davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Imperial Valley press., 1917-12-28
DO YOU WANT A PERFECTLY
GOOD OSTRICH? CHEAP NOW

Who wants 3O0-pound ostrich
at SO low a price that you can't
afford to turn it down? The own
ers of the big ostrich farm west
of Brawley want to sell off part
Of their herd of 1000 because
they are increasing even faster
than the price of feed. An Os-
trich which used to bring $500 is
now going at $40. They lay that
much in eggs every year, and pro-
duce twice as much in plumage.
Might use them in the fields in
stead of tractors, or place them
on ditch banks to kick road flood
ers.
Imperial Valley press., 1917-12-28
|PETROGRAD FACTORIES
BEGIN PAYING MEN

London. Dec. 28.-Ths Putiloff
works. employing 5000 men, and the
Petrograd Metallurgical Works, en-
ploying 5000, have begun to pay off
their men, according to a Reuters
dispatch from Petrograd.
Imperial Valley press., 1917-12-28
SOLDIERS ACCUSED
OF STEALING CLOTH

New York, Dec. 28.-Thefts Of ar
my cloth valued at $4,000 from the
quartermaster's department of the
United States army, in which at least
two soldiers now in the service are
implicated, have been uncovered by
city detectives Of the army intelli-
gemce bureau, it became known to-
day.
Imperial Valley press., 1917-12-28
COAL SHORTAGE MAY
KEEP SCHOOLS CLOSED

Boston, Dec. 2s.-A request that
the re-opening Of the public schools
after the Christmas recess be post
ponad from January Z " 3Anuxsa I,
on account Of coal scarcity, was sent
TO all school committees in the state
by James j. Storrow, New Eus1aud
fuel administrator, today.
Imperial Valley press., 1917-12-28
AMERICA MUST SAVE
ENTENTE HUNGARY
(By Associated Press)

Zurich, Dec. 28.-The former pre-
1ier of Hungary, writing on peace,
ays:
"From the moment we are free in
he East the whole situation will be
hanged and it is the Central Powers
now who will gain supremacy in the
West. It is not longer possible for
America to give US the finishing
stroke. She must save the Entente.
Imperial Valley press., 1917-12-28

A page in transportation his
tory was turned here today, when
the trial trip of the new combi-
nation rail-highway "flanged jit-
ney bus" was successfully made.
1t il believed this is the first
run of such q machine in the
West There Is no known combi-
nation rail and highway transpor-
tatiOn vehicle in operation. w. F.
Holt Father Of Ell Centro," pat
ented the flanged wheel which
enables the bus to run on either
rails or road, and it has received
wide attention.
On the trip this morning was
Superintendent r. P. Moore, Au-
6tOr Driver, Master Mechanic
Anderson, and machinists. The
run was made to H0ltville, start
ing about 11:15 a. m. Holtville
city officials were taken for
ride.
1t Is planned to start on a ten
tative schedule or Monday. Pas
sengers will be picked up on the
streets Of FL Centre, the cars
will jump on the rails and go to
HOltville, get off the rails and
deliver the passengers in the
streets of that town.
Imperial Valley press., 1917-12-28
BEQUEATHS LARGE
SUM TO CATHOLICS

ST. Louis, Dec. 28.-Bequests ag-
gregating $125,000 were left to va
rious Catholics institutions by the will
of Miss Mary E. Boyce, who died here
last Friday at the age Of II. The
estate is estimated to be worth ST.
100000.
Imperial Valley press., 1917-12-28
SUBMARINE SINKS
TWO FRENCH SHIPS

Paris, Dec. 2S.-In the week ending
December 22, one French steamer Of
moss than 1900 tons and one Of less
than that tonnage were sunk by sub
marines and mines. No fishing ves-
sels wsre lost.
Imperial Valley press., 1917-12-28
DELAYED TRAIN
POSTPONES INQUIRY

Boston, Dee. 28.-Members Of the
Federal Trade Commission investi-
eating the packing industry arrived
from Washington late today on .
train that was delayed eight hours,
ausing = postpouement Of the hear
ing in this city until tomorrow.
Imperial Valley press., 1917-12-28
NAUGHTY PARIS BARRED
TO AMERICAN SOLDIERS
(By Associated Press)

American Headquarters in
France, Dec. 28.-Under orders
from general headquarters, the
divisional headquarters of the
American forces have issued or
ders suspending all leave of alb
sence to visit Paris for all Off
GERS and men. No explanation
accompanied the order, but it is
believed it is to shield the men
from the temptations afforded by
the might life" of the naughtiest
city.
Imperial Valley press., 1917-12-28

Press Lmcrs are read ~ xassA VII,
want work" Do you ueed neip fsr -
anch?
Imperial Valley press., 1917-12-28
Railroad Shares Advance.
lBy Associated Presy)

New York, Dec. 2s.-Railroad
shares continued to advance poday,
although trading lacked kks exciting
features of ysstgEdxy.
Imperial Valley press., 1917-12-28
President ID 6ixty-OnA
(By Associated d Preesl

(By Associated Press)
Washington, Dec. 28.-The prssi-
dent Is celebrating his sixty-first
birthday coincident with taking over
the railroads.
Imperial Valley press., 1917-12-28

Phone your wants to The Press--
csnd ut quick sasulta 4
Imperial Valley press., 1917-12-28
Trial Trips of
|Flanged .Itney'
Complete Success

New Combination Rail and Highway
Passenger Vehicle of HOlton Inter-
urban Makes Trial Run to Holt
vile With Officials of the Company
as Passengers.
Imperial Valley press., 1917-12-28
FRANCE WILL
CONTINUE To
KAISER
REPUBLIC FORMALLY REJECTS
BOLSHEVIKI OFFER 10 NEGO-
TATE FOR PEACE WITH MIN
IONS OF THE PRUSSIAN AU-
TOCRACY.

France Has Bled, and Will Continue
to Bleed, Until Alsace-Lorreine Is
Res0rted, and German Military Ma
chine Is Crushed" Announces the
Minister, Who Is Applauded to the
Echo.
Imperial Valley press., 1917-12-28
RUSSIANS SEIZE
PRIVATE BANKS:
JAIL AMERICAN

COIN IN VAULTS OF TWO SCORE
FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS DE-
CLARED CONFISCATED BY
BOLSHEVIKI-MAN STEV-
EMS OF N. Y. BANK DETAINED.
Imperial Valley press., 1917-12-28

Ell Centro's business district con-
Itlnues to expand, despite the difficult
ty in getting building material.
Placing an order for material suf-
ficient to complete a $4,000 busi-
ness structure on Main street before
the government CONTROL Of railroads
went into effect, J. G. Scott of Ca
lexico will, within few days, break
ground for one of the finest Dusi-
ness buildings in the county seat. 1t
lis believed that the government W ill
allow the rushing Of the material
from Los Angeles to this city.
Architect Don Wells has been COM
'missioned to complete final plans Tor
the structure. It will consist of four
stores, each Is feet wide, three Of
which have already been spoken for.
The lots on which Mr.. Scott will build
are between the Freeman building
and the old Bowles garage, on the
north side of Main street between
Sixth and Seventh.
Imperial Valley press., 1917-12-28
ss1s. -. -

ymper1ar va11ey Prooge
mere Ap1lnrp tnel x's...s
ofher Irrigated agraeus n
lection Il the vsUrEeA
Imperial Valley press., 1917-12-28
ANOTHER CAP
ON MAIN STREET
TO Be FILLED
J. G. SCOTT TO BUILD $4,000
BUSINESS STRUCTURE NEAR
FREEMAN BUILDING TO SUP
PLY DEMAND OF MERCANTILE
BUILDINGS.

Architect Don Wells Commissioned to
Get Out Final Plans for a Struc-
ture with Hundred Foot Front on
Main Street, to Be Finished Before
May 1.
Imperial Valley press., 1917-12-28
READ THEM 1ODAY

YOu may he one Of q dog
en people to whom one Of
eoday'a Classified "Ads" II
the most important thing
printed In this paper.
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1917-12-28

g.,
How many people realize that the
familiar mortgage of today has been
handed down to us from generation to
generation in practically unchanged
form since the time Of ancient Baby
lon?
Yet this is fact The mortgage is
one of those few things which has sur
vived through the long centuries
meeting the needs Of Bel Bullitsu and
Sha Nabu Shu. Babylonian agricul-
turists, and John Jones, the modern
American farmer.
This interesting discovery was made
when the Archaeological expedition OF
the University Of Pennsylvania dug up,
in the ruins Of the ancient city of Nip
pur, Babylon, mortgage dated 40 B.
c., more than $500 years ago.
The following is an accurate trans
lation of the inscription on the brick
made by a noted Assyriologist of Chi
cagO:
Thirty bushels of dates are due to
Bel Nadin Shun, son of Marashu, by
Bel Bullitsu and Sha Nabu Shu, sons
of Kirebti, and their tenants. In the
month of TaShri (month of harvest) of
the 34th year of King Artaxerxes I,
they shall pay the dates, thirty bushels,
according to the measure ofrBel Nadin
Shun, in the town of Bit Balatsu.
Their field, cultivated and uncultivated
fief estate is held as a pledge for the
dates, namely, thirty bushels, by Bel
Nadin Shun. Another creditor shall
not have power over it,"
The mortgage is the most ancient
form of investment, the first known
mortgage having been used by the
Babylonians about 1000 years B. G.
1t will be noted that the document,
which is trust deed and note in one, is
a first mortgage, as shown by the final
sentence, Another creditor shall not
have power over it."
1t will be noticed, also, that a specific
place, as well as time, for payment
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1917-12-28

Sam MISUNDERSTANDING. In fact,
no funeral march has been composed
in time so slow as to suit this march
OF Sans. One might have suspected
that he was in q state Of apprehen-
sion.
Mr.. Williams entered at one door
as his son crossed the threshold Of the
other, and this encounter was pite-
Gus sight. After one glance at his ia
theirs face, Sam turned desperately,
as If to flee outright. But Mrs. Will
liams stood in the doorway behind
him.
"You come here!'' And the fathers
voice was as terrible as his face.
'What did you do to George Bas-
sett?"
"Nothin'," Sam gulped; "nothin' at
ALL"
"What!"
eve just-we Just Insulated him."
Mr.. Williams turned abruptly,
walked to the fireplace, and there
turned again, facing the wretched
Sam.
That's all you did?"
eyes, SIR"
George Bassett's mother has just
told me over the telephone" said Mr..
Williams deliberately, shat you and
PenrOd SchOfield and Roderick Bits
and Maurice Levy lured George into
the cellar and had him beaten by ne
groesw
At this, Sam was able to hold up his
head little and to summon a rather
feeble indignation.
''It amt So" he declared. "We
didn't any such thing lower him into
the cellar. We weren't goin' near the
cellar with him. We never thought
of goin' down cellar. He went down
there himself, first"
$50! 1 suppose he was running
away from you, poor thing! Trying to
escape from you, wasn't he?"
"He wasn't" said Sam doggedly.
1--WE weren't chasin' him-or anything
at ALL
"Then why did he go in the cellarw
"Well, he didn't exactly go in the
cellar" said Sam reluctantly.
swell, how did he get in the cellar,
then?"
"He-he fell in." said Sam.
"How did he fall in?"
swell, the door was open, and-well,
he kept walkin' round there, and we
hollered at him to keep away, but just
then he kind Of-well, the first / no.
ticed was l couldn't see him, and so
we went and looked down the steps.
and he was sitting down there on the
bottom step and kind Of shouting.
and"
"See here!" Mr.. Williams interrupt
ed. You're going to make a clean
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1917-12-28

gan, when Fanny appeared, summon
ing her to the telephone.
It is pathetically true that Mrs. Will
liams went to the telephone humming
little song. She was detained at the
instrument not more than five min
utes then she made plunging return
into the library, a blanched and strick-
en- woman. She made strange, SIMS
teri gestures at her husband.
He sprang up, miserably prophetic.
'Mrs. Bassett?"
"Go to the telephone" Mrs. Williams
said hoarsely. "She wants to talk to
YOU, too. She can't talk much-she's
historical. She says they lured
George into the cellar and had him
beaten by negroes! That's not all
Mr.. Williams was already on his
way.
"You find Sam!" he commanded,
over his shoulder.
Mrs. Williams stepped into the front
hall.
.Sam =" she called, addressing the
UDDor TedCiCS' III tllC oIuit "oSs o>
Not even echo answered.
"Sam!'
A faint clearing of somebody's throat
was heard behind her, sound 80 mod
est and unobtrusive it was no more
than just audible, and. turning. the
mother beheld her son sitting upon
the floor in the shadow of the stairs
and gazing neditatively at the nat
rack. His manner indicated that he
wished to produce the impression that
he had been sitting there, In this some
what unusual place and occupation,
for a considerable time, but without
overhearing anything that went on in
the library, so close by. 1888 ~
"Sam," she cried, what have you
done?
"Well--I guess my legs are all
right" he said, gently. II got the az
nica on, so probably they won't hurt
any NJ"
stand upw she said.
"Ma'am7'
| "March into the library"
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1917-12-28

breast of this whole affair and take
the consequences. You're going to tell
1t and tell 1t all. Do you understand
that?"
"Yes, SIR"
"Then tell me how George Bassett
fell down the cellar steps-and tell
me quick"
"He-he was blindfolded."
AHA! Now we're getting at it. You
begin at the beginning and tell me Just
what you did to him from the time he
got here. Understandw
"Yes, SIR"
go on, then!"
well, I'm gOin' to-" Sam protested.
I'VE never hurt him at all. He wasn't
even hurt when he fell down cellar.
Ihere's a lot of mud down there, be-
cause the cellar door leaks, and"
SAM" Mr.. Williams tone was
deadly. did you hear me tell you to
begin at the beginning?"
Sam made an effort and was able to
obey.
"Well. we had everything ready for
the 'nishiation before lunch" he said.
I'VE wanted 1t all to be nice, because
you said we had to have him, papa,
and after lunch PenrOd went to guard
him-thats new part in the ritual
and he brought him over, and we took
him out to the shack and blindfOlded
him, and-well, he got kind OF mad be-
cause we wanted him to lay down on
his stummick and be tied up, and he
said he wouldn't, because the floor was
little bit wet In there and he could
feel 1t sort Of squashy under his shoes,
and he said his mother didn't want
him ever to get dirty, and he just
wouldn't do It.; and we all kept telling
him he had to. or else how would there
be any 'nishiation and he kept gettin'
madden, and said he wanted to have
the 'nishiation outdoors where 1t wasn't
wet, and he wasn't goin' to lay down
on his stummick, anyway" Sam
paused for wind, then got under way
again: swell. some of the boys were
tryin' to get him to lay down on bis
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1917-12-28
Did George have a good

the cellar Did George have a good
timer"
"Ma'am2"
did George Bassett have good
timer"
"Well"-Sam now had the air of 9
person trying to remember details with
, absolute accuracy-'well, he didn't
say he did, and he didn't say he didn't
did he thank the boys?"
Nom"
Didn't he even thank your"
"No'm."
"Why, that's queer" she said. 'He's
always so polite. He seemed to be
having a good time, didn't he, Sam?"
"Ma'am?
didn't George seem to be enjoying
himself?"
This question, apparently so simple,
was not answered with promptness.
Sam looked at his mother in puzzled
way, and then found 1t necessary to
rub each OF his shins In turn with the
palm of his right hand.
Il stumbled" he said, apologetically.
81 stumbled on the cellar steps,"
did you hurt yourself?" she asked
quickly.
"No'm; but I guess maybe better
rub some arnica-"
'I'll get It," she said. "Come up to
your fathers bathroom, Sam. Does 1t
hurt much?"
"No'm," he answered truthfully, "it
hardly hurts at ALL"
And having followed her to the
bathroom, he insisted, with unusual
gentleness, that he be left to apply
the arnica to the alleged injuries him
self. He was so persuasive that she
yielded, and descended to the library,
where she found her husband once more
at home after his days work.
"Well?" he said. did George show
up, and were they decent to him?"
"Oh, yes; it's all right. Sam and
Penrod were good as gold. I saw them
being actually cordial to him."
"That's WE'LL" said Mr.. Williams,
settling into chair with his paper.
II was a little apprehenSlve, but l sup
pose I was mistaken. l walked home,
and just now, as 1 passed Mrs. Bas-
sett's I saw Doctor Venny's car in
front, and that barber from the cor
ner shop on Second street was going
in the door. l couldn't think what a
widow would need barber and a doc
tor for-especially at the same time.
1 couldn't think what Georgie'd need
such a combination for, either, and
then I got afraid that maybe"
Mrs. Williams laughed. "Oh, no: it
hasn't anything to do with his having
been over there. I'm sure they were
very nice to him."
"Well, I'm glad of that"
eyes, indeed" Mrs. Williams be-
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1917-12-28

o per cent on commercial loans and 8
per cent for loans not under the first
two clasSifications
Perhaps the high rate of interest
mentioned previously was justified
when it is considered that the law
gave every advantage to debtors.
Losses to bankers were frequent and
the high rate charged was more as
measure of protection. Pompey, Bru-
tus and Cato all lent money at so per
cent.
1t is often assumed that the rate of
interest depends upon the abundance
of gold or silver. This is not the
case, as in California and Australia
the rate of interest was extremely
high during the height of the gold ac-
tivity. In Mohammedan countries in
terest is forbidden in the Koran. But
this has not succeeded in keeping down
rates, as in these countries interest is
three or four times greater than in
Europe. In some parts of the Orient
cent.
Several centuries before the Chris
tan era a bank Of deposit existed in
Byzantium. In 900 A. D. bank of
deposit was established in China, al
though some form of banking existed
in that country many centuries be-
fore About 1900 A. d. a bank of
deposit was established in Damascus;
in 1915 one was founded in Geneva;
in 1401 Barcelona started its first bank
ing depository; the bank of Amster-
dam was founded in 1868; bank of st.
George in 1407 and the bank of Stock
holm in 1868.
One of the earliest banking firms Of
which we have any account is said to
be Egibi & Co. 1t was in ancient
Babylon. Evidences of it's existence
were discovered in an earthenware jar,
in the neighborhoOd of Hillah, few
miles from Babylon. These documents.
recorded on tablets, are now In. the
British museum. Egibi & Co. are be-
lieved to have acted as the national
bank of Babylon, and the founder prob
ably lived in the reign of Sennacherib.,
about 700 B.. G. Below is transla-
ton of one of the tablets:
"LOan of five mana Of silver Of
Nabu-zer-iddin, chief of the dagger
bearers (rab-nas-patrutu to Belnas:r.
The money to be repaid in installments
of a shekel and a half, beginning in
Nissan.
"15tha day Of Tebet, Saith year Of
NebuchadneZZar.
Records of this kind were deposited
in the government office.
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1917-12-28

Of the debt is provided, just as our
modern mortgages or mortgage bonds
state that principal and interest are
payable at the Tenth Trust Co.," or
some other bank.
The amount of interest is not stated,
but on all documents of this sort
legal rate of interest was customary,
which ranged in times of peace from
II to 20 per cent and in times of war
to almost any amount.
The note matured in the month of
getting loans from their banks, have
their notes mature in October and No
vember.
Notice the words "sOn of Marashu"
in the above document. Marashu Sons
were a great firm of bankers in the
Babylonian city Of Nippur. They made
loans of all kinds and often were called
upon to help the King of Babylon with
money.
This mortgage, together with many
other records of the firm of Marashu
Sons, was discovered in 1898. The
story of its discovery is one of great
interest
The Babylonians were the Ameri-
cans of antiquity. They were a ma
ton of business men. Their mort
cages, notes, deeds, Wills and other
documents were drawn with great care
and along the same principles as the
similar instruments we use today.
Lawyers did flourishing business in
Babylon, as these people were fond Of
going to law and made all transfers
of property a matter of record. Not
only did they invent mortgages, but
leases also.
One interesting lease demised field
and fish pond for the term of year.
The lessee made first payment of one
talent of silver and in addition, as
ground rent, agreed to furnish the
lessor with mess of fish for his fam.
lily table every day.
Another lease transferred piece Of
improved property for sixty days, the
ground rent being paid in advance and
the tenant being guaranteed against all
| claims of whatever nature.
All these documents were inscribed
| on bricks made of clay by means of a
wedge-shaped instrument, the various
combinations of wedges making up the
alphabet. These wedges have given
| the name to this particular style of
writing, which is called "cuneiform,"
| from the Latin word "cuneuS," a
wedge.
1 suppose if the Babylonians had
safety deposit vaults they would not
have considered it necessary to insure
the preservation of their records thus.
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1917-12-28
The Broader Thrift.

Laying aside few dollars each
week does not necessarily make one
thrifty person. Thrift means so much
more than merely saving money-it
means personal efficieney-it means
plans-it means self-controIit means
foresight means prudence-it
means sane and legitimate self-confi-
dence-it means all that makes for
character. 1t is as much removed
from miserliness on the one hand as
1t is from extravaganza on the other.
AS we build the ideals Of thrift. we
build character.
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1917-12-28

to the shepherds hut, where she found
poor Captain stretched on the floor.
She lit the fire, boiled some water. and
bathed the dogs foot until the SWELL
ing had subsidized, and the treatment
was so beneficial that at last the an
imal recovered, much to the delight Of
his master and kind little nurse.
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1917-12-28
To Repair Prayed shoeiaces.

When the tag or end fastening
comes of q shoelace, take little black
sealing wax and press it carefully
around the end of the lace and shape 1t
to a point. This will last long time
and does away with the annoyance of
frayed lace ends.
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1917-12-28
Mutual UNDERSTANDING.

"How are you getting I'm with youl
French lessonsw
First rate. I'm getting so know
what I'm talking about almost as well
as the teacher"