davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1917-02-08
Being Modern in the Middle Ages,
Waterbury Democrat.

Once upon a time there was a back
ward community which decided Il
was up to it to show some of it poof-
ing rivals a thing or two about doing
things for the common people. So
the boss of the camp came down from
his manor hall and had the bugler
sound the call for a congress of the
Serfs. And when the hewers and
the cleaners and the burden bearers
got together in the parish church and
kowtowed low before their Lord and
Master. old snicklefritz with the port
ly front had his chief bazoo and yod-
Ter proclaim as follows: Hear We,
hear We, serfs and chattes: the lord
of the manor, in recognition of your
dutiful obedience to his beck and call
and the twelve hundreds cords of
kindling you have just bestowed upon
his kitchen department, hereby doth
proclaim a great beneficence which
he is about to bestow upon your
selves. Give praise, all we. The lord
of the manor hath proclaimed COM
munity grazing ground. and hereafter
you may all keep cows!" Which
was quite some step for lord of the
manor in those days and ages. And
the same step, dear aunts and uncles,
was what started our pleasant mod
ern custom of having parks and pub
lie squares where the townspeople can
stroll and congregate. We don't diff
fer so awfully much, you know, from
our medieval forebears, even If we
don't let the lowing kline gaze around
in Washington monument. In those
halcyon days of yore the village mil
Ter or blacksmith generally held his
head a little higher than the common
herd when he went to meeting Of a
Sunday to hear his lord and masters
hired preacher chant the glad news
of salvation. Today also have we
gentry who hold their heads a wee
bit higher-but they're generally not
the miller or the blacksmith In those
days, too, the boss of the camp fire.
| quently worshipped long ways apart
so as to avoid contamination from the
mere human beings that kept him fit
and fat How little the world has
| changed!
New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1917-02-08
Volcano Runs Generators.
Engineering Record.)

Volcanic heat is now being used
successfully in the development of
1870 horsepower near Larderello,
u village in Tuscany, Italy. The first
CT three 3,000-kilowatt groups Of
turbo-e electric engines driven by steam
issuing from the earth's interior was
put into service in January, 1916, the
second in April. and the third last
fall. The power is transmitted cleo
trically to Florence, Leghorn and
numerous other cities and towns in
Tuscany, supplying industries that
had been crippled since the war by
the scarcity and high price of coal.
Near Volterra, in central Tuscany,
there are numerous cracks In the
ground from which powerful jets Of
very hot steam spout high In the
air with great violence and constancy,
bringing up boric acid and other sub
stances of less importance. These Jets
have been utilized for many years in
the production of boric acid and borax
and occasionally for warming houses
In the nearby village of Larderelle.
Most of the steam, however, was lost.
The first use Of this super-heated
steam for the production of motive
power was made In 1908. Prince
Ginori- Cont, President of the Societa
Boracifera di Larderello, first applied
strong jet to small rotary MOTOR,
then to a small reciprocating stean M
engine connected to a dynamo. which
generated enough current to light
part of the borax works.
Meanwhile to get more ample
supply of steam he bored holes in
the ground to the source Of the steam,
which is under a hard stratum of
rock from 800 to 500 feet below the
surface The holes vary from u to
20 inches in diameter and are lined
with iron pipes. They give forth steam
at a pressure of from two to three
and occasionally up to five atmos-
pheres. and temperatures varying
from $50 to 100 degrees centigrade.
These Jets have not diminished in their
ctivity, and new borings do not in
terfere with the preceding ones, pro-
vided they are at least so feet apart.
After the outbreak of the war coal
became extremely scarce and prices
prohibitive This cause trial install
lation to be undertaken, using the
volcanic energy. The results have
| been satisfactory and 1t is probable
that hundreds of thousands Of horse
power will be so developed soon.
New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1917-02-08

Woman-Bless Her, by Marjory Mac
Murchy.
Written by a Canadian woman to
her country omen, these six essays
aim to show what the women's or
CARNATIONS Of Canada and the differ
ent types of women-the business
woman, the college woman, the farm
woman, the woman in the house
are contributing and might contribute
to the upbuilding of Canada and the
rec obstruction after the war."-A. L.
A. Booklist.
Content With Flies. by Mary and
Jane Findlater.
''They have written a charming
| book, but it just tells the detailed ex-
per1ences Of three women who sum-
mer in Scotland. doing their own
household tasks."-New York Times
Divine Egotist. by v. e. Roe. "a.
Hope OF Glory, a novel Of the time
| of Nero, by William Schuyler.
| He makes us realize, as in but one
other instance has been SO wildly
done, the hercism of that little band
Of Christians who, despised, perse-
cuted, we're steadfastly sowing the
| seeds of the tree of life whose leaves
| were to be for the healing of the ma
| tions."-Boston Transcript
THE author has shown unusual
vividness of Imagination, which il
skillfully interviewer with carefully
| sought-out historical and biblical
facts. '-Springfield Republican. &
Life OF Mansie WAUGH, by D. N
NOR.
More tales by Polish authors, trans
lated by e. c. M. Beneke. &
Mysterious Stranger. by Mark Twain,
"All Of the pessimisttc reflections
regarding the human race and its des-
tiny that made dark the later years
Of Mark Twain's life are summed up
in this story."-Book Review Digest
ut is difficult to imagine mes
sage carrying a grimmer credo Of de-
spair, disillusion and contempt for
human existence. AS for tIfe
book itself, the method of delivery,
it is an excellent piece of literature"
New York Times
whirigig OF Time, by Wayland Wells
| Williams.
"Of two brothers, one is educated at
Harrow ing England, the other at an
American preparatory school. Yale
brings out the difference In the quail
tty of this early training, the reaction
and the development OF the two being
different though their mutual under
| standing and dependence steadily in
crease. An uneven story, the plot in
8 teresting, but unconvincingly handled
'at times."-A L. A. Booklist.
New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1917-02-08
Presidential Taxes.
(New York World.)

"All bills for raising revenue shall
originate in the house of representa-
tives," says the constitution of the
United States. If the proposal now
before the ways and means commit
tee that in an enaergency-when the
treasury needs the money-the pres
ident be empowered to extend the in
come AK to persons earning in ex-
cess Of $4,000 yearly become law, he
and not the house will actually orig
mate the measure.
The taxing power embraces the
determination of the necessity as we'll
as the adoption of the method, and
when one of these considerations is
delegated to another department
there ~ self-evident Sinking of duty.
It was not by accident that the initia-
tive in such matters was lodged in
the house. For more than a hum
dred years that body alone was di-
rectly responsible to the people. The
frequency Of it's election gives it d
greater accountability even now than
the senate. Under no pretext should
it be allowed to evade It's most solemn
trust.
In operations, the measure sug-
gested would give the president the
appearance at least of imposing taxes
at his sole discretion upon a numer-
Gus element of the population. The
argument that congress. fearing the
president might exercise this power,
would BE less inclined to extravaganza
is hardly tenable. The result would
be increased recklessness, with the
expectation that the president would
be compelled to stand in the gap.
Wher taxes become so high that
the house is afraid to impose any
more Of them on it's own authority
the remedy is to curb expenditure
not to set up new and unlawful
agencies of assessment and collection
New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1917-02-08
What Does 1t Cost the Rich to Live?
waterbury Dem ocrat.)

An inquiry into the cost of living is
now being conducted in the District of
Columbia under authority of an act
of congress. AS usual this investiga-
ton is being limited to the homes Of
the poor, and special agents" of the
bureau of labor statistics are boxing
their noses into the homes of brick
| layers, laborers, charwomen, and
street cleaners and insisting on being
told just where the family got every
| dollar it spent last year and had each
| penny was spent. They want to know
| how much food the family ate and
how much was paid for it, whether
the "old man. drinks and how much !?
The act of congress authorizing and
appropriating for the investigation
was put through at the insistence Of
those friends of the poor who are
constantly trying to find out how little
| the worllingman can exist on. They
are not interested in finding out how
| much he needs to make him efficient,
| happy and hopeful This investiga-
| ton, like most other sociological in
| quiries, is futile and impertinent and
| is resented by workingmen whose
| spirit has not yet been ground out Of
| them. What society needs is an in
| vestigation of the cost of living of the
rich. We need to find out how little
a bondholder can live on. We need to
find out how much food is wasted in
J the homes of the rich that is needed
| to feed the starving poor, who are
still with us in spite Of our Wanted
prosperity. We need to have clear
statement from the rich as to why
they scattered from New York to Cali
fornia, when 65 per cent of the people
cannot own their own homes, and
when there are those who have no
roof over their heads. We need to
| know what the 2 per cent. of the
[ people who own 60 per cent of the
] nations wealth are doing with what
! the other SO per cent. are producing.
If Uncle Sam will conduct this highly
necessary inquiry, astonishing results
can be promised.
New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1917-02-08
A WORTHY OFFER.

resident George M. Landers in
bring to Governor Holcomb the
Ices of the New Britain Cham
|of Commerce in this hour of ma
III anxiety takes a step the impor-
b of which is not readily realized
hose outside the organization.
| the past two years the Chamber
commerce in this city has been
~ engaged in making inventory of
hssets of New Britain, both In the
ter of men and measures. 1t
MS to a nicely the capacities of
hin great factories in this city that
be turned over to aid the ma
HI government in the defense of
nation. It has on file names of
WHO may be called upon to render
able help to the state and ma
when duty demands. In any
sures that the Governor may
mmend for the protection Of the
! the cooperation of the local
mber of Commerce will be COM
surate with the wishes of the
lie of this city.
New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1917-02-08
Union in Ireland
(Boston Herald)

The popular demonstrations evoked
in Ireland by the visit Of Canadian
Irish regiment are such as to strength
en- the hope that the Irish people at
home will yet unite on form of gov
eminent for their country. In their
hands the question rests, and surely
it is not beyond the power of settle
>nent by themselves if the south and
the north, at Dublin and Armagh
they find 1t possible to obliterate pr
ty divisions and join party colors in
honor of men of the Irish race who
their enjoyment of self government on
this side of the Atlantic and their
fighting of the imperial battle or the
other. These Canadian soldiers are
not all of one faith, but they are all
of one mind in not coloring their re-
ligion with politics. At Armagh, last
Sunday, one body of them attended
service IN the Catholic Cathedral and
the other body in the Protestant Ca
thedral. When they came ont they
formed up again together under the
imperial and Dominion colors. And
most notable, because unprecedented,
was this. that in that city of Ulster,
that stronghold of the "Black North"
the partisans Of the orange and the
green, the Protestants and the Cath
olics, by common agreen ant wore en-
blems composed of two colors, thus
demonstrating for once a harmony OF
feeling that just needs wise expansion
to settle the question of Irish govern
ment For this waits only until the
people of Ireland agree.
New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1917-02-08
Cleveland and Wilson.
(Springfleld Republican,


In regretting his inability to attend
the dinner given to Samuel Gompers
on his 67th birthday and the COM
p1etion of SO years of service in the
cause of union labor, President Will
son gave his reasons more tactfully
than Grover Cleveland did when he
was unable to go to a Williams College
commencement because I have Con-
gress on my hands" Members of the
legislative branch of the Federal gov
eminent took umbarge at that way
of putting it. President Wilson ex-
presses it In this way: "Unhaspp PLY
I have been obliged to deny myself
every pleasure Of this kind because
of the imperative duties which fall
upon me every day while congress
is in session.
That comes to about the same thing
as President Cleveland's statement,
but times have changed since the
two communications were written
Mr.. Cleveland held aloof from con-
gress expecting the legislators to do
their part without personal urging
in the things which he desired as con-
tributing to good government. He
held the old-fashioned doctrine Of
aloofness. Mr.. Wilson entered public
New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1917-02-08
"ColOred" Education.
philadelphia Telegraph. }

When the senate, took action which
expels from the United States Bureau
Of Education 1877 men and women
employees of the Rock efeller and Car
negie foundations, it performed a val
able public service.
In support of this step Senator
Chamberlain alleged that the founda-
ton agents in question, while appear
ing on the payroll OF the Federal gov
eminent at the nominal salary of 81
year each, receive their actual in
comes from the funds of Rock efsller
and Carnegie. Their real service to
their private employers, he explained,
has consisted in sending out, under
post Office franks, the pamphlets 'of
the two foundations, with the stamp
of government approval. Fs
'In two generations" exclaimed
Senator Chamberlain. ''they can
change the minds of the people to
make them conform, to the cult of
Rockefeller or the cult of Carnegie
rather than to the fundamental prin-
ciples of an American democracy
He continued with the assertion that
universities that failed 10 modify
their courses were diScriminated
against under this system. On this
point Senator Kenyon supported his
colleague with the assertion: ITO
my personal knowledge the agents of
the Rockefeller foundation have ex-
amined the curricula Of colleges and
refused to endow those colleges un-
less certain courses were stricken
from the list -.
Much may be said in defence OF d
private donors right to prescribe
courses in any university receiving
his favor, although the practice might
easily be abused. But no possible de-
fence exists for the practice of per-
hitting private foundations to frank
their printed doctrines through the
mails or to pay the salaries of per-
sons pretending to be public en-
ployes. After the hand that rocks
the CRADLE the educational instftu-
tons of nation exert the most pow
erful influence over it's "kultur and
destiny That is why mighty private
and special interests have always
sought to "color" education at It's
sources Eternal vigilance must be
exerted to stamp out this pernicious
influence.
New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1917-02-08

life with the idea that as Governor
and President he was called upon to
exercise positive party leadership, and
has proceeded far along that line.
Lack of such leadership he regarded
as accounting for many failures in our
form Of governm ent- More than Presi-
dent Cleveland dreamed would ever be
possible the president Of today has
"Congress on his hands,"
1t is to be added that President
Wilson is not alone in this view of
the attitude Of the executive toward
the legislative branch of the govern
ment. Governors who have accom-
plished things have had to persuade
legislatures to cooperate with them
and In the presidential office Theo-
dore Roosevelt had gone a good way
along the path which President Wilson
pursues. Whatever the theory upon
| which our government was founded,
| as a matter Of practice there has come
about a working relationship between
the two branches that has deepened
into practice that Is very certain to
remain in greater or less degree of
application.
New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1917-02-08
German American Allegiance.
(New York Evening Sum-


In Philadelphia an American
named Freebooter has announced his
readiness to raise regiment Of
German for the defense Of
the flag. In Hoboken a former mayor
has started movement to encourage
the display of the American flag.
Here In New York the Staats-Zeitung
has exhorted all German-American
to be true to the tradition of Her.
kimer.
We have never seen any reason to
doubt that the bulk Of the naturalized
Americans of German origin were
with the United States as a matter of
principle as well as of advantage. In
the struggle of allegidnces that each
of hundreds of thousands must wage
within himself. American allegiance
must usually and normally prevail.
for it should rightfully prevail.
Loyalty to the older country may
represent loyalty to race and past;
but loyalty to the citizens future, to
his children, to his deliberate choic =
and voluntary oath trustfully accepted
by the American government and
therefore the more inviolable. Loyal
ty to America is the morally necessary
course for the naturalized citizen from
Germany, and he may be trusted in
the great majority~of cases to follow
the moral dictate.
The thousands of German-Ameri-
can homes where this choice ie now
being made in sorrow may feel sure
of the enlightened respect and the
warm gratitude that they will deserve
from their thinking fellow citizens
New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1917-02-08
Summer Time in the Antipodes,

Australia has taken the lead in le-
CALLING summer time" otherwise
than as war measure, if, as appears.
the daylight-saving bill. reported by
our consul general at Sydney to have
passed the federal parliament, is a
permanent statute. Europe will prob
ably go on summer time again this
year. Governments may order the
hands of the clocks to be set ahead
earlier in the season than last year,
and set back later, and there is some
talk of not setting them back again
until the war is ended Naturally too,
the favorable outcome of the expert
ment is having the effect of turning
the mind Of governments and people
to the consideration of going on sum-
mer time continually, after peace
comes But it is not necessary to de-
eide about that just now.
The statute of the Commonwealth
of Australia, enacted last mber,
provides that the hands of the clocks
shall be put forward one hour at the
end of September. and put back again
at the end of March. To provide for
New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1917-02-08
GOOD ARRAY OF NEW BOOKS NAMED
IN INSTITUTES LIST THIS WEEK

Chronicle OF Friendships, by Luther
Munday.
"reminiscences of an English actor.
Comm unity and the Citizen, by Ar
thur William Dunn.
Eplstles From Deep Seas, being an
other kettle Of sea-pie, by John
Edward Patterson.
THE author of this book ran away
to- sea before he was thirteen, serv-
ing for seventeen years; afterwards
came to London where he gradually
gained his footing in journalism. In
this volume he gives clear pictures of
his varied experiences on board ship
in the merchant service of England"
Faith Justified BY Progress, lectures
delivered before Lake Forest COL
lege on the foundation of the late
William Bross, by H. w. Wright.
Greece in her true light, her position
in the worldwide war, as ex-
pounded in a series of official doc
uments, translated by S. A. Kan
thaky and N. G. sakellarios.
Heritage OF Tyre, by w. B. Maloney.
AT once q popular review Of the
history of the American merchant
marine and a vigorous appeal to the
people to give attention to the pres
ent shipping situation and remedy 1t.
For the general reader who wishe s
to familiarize himself with the nee
essary data as the basis of an inteln-
gent judgm emit regarding the
merchant marine, it would be diff
cult to- find better brief presentati on
of the facts."-Nation.
Raymond, Or, Life And Death, with
example Of the evidence for sur
vival of memory and affection
| after death. by Sir Oliver Lodge
contains also communications
through mediums which Sir Oliver be.
heves came from his son killed ir
France "a sketch of his life
Religions Of Modern Syria And Pal
| est1ne. lectures delivered before
Lake Forest college on the foun.
datlon Of the late William Bross
by Frederick Jones Bliss.
spiritual Inter probation Of History
| by Smaller Mathews
; Purpose is to prove that histor,
does show spiritual forces at worl
which may renew our threatene,
1dealism. '-Publisher Weekly.
White Road to Verdun, by Kathlee
| Burke.
An American newspaper woman
| experiences and comments.
New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1917-02-08
Alien Teachers.
(Meriden Record.)

New York city has discovered, to
Its surprise, that many Of its school
teachers are aliens. They are sup
posed to be engaged in the delicate
and difficult work of Amer1can1zlng
the children Of foreigners, and yet
thew themselves have not thought
enough of American life and lnsutu-
+ions to take out their first citizenship
napers 1t would be interesting to
know whether this situation exists IN
other American cities The chances
are that it does.
There can be no objection, of
course, to the mere fact that teacher
was born in another land. In fact,
i,nmigrants, when imbued with a gen.
nine love of our country, as so many
Of them are, become admirable
teachers of patriotism, es- ec1ally
among children of their own type.
The enthusiasm of the new convert
to Americanism is contagious, and the
enthusiast in such a case has the ad-
vantage of being, in person, good
example of the lessons taught. But
no such benefits may be expected from
a teacher who values the privileges
Of citizenship so little that he has
never made an effort to claim them.
We want all American children
taught genuine Americanism by men
and women who, whatever their origin,
are in spirit and practice genuine
Americans.