davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1917-02-03
USELESS FEAR OF BACTERIA
Authority Says People Are Allowing
Themselves to Be NeedIessly Wor-
ried Over the Subject.

To timid individuals a recent arti-
Gle in the Journal of the American
Medical association on Bacteria on
Paper Money and Books" may bring
comfort.
The Sun has endeavored to present
only the most reliable scientific as
pect OF the subject of germ diseases,
because the usual hasty generaliza-
tons of science and baseless asser-
lions which continually appear in print
under the guise of scientific authority
sooner or later rebound to the dis
credit of real progress. An unwar-
ranted skepticism is aroused and the
distrust of an obvious misstatement
unconsciously becomes magnlfied into
n feactionary Indifference to the better
contributions of scientific men. The
championship of half or contectured
truths inevitably acts in the course of
time as a barrier to the very objects
which are sought in public reforms,
for in the end truth always prevails.
Some years ago the Sun called at
tention to the idea that tu-
~berculosis may he contracted by per-
sons using the telephone mouthpiece
which has been used by many others.
We showed that the postmaster gener-
al of Great Britain had the mouth
pieces on the telephone under his con-
troll examined bacterlologlcally, with
the result of no disease germs being
discovered upon them. The Journal
comments upon the popular opinion of
a few years ago that the handling of
solled paper money was extremely dan
gerous on account of the bacteria that
may adhere TO it. The fact is that
bank tellers do not share this aversion,
nor do they present evidence of ex-
ceptional liability to infectious dis
eases. 1t has been positively ascer-
tanned and published in the Popular
Science Monthly that paper none con-
stitutes an unimportant' factor in the
transmission of disease. While clean
paper money satisfies our esthetic
sense, it has not been proved that
soiled money is likely to become a me-
dunn of disease transmission.
With regard to books, it is the GUS
tom to disinfect them, when soiled, by
exposure to sunlight and air, but 1t is
a fact that the hygienic laboratory of
Johns Hopkins has not found germs of
diphtheria, for instance, on books COM
ing from homes in which children had
been suffering from this disease. The
fact is that the majority of bacteria
found on books are the same as those
found in atmospheric air, and that the
colon bucterium. which is frequently
found on the hands of SchoOlchildren,
has rarely been found on the books
they handle. There is really no ma
terial risk involved in the reissue of
books rece ntly read by consumptives,
unless the books are obviously soiled,
and even then the risks are very slight.
Since, however, bacteria like the
typhoid and diphtheria organism have
been occasionally discovered on arti.
ficially infected books, there may be
good reason for subjecting all returned
books to direct sunlight before redis.
tribution.
Practically the danger from soiled
money and books is no more obvious
than the danger from the mouthpiece
of the telephOne.-New York Sun.
The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1917-02-03
GROWING OF COCA LEAVES
Maintenance of an Extensive Planta-
ton Demands Much Care
and Work.

The cultivation of coca leaves is very
similar to that of tea. The bushes are
kept at a height of four TO six feet by
severe pruning. Under the most ia
vorable conditions of growth, such as
the island of Java affords, 1t is posi-
BILE to collect the leaves at short in
tervaIs throughout the entire year.
Nevertheless the maintenance of an
extensive cOca plantation demands
much care and work keeping out
weeds and pests, thereby raising the
production price of the leaves consid-
erably.
The general view of n of these
plantations is especially pleasing. The
light-green luxuriant foliage of the
coca bushes, that carpet he rolling
hillsides for miles around, contrasting
with the dark green foliage of the trees
of adjoining rubber estates, while all
is surrounded by dark depths Of virgin
forests, makes a landscape that is
beautiful indeed.
The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1917-02-03

a debt in New Mexico. 1t has a liv-
able house and farming tools. He
wishes you to 90 there for a year. At
the end of that time he will buy your
crop ut Il liberal figure, and, if you
develop the spirit of industry, will do
something more substantial for you"
IT'S Il rather dredry prospect. dear"
Wayne said TO Vera, after all of our
golden Dreams
WHY not try and make it sunny?'
suggested Vera in her bright. buoyunt
way, although the tears We're Strug-
Cling for expression. Il see nothing
dismal in having a little farm among
the flowers, and the trees, and the
birds. Oh, dear, no."
And the alkali. All, there. was the
rub. Had Uncle Hiram known? Was
he seeking revenge, or testing their
patience and endurance to the limit?
Except for Il broken-down house and
The fences around the arid ten-acre
tract, the prospect was desert-like.
Vera cried in secret and Wayne looked
older, for Il grim, set look had come
upon his face, expressing Il sort of
dumb desperation, but determination
as well.
1t was wonderful, however, how
Vera adapted herself to circumstances.
She accepted the hardships with a
smile, she dismissed them with a laugh.
She became a veritabIe expert house
wife. She helped in the hardest tasks.
All her former ~frivolity and pettish-
ness was gone. She made of the rud-
est fare a luxury.
Mr.. Lee had SEN to the nearest
bank money to be used for farm equip
ment and supplies, but not Il dollar for
|sustenance and clothes. The exiled
but happy twain had to provide for
that and right cheerily they did it.
Almost a year to u day Hiram Lee
was seated in his comfortable library.
facing his lawyer. The latter had Just
read Il report furnished by an emissary
in the West. 1t showed that all along
Uncle Hiram had kept very close tab
on the poor castaways.
And you wrote Wayne to come
The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1917-02-03
The Test
$
BY GEORGE NJ COBB
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

(Oopyrght, lsl', oy w. q. Chapman)
When WAYNE Talcott announced to
his Uncle Hiram Leo that no was goinp
to marry pretty Vera Dprrett. and 20
10 the city TO GET a position and starr
IN with no capital except hope. ambi-
ton and mutual love, the old man
scoffed.
Take your own course. independent
OF me remarked Mr.. Lee tersely.
iii not encourage Il nephew Of mine
10 marry on nothing nor Il young emit
Oh a girl VINO mas not got beyond the
The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1917-02-03

self-cOnsciOus slaves trying to act ma
turally Alexander reviewing his arm
les on the screen; Columbus in the
court of Isabella, with n close up of
explorer kissing the royal finger tips!
No digging up of burned cities for
future generations of historians. We
shall all be very, very dead then, yet it
must afford the president. traffic po-
hcemen. soldiers and sailors and
other fixtures of the film news a thrill
Of satisfaction to think that they may
walk, bigger than life, before the vision
of races not yet evolved and that the
youth of unborn time will behold and
sigh, "Ah, those were the days Z"
The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1917-02-03
TAKEN FROM EXCHANGES

Russia's death rate in normal times
is-higher than that of any other coun-
try OF Europe. 1t is Al a year for each
1000.
Loose wooden trousers for athletes
ia slip on over their scanty attire when
resting, much as sweaters are worm
are u novelty.
Canada has 23,O0O.O0O acres in tim
Der reserve, as compared with $4,000
600 acres in the national forests OF the
United States.
Mandnza. Argentina. has 10000
The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1917-02-03

coffee, soups and sewss and ovens for cooking meats and vegetables and
baking bread. 1t Is so fitted that n matter how rough the country the in
gradients will nOt spill mt while travelling. And when a halt is called the
meal will be ready is sOon as the troops lay off their marching equipment
and stack their guns.
The kitchen is being used abroad, and by certain United States organi-
cations OF the border and in Mexico. One of them or severalw weeks cooked
was at Fort Myer.
The difficulty of getting hot meals to patients when considerable distances
have to be taversed for each patient has offered a serious problem aboard
naval hospital ships for many years. This difficulty however, will be over
come when the new hospital vessel now planned by the navy department is
launched. DR.. r. G. Holcomb of the bureau of medicine and surgery of the
aboard the ship.
The steam table will be filled with hot food in the diet kitchen on the
lower deck, rolled down the hall and into the elevator, and brought ut o the
upper deck, thence it will be wheeled into the ward and down the aisle of
beds, the plate of each patient being taken from the steaming watts. The
unique device frt was installed by Doctor ,HoIcomb in a hospital in Norfolk,
making the feeding of several hundred patients a relatively easy matter.
The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1917-02-03
Overheated Air.

A rise of temperature in the sur
rounding air diminlshes the amount of
oxygen consumed and the amount of
dioXide discharged. A fall of temper
allure has the opposite effect. In ad-
dltiOn, the Overheated air forms a hot
jncket around the body which prevents
the radiation of heat necessary to keep
the body in a healthy condition. With
a sedentary occupation a temperature
of from ga to 20 should be maintained
for comfort and health.
The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1917-02-03

A patent for cutlery made of bam-
boo has been granted a Japanese resi-
dent of Seattle.
An instrument that measures the
glare of light reflected from paper has
been invented.
For women's umbrellas an inventor
has devised a strap to hang them from
n arm and in the strap has inserted
a purse for small change.
Two inventors living in Portland.
Ore, have patented an egg-shipping
crate so arranged that should an egg
be broken. II will not soil the others.
A factory in Spain is making paper
The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1917-02-03
Gum Arabic.

Gum arabic naturally exudes from
the bark of acacia Senegal, a tree ma
tive to north Africa, though other
species of Acacia are drawn upon,
however, yielding a slightly inferior
product. Tragacanth is from shrubs of
astragalus species native to Asia.
While astragalus are common In west
ern America none Of them seem to be
OF value for trsgacanth. The most
shrubby local species is A. Braunuonii.
The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1917-02-03
Hopeless Case.

The %leap-year maid had just pro-
posed, but had been handed the frosty
digit.
Il never thought" she sighed, "thae
you would have the heart to turn me
down"
II haven't" he replied. MY heart
belongs to another at the present writ
ing"
The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1917-02-03
Weak Natures.

There are natures in this harsh
world so t%hnorous, sensitive and help
less in themselves that the utmost
stretch of indulgence and kindness
is needed for their development-like
plants which the warmest shelf of the
greenhouse and the most watchful
care of the gardener alone can bring
into flower.
The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1917-02-03
All Under Our Control.

The whole scheme of our voluntary
actions, all that we do from morning
to night Of every day, is beyond doubt
intrusted TO our control. And from
our Utmost consciousness We do know
that, whenever we will, we can make
ourselves execute whatever we ap-
prove and strangle in its birth what
ever we abhor.
The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1917-02-03

"Oh" she fastened Ito tell him enthusiastically, 81 took those ove to the
silent sentinels this morning. They are doing such wonderful work and it
was so cold"
Now the congressman is a ardent ally Of the sufragiSs and likewise a
from the position in which he as looking under the sofa and spoke thus:
my dear, I want to ask you, please, to leave to me-and not take to the
silent sentnels-my leather hunting coat, my fnrlined gloves, and the wooden
stockings which m mother knitted for mel .N
The incident is typical 1t has a bearingAc the situation in hand. 1t
shows the extent to which the sufragists' activity enters into many a house
hold beside the Kents' today. Everybody in Washington is talking about
the sentnels-eiher for or against-eyerybody is carrying to them or hold
ing O Il his possessions to keep them from being carried o them. Enemies
are lined III side by side at the White House gates. 49, -S&
A German woman came along and volunteered to hold a bh.tH. Scarcely
was she in her place when on English woman happen4, Sy1tarS sunrag@ts
LET M N escape unsolicited for aid. On request She Nh cthsente1 to III
n hammer The mex instant the representatives OF England and of Germany
fonnd themselves sin a common cause lined up side by side.
The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1917-02-03
Invisible Ink.

Use ~unglazed paper and write with
lemon, onion, leek, cabbage or arti-
choke juice. Characters written with
these juices become very visible when
the paper is heated with a hot iron.
MIX or, better still, buttermilk also
makes a good invisible ink which heat
will bring to view.
The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1917-02-03

in the south court of the state, war
and navy building, where a two-seated
travelling kitchen was set up.
1t took just one hour to prepare a
meal of roast pork, potatoes, bread,
soup and coffee, which was served to
those who witnessed the demonstra-
ton. The fire was started at IL 80
O'Clock, and the meal was ready just
as the employees were going out for
their MONDAY meal.
The Kitchen is a two-wheeled
The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1917-02-03
Appls.erowIna Is Profitable.

Apple-growing is not the easiest
business In the world, but 1t is n that
is full Of pleasure, and when conduct
ed along the right lines. there is good
profit In
The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1917-02-03
A sim. Small Voice

Our friend, Henry Peck, says he
has a voice in the management of his
household"
yes, just a voice. That's all his
wife allows him."
The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1917-02-03
But Not Of the Tracks.

what is the occupation of the old
man who is always asking at the Ii
hrary for books on Indians and Egypt
ians and Orientals and the like?"
"He gives people tips on the races"
The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1917-02-03
widespread Use of Enolisb

OF all the letters that pass through
the post offices of the world two-thirds
are written by and sent to people who
speak English.
The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1917-02-03
Officials Try Meals From Travelling Army Kitchen

THE possibilities of providing hot and palatable foods to the marching
4 armies o the United States were demonstrated to officials and employees
Nf the war department the oLher day. when a free lunch was served to them
The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1917-02-03

SOiiShih6 ~ " SiNiA
comfort. The first day she went
around to the White House she
whipped off her fur coat and her
CATERS for a girl who was not warmly
clad. Since then she has been around
with sweaters, hot bricks, and dear
knows what all.
Well, the other night Congressman
Kent wanted his arctics. After he had
looked the house over he began to
wonder, orally, where, o where, could
The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1917-02-03

From Puerto Cabello (pOrt of the
hair) the traveller may leave the ship
and proceed inland by rail to Valencia,
"a miles; thence to Caracas, 1871 miles
from Valencia. Puerto Cabello, the
railway terminus and port, has 10000
population and has the most modern
cuStomhOuse of the country. The
placid natural harbor suggested the
name, as so little resistance is offered
that ships are proverbially anchored
by hairs.
Eastward. 65 miles from Puerto Ca
bello, lies La Guaira. This port is n
of the worlds picturesque harborS,
with II beautiful background of noun
tains. MaCuto, a bathing resort several
trio line. There is a good hotel and
many ~aristOcratic N~enezuelans and
foreigners frequent the resort. If the
tourist is fond of climbing he may fol-
low the course taken from this point
in 1880, when the buccaneers scaled
the mountains and descended on Car
acas.
Through the Islands.
Steaming Out of the harbor of La
Guaira on one of the larger east-bound
vessels, we pass along the Venezuelan
coast for several hundred miles. occa-
sionally catching Il glimpse of the TO-
liage-bedecked shore, but without a
stop until Port of Spain, Trinidad, is
reached.
The island of Trinidad lies only lG
almost opposite the delta of OrinocO.
1t is a British possession and, together
with TabagO, nea by, forms Il joint
colony. Port of Spain is the chief
shipping center and has Il population
of 10000; in recen years there have
been many immigrants from India and
other oriental lands.
About 20 miles. northeast of Trini-
dad lies the island of Barbados. an
other English possession and one also
offering the tourist. in addition to in
teresting sightseeing. pleasant hotel ac-
co%mmodatiOns. Excellent highways
lead from BridgetOwn, the capital, to
all parts of the island. The old-fash-
Toned windmillS to be seen in every d.
r%ection are some of the picturesque
features in connection with sugar pro-
duction. CodringtOn university, the
oldest college of the West Indies. is
IA miles away Boiling Spring, another
sight visited by tourists, is lG miles
from the capital. During our winter
months there is usually Il large quota
Of tourists from the United States to
he found at Barbados, the climate be-
ing especially inviting and salubrious.
a number of the nOrthbOund vessels
after calling at Bridgetown pass east
ward of the group known as Leeward
islands. Frequently the ship is near
enough for a good birdSeye view of
the towns and settlements. The first
island passed is st. Lucia an hour or
two later the ship passes Martinique
in full view of the remains of st.
Pierre, the town destroyed by the vol
cano Mount Pelee n few years ago :
the next island is Dominica, with its
quaint little capital, Roseau; Guade-
loupe, st. kits, and other islands are
passed in turn. In. order to stop over
at the various islands the traveller
ayails himself Of the sailing service
maintained, which has regular sailings
of steamers from Bridgetown.
The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1917-02-03
An Execution.

Talk is always cheap said the
Wise One. Except" returned the
Mutt, when you talk on the long dis
lance telephone"
The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1917-02-03
Silent SentineIs Got Congressman Rents Arctics

MRs. KENT, wife of the congressman from California, has been supremey
eraghs who have been pckedng the White House. Every day she takes
The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1917-02-03

to upset everything, including all ira
dition, this advent of the woman law
maker. For everyone realizes that
this is just the breaking Of the '1ce"-
that more will come in increasing num-
bers in the years to come until woman
lawmakers will become q matter of
course.
To begin with, the tradition bar
ring women from the floor of the house
after congress is in session is shat
tered beyond repair. Always before,
there were galleries" for the women.
The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1917-02-03
Capitol Traditions Will Be Upset by Miss Rankin

WAsHINGToN-since the election to congress of Miss Jeanette Rankin
w of Montana ohctaIdom here has been realizing that a new epoch has
come I'm the nations hisory-nhs epoch of woman lawmakers. IT'S Just going
The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1917-02-03

Now Miss Rankin will have a seat of honor down under the speakers eye.
Then the coakrooms-those choice meeting places for swapping stories,
quiet pufs" and sly "nps" while the dry and tedious speeches goon inside.
There is no woman's "coakroom." There have been only Republican and
Democratic. When a Socialist strayed into congress, he could take his pick
of The crowds he desired to lounge the time away with.
They'll have to do SOL ripping and tearing away and rebuilding in the
old house chamber. For low Uncle Sam must provide the womans cloak
room" where womens politics of the future will be made and unmade a $
they have been in the historic G. o. P. and Democratic gathering places.
Connecticut western news., 1917-06-28

with trucks to do the work for them.
 A striking instance of this came up in Kentucky recently, where railway transportation is somewhat tenuous at best A cattle raiser was unable to ob- tain freight cars to carry away his spring allotment of fat cattle. He hired a fleet of motor trucks and carried the shipment more than 300 miles to market.
 It is stated that the branch line of railroad connecting Saybrook Point and Fenwi ok in this state may be dis continued because the use of motor trucks by the Fenwick colony is so general that traffic on the railroad line has been reduced to negligible propor- tions.
 The Wisconsin Harness Makers Association at meeting in Milwaukee adopted a resolution urging members to carry motor car accessories and tires as part of their regular stock to offset the loss of regular trade in their line.
 A hospital for animals, especially horses, in small city in Kansas, has been turned into a garage and repair sop and blacksmith shops all over the country are bei1 g treated the same way, all of which may be considered straws which show which way the wind is blowing.
Connecticut western news., 1917-06-28
HON. WILLIAM COP.

The gentleman referred to in the above caption is one of the late arrivals in town who at once made himself conspicious by occupying the most prominent position in town-at the junction of Main and Railroad streets-and immediately beginning his work in the interest of "safety first" by instructing all highway travellers to "Keep to the Right"
 This new traffic director, logged out in fiery jacket of hue loud enough to be heard as we'll as seen. is bedecked with bright red electric light to direct those who drive at night, and is on the job every minute.
 Canaan may be considered slow in some matters by some people, but show us the town or even city with better, handsomer or more serviceable billy. cop! Hon. William Cop is none too good name for so fine public servant.
Connecticut western news., 1917-06-28
Letters From the People.
AN APPRECIATION.

Editor, The News:
 The Canaan Chorus not now being in session to take action upon the death of Mrs. c. w. Camp, may perhaps be permitted to speak for them, and may venture to speak for the whole commu. nifty to express the common sorrow over her untimely death.
 Mrs. Camp was one of the first mem. bers of the Canaan Chorus, had served some years as a member of the board of directors, and possessing one of the leading soprano voices, she had been one of the most valuable members of the chorus and will be most sorely missed.
 Musical by nature, she had always been u leader in things musical in the community. Playing the church organ at twelve, life long member of the church choir and participant in all musical entertainments in the town, she keenly appreciated all the privi. leges which the Choral Union afforded; 1; and there is no small measure of conso- lation in the thought of her fitness for, and perfect enjoyment of the celestial choirs.
 Mrs. Camp was ever one of the most useful women in the towns life. In. herlting from her distinguished father fine mind and marked executive ability, she was natural leader in the social and cultural life of the place. She was the organizer of the Cranford club and for that alore the community would be greatly indebted to her. We shall however remember her longest for the we'll poised personality, her friendly disposition, her generous hos |. pitality and her unfailing interest in all that added to the interest and bene. fit of our social life. The Choral Society and the community in general have suffered @ great loss and in this sense of loss they share sympathetically with the members of her family and espeoi. ally with him who has these many years been beloved physician in our town.
 k. c. Gillette