davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1916-06-16
Worlds LARGEST
Spon8eg1z EK,>
M drke( So :
~ APRON SPRINGS, on the west
coast of Florida, claims the dis
tinction of being the largest

=" APRON SPRINGS, on the west
coast of Florida, claims the dis
tinction of being the largest
sponge market in the western
hemisphere. Over hundred schoon-
ers with their diving boats sail from
its little river harbor to the sponge
beds in the gulf; and local colony of
1000 Greeks are engaged almost
wholly in the sponge business. They
have imported their native methods
unchanged, even employing the same
picturesque boats with high prows and
brilliant colors that are used in the
Mediterranean.
The Greeks have a monopoly of the
business of diving for sponges, writes
Frederic J. Haskin.
They go down into 100 feet of water
In rub Der suits and helmets, cut the
sponges from the bottom with a knife
and bring them to the surface in nets.
Now and again man gets his rubber
lines tangled and his air supply is cut
off, or he remains below too long and
becomes paralyzed Sometimes big
man-eating shark becomes unduly curl
Gus and makes a menacing swoop at
the diver. His usual defense in such
a case is to open his sleeve and let out
a rush of air bubbles, which almost in
variably frightens the shark away.
At any rate these undersea adven-
lures do not appeal to the Americans.
They are willing to take risk for suf-
ficient cause, but not for a divers
wages. Before the Greeks came to
Florida sponges were taken only by
colored men, who went out in rowboats
and hooked" sponges in comparative
ly shallow water with long poles. 1t
was primitive and Intellectual method
and all Florida did not produce a
fraction CT what is now exported annu-
ally from Tarpon Springs alone.
The Greeks saw their opportunity
and went first to another Florida town
Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1916-06-16

farther south, where they invested S.
900 in schooner and began diving for
sponges with great success. The local
people held a mass meeting, decided
they did not want any "furriners," ran
the Greeks out of town and burned up
their boat
The Greeks then went to Tarpon
Springs, where they received very
different reception. The people rea-
lized that Greeks could develop the
sponge industry to the great benefit of
the town. So they purchased boats and
equipment for these men from the
Mediterranean and set them to work.
Both the Greek colony and the
sponge business grew apace. The
Greeks now own their own boats and
about half of the local firms dealing in
sponges are owned by Greeks. They
also conduct all of the ice cream par
lors, barber shops and poolrooms in
Tarpon Springs.
Greeks Have Their Own Quarter.
Although the Greeks dwell in their
own quarter of the town and preserve
their national customs, they live in per-
feet amity with the Americans. There
are very prosperous firms in the sponge
business which are conducted by
Greeks and Americans working in part
nership.
The Greek likes American business
methods, American money, American
movies" and MANY other American
things; but when it comes to cheese,
wine and candy, he insists on having
his own. Hence there are in Tarpon
Springs many picturesque little shops
dealing in these things and in other
strictly Greek dainties which are be-
yond the appreciation of an American
palate. There are also Greek coffee
houses, where you may see the divers
in from the gulf, slipping the drink
from little cups and smoking water
pipes.
Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1916-06-16

AS sponges become scarcer tn,
fleets have to go farther and farther
out into the gulf to get good harvest.
They now usually remain for two or
three months at time, returning all
together at certain times of the year,
when the great sales are held. Early
fall, Christmas and Easter are the
upon these occasions Tarpon Springs
becomes one of the liveliest little
towns upon the globe.
The Greek diver is a daring, happy
go-lucky chap who makes big wages
and does not believe in saving them.
When he hits town he usually collects
several hundred dollars and proceeds
zealously to spend it all before going
to sea again. He is liberal and bois-
ferrous patron of wineshops and coffee
houses and movies. He decks himself
in the gaudiest and most expensive
clothes that money can buy. He rather
overruns the town, but seldom does
any harm either to himself or anyone
else.
Easter is the most important occa-
sion of all, being a great Greek holt
day. There is much feasting and cam
die light professions through the
streets at night. At the time of Christ
mas sale. the Greek Cross day Is cele-
brated. The whole colony gathers at
the bayou behind the town. The young
men, all expert swimmers, line up on
the bank, clad only in trunks. The
priest throws wooden cross into the
water and there is a race for it, the
boy who wins it receiving prize.
Several Kinds of Sponges.
When the sponges are brought up by
the divers they bear no resemblance
whatever to what you buy in drug
store, for the commercial sponge is
merely the skeleton of an animal. In
the natural state it is covered with a
thick mucous. This is pounded and
Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1916-06-16
WHAT AM l HERE FoR2

AS in the sweetest bud
The eating canker dwells, so eating love
lnhabits in the finest wits of all.
What strange happenings lead up
to popping tho question ofttimes.
Few men can remember the exact
occasion when the first thought of
marriage occurred to them in ccnnec-
ton with some particular young wom-
an. Therefore it must be agreed it
was brought about by sudden i'm
pulse, without preme citation.
Not one man in a thousand gives
himself up to day dreams as do wom-
en-, and for that reason he is not
brought face to face with the ques-
ton of how deeply in love he may be.
If men had more time to think it out.
Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1916-06-16

candles. The customary hour of /
firing is nine o'clock in summer 81
seven in winter,
There are no old maids in Mark3
Girls have only one sweetheart. EaI
sutton is Markenite. He has to
A girl could not be married on t
island to anyone else. And If she ID
the island and married she won
never be permitted to return.
Are you adept at fishing?" This
the only thing a father asks when
young man is seeking his daughter
marriage. If he can qualify in tn
respect, personal likings are not &C
sidered.
Unless engaged a young woman
never seen promenading with your
man. After the announcement of Il
engagement 1t is perfectly proper f
the couple to walk wherever thu
choose holding hands-in fact, tn
is the custom.
There are no secret or broken G
gagements on that island of queer CT
toms and traditions. The Markenit
have an engagement rite. The YOU
man and his affianced sit up all mig
with a large candle lighted on t.
table between them. After the hou
is closed, the parents leave the couI
each in a straight uncomfortable cha
on either side of the table. Not wo
can be spoken until the candle h
burned and gone out. The assumpti'
is that they must be sincerely in loy
or they could not endure the orde'
When the sun has risen, the respecti
parents drink boiled wine togetht
and the young man is welcomed in
the girls family. They are then &C
sidered engaged for good and all.
The people have married and init
married for SO many years that tn
are not only becoming degenerate, b
there is scarcely family on the WHO
island which does not have at lea
one member suffering from tuberc
losis. They have been able to endu
as long as they have because the grei
er part of their time is spent outdoo
in the sunshine.
Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1916-06-16

On Love! Young Love! Bound In thy
rosy band
Let sage or cynic prattle as he will,
These hours and these alone redeem
LIES years of i'll.
When the daughters of the rich ride
through the. parks and note the paint
ing OF the benches they scarcely give
thought to 1t, but the poor but pref
ty maiden, on her way to work, no
tees 1t with a thrill in her heart. 1.-THE
good old summer time is coming"
That is the song the men are whis-
Ting as they place the benches under
the budding trees or in secluded
hooks.
The park Is a mecca for the girls
who have no coy little parlor to in
vite the nice young man into who is
so anxious to call or for the girl
whose only home is boarding house.
She sees visions of moonlight strolls,
a tall, manly figure by her side, or
being seated on one of those benches,
the breeze fragrant with honeysuckle
or clover, while the nice young man
clasps her hand and whispers in her
ears the sweet story so old, yet so
new and dear to every pair of lovers.
There never was a truer saying
than, "In the spring a young mans
fancy lightly turns to thoughts of love-"
He is not more prone to romance than
is a maiden Influenced by the coy,
sweet dreams that spring brings. He
is indeed stole who could wander
through the moonlight park of a sum-
mer evening with sweet girl by his
side and see every park bench filled
with lovers without a tender emotion
stirring his heart that he realized
was the budding of love.
Each evening sweethearts HE them
selves thither and the hours glide
away all to soon. Then there is the
delightful stroll home-those two SO
wrapped up in each others whispered
words they would not see their best
friends If they passed them. "The
world forgetting, by the world for
got.' The sweet moment of whis-
pering good night at her door, with
the promise of meeting the next even
ing, going to the park early that all
the benches may not be filed with
other lovers.
All the world looks kindly on a
lover and his lass. Every one is
pleased to see them wend their way
parkward. They know the summer
will not last for long at best Elder
ly men smile as they pass the spoon
ers in the park-while memories of
their own youthful days and dreams
come back to them. The dear old
wives, casting sleeps eyes at the
couples on the benches, wipe the tears
recollection brings of the far-off days
when they were as sweetly and ten
derby wooed in just that way, murmur-
ing, midst signs that are happy ones,
May every couples wooing end in
marriage"
And it generally does. Their love-
making is open and above board. They
are proud that all who look may know
that they are sweethearts fond and
true
Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1916-06-16

VT THERE is one place on earth
more conservative than all the
rest, that place is the little Dutch
i island Of Marker, in the Zuyder
Zee.
There are only five hundred inhabi-
tants on the island, and all are, in a
measure, related. For centuries no
stranger has ever been permitted to
settle and live there. So unfriendly
are the Markenites even toward tour
lists that an inn or hotel is not per-
mitted on the island. To stay all night
you must bride an INSCRIPTIONS Mar
kenite to let you sleep in his flood
attic.
The people have an indescribable
dialect of their own which staggers
even a Dutchman.
Although they can reach Amster-
dam in less than two hours by gaso-
line launch, the women never leave
the island, and the men leave only on
business.
Their attitude toward the people of
Holland and the inhabitants Of any
other country is one of antipathy and
strict isolation.
In addition to being the cleanest
people on earth, they are most peace
full. No alien power has ever had
any perceptible influence on them.
Fashions Dent Change.
Fashions of men and women do not
change in Marker. They are wearing
the same styles today that their great
grandmothers and great-grandfathe
wore. From infants to old women, all
dress alike. Women never wear mourn
ing, but add piece of black material
either to the left or the right side Of
the sleeve, or to some part of the skirt
to designate the relationship to the
member of the family deceased.
Boys and girls are dressed alike un-
til they are six years old, and can be
distinguished only by button on the
cap of the boy, and rose on the cap
of the girl. The sixth birthday is a
great event in the life of every boy,
for it is at this time that he doffs his
corset and dress and puts on male
garb. The only change that girls
make in the mode of dress is that on
the day of marriage scorsets are laid
aside never to be worn again, and it
becomes stylish to wear many under
skirts. This gives hoop-skirt effect.
The men and the boys over six years
old habitually wear what Americans
would call boomers, and loose plain
Jacket with couple of gold or silver
buttons on the collar.
The Markenites are tall, heavy of
frame, have eyes of blush gray, sand
colored hair, conspicuously poor teeth
and large lips, which they seldom
close. This description applies to both
Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1916-06-16
Judged by His Talk.

'Is it possible to become habitua
optimistic?"
That depends great deal on a p
sons environment and the way
which he earns living"
"Yes?"
Il notice that after q man has sc
suburban real estate for few years
hundred square feet of swamp seel
to him Garden of Eden in disguise
Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1916-06-16

wealth. Age, temperament, appear.
ance, honor, and health are of minor
importance; gold plates all his de-
fects.
But what cares youth for wealth
when weighed against warm, young
love-the glance of the eye that
makes the heart beat eagerly and the
clasp of the hand whose magnetism
sends the blood bounding through the
| veins, arousing the slumbering soul?
God meant every heart to give love
spontaneously, answering when the
true heart mate calls.
1t is the duty of parents to watch
carefully, patiently, the progress of
dearly loved daughters love affair,
but it is not their duty to urge her to
accept the hand of a man whom they
know it will be impossible to give her
heart to. If she weds such a man
because Of being unable to withstand
their influence and urging, who is to
blame If she finds marriage a failure
and life hardly worth enduring?
1t is pitiful thing for a woman to
be brought into the close contact of
marriage with a man for whom she
can scarcely summon respect The
natural affection born within her must
either starve for want of feeding or
fasten upon herself-if she is too good
a woman to harbor friendships which
would shadow her good name and self
respect.
She who centers her affections up
on herself degenerates into the cold,
heartless woman, caring only for her
own pleasures and social triumphs and
to be known as the most beautiful of
her sex, the most elegantly gowned
and bejeweled. 1t takes love to bring
ture.
II the same woman had been per-
mitted to marry the one young man
who had appealed to her heart, she
would have wed q young clerk who
had his fortune to make 1t would
have been the delight of her life to
have accepted poverty with him and
kept by his side, cheering and encour-
aging him as he struggled with the
world. They would have had to sit
down to many a scanty meal pre-
pared frugally by her own hands, but
love would sweeten the coarsest vi
ands and make toll for the one be-
loved dear privilege.
Those who guide the lives of young
girls should think long and earnestly
ere they turn from their door a sutton
for her hand and heart simply because
he has no fortune. If he is honorable
and has good character, is ambitious
to work and rise in the world, he is
fortune in himself. Very few young
American men have ready-made for
tunes, but they have brains and the
will power to accumulate it-and that
makes husbands to be proud of. 1t is
a blessing to girl to save her from
marrying drunkard, libertine, gam
bier, or one who would not work if
earnest persuasion would accomplish
it, for her love is but delusion, mar
rage opening her eyes more quickly
than anything else to the gravity of
the mistake she made. A girl has no
say-so about being born into this
world, no voice whatever in the mat
| ter, but she should have her say-so
concerning her marriage, for that is
the next important step in her career.
If she marries solely to please others.
more often than not she has a hard
road ahead of her.
Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1916-06-16

compressed lips,
II shall see to it
that my Majorie
marries suitably
or she will re-
main single"
Is it any won
der that the
daughter of such
a woman begins
to have a dread
of matrimony at
u II e d + y age !
She looks upon it
as a sort of sale
and the securing
of a bargain. The
ambitious moth
er considers no
m a n suitable"
unless he has
Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1916-06-16
For White Furniture.

Use clear turpentine and soft cloth
to clean white enameled woodwork or
furniture. 1t will remove every spot
without removing one bit of the gloss.
as soap often does.
Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1916-06-16

Their houses are all pretty mu
alike. There is never more than t,
rooms downstairs, a dining room viii
is also kitchen, and living room a!
bedroom combined. There is alwt.
fireplace of old blue tiles. From I
rafters hang jugs, dried fish and har
The Markenites are not meat cate
The ordinary diet consists of fish
cod or herring-dried peas or beai
and cheese. The cheese is made
goat milk.
The people use the street as {
ting room. Outside the door of ca
house is a bench, where the houl
wife knits wooden socks and jackets
Marker has no street lights. T
extravagant burn gasoline, othe
Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1916-06-16
Ncnchaiance.

Il wouldn't marry you II you were
the last man on earth
Maybe you wouldn't" replied the
egotistic youth. IF l were the last
man on earth, there would be some
leap-year competition.
Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1916-06-16
pisaareeahIe.

A scientist says cannibalism is log.
zeal, as human flesh is the most d.
gestible. Still, we all know of some
people we are certain would rot agree
with us under any conditions.
Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1916-06-16
Japanese Captures Salmon in Waves

A Japanese who has charge Of Tho
Cabins" the ]. B. Dahlgren place On
Beach Hill, caught 25-pound salmon
in the breakers He was swimming
near the railroad wharf, and saw a
big salmon which had got into the
breakers, which, after some difficulty,
he captured with his hands.-Santa
Cruz (Cal) Surf.
Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1916-06-16
LalnaAeaa6bgys
YIWN(NY
fl[ApWpI(S
MARRYING TO PLEASE OTHERS.

Never rail at the world. 1t is just as we
~ make it; $50 ree
We see not the flower If we SOW not the
seed,
And as for i'll luck. why, it's just as we
take il.
The heart that's in earnest no bars can
a8 impede,
l am always sorry for a girl when /
hear her mother remark, with tightly
Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1916-06-16

1TE-T WI-S<1- 1s@F<f$ SONSt-NVSITV9
men and women who, according to our
standards, would be called stupid look
ing.
Women's Ages Uncertain.
It is difficult to tell the age of the
women. One little woman, her face a
network of wrinkles and most of her
teeth gone, proudly held up a three
weeks-old baby for inspection. 1t was
dressed exactly like her. To one who
did not know, she would have been
taken for the grandmother. but as mat
ter Of fact, she was only twenty-eight
years old, and this was her first child.
Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1916-06-16
SUM MER SPARKLING.

Oh Love! Young Love! Bound in thy
rosy band
Let sage or cynic prattle as he will,
These hours and these alone redeem
LIES years of i'll.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1916-07-08
TIRE COMPANY GIVES
GUARD KITE BALLOON
Goodyear Concern First to Give
Such War Device to National
Guard Organization.

As material and practical evidence Of
its desire to cooperate fully with the
Government In building up the national
defense. and its interest In the national
preparedness program. the Goodyear
Tire and Rubber Company. Akron.
Ohio, has presented to Battery b
Ohio Field Artillery stationed at
Akron. a fully equipped military kite
balloon ready for Immediate use.
Goodyear earns the distinction Of
furnishing the first kite balloon ever
owned by the National Guard In any
State. The balloon is Of the same type
as the one recently delivered to the
United States Navy for use at the
Naval Aeronautic Station at Pensa-
cola, Fla. II was designed and made
year recently sent out an aeronautic
expert abroad to make a scientific
study of kite balloon development, to
be better able to assist the United
States Government In building UP It's
aeronautic service.
The balloon is the very latest develop
ment in kite balloons and embodies
many scientific principles which have
been worked out exclusively by Good
year aeronautic engineers.
The importance OF kite balloons In
present day military campaigns Is anu
phasized by the multiplicity OF balloons
now In use In Europe. On the Europ-
pcan battle fronts they are placed at
frequent intervals to insure aerial sur
veys OF the entire front constantly, and
are Indispensable.
Undoubtedly Goodyear's gift to the
Ohio National Guard will mark the
beginning OF a very considerable de-
yelopment In this exceedingly important
arm Of the service.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1916-07-08
MRYlAND License
BUREAU Cause Of
DELAY TO- PUBLIC
Unsuccessful strm on Offices
at Metzerft Building Is
Made on Saturday,.
MOTORISTS WAIT IN HAIL
Seven Kindred Disappointed
Whenihey Try to Get Cards
on Js !.
MOTORISTS WAIT IN HAIL
9, MONTE w. sOHN.

r Last Daturday several hundred mo-
Netzeott building.
Thet storming was only partially
successful. however.
Mot Of them were repulsed.
re inefficiency Of the license bu-
rsa In the handling Of applications
- hot like Maryland. And yet II 70
AZ unfortunate fact.
The bureau knows almost certainly
kw many license blanks are neces-
ery to take care of District motor
tts who drive In Maryland.
[ There are a great many OF these
motorists.
only a few Of them-comparativeiy
tried to get licenses on July l.
Only Small Proportion There.
Most OF US are average people and
most of us procrastinate a little. even
II 1t be only a matter Of hours. There's
fore. II Is not strange that only q
sman percentage Of District motor
lists were In the Metxerott building
last Saturday. And yet the great
locked out-in the hall.
The Maryland bureau had no right
to assume that every District mo-
torist would not apply for his new
license. There should have been
400 Of those blanks availablss
There were only few hundred.
That was all they had.
Monday 1t was worse. Seven hun
dreG motorists tried to get licenses.
Most OF them were turned away
Maryland may say her force Of
clerks in the Metzerott building
could not cope with the sudden de-
mand.
And yet II doesn't take a second to
hand out license blank. to be sent
In later. But the local bureau did not
do that. 1t kept notorists locked out
In the corridor.
~, Not superior efficiency i,, Just alt NJ.
this annoyance unnecessary.
Sheriff Went to Church.
OF course. the new speed laws had
their good effect. Most Of the mag
istrates. deputies and sheriffs went
to church. renewed acquaintance
with their families or went to work
about their hcmes last Sunday.
SO the license bureaus unprepared-
ness had no evil effect on those Dis
land without new licenses.
You can't expect n sheriff to hire
Q squad Of deputies on the small
profit of Is cents an arrest.
Happily, therefore. there were no
arrests for failure to have new
licenses.
Next year there probably will be
@'.o0O District motorists who Will
want licenses.
lust az a suggestion. of course.
1t might be "A good plan for Mary
land to hire an extra clerk for jan
And print hundred extra license
blanks