davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1917-04-27
The Daily Story
What Parson Did-By Frank Ellis.

what a change half a century has
made In methods OF travel In 1850
to reach New York from Cincinnati,
then the Queen City Of the west, one
might go a part of the way by steam
beat another by stagecoaCh and the
balance by canal IN such convey
auees. people were thrown together in
t5mateIy. and lifelong friendships were
often made The passenger canalboat
was the first 10 pass out of use. and
there are few living who remember u
as q method of travel
1t was in 1S#5 that one of these pas
senger .canaIboats was being dragged
along 10y q horse on the tOwpath.
There were no statr0oms. only berths
something like those i'm a modern
sleeping car. Between these was the
cabin. where the passengers lounged
during the dag and evening. At that
time the professional gambler worked
ia the narrow channels Of the period.
He was on the steamboat, but did not
disdaiu the Caualboat On this canal
boat q portion OF the bow had been
curtaiued off. and in il were card Ea-
bIes Az one Of these tables sat "a pro-
fessiousI gambler deecing q youusster
OF 90
That voungater was nay uncle and !
got the story I am about 10 tell from
him.
lie had been deputad to carry some
SIS 600 from Pittsburgh to Harrisburg.
How the gambler knew that he had
the money with him he did not learn.
NY uncle played with the sharper tin
been given him for his expenses. then
began 70 play with bis trust fund. lie
quit at il o'clock at night having lost
half OF the 5000.
The next morning was Sunday A
service was held tn the cabin, conduct
ed by clergyman slightly past middle
age. Ny uncle was much impressed
with his appearance and the ferEor
with which he spoke. His accent was
that Of q s0utherner My uncle said
that the clergyman attacked gambling
telling number OF interesting, many
OF them pathetic Incidents, in which
some foolish person had been robbed
OF all he possessed. In these stories the
speaker showed an intimate knowledge
OF all forms Of swindIug at cards He
was looking straight at my uncle while
he talked and seemed to be speaking
TO him personally. Then nay uncle re-
membered that while playing with the
gambler he had seen the clergyman
standing among those overlooking the
game.
The next morning my uncle was
eager 10 renew the play. hoping 10
win back what be had lost. Ha argued
that TO lose any part of The fund with
which he had been lntrusted would
ruin him the safe as if he lost the
whole. Therefore that afternoon he
proposed TO the gambler that they go
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1917-04-27

to their curtained space for more e....
,rha Gambler who knew ,v.4 .-l-.-5
that The voungSter would be after :. -.
assented and they we're soon ar u5s.
OF course NV uncle lost steaHffv -.
last Thousand dollars was SLOWLY 4-.f-
ing away when who should wan.
bat the cler-vman He stood la5s.g.
al the game for awhile, then SAID
my uncle. Boy. you can't play a5s.
this man He's a professional ganhfa-
and ifs uIaving with marked cards
Picking an one OF the cards 5v.e- 49,
the table face down. fHa euaaHzar -..5.
bling his thumb on il said aHaa H5ru
ae clubs. Then. turning t over ~
prophecy proved correct. lie the sams
way he told the value of other cards
They we're an provided with ..rets
poinrs that could be felt bat NOT ess
iIv seen Then. turning to tHa anHfa-
he said aGfva the boe the Hnus. ers,
have won from him
The gambler put uB vigorous H.a#
What you got 30 do with taIa bus
ness anyway You're HaHs1n and
don't know any more 4aeft cards. Irs...
"a mule You Just eaf Qua af here ~
nm find way 10 nus you aas"
"H1w much has he won Eam Won
boy?" asked the clergyman of Hr
uncle
"9evga thousand dollars
"Gfra me what Eoa have Irl. H
only way can ret Your loss back s1-
Won from This man is 10 swim IF 81. a
own game There's honor aHaHe
thieves. lie won't give ii ono. way. aa.
he will another
NV uncle turned over "a faw hundred
dollars he had left Tho clergyman =.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1917-04-27
Marriage Licenses Ea9# Ia

Purchase Site for School war
ranty deed transferring title I'm lot s.
block 4 McIntosh-s first addition.
from Mary u. Hill and Anthony Hill
New Britain herald., 1917-10-31
Naval Cooperation.
New York Herald)

The return last week to an Atlantic
port of Admiral Mayo, commander
in-chief of our battleship fleet, indi-
Gates that his conference with the al
lied naval authorities has resulted in
a clearer understanding and a definite
agreement upon our participation in
the joint operations to be undertaken.
1t Is apparent, at least on the sur
face, that his mission embraced more
than an inspection Of our conSidera BILE
naval forces in British waters and
elsewhere, and though his reticence
was marked 1T may be gathered from
the few words he INDUCED in that
the condition Of our oversee contingent
and it's harmonious cooperation with
our associated navies is all that could
be desired.
No less reserved Is the statement
of Mr.. Daniels on the mission of Ad-
miral Mayo but, read within the lines,
the meaning Of this is no less satisfac-
tory. Without going into any details
which in these stirring times must be
withheld, the secretary states that
the purposes of the visit were to con-
fer with the officers of the allied ma
vies, to make our representation in
timately acquainted with the present
situation, to discuss it's future con-
duct and to establish personal rela-
tons with the British admiralty.
What the outcome Of the conference
may be must be largely matter of
surmise, but it is safe prophecy that
Admiral Mayo did not fail to report
the eagerness of the American navy;
regular and enrolled alike. to be i'm
mediately and actively employed at
the forefront Of the detested enemy.
Both the departure and the pros
pective arrival Of the admiral were
very properly shrouded in the deep
est secrecy. 1t is therefore new
tribute to the discretion and LOYALTY
OF our American press that, while
cognizant Of the departure and not
altogether unprepared for the arrival.
no reference to either, important
news as it was, appeared in the news
papers Of the country.
New Britain herald., 1917-10-31
PUBLIC COAL HEARING.

In the city building this evening at
eight O'Clock there will be held pub
lie meeting which should be Of inter-
est to every family man in New Brit
ain The coal committee, recently
appointed by the state fuel admins
traitor, will hear the citizens OF this
81 town anent the complaints they may
want to lodge against local coal deal
ers. This is an endeavor to get at
true working basis wherein might
be fixed the price of coal.
It Is the duty of every father of
family who has facts at his command
to 70 to this meeting In the city build
ing tonight For some time past men
have been complaining Of the high
cost of coal. They have ranted and
raved. They have asked the news
papers for help. Now the time mas
come when they themselves can step
forward and plead their own case.
The facts are easily obtainable. It
has been charged that coal is sold at
too high a price in New Britain; that
the same brand of coal which costs
1890 a ton here can be purchased
for $3.50 a ton in Unionville; that
the freight rates DO not warrant this
difference in prices between the two
Connecticut towns.
The members Of the coal commit
tee are anxious to thrash out all
phases of this most important ques-
ton. To them lies the task Of bet
tering, If possible, adverse conditions.
They have been presented with data
by the local coal merchants who were
forced to open their books under gov
ernmental ruling. If there is any
thing hidden 1t Ia for those who know
the facts to step forward and point
out the wrong. Now is the time for
people who must purchase coal to
look our for their own interests. At
tend the meeting at eight o'clock in
the city building.
New Britain herald., 1917-10-31
Pershing's Boys Use Their Fists.
London Cable)

A writer of reputation who fire.
quently has been in France suggests
that a word Of wisdom be sent to
American soldiers coming oyer, In
view of the frequent spirited argu-
ments not confined to words alone be-
tween the newly arrived troops and
their British comrades In arms. There
have been a number of authentic
stories of such fisticuff debates.
The trouble starts in this wise: A
column Of the American boys start
seeing the town. Perhaps they have
been trif1e exhilarated with the At
lantic ozone, etc. At any rate, they
meet Tommy and begin by assuring
him:
you're all right. but we have come
to clean things up
Tommy, after possible two or
three years spent in cleaning things
up himself. fails to see the humor Of
this remark and retorts in some such
lingo as this
"Blime, why didn't you come three
years ago."
Debate usually is deferred at about
that point and the arguments are
arms and legs. No great harm is done
and possibly there is a better under"
standing afterward, but the process is
unnecessary.
The writer referred to says the same
think took place when Kitchener's
army arrived in France. The new ar
rivals began assuring the old regular
army men that they had come to help
out the poor old British army. Natur-
ally the poor old British army men
began at once to demonstrate that
they were very much alive.
The case seems more humorous
than serious.
New Britain herald., 1917-10-31

paying such admission There is no
mention then of November l being the
date for beginning this tax.
Thus is needed a penny for every
dime spent at the movies" In pass
ing 1t may be we'll to note that many
thought the theater managers were
holding up the public demanding
this one cent paid at the box office.
and not out of the house receipts.
The bill clears up any doubt. The
pennies must come from the purses of
those who seek such amusement.
There will be a tendency, OF course.
to cut down on the regular visits to
the theater which will re-echo In
money saved for the individuals. Since
there is scarcity Of pennies 1t will
be manifested by better realization
Of a pennys value by the people who
hitherto looked with scorn upon any
coin in denomination lower than 4
nickel.
New Britain herald., 1917-10-31
This Time Last Year.

margaret q. sangster, in The Chris
tan Herald).
Last year, this time,
We grouped around the glowing logs
together
Atingle with the thrill of autumn
weather.
We talked and laughed and sang dear
bygone tunes
Songs that were bright as any sleigh
bells chime,
And soft and tender as forgotten
Junes.
Last year this time.
We told brave hunting stories.
And boosted of our prowess Of
the glories
OF roughing it. Warm light fell on
the faces
Of John and Tom and Jimmy In their
places;
OF father, with a paper in his hand;
Warm f1relight--serene and calm and
bland
Last year, this time.
We've locked our mountain cabin
and the fall
Has thrown a. leaf-brown shroud
across it all;
My brow
Is furrowed with the weight or more
than years,
And father. reading, winks away the
tears.
The boys? Why. John and Jim are
far away
Across the main
A signal fire bares the hurt, the pain,
That veil-like lies upon their boyish
faces;
And Tom =. They tell us Tom
won't come again
A century Of strife and loss and fear
Has touched us since we saw them In
their places
This time last year.
New Britain herald., 1917-10-31
THE NEW HALLOWEEN.

Because of the war this Halloween
Will In all probability be. devoid Of
The ludicrous activities that have been
In vogue for so many years past. To
begin with, there will not be the same
spirit Of absolute levity which prompt
ed the stunts" usually practiced by
the young folk Men may go to bed
tonight with the assurance that when
hey awake in the morning the gates
leading into front lawns will not be
missing from It's hinges. They may
smerge from their houses in the early
hours Of tomorrow without fear that
tour-wheeled carriages or carts will
tumble on their heads. the same
vehicles having been dexterously
placed in lofty positions on roof-trees
by wanton boys on mischief bent. The
younger generation has at last caught
onto itself.
In the olden days Halloween was
IN event never to be forgotten. It
vas q fixed feast the like of which
was not on the calendar. For it was
on Halloween that the boys and
girls broke loose for one of the
grandest times known to youth.
Whether it was grand time for the
plder people no one dare say. Usually
The owners Of property were busy
for two or three weeks after the
feast; repairing fences. mending gates,
and paying bills to the carpenter and
the mason for services rendered.
Under the fair moon that usually
ahines around the last Of October the
New Britain herald., 1917-10-31
FACTS ABOUT THE AMERICAN NAVY
LIEUT.. FITzHUGH GREEN u S. NJ
Cold.

longitude can be had upon applica-
ton and the payment Of nominal
sum-
The plan was to scuttle the Hornet
near some port, row in, and report a
storm had wrecked her. A storm came
now and did wreck her without the
least regard for the villains plans.
Only two were saved. They fought.
One died. The other reached Tampa
and started life over again. His name
on the record is James Brown
Like most men he told his wife.
Like most mothers she told her son.
The Son told his Best Friend and to-
gether they found the twisted pine on
the west Florida coast. But food
must come first. The Son circled away
from camp hoping to kill deer. The
Best Friend sailed forth to gather
firewood. The Son on his return mis-
took the Best Friend for a deer and
shot him, killing him instantly.
By hard travelling the Son escaped.
An old Settler took him in and heard
the story then called upon his near
est neighbor. The three started to-
gether for the Gold. An Indian up-
rising massacred the party. But tho
Settlers wife knew. And the men she
told tried their hand with energy. but
failed, starving and dying in the curse
Of naked Gold.
It's all true, believe mo
Not Just that treasure but other
treasures. And after this Great War
when men shall sneak and scramble
and dig for the millions buried, sunk.
lost, or thrown away--Death will fol-
low them.
Deaths chin rests always on the
shoulder of the Seeker after Gold.
New Britain herald., 1917-10-31

Halloween spirits mounted to magni-
ficent heights. Destruction stalked
abroad in the land. Everything but
instruments Of torture were brought
| into play.
There are few who will begrudge
the boys and girls their fun on the
| eve of All Saints Day These fes-
| tivities have been going on each year
! since that memorable day in the
Seventh Century when the Pantheon
/ at Rome was converted into Chris
| tan place Of worship. The celebra-
ton then occurred always on May the
| first until later the Feast of All Saints
was switched to November 1, and
Halloween or the eve of All
Hallows,-All Saints,-was naturally
placed as the thirty-f1rst day of
October. While the day after this
is sacred church holiday.-in the
olden days the people going to the
cemeteries for devotion and the lay
ing of flowers on graves,-Hallowe'e en-
has nothing churchly about it so far
as the American nation can discern.
Rather does it breathe of pagan times,
and most certainly of medieval super
stitions, for it has been. and yet is
looked upon as the time when super
natural influences are brought to
bear on mundane things. when ghosts
and phantoms take possession of the
earth. Spirits from an unknown land
are supposed by many to come back
for this one night of the year. In
deed, as many can testify. they 90
after a fashion. They sit up and take
hold of the hearts and bubbling en-
thusiasm Of youth. The hobgobblins
appear in the form of little boys and
girls, lads and lassies with black
ened faces and weird garments.
AS we noted at the outset, the war
will probably change all these things
and tonight will be far different
Halloween than many have witnessed
in the past. There will be some Of
the old sports particularly that of
"ducking" or "bobbing" for apples
set afloat in tub of water and others
of it's kind. There will not, however,
be the promiscuous use of flour that
marked celebrations in the past for
the simple reason that -four Is too
expensive to waste in such pranks the
younger generation would sanction. A
few false faces there will be, and
rightly so; because even the old folks
can get laugh out OF the changed
expression physiognomies undergo
from the ungainly influence of these
masks Outside of these innocent
pleasures, devoid of all mischief and
rowdyism, Halloween will be an en-
tirely new feast to many. For which
there will be great thanks.
New Britain herald., 1917-10-31

Treasure hunts are going to be the
favorite outdoor sport after the war.
Not 1.-THE Of the fortunes buried
sunk, lost, stolen, or thrown away il
getting into our daily papers. Think
of the Emden's series of coups. Every
captured ship might have turned into
a pirates golden dream when the
prize crew took her. Who is to say she
didn't? And the Emden is only one
Of a crowd still going strong.
But the old treasures are not yet
all found. One of them was $14, OOO,-
900. Nice little nest egg-eh? Gray
fox for the wife; and nurse with q
white cap for the kid; to say nothing
of that stream-line self-starter we've
been dreaming about.
An American warship did the trick
That is she was an unwilling accom-
plice to the crime. Navy Departments
order was: ~. S. S. Hornet will join
West India squadron" and was carried
out Feb. 5, 1929. She sailed from New
York and did a seven months cruise
through the blue-ribbed Caribbean
before disaster came.
Official records are cruelty brief.
Mark Twain is our best authority on
the Red Tape evil in contradistinc-
However if his remarks were calcu-
lated to mortify ofticialdom he failed.
Its members only chuckled grimly and
signed another page. One such paper
read: Hornet dismasted in gale off
Tampico and supposed to have been
lost Sept. 10, 1929"
Navy legend varies. A recent wri-
ter crystallizes the truth. The Hor-
nets crew get full creditor dis
credit.
Seems that as usual the pot was
boiling in Mexico. Two revolutions
and a fancy dress rebellion were do
ing one night stands all over the ver-
dant countryside. Six Spanish bank
ers and miners were operating a
small mine back in the hills. Things
getting too hot they jumped to the
coast. On request the Hornets skip
per agreed to save their lives by taking
them over to Havana.
Baggage included several ironbound
cases. You know the kind; Captain
Kidd kept them in stock winter and
summer. But the man-o'-wars' man
Is a canny bird. Said one on the Hor-
net Its just that, or I'm bloom1h'
barnacle'-a cryptic remark that the
Captain never guessed. He soon found
out Mutiny for Gold.
Eight made up the participates
of eight" I suppose, was the deciding
figure. Bankers, officers and others
of good character were put to death,
weighed with round shot, and thrown
overheard to feed the large Florida
crabs. The gold was buried on the
west coast of Florida exactly accord
ing to Hoyle "ninety-four PAGES NJ e..
from a twisted pine; and fourteen feet,
two inches above the high tide mark
of the inner beach," latitude and
New Britain herald., 1917-10-31
PRECIOUS PENNIES.

There is a shortage of pennies.
This fact partially realized by Con-
necticut people who were forced to
pay an extra cent car-fare on the
first of this month will be brought
out more clearly after all the various
taxes under the new War Revenue
bill go into effect.
Formerly the penny was the most
despised coin in the nation. People
who live out on the western coast
would have nothing to do with it. The
smallest coin allowed to do duty there
was a nickel. Now, however, the
penny will be welcomed even in Sa1
Francisco.
There was an old saying among
another generation to the effect that
if you take care of the pennies the
dollars will take care Of themselves.
Like other things the advice went
the way of the world. Now every
thing is different. Men the nation
over are looking for pennies which,
If found, will be taken care Of in
the latest approved fashion.
Under the new order of things
when a retail merchant of whatever
caliber Is called upon to pay a higher
tax or tariff he offsets this disad-
vantage to himself by boosting the
price to the consumer In this way
the merchant follows the unwritten
law Of shifting the responsibility.
Where the price could be advanced
one cent 1t usually goes the longer
! cents Thus twelve-and- "a half cent
| article must be bought at thirteen
] cents. Or. to save the half cent, the
purchaser has the privilege Of buying
two articles of the same brand for
twenty-five cents. Now, on top of this
must come the tax, whatever i,
| might be. And with the tax will
come the cry for more pennies
Beginning with the month afte,
next moving picture houses and othe,
places that charge admission are
supposed to pay a ten per cent tax
to the government. Despite the date
set by the Federal Congress the
movie men Of New Britain hav,
designated tomorrow as the day wher
the tax shall be f1rst imposed. Con.
gress means nothing to the magnates
of this town.
Section 700 Of the War Revenue bill
as passed by the House and Senate
and signed by the President of tn,
United States specifically states unde,
the heading War Tax ON Admis
sions,' - THAT from and after the first
day of December, 1917, there shall be
levied, assessed collected. and paid a
tax of one cent for each ten cents OF
fraction thereof of the amount paid
for admission to any place, including
admission by season ticket or sub
scription, to be paid by the person
New Britain herald., 1917-10-31
Mexico's Duty.
(BOStOn POSt)

The place of the republic of Mexico
in the world war against autocracy has
not been formally and Officially de-
clared. But the popular purpose has
been indicated with sufficient clearness
in the resolutions pending in each
house of the Mexican Congress.
In that Of the upper branch, it Is
set forth that benevolent neutrality
toward the Entente countries is indis-
pensable for the maintenance of the
life of the nation" In the Chamber OF
Deputies, the expressions of the pro-
posed resolution are yet more en-
phatic. Mexico, doing honor to her
history and her ideals of progress
declares, must be with the nations
who fight for justice, for civilization
and for liberty, which is Mexico's own
cause"
Why should there be delay in maxi
ing formal declaration to this effect?
Indeed, as the resolution proposed to
the Deputies says: Those who foment
enmity between us and the United
States forget that in this gigantic trag-
edy there are grea ter interests at stake
than the quarrels we may have with
our neighbors upon this continent
New Britain herald., 1917-10-31

rent, to be carried far and wide, so
as to enable labor to be more widely
distributed along the lines of our rail-
ways and canals. Mr.. Mawson's
scheme bristles with difficulties; it is
open to criticism at a hundred points.
We are not prepared to say whether
the difficulties are or are not sur
mountable, or whether the criticisms
can successfully be met. But 1t Is no
mean asset that the scheme has
already won the cordial approval of
such practical business men as Mr..
Gordon Selfridge, Mr.. S. j. Warning
and Mr.. Herbert Storey, who have
Joined the Interim Committee, which
Is about to explore the possibilities
that 1t holds, and endeavor to trans
late its ideals into a series of practical
proposals.
New Britain herald., 1917-10-31
Our Time Is Here.

& Our Time Is Here.
7 Look back no more! our time has
~ come. my Brothers.!
In Fate's high. roll our names
are written too; .
We fill the mournful gaps left bare
81 by others,
The ranks where Fear has new
er broken through!
u Look, ancient walls, upon our
IS stern election!
Il Keep, Echoes dear, remem-
,a brance Of our breath!
And, gentle eyes and hearts of
pure affection,
Light us, resolved to Victory or
If Death!
~ JULIA WARD HOWE.