davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-03-13

for our lives was to take to the boats
and leave cur cargo to the pirates
There were few small arms aboard,
but not enough Of them or men to use
them to put up an adequate defense.
But we had means Of defense that
/ had often thought Of using In case
Of being attacked By the small enemies
that fnfest certain Asiatic coasts. |
determined to try 1t now. had plen
ty of hose, and l ordered 1t attached
to the steam cocks Of the boiler. There
were two hose which could be used
separately. I asked for more time
from the pirate and was told that not
a minute would be granted. So l or
! dered the men to pretend to begin
the work of lowering the boats, and
they made a great ado with the ropes,
but accomplished nothing. During the
few minutes they were thus engaged
we were attaching the hose to the
boiler and running the nozzles on deck,
where they were hidden under the
gunwale. When all was ready | or
dered the men away from the boats
anu UpA0 NuS DbodtCd W thO pltabt
that If he wanted our ship to come
and take it or If he intended to blow
us up to do so.
This was evidently not in his calcu-
lati0ns. There was conference among
them: then we could see arms brought
on deck. 1t was evident that they in
tended to board us. Meanwhile thec
ran up against us and We're about to
lash to us when | took hose and,
pointing ii down at them, sent a
stream of scalding water among them,
which caused them to desist and get
out OF range as soon as possible.
A number Of them had been scalded
just enough to make them furious
with pain, and, after taking time to
consider, they launched rowboat car
ried on their deck and manned it, and
while the tug came under our bows
the rowboat approached our stern.
There was some protection for them
both fore and aft, but as soon as
man appeared at either point he re-
ceived a dose of steam that sent him
bowling back, and some of them were
knocked into the brine.
This plan having failed, both board
ing parties retreated and, joining forces
on the tug, began to pepper us with
their little barker. / sent men below
10 plug holes that might be made I'M
der water: but, fearing damage to our
boiler which would put us at their
mercy, determined to assume the Of
fensive. Pointing the vessel straight
at the tug before she could get out of
the way, l ran alongside of her and
lrove every man below with scGlding
water.
II was now evident that I had mas
cred them, and, putting on all steam,
showed them clean pair OF heels.
n few hours / was clear of the
and in due time reached
New York, where sold my cargo at
splendid profit.
The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-03-13
Spoon River, VT, Anthology.

The H. C. of l.. has not hit the town Of
Rockingham very hard ] see in the
auditors account of coal at the town
farm, 40 tons, charlottesville item.
The church bell was rung upon Thurs
day night, presumably on account OF the
news received that no vessels were sunk
by the German U-boats the day before
Peru item.
L. D. Belden, who was seriously sick
the fore part of the winter. is now well
and delivering hard knocks at adversely
Benson item.
The only time that Windsor ever went
license was when there were more loaters
here than workers.-Windsor item.
w. II. Doe, our esteemed townsmsn,
who lost his housekeeper by death the
other day, is now living by himself, the
sole occupant of the house. He is vet
eran, ~ years old, and finds it somewhat
lurid to be alonc.-Benson item.
Nearly every house in town has a plae-
ard Measles" Quite the styie.-Proc-
torsville item.
Master Norman Alderman has been
made very happy by the gift of frolic-
some puppy.-Post Mills item.
The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-03-13

The restitution forced on the Amer.
lean prisoners on the Yarrowdale repre-.
sents, perhaps in an exaggerated form
the restitution which is being forced on
the German people themselves. If the
German government had had plenty for
its own people to eat, it probably would
have given a fair measure of rations TO
the unfortunate in its charge. Despite
the manifestation of brutality given by
Germans in other phases of the war, one
hesitates to believe that absolute savag-
cry has taken possession of them and
that they would wilfully have subjected
their prisoners to conditions bordering on
starvation.
The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-03-13
What Makes a Good Road.

Everybody agrees that the surface OF
road must be oval in its contour says
Farm and Fireside, but not all under
stand that this oval ought TO be as fiat
as the character of the road material and
the lay of the land will permit. With
brick or concrete. construction the oval
may BE- very fat. because the traffic
makes no ruts to carry the water length
wise Of the road, nor does the pavement
soften and develop depressions when kept
in contact with water. But broken
stone water bound macadaml, being.
susceptible to penetration by water. and
subject to great damage if frozen while
soaked, must be given a higher oval;
and for gravel roads a still sleeper pitch
is demanded.
"As for earth roads, the steepness
must be governed by the combined in
fluence OF number OF factors. Perhaps
the leading factor is the quality Of the
earth in each particular case. And next
might be placed the presence or absence
Of 'seeps' or 'spouts'; while another q
these vital factors would b. the lougitud
NAL pitch OF the highway"
The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-03-13
A Bluff In
The Aegean Sea
BY F. A. MITcHE

During the second year of the pan
European war ! commanded 1000
ton tramp steamer called the Ajax.
left Smyrna in August, 1915, with
cargo of rugs and other Asiatic
goods for the port Of New York. /
was obliged to steam through the
Greek archipelago, which I knew af-
forded fine nesting for corsairs. / did
not fear Greeks, but dreaded Asiatics
from the opposite eastern coast. II l
could get through to the open Mediter-
ranean sea / would feel a reasonable
expectation of getting my cargo to
America and large profit.
One day while passing between two
Greek islands I was called from the
noon meal by the lookout, who report
ed small craft resembling tug put
| ting out from a cove and steering
course with the evident intention to
head us off. Through my glass / saw
that she carried the German flag.
Now, | did not believe that any Ger
man craft would be sailing in those
waters, which were occupied by the
allied fleets, especially the British. IL
this one were really German / was OF
the opinion that she was a tender for
a submarine. However, l could only
wait and learn. / kept on my course,
watching In every direction for peri
scope. till the tug-for such she proved
to be-was close on to my bows.
Through my glass l could see on her
deck a number of men in sailor cos
tune who might be in the German
service; but, judging from their
swarthy compilations. they were ASH
atics.
One man who appeared to be COM
mander wore the uniform of Ger
man naval officer, but l believed he
had obtained it without having COM
mission. He was whittier than his men
and might have been a European. One
thing noticed OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES was
no appearance Of cannon. Whatever
armament there was doubtless consist
ed Of such weapons as could be WELD |
ed by individuals. However while I |
looked a port was opened and the nose |
of little barker appeared. 1t was as
as bull pup. did not be-
lieve 1t could sink us, though it might
put our machinery out Of commission.
With its appearance the commander
Of the tug called through a megaphone
In German which one Of my
men who understood the language
thought to be demand for surren-
Ter A submarine was ready to blow
is out Of water. We were given ten
minutes to take to the boats.
Never was there more palpable
,ase of bluff. There was no subma-
'ine nothing which could be relied on
o sink us. We were In danger of be-
ng boarded and overpowered by Asiat-
c pirates playing the submarine act.
Though i was not deceived, l confess
t looked to me that the only chance
The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-03-13
THE HINDU DAY OF LIGHT.
A Festival That Turns India Into .
Sort of FARMLAND.


There is one day In the year which is
celebrated as \ great festival by the
Hindus Of India, and the natives are
even allowed TO gamble upon this oc-
casion. The great day is Devali-the
Day of Lght-which is dedicated to
the Hindu god Ram in celebration of
his coronation.
From sunset onward on this day the
native bazaars throughout India re-
semble fairyland, for outside the house
or shop of every true Hindu are placed
numerous little lamps of very print.
tive construction. They consist merely
of small shallow, transparent bowls,
about the size OF a saltcellar, filed
with oil In which a wick is foated.
The number of lamps varies with the
financial standing of the householder,
the Weather natives displaying them
by the hundred. According to the ira
dition, he who displays the greatest
number of lights will become exceed
ingly rich, for on this night Lakshami,
the goddess of wealth. is supposed to
wander abroad and enter wherever
there are sufficient lights to catch her
fancy.
Another method of enticing the I'M
suspecting goddess consists OF placing
in a bowl filed with milk and rice
cluster of pretty flowers. The Hindu
believes that TO present friend with
flowers is to wish him or her happi-
ness; hence the Offering Of flowers to
Weekly.
The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-03-13

New York state, it is estimated, could
send half million men for the proposed
volunteer army of the United States
But what a conglomerati ton of recruits
they would be- 1t would take from six
months to year to get them fitted out
and drilled for service; and even then
they would be nothing more than re-
cruits because the vast majority of them
never smelled powder in the field of bat
tie and know nothing of the feelings Of
the soldier going into battle. They
would be gun-shy, powder shy and every
thing else save possessed of the spirit of
patriotism. However. their spirit of pa
triotism would pull them through provid-
ing they were given time enough to ac-
quire some of the other necessities of
soldiers.
The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-03-13
MABEL SYRUP'S COLYUM
ITO have lively and not a stolid
countensnce."
Truth Of Intercourse.
How Tall the Grass Is Growing.

How Tall the Grass Is Growing.
l.. w. Barton and party picnicked al
Lake View last Sunday.--Tyson item.
Ability to keep abreast of the times in
the matter of slang is nowhere more
marked than in the cigarette smoker.
| Here is the Camel smoke roll. on the
market scarcely a year and yet the other
day an erudite Young Johnny rushed into
! a Barre tobacco store and hurriedly adj
dressed the clerk in these words; Gin
me bundle of humps" Ho got what he
ordered,
Remarkable Recovery of Self -Respee. Up
North.
| A. G. Gallup, proprietor of the Echo
inn, has finished the dance hall into four
nice, commodious sleeping rooms.--East
Charleston item.
To our mind the zenithal degree OF
laccidity hereabouts is registered by
those correspondents whose monthly let
tiers to the monument trade ioprnals are
bulked so largely with material cribbed
from Inc IlmeS.
From time out of mind these here cor
respondents have got their ballast-a
good deal of it--from one unfailing fount
of information but invariably the mat
ter of giving credit where the credit is
due is overlooked.
No reference is intended here to the
columns of expediency balm so gracious.
ly given in the hope of gaining plump
advertising contracts or as reward for
patronage of the kind that pays.
Nevertheless, an observer outside the
trade publication field may well doubt
whether the firm of Jones g. Smith,
frinstance, derives any essential benefit |
from bromide item which usually reads |
something like this:
"Jones & Smith are running big gang |
of men and with large number of spring I
orders booked this firm is looking for |
ward TO busy season. Mr.. Jones re-
Gently told representative of the Harp |
& Hammer Review that his firm makes
a speciality of hammered Barre granite
and is in a fine position to handle addi
tional orders"
The foregoing is a typical item, one
that is over exercised. Moreover, through
frequent repetition it has become mean
ngless and one questions whether the
who is alive to the posi-
Dilities of modern advertising really falls
Ior brand of blurb that is as old as
Egypt
The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-03-13

The press reports daily tell OF some
new college, the students of which have
taken up military training. The reason
why you don't hear more about the Yer.
mont colleges along this line of work is
that two of the three have been taking
military science and tactics as a daily
duty for great many years and there is
no novelty in the thing for them as there
is for the institutions which have never
had military departments. While the
various other colleges are going about
military training with tremendous flour
ish and blare of horns. the Vermont in
stitutions are just keeping up their rou-
tine.
The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-03-13

With her usual assurance, Germany
asserts with some degree of finality that
if it comes to war between Germany and
the United States the latter will be the
aggressor. Presumably the aggressor
just like Serbia, Belgium and even the
major countries fighting on the entente
side. Anyone not Intentionally blind to
the truth knows that the United States
has suffered repeated indgnities and
losses just to avoid going to war with
Germany or any other nation. But there
are limits even to the patience of the
American people.
The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-03-13

James ". Gerard and party returning
TO the United States from Germany can
give some first hand information about
internal conditions in Germany which
will be of intense interest to President
Wilson and his associates in the govern
ment at Washington. II is more than
probable that the German government
reluctance to LET Gerard get out of the
country was due in large part to the
knowledge that be could tell stories
which would prove decidedly encouraging
To the enemies Of Germany and hesrten-
ing to them in the endurance struggle
now at hand. Gerard j. not in duty
bound 20 preserve absolute silence as to
his knowledge Of internal conditions in
Germany; in fact, the breaking-of OF re-
iations between Germany and the United
States, even TO the point Of declaration
OF war, makes it imperative that he
should tell all that he has learned while
serving the United States in Germany
and later while virtually held q prisoner
by the German government. BY the re-
port which Gerard viii be able 10 give
The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-03-13
CURRENT COMMENT
Berlin to Bagdad" No Longer.

'Bagdad" has the sound of victory in
it. The name stirs old memories and
recalls new events-as old as the Califs
and as new as a certain calamitous rail
way project Berlin to Bagdad'
thence, presumably to India
The war began in the west plunges at
Belgium and France. Naval skirmishes
in the North sea. Slowly, Germany
has turned to front the east, with
grandiose hopes of a German Russian
Japanese alliance after the war. That
stock phrase of German stateeraft. "the
push eastward" became reality against
Russia and in the Balkans Turkey
seemed reduced to mere vassal state.
But THE push eastward" suffers a
severe check. The Bagdad end of the
project is plugged up. Russia is man
ruvring for union of forces with the
British to lay sword across the pas
sage of the Germans to Persia, as Rus
STA and Britain maneuvred together,
once before, in 1910, when Mr.. Morgan
Shuster tried to make Persia independent
financially.
With the British threatening the Jer.
usalem Damascus line toward Aleppo.
the allies are pressing on both sides of
Mesopotamia, where Germany had
hoped to prevail. Mesopotamia, that
granary of ancient Asia Minor, was to
be German wheat field, irrigated by
German engineers, titled by German
chemistry-a garden empire for the kais-
er by the waters of Babylon. That EN-.
pire begins to reeede, with the Arabs
seconding the allies, and this success at
Bagdad removing the injury to British
military prestige suffered in the reverses
at Kut last April.
The popular cry has been ION to Con-
stantinople." As in the case of other
such slogans, by the time Constantinople
is reached, it may not be worth reach
strategy having been effected |
1t Bagdad. As a way-station to the
Persian gulf its value would be impaired |
we're the Berlin to Bagdad railway to
terminate at the Hellespont- Boston
ilobe.
The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-03-13

The ministers and other Americans
who are going to Europe to enlist in the
ambulance corps of the entente allies
might find their opportunity at home ii
they should stay little while longer
1t is all right to have pronounced ideas
of service in behalf of the countries now
fighting, but there is a stronger call in
allegiance right here in the United States.
There is more than chance that the
United States will need the services of
every able bodied man for some sort of
work
The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-03-13

The death of Representative Cyrus A.
Sulloway of New Hampshire takes away
the giant Of Congressional is, the giant
in physical stature.
The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-03-13

Most of the towns and cities that vot.
ed in favor of license in the recent Yer.
mont election were on the western side
of the state. Those on the eastern side
were near New Hampshire influence
Claremont IN. H. Eagle.
Either that, or they thought they could
get enough by just stepping across the
Connecticut river.
The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-03-13
RepIacino a Meat Diet.

The people of the United States con-
sumo fully twice as much meat per cap
ita as do the people of Europe. Dried
beans, peas and lentils may replace
meat in the diet to a large extent to
The advantage of outdoor workers espe-
,ially.
The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-03-13

Maple sugar makers down in Vernon
or Pownal may find their trees ready to
be tapped; but in this section of Vermont
we are still locked in the tight embrace
of winter. However, few days may
bring decided change.
The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-03-13

When Boston reader was about to
begin his reading OF "The Fortune Hunt
err" in Orange, Mass, the other night,
cat strolled majestically across the stage.
The readers unbridled humor did not fail
him as he remarked, This is supposed
to be a monologue, not catalogue"
The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-03-13
The Irrepressible Sales Agent.

Kenneth Butler of St Johnsbury was
in town for the week end to visit his
mother, Mrs. Frank Thompson, and other
friends He seemed TO talk automobile
ON slight provocation, thus combining
business with pleasure. -Corinth item.
The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-03-13
Rice Dessert,

Boiled rice served with chocolate or
hard sauce makes simple and whole
some dessert. Raisins can be cooked
in the rice IL desired.
The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-03-13

when | marry the woman I want
must be the possessor OF brains"
But suppose she makes the sane
emensF-Baltimore American
The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-03-13

the president. the government Of the
United States will be guided in large
part.
The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-03-13

Detective-So I've caught you in the
financial district, have /? Crook-Yes.
BIZ. but can't slip you nothing. just
got away from a broker.-New York
Globe.
The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-03-13

Mary-Why don't you prefer Harold
to Tom1 Harold is capable of big
deeds. Msude-Yes; but Tom owns
yome.-Puck.
The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-03-13
Local Color.

Spion Kop.
Pyramid Of "empties" in the vista
from Depot square.
Half burned business block in the
heart of the city.
Sturdy gentleman in blue jeans and
brass buttons who sings out "Foist and
Thoid streets" as the car comes through.
Bugbee avenue.
Barre granite people talk it, knock it,
breathe it and brush it off their coat
sleeves.
South Main street bridge.
Central Vermont station.
NJ. & w. r. station.
Palace OF antiques on upper Maple
avenue.
Old flag on a new hotel.
The Harbor Lights.
The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-03-13

Contentment is not only better than
riches; 1t Is riches.
The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-03-13
Be an American!

Old Winter is keeping stiff backbone
despite the pressure of Spring.
The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-03-13

For SPRAYING inetficiency the general
assembly of 1917 is rapidly attaining to
the unenviable reputation of its prede-
cessor of two years ago. And there is
no Inca for an alibi.
The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-03-13

Curtain scrims &c yard Fits bargain
annex.
The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1917-08-14
MEANING OF MARINES RIBBON
Mysterious Partieolored Strips Worn
on Breasts.

Washington. THE little strips OF
particolored ribbon so often seen Oh
the breasts Of our soldiers Of the sea"
are a mystery to most civilians" says
Major General George Barnett. com
mandant OF the United States marine
corps. Every one and three eighths
inches OF the strip denotes that the
wearer is the possessOr OF medal
awarded for valor or good conduct or
of badge for service In some famous
campaign.
THE man with the light blue strip
decorated with white stars possesses
the greatly coveted medal of honor; the
blue, white and red combination means
service I'm the Philippine insurrection;
two bands of blue and gray Of equal
width. service in the civil war; two
bands OF blue separated by yellow,
service in the Spanish-American war;
red, yellow, blue, yellow and red bor-
dered with blue, the Cuban occupation.
One Of the easiest TO recognize is the
China campaign badge, band Of yell
low with edges OF blue"
The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1917-08-14
JHUGGED BY A MONKEY.
Swings From Tree and Throws Arms
About Neck Of Young Woman.

Denver. - The lovable monkey Is
loose. When he swung from the low
branches of tree at Twelfth avenue
and Detroit street aud threw his arms
about the neck Of young woman pc
destrian there was lot of commotion.
Aside from breaking the spooning laws,
the monkey shouldn't have chosen
broad daylight.
A scream from the young woman
brought residents to their doors. They
saw her running in one direction and
the monkey In another. 1t was diff.
cult for them to ascertain which was
the more frightened, the young woman
or the lovab1e monkey.
Patrolmen from the Capitol Hill sta
ton have been pursuing the lovable
monkey.
Where the monkey came from is
question. The zoo keeper at City park
says all his monkeys are Just where
they should be- and that none of them
would be ungentlemanly enough to
leave home and try to hug pedestrians.