davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-05-02
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known in American; slang as rough house, This burlesaue was finally stopped by the authorities. z t.
 Morris Dances. 1s-.t
 The famous Morris dance given on May Day had it's origin in England during the reign of Eduard III. but did not become universal until the time of Henry VII. At that time. it became most fashionable and Royalty took part in it. It was by no means easy to dance and required long prac- tice The performers usually had lit tie bells sewed on their costumes which were tuned in, musical inter- vals. During one part of the dance the men leaped over swords while the girls danced back and forth between ribbon streamers. At another time during the dance hobby horses were introduced. In the early days the Morris dancing on May Day was car- ried out with no little ceremony.< While Royalty breakfasted ako utenoon a7beg would come into the roornsstwfths his face blackened, his forehead bound with white and yellow bands and bells affixed to his ankles. The boy then proceeded to give dance, the great feature ofs which was to strike the right and left heels upon the ground twice alternately and then both heels together to produce a jingling of bells. When he had finished, the Court went to the veranda and watehed the r. ris dance on the green near the May Pole. A sword bearer usually accom- panied the Morris dancers, holding pound cake on the end of his sword. The cake was deftly sliced by the dancers, great skill being required to cut off an even slice.
 The Furry dance is also a revival of the ancient May Day customs and originated in Cornwall England. ssSIt begins with the collection of flowers and the making of garlands. Then couples hand in hand trip around the green. A wreath of flowers is worn by each dancer, and as the partners are continually changing the effect is that the dancers are linked together in a great chain of flowers. The couples sing as they dance. A fine May is said to augur a prosperous year for the crops and the dances are to celebrate s.ca good fNEtAa~N
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-05-02
Civilian Relief.


 When the citizen so1diery of the country is called into military service the American Red Cross stretches it's arms to the care of the needy fani- lies and crippled non-combatants. This is undertaken by the Department of Civilian Relief. In commenting on how this branch of the Red Cross is prepared for eventualities in every re- spect save the. urgent need of funds, MT. Eliot .Wadsworth, acting chair man of the Red Gross Central Com mittee, said recently: seThis- depart ment alone may need million dof-r lars a month in the event of serious crisis to care for dependent families of soldiers. Our experience with the recent mobilization of the National Guard shows that caring for the de- pendent families of soldiers imposes a heavy burden on the department of Civilian Relief.
 We are ready now to provide per-. sonnel to care for the sick and wound=. ed of an army of 100000 men, and to bring instant relief to the depend ent families of volunteers In one year we have added to our rolls more than half million members. Today we need a million new members at once. The time has come when we must ask and obtain the undivided support of patriotic citizens every l where." --- r-r It, is a fact significant of the interest of the people that the Red Cross is growing at the rate of between 60.000 and 100000 new members a month. It has AS active membership cam paigns going on now throughout the country, and new chapters are being formed at the rate of ten a day. the enrolment in some communities com7 prising from IS to 20 per cent. of the l nenn1a ---
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-05-02
Great American Nursing Organization Began Two YearsAgoA- Mobile Base Hospitals for Army and
 Navy = Today It Could Care for Sick and
 Wounded of Army of One Million Men.
.f,onvripht 1917 by The International Syndicate


 quate hospital equipment if he should become sick or wounded, for the American Red Cross is prepared to meet all exigencies of war, and is making every effort to safeguard the sick and wounded military men at every point.
 Possibly the most remarkable achievement of the Red Cross within the past two years has been the or ganization and equipment of 25 mobile base hospitals for the Army and Navy, which will follow the move ments of the service and take up their stations where they are required. They are ready and can be. put into opera ton on few days notice-equipment medical and nursing staff enrolled for work. This is the beginning of a chain of base hospitals which will eventually spread throughout the country from coast to coast. In re- spect to preparedness the American Red Cross today stands ready to care | for the sick and wounded of an army of 1 1,0O0, 900 men. and to bring instant relief to the dependent families o1 volunteers.
 | Despite the fact that 1t has distri- buted millions in money and supplies and sent splendid units of medical skill and trained nursing to the aid o1 warning Europe, it has built up g magnificent enrolment of physicians and surgeons. with a list Of 8,00t trained nurses carrying on their pri. vate work in times of ; peace but pledged to give 1t up at the 4ca1l o. the nation for war work. ss,-. s.-.. The Red Cross Is the great off1cia
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-05-02
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 " u HILE an aroused American Government is enlarging It's AA Army and Navy and making " intensive efforts to equip them to fight ftsl battles, guard its ports and man it's fleet, and while it is diverting the service of its young men in civil life from office, shop and field, inspiring them to Ego down into the deep in ships and to go up in the air on wings, in the vital cause or their country, there Is service which has been quietly and effectively pre- pairing for the breaking of the cloud burst here since the time that Eu- ropes sky became darkened by the smoke of war. 4.
 This great branch of war service Is the American Red Cross. the arm op which the American Government is to lean when its. soldiers and sailors are sick and wounded. It is the branch of war work in which every man, woman and child of the nation may have it's share. and through which those who may not fight may do their bit as Loyalty as the soldier at the front.
 Ready To Meet All Exigencies.
 It is to the everlasting credit of the small band of men and women who have labored unceasingly for the past two years and over to bring its present state about that, whatever else is unready, the Red Cross is prepared for war; and, thanks to these 1aborers, mo mother who has son about to enter need fear that he will suffer from ineff1ciency, neglect or made
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-05-02

organization through which volunteer relief service is rendered to the Army and Navy in time of war. It is the only Organization so designated by Congress and acting under a charter by the Government. The very act of it's incorporation prescribed that it's central committee shall have upon it representatives of the Army and Navy, and the President of the United States is its official head. %1E
 Management And How Sustained
 The American Red Cross is sus- tained solely by the, voluntary contri- buttons of the American people. It can make no official call upon them, however relying solely upon their ! humanitarian instincts and the senti- ment of interest of man for his fellow man.
 The national officers of the Ameri- can Red Cross are a president, vice president, treasurer, counselor, and secretary. The President of the Unit ed States is always president of the Red Cross. The Central Committee of which ex-president Taft is chair man, consists of eighteen members and includes the Secretary of State and Surgeons General of the Army | and Navy. This committee delegates it's responsibilities to Mr. Eliot wads- worth. who is acting chairman, and whose office is at the National head. quarters. ~ 55 Under this Central Committee are two. divisions. that of. Military ane that of Civilian Relief. T The Directol General of Military Relief is Colone Jefferson R. Kean. U. 5. A.. who 1. l largely raSnonSih1e for the magnif,
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-05-02

The May Pole customs were brought to the United States by the English emigrants. and nearly every city still has its May Pole in the park on May Day. In New York City the fete is carried out on large scale, hundreds of children taking part and dancing around the huge pole set up in Gen. tral Park.
 Dancing has always been a part of feast days-in ancient times a part of the religious exercises and in late years part of all festivals. It seems especially appropriate as part of the May Day fetes. In Rome during the feast of Flora the most beautiful dances were executed by professionals who were gathered together from the different places of amusement and all day long various exhibitions were given. Many of the dancers repre- sented certain flowers and formed chains of human posies. In holland, Germany, and England May Day dances were most elaborate and re- hearsals were held for weeks before the event.
 Robin Hood. !
 Often plays were given in which
 
 ing the fifteenth and sixteenth cen turies in England the play of Robin Hood was popular. This was general ly held on a large green field roped off so as to keep the spectators from pressing too close to the performers. All the characters so well-known to Americans through the opera of Robin Hood took part, Maid Marian being the premiere danseuse of the occasion. Little John and Will Scarlet danced on the green waving branches of spring blossoms while Friar Tuck did a Bachinalian dance with his jug of wine. At the close the villagers were allowed to join in the dancing which continued far into the night.
 In Scotland the Robin Hood games were enacted with great vivacity at various places, particularly at Edin- burgh and in connection with these were the sports of the Abbott of Iso- bedience. A strange half serious bur 1esque on some of the ecc1esiastics of the day. The Abbott usually took part in the dance and was robbed over and over by Robin Hoods merry men. Maid Marian shot him with Cupid s darts and he fell at her feet. At times the dances became what is
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-05-02

requirements Wnlcn may De pre- scribed.
 The Bureau of Nursing Service of the American Red Cross has under its direction the organization of the nursing staff and certain supplement tary personnel which will be needed for base hospital units, Navy detach- ments of nurses, and such other nurs- ing units as may be required in the event of military necessity. This bureau has as its head, Miss Jane A. Delano. who has given voluntarily seven years of tire1ess work to the task of enrolling nearly eight thou sand trained nurses to be ready on call in case of war. The requirement of the Red Cross for the enrolment of nurses include not only graduation from a training school for nurses of excellent standing, but also in States where registration is provided for by law nurses must be registered.
 To supplement the work of the trained nurses a special organization of lay women has been under instruc- ton for the past fifteen months, the course being open to women who have expressed themselves as anxious to serve as aids to the nursing service of the Red Cross in time of stress. This course of instruction for lay women includes. elementary hygiene dietetics, home care of the sick and the making of surgical dressings: The course is intended to qualify women for service as aids in hospital wards
 but the Red Cross has also placed or file the names of those whom the
 instructors have found especially
 adapted for service in supply stations linen rooms, diet kitchens, rest sta tions and in convaIescent homes. Pro
 vision has been made for the assign
 ment to the base hospital units of :
 limited number of these women. who
 will serve as nurses aids without pay
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-05-02
How These Customs Originated With the Romans Two Centuries B. C. and How They Are
 Reino Revived Today
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Copyright 19l7 by The International Syndicate

~HERE are certain days in the year which from time immem-
 orial have been the occasion for - celebrations having some re- ligious or national or seasonal signifi~ canoe. May day is partly religious anc partly seasonal. or rather it may be said that May first was selected as & feast day because at that time of the year all nature is budding with new life and beauty affordtng an ap- propriate season for expressing the Joyousness of human nature in the hope that it will be inspired with the freshness and invigorating spirit which nature so gloriously and bounteously exhibits at that time. Festival Of Flora.
 The actual basis for the May day festivities seems to have been the Roman Floralia celebrated from April 2s until May 8, and instituted at Rome in the year 238. B. c. Flora, to whom the feast was consecrated was likewise a fertility goddess and it may be taken for granted that the elements of her rites were similar to customs which had previously been associated with the festival of Maia. So like many of our feasts May festivities are a survival of pagan days. For centuries it has been the custom for all ranks of people to go out Maying early in the morning on the first day of that month.
 Even today In the north of Eng land and in Sweden people rise short ly after midnight and walk to some neighboring wood. marching to the rythm of music and after breaking off tree branches return home at day break and deck their homes with gar lands of leaves and flowers. After part of the day Is spent in feasting it has long been the custom to set up a May Pole and dance around it gar landing 1t in flowers. In the ancient uays it was erected in convenient
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-05-02

part of the village and consecrated to Flora the Goddess of Flowers. In Sweden the oxen wAre wreathed in garlands and driven in from the farms to the pole, the boys and girls danc- ing about the animals as they lum- bered along the roads. Freouent1y there was battle of flowers and inc crowning of a Queen of May. There was music and feasting all day long.
 One of the songs sung at these fes- tivals away back in the sixteenth cen tury runs as follows:
 Come lasses and lads, take leave of
 your dads,
 And away to the May Pole hie;
 For every he, has got him a she.
 And the minstrels standing by,
 For Willy has gotten his Jill. and
 Johnny has gotten his loan
 To jig it, jig it. jig it, up and down. ''
 May Day In England. While many of the countries ce1e- brated May day by erecting poles and by dancing, England seems to have been the leader in establishing the festival. In speaking of May in Eng land in 1923, a writer of that day bemoans the fact that many of the finest trees were sacrificed for May Poles to satisfy the pleasure loving people. who "frolicked from early morn until midnight singing the couplet:
 "The May Pole is up
 Now give me a cup, I'll drink to the garlands around if Nut first unto those Whose hands did compose
 The glory of flowers that crown,d it, | The May Pole was usually paid fol by popular subscription by the vii. lagers. Several men were paid to ge into the country on May Day eve anG
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-05-02

' DHILE an aroused American
 Government is enlarging its
 Army and Navy and making Z intensive efforts to equip
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-09-08
SECRETARY BIRCIIARD TO LEAVE
Has Accepted Call to SccrctarysIlip of
\. Nj. G. A. ut Calumet, Michigan.

Mr. H. L. Birchard, who came to
Sumter as Secretary of the Young
Mems Christian Association when the
organization was formed and has ever
since acceptably filled that position
which carried with it the mana.,e
ment Of the building and the dis
charge of all the executive duties of
the association, has accepted call to
Calumet, MICHIGAN, as secretary of
the Y. M. c. A. of that city, and will
leave within the next ten days for his
new field of labor. When Secretary
birchard received the call he was in
cNned TO accept, as it was distinct ad-
vance in his chosen field of work, as
Calumet is growing and progressive
city OF more than thirty-nvc thousand
population, with a large and flourish
ing Y. M. c. A., but he placed himself
entirely in the hands of the board OF
directors of the local association and
le1t 1t to them to say whether or not
he should resign the position he has
SO long filled in Sumter. The board
gave the matter careful consideration
and decided that the local association
would not stand in the way Of Mr..
Birchard's acceptance of the call to
a larger field and his resignation was
accordingly accepted. During his stay
in Sumter Mr. Birchard has become
thoroughly identified with the relig-
lous and social life Of the city and has
made host of friends who sincerely
regret his departure. Under his man.
agement the local Y. M. C. A. has
grown steadily in numbers and in
1uence and has become one of the
indispensable institutions of the COM
munity. OF course all that the Y. nj.
c. A. has accomplished and all it's
growth cannot be attributed to the
efforts of Secretary Birchard, for he
has had at all times the hearty sup
port and cooperation of the board OF
directors and the generous and unfail,
ing backing of the entire community.
but Mr.. Birchard has vintheeH II
but Mr.. Birchard has given the inst.-
tuition his best efforts and the results
speak for themselves. His associate
in the Y. NJ G. A. work and all Others
who have come to know him wish
him success and happiness in his new
field in the far north,
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-09-08
AMERICANS NOT TO FIGHT IMAiE-
DIATELY.
The United States Will Hit Line Hard
With Allies Next Year.

Paris, Sept. 3.-Maj Gen. Pcrshing,
who has remained in Paris clearing
up the work at his old headquarters,
declared, in connection with the plans
for the coming winter that the Amer
lean people must learn the meaning
and value of patience, and not expect
that the eXpeditionary forces landed
in France can be rushed immediately
to front line trenches
To put an inadequate, insufficiently
supplied force into actual combat, he
said, would merely be making mis-
take, which the Germans unqucstion-
ably have hoped and expected the
United States would make. 1t is the
intention, rather, that when America
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-09-08
A PATRIOTIC PARADE.
Washington Celebrates the Organiza
ton of National Army.

Washington, Sept. 4.-The vanguard
OF the National Army is being honor
ed throughout the country today witt
demonstrations to celebrate the de
parture Of the first drafted mon tC
cantonments. Typifying this spiri
the national capital gave itself over t,
to great public demonstration l.,
which the president, congress an,
heads Of departments took part. I
was the first time congress ever Off
cially marched in a parade. Tn,
government offices were closed an,
the whole city turned out A Iarg
party Of foreign diplomats and othr
officials gathered at the revicwln
stand to await the presidents cominf
Mt the head of the procession and t;
join the president in the review.
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-09-08

Gas More Food Value Than Most 9th
or Drinks.

A pleasant. refreshing beverage and
. nourishing food combined in one
product is found In buttermilk. 1t
contains practically all the food ma
teriais OF whole milk with the excep-
'tion of the fat. most OF which Is re-
moved In the process OF churnins
Buttermilk contains about 3 per cent
of protein. nearly 8 per cent OF carbo-
hydrates I'm the form OF milk sugar
OF per. cont OF mineral constituents.
and o.s per cent of fat. Thus a quar-
Of buttermilk furnishes slightly more
than an ounce OF protein, one of tho
chicf body builders.
The increasing consumption of but
termilk testifics to Its popularity as O
beverage. People are beginning &c
realize that II Is much better to drink
glass Of milk OF buttcrmilk than II
IN TO consume other drinks having lit
tie food value, Many physicians recon-
mend buttermiik I'm the treatment OF
certain Intestinal disorders and II Is
also gaining in favor In hospitals.
Prepared buttcrmilS Isl usually mad,
from skim milk and has all the
chemical properties of buttcrmilk. II
n In churncd. as is usually the case
II sErees In appearance and flavor with
real buttcrmilk In fact, it is often a
better product, especially IL clean
sweet skim milk is used and II is care
fully ripened and churned. Prepared
buttermilk can be made I'm the cit,
home. but moro uniform results car
be obtained when II Is made on q
large scale. and for that reason II 1,
usually better to purchase II from 6
reliable dealer.
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-09-08

does take her place in the line, shout
der to shoulder with the other allies
next year, she will be fully prepared
to go through the summer campaign
and make the Germans feel the full
weight of her military power.
Until then those of us who have
fully studied the situation and who
know what is necessary to be DONE"
said Gen. Pershing to the Associated
Press, ARE anxious that the people
at home should strive to realize the
immensity of the task in which we are
engaged and shall have patience and
help us accomplish that aim in the
shortest possible time.
I'VE came into the war without an
army. So now we must build an en-
tire new organization and build it so
big and so strong that we can take our
place along with our allies, who al
ready have had three years time and
experience"
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-09-08
HagOOd's News Notes.

Rembert, Sept. S.-Typhoid fever
has prostrated number of colorcd
people in the community, the last be-
ing daughter of our miller. Edwin
Sanders. DR.. Nj. S. Kirk is the ply
sician and from last reports she SEEM
ed to be bit better.
Mrs. w. j. Spencer is improving
slowly.
Our friend, w. M. Sanders, is able to
he around, as also W. s. Thompson.
who recently had an acute attack of
rheumatism.
A number of our folks attended the
revival services at McLcods church.
Rembert. among whom were Mrs. III.
c. Bethea, Mr.. and Mrs. w. H. FREQ
man. Miss Curtenay Atkinson and Mr..
Sam Shirer
Crops up there are fairly good.
Notwithstanding the drought. Sebas-
tian James, Jr., has lot of nice hogs
and some fine corn.
Miss Courtenay Atkinson has beer
spending sometime with Mrs. Leila II
James.
Mr.. and Mrs. A. S. Manning AMI
daughter, Dorothy with Miss Gene
We've Langley, daughter Of Mr.. A. l.
Langley, all of Columbia, spent the
weekend with their relatives, Mr.. and
Mrs. II. G. Bethea.
Master Sam Young Of Rembcrt i:
with Mr.. r. E. Atkinson.
The ginneries around us are kcp
pretty busy these days.
Cotton is opening very fast ant
may soon be all in.
A lot of peavne hay has been ma
terially injured by the severe drought
Speaking of the meeting at Nc.
Leods an affecting incident is rclat
cd. Mrs. Tom Brown, who is {:
Baptist, joined the Methodist churcl.
to be with her husband and children
The members of that church were
asked to give her the right hand o.
welcome and among those who cam,
onward were her own little children
''IIagood."
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-09-08
BIG WAR MEASURE.
House Begins Consideration OF Eleven
Billion War Bond Bill.

washington, Sept. 4.--The house
thls morning began consideration of
the eleven and half billion dollar
war bond and certificate bill, the big
gest measure Of the kind ever present :
ed to congress. A final vote is ex-
pcted tomorrow night. The Republi-
cans are expected to try to include the
congressional war expenditures COM
mittee provision which was thrown
out of the food bill.