davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-05-13

deck of ship. He was full-grown dragon,
and it seemed impossible that he could have
crushed his great bulk through the chimney
Where did you come FROM" demanded the
General, somewhat alarmed.
mo Where" replied the dragon, breathing
red fire out of one nostril and blue fire out Of
the other in manner that made the General
mad with envy.
Il don't sec how you got past the sentry
The monster advanced to the chair beside
the bed and sat up, leaning against it com
fortaby, his long tail trailing out on the floor
in manner speaking l brought the sentry
with me- he said, pattng his rOtund paunch'
The General considered this and then, in a
voice which he tried without success to maze
both nonchalant and naughty he asked what
do you WANT"
Its nearly two thousand years since my
last visit to EARTH remarked the dragon, land
| can't say the place has improved much. How
1
amuse the children, and you will do very we'll.
COMPOUNDED impudence" sputtered the Gen
eral, and reached his hand toward the call bell.
At that the dragons tail, which terminated
in hook, became suddenly active. There was
a sound of ripping pajamas, and the next IN
slant the General was yanked out of bed and
found himself cuddled in the dragons lap, In
alarming proximity TO the great jaws.
"Itchee kool" cried the dragon, dandling him
up and down. WAS ums dragons little man."
The General did not respond TO this pleas
antry. In fact, he had tainted.
When he came to himself the dragon was
flying with him in the air, and far below he
saw the golden coasts of No Where washed by
the purple sea. The dragon flew straight to
great gray castle and in through the nursery
windows, and six little dragons Cthe size of
grandfather crocodiles) sat up in their cribs
and clapped their claws and cried Hello,
daddy, what have you brought for u.s."
In answer, the dragon set the General
upon his feet, and the little dragons crowded
around him, roaring with laughter. Then the
dragon gave the General the freedom of the
place and went numbering off to take short
nap of about thousand years.
What can you do?' demanded the little
dragons.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-05-13
THE WAR IN IlNPAN ALLE1

her own songs. lie krew j; they didn't 90
that she would be pretty likely to come to ms
Office in search Of something better.
Sure enough, Miss Mackey's imported songs
were American failures and she called on MI
Harriss manager.
"Why. yes" said the manager, who had MS
instructions. mir. Harris knew you we're com
ing and he left song for you
Whercupon he took out Of his desk drawer
manuscript Of the song Harris had been trying
for nearly year to get people to sing-JuS
Rrcak the News to Mother" It was manu-
scrpt COPY. because Mr.. Harris wanted to.
persuade Miss Mackey the song had been writ
ten for her. Miss Mackey heard it and ad-
mircd it enough to agree to sing 1t. Next night
was the time set for the first use OF 1t.
Fate was pushing Harris, for twenty-'e
hours before Miss Mackey was to sing the song
the Spanards Cor somebody blew up the bat
tlcship Maine in Havana Harbor. The follow
ing evening Roster G. Balls orchestra played
"The Star-Spangled Banner" and when the
audience had done cheering Miss Mackey ap-
peared and sang Mr.. Harriss song. Two days
later it couldn't be printed fast enough to sup
ply the countrywide ueIIldnu'
So Mr.. Harris isn't looking for war songs
But he gets them. For instance, few days
ago there came from far away Miami, Arizona
a song poem entitled "The Jared Zone" That
wasn't exactly the title, but it's close enough
1t is supposed TO be sung by the Kaiser ana inc
last line of the chorus goes:
And nOw me for the SUM-
At the bottom of the sheet the astersk is ex-
planned as follows by the author
Note-A hit could be scored by popular
singer if at this point in the song, IN this par
tcular verse; the palms Of the hands should De
quickly rubbed together, and with sudden
swift movement the right hand should then be
shot upward, as if to indicate the Kaiser was
hving toward the solar orb; at the same time
distinct 'whisp' should be made by the tongue
striking the roof of the mouth. This should be
done only once, and that at the first rendering Of
this particular line, as it will be observed the
voice is climbing upward at this period OF
the song"
ACCOMPANYING the poem was blue print OF
the music intended to go with it. The "whlsp'
was not indicated, however. nor does Webster's
Dictionary reveal what it is.
Mr.. Harris isn't going to write any war
songs because he never writes songs based on
calamties.
MAYBE I'll write one later he said to
= caller Maybe after he war I'll write
a song that goes something like this. We
Shall Meet and We Shall Miss Him; There
VIII Be One Vacant Chair See the idea? The
bcllad idea-that's the idea. Is that already
made into a song? OF course not. 1t just
occurred to me this minute
The caller marvelled.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-05-13

Break the News to Mother is good enough
for him. That song has sold million and
half copies since it was written, year before
the Spanish War. The other day an order
came from Newark for 500 copies. The Sears
Roebuck Company buys it in thousand lots Tor
5OOO-populaton consumption. There IS
story about Break the News to Mother" not
generally known Mr. Harris will tell 1t il you
can find him in a reminiscent mood. Here's the
story:
Mr.. Harris was living in Milwaukee and
was far from being as prosperous song pub
Usher as he is now. He went to see William
Gillette in "Secret Service and when they
brought the wounded boy home and character
in the play spoke the line, who's going to
break the news to his mother?" the idea for the
song was horn. Mr.. Harris went home and
wrote the first verse and chorus, but couldn't
write any more. He didn't know what to do
with his boy when he got him on the battle
field where "shot and shell were flying 50
he gave it up as bad job
Several weeks later he was in n barber shop,
being shaved Suddenly he startled the bar
Der nearly out of his wits by half rising from
the chair and exclaiming, exutantly: "l'll Kill
him" The rest of the song had come to him.
He had decided to have the boy die on the bat
tlefeld.
He was so pleased with the thought that it
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-05-13

said the dragon. And ne hooked his 81
around the General and sprang into the az
In due course the General was deposited n /
meadow near where the chateau mad stood
Much time has passed. said the dras'A
you'll find things changed" Then he smls
horribly and flew away.
The General noted with establishment h'
the chateau had been replaced by much more
commodious residence. At first he had sns
of something missing about the place, an
after a time he realized with an uneasy i's'
ing that il was the sound Of guns The coD'
tryside was quiet. But presently two as'o'
planes streaked past overhead. and they nas'
him feel more at home. While he was vata'
ing them he became aware that man va
approaching HIM.
He was a fair-haired young man, prs'am'
ably laborer, for he carried rake over h'
shoulder. but his clothes puzzled the Genera
lie wore a graceful purple robe Of some SOL
fine stuff. When he caught sight Of the Ter
eral he stopped with an expression OF ansn
ment. Then he came on, smiling oeautia'F
Good morning, comrade," he said.
"Dumbhead of peasant. don't you NEG
enough to salue?" roared the General TUT
OuSly.
Il beg your pardon said the young m''
staring with troubled eyes.
DO you realize who | am" shouted w
General, and recited his name and titles. !.
ofr bo, tba Cd
replied the other quietly. Il suppose 20. =.
a porter from one of the aerial lines i'''
still affect the old-fashioned clothes, 'n''s'
most of them are negroes" -,
The General half drew his sword, OUT O''''
into the youths eyes and put it back asam
Il am Commander Chief Of all his ~
eSty's armies he said with an effort ~ ~
control
What is an army" asked the young p'.
When the General came out Of his s"o"
and the youth were in a room and an s','.y
man with kindly eyes, clad in a roseeV''.'
robe. was bathing his temples. THIS maH :,
toned him at length, and then they P'
General to bed and withdrew ,
This stranger IS the Victim % "a.
hallucnation," said the aged man. n.
forgotten his identity and thinks ne = -"
in a past age lie calls himself soio''''
What is a SOLDIER" asked the youth -.
In the days before We burned all ou' 49,,
tories. because they were full Of hes, w..
were soldiers said the aged man. ''
they went about killing one another -.
Il can scarcely believe that cried inc "
laughing heartily. .,u
Let US give our poor friend some Iis"' -
ical occupation in the open air, ana "a
he will speedily recover said the OLD
So they set the General at bugging w. 10
tatoes; and as he passed along the iu,'s" Nd
could be heard to mutter: 81 wish 'n''
sent Grimm" :, No.
The moral: Insist on getting the rs'' y"
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-05-13
THE matter Of harmonic preparedness
merits moments attention in this
- .;,.o &c ,,.o~ Wha+ 70 Tho SONG writ

TINE matter Of harmonic preparedness
merits a moments attention IN this
time of war. What are the song writ
crs Of the nation doing TO keep the pace SET by
those Of Spanish War days-those who turned
out such memorable pieces as Break the News
TO Mother" Strike Up the Band Here Comes
a Sailor" "Goodby Dolly Gray You're Only
a Volunteer" and others too many to remem-
Der? What are they doing? Echo almost an
swcrs they're doing all they can. but painstak-
ing investigation proves that isn't whole lot
The output may be better analysed quantlts-
lively than quaitatively.
Time was when popular song could be done
overnight. That was in the early ukalcle pc
.rod. when Hawaiian" music Cor ought
music" TO have the quotes0 with a Little
Egypt theme was the cabaret-and, alas. the
living room photograph - rage. Uk&lee
rhymed with lots Of more or less respected
American words. and the music could be plcced
out of half a dozen hits gone before. Not so
now. Irving Berlin. author of "AleXander's
Ragtime Band" will tell you that war song
takes thought Harry Won Tilzer will second
the motion.
Not so long ago, it is related, it occurred to
Lieutenant Commander Grady in charge of the
navy recruiting for this district, that the boys
would respond with something nearly APP
preaching enthusiasm if there was nice, fresh
recruiting song to inspire them. The word got
around. in way government secrets have, to
Mr.. Berlin and he elected himself recruiting
song writer. Mr.. Grady would have elected
him himself had he dared; but that's another
story.
Sufficient for the purposes of this one. Mr..
Berlin set about his self-imposed task with
confidence. Songs come TO him like ideas for
submarine annihiators come to optimistic In
vontors so he set aside an hour after dinner
in which to dash off something snappy Alas
for his confidence. The song didn't come in
one hour, nor yet in two. 1t was nearer three
when he put the last note to For Your Coun-
try and Ny Country
Things then, are coming reasonably hard
when it takes a composer like Irving Berlin
three hours to think up a song that was sung
two nights later at the Metropolitan Opera
House by 200 sailors from the Brooklyn navy
yard.
Consider Harry Won Tilzer, too. He felt,
all Of himself that something ought to be done
for the nation, and that it ought to be done
right away Rumors had come from Washing
ton that President Wilson was preparing to
break with Germany and that the industrial
and economic resources of the nation were to
be modified. That was enough. There was
the idea. The execution was bit more trou-
besome. though. 1t took Mr.. Won Tilzer al
most all of one night to turn out song he
called THE Man Behind the Hammer and the
Plough"
-Four days before President Wilson issued
his now famous proclamation giving Count
Won Bernstorff his unconditional release the
song went TO press in the Won Tilzer plant.
There it was, title and everything, when the
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-05-13
Bv HAROLD KELLOCk

"Oh, please make US an army exclaimed the
little dragons with glee. We can conquer
the Pink Fairies They are very jolly and
friendly"
Hmm" said the General, and took up the
consideration of ways and means.
Eventually he set the gnomes at work dig
ging minerals from the earth and raising forti-
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-05-13

The General considered rapidly. Have you
an army?" he asked.
What is an army chorused the little
dragons. "Will you make us one?'
"A large army" said the General, "is impera-
to spread your culture among other peoples by
conquerng them which also sacred duty is
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-05-13
THE TALE OF
AN UNHAPPY
WAR RIOR

Of cannon fodder ebbed steadily and victory
seemed no nearer. This was curious, because
The Emperor had declared that their cause
whatever it was) was righteous, and 498 col
lego professors had proved that God was on
their side.
At last the General, in despair, decided TO try
crandmother's recipe. When he was little
boy his grandmother had said that if you slept
with copy Of Grmnr's Fairy Tales under
your pillow on Midsummer Eve wish would
be granted you.
He put in a requsiton for Grimm in the
usual way, and in twenty-five days, such was
INC efficiency of the army organization, book
arrived for him. 1t proved not TO be Grimm
kut modern book of denatured fairy tales
.,at is, fairy tales without such fripperies as
fairies or fun imagination, each with
highly appropriate moral, written by sterny
analytic person who conceived it his mission to
take the nonsense out of childhood. The Gen
eral hoped the substitution would not matter.
One book, he suspected, was as good as another,
and besides (the army organization was so
spendidly systematized) he knew it would take
months to rectfy the mistake.
On Midsummer Eve he retired early to his
bedroom in the old chateau. His orderly
brought him his usual nightcap-a pint of vim
tage champagne-and he gulped it and tucked
the book under his pillow and lay down wishing
for decisive victory. In few minutes he
was snoozing like steam dredge.
At midnight the General was awakened by
grunting and snorting noises in the chimney
and the sound of large body squeezing down
the great fue. Then a few bricks tumbled, and
some weghty thing landed with a thump in the
fireplace. The General sat up and switched on
a light.
When he saw the shaggy head and shoulders
Of dragon protruding from the fireplace, the
General said: "oh, it's you, is it? III have TO
cut down on my burgundy"
The monster licked the fringes of its NAV
with forked red tongue, and remarked com
placently: am not that kind of dragon"
With that he moved pace forward and his
great, scaly tail dropped into the fireplace with
the sound of heavy chain cable falling on the
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-05-13

Over at Harry Won Tiers place N,
Cohen is looking for the address of ma. :.
submitted a song poem with letter reax..
Dear Sir--I herewith enclose copy Of
which | am DESTROYS to have you exanin.
was inspired after attending Patriotic A.
onstration. Should it be worthy OF your !.
sidcration, kindly let me rear from yos |.
once, and oblige, remain, Sincerely -,
There was no name signed 10 the l..,..
This is the poem, just as it was written:
Hear the call Of your country, Boys;
Be trained and brGyc, rcddy 70 met
those uho dare 10 mrodc. n lccs lore
and faith which led ovr FOrefathers
TO fqht and roise orr flag, that in
gloyy and peace 1t Wopld orer weye.
Today II needs gOp and me. together
the soldier boy and girl should BE-.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-05-13

Things were not going we'll with the armies.
The General. Commander IN Chief Of all his
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-05-13
SECOND VERSE

Look bops 10 you' dag TINT fjes and
hiqh and free, through sunshine aid
storm. II has ncUcr (od. I, tells yOe
Of those WhO W0s courageous and tyue.
and nor IL is Offering the same honor
10 non. Shall II rare IN UainI Shall
u droop in shoDcl Arr yop ready
10 10?
Lets butrobi
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-05-13

country's forces, had
tried all the shifts and
strategems he could
think Of, but his stock
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-05-13
HoRUs

HUTJ'Gb ma ctfef nc SOid'ef giH
with thc soldier boy she WANTS 10
be. WITH heart loyol and true. she Is
,e1dy TO d. for her nag the Red
White and Bhe. Don't laugh or scora,
uhcn you met her boys IN the Uniform
Of byoun BIT sol,,tc and be proud
she is our soldier girl. Of the
L. S. A.
Another one, which has been returned to IA.
composer, starts out like this:
THE morn icGs quiet the heavens
bright the sun wGs rising fost. -.
and includes the imperishable lines
"A brave young son her only
ono and pet her heart was light
md free. Shed wotch and pray
ard sing each day my Country
It's OF thee
The only son went to war, Of course. The
rest Of it really ought to be published
Most of the big firms are publishing var
songs. There are such more or less notssk
ones as America Is Your Mother, Would yV
Turn Your Mother Down. THE Sweethe,r
of the U. s. A." 1.-THE Story Of Old Con-
What Kind of an American Are Your "Lni
All Be Americans Now" ITS Time for Ever
Bow To Be Soldier" America FRS" "irg.
lea To-day" We'll Never Let Our Oh Ez
Fall" and countless others. But there is Ms
be written. anybody who knows will tell VA
real knockout"
And they're not picking them from tmrs
Remember that.
Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1917-02-23
City Managers Proved.

There are now 40 municipal officiaIl
in the United States who are styled
"city managers" under the new COM
rhission-manager form of government.
They are the professional chief execu-
tives Of their respective municipalities,
each with appointive power over the
city's entire administrative establish
ment. They are -lot popularity elected,
but hired for reason of fitness and for
an indefinite tenure by small elected
commission Of FIVE local men. Gen.
orally speaking. three years Of trial In
a variety Of towns have proved that
the new plan furnishes battle-ground
for democracy that makes the un-
modified citizenry unusually effective
while the opportunity for expert adj
ministration which 1t offers is usually
grasped.
Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1917-02-23
HINTS IN SEASON

Take shovel out and open the
bitches.
If your fence is leaning, straighten
it today.
In laying out the garden, plan to
have the rows as long as possible.
This will save time In cultivating.
Working the soil when 1t is wet will
make it coarse and lumpy the whole
season.
Look for the beautiful in all things ;
you will surely find it--even In March.
This is the proper time to slip your
geraniums for planting out-of-doors in
the late spring. Make the slips four
inches long, leaving on only two
leaves. and plant half beneath the
soil. -ts sagt
Scatter ashes around the currant
and gooseberry bushes.
Scratch a little grass seed into the
bare spots when cleaning up the yard.
Later 1t viii look better.
Plant shade trees. Their cool shell
ter will be valuable after awhile.
Spring Is here. Get busyl
Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1917-02-23
ADDING Insult to Injury.

Old John Gargoyle lived only for his
garden. 1t was to him what a growing
son is to other men.
At the end of 1t stood a telephone
post, and the other morning Gargoyle
watched with feelings of horror tele-
phone mechanic climb his back wall.
He descended into the garden. bring
ing with him dozen loose bricks, and
fell full length into a bed of sweet
peas.
He picked himself up, dragged a
heavy ladder across patch of lettuces
and dropped it into cucumber fraloe.
Then he took short cut, in his hob
nailed boots, across some vacant beds
where many precious bulbs were In
TERED.
Finally, after slipping over a clump
Of priceless roses, he appeared under
the dining room window, where Gar
goyle stood in speechless fury.
"'Scuse me. sir" he remarked, ''but
the telephone people are very particu-
lar about us trespassing on private
ground where we hive fixtures. Can ]
have permission to enter your garden,
sirf"
Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1917-02-23
Mans Duty to Hi. Community.

. The man who makes money in a
community has duty to perform to
that community. 1t may be that he
has made his money by his superior
business ability, and that he would
have Zone as well anywhere. That
does not alter the case. If his gifts are
great his responsibility is equally as
great. No man was placed on earth
for the sole purpose of making money,
and the man who has this as his ideal
had better never have been born. 1t
is not an act Of charity, but the per-
Torrance of simple duty, for the
man who has made money to pass a
little of 1t on for the benefit Of the
community, even though he never ex-
poets to see dollar of his contribution
back.-New Canaan (Conn.) Adyer-
tiser.
Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1917-02-23
Home blull||
/ Y Helps 7 !.
TREES ARE KILLED BY GAS
Many Varieties, However, Are Well
Able to Withstand Conditions
Found In Many cities.

The death of many trees In the
streets and parks of New York, usual
~ ascribed to poor soil or parasites, is
largely due to atmospheric conditions,
according to the eminent Massachu-
sets botanist, George E. Stone. In an
article in the journal Of the New York
Botanical garden he says that here are
to be found obstacles greater than in
other cities to the successful estab-
lishments surrounding Manhattan
New Jersey is not particularly men
toned sulphur dioxide and other
poisons rise, only to fall again upon
our poor trees. The victims malady
is chronic rather than acute. Its vital
ity is weakened and then the parasite
ends 1t.
Mr.. Stone declares that with the ex-
ception of the Austrian pine "practic-
ally all the conifers in Central park
are dying from the effects Of atmos-
pheric gases, and it is rarely that one
observes Norway spruce anywhere
within the vicinity of New York that
is not either dead or in a state of
deterioration" The botanist believes
that it is impractical to continue
planting conifers here. .4
Films, too, are comparatively easy
victim to gases. The effects Of the
poison are visible in Riverside drive
and In Central park. But, as Profess
sor Stone remarks, many of the elms
were deplorable specimens to begin
with; not such fine types as are grow
ing In the Bronx.
The trees that best Withstand gas
poison are the Norway maple, black
locust, ailanthus and linden.-New
York Sun.
Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1917-02-23
FLOWER HOLDERS IN WALL
Unusual characterization That Improves
the Looks of Surroundings OF
House In California.

Flower containers, which are unusu-
al Ia appearance and striking because
of the contrast which they present to
their surroundings, have been built in
to the center Of each of three sections
Of a smooth brick wall in front of q
Los Angeles residence. The wall is sur
mounted by an ornamental iron fence
except at the points where the flower
holders stand. Each container consists
of rough. irregular masses resembling
Stag, which are cemented together into
stands about three and one-half feet
high, is a foot or little more in
diameter at the base, and three feet
wide at the top.-Popular Mechanics
Magazine.