davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Colorado statesman., 1917-11-03
CONTRIBUTION TO
ORIGINAL AMERICAN ART

~ UR ONLY original contributions
to the domain of Ameri-
~ can art have come to us
through our Negro population. If
this proposition is doubted one is
asked to mention what, besides the
rag-time of the modern dance and the
Uncle Remus stories of Joel Chandler
Harris, has as yet sprung from
American soil and out of American
life" The originality and power of
these artistic creations, declares Mr..
James Weldon Johnson, field secre-
tary of the National Association for
the Advancement of Colored People,
have Influenced and appealed not only
to America, but the world. He places
the most Importance upon the Uncle
Remus stories and the spiritual or
slave songs to which the Fisk Jubilee
Singers made the public and musi-
clans of the United States and Europe
listen. The stories constitute the only
folklore that America has produced,
says Mr.. Johnson in the New York
Evening Post, and the slave melodies
the only folk-songs, 'for in them the
Negro sounded the depths, if he did
not scale the heights, of music" Mr..
Johnson also mentions the cake
walk" and ragtime, and points to the
fact that we need not go very far back
to remember when cake-walking was
the rage of the United States, Europe
and South America. Society in this
country and royalty abroad spent time
in practicing the intricate steps. Paris
pronounced it the poetry of motion
Though the popularity of the cake
walk passed away its influence re-
mained, a fact which this apologist
goes on to examine:
"The influence which the Negro has
exercised on the art of dancing in this
country has been almost absolute For
generations, the clog and the jig,
which are strictly Negro dances, have
been familiar to American theater au-
diences Several years ago the public
discovered the turkey-trot, the eagle
rock, and several other varieties that
started the modern dance craze. Half
the floor-space in the country was
then turned over to dancing, and
highly paid exponents sprang up ev-
erywhere. The most noted, Vernon
Castle, and, by the way, an English
man, never danced except to the music
of a colored orchestra, and he never
failed to state to his audience that
most of his dances had long been done
w your colored people, as he put it.
ANY one who witnesses musical
production in which there is dancing
can not fail to notice the Negro stamp
upon all the movements, a stamp that
even the great vogue of Russian
dances could not affect. That peculiar
swaying of the shoulders which you
see done everywhere by the blond
girls of the chorus is nothing more
than movement from the Negro
dance referred to above, the eagle
rock
The Colorado statesman., 1917-11-03
RACE NEWS

Chicago, Oct. 27. Mrs. Elinora
Curtis, Chicago, was informed
by cablegram tonight that her
son, James L. Curtis, AZ years
old, appointed minister to Liber-
la four years ago by President
Wilson, died Oct. "a in Freetown,
Africa, following an operation,
the nature of which was not dis
closed.
The Colorado statesman., 1917-11-03

Most of the armies of Europe
and those of the United States
today are marching in shoes or
boots made by machines designed
and patented by John Ernest
Matzeliger, a Negro born in 1852
in Dutch Guiana. Almost every
man, woman and child in the
United States and everywhere
else that shoes are worn, pay tri-
butte to the intellect of a man of
color who, after years of failure,
finally gave to the world the me-
chanical shoemaker. Matzeli-
ger died in 1869 in Lynn, Mass,
after unavailing efforts to or
ganize stock company to man
ufacture his machine. Records
of the United States patent office
show that more than 800 patents
have been granted to Negroes.
The Colorado statesman., 1917-11-03

The Daily Herald made its ini-
tia, appearance in Baltimore, Md,
it's salutatory stated that it
would be an afternoon newspap-
er devoted to the interests of the
race. 1t has four pages and is
the only Negro daily published
in the country at this time. w.
T. Andrews, formerly of Sumter
S. C. is the leading spirit in the
enterprisd.
The Colorado statesman., 1917-11-03

the Negro's accomplishment through
| these lower forms. In the spirituals
or slave songs the Negro has given
America not only it's only folk-songs,
but a mass of noble music. 1 never
think of this music but 1 am struck
by the wonder, the miracle, of its pro
duction. How did the men who origin
ated them manage to do it? The
sentiments are easily accounted for;
they are mostly taken from the Bible;
but the melodies, where did they come
| from, some of them so weirdly sweet,
and others so wonderfully strong?
Take, for instance, GO Down, Noses
1 doubt that there is a stronger theme
in the whole musical literature of the
world"
Mr.. Johnson expresses his wonder
that this greatest gift of the Negro"
should have been the most neglected
of all that he possesses:
Money and effort have been ex-
pended upon his development in every
other direction except this. This gift
has been regarded as a sort of side
show, something for occasional exhibit
ton, whereas it is the magic thing; it
is the touchstone; it is that by which
the Negro can bridge all chasms. No
class of persons, however, hostile, can
| listen to Negroes singing this won
derful music without having all their
hostility melted down. Any one who
can hear Negroes sing from their
I hearts Nobody Knows de Trouble I
See without shedding tears must in
deed have a heart of stone. This very
music can be used as bond.
81 believe the Negro possesses a
valuable and much-needed gift that he
will contribute to the future American
democracy. l have tried to point out
that the Negro is here not merely to
be beneficiary of American democ-
racy, not merely to receive. He is
here to give something to American
democracy. Out of his wealth of ar
tistic and emotional endowment he is
going to give something that is want
ing, something that is needed, some
thing that no other element in all the
nation has to give."-Literary Digest.
Shreveport. La Sixty mem
bers of the Trinity Baptist
church, colored, of which Rev. j.
M. Harvey is the pastor, were
expelled here recently at a busi-
ness session of the congregation
presided over by pastor as mod
orator, and the church requested
that the doors of other congrega-
tions be closed to them. The
cause of the expulsion was stated
as the failure of the expelled
members to do their duty by the
church.
Bellville, ILL.,, Oct. 25, Horace
King, Negro physician, charged
with the murder of two white
men during the East st, Louis
race riots, was declared insane
by a jury in the circuit court here
this afternoon and ordered sent
to the State Insane Asylum at
Anna, III. The jury ordered
that he be brought back for trial
in the event that he should re-
cover his sanity. Evidence was
introduced to show that King,
who has been under observation
at the county hospital for twenty
days, suffers from a delusion that
his father and his wife were kill
ed in the riots and that efforts
are being made to poison him.
Physicians testified that his mind
had given way under the strain
during the riots.
The Washington herald., 1917-03-25
FIREMEN CARRY FORTY
FROM Blazing BUILDING
Men and Women Saved in the Nick
of Time.
Special to Tho Washington Herald.

Special to The Washingtou Herald.
White Plains, n. Y. March A.-Forty
people. including many women and chill
dren. were rescued by police and firemen
from the burning Maloney Building early
today. Several were overcome and others
suffered from exposure and shock. One
6-year-old boy is reported missing. and a
search is being made among neighborA
who sheltered the burned-out families.
The building. a three-story brick struc-
ture owned by Daniel W. Maloney, Of
North street, was destroyed. The loss is
about 1000. The origin of the fire is
unknown, but 1t is believed to have been
started In the cellar.
When the tenants awoke their rooms
were filled with smoke. Escape was cut
of through the Railways and the only
fire escape was on the rear. which but
few OF them could reach. There were
eight families. most of them having sew
eraI children each. living in the building.
Five stores were on the ground floor.
The blaze was discovered at o'clock
and was under control at 6 o'clock The
hook and ladder aerial broke down on the
way to the fire. and the policemen and
firemen arriving first had to utilize short
ladders to bring down the men. women
and children who were hanging out of
windows and standing on lodges shouting
for help.
The Washington herald., 1917-03-25
WOULD NDICT ITALIAN
DEPUTY FOR war TALK
Socialist Member Charged with Circu-
lating False News. \
CBy the International News Service

Rome. March 10 (by mail to New York;
The Kings prosecutor OF the Verceli
tribunal has just petitioned the chamber
Of deputies to grant the necessary au-
thorization for indicting and prosecuting
Deputy Maffi. one Of the members of the
Socialist group.
According to the indictment, Prof.
Mafi, who is q member Of the faculty of
medicine Of Padua University, Is charged
with having circulated alarming news
concerning the war and with having
made false statements which might have
disturbed the public peace.
The Indictment alleges that on the
evening OF September 3. 1916. and in a
public resort of the city of Vercelli.
Prof Mani stated In the presence of sew
eral persons, that England was solely
responsible for the present war: that
England was not fighting to uphold jus
tice and right, but only for her own
interests; that the italian nation would
derive no benefit from the war; that
war was desired In Italy only by the
capitalistic class and the army contract
ors. who would be the only ones to
benefit by 1t; and that the King was al
ways opposed to Intervention.
The Washington herald., 1917-03-25
GIRL PLANNED suicide
PACT, YOUTH DECLARES
Says She Furnished Poison That Ended
Her Life-Love Letters Produced.
h in ri,e Mashinrton Her,ld.


Special to The Washington Herald.
Baltimore March A-Love letters that
passed between 1s-year-old Andrew Kuhn
and his youthful sweetheart, Esther An
derson. is years old, throw new light
upon the suicide pact which resulted IN
the death of the girl. f
The letters were introduced today by
Attorney Harry B., Wolf. counsel for
Kuhn, in criminal court, where the boy IL
on trial for murder. At the same time
Kuhn testified that the girl, not he. in
sisted on the suicide pact and furnished
the poison tablets.
Several Of the love missives, while pro-
Tossing undying love for the boy, tndi-
Gated that for several months during
1916 the girl thought OF suicide as the
only solution of their trouble. which was
caused by parental objections to their
love-making.
In one Of her letters she wrote: "An-
drew, II 1 cannot go with you, there Is
no use living in this world" She then
went on to state that her mother in
sisted that she give him up and even
went so far as to threaten to have her
put away" until she was q years old,
IL she persisted in seeing him.
All the letters were written in pencil
and at their conclusion bore cross marks
to represent kisses. It appeared from the
letters that the girls mother refused to
allow her to receive letters from Kuhn
and the girl advised Kuhn to disguise his
handwriting and to use an assumed
name in order to throw her mother on
the track These letters were sent by
the girl to a boy friend who also re-
ceived Kuhn's letters to her and acted
as messenger.
The Washington herald., 1917-03-25
TWILL RESTRICT news
CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONE

men of the military and naval establish
ments.
"(e). Transportation of mails. supplies
or munitions.
20. Information OF any designs, inven-
ton, or test thereof, or of manufacture,
transport, or distribution of implements
Of war.
"(g). Concentration of military or naval
supplies. or location of such supplies.
"(h). Activities in or about arsenals,
fortiflcations, army posts, naval maga-
zines, navy yards, naval bases and radio
stations '
90. Publication of any maps. dia-
grams, or photographs. which in any
way might seem OF military or naval
value.
40. No moving pictures should be dis
played which might be of military or
naval value.
90. Any doubtful matter should be
submitted to the authorized representa-
tive of the department concerned, who
shall give an immediate decision thereon,
and keep the inquiry made strictly con-
fidential.
80. 1t is requested that no informa-
ton. reports or rumors. attributing a pol
icy to the government in any interna-
tional situation not authorized by the
President. or a member of the Cabinet,
he published without first consulting the
Department OF State.
"Note.-The above regulations shall not
be in force in any matters officially given
to the press by properly authorized ON
cials."
The Washington herald., 1917-03-25
Doctors Stand Amazed at Poper
OfBon- Optic to Make Weak Eyes
Strong---According to DR.. Lewis
Guaranteed to Strengthen Eyesieht 500
In One Weeks Time in Many Instances
A Free Prescription You Can Hs,
Filled and Use Mt Home.

A Free Prescription You Can Have
Filled and Use at Home.
Philadelphia, Pa.-Victims of eye
strain and other eye weaknesses, and
those who wear glasses, will be glad
to know that according to DR.. Lewis
there is real hope and help for them.
have had their eyes restored by this
remarkable prescription and many
who once wore glasses say they have
thrown them away. One man says,
after using it: I was almost blind.
Could not see to read at all Now
can read everything without my
glasses and my eyes do not hurt any
more. At night they would pain
dreadfully. Now they feel fne all
the time. 1t was like q miracle to
me-" lady who used it says: The
out glasses, but after using this pre-
scription for Is days everything seems
clear. 1 can read even fine print with
out glasses" Another who used IL
says Il was bothered with eyestrain
caused by overworked, tired eyes
which induced fierce headaches. have
worn glasses for several years both
for distance and work. and without
them | could not read my own name
on an envelope or the typewrittng on
the machine before me. 1 can 90 Doth
now and have discarded my long dis
tance glasses altogether. | can count
the futtering leaves on the trees
across the stret now. which for sew
eraI years have looked like a dim
green blur TO me. cannot express
my joy at what II has done for me"
1t is believed that thousands who
wear glasses can now discard them
The Washington herald., 1917-03-25
ELOPEMENT IS SPOILED
By SQUEAL FROM GIRL
Men Hear Cry. Have Thoughts Of Kid
mapping Plot, and Give Chase.

New York, March IA girlish
squeal spoiled Mary Cerullrs elope-
ment with James Chickerella, but the
complications that followed were so
exciting the parents of the couple be-
slowed their blessings and promised a
regular wedding nigh, take place to-
day.
Mary is % and lives In Brooklyn.
The girls parents wouldn't let her
wed Chickerela, so they decided to
elope last night at o'clock.
They met at Eastern Parkway and
HopkInson avenue. where Chickerella
had an automobile. his best man.
Samuel Manzo. and three other
friends.
As the young woman settled herself
into the auto she uttered a squeal OF
supreme satisfaction 1t was heard
by Philip Goldstein, manager of q ga
rage. and three auto owners.
"a kidnapping" shouted Goldsteln. 10
the rescue, mem"
Manzo was yanked from the running
board Of the car as the machine sped
away and lugged to the Brownsville Po-
lice Station. Would he say one word!
He would not.
Next a general alarm was sent out and
q watch was put on all ferries and
bridges. Some one had caught the num-
Der of the car. and the police moved so
fast that they came up with the ma
chine Just as Chickerella was handing his
sweetheart from the car in front of his
home. They had intended to hide there
until the excitement passed.
Instead he and Miss Cerulh were taken
to the police station. Here. after many
explanations, the parents of the pair were
sent for. and Lieut.. Brady successfully
interceded for the runaways.
The Washington herald., 1917-03-25

in reasonable time and multitudes
more will be able to strengthen their
eyes so as to be spared the trouble
and expense Of ever getting glasses
Eye troubles OF many descriptions
may be wonderfully benefited by the
active drug store and get a bottle OF
6pto t&SIet a fourth Ih0O Of a ons glass s00f Of
water and fet Il dissolve. with this
liquid bathe the eyes two to four
times daily. You should notice your
eyes clear up perceptibly right from
the start and Inflammation and red
ness will quickly disappear. II your
eyes bother you even q little IL Is your
duty to take steps to save them now
before IL is too late. Many hopeless
IL they had cared for their eyes in
time.
Note.-Another prominent physician to whom Oh.
above article was submitted Aid: Yes. the Boo
OIdo Eresc1iption is truly q wonderful eye remedy
Its cntftusrt irgedients well known 70 crni-
nent eve specialists and widely prescribed by then
have ussd il very successfully in my own pacsios
patients whose eyes were strsined through c-es-
work rniSht glasses. I can highly recommend 10
in case Of weak wstery. Aching smarting itching.
burning cycs, red lids, blurred viAon or for 60
i-famed from exposure 70 snoks sun d,rt Or
Nipd. IL is u the very few prsTnrations fesl
should be kept on hand for REGULAR use IN almo~s
every family" BOn-opto. referred 10 sbovs 70 pot
. Jstenf medicine o secrrt remedy. II q an
ethical prerAntion the formula bsing printed On
the TacKsee. The manufactures guarantee n 10
in many instsnoas or refund the money. n ON 10
obtained frm AIRY good drueEist and 10 scld IN this
city hE o'DOunell's Drug stor.a Lsz.efs eap-~a
Psoplss Drug stor,a. snf oths eru@AsA.-<A
The Washington herald., 1917-03-25
Too Much for Chicago,
Those 1916 Beach Girls

Chicago, March 4.-The city of Chicago
will tell bathing girls just what to wear
and what not to wear on the beaches
this season if an ordinance presented to
a council committee Is made law The
draft was framed after a delegation Of
club women protested against daring
outfits worn by some of the beach
nymphs Of 1916 Girls who violate the
ordinance will be fined from S. to go
White and fiesh-colored suits will be
absolutely barred The chest must not
be exposed beyond the line drawn from
arm-pit to ar1n-pit. Bloomers must cover
the swimmer to at least four inches
above the knee. Jerseys may be worn
provided the arm-holes are close fitting
and there Is skirt effect.
The Washington herald., 1917-03-25
PRISONER NOT FRENCH,
SAYS ATLANTA CONSUL
Alleged Teuton Spy Uneasily Admits
Visiting Radio Plant.

(By the international News Service.) }
Atlanta, Ga, March 24-Hugo Coutan-
din is not French. but German, declared
French Consul F. E. May. stationed in
Atlanta, after Quizzing Coutandin for
an hour. Coutandin, one Of the men held
here under suspicion of being German
spies, claims to be a Frenchman.
Both Coutandin and Valerian Johannes
Pieczynski, the other suspect. were ques-
toned closely today by q government
agent. accompanied by Hooper Aexan-
der. local Federal district attorney
When you were in Savannah recently
why did you visit the big wireless sta
ton there?' suddenly asked the govern
ment agent. Pieczynski shifted uneasily,
but finally admitted that he made such
visit.
That's right where you began to get
in bad" the questioner said
The Washington herald., 1917-03-25
FIND SHERIFF "GUITY"
OF KIND TREATMENT

Columbus. Ind, March 24.-Two YER
diets were returned by the jury in
Bartholomew Circuit Court in the case
Of William Leighton. aged 81, farmer
charged with a statutory offense.
The jury found him not guilty, and
then Valentine D. Ault, foreman,
handed sealed verdict" to Sheriff
Shaw. telling him not to read it until
the members of the jury had left for
their homes. The sheriff found the
jurors had declared him guilty" of the
kindest and most courteous treat
ment they ever had received while do
ing jury duty.
The Washington herald., 1917-03-25
WEALTHY LAD HAS OWN
ELEVATOR In SCHOOL

Spokane. Wash, March A-Donald
Burcham Is happy because he can 60
back to school. School means much to
Donald, for his legs are virtually para
lyzed as the result Of infantile paralysis
five years ago.
The little chap has been able to make
his grades and has been promoted to the
fifth grade. Then began his trouble. All
grades above the fourth are on the sec
ond floor and Donald is unable to climb
stairs and is too heavy to be carried, con-
veniently.
His father, James T. Burcham, took
the problem to the school board. He
offered to install a small elevator in the
building at his own expense. The school
board consented.
The elevator will be thirty by thirty
six inches. with a carrying capacity OF
fifty pounds.
The Washington herald., 1917-03-25
OWNS WORLD ONE NIGHT;
LIFE WORTHLESS NEXT

Special to The Washington Herad
Baltimore. March A.-Somewhat a pes
simist. Joseph Lukush. IS years old. q
tailor, faced Justice Johannsen in West
ern Police Court today on a charge OF
disorderly conduct. Last night Lukush
owned the world-he was under the in
fiuence of liquor. Today he valued his
life at the sum Of five pennies.
+ According to the testimony, Lukush was
found wandering in the yards at Camden
Station of the Baltimore and Ohio Rail-
road. Several times he narrowly missed
stepping on the third rail-
There must be some mysterious power
that watches over you fellows" remark
ed the magistrate.
Then. after securing a promise from
Lukush to stay away from liquor. the
magistrate dismissed the case
The Washington herald., 1917-03-25
MANIAC YIELDS
SCYTHE ON WOMAN

San Bernadino, March Alarmed with
a scythe. which he swung viciously from
side to side as he ran forward, c. W.
Holmes. a patient at the San Bernadfno
County Hospital. created a near panic
today when he made an insane attack
on two nurses.
Taken suddenly violently insane,
Holmes charged down upon Miss Laura
WetZ'l and Miss Mary Watson
Miss Wetzell was severely cut on the
legs and Miss Watson was hurt on the
head when she attempted to rescue her
companion Holmes was caught in flight
and taken to the State Hospital for the
Insane at Patton.
The Washington herald., 1917-03-25
BLACK handler ADMITS
BLACKMAM ATTEMPT
Caught When He Went for $500 Left
in Bottle.
srecial 10 me Washinzton Herald.

Special to The Washington HGAld
New York. March A.-Severto Martach-
lone. indicted upon the complaint Of Fe-
lice Angelic, q well-to-do italian butcher,
and charged with blackmal, entered a
plea of guilty IN the Queens County Court
today. He was arrested on the night Of
February 9, when he went to the corner
Of sherman and Hamilton streets, Long
Island City. at midnight, to get 800 which
he had ordered Angelic under threat Of
death to leave there in bottle. The bot
tie was left in the desired spot. Detec-
tives Teeven. Mindhein, and Dgf1io then
hid behind a rock and waited for Mar
tachione to appear.
The Washington herald., 1917-03-25
Navy Plans to Guard
700 Interned Germans

The Navy Department last night ar
ranged for a heavy guard of marines 10
escort the 20 interned Germans Of the
crews OF the German auxiliary cruisers
Eitel Friedrich and Kronprinz Wilhelm,
from Philadelphia. to Forts Oglethorpe
and Mcpherson. Georgia.
The interned men will be detained at
the Georgia forts under q heavy infantry
guard. They will leave Philadelphia
Monday.
The Washington herald., 1917-03-25
GRAND DUKE DISMISSED 2

Amsterdam. March PA dispatch from
Stockholm says that Grand Duke Nicho-
las Nicholaievitch, the former Cars un-
Gle and commander-in-chief of the Rus
sian forces in the Caucasus, has been dis
missed.
He was informed by the new war
minister, A. J. Guchkof. that owing to
his relationship with the Romanof dy-
nasty, his continuance as chief COM
mander of a Russian army is no longer
acceptable. --.-,
The Washington herald., 1917-03-25
SUBMARINE CARRIER
IS INVENTED BY LAKE

Bridgeport, Conn. March a.-Simon
Lake, associate manager of the Lake
Torpedo Boat Company, announced he
had obtained a patent on a cross coun-
try carrier for submarines and subma-
rine chasers.
Mr.. Lake believes his invention will be
of particular use to the country in time
Of mobilization when undersea craft or
their destroyers could be carried from
point to point along the coast if needed.