davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington herald., 1917-02-02

This last week have received over fifty
manuscripts from amateur writer's VINO
implored me to read them. Although l
am very much interested in the young,
ambitious writer, my own work takes up
so much of my day that / cannot find
time for anything else.
So, in the future, you who are so kind
as to write plays for me will you please
send them to the Aircraft Company. 729
Seventh Avenue, New York City, where
the scenario editor of my company will
give them his personal attention.
CHANGING over the scripts, I notice that
most of them were not typewriter. and
again i must impress upon you that
only typewriter manuscripts are read.
The scenario departments of all the well
established producing companies are Just
as eager to buy good stories as the au-
thors are to sell them, and there Is as
great an opportunity for the young writer
as for the successful novelist or play
wright.
For instance, in most OF the contests,
amateurs have won the prizes. The Sc
quel to THE Diamond from the Sky"
was written by a woman who had never
had any experience in photoplay writ
ing before.
The Lasky prize scenario, "Witchcraft,"
was written by college boy, and some
of my most successful plays have come
from the pens of unknown authors.
In the first place. all writer's must
guard against the stealing Of another's
| IDEAS. consciously or unconsciously. Here
is an example of what I mean.
A very clever story was read to me
the other day, and we were just about to
purchase it, when one of the directors
remembered having seen the story sew
eral years ago in a popular magazine.
We sent for all the back issues and
the story was traced. While some of the
characters had been changed slightly.
| the plot was obviously the same.
We all know there are many cases of
so-called plagiarism in which both par
| ties are innocent, and as compared
the stories. I thought of a similar Incl
dent which happened to me not long ago.
Thinking of unusual situations, evolved
an idea which struck me as forceful and
moved. Eager to build it into a story,
told it to a girl friend. a scenario writer
She did not say anything. but that even
ing brought me a volume OF Tolstoi, and
there was the situation worked out ex-
actly as / had contrived 1t in one of his
short stories,
Thinking that the case of the author
of the scenario was perhaps similar TO
mine. we wrote to him and explained
how we had discovered a corresponding
magazine story, published several years
ago. Then we waited for his answer
expecting to hear from the young man
that he had been entirely innocent OF any
attempt to steal ideas from other authors.
But here is his letter. which 1 must pub
lish as an example to others.
Dear Miss Pickford:
Being a movie fan myself, have
seen hundreds Of pictures and recog-
The Washington herald., 1917-02-02

even the frog songs. An enemy TO sleep
the thing will be-whereas on an old
style riding pillow with a reliable team
one could browse the length Of the fur
rows
We haven't given this thing our pro-
fOundcst consideration by any means,
but we have dwelt upon it enough TO
convince ourselves that we don't fancy
it much. Not that We are enamored of
day blowing either-Or any special kind
Of plowing. really ideal pIOw. in our
opinion, would be a self-regulating, self.
turning and self-driving plow that de-
pended on no adventurous human aids
and didn't keep anybody up nights or re-
quire attention in the daytime such as
feeding, currying, or fIling up with gaso-
line. The pleasantest feature Of plowing.
as We recall ii, was laying of to take
the blade over to the blacksmith shop
and sitting around while the thing vas
being sharpened.-St. Louis Post Dis
patch.
The Washington herald., 1917-02-02

ike different woman, and now have
healthy little baby.g girl and do all my
house work. 1 will always praise Lydia
E. Pinkham's Vegetable Compound to
women who suffer as / did. D Mrs.
ALToND. OAKEs. Fort Fairfield, Maine.
When remedy has lived for forty
years, steadily growing in popularity
and influence, and thousands upon
thousands Of women declare they owe
their health to it, is it not reasonable
to believe that it is an article of merit?
If you want special advice write to
Lydia E. Pinkham Medicine Co. (conf-
dentiaD, Lynn, Mass. Your letter will
be opened and read by women only.
The Washington herald., 1917-02-02
Night Flowing.

Nightfall will no longer witness the
plowman homeward vending his weary
way while the lowing kline wind SLOWLY
DER the lea, but instead the plowman Will
be joy riding over his fields by night II
the tractor engine people can make TINS
sort of thing popular, and profitable. we
observe that might plowing 10y headlight
the tractor carrying its own storage bat
terry and generating light rs ii goes
along" is about to be demonstrated in
the neighborhood. 1t can be done, we
suppose. We don't know whether to say
that this will take the romance out OF
farm life, or aver that 1t Will put some
romance hitherto undrempt of INTO IL
Or whether it will take the risors OUT
or put new rigors in-we don't know. VIII
the farmer work day and night. or VIII
he lie abed by day?
Flowing from early morn till dewy eve,
walking up and down burrows behind a
pair OF mules, was the stuff that much
early American character was made OF.
and out of the experience came the life
ambitions of many of the men VINO
made the nation" "a humorous states
man once declared that old-fashioned
plowing was one of the noblest, most ele-
waiting works man could peTform-that 1t
was while plowing that he himself form
ed the greatest resolution of his lifetime.
He resolved to quit plowing) Flowing
made easy-a veritable sedentary occupa-
tion-almost a nocturnal dissipation-we
hope will not revolutionize character or
demoralize 1t. And turning night into
day we pray will involve no additional
hardships for the already greatest OF
Christian martyrs, the farmers wife. AS
for the old dog that used to trail the
mule-will heget UP by night and convoy
a soulless tractor? The blackbirds and
robins that forage in the fresh burrows
of a morning-will they turn night owls?
Alas for the music that accompanied the
plowboy's day dreams! The noisy tractor
will make hideous the night and drown
The Washington herald., 1917-02-02

Until quite recently the stalk from
which the cotton had been picked has
been regarded as worthless. Now. how
ever, this waste of material is done away
with through the discovery that cotton
stalks can be made into excellent paper
pulp. The strong fiber of the stalk, which
is able to withstand the nitrite process,
makes 1t valuable in the manufacture of
guncotton. second discovery in connec-
ton with the cotton plant is the value of
its roots, from which artificial silk can
be produced.
The Washington herald., 1917-02-02

by female troubles
so / was unable to
do my house work
l took treatments
for it but received
no help whatever.
Then some of my
friends asked why
l did not try Lydia
E. Pinkhsm g sYege-
table Compound. I
did SO and my back
ache soon disap-
Deared and I felt
The Washington herald., 1917-02-02

n Slodn' Nrs. berrand ii. smell. Mrs
Henry T. Helgesen. Mrs. II. Stanley
Benedict, Miss nellie Watkins. Miss Julia
Mates, and Miss Grace Granger
Mrs. Charles Whiteman and Der daugh-
ter, Mrs. Smith, OF Denver, CoL, will give
an attractive musical program at the
Congressional Club Friday afternoon,
February 9.
An interesting evening entertainment
will be given at the Congressional Club
on Saturday, February 10, at o'clock by
Mrs Dupont Joyce, who will read from
Tagore. Critics write and speak enthusi-
astically of Mrs. Joyce's work.
Mrs. S. B. NJ. Young will not receive
this afternoon as Gen. and Mrs. Young
have gone to Florida for several weeks.
Mrs. Ashton G.. Clapham entertained
informally at luncheon yesterday at her
residence in Eighteenth street
Miss Rosalie Spang was hostess at din
ner last evening at the New Willard,
where she is spending the winter.
Mrs. Ollie James was at home yes
terday afternoon at the Parkwood from
3 to 6, for the last time this season.
She had with her Mrs. Key Pittman,
Mrs. McChord, Mrs. Harry Baldridge,
Mrs w. b. Lamar. Mrs. ]. J. Richard
son, Miss Bones and Miss MATHS.
Mrs. william F. Dennis and daugh-
ter, Mrs. Charles Nelson Riker, enter
tanned at the first of a series OF bridge
parties yesterday afternoon at their
residence in Massachusetts, avenue.
They will entertain again today and
tomorrow afternoon.
Mrs. Samuel Burleigh Milton will not
be at home today. but will receive on
Friday, February Is.
Mrs Ralston will be at home today
and Friday, February 1s, at the Burl-
ington.
Mr.. w. S. Stamper has been appoint
ed chairman of arrangements for the
third annual Mardi Gras ball to be
given by Washington Camp, No. 3O5,
Sons of Confederate Veterans, at the
Raleigh Hotel Monday evening, Febru-
ary 10. Mr. Stamper will be assisted
by Mrs. Gllmer Brenizer, matron of
honor; Miss Suzanne Chase, sponsor;
Miss Olive Plant, maid of honor; Mrs.
George S. Covington and Miss Pansie
Wilson, and Messrs F. r. FraveL
! w E Brockman, W. B. Hicks, Thomas
| S. Murray and J. Roy Price.
This ball promises to be the most
interesting of any given by the Sons,
as there will be a great many feat
ures which go with the Mardi Gras
celebration. The costumes will be of
varied type and promise a striking
effect.
The Washington herald., 1917-02-02
Daily Talks by Mary Pickford
FOR AMATEUR SCENARIO WRITER'S.


is
by With Newsp
The Washington herald., 1917-02-02
Answers to Correspondents.

Frances D.-Vernon Steele played op-
posite Marguerite Clark in silks and
Satins." David Powell played Freneau
in "Gloria's Romance"
The Washington herald., 1917-02-02

Virginia B.-Maud Gilbert played oppo-
site William Farnum in Samson"
Theda Bara is not married. Helen Ware
is playing the leading role In "The Gar
den of Allah" which has not yet been
released
The Washington herald., 1917-02-02

Dorothy C.-Robert Vaughn played the
role of the Doctor with Marguerite Clark
in still Waters"
The Washington herald., 1917-02-02

II. Sloan, Mrs. Bertrand H. Smell. Mrs
Henry T. Helgesen. Mrs. H. Stanley
Benedict, Miss Melle Watkins. Miss Julia
Mates, and Miss Grace Granger.
The Washington herald., 1917-02-02
BAGkAGhE SOON
DISAPPEARED
Could Not Do Housework
Till Lydia E. Pinkham's
Vegetable Compound
Removed Cause.

Fort Fairfield, Maine. -''For many
months suffered from backache caused
The Washington herald., 1917-02-02
HOROSCOPE.
Friday, February 2, 1917.

THE stars incline, but do not compel"
The Washington herald., 1917-02-02

Mrs. Charles Whiteman and Der daugh-
ter, Mrs. Smith, OF Denver. Col. will give
an attractive musical program at the
Congressional Club Friday afternoon,
February g.
The Washington herald., 1917-02-02

Josephine Kingdom Bowers playec
opposite ME in "Hulda from Holland.
David Powell in Less Than the Dust.
The Washington herald., 1917-02-02

NJ. b. R.-Ethel Clayton and Carlyle
Blackwell played the leading roles in
"A Woman's Way" Wally Reid in ITO
Have and To Hold"
The Washington herald., 1917-02-02

An interesting evening entertainment
will be given at the Congressional Club
on Saturday, February 10, at s o'clock by
Mrs. Dupont Joyce, who will read from
Tagore. Critics write and speak enthusi-
astically of Mrs. Joyce's work
The Washington herald., 1917-02-02

Gertrude Thomas-Anita Stewart in
The Combat" Marie Doro's next pic,
ture will be "Oliver Twist" but 1t has
not yet been released.
MARY PICKFORD
The Washington herald., 1917-02-02

Mrs. William c. Harllee will be at home
informally this afternoon. Assisting Mrs
Harllee will be Mrs. Hampson Gary and
her house guest, Mrs. John W. Wright,
of Dallas, Tex; Mrs. ]. S. Dyer, Mrs. G.
E. Yancey. Mrs. J. II. Carmichael, Of
Georgia; Mrs. Wade H. Cooper. Mrs
Lewis Forester. Mrs. Frank Andrews, of
Houston. Tex; Mrs. Robert L. Henry and
Mrs. Andrew Moses.
The Washington herald., 1917-02-02

Mrs. S. B. NJ. Young will not receive
this afternoon as Gen. and Mrs Young
have gone to Florida for several weeks.
The Washington herald., 1917-02-02

Miss ROsaie Spang was hostess at din
ner last evening at the New Willard,
where she is spending the winter.
The Washington herald., 1917-02-02

Mrs. Wellington Koo. wife of the
'hinese Minister. will be at home today
rom 4:SO to o'clock and will receive
gain on February 16
The Washington herald., 1917-02-02

Mrs. Mason Patrick, wife of the COM
mandant at the Washington Barracks
and the wives of the other officers sta
toned at the barracks received together
yesterday afternoon at the Officers Club
There was dancing throughout the after
noon. Mrs. Baker, wife of the Secretary
OF War; Mrs. George Howell and Mrs
james Jervey presided at the tea table
which was decorated with pink roses.
r Col. w. w. Harts will give an illu-
strated lecture on THE DEVELOPMENT of
me capital City at the Congressional
Club this afternoon from 4 to 5 O'Clock,
Tea will be served from to 6 o'clock.
The members invited to assist are Mrs,
Z. I. Cariin, Mrs. w. W. Hastings, Mrs
Andrew ]. Peters, Mrs. j. Willard Rags
dale. Mrs. Rollin B. Sanford, Mrs. Thomas :
]. Scully, Mrs. w. ]. Sears, Mrs. A. C.
Shallenberser, Mrs. Seth Shepard, Mrs.
Lenore Sherwood. Mrs. Janett Shouse,
Mrs. Dan v. Stephens, Mrs. George r.
Smith Mrs. Thetus w. Sims, Mrs. Charles
The Washington herald., 1917-02-02

Mrs. Martin A. Morrison, wife of Rep
resentative Morrison, Of Indiana; Mrs
Craven, wife of United States Commits
sioner Herman w. Craven. of Seattle,
Wash. and Mrs. McReynolds will be at
home at 1fO n street on Wednesdays,
February :, IA and 2S.
The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-03-22
F. II. Rogers &
Company

intention of extorting war indemnties
might have been discreet. But even in
the chanceIlors speech announcing
"sharpened" submarine warfare may be
found internal evidence of the govern
ments double upon that subject, and
the achievements Of the U-boat to date
do not promise a decisive victory of that
kind
1t is perhaps possible that this new
raising of the matter OF indemnities, to-
gether with the blunt statement or
the dire need for them, is by way of
warning the German people that the last
card is on the table, and that if it fails
the game is lost? 1t is at any rate con-
that such tactics might be EN-
ployed to bring horne to the German
people the desperateness of the case, and
to win undivided support for the most
and reckless measures, while at
the same time preparing their minds for
an unexampIed crash if Germany loses
the war Germany has in its impover-
ished allies crushing financial load to
carry. and the talk Of indemnities at this
stage of the war does not so much sug-
gest confidence of swift victory as con-
seriousness that the breaking point is.
Republican.
The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-03-22
CURRENT COMMENT
Mr.. Gerard's Warning.

II there remain, in New Hampshire or
elsewhere, any Americans who have not
vet become imbued with the spirit of
preparedness for national defense, let
them ponder the message which former
Ambassador Gerard brings to us from
Germany MIR Gerard is under wise re-
straint from the standpoint OF details
relating to his experience and obserya-
tions in the kaiser's realm, but he man
ages, in a perfectly proper way, to place
the general lesson before his fellow
countrymen The keynote OF his mes
sage is Prepare" In his first public
address after his return home, he de-
clared: "When / came back to this
country, it was a positive shock to me
to find that in the two years in which
the world has been on fire we have done
nothing to prepare for even reasonable
means of national defense. There is
only one thing, and that is universal
military training. That nation that
stands opposite to MS to-day has proba-
bly, not less than l2,000,Q00 men under
arms"
AIr. Gerard has made it Enthusiastically
plain that, in his opinion, Germany is
in dead earnest as regards her attitude
of defiance to the United States and to
American rights. He is fresh from head
quarters of German official sentiment
and should know whereof he speaks. lie
tells us, unqualiiedly, to prepare for
war as the first means of safety-and
adds that universal military training is
the one great requisite of true prepared
ness He knows approximately the
armed force available to Germany; and
he warns us that, in our present state
Of preparedness, we cannot hope to deal
with so formidable foe.
Could there be more direct more author
tative, more heed compelling warning'
Manchester Union.
The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-03-22
One Nations Sacrifice.

| II is being remarked that the British
! peerage has lost heavily in the great
war. But Britain never waged a war
which did not write long death roll Of
| heads and members of families holding
hereditary titles. From before the time
of Magma Charta until less than half a
century ago these families constituted
almost military caste, resembling in
some measure the Samural of Japan.
There would have been something wrong
if any of them had been without mem
Der serving as an officer in the army or
the navy. In those days the British
services had not been penetrated by the
principles of democracy. The enlisted
man had scarcely a chance of rising from
the ranks to be a commissioned officer.
He did not carry marshaPs baton in his
knapsack, like the French private.
Before November, 1871, when the pur.
chase system was abolished, all com
Blatant commissions were purchased, ex
cept in the royal artillery, engineers and
marines The lowest price of first com
mission in the line was $3.50 the high
est lin the Life Guards) was $1,000, and
large sums had also to be paid for each
money thus invested often exceeded the
pay. Now the way IS open to those
whom competitive examinations show to
be the fittest. But scions of the "an-
cient nobility and landed gentry" are not
to be kept BY competition out of their
IA miliar place in army or navy. They
are fighting breed, and they are facing
death and dying bravely on the battle
fields Of three continents.
Seventeen peers and about 20 heirs TO |
peerages are already numbered with the
dead in this war. The proportion is
large, the peerages being not many more
than 900. But what section OF the com
munity. what class. what family does not |
give Of it, best and endure bereavement? |
From the highest members Of the gov
arnment down TO the humblest laborers,
an have contributed Of the Young man
hood that has fought and fallen. No
,hurch calendar Is printed without
roll Of honor giving the names Of the
bows who have passed from the pews and
he Sunday school benches TO graves i'm
.orpign countries. The words with which
John Bright once thrilled the House Of
Commons in tire time of the incouclusive
rimeau war might now D. fitly repeated
where be stood
--The angel % death has been abroad
throughout the land; YOU may almost j
iear the besting Of his wings. There D.
10 one. ss when the first born we're slain
The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-03-22

1t is unfortunate that the exigencies o
the situation necessitated the transfer Of
the Vermont Methodist conference from
Waterbury to Newport; but Waterbury
as well as the remainder of Vermont
realizes that safety as regards the public
health lies on the side of too much care
fulness rather than the reverse. The
chances that infantile paralysis might be
spread by reason of the holding of the
conference in Waterbury may be remote,
but not so remote as to warrant running
the chances. No doubt Waterbury will
have an opportunity to show its hospi-
tally to the Vermont Methodists at
some early time.
The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-03-22

the presidents proclamation Is model
in restraint. He apparently strove 70
keep down the bubblng temperament oil
the American people as long as possible
realizing that there was danger OF Ill
considered public sentiment in view OF
the many provocations to war forced
upon the United States. With that idea
in view he purposely it seems, reirained
from uttering words that might arouse
prejudice and open manifestation against
the nation which has abused American
| friendship ever since the outbreak OF the
war across the sea. The time for the
presentation of the case in its naked
truth rs when Congress is assembled to
consider the question of the declaration
of war. When President Wilson appears
before the joint assembly on April he
will. it is expected, recount the many,
many acts of aggression against the
United States itself, together with those
other acts which were assaults on the
integrity of international relations. For
the present he is outwardly cool and his
words are tempered.
Taking their example from President
Wilson, therefore, the members OF the
Senate and House should endeavor TO
maintain a judicial mind and to decide
the tremendous question without being
driven by excitement. Moreover, they
should strip their minds of entangling |
They should not think |
war will hurt business in gem
eral. They should not think how war
would boom some special business. They |
may well shudder at the thought of spill
ing American blood, but at the same time
they should consider the unfolding OF |
the honor of the United States govern
ment and the protection OF American
lives and property as intended by the
rules of international relations in time OF
war. They should consider whether their
nation is to be power in the world or a
mere yassal OF some other nation. In
order to take that attitude OF mind our
and senators in Congress
ntst be first of all American patriots.
Such we hope they will prove themselves
o be.
The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-03-22

its divine character, for at that time
anyone found engaged in mysterious
works was in danger of being charged
with sorcery and burned to death.
Use of the Divining Rod in Detecting
Criminals.
The divining rod continued to be a "a
vorite subject with alchemistc writer's
until about 1860, when new turn of al
fairs was brought about by Jesuit ia
ther who denounced it as an instrument
controlled by the devil. The subject was
then taken up by the church, and for
more than 100 years it was holly debat.
ed by churchmen. Some approved of
it and authorized its use on church prop
erty; others condemned it and threat
ened those who used it with exeommuni-
cation. 1892, the year of the Salem
witchcraft its notoriety was greatly in
creased by the arrest and execution OF
a criminal through the agency of a
peasant who used divining rod. In
terest in this case was intense and wide
spread and called forth a large amount
Of lieterature. As late as 1903 this peas
ant was employed to point out with his
divining rod Protestants for massacre,
under the plea of punishment for crimes
they had committed. The divining rod
was in some respects closely related TO
as is suggested by the use
Of nominations in connection with divin-
ing, and to this relationship may be as
ribbed in some measure the strengthen
ng of belief in it. Witchcraft at that
lime had become frenzy, and anything
which by any stretch of the imagination
,ould be suspected of implication with
yitchcraft became subject of discus |
,ion and the basis of firm opinions and |
beliefs. In 1901, however the inquisition /
ssued decree against the further use
# the divining rod in criminal prosecu-
The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-03-22

The mutterings of discomfort in Ger
many are growing louder and more in.
sistent, if the reports from that war
ridden country can be given credence.
The vacation given to the Russian car
is serving as an example to the people OF
the imperial empire of Germany, who
long have been under the thumb of abso-
lutism, and who are now forced to give
their life blood to save their country
from a predicament into which their rul-
er's cupidity thrust them The German
people have the power to rise up and
bust this "divine right" of rulership if
they so desire. knowing what the Ho-
henzollern regime win force upon them
with the death of the present kaiser they
might find ample justification in that
alone. The present crown prince Of Ger
many does not promise them any i'm
provement over the man now at the head
OF the government. The crown prince
has been reared on the sword and for
three years he has been drunk with the
blood of millions of his countrymen and
millions more of their antagonists. His
prospective reign Is gloomy outlook for
the German people.