davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1917-08-29
Evening Chat

The individual who planned and
assembled the first family reunion
struck vibrant chord in the hearts
of the real American people. 1t was
the fulfilling answer to the silent,
but torcetul tug which was constantly
straining 10 draw together those OF
kin, widely separated by various cir
cumstanCes, and perhaps but really
slightly related, but nevertheless
my ain folk"
No other nation has been so nearly
founded upon the family hearth stone
as has the United States; particular
ly is this noticeable in the north east
ern and middle states where the first
corners were the home seekers. Ow-
ing to the unlimited wilderness which
surrounded the early settlers, the
family was the complete sum and
circle OF human labor and activity,
The country from the very beginning
held nothing lightly which concerned
the safety and welfare Of the family.
No consuming desire for wealth, po-
litical Advancement, or personal
achievement was present at that time
to compete with love Of wife and
children. A little cabin and clearing
| wrested from the prlmeyal forests
enough food earned by hardest toll
for the maintenance Of his loved
ones, brave heart for their defenCe
from savage and beast, these were
the dearest desires OF life for youl
ancestor and mine.
Side by side our great grandfatherS
and mothers faced situations which
we OF today would hardly have the
courage to contemplate. My OWL
great grandmother assisted in the
dragging and pulling OF the logs lol
her tirst home, to the spot selected
for the cabin, until her valiant young
body was bruised black and blue witr
the weight OF them. She spent two
horrible, siCkening nights While bel
husband and sons searched the
trackless forest for her tiny baby
daughter who had wandered OIL into
the Wilderness. The ties that bounC
these early American families were SC
frightened by the things which they
endured together that nothing Du
death ever loosened them.
Life gradually grew easier O.
course, as the settlements thlcKenet
and the country became cleared, bu
for long and long the strict relig
ious ideals still held hard, and the
daily routine was filled with labor
just as hard labor within the homes
as that Of the fields. Each family
was little independent kingdom
making the materials for clothing a!
we'll as the actual articles, making
shoes, furniture, producing its Owl
food entirely, and gathering its owl
fuel. Home was the alpha apt
omega OF lite. The imperceptlble slacl
eining OF the complete need OF eact
other in the scheme Of existence, thu
the very gradual breaking up OF fam
lily independence toward outside sup
plies has crept upon US during the las
one hundred years.
Let no one say that family affection
has diminished among the genuine
The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1917-08-29
MINNIE WAS RUDE
TO WRONG Man
Humorous Incident Of the
Grim Fighting In
Flanders.
,correspoudenco Associated Press)

BEHIND THE BRITISH LINES IN
FRANCE, Aug, 9.-"Minnle" Is a very
forward young lady who lives as rule
IN German front line trenches. She
has no pretensions at ali to beauty.
She is for use, not for ornament. She
is q trench gun, and her projectlles re,
mino one OF plum buildings attached
to sticks. They fly very iTregularly
but burst very regularly in that part
of No.Man's Land turthest removed
from Minnie's temporary lodging.
Just before the latest push around
Yprss, there was particular Minnie
located few miles from YpTes, which
was more than usually a nuisance. The
British trench was not we'll sited, nor
very well protected. Consequently
when Minnie was active, she made
things very uncomfortable Tor the occu'
pants Of that British trench More
over, she had no regular habits, she
worked on no plan, lady.like she did
Just about as she wished.
The young British subalteTns hateu
her with a persistent, pervading hat.
red, and concoCted many schemes for
her Lndoing, but to no avail. But one
night, chance brought into the trench
a very irritable old artillery officer,
lust as Minnie was active. one OF Min
MES puddings soiled his boots, and
thereby aroused in him grim deter
imitation to devote himself to her de.
struction.
Hs stayed in the trench all that night
studying Minnie's location and charac
terist1cs, and on the morrow he return.
ed, followed by his orderly, unCoiling
wire as he walked. AT the trench end
OF the wire a temporary telephone was
fixed. The far end Of the wire led
back mile and half to battery OF
field artillery.
Along about noon Minnie opened up
for her midday Strafe. Promptly the
artillery officer verified his observa,
tions OF the night before and spoke a
few figures into the telephone, A min.
ute later a loud boom announced the
arrival of British she'll Just across on
the cGher side OF No.Man's Land The
British officer swore softly, and spoke
again into the telephone. The Iirst
shell had b een at least thirty yards off.
Tho second was perhaps twenty yards
on the other side. Again the officer
spoke into the telephone. and for the
third time the gun spoke. Bulls Eye"
sang the officer into the telephone, AMI
packed up his belongings in business.
like fashion. Minnie was deceased.
The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1917-08-29

American people for that is not true,
The fathers and mothers OF today
love their children as sincerely as
their fathers and mothers did before
them, but, oh, the life OF today gives
the children such wide wings, and
they fly so far, and SO strongly But
here Is this one fact like a great
white light, the descendants OF the
early American families never forget
home ties. Your grandfather and
mine did not hold steadfast the fam
lily hearth circle for naught. The
great, the famous, the wise, the busy
grandson of today feels ever stirring
within him the longing for his own
kin.
Watch them come back, like hon.
ing pigeons to the rooftree at every
opportunity; the farther away they
have been, the higher the wall their
ambition has erected, the harder they
fight to come, and the happier they
are in the coming. They will return
to the home village, perhaps after
every soul OF their own kin has pass
ed away just because it is the place
that knew their presence, or-it they
do not come, it is because Of the heart
break which attends such visit. In
their memories such a spot will ever
be the center OF their tenderest al
lection.
This is the reason the family re-
union has been such welcome and
wonderful thing for the descendants
of the first American families, 1t
warns the wanderer TO his very toes.
The live Goals OF the hearth fires OF
generations are assembled there. II
Is satisfying to hungry, lonesome
hearts. 1t is a grand getting back 10
genuine love and affection, Where
will you get such greeting oil real
delight as evidenced III the voice OF
that whitehaired uncle or aunt who
grasps you by both hands and ex-
claims. We'll, well, vel. Johns boy!
how much you do look like your
father! Well-well, it does me good
to see you" Mines times out OF ten
your bluest spell Of the blues is an
unrecognized longing for the voice
and touch OF your own people. You
need the home cure!
The country is the ideal place fol
these reunions. The city will never
typiiy the family circle, That is the
distinction OF the country. Another
thing is that the family, if it be true
American family will just naturally
have some little old country spot
where your ancestors and mine have
made their first home; where the
tiny family cemeteries stand, still
guarded by broken, gnarled old ce-
dars-there may be even yet part
OF the log house. These are the
real spots for family reunions. Be
proud ii you can have One--be very
proud! 1t means much to be solid
genuine American OF generations
back. 1t never meant quite so much
before, either, as it does today. You
have something that four titthS OF
your friends do not have. 1t is real
privilege and honor to have the right
to attend reunion. There can new
er arise any imaginable conditions
which can shake the popularity OF
thes affairs.
The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1917-08-29

A number Of people in Masontown
were victimized recently by a conf
dence man" with N old con" game,
played with variations. The man
CLAIM ed to be representative OF big
"ltalian-Boston supply house" with
branches extending throughout the en-.
tire country. He claimed to be selling
guudU at prices even less than whole.
Salers could quote, hut he said that he
was taking only large orders, as be.
came concern OF the size OF the one
he represented. From one man in the
town he got an order for more than
$1,5C0 worth OF goods. Having secured
his orders he stated that it was neces.
sarJ for him to collect ten per cent. OF
the amount OF the order to accompany
1t as evidence Of good faith The man
who gave him the order came across"
with the check for the amount and the
salesman disappeared, After waiting
trustfully for the goods to appear the
The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1917-08-29
MooNsAINlNe IN MEReER 30.

CHARLESTON, W. Va, Aug. Ss.--
DEPUTY |. Katzem, of the Prohibition.
department reported to headquarters
today the discovery of a moOnshins
still in Mercer county, near Spanish
burg. He confiscated and destroyed
the outfit. together with two galloni
of corn LIQUOR and 100 gallons of pre-
nared mash found on the premises,
and arrested John May, charged with
operating the still, May was taken
before the United States Commissioners
at Princeton and bound over to the
Federal grand jury for the Bluedeh
term.
The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1917-08-29
pSIE3OE{I2
S,E[LAEIEBS

A Milwaukee player named Bohne
made three errors the other day.
What could have been expected?
Trainer Hitte of the Cleveland In
dams will enlist. Another Hitte at
the kaiser.
Contrary to its unpopularity in 9TH
er circles, three sheets in the wind
is a mighty good thing in yacht rae
ing.
Chick Evans is playing in patriotic
golf Journeys for the Red Cross.
Chick, however, hasn't used this as
an excuse for draft exemptions.
Now that the Giants have clnched
the pennGnt there will be great
opportunity for the I-told-you-so
eJnpS
The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1917-08-29

Games Scheduled Today.
Pittsburgh at New York.
st, Louis at Philadelphia.
Cincinnati at Boston.
Chicago at Brooklyn.
AMERICAN LEAGUE.
Results Yesterday.
Chicago, 4; New York, 8.
Philadelphia, 2; St. Louis, l.
Cleveland, rain.
stonpetroit, rain.
Standing Of the Clubs.
w. L. Pc
Chicago ......".." 70 46 SO
Boston ........"..". 70 AZ go
Cleveland ......,..... 6S IS ga
Detroit ........"..... "a So so
New York ....,...... 56 60 AT
Washington ..."..... 80 "a As
st. Louis ............. As Y .S8
Philadelphia ..."..... As "a 81
Games Scheduled Today.
Detroit at Cleveland.
Others not scheduled.
The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1917-08-29
BITS OF
STATE NEWS

". A. Hersch, president OF the Uni
ted Wooden Mills company has placed
an order for 81 diamond rings with A
H. Setron, a Jeweler at Parkersburg
No. be isn't going to a summer resort
The rings are Tor the employees OF the
company who nave completed five
years OF consecutive service IN that
employ. When these have been gwen
to the eligible they Will round out d
total OF 137 diamond rings bestowed
upon employees since the custom was
established some years ago. All OF
the rings nave been purchased IRON
the huntington jeweler.
The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1917-08-29

Huntington is preparing to do her
palt III enlorcmg the new state dog
tag law III as painless a manner as
possible, and to mat end she mas made
an appropriation Tor the purchase Of
asphyXiattng pant where DISPOSE
ton Will be made OF untagged dogs,
Muck damage Of gardens w vagranl
dogs has been reported III that city
anu under the new DOG law such canine
may be rounded up, kept Ill the pound
for ten days and II at the end OF that
time they are Unclaimed, they may be
killed huntington canine are to have
tle advantage OF painless eIlmlna
ton as the city commissioners termed
it.
The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1917-08-29
Baseball At a Glance
NATIONAL LEAGUE.

New York, z; Pittsburgh, 3.
st. Louis, 6; Philadelphia, 5.
Cincinnati, 8; Boston, l.
Chicago, 2; Brooklyn, 0.
The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1917-08-29
Attended Reunion.

Mr.. and Mrs. Stewart Cordray and
children, their guest, Rev. James "A.
Selby, OF Parkersburg, and Mr.. Cor
dray's parents, Mr.. and Mrs. James
CordTay, motored here yesterday from
Morgantown and were in attendance
at tie Barnes reunion.
The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1917-08-29

A cricket tournament has been
started in Philadelphia. All they
need is a chess tournament to make
the old town wake up.
The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1917-08-29
EAST SIDE
= NEWS -
At Cook Hospital,

Miss Ruth Mcmillan, OF Columbia
street, was taken to Cook hospital yes
terday and operated upon last even
ing for appendicitis.
The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1917-08-29

Randolph county held a celebration
in honor OF her soldiers last Saturday
at lGlkins and the affair is said to nave
aroused great deal OF enthusiasm and
patriotism. The days celebration open.
ed with a parade led by Captain Eu,
gene Smith as marshal, The former
Mayor, Fredlock, also led accompanied
by color bearer. Following came the
men from Randolph county who have
been commissioned as officers in the
army and those who will leave in a lew
days for the second training camp at
Fort Benjamin Harrison. Drafted men
came next and Spanish American war
veterans, followed by city and county
officials. By Scouts, business clubs,
fraternal organizations and citizens
followed.
The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1917-08-29

man who had been duped finally went
to an attorney at Morgantown and
started an investigation, which dis
closed the face that tn address and
name OF he firm, which the man had
claimed to represent, were fictitious.
The crook confined his activities to
the foreign element OF the town and he
found some more suckers" who bit
for smaller amounts.
The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1917-08-29

Twenty-nine alters, representing
ten nationallties, were examined by
the Wheeling draft board, according to
ngures gwen out following the compile.
ton vi the Cl.y's quota. Twenty-elght
were exempted on the grounds OF be.
ing aliens, while one, Greek, claimed
no exemption, Greece leads the list
Will seven ot her sons called up FOL
examination; Italy anu Russia are next
with five each; Syria is third with
four; Austria and Turkey are fourth
with Two each, while England, Norway
and Canada are fifth with one each.
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-09-14
ITS A GREAT LIFE" ], LOCAL
 BOY WRITES FROM CAMP AVER;
 SWEATERS NEEDED BY RECRUITS
Exemption Board Member Hears From Joseph Corcor- an, One of First Men to Go to Camp -Delicacies
 Lacking, He Says, But Boy Have Hopes

One of the first letters to come through from the Bridgeport de1ega- ton to Camp Devans, Aver, Mass, is that which reached George M Cough lin of local exemption board No. 4, yesterday from Joseph B. Corcoran, now attached to Company c, Infantry.
 Corcoran was the second man to leave Division No. at Bridgeport and his impressions of the recruits recep- ton and the conduct, of the camp, are interesting.
 He says in part:
 Just a few lines to let you know that we arrived in time and that am now in the big National Army. While I first thought that I would not like to become a soldier, am now of a changed opinion and all the other boys from Bridgeport are getting used to it.
 ''But few of the Bridgeport boys are being rejected-two that I know o1 only have been rejected and will be sent home when their discharge pa pers are promptly made out. At first all the Bridgeport men were kept together but they are now being transferred to various compan. ies. I still am with a company com posed entirely of Bridgeport men. Il is very cold here and it will be wei for every man leaving Bridgeport te
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-09-14

be provided with sweater. Any of the patgiatie women's organizations will probably be glad to contribute 'tl1is much needed article to those who cannot afford to buy 1t themselves,
 Some of the boys feel the lack of small delicacies they have long been used to at home, but as yet there is no canteen and 1t probably is good for them that they have to sIbsist entirely on the army ration. With the cold water which is the same as at Bridge port in taste and feeling, and wakens you up fully at 5:45 in the morning, one feels bright and happy when he gets up.
 Tt is expected soon that there will be a, canteen fitted up by the Y M c. A., doing war council work here They already have a moving picture show
 and the boys go to it regularly. s'No passes have as yet been issued for journeys to Aver but as soon as passes are printed the soldiers will be permitted short leaves of, absence. Work on the camp which will i compose about nine square miles o1 woods is progressing, but it will take some time to fully complete it. After all is said, the military life here is a great life and Bridgepor1 boys when accustomed to the differ. ence in living will like it.''
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-09-14
.REARRANCE ARMS CONTRACT WITH ALLIED NATIONS Remington Head Issues Statement Predicting
 Improvement BRITAIN HOLDS LARGE INTERESTS IN PLANTS Congressman Inquire Into Finances and Contract
 Prices of Plants

Improvement in the financial status of the Remington Arms-Union Metal lie Cartridge Go. is expected to result from a rearrangment in the terms of the great Russian contract held by the corporation. An optimistic state lnent of the companys outlook has been issued iby H. s. Kimball, presi- dent of the corporation He has au- thorized this in regard to the Russian rifle contract:
 'sThe Remington Go. has just
 completed san adjustment of its
 Russian rife contract on a very
 satisfactory basis, which concludes
 its difficulties with respect to this
 contract and materially improves
 financial position of the cona-
 pany.''
 The Russian contract, several months ago, had become serious pfoblem for the corporation. In- ternal unrest in Russia caused fear for the consum nation of the buyers terms in the contract and many man rfacturing difficulties which lately have been overcome also impeded it's completion. But the British gov ernment agreed to take over Russia $ obligations, and the new adjustment to which Mr. Kimball refers has clari- fled the situation greatly.
 Investigation of the conditions un- der which American arms makers are assuming contract obligations to the United States government is being made by many congressman. In an- ticipation of searching discussion of the expenditure of the govern ment's finances for munitions.
 This inquiry has been begun, al ready, in the House committee on ap' propriations, and has disclosed that the British government through its contractual relations with the man. ufacturers, and through it's assump- ton of Russian obligations. has ob. tained a considerable hold upon Con necticut industries.
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-09-14
AERIAL FLEET MAY BE BUILT
 AT STAMFORD Fifteen Acres Acquired There for Factories and
 Proving Ground. HENRY FORD'S NAME MENTIONED IN RUMOR Deal on For Purchase of 100 Acres Participants Are | Silent. <
 

A considerable part of the United States aerial fleet, upon which experts have been working for months, and plans for which were recently an- nounced, is to be made ill Bridge port. ys
 Vast acreage on the Stratford mead ows is to be covered with factories and utilized as a proving ground. A corps of surveyors this morning began stalk ing out locations for buildings, land ing places on Johnston's creek, and
 A tract of about 15 acres has al- ready been purchased and partial pay ments made to the Eagles Nest Lailo Improvement Co.,, which recently bought a larger tract in that section,
 Officers of the Stratford Land Inn proveunent Co.,. from whom it is cur rently reported additional land up to 100 acres will be taken, could not be .tocated in this city today.
 The nanne of Henry Ford was per sistent1y coupled with the deal today Other men of national importance are said to be interested i'm the scheme which will give work to approxinate- ly 1000 men, it is asserted.
 Attempts to learn from Samuel P Senior, president of the Eagles Nest Land Co, the identity of te purcasers met with consistent refusal today upon the plea. that secrecy has been enjoin. ed for the period of about a week when it had been planned to make public the full scope of the project here. But for the appearance of sur- veyors on the land it is unlikely thai the present meagre details of the grea1 project would have come to light fol some time, as the tract is sonewha, removed from general observation. The land already purchased lies be. tween what is known as Johnson's and White creeks with a water frontage almost directly opposite the Lake Tor. pedo Boat Co.'s plant.
 The land taken when slightly graded will make an ideal landing place fo1 either areop1anes or hydroplanes an6 there is easy access for heavily loaded barges. X
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-09-14
SEND ANONYMOUS 1. COMMUNICATIONS.
 TO DRAFT BOARDS
Informants Fail to Sign Let ters About Those Who Got Exemption

Local exemption boards in Bridge port are receiving many anonymous letters concerning draft exemptions and claims for exemptions from indi- viduals who have been certified for service to the district boards.
 These letters, some of which seem actuated by spirit of malice and others which seem to have the ear marks of truth, purport to lay bare startling facts concerning the actions of other individuals in obtaining ex- emption through false statements. Because of the fact that complaint is not made direct to the board, prop erly signed and certified before a mo- tary public officials by the provisions of the draft law, are unable to take that action which otherwise would en- sue.
 It is suggested by division officials today that the proper method to pur- sue is to set forth the facts in per | son before the board Ar to write the 1! facts asserted and properly sign the communication with the name and l address of the informant
 Anonymous letters received by the 1 boards affect the character of some | of Bridgeport's best known young men
 who have sought exemption or have
 received it through the district board l by means of afhdavits.
 The local exemption board for
 Division Six, which previously has
 been located in Engine House No. 6
 and later was in the offices of the
 Bridgeport Hydraulic Co., has removed
 to Room POT on the second floor of | the First-Bridgeport Bank Building Divisions and are now in the same l building. Division 6 has called 300
 men for examination Monday and 300 Tuesday. Men with order numbers
 from to 20S7 have now been called
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-09-14
SUSPECTED PLOT TO BLOW up BRIDGEPORT THWARTED

Young Man Caught After Six Months Chase by Detectives Had Enough Explosives to Destroy Every Factory in City-Denies He Was on Black Tom Island When Powder Was Touched Of-Admits Residence in Berlin, Germany Companion Missing.