davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-01-23


it comes to swiftness of circulation, your
little old jitney has the punch. The
nickel is all movement. 1t cries loudly
to be spent in hurry, and in the United
States it is spent in hurry That is why
SO many fortunes have been reared by its
power. Get just one little new idea to
magnetic these flying nickels and dimes,
and your fortune is made.
In the year 1875 serious-minded
young man was working in a general"
store up in Watertown, New York.
His name was Frank w. Woolworth, and
he was thinking good deal about small
change-nickes in particular. And the
reason he was thinking so much about
the nickel was because he had observed
that the customers upon whom he waited
We're also keen about the little jtney-piece.
Young Woolworth was behind the dry
goods counter. He had lived on farm
the first twenty-one years of his life, and
this was his first experience in trade. AL
ready his employers were beginning to
admit that he had something in him."
That was why, when he proposed that
they initiate "fve-cent counter" and put
him in charge of it, they said, "Go ahead"
Woolworth was right. People were in
terested in the nickel for other reasons
than its artistic merit as a coin of the
realm. They were SO much attracted by
the five-cent counter that in 1879 young
Mr.. Woolworth with few hundreds of
capital, launched five-cent store in
Utica, New York, under his own single.
And now listen! You're expecting to
read that Woolworth was a made man
from that minute-that all he had to do,
was to go ahead blithely and multiply his
stores, and become rich and famous.
Well, that's just what didn't happen;
and the fact that it didn't happen,s and
that he survived the shock and became
rich and famous, is the key to the real
reason of this mans success.
No, the Utica five-cent store was not a.
bowling success. 1t just ambed along in
q perfunctory way that maddened The
live young storekeeper and he sold Asut
shortly afterward, taking $50 profit on
the adventure. But
Woolworth had learned some things.
He had got better adjusted to his, own
idea. He started another store of the
same kind in Lancaster, Pennsylvania
and took in $l2S the first day: One
month afterward he was able to set up a
branch in Harrisburg. 1t didn't do so
well. Woolworth transferred it to York,
Pennsylvania where it promptly fell dead
So the five-cent proposition was yanked
back to Lancaster, where the main store
had been doing very well all the time.
So it wasn't all velvet from the start,
you see. Another venture, this time in
Philadelphia, went on the rocks. And
then Woolworth sat down and took ac-
count of stock. And he saw two big
lights, those same lights that showed the
way to the foundation of the Woolworth
fortune: first, that the location of the
stores had to be the best possible; Sec
ond, that each branch had to stand on it's
own bottom, and live or die on it's own
merit. When he got those two ideas fixed,
he went ahead.
The nickel idea went slowly but surely.
Then the ten-cent feature was added to
it. 1t became the Five-and-Ten, and the
result of the joint attractiveness of the
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-01-23

title and the sagacity of the master mind
behind it is represented now by the tall
est Office building in the world, and cor
poration capitalized at $5O,OO0,OO0.
The Coin that Cries to Be Spent
THERE is the Tobacco Trust as it was
before it was drawn and-yes, exactly
Quartered-by the Supreme Court. This
tremendous organization grew, in rather
direct way, out Of five-cent business.
Even to-day it is still largely a nickel
and-dime proposition.
In the early eos, Washington Duke
was the owner of some lean acres of
ground near Durham, North Carolina.
Strangely enough, he was a Union man
and Republican, too; though somehow
or other, possibly by the persuasion of
his "Reb" neighbors, backed up by shot
guns, he landed in the Confederate navy.
After the Civil War ended, Washington
Duke went back to the poor, broken farm
and impoverished soil and began to raise
tobacco. 1t was about the only crop that
could be raised just then. But the man
had grit and Imagination, and in little
shack on the farm he began to put up
tobacco in five-cent bags, so that folks
might "roll their own"
1t was frail business in the early
days small profits and hard shedding.
There We're many times when the ration
of corn pone and bacon looked extremely
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-01-23

good. But there was a will
and a way, and the BUSH
ness was steadily appealing
to the magical nickel.
James B. Duke was born
in 1857. He and another
son of Washington Duke
helped with the business
through the slim days into
the days of fair prosperity.
Said the father to James b.,
one day when things began
to look roster: "You should
go to college,"
LETS. forget the college
idea,' was the reply. "Let
me have one sixth of the
business and that'll suit me
perfectly"
Thereafter the business
was known as w. Duke &
Sons.
1t was in 1881, when
James B. Duke was only
twenty-four years old, that
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-01-23

often utterly unknown five hundred miles
from where they thrive.
Other less known fortunes have been
built up on popcorn products, chewable
pastilles, and aromatic lozenges in boxes;
and at least one man has accumulated
great hoard from the sale of sailed
peanuts in fve-cent cartons. Also has
the humble copper penny a little punch
of it's own, as evidenced by the immense
prosperity of the corporations that en-
ploy little slot machines to distribute
their chocolate and gum.
And, speaking of chewing gum
The man behind Spearmint Gum,
which is one of the best examples of big
fortunes created from the little nickel
Jr., of Chicago and Pasadena. Here is
the story of this huge success:
The senior William Wrigley was man
ufacturer of securing soaps in Philadel-
phia. One of his travelling men was
William, Jr. And, like many another
travelling man, William, Jr., hankered to
get into business for himself. He was not
sure what business; no, not even when he
hired desk-room in an Office in Chicago
and informed himself and the retailing
public that he was selling soaps, baking
soda, etc. This was in 1892. 1t is said
that Mr.. Wrigley had all of $32 when he
set up his own desk.
The trade in soap and baking soda be-
ing slow, the energetic young Wrigley
looked around for the proper pep" to in
ject into it. He hit upon the premium
game, attaching premiums first to his
stock in trade and later, in rather acci-
dental way, hitching up with chewing
gum that was already on the market.
Gum looked better than soap. Wrig-
ley lost no time in shifting to where the
going was better Then he began to
fasten his gum to every conceivable kind
of premium. In 1905 he was carrying in
stock 100000 worth of premiums.
What About the Pennies?
STILL it wasn't as it should be- The
great prize-that of a nationally known
trademark" article which would sell like
hot cakes on it's own merits-was still
ahead. 1t was high time to place the
spear SO firmly in the minds of advertise
ment readers that means every man,
woman, and child-that every time they
saw a spear they would unconsciously
begin to move their jaws. So, about fif-
teen years ago, Wrigley began to use big
space in the magazines, newspapers, and
street-cars. In 1906 he spent $5OO,OOO.
Two millions of dollars year is what
this fve-cent article can spend for adver-
Using out of its gross income now, and
leave fine profit. For the people of the
United States and Canada buy twenty
million dollars worth of Wrigfey's year.
There are dozen other gum fortunes:
there are the fortunes built out of the
manufacture Of FIVE and ten-cent toys
and household appliances; there are tho
big daily newspapers, proof Of the fact
that even the penny is all-powerful when
enough of them get together. In fact,
the further one looks, the more impressed
he becomes with this truth-that tho
really important coins in our lives are the
little coins-the pennies and the nickels
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-01-23
A YOUNG man once went wi

A YOUNG man went with millionaire to buy
pair of suspenders well have cross the street.,
said the mlonaire eve buy them six cents cheaper
there "Cross the street to save six cents -
claimed the other. To which the millionaire replied by
taking out silver dollar and twirlng it. young man.,
he sad do you know that of the hardest things the
world is to make that dollar earn six cents in whole
year?" Here the stories of several gentlemen who
discovered that when it to making fortune the
really important coins the pennies and nckels and
dimes. Perhaps there's moral in the tale for you
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-01-23

w :; ; End s s :; ny
tradiction-the jitney
is the King of Coins.
The dime? Well, say
prime minister. We
may call the rest of
the pieces in our coin
age cabinet ministers
and let it go at that.
Take the dollar bill,
for instance-look it
yer. A beautiful
thing it is: but, when
El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1916-04-01
Smart Fashion Features
Which Make For Economy

Fascinating RemOdeng Seasons Fk Pos
sibiities in Sleeves
El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1916-04-01

suits. and blouses. Should a hem be
slightly frayed or worn, whether IL be
the lower edge OF blouse or skirt. one
of those stiff. quaint little Quulings.
or a contrasting band may be set on
to cover it most attractively. Around
the bottom of a sleeve. which has not
just the most becoming curve or fin
ish. a double ruffle or picot edged
Georgette. banded through the middle
with a narrow black velvet ribbon may
be added. the ribbon being drawn as
tightly as desired and tied in a perky
little bow. Deep cuffs OF satin or taft
feta with a matching collar may be
attached to a blouse which has an I'M
becoming or old-fashioned sleeve. or an
ugly neck finish. When these deep
cuffs are used the sleeve. il sufficiently
full. may be gathered into the cuff.
thereby lending another modish touch.
for much fullness is noticed in the
new sleeves
sleeves Offer Interesting Possibilities.
Long. short, and three quarter-length
sleeves will be worn this Spring and
Summer There is still a strong ten
dency to the transparent effects OF the
Fall and Winter. That this should be
so for Summer is quite logical Net is
nearly as popular for sleeves and bod
ices as chiffon and GeOrgetse, and il
wears equally well. Many a pretty
taffeta or satin frock is being made
with net sleeves and upper bodice, and
El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1916-04-01

had seemed to sympathize or side with
a servant against sler husband. If not
Mary would never have dared tell her
that she would not be allowed to help
her
Yet-this was an unhappy woman
and who should be good to her il an
other woman should not?
So strong was the revulsiOn OF senti-
ment following upon this short con-
versation that Jane felt that any GER
tainty was better than the present
mystery. She was afraid Of her hus-
bands displeasure. but she must ask
him n single question-one which she
hoped would set her mind and doubts
at rest.
It was when Mary was at her dinner
in the kitchen. and Augustus and Jane
were left alone. eating their dessert.
that the wife summoned courage to
speak Of that which was tormenting
her.
Augustus" she asked in low voice
why did Mary take those dresses?"
He grew a shade paler, the wife
thought. Yet this may have been only
her Imagination. who said she took
them?" he demanded.
You told me you knew she did"
Jane reminded him.
He made a sorry attempt to laugh.
"WeH, to tell the truth" ne STAN
mered. Il told her once that she could
sell one or two old dresses that were
put away-just as a reward for her
faithfulness, you know-and she made
n blunder and took two ] meant to
keep. But she's sorry and feels so bad
about II that ] forgave her all right
And now" his face and voice hard
ening. Il forbid you to talk OF the
matter again. Understand? I told you
so before, but remember that this time
I mean it. It's my affair. and it's none
Of your businessi"
(To Be Continued)
El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1916-04-01

! many a last seasons taffeta or satin
dress is being remodeled in this way.
Color Combinations.
Blue serge naturally takes TO black.
blue faille combines effectively with
black, many shades of gray. the green
ish coppery tones. orange. terra-cotts
and similar shades. These dark com
binations Of course are correct for the
street: for the indoor dress Of after
noon gown, one may allow the color to
fancy a little freer rein. There are
some wonderfully vivid touches OF color
brought in now and then In a sOmbre
frOck, quite Transforming ii. As gem
eral rule, however, pale tones VIII pre-
dominate this season. This Is owing
to the present condition or the dye
market; naturally pastel cOlored lab
RIGS require much less dye than deep
shades. 1t is most timely that this
should happen in the Summer season
when we are all Of inclined toward
white. pale pinks, blues. mauves, and
lavenders which are so part cularly
fascinating this season. BY Fall, IL the
war is not at an end perhaps we shall
all take to white, but we viii not an
ticipate anything so extravagant unless
we may take the present vogue OF
white shoes and spats as fOrerunners-
A Word About shoes.
While speaking OF shoes. it might be
well to say a word or two about the
new pumps for the dainty airy frocks
of the girl Of Spring and Summer, 1915
She will wear the old-time Colonial
pump again with its accompanying
buckles And these buckles will be
real buckles not mere pretenses, some Of
them measure as much as two and one
half inches across. They range from
the conservative leather covered buckle
TO the glittering novelty in rhinestones
or cOlored semi-precious jewels.
The high white shoes with white
stitching. heel and sole viii be general
favorite for the simple afternoon dress
or the white flannel or serge suit. A
pair Of sport shoes should be found in
every wardrobe, and for those who en-
joy skating, a pair OF skating shoes
may also be included in the Spring out
fit. for il is promised that the indoor
Kinks will remain open well into the
warm weather.
El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1916-04-01

Of that2" laughed Mr.. Longears.
Caught againi But this Is the last
time"
Only it wasn't Buddy and Bright
eyes the two guinea pig children fooled
Uncle Wiggily by creeping softly up
behind Uncle Wiggily and crying Boo.
which made him jump.
Then sammie Littletail the rabbit
boy, stuffed an old pocketbOok with
pieces OF paper until II looked like a lot
Of money. He dropped it near where
Uncle Wiggily would pass. and the
bunny uncle thought he had found
something fine. But it was only an
April fool.
We'll. wellp Uncle Wiggily said.
after many more jokes had been playec
on him, Il guess it's my turn now
I'll do little joking myself"
He saw a sign in store window.
saying a monkey doodle gentleman had
April fool candy for sale.
What kind is it," asked the bunny
uncle. TT won't hurt the animal chill
dren. viii it, I wouldn't DO that for
farm. for their jokes did not hurt me-
"Oh. it's real candy on the outside"
said the monkey doodle, but inside Is
soft cotton. and when they bite on il IT
tickles their tongues and makes them
laugh"
Give me some" cried Uncle Wig
gily. I'll play some Jokes now"
SO he bought the April fool candy
and. going out in the woods. he met
Billie Bushytail, the boy squirrel. who
had played a nut-trick on his brother
Johnnie
Here IS some nice candy. Billie"
said the bunny uncle Let me see you
eat IT,"
Billie took a bite and then a chew.
Then he swallowed the candy and cried:
"Oh, that's fine, Please give me
some more"
El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1916-04-01
Bedtime Story For the Little Ones
'Uncle WigGly's April Fool Jokes.
by HOWARD n. GARIs.

I April-when every one makes jokes.
said Nurse Jane
Jokes, chr said Uncle WiRgily with
A laugh We'll I guess I'll make some
| myself before the day is over. Yes, in
deedi"
Then he went on with his breakfast,
and, knowing what he used to do when
he was young and frisSy rabbit, he
looked carefully at the sugar to see
that II wasn't salt and he felt OF his
coat tails when he went out.
why did you do that?" asked Nurse
Jane.
ITO make sure you didn't tie any
pieces Of paper on behind. where L
couldn't see them" answered Uncle
Wiggily I've had April Fool tricks
played on me before"
But there was nothing on Uncle Wig
gily this time. so out he went to look
for an adventure. And he had one al
most at once-that is, a little One-for
Lulu Wibblewobble. the duck girl, who
was going to school, cried out:
'Oh, Uncle Wiggily! What you got
on your back"
"Eh? what's that? Ny back? Why
there's nothing on my back" cried the
old rabbit gentleman, trying to turn
himself into corlSscrew so he could
see behind.
Yes, there Is something on your
back!' laughed Lulu. IT'S your coat,
April fool on Uncle Wiggily."
We'll, welli I must be more care
ful,'' the bunny uncle said with a laugh.
They shant catch me again"
But he had not gone much farther
before he met Neddie Stubtail. the little
bear boy.
"Oh, Uncle WigRilyw cried Neddle.
What in the world have you on your
head? Oh. N.Y.
My headi Something on my head
Nonsense. there isn't at all" cried the
bunny uncle.
Yes there is. too It's your tall silk
hat" said Neddie, hugging himself he
was so tickled.
"Oh. well. now, What do you think
El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1916-04-01
cHAPTER xxxVI.

TTHE question repeated itself 70 Jane
Reeves. Her husband had for
hidden her speaking OF the
dresses She might have found It easy
10 obey him had it not been for the
broken sentences she had overheard.
why had Mary needed money! Who
was the person that was III and for
whom she must have IT. Why Woul9
not Augustus give IL to herr And had
he really told Mary that sometime she
was 10 have the gowns which he now
wanted his wife to have?
Jane had never tried to persuade
herself that she could love THE man
who was her husband She had hoped
that qhe would be able TO tolerate him.
no this end, she had tried TO think or
his virtues, rather than OF his faults
since she had settled in his home.
IL she did not do this she was con-
WINGED she could not live under the
same roof with HIM
Two virtues she had believed he pos
sessed were honesty and certain KIND
Of Justice She was sure that he had
not kept back his employees wages or
salary And his sense Of justice should
prevent his accusing the woman OF
that OF which she was not guilty.
For Mary had not been guilty. Ihat
was plain from the few words Jane
had heard her utter. The woman nad
spalSen defiantly, as II her employer
were
money with which to pay the physi-
clan OF some person in whom she was
Interested. Could Reeves have prom
Used to give her his dead wife's clothes
I'm lieu Of money he owed herr
But no, he would not do such q mean
thing as that Even Jane, with no
affection 20 make her charitable in her
judgment OF him, was sure that ne
would not do that Perhaps Mary had
been so much excited that she had
said I'm self defence what was not true.
Perhaps he had never even told her
she could have any OF those dresses.
But Augustus had not denied her state
mcnt Would he not have done SO
tempestuously II he could?
Hears Only n Little.
Yet she had heard only little OF
the conversation Jane reflected
Therefore she should not judge. She
would not try TO think OF IT,
To make such a resolution was cas-
fer than to carry IL out When an hour
later. Reeves called from the lower
hall that IL was almost dinner time,
she started guilty. approaching that
she had been sitting brOOding on that
which she had determined TO Danish
from her mind She remembered also
that Reeves wished her to establish
the habit OF going into kitchen and
dining room few minutes before each
meal TO see that everything was all
right"
hollow Of shams both she and the
house keeper knew. The housekeepsr
never consulted the wife and the wife
never ventured a suggestion to her.
This noon Jane was conscious OF more
trcpidation than usual as she started
10 go through the foolish form. Yet
when she entered the kitchen and
glanced at the woman working there,
swift pity took the place OF timidity.
For Mary Baird looked older than
she had looked two hours ago. Her
face bore the marks Of recent and vio-
lent weeping, and she had haunted
expression in her eyes. An impulse
which she did not pause to analyze !
moved Jane to speak in a tone that 1
was so gentle as to make the house, !
keeper start in surprise.
Mary" she said, let me help you, /
please You're tired, I know. You )
El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1916-04-01

FEW YORK, April For those
m Of US who have. as it were, stacks
= and stacks Of passe froclSs to be
remodeled. this should prove a banner
season. Fashion has been very lenient
with our little economies for several
seasons past. but this Spring. whether
it is the war, with its consequent de-
privations to many. which has turned
her in this direction. or Just because
she fancies evolving the odd little con-
ceptions and combinations one sees on
every side. certain it is that economy
just now is being made very easy and
very fascinating.
GlrdIes BreteIIes and Jumpers.
Let US suppose for instance, that one
has a dark blue serge dress OF last
season. 1t may not be worn to any
great extent, but nevertheless It needs
something to make it look more up
to date. We may add a deep skirt
yoke and a high girdle, with perhaps
a bretelle over each shoulder. or black
satin or MORE. Cuffs and collar too,
add greatly to the effect When clev-
El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1916-04-01
An Absorbing Family Serial
What Happened To Jane
Jane Feels She Must Pierce the Mystery
By VIRGINIA TERHUNE VAN DE WATER.
Copyright 1915. star Company

, see." lowering her voice so that Au-
gustus should not hear It II he came
into the dining room, only woman
understands another woman.
She had not meant to say this, ano
was startled at the change that swept
over the pale and haggard counter
ance before her. The thin lips tWitcheos
the black eyes filled with tears.
There isn't anything you can do,
Mary muttere6, but it's nice or you
to offer. I didn't think you would
know"
You see you don't know me yet"
Jane told her with a smile I mean
what I say, Mary. II at any time l
can do anything for you, let me do 1t,
won't your"
There was silence while Mary bent
over the loaf OF bread she was cut
ting. When she replied she DID not
look up from her task.
It's not likely I'll forget that she
said with an effort. But you wouldn't
be let to help me, though I guess you
mean It,"
Augustus's step was heard in the
dining room and Mary hurried away
with the bread plate, leaving the young
wife more puzzled than ever.
Added TO her perplexity now was
the disagreeable consciousness that she