davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New Britain herald., 1916-12-26
Better Be Right Than Funny.
(New York Times.)

This is the time of year when jokes about the cigars bought by women for husbands and other ob- jects of their affection bring in an apprec1able and appreciated contri- button toward the annual revenue of all professional humorists. They are a harmless and even estimable folk, the humorists, and nobody, unneces- sarily, would do anything, especially with the cost of living what it is now, to increase the difficulty in meeting their bills. Still, justice is justice, and unless it is fact that Christmas-pres- ent cigars are of the quality asserted by the testers, gains made out of ridiculing them are the products of an 1naccuracy in itself reprehensible, and 1t Is made the worse by the lack of consideration for the lack of con- sideration for the tender sensibilities of the fair sex which it illustrates.
 So far as known. there has never been made of the Christmas cigar that intensive study which alone would warrant the light and careless condemnation bestowed upon it. That either denunciation or ridicule Is de- served by it, however, can safely be held more than dubious, and for sev- eral reasons.
 First there is nothing in commer- cial or industrial records warranting belief in the existence of cigar manufactured for the holiday trade alone, and though there do seem to be cigar boxes that appear in the shops at no other season, the con- tents of those boxes have an all-the- year-round appearance. Presuma bly,, when less elaborately decorated, they are bought by men in what may be called the course of nature and smoked with equanimity if not with any notable amount of satisfaction. Next, the woman who buys Christ mas cigars always takes what is. or pretends to be, expert advice before she does it, and though she may think longer having more sense. in such matters-than man about paying for cigars what a hundred of the better reputed ones cost, she can heed her instinctive impulse for req sonable economy by buying half or quarter box. And that is her customary compromise with what most women in their hearts regard as an evil.
 Another thing: The Christmas cigar joke rests on the assumption that men have knowledge as we'll as opinions as to the intrinsic merits of tobacco-if it has any-and no as- sumption could be more perilious than that. The truth is that men judge cigars very largely by external ities and irrelevanoes. A prethly gilded band adds confidently imag- ined flavor to many a cigar that is or ought to be cheap, and few indeed are the men who found judgment on anything that goes deeper than the wrapper" If that be pleasing to the eye, the vast majority of them say the cigar Is good.
New Britain herald., 1916-12-26
Rural New England's Decay.
(Rollin Lynde Hartt in the Century
 Magazine.)

l (Rollin Lynde Hartt in the Century Magazine.)
 With age comes decay. After ten [ generations a community begins to fear that ''the stock has run out, '' and in certain districts of rural New England it would appear that precise ly this has befallen. It is less a ques- 1 tion of abandoned farms than of abandoned farmers.
 While no one pretends that such in | stances are at all broadly representa- tive there are fishing villages where in forty years no marriage has oc- cured, and farming villages where couples separate without divorce and form new alliances without the aid of clergy. Here and there inbreed- ing results in deformity, idiocy and cr1minality. This has gone so far that the problem today is, How to pro- tect the cities against the country 2"
 Says President Hyde. Poor land and rich water make New England a manufacturing community" Her hill towns now decadent, ought never to have been built. Those rocky, infertile upland fields forbade the use of agricultural machinery and presuppOsed slave Iabor-tTat is boys compelled to work for their fathers without hire. When that ceased ruin began. increasing as the west outrivalled New England in raising cattle, sheep, hogs, corn, wheat, and vrhat-not besides. Rail- roads developed her valleys depict ing her hills. Great towns grew up, and thither fled her peasantry. In formerl prosperous rustic hamlets the weak and stupid remained to breed a race of poor whites.
 This continues, though optimists have pointed to many a hill town still thrifing, and feign to believe that modern nnovations-bicycles, trolley cars, motor cars, telephones, grapho- phones-will somehow rescue the others
New Britain herald., 1916-12-26
, Water Wagon Club is getting
1913.

The Water Wagon Club is getting a long waiting list. It is very stylish now to call for that New Ginger Beer which is drawn from the wood at a. leading cafe. We could name a lot of very prominent citizens who favor Mr. Busch's ideas on anti-treating and if the movement progresses at It's present rate there may be a meeting of those interested in the Mayors office or at the Chamber of Commerce. We could also name some well known residents who have been anti-treaters for many years.
New Britain herald., 1916-12-26
THE FIRST STEP,

This week will probably mark the Binning of the end of that portion, of Ike street which lies between Wash Eton and High. After consultat tion tween the City Engineer and the Operation Counsel final steps will bbabIy be taken today to secure an [ion on that parcel of land abutting |the corner of Lake and Washing Il streets and which prevents traffic |m l5uESufng a safe course westward. fe this land is purchased by the city the obstacle cut away, New Britain |p free itself from. the possibilities Euch appalling accidents as that of |ee weeks -- a go, - winch Michael |ughsey met an untimely death.
 Fhe officials of the manufacturing hpany which owns this parcel of E have acted as the Herald pre- led and have evinced a desire to ti.cir property at the price placed Ia it some years ago by the board ompensatiOn. Nine thousand dol is not too much or too little to for this land. It will not break city nor will it impose an injus- on the present owners. Instead, kiu serve as q medium of protec- to all concerned. The city will l lit because of the new conditions l will come after the purchase. The
 ITS will gain when a clear passage is opened so that their trucks and Br conVeyances may go to and from .inatiQns without running the |atlet of danger.
 |y it's timely action in this matter
 Common Council has merited the
 SC of the entire city. There was
 ine lost in concluding that an inn
 tement was in order at the dan us Washington street crossing, and
 the way to bring about such an
 rovenlent was the purchase of this
 berty or the closing of the street
 e the street is one that is essential
 he progress of the city it cannot
 should not be closed. Every citi-
 who holds the interest of the city
 leart will welcome the endeavOrs
 e by those in charge of the local
 Ernment This is but the first step
 ard general cleanup of old con-
 Ins. There are other improve
 ts to follow.
New Britain herald., 1916-12-26
In Terms of Guns.
(New York Globe)

A modern army is not so much matter of numbers as of equipment and of intelligent direction. Mere numbers count for as little as theN did when the Enyriads of the Persian king met the better armed Macedon- ianS
 War machines, officers, and a nu- cleus of a force skilled in the manip- ulation of the machines, and thus competent to instruct others, are the prime essentials. Instead of discus sing armies in terms of numbers, as General Scott does, we should discuss them in terms of artillery. We do this as to ships, but we cling to the olds mum erical error when talking of the army. We should say an army of 10,- 900 guns, not an army of 1,OOO,0Oe men.
 Civilians adequately equipped on the whole have done well in the pres ent war. It does not appear that the civilian British, when on a level with their opponents in weapons, have. failed in the presence of an equal or less number of better drilled Ger mans
 It is not necessary to have vast ar mics, but it is necessary to have stores of military supplies. Expenditure should be for material rather than for the pay of great regiments. The ada aptable American will be able to handle the machines if he has them. Special services like those of the air 4 need to be trained, but there is no reason, except for non-military ends, why millions should march around with rifles. There is more prepared ness in a munition factory than in a regiment. The regiment can be inn provised more quickly than the fac- tory.
 The chief army officers are under the dominion of an archaic terminolo- gy. Thus they emphasize secondary factors and make it more difficult to have preparedness. They should open their minds to the plain lessons of the present war. To enlist 3,000,000 men will not help us much if there are lacking the machines of war. Arsenals and storehouses rather than barracks are required if this country Is to be able to defend itself. To put the em phasis where it belongs would help in solving the preparedness problem. ~
New Britain herald., 1916-12-26
The Cider Exemption Clause in the State ProI1ibitory Law.
 (ROStOn Herald

Several readers of the Herald have written to ask about recent allusions to the exemption of cider under the Maine prohhitory law. ls it true, one asks. that there is actually dis crimination in favor of the favorite beverage of the farmer and against the favorite beverages of those who live in Cities?" Here is the answer, and the words quoted are from the famous prohibitory amendment to the Maine constitution. adopted in 18S4:-
 The manufacture of intoxicating liquors not including cider. and the sale and keeping for sale of intoxcat- ing liouors are and shall be forever prohibited. Except, however, that the sale and keeping for sale of such
New Britain herald., 1916-12-26
MEDDDING.

It is no novelty to see the Hart ford Courant in the role of champion for transportation monopolies and so it is not surprising to learn that the Courant objects to the editorial ef- forts of the Herald to force the Con- necticut company to improve it's trolley service here. But of course the Courant must meddle in every thing and 1t would be strange If an ambidextrous editor, who settles-to his own satisfaction-the affairs of city, state and nation with a pen in his right hand and the affairs of Europe, and especially of Ireland, with a pen in his left, were not able to dispose of New Britaln's trolley problem with a mere wiggle of one of his ears.
New Britain herald., 1916-12-26
The Fable of the 100 Per Cent. and
 the Watered Stock.

Once upon time there were two men who engaged in different enter prises, each susceptible of great eX- pansion. The first man had little capital. For many years he found it necessary to sink all his profits in business extension. These profits were very slight-about quarter of 8 cent on each manufactured article selling for ten cents. By manufac- turing in large and ever increasing quantities he made a good deal of money from this trif1ing and even precarious profit When his business reached something resembling max imum proportions he was subpoenaed as a witness In an inquiry to find out why his ten cent article cost so much.
 What is your capital stock? ?' asked the Chief of the Inquisition. The man replied that it was $50,000.
 "Is it not true that you pay divi- dends amounting to 100 per cent. on this capital stock?"
 "Yes, but"
 Did your wife divorce you in 1893?" went on the 1nquisitor.
 Later the man got a chance to ex- plain that while his profits enabled him to pay 100 per cent. on his capi tai stock they were really only per cent. on the money actually invested in his business, But the inquisitors were not impressed by this statement. They could see only 100 per cent
 The second man was so 1ortuhate as to be able to command at the out set practically all the capital ne was
New Britain herald., 1916-12-26
WHAT ARE THEY FIGHTING '.. FOR?'

/ hen a myriad of forces opposing other on the one task of con- ping a given object the chances are e is some inherent merit in the l et of their attack. This was force demonstrated in the. late lament Elections. It may be proven again ba/eases of President Wilson's note he -belligerent nations of Europe. E are united in the one task of femnation.
 |lgland and France and Russia and ! will have nothing to do with the Iestions offered by President Will because England and France and | 'sia and Italy have been placed on same plane with Germany and allies. The Central powers will EondesCend to hear music for prac- ly the same reason. Yet both
 are busily engaged in discussing attaCking the note It is the sole E of the day in all quarters of the h. All of which augurs well for future, for when the bombastic dances have been exhausted there come the quiet after the storm.
 in the ~Iull of quarrelling and pbling there may come sound req hg.
 e main point in the note has been looked by the vast majority of who are earnestly engaged in te over the merits of this mes
 from @ great neutral power.
 have nearly forgotten that at Eery outset the President took care tate that he was not offering a e proposal nor terms of peace that he did not even offer media
 What he. did do was to ask the big question. What are you fight Tor? And that is the outstanding ire of the whole note. As soon he nations now at war take to ng an answer to the Presidents $ Eion then shall come the first dawn eace.
 rst answers to this all important tion, What are you fighting for?-- | le nations answer it at all-wil] answers worthy the name. There
 be oceans of rhetoric poured over s of Nagueness. There may be hing words to caress the tortured
 of humanity. But the question lot be answered in yelled terms or prds such as Humanity, Righteous
New Britain herald., 1916-12-26
THE DECLINE OF QUILTING.
Something That Is Missed in the Country on Cold Nights.
 (Rutland Hera1d.)

] Another fast-vanishing Vermont 1 art is quilting. When one feels chilly 1 these bitter nights and pulls around him the store bedcIothes which most of us use. how we miss the old fashioned, padded quilt, which was ost-proof, nearly everwearing and contributed beside to the artistic spirit of mankind.
 A quilt designed by an old-time e housewife, tied at a ''bee," full of generous pudding and exhibiting its gorgeous evening face to the tired bed-seeker, was quite different thing from the factory made subst1- ute which gives neither adequate warmth nor esthetic pleasure.
 Sleeping under a crazy quilt did not make the sleeper crazy. If 1t took long months of patching, the result was not only striking but comfort ing There was an eminent fitness in the log cabin" design and the rls- ing sun" portrayed a daily miracle as well as keeping the body warm.
 Even folks who possess the price less old-fashioned quilt are apt to hide it under the frivolity of spread" so that neither the pictorial beauties nor the promise of satisfy ing protection appeal to the eye, but it is lamentably true that even by counting these hidden treasures, the visible supply of quilts has disap- peared.
 It was a long, trying job to sew and tie a quilt, but after 1t was done, conceive of the glory and satisfaction of deed we'll done!
 We are no buster people today than we were when grandmother tied her last quilt but we have less time for such work We waste more. both in time and energy, and we are too apt to join with people who think old fashioned things out of date.
 native, characteristic effort like handmade quilt is never out of date. It is not only excellent indus try, but it makes for conservation; 1t saves money, utilizes waste. and quilt is also a fine barrier against our climate.
 If we had raorc quits. we could raise more windows. and we should have fewer colds and less tuberculo- sis.
New Britain herald., 1916-12-26
Perkins and Billy Sunday.
(Emporia, Kan, Gazette.J

We note that Billy Sunday is going to go after the devil in New York. That will be a good time for MT Rodeheaver to take a lay-off. For New York has in its own fair borders the sweetest singer of gospel hymns who ever led a revival. We refer to none other than the erstwhile comm1s- sary sergeant of Armageddon, George w, Perkins, with whom we once stooo up in the coliseum in Chicago and sang "Onward Christian Soldiers! If Billy Sunday can secure the ser vices of Brother Perkins the devil will indeed and in truth have hot time in New Y ork.
New Britain herald., 1916-12-26
Switzerland over and above all oth

Switzerland over and above all other neutral nations has many reasons for ities. The little Alpine country has suffered internally as we'll as external 1y In opinion, she has been 8 divided camp; some of her people favoring the Germans and some the Allies Thus the atmosphere of Switzerland has been ever charged with dynamite. The fuse of destruction was liable to be touched at any moment during the past two and a half years. No wonder Switzerland wants the smoke of battle to clear away.
New Britain herald., 1916-12-26

Congratulations are due Postmaster w. F. Delaney and all the other men at the post office who assisted him in collecting and distributing New Britain's Christmas mail. Efficiency in handling the mails in this city is som ething we are becoming accus- toned to and probably the super efficiency of the Christmas season was overlooked. But it was there. Ask Santa Claus.
New Britain herald., 1916-12-26

American exporters have succeeded in getting England to lift the ban on the importation of cotton hosiery into that country and there is joy all around No one on this side of the the cotton ones unravel where they will.
New Britain herald., 1916-12-26

widow of this gallant and efficient officer the sum paid him yearly as the salary of a major will be heartily en- dorsed by all those who were familiar with his work both at Gettysburg and at the two great floods, in Dayton and the Mississippi Valley in 1912 and 1913.
New Britain herald., 1916-12-26
Vermont Takes Heart.
Waterbury Record. )
congressman Wer

Some congressman were greer enough to go to Washington to be sworn in recently. This is so muct worse than representatives elected tc the Vernfont legislature sending their trunks to the capitol building-think. ing they can board and room there that it makes one think that the in- telligence of the average Vermont rep. resentative will pass muster.
New Britain herald., 1916-12-26

All those newspapermen from this section of the country who attended Gray at Gettysburg in 1913, fifty years after the famous battle, were i'm pressed with the manner in which tho late Mai. J. E. NOrmoYle accom- plished the gigantic task set before him. Up to that time this was the greatest encampment in the world, and has probably not been excelled even by the army men of Europe. A special pension bill which will allot to this
New Britain herald., 1916-12-26

The one man we envy least Is Am bassador Gerard, going back to Der lin and forced to be urbane and DO 1ite.-Lowell Courier Citizen.
New Britain herald., 1916-12-26

The way prices keep going up makes one wish that when Sir Isaac Newton invented gravitation he had made it 8 little strong ger.-Indianap lis News
New Britain herald., 1916-12-26
FACTS AND RANCHES.

The kings guard in England has been ordered to the front. Another old tradition gone-New Haven Union.
New Britain herald., 1916-12-26

So far the reelection of President Wilson has been blamed on to every body but the kaiser and King George. -Muncie, Ind. Press.
New Britain herald., 1916-12-26

The cost of mackerel has come down a bit and that's the first friend ly word that has been said for some time for states and cities on the salt ed seas.-Milwaukee Journal.
New Britain herald., 1916-12-26

at the Post Office at New Britain
 econd Class Mail Matter
New Britain herald., 1916-12-26

5Afly Sunday excepted) at 4:15 D. m, keralG Building, 67 Church St.
New Britain herald., 1916-12-26

The danger Is not that the num- Der of anti-h1gh- cost of-living bills to be introduced in congress will be too few, but that out of the mass there will not be even one that will meet the situation.-Roche Post -Ex- press.
New Britain herald., 1916-12-26

The Interstate Commerce Commis- sion has ruled that bankers who fin ance railroads are not entitled to rail- way passes. And it might have add ed that they don't need them.-A1- bany Argus.
New Britain herald., 1916-12-26

President Wilson declares that the service which MT. Bryan rendered in the late campaign was "unselfish." Is this a delicate way of saying that a cabinet position will not be offered him ?-New York Evening Post.
New Britain herald., 1916-12-26

Packers are making the farmers wealthy" so we are told. But re- verse may be equally true, if not more so: Farmers are making the packers rich!"-Omaha Bee.
New Britain herald., 1916-12-26

ly profitable advertising medium -n < city: Circulation books and rrcss
 m always open to advertisers
New Britain herald., 1916-12-26
Shattering Faith.
(New York Evening Sum-


 by a dispute over a rollicking carol their children were singing in one of the Philadelphia schools. The first stanza runs:
 Way up in the clouds
 Or way down in the cave
 With Santa Claus. jolly old man!
 Nobody knows where,
 Nobody knows how;
 Believe in him then if you can.
 Believe in him then if you
 can. TIa! Ha!
 Believe in him then If you can.
 Politicians who for years have re- fused to reply to charges that they were getting rich at the expense of the city, grow fearful as they voice their indignation against those who would lightly shatter a child's faith As they huskily explain, there was a time in their own lives when such a blow would have so warped their character as to render it forever inn possible for them to develop into cit izens of the right sort. They cannot understand the neutrality of the teacher especially responsible for all lowing the verses to be sung, who calmly says that 200 of her 400 young hopefuls take no stock in Kris Kringle. and that it is only fair that they should have an occasional chance to utter their sentim ents, in- stead of being obliged to sing noth- ing but carols which they regard as false. It is a beautiful song, she in sists; ask the children which one they want to sing. and they will shout, Way Up in the Clouds.''
New Britain herald., 1916-12-26

Many are called but few are equal to the emergency.
New Britain herald., 1916-12-26
5 Britain Herald.

LD PUBLISHING COMPANY.
 Proprietors.
TaÌˆgliches Cincinnatier volksblatt. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1885-1919, 1916-08-15
Qlmsipdrtige Wdrfte.
g2sn gOrt. IA. @usuit.

Mebl. - Dlartt osrdnberIi9; =
Sriibiabrs patsnts $780-8.3o;
gginter patsnts $735-7.60; Win1
ter Straisbts Se.95-7.20.
Wei5en. = Martt i6puh; SO. !
9urum $1.49; go. l barrier Sl.53;
Ro. Rortbern Dulutb $1.591; Io.
/ glortbsrn Manitoba $1.583 T. o. 5.
9sep YOrt.
DeiGtorn. = Wlartt piGig; 80. 2
gelbss 96ac.
Safsr. = Martt piGig; Rp. 8 reis
bsr 49-495c.
Seu. - Usartt itstis. prima
$1.30; go. ] $1.25; Ho. 2 $1.1O-
LIS; go. 3 $1.05; gsrianDt 10
S0c.
Sopfen. Wartt rubig; State
Orbindrsr bis auserleiensr 1915, Ii
19c; 1914 5-7c; pacific aiiite 1915,
11-14c; 1914 8-10c.
Sdute. Martt itetig. = goSota
321-33ac; Central 9lmerica 32ac.
2soer. - Wartt Feit. = Semlod
firit &c; ieconbse 36c.
Yrrt. = Wartt feit; Wsb $2S.oO
-29.o0; familp $28.Oo-29o0 0;
ibort cellar $25.50-27.50.
Beef. - Wtartt itetig; MeB $18.s
1850; familp $19.50-2o.5o,
S6mala. - Martt pillig; Wioole
Wef 13.65-13.75.
5alg. Martt feit; GitD Il.
Martt nominal; Gountrp Spe5iaI =
TIC; Spe3ial 7Ic.
Dolle. = Martt itstig; sin3eimiI4e
iglsece XX Sbio 35-36c.
REFS. - Martt itetis; fancp bedo 5
big SIC; Blue role 41-44c.
Wolafes. Wtartt fIau; gteio
Orleans open tettle 40-5oc.
3udsr. Hober. Wartt Oerdns
berlid; Centrifugal 1854; WOlaIifs
$4.S7; raffinirter, pinig; % puntte
nieorissr; Gut Guaf $S.15; @ru'hes
$500; MouIb u anO Gubss $3.50;
XXXX popoereo S7.15; popbereo
$40; fsiner granulirter 500; Sla.
mpnb q 800; Goniectioners u
$3.50; 10. l $685..