bctsy appears IN me paper each
Might
A gentle and mothcriy soul.
who teaches non hoto 10 keep sRyertodr,
bright
And hotr to net nd Of a mole.
WJo drinks IN me trisdom niong tCith
her ten
And mpymUrs "she seems IKE ssic,
Aunt Betsvr'
n you ionHt 10 make soup from hc bones
that pop sarc.
Aunt Bctsv b charmed TO assist;
aunt Bctsv tCW ten vou inst hotg 10
behave.
n DoR are siriccn and unkisscd.
Sister rriics. "U Dou saD so. ,Con't
kiss mn beau.
For DoD tocre Oirl once, and you ought
Ia kBoir--
Aunt Bcfsp'
aunt Bct,p takes bccr 1hcu she caat
agoyd rDc.
aunt Bcisy has ehiSEcrs 10 trim.
she's kuotrn 10 The boDs as "a regular
OuD'
IN prirnfc NE dHstrrys 10 "Jim"
she sports En0lSh t,recdS and No. .
shoe.
But all me 0iris iouc her our hats og
tO Uou
Aunt BctsW
LTTTLE NELL.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-12-07
Answers to Yesterdays Quiz

1. Henry Van DYKE Is Minister 10 the Nrther-
lands,
2 The ordnal number for any Congress Can he
determined by taking the year Ia which lt
IL 10 go out Of oifice, SuhtrnctinE from u
l5aO Uhe year the first Congress ns-
sembledl and dividing the result by two.
For example, l7SO from 1917 leaves 1875
divide bS two and We have Bii 81 the
present Congress Is the slNtS-tOurth,
3 Thr Rugged Mountains OF which Poe wrote.
AlbemnTle County. Their ragged profile
II responsible for their name,
l. The pIstoie was "a gold coin of Spanish origin
worth nhOut' 81. 80, They were largely In
use 10 this country before our coinage was
established
.. The ''Grnnd Old Man Of the Outdoors" Is
John burroughs,
a. The Golden Gate Is a passage one mile wide
aud four miles long, north Of san Fran
cisco aud connecting san Francisco Hay
with the ocean. The Golden Horn IN u
lunE, marrow Inlet one side 0f Con-
stantlnOpc
T. The name Of the card game pronounced
pea knuCkle" II spelled 'plnOchlc." y"
T. Penn's house. before II was moved to the
Park was on Leiltia street the little
thoToughinrr running from Market to
Chestnut hFtwern Front and Second
o. The ''g'' In ''OIeomnrEnTlne" IL pronounced
like the ''g" Ia 'EnmH and not like the
''g" in "gem." The accent N the
mar"
TO- Three. different kinds OF suFar' maple. cane
and best.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-12-07
The Northeast Corner
casuals of the Days work


ONE may be pardoned, perhaps. n 1.
~ listens 10 an insistent request -. ~
republication Of some verses which sr,..ss
In the Pail Mall Gazette when tbis ,r...-.
writer was living in London In tsas
may he noted that they were n nart - - +
very few written by an American tbst 49,
broke into the editorial page of that 49,.
paper In rcpriutinE them here moi x.
least of the ioyousness Of recotlectJ., NJ
IN recalling Eugene Eield'R deileh,t.'
phrase: when ! was broke In london Y
the fall of so" For when one ls livip. Y
lodgings In Montague street. Russell gov. !.
bloomsbury. T.. G.. London over ae-,e
Crosse & Blackwell's pickle foundry ~
when ono finds ones self In the 49,
which the beloved Gene described as bs,ss
normal but chronic" and when ona -.
check for two Eulneas for set of vrr.,.
like these. then, perhaps. you. too. rnlet,
feel certain satisfaction In recalling ts.
incident by singing some OF the verses aRai,
However here they are;
Thus OF the Prince who went forth in as,,..
Of Happiness:
God but he had missed her. and has
rnourncd her grlevously;
But with purple cloak a-shouldcr th.,.
never was n boldcr
Or better or a wlser--or a sadder Prlne.
than he.
Manned be his ships. and he sought her I.
an OccGnplacc.
Sailing to an Island where tho Happy Prin.
cess relRned
But she'd gone and left behind her not
word where he might find her.
or where the quest were ended and Rsa
aud Peace be gained
Strong stll his heart 81 may surely A.
her otherwhcre
out beyond the spaces whore the rising Il
the sun
Turns the early morning haze into blue ana
golden days.
That arc Elorificd and sancthed by prescnc,
OF the One"
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-12-07
EGGS

nAMNING wetz, the Chicago egg
- king" will not bring down the price
OF eggs. coaNIng the hens To lay In the
off season would be more reasonable. but
equally Intellectual. Two stubborn facts,
which cannot be explained away, are
boosting the prices The first IL that In
December OF last year there were 1856,
bSa cases OF eggs In cold storage In the
chief distributing centers. The second Is
that this year there are only 2,794.29b
cases in storage. The decrease In the
visible supply Is twenty.four per cent.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-12-07
MIR. WILSON'S OMISSIONS

GO MUCH relief is manifest when a
~ President delivers a short message or
address TO Congress instead OF a long,
turgid one, that Mr.. Wilson's omissions
have caused less comment than would
be ordinarily remarked. He omitted men,
tion Of
The food situation.
Foreign affairs.
The submarine controversy
Mexico.
They are evidently not merely mega.
tive omissions. but more probably repre-.
sent his positive views on the subjects
The last three named are thus TO be left
in the administrative field OF action. al
though In the past most presidential
messages have begun with a summary
OF foreign relations.
There is little doubt that the President
has no sympathy with foodembargo pro.
posals. His statement TO the National
Grange one week after election appears
TO be his last word on foodstun supplies:
We ought 20 raise such big crops
that circumstances like the present can
never recuF. when men can make as
N the supply was so short that the
mddleman can charge for Il what he
pleased Il VIII not do 10 be niggardly
with the rest Of the world In respect
70 is food supply.
This remark caused much adverse
comment. even IA some western States.
without whose support Mr.. Wilson could
not have been reelected Some news.
papers have gone so far as 10 say the
expression would reYerberats as unhap-
pity as "too proud 10 nght" That seems
exaggerated. Il does sound rather ora.
Iorical % command the crops as canute
commanded the tides But she President
S probably eae1lne accurately tie pop
llar sentlneaz 81 kes9|nf hands oa lho
economies el ss sanHH
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-12-07
Labor and Wealth

INQuIRER-(a1 II Is a mistake 10 sup
pose that shareholders have been the sole
benehciaries OF the wave Of prosperity n
you have particular corporation in mind
Il would be interesting 10 discover from It's
records n the declarations OF large divi-
dends have not been accompanied by wage
Increases. A general increase IN wages in
the various industries, as you have per-
haps noted has been the rule (b) Many
volumes setting forth views at variance
haze been written on the subject OF wealth
Both capital and labor play parts Ia mod
ern production Of wealth. Labor" pre-
duees wealth. but that labor must Include
inventors, discoYerers, administrators and
many men engaged la the sciences and pro-
fesslons who are not usually classified a.
part Of the army Of labor" the great
proletariat' etc.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-12-07

From EndIcou and l. Conduct an Orchestra
In the Contributors club nf the December
Atlantic MOnthyl

r2@ the hEHSISG ao@ SG GSGdeGt gf 5
Atlantic Monthyl
when two people conduct an orchestra
there is plot material. II the two are knit
by marriage ties. the plot thlckens Gndi-
colt and | conduct family orchestra he
az tie piano, ! playing second violin,
know more about music than does EndIcott .
he IN more musical than !, keep the time /;
he has the temperament, Temperament Is
more noble than time, but time, | shall
always insist, has It's place, perhaps mo-
where more appropriately than in,an or
chestra, He at the piano can dominate
the situation more neatly than /. In my
position among the strings, however | can
more readily organize strike.
The rest Of the pieces are presided over
by our children, young people OF nheSible
spirit and chromAtic moods. Sometimes We
doubt whether We have our troupe under
the rigid control which as parents. we
might expect to command The conductivity
OF an orchestra. says our son Geonrey,
varies with the distance OF the blood rela-
tionshlp between artists aud conductor,
When the children were little we held the
pleasant theory that a family orchestra
would draw Ms all close together, standing
always as symbol OF perfect harmony
That would be all right II the harmony
would only go 10 suit us all equally at the
same time, AS Il is our little band In
which observers hnd so touching a picture
OF hearthslde unity, suggests sometimes all
the elements OF guerrilla warfare
The question most likely 20 strain diplo.
matte relations Is the choice Of what 10
play l myself admire extremes
AIy tastes are catholic, and my choices
range all the way from the FndHfshGd
Symphony to The StUiHa by Sudds The
one thing In an the world that / really viii
not play Is Schumann's WaTum. a favorlte
with the first violin. This worthy compost
tlon leaves me undone for days. Its In
a.
mind over and over, I viii not play a.
! viii not think OF H. l viii not even ex-
plain my antinathy, / have hidden the
music,
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-12-07
WHAT LAW CAN'T DO

TO ne Editor Of the Evening Ledger,
sir-l agree with YOU that an embargo
the absorbing question OF high liyins E.s
are not exported, and yet the prices az
lnordnately high. Farm products. such y
eabbages, onions and so forth, are moi ssn,
abroad as rule. and yet the market rate
for these are simply oppressive.
In almost everything that enters into the
economy OF the household prices are M
and yet In the majority 81 eases ~ ~
products, or articles are not among ~
recognized exports OF the United statss
The fact Is that present high priees ~
everything are due 70 combination OF cir.
eumstances which simply dsies Legislators.
HoUsEKEEPER.
Philadelphia, December s.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-12-07

one of the most moving events In
history. the children's Crusade, Is called
ie u.ad BY the appeal Of Pope Benedict
<F nat the children Of America CO.
1peFafs IL the RELIEF Of the needy Belgian
1toI hoNever different the conditions
cf ~ thirtsenth century from those OF
ak Ii vas Ia q dark hour for Europe
taf i turned % is children -Four
u,ades bad failed 70 enect per.
aasaI scoa Cor he CHRISTIAN cause
dlns children were called upon
s aork i b the little ones
aFe nov asked % DO what
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-12-07

Tom-A nasty New Jersey newspaper
printed fearful thing the other day. They
said that MIR. and Mrs George w, TiltOn.
lGllsdulc. reputed church workers., had
given bridge party Among the guests
were seven preachers. descendants and rel.
atlves OF the aged pair, There was a
sweep OF gossip over New Jersey that beat
anything that ever hit 1t politically. why
to think OF the Titons giving II bridge
party That was worse than failing to pay
the preacher his salary"
This explains II: MIR and Mrs Tlltun
on Tuesday Of this week celebrated the
hfteth anniversary of their married life
The men folks thought the bridge leading
to the homestead. where Mr. Tilton had
lived seventy-nne years. ought To be re-
paired. They had little bridge bcc--jus
like those stone bees we used To have-and
some fellow wrote II ZIP In the paper and
got the church people In wrong.
SCOOP
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-12-07

II is possible that the First Regl.
ment win not be hard on Berry football
star, for neglecting 10 drill But his attl.
tuds toward military duties is not so
healthy a symptom as his line-plunglng.
II il not enough to say lightly. 81 want to
do the right thing. but really, how can
and the timer" The whole difficulty with
our preparedness has been this same atti-
tude OF taking soldering as a lark.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-12-07

I. Who IN BOnnr Law?
2. Chrlstics, one OF the most famous. nrIns il
the world, II 100 sears old What ana
where IN it@
3, What IL HpoonbTrad?
I. What Is n locust?
i. who the MrlunEer-?
q. Why cannot u bird IFS " let fail from
balloon three miles high?
:. What IN wlndbrrnk?
\. wlp9f %: aI,idsd In!a tGesc !.hsS !s.hasfSe9i
gale ''hnrrlrnns." What nTc the
NciocitlrS. In miles per hour. Of these
rlusSeSs
.. What uctlon ARE the United States author
tiles taklnE In Nunto DImingo'
TO- WHY nre urtrsinn wells 80 called?
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-12-07

On n former occasion Lord North.
clife referred TO the Germans Ms IN ma
ton of house servants" The reference
was not at that time, however, to their
eveeuine Victories
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-12-07

II wus had enough for us to miss n
luncheon yesterday with WIN Irwin, one
of the worlds finest fellows and clcvcrest
handlers Of good English, but why should
our own dear paper thnt very same day
permit the Lyric Theatre to say In It's
ad that Thomas II. Tnce'B Civilization
was the most powerful plen for universal
peace the eyes OF the world has ever
spcn"Y
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-12-07

with Mr.. Hay out Of the way,
there seems to be no good reason for
further trifiing with the national defense.
Mr.. Hay succeeded in giving us the
shadow without the substance. Now let's
have the substance. Senator Borah may
not know just how to get It. but he knows
xfhaf n n
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-12-07
BEFoRE ANp AFrER ELEorIoN

TO thS hatfor 81 ths Evening Ledger
.Slr-Ths question OF the high eost =,
living Is today the most important thst
confronts the United states Whv thsn
Was Il Ignored 50 completely bv Presidenf
Wilson7 Before Neleetlon he was. or pre-
tqnasa % es mose solicitoas Tor the well
Does hla saaalta absence Il such ssIf.at.ide
frolA millions pf MS eountfsIaen sHf4
tea sptsesI Efsi saIz4 mss as -
..as4s4 44rn|
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-12-07

Apparently, Mr.. Wood. of the Pen.
sion Mutual Life Insurance Company,
would never have discovered that phil
anthroplc" life insurance was losing
venture had publicity not directed his
attention. 20 the fact.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-12-07

Pittsburgh, millions and million.
aires have become almost synonymous,
and the fact that the Smoky City IL to
spend Si6,OO000O during the holidays will
help TO sustain It's reputation for another
war anVhow
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-12-07
THE VOICE OF
THE PEOPLE
The Embargo Idea and the High
Cost-Defense of Oleo-
margarine Tax

Thf' Department " IRE, fo all readers uho
t0tsh 10 srprCsS their opinions subjects Of
TurrTut interest. 10 ~ open forum, aud the
Er'uiHD Ledger assumes responsibility for
he UiorN o. its correspondents. Letters must
De signed bU the aud address Of the
trriicr. Uot u'crsHuTilV fOr publication, but as a
guarantee Of good ram.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-12-07
BUCHAREST FAILS
HotU ne Htiic nations co!
Hello, HcluI HCH--hcHol
ASKS PASTOR TO HELP CUT
NUMBER or DRY ADDICT

From this head in the North Amer
ican. over nn article dealing with the
Rev, Dr, Erdman's appeal TO his brother
ministers to help In reducing the mum
her Of people addicted to drugs. II would
seem the booze interests are receiving
help from an unexpected quarter.
HUGHEY.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-12-07

However burdensome motorists
from other States may think the New
Jersey automobile license laws are. the
Supreme Court has decided that the
state has acted within It's rights In pass.
ing them. II has dismissed the appeal
Of New Yorker convicted OF their vlo-
lation. The state insisted that nonresl-
dents have no legal right 90 use the
state highways, It denied that the local
license regulations were burdensome on
Interstate commerce, and Il insisted on
ita power 10 compel motorists 10 con.
tribute. through the license tax. 20 the
cost OF maintaining the highways. The
Supreme Court has sustained the Mary.
land motor license laws also These two
iselafons are most discouraging to those
vino have been hoping that a Federal
touring license might be issued by the
National Government which would su-
peraade the State licenses, II we should
ever have a system OF national highways.
paid Tor ana maintained by the central
Gesernmenf. the right to use them could
ne npnferred BY 4 national license. AT
present however, the highest court Is
cousistently sustaining the right OF the
et4tes 70 control their own highways
There seems 70 be no way out OF the
present diniculty save By a system OF
accommodation among the States
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-12-07
II is time to. reprint Yercas's premature
anagram;
AsQUITH
HAS QUIT

The name selected by Mr.. Bryan Tor his
Carolina mountain retreat mt Calm" "a
slngulariy pedestrian. Why not Araratg
or Plfhel--B l. n, m Chicago Tribune,
Nay brother, Ararat became popular
only AFTER the superabundanee or water
had subsidized a roslly serious objection
q eMt calm i history repeats itaef.
eoqia ssen te p ne a'neail1 Ia kssn
- lps wolfe fEen rs sao1.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-12-07

Every victory" that puts a saloon
IN a residence section against the wishes
Of the people Is a nail In the coffin Of
the liquor industry
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-12-07

According TO the exclusive dis.
patches from Carl w. Ackerman. at the
front with the German army in Ru.
mania. troops OF that distressed country
armed only with sporting rifles. were
captured. This not only indicates the
desperation OF the defense. but II casts
some light on the reasons underlying the
Cabinet crisis In London. Apparently.
the diplomats OF tho Allies let RumnnIa
enter the war without proper prepara.
tion. II Is bad not to be prepared; II Is
worse 10 think YOU are when YOU are not.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-12-07

How much dust and dirt can n
phiIadelphIan carry in his nose, throat
and lungs without succumbing? Maybe
the hospitals know.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-12-07

There was Il man In our town,
And he was wondrous wise
He praised the =. II. n, lie did.
Away up TO the skies,
He got into IA BrldeSburg ear
lle tried to breathe In vain
They hauled him out and laid him down
He'll not 40 In again.
GOTHA MITE.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-12-07

Not content with adorning his columns
top with one OF the takingest baIlades
we've seen in many a day, +, T. \. in
yesterdays New York Tribune says:
The Republican party. observes
Booth Harrington. needed n lesson and
II got &C. That was one difficulty
with the Progressive party. II never
took Il lesson In it's life. depending
wholly ON It's ear ON which. alas II
made IT'S exit"