davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The broad ax., 1917-12-22

migrated to Chicago, where he decided
to take up the study and practice of
medicine and surgery for his life work.
Pursuing the regular course of studies,
he graduated from the Bennett Medical
College, now the medical department of
the LoyOla University. In 1896 he en-
tered the Cook County Hospital as an
inferno, in which well-known institu-
ton he served for a period of one year
and a half. From this time on the
career of DR.. Robertson has been one
constant succession of milestones on the
roadway of successful attainment.
Among the many various achieve
ments which must be directly attributed
to the enormous energy and aggressive
spirit of Doctor Robertson are the
establishment of the Frances Willard
Hospital, thu, hiding of the Jefferson
Park Hospital and of the American
Medical College, now known under the
name of the Chicago College of Medi-
cine and Surgery.
In 1908 DR.. Robertson took over the
Bennett Medical College, Loyola Uni
versity, which, from various causes, was
now in a rundown condition, and be-
coming president of this institution, set
about at once to improve it and bring
it up to the standard set by the most
mOdernly equipped schools of the eoun-
try. So successful were his efforts in
this direction that the Bennett Medical
College now ranks second in Chicago in
number of students.
DR.. John Dill Robertson is a member
of the State Board of Agriculture of
Illinois, in charge of education, and was
the founder of the State Fair School for
Boys, and is professor of surgery at the
Bennett Medical College, of which he
is president, and has filed, at other
periods in his professional career, the
chairs of chemistry and pathology
DIR. Robertson's star rose quickly in
The broad ax., 1917-12-22

DR.. John Dill Robertson, health com
missioner of Chicago, was born in Ne
ehaniesburg, Indiana county, Pennsyl-
vania, on the sth of March, 1871. His
father was Thomas SandersOn Robert
son, who served with distinction as a
lieutenant of the Sixty-seventh Penn
sylvania Volunteers in the Civil War.
The elder Robertson had married Miss
Malinda McCurdy, who was left a
widow by the untimely death of her
husband when young John Dill Robert
hood of the man who is now one of
the foremost surgeons in the United
States ran along in much the same
channels as that of the average boy of
his years in the Pennsylvania town.
1t is worthy of note that at the age
Of twelve years he was east upon his
own resources and, responding to the
call of fate, set out to make his own
way in life.
The vieissitudes and struggles of his
early encounter with the stern realities
of the world served in no slight measure
to mold the excellent inherent qualities
of the youth and give him that element
of frmness and decision so essential to
those who have it in them to do and
dare. The first position taken by the
young John was in the capacity of a
clerkship in a combination drug store
and grocery, these institutions being
quite common in the East at that time
He remained in this connection for
about three years, at the expiration of
which time he took up telegraphy.
Within a comparatively short space of
time he was holding a position as
operator on the C., B. & Q. Railroad,
later being promoted to the post of dis
Patcher on the same system.
In 1893 the subject of this sketch,
well tested by his actual contact with
the world of cold fact and experience,
The broad ax., 1917-12-22
REMEMBERING OUR BOYS AT
CAMP GRANT.
Chicago Colored Citizens Send Christ.
mas Kits to Colored Soldiers
at Rockford.

There will be twelve hundred happy
Colored soldiers at Camp Grant on
Christmas, for Santa Claus will "slip
over" 100 Christmas kits-one for
each man who has answered his coun-
try's call to edo his bit somewhere
in France "-and each soldier will
know that each kit is a token of the
love, appreciation and prayers of Chi
eago Colored people for our boys who
go TO serve the nation and make history
for our race
And those who have sent these tokens
deserve credit for their thoughtful work.
They have done their "bit" to make
Christmas cheerful for those who have
said goodbye to home and friends to
go to the trenches in the far away
struggle for a world democracy.
This Christmas movement started
late, but it made rapid Roadway. On
the first Sunday in December distress
ing rumors reached Chicago that the
soldiers at Camp Grant were suffering
from bad weather, lack Of clothes, poor
food and preventable illness. The
rumors were discussed at several meet
ings, and at the Negro Fellowship
League the president, Mrs. Ida B. Wells
Barrett, was delegated to visit Camp
Grant to learn the truth. The next Sun
day she reported the result of her visit,
showing that the rumors were entirely
untrue; that the soldiers were well and
happy, full Of "pep," in love with
their officers and winning high praise
for their good work.
But she did more than that, for she
had a message to Chicago citizens di-
The broad ax., 1917-12-22

rectly from Brig. Gen Barnum, who is
proud of his Colored boys. He cited the
fact that thousands of Christmas kits
would come to Camp Grant from white
people, and while there would be no
discrimination between soldiers in the
general distribution, still in the case
of special donations the Colored boys
might not fare so well. He was anxious
for churches, societies and individuals
among Colored people to do something
to make the Colored soldiers feel that
they, too, had friends at home who took
special interest in them. He gave Mrs
Barnett a splendid letter to that effect,
and as soon as she came home she began
the good worf-
The Negro Fellowship League pre-
sented the matter to Colored organiza-
lions, and the City Federation of
woman's Clubs appointed a committee
to act. Rapid fire work was carried on
with the result that SAINT Claus had his
back weighted down with Christmas
kits, containing cigarets, cards, candy
and other evidences of our love for the
boys at Camp Grant, who dare to edo
and die" for our country. Next week
a detailed account of the donation and
donors will be published. The Civic
Federation committee was as follows:
The broad ax., 1917-12-22

the world of medicine and surgery, in
comparatively short space Of time he
became known as Chicago's foremost
surgeon. Few indeed have met with the
phenomenal success which has attended
him in his professional pursuits. His
success has been attained only by his
tremendous physical energy, his I'M
bounded devotion to the study of medi-
cine and surgery which has become to
him life passion.
The broad ax., 1917-12-22
THOMAS COLE.

Mr.. and Mrs. Thomas Cole came to
this city from Louisville, KY, five or
six years ago and they bought a fine
two-fiat building at 1927 s. Wabash ave
nue., and Mr.. Cole owns and conducts
The C. c. Hotel at 3449 S. State street.
They are the owner of fine automobile,
and in every way Mr.. and Mrs. Cole are
good citizens of Chicago.
The broad ax., 1917-12-22
LOOKING BACKWARD AND FOR
WARD.


ton The BROAD AK has been able to
note wonderful advancement of the
Afro American in many and various
ways. In this our twenty-seeond ami
versary and the fifty-fourth year OF
the emancipation, We emphasize with
we think, pardonable pride and an in
creasing sense of gratitude, our ad
vancement along all lines and most es
pecially along business, commercial and
industrial lines.
Social conditions have created de-
mands which the thrifty members of the
race have taken advantage of and have
engaged in almost every business and
profession necessary to meet the needs,
comforts and pleasures of the race.
The great political upheaval which
has not only set race against race, but
nation is pitted against nation in the
most intense struggle the world has
ever known, brings the Colored Amer
lean into industrial prominence and re-
spOnsibility heretofore undreamed of
and not as yet fully realized by those
most vitality affected.
Because of the war emigration from
Europe has ceased and many of those
that were here have returned, and ma
tional policy bars the Asiatic, which
policy should be continued, the call from
California Notwithstanding. So that
the chief source OF supply of mechanic,
laborer and domestic must in the future,
in an increasing degree, come from the
ranks of the Colored people. Lucrative
positions of responsibility and trust are
now held by Colored people and more
are opening daily, from which they have
been barred by ignorance and prejudice
in the past. Thousands and millions of
dollars are now being paid to Colored
workers that formerly went to aliens.
We rejoice in the fact that these
blessings which are coming to the Col
ored American are not due to any mere
accident of good fortune, but is the
demonstration Of divine law pointing
the way of infinite justice and truth.
Have we not given many years Of I'M
requited toili Born patiently the raw
ishment of our women; seen their vir-
tue sacrificed on the altar Of the british
lust of the so-called superior races, who,
not yet satisfied, have hanged and
burned our men in a vain attempt to
appease a guilty conscience. Are we
not now denied political rights in order
that we may not be able to demand So
eial and economic rightsi Yet amid it
all we are still, as we ever shall be, Civ
ing our best, a sacrifice on the altar Of
patriotism that the principle of democ-
raey shall be upheld, and the right to
life, liberty and pursuit Of happiness
shall be vouehsafed to all peoples.
Shall these sacrifices be made in vaini
No! God is just.
We will live up to every responsible
ity industrial and economic conditions
may place upon us, and by thrift and in
dustry do our share to feed and clothe
the nation and the nations allies,
thereby again proving our worth and
re-establishing our right TO demand and
receive at least an equal opportunity in
the future.
The broad ax., 1917-12-22

Mein Host, George W. Holt, is pro-
prietor of the up-to-date hotel at 3Oth
and State Street, also of the Mission
Buffet and Billiard Hall at 1904 South
State Street. Mr.. Holt s places are the
headquarters for many of the high class
The broad ax., 1917-12-22

Mrs. Franklin A. Dennison and Mrs.
John H. Patten will spend the Christ
mas holidays at Camp Logan, Fort
Houston, Texas, with Col. Franklin A.
DennisOn and officers of the Sth.
The broad ax., 1917-12-22

Miss Beulah W. Day, the popular lit
tie Southside Pharmist, has just re-
turned from a five weeks visit IN
Springfield and st. Louis, Mo. Her
many friends are glad to welcome her
home again.
The broad ax., 1917-12-22

railroad and travelling men who come
into Chicago. Mr.. Holt extends the
greetings of the season to his many
friends and patrons.
The broad ax., 1917-12-22
Hurley Commends Piez.

Mr.. Hurley said:
"Mr. Piez's grasp on the whole ship
building problem has been so strong
and his knowledge of actual conditions
in the yards so definite as the result of
his study of the fields that best results
can best be obtained by combining his
functions as viee-president with those
of general manager"
He was apparently unruffied by the
ordered inquiry.
He predicted that under Mr.. Piez the
ship building in 1918 would surpass of
fetal estimates. He inferred that new
tonnage approximating 100000 tons
was in sight for the coming year.
He said:
"The result of the reorganization
already is apparent in all the yards.
Lloyds has just made a report which has
been carefully checked up, and which
shows that there is a better basis for
optimism than there has been at any
time since the emergency program was
launched. Conditions on the Pacific
coast have so improved that records are
being broken in the speed with which
ships are being turned out.
"The carefully checked figures Of
Admiral Bowles show s,395y 3Os dead
weight tons under construction and un-
der contract.
CAN Pacific Coast plants are work
ing on two shifts and those on the Great
Lakes and Atlantic Coast viii, we ex-
peet, soon be doing the same"
The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1917-08-30
SEES DOOM OF GOLDEN LOCKS
Fair-Haired Women, as a Species,
Within Next Two Centuries.

1t is gravely announced that the
bright glory of blond hair, locks of
pale spun gold, such as the Lorelei
combed with her golden comb, are
doomed to disappear entirely. A sta
tistician has figured the whole matter
out, and he issues solemn warning
that in two pitiful centuries the poets
(who will still be poets nevertheless
must cease to sing Of blessed damosels
with hair like ripe corn, except, Of
course, retroSpectively, or paying tri-
butte knowingly to triumph Of the
chemists art.
The reason for the diminution of the
number of fair women, the final ex-
tinction of the species, is given by the
statistician with the solemnity proper
~ belonging to his profession and
province, says the New York Evening
Post. 1t is that blonds have been OBJ
served to be less inclined to marriage
than their darker sisters. They are
thus condemning themselves to the
fate which must little by little over
take them and rob the world of some
thing the world would not willingly be
bereft of.
For the benefit of those who are
admirers of white horses it may be
added that red hair does not count as
blond. 1t Is sui generis, and has stay
ing qualities as notable as that of the
brunette type.
The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1917-08-30
BASED ON ANCIENT CUSTOM
Superstition Regarding Seeing the New
Moon Through Glass Is Older
Than Christianity.

"Don't see the new moon through
glass;" thousands of people are just
now saying. The superstition is based
on a custom older than Christianity,
and enduring in places, travellers may
tell us, to this day. says the London
Chronicle. The Jews had no real cal.
endar, but depended for the inaugural
lion Of the feasts of trumpets. which
began with the advent of the new
moon. upon actual observance Of the
crescent. Jews watched, with reward
IN view, for the coming of the new
moon, as our sailors watch for the an-
pearance of periscope. Immediately
they SAW it they hied them to the high
priest at Jerusalem. They were per.
mitted to travel even on the Sabbath
for the purpose. Now the testimony
must be not only that of men of repu-
tatiOn; it must be that of men who had
seen the phenomenon with the naked
eye. The appearance of the moon must
not be noted as reflected in stream,
nor through clouds, nor through glass.
That Initiated the value of testimony
and precluded possibility Of reward.
Travellers from the East, possibly Cru
saders. brought the story to the West,
where 1t remains "unlucky" to see the
new moon through glass.
The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1917-08-30
WHEN SNAKES ARE POISONOUS
Reptiles That Are Dangerous Have
Diamonds Shaped Heads, Much
Longer at Jawbone Than Neck.

Poisonous snakes have a diamond
shaped head, about four times larger
at the jawbone than at the neck. They
also have blunt tails. NonpOisonous
snakes have sharp heads, which ore
nearly the same size at the neck, and
sharp tails. All snakes, however, are
poisonous during the shedding" peri
cd of seven days. They 60 blind two
days before shedding.
The ella pronounced heela) mon
ster is so called on account of being
found near the ella river in Arizona
and New Mexico, says the World
Wide Magazine. Its bite is deadly, and
1t Is much feared by the Indians, as no
remedy is known for the bite. They
are very peculiar creatures, having the
shape of a large lizard, with feet
marked like those of a monkey. Some
scientists say that the bite of the ella
monster is not poisonous in itself, but
that their breath, blown on the wound,
Is fatal. If their breath is blown on
person with weak heart the person
will faint away for an indefinite time.
In captivity the ella monster is fed
on warm milk and chopped meat every
six weeks.
The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1917-08-30
American Gas Masks.

The use of poisonous gases in mod
ern warfare has become so much the
rule, since the practice was introduced
by the Germans in April, 1915, that a
gas mask is invariably part of the
equipment Of the man at the front.
The American gas mask is said to
combine the best features of the Ger
man and English, and to be absolutely
proof against gases for a period of
ten hours. The breath Is drawn
through mouth tube passing through
Il canister Of chemicals which neutral
lie the gases. A clamp prevents the
man from breathing through the nose,
SO that all the inhaled air must pass
through the canister. Some of the
trench masks are much simpler than
this, notably one of the French types,
which consists simply Of cloth sat
urated in chemicals drawn over the
head, through which the soldier
breathes, either with nose or mouth at
will.
The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1917-08-30
WHERE TURTLES COME FROM
Thousands Of Sea Tortoise Make An.
nual Pilgrimage to Ascension
Island to Lay Their Eggs.

The city fathers are not the only
people who have the privilege of eating
turtle soup, observes London Answers.
The lords Of the admiralty could, If
they liked. make a monopoly of the
real article, for they hold sway over
II. NJ. s. Reconsideration is not a
ship at all, but an island-where the
turtles come from.
Ascension island is very lonely
spot. Its nearest neighbor Is st. Helena,
800 miles away. Ascension is half the
size of the Isle of Wight, and has a
population of 120-or, rather, a Screw"
Tor the people are almost entirely naval
who live ut the garrison station Of
Georgetown. The law of the island is
the word of the commanding officer.
Ascension is mainly noted for the an.
nual visit of huge sea turtles. They
come In thousands to lay their eggs in
the warm sand. It is probable they
have come for tens of thousands of
years. Some of them weigh us much
as 700 pounds! Every time they come
the inhabitants of Ascension take toll
Of them. storing them in fenced pens,
md eventually killing them for food,
whilst few Of them are invariably
sent to the lords of the admiralty as a
present from Ascension, present
which is greatly appreciated.
The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1917-08-30
PinhoIe In Water Pine.

Information recently circulated by
the water department of small
municipality where meters are used,
shows the Importance of discovering
and mending leaks that may occur in
a piping system, Popular Mechanics
Magazine states. Under q pressure
of 40 pounds it is estimated that in
"a hours 10 gallons of water will
pass through a hole a shade larger
than the period ut the end of this sem
tence. An orlfice slightly bigger than
the head Of u pin will permit 5000
gallons to escape In q similar length of
time. Thus. ever SO slight hole may
cause the wastage of great volume
of water If 1t fails to receive imme-
date attention. It Is easy to test q
plumbing system and ascertain its con-
ditiOn. This may be done by closing
all cocks and then reading the meter.
If, after half hour or more. the me-
ter reads the same as originally, the
pipes are free from leaks.
The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1917-08-30
Famous Swords Of Japan.

Some famous swords of japan have,
as do some famous jewels, their own
individual names. One sword of great
repute was called Little Crow" Lee
gends and superstitions are connected
with such historical blades or their
makers. One of these makers was
called the "One-handed Smith," The
story goes that while in his apprentice
ship to an older artisan he came to
learn everything his superior knew, ex-
cept the exact temperature of the
water used in tempering. Finally. able
to endure his situation no longer, he
stole to the forge one day when the
master was working. alone and pre-
pairing to temper finished work Of
high quality. Rushing in. the younger
man thrust his hand into the wafer,
only to have it cut off by the irate
employer.
The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1917-08-30
The "cork Convent. y

A striking curiosity near Cintra,
Portugal, says writer in the Wide
World, Is an ancient convent built
partially in the interior Of an immense
rock. The convent Is situated in q
very isolated spot, and was formerly
surrounded by dense wood of cork
trees. The convent is known as the
Convento da Cortica, or "Cork Con-
vent" for the reason that the monks
cells, chapel. kitchen and refectory are
oil lined with cork to keep out the
damp. From 1850 to 1884 the convent
was inhabited by an order of monks
known as the Capuchians q remarka-
BILE feature of their religion being that,
except on certain occasions, silence
was obligatory. Since 1884, when the
mOnasteries and converts Of Portugal
were dissolved, the convent has not
been occupied, though it is open to
the public, a caretaker residing there
for this purpose.
The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1917-08-30
The Value Of Biography.

It is not only commanded by an
cient practice to celebrate the memory
of great and worthy men, as the best
thanks which posterity can pay them,
but all the examples of virtue are of
more vigor when they are thus con-
tracted into individuals. AS the sun
beams, united in a burning glass to
point, have greater force than when
they are darted from plain superfcies,
so the virtues and actions Of man
drawn together in single story,
strike upon our minds q stronger and
more lively impression than the scat.
tered relations of many men, and many
actions; and by the same means that
they give us pleasure, they afford US
profit, too and as the reader
is more concerned at one mans for
tune than those Of many, so the writer,
likewise, is more capable Of making
perfect work if he confine himself to
this narrower compass.-Dryden.
The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1917-08-30
New National Dishes.

At banquet, the superintendent Of
the mining department Of a large
firm told this one: At a miners
union meeting held at Bisbee at
the time there was an attempt being
made to uniOnize the camp, the ques-
ton arose as to whether Mexicans ad-
mitted to the union should be allowed
to work underground. One speaker OPP
posed any such thought on the
grounds of difference in economic
equality Of the whites and Mexicans:
Waxing warm to his subject. he shout.
ed: "How do they live? You all know.
What do they wear7 You all know.
What do they eatT'-(voice from back
Of hall)-"Chile Killarney and Torpe-
does."-Engineering and Mining Jour.
al.