davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1917-04-20
A New Definition.

The word gentleman" has always
been a difficulty, and great writers.
particularly Newman, in d famous pas
sage, have been at pains to define 1t.
Probably the higher you ascend the
social scale the more seldom you hear
the word. But a new s of gem
tility came my way recently (writes a
correspondent. The landlord had sent
his men to mend a gap in the fence,
and the maid, observing them through
the kitchen window, remarked 'There
are two men in the garden. and mi
of them's a gentleman-he's wearing
a macintosh I" A gig. according to
Carlyle, used to be the standard of
respeetabiIity-a standard more diff
to attain than this new n of gen.
.ility.-Manchester Guardian.
The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1917-04-20
Free Speech.

An old negro woman had lived with
a certain family in the South for many
years. One day her mistress had oc-
casion to reprimand her quite sharply
for something that had gone wrong.
The negress said nothing at the time,
but a little later her voice could be
heard in the kitchen in shrill vitupera-
ton Of everything and everybody. with
a rafting accompaniment of pans and
kettles. So loud became the clamor n
so vindictive the explanations that
Mrs. G. went hurriedly down TO the
kitchen. "Why, Liza" she began, in
a~mazement, ''who on earth are you
talking TOT" II amt talkin' to no.
body" the old negress replied. "but !
don't keer who in dis house hyars me! J"
-Harper's Magazine.
The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1917-04-20
LIFT YOUR C0RNS
OFF WITH FINGERS
How to loosen a tender corn
or caIlus SO it lifts out
without pain.

Let folks step on your feet hereafter
wear shoes a size smaller If you like,
for corns will never again send electric
sparks of pain through you, according
to this Cincinnati authority.
He says that a few drops of a drug
called freezone, applied directly upon
a tender, aching corn, instantly re-
lieves soreness, and soon the entire
corn, root and all, lifts right out.
This drug dries at once and simply
shrivels up the corn or callus without
even irritating the surrounding skin.
A small bottle of freezone obtained
at any drug store will cost very little
but will positively remove every hard
or soft corn or callus from ones feet.
If your druggist hasn't stocked this
new drug yet, tell him to get a small
bottle of freezone for you from his
wholesale drug house.-adv.
The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1917-04-20
Good Exerclse

If the calves Of your limbs need de-
veloping try the following exercise
Stand erect raised on your toes and
with hands clasped at the waist. Then
smartly swing the right foot backward
and upward as If you were trying to
kick yourself with the heel. Assume
the first position again and repeat
with the left foot. With a little prac-
tice you will actually perform the
kicking. Alternate, first right, then
left, in quickly active movements.
never, however, allowing the heel Of
either foot to sink to the floor, using
only the toes for support. This exer-
else is splendid for the calves and will
generally climber up the knee joints.
The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1917-04-20
REAL TRAGEDY IN BIRD LIFE
Story OF Long Vigil Kept by Scarlet
Coated songster for Missing
Mate Is Full of Pathos.

In the annals Of bird lore nothing
can be found surprising in pathos the
story which comes from Tarlton, O.
For many weeks, close to the home Of
the writer, early and late there could
be heard the loud, clear call of a bird
to his mate. With his scarlet coat IN
strong contrast with his surroundings
and his no less decided military bear
ing, lie would perch on the topmost
coign of vantage scan the little world
around him with his eagle eye, hoping
to glimpse the familiar form of his
lost companion. His alert ear and eye
catching no sight or sound Of the alb
sent loved one, he would pour out his
soul in %unavailing pl~eadings for her
return. The little singer in his untir-
ing song proclaimed the fact that he
was waiting with a hopeful heart.
One morning, while in quest OF the,
early worm, he CHANGED to light upon !,
bush that stood by a window opposite
the window of another house only a
few feet away, and, seeing his image
reflected so wildly and so close to him,
he few joyously at the apparition, be-
lieying it to be his long-lost mate. His
enthusiasm knew no bounds. Quick,
and hard were the blows struck with
his horny beak and claws in his inn
potent wrath until nightfull, when he
sank to rest. The next morning at
early dawn he renewed his clarion
call, and came back to renew the bat
tie of the prev .ous day with his de-
lusive image. This little tragedy in
the heart of the bird has been carried
on for five months. His flaming coat.
IS just as bright and his kingly bear
ing none the less striking, but a great
change has come over the spirit of
the bird. He gave no sign of the bat
tie royal that has ragged in his breast
for weary days and weeks, but hi
j. song has fallen into silence.-Cincin
natl Enquirer.
The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1917-04-20


| observe that gentleman through doorhnge and notice his dishagreeable
Wall Street appearance. He look entirely bearmarket First thing he do
when approaching inside was to sneeze while walking to Hon. Radiator and
touching him with diamond fingers.
After dinnereat he approach to kitchen and say: Togo" he say with
doggish voice, furnaces are made for heats. Otherwise re would use ice
boxes, which is just Is handsome. Any cook who cannot feed my furnace
should be banished for cruelty"
81 understand this knowledge" I report chivaTousy.
did you permit Hon. Furnace to go out?'
"Ah, 10, not 1 did" This I say. " 1 watch him entire day and give you
my truthful insurance he did not leave that cellar"
Tonight you must compel him to heat, no matter how desperate you
act" he snarrel, departing off with bangslam.
At hearing such adjectves, angry RACES filled my hair with scorn. What
is SO ungrateful IS ingrattude? Nothing!i Had l not sat by sickbed of Hon.
Furnace feeding him what stumach would hold? Yes! And yet this crude
gentleman reproach my fremanship with GOODNESS.
Nex1y I became determined. I would compel that heater to a hotter
thermometer if 1 cooked my soul doing So I declare!
So 1 ascend down to cellar. Hon. Furnace still there doing the same.
I shook him with considerable peev, but he merely answered by winkfng his
dull Goals Hon. Steam Gag say IS and act like he was intending to faint
away. 1 have read in novelbook about bravery of engineer who save his ship
by burning it up for steam" l shall do similar!
1 burst up kitchen table, which should burn nice because covered with
happy grease. Hon. Furnace love such foods and eat him with loudly roar.
blaze resembling July 4 and smell more c. At this sight Hon. Steam Gag
leap onward to 81 and that " where Furnace lived became qute sun
never observed Hon. Furnace chew more satisfaction. Coal | added In hodd
-when-Oh, look!
Hon. Steam Gag had arrived it 81 and vas pointing his reckless finger
further up! This could not happen!!! 1 remember how Hon. Mrs. had
cautiously warned me that Hon. Furnace would get steamed brain er
rode from dementia If Hon. Gag surpass rs lbs. Yet there ne was approach
ing 30 with mean taxtcickl
What should heroes do with such circumstances? I thought lightning.
Too much fire make too much steam. too much steam make bow-on. There
fore fire must quit at oncely. With rapid coaIscuhle I make outrush to
open mouth of Hon. Furnace, and embracing my elbows. throw water with
awful strength. What did that cruel furnace reply then?
outjump Of steam, cooked coal & atmosphere suppress me backwards
with such rapMty that I hurrfcaned through 2 doors and / window, arriving
in outside snowbank IN the seat of my stunach.
What deed have you done now?" scram hon: Mrs om topside porch.
"Your furnace just discharge me" I flop back disgustly.
e" congratulate him" she narrate. Then she make earnest closedown
to window. sc there l sat surrounded by frost
Hoping you ire the same,
HAsH1MURA TOGO.
' Copyright 1s b International Press Bureau)
The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1917-04-20
Put one over On Murphy.

Paddy was jubilant. He chuckled
as he sat in the corner by the pot
house fire.
What's the joker" asked a neigh
Dor.
''Shure, and Ave done a dealt"
chortled Paddy.
"Good!"
ave gave Murphy tn ould mare for
a CARLOAD O. hay"
"But what's the good of the hay If
the mares gomez" asked the neighbor,
'Och, bedad," said Paddy, with glee,
Murphy promises to lend me the ould
mare to ate it !"-London Answers.
The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1917-04-20
OPPORTUNITY FOR BOY SCOUT

wonderful progress has oeen made
during the past year in developing in
Boy Scouts a recognition of their OPP
portunities for service to others and
of their community obligations. For
instance, specific reports of such civic
help as cooperation in safety first"
antify, antimosquito and Cleanup"
and paint-up" campaigns, improving
school gardens, planting trees, protect
ing parks and acting as emergency po-
lice have been received from more
than 200 different places which have
been actually recorded.
The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1917-04-20
s%ELF-REsPECT AND PAINT

The towns that have made them
selves a part of the cleanup and
paint-up' movement are cleaner and
better because of it. Naturally the
paint dealer, the carpenter, florist and
others profit by such campaigns. None
but the pessimist will object to this.
They give value received and more.
The house that is painted and repaint-
ed is the better for it. A neighbor-
hood that has cleaned up and painted
up is q better one in which to live.
Paint makes for ~self-respect and JUS
tifiable pride.
The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1917-04-20
Enterprisina Newspaper Man.

A theatrical representative tells
that he ran across the most enterpris-
ing newsboy in the world:
81 was coming from the station when
a little fellow ran up to me and called:
"sPoiper, misterr
"sNo.'
"'Carry yer grip?'
"eNo.'
"'Git you a tadr
"tNo.'
wanna guideT
ST told him I didn't need a guide.
and he planted himself squarely in
front of me.
"sWant me to turn a fip-fiop for
your he asked"
The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1917-04-20
WORK TO
CLEAN UP
TOWN

Monkeys initiate. And there's a LOT
of monkeys" in most of us.
Imitation is bad for the monkey If
his model Is bad, but the climber who
follows a good example keeps out of
a lot of trouble. just so with us NOR
tails, Inspired by environment, we can
think great thoughts and do things
worth while. Depressed by environ
ment, we can sink into the depths.
But thanks to the human power of
Initiative, We can shape our environ
ment-we a make it what we will, if
we will. And so intimate are our own
interests linked up with those of our
neighbors that when we improve u
OWN surroundings, be it ever so little,
we Improve theirs.
Right there the monkey" in man as
serts itself.
The fact that we are tour brothers.
keeper" responsible to a certain extent
for the example we set him, may not
weigh heavily on our shoulders. But
the monkey" in man keeps right on
working just the same.
Today your neighbor Sticks up his
yard, cleans the alley, removes rub
bish, plants flowers, trims his hedge.
paints his house.
Tomorrow you will find that your
own place looks sick. You never no
ticed before that a little cleaning up
and painting up and ~greening UP would
accomplish so much in making home
life happy and healthy through the
long outdoor months of summer So
you get busy with the pruning shears,
the rake, the lawn mower, the garden
hose and the spade. You start a paint
er working on your house and out
buildings. Forthwith you, your wife
and the Riddles begin to realize more
fully the joy of living in this commu-
nifty through the good old summer
time.
Day after tomorrow other neighbors
will begin to ''perk up their premises
and their persons. Then others will
follow their example, and so the spirit
of springs generation will spread from
house to house and block to block.
But let's not wait for this creeping
regeneration.
Let's each start something today that
will help make our own little corner of
the community sanitary and more safe.
If there is unsightIy advertising on
your property see that it is removed.
Clean up your property, business and
residence, inside and outside, front and
back.
Help the authorities keep streets and
alleys clean. Do not throw papers OIL
rubbish in streets or yards.
If your ash pit is full have it cleaned
out. If it is out of repair and a fire
risk have it repaired.
See that manure is removed from
stables once a week.
See that garbage is kept only II
metal containers, with tightly-ittinG
v Vermin and flies will poster
you if you don't.
Clean up your vacant lots and turf
them into flower or vegetable gardens
Study the smoke that comes from
your chimney and eliminate 1t.
If there are old shacks on your prop
erty, which are ~unsightly and fire risks,
have them removed.
If you have no yard for a garden
plant flower boxes for your windows
If you W vacant property make it
look at its best. A tenant will move
in so much the sooner.
Let's make "Clean Up and Paint Up
and Keep It Up" a real slogan here
abouts by living up to it.
The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1917-04-20
CLEANUP POET BUSY

Little beds of flowers,
Little cans of paint,
Make attractive neighborhoods
Out of those that amt.
The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1917-04-20
Railway Traffic in Britain.

Although British railroads rank
fourth among the nations in regard to
mileage, they carry more passengers
every year than are carried in any
other country.
The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1917-04-20
The Rare bird.

"Brains are a common commOd-
ity."
"That so7"
"Yes. What Pm always looking for
is a man who knows how to use his
brains" {
The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1917-04-20

A Low Rate,

"what is the death rate in this vi
cinity?"
"Well, stranger, I haven't got the
exact figures, but I reckon YOU a
lie as cheap here as anywhere In the
world
The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1917-04-20

Wilmington, Del, will spend $1,000
900 to increase public school facili-
ties.
The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1917-04-20
CLEAN UP'AN
ANCIENT
IDEA
Hercules Cleaned the Augean
Stables by Using River as
Broom, Long, Long Ago.
Nowadays Health and Beauty Demand
Sanitation In Home and Town
More Than 5000 Communities
Are Busy This Year.
ny HAROLD q. RLopeErr.

Cleanup" effort is of prehistoric
origin. Ask the school children and
they will tell you that in Greek
mythology they read of a cleanup
day" that for colossal endeavor and
results probably beats any renovating
job of the rapid-fre sort undertaken
since. 1t is not a pretty story, but
here it is: Augeas, the king of Ellis,
vas not strong on sanitation.
For decades he had permitted filth to
accumulate. He didn't care much about
his people or his health, but he had a
little herd of some 5000 oxen of which
he vas considerably proud. For 80
years the stable which housed the herd
had not been cleaned, when suddenly
old Augeas awoke. He wanted the
stable cleaned.
The Job was so stupendous that or
binary mortals could make no head
| way against the piles of refuse, until
Hercules, who had never before been
famed as a sanitarian, stepped up and
said he would clean it up. Two rivers,
the Alpheus and the Peneus, flowed
AShA ~ Gl1d1SCd LII CouI0G
of the rivers until they flowed through
the Augean stables, and In a day the
Cleanup task was accomplished.
Hercules EmuIated.
Since that day Cleanup has had it's
place in the worlds vernacular. With
the spring the desire to refurbish
comes subconsciously into the hearts
Of men and women, and communities.
But without direction and sustained eff
fort the expression of that desire, in
the form of the ordinary cleanup
day" or 'week," has resulted in such
4 superficial sally against filth that
the more experienced and earnest civic
workers have for long held such days
in disrepute.
Hercules was of the gods. If he
wanted to cleanup" in a day the
heavens backed him and he did it.
Since that day men and women, mere
mortals, have sought to emulate the
original Cleanup" expert in speed
and they have failed. Communities for
years have conducted Cleanup days
of the annual-bath order, only to find
that the next day there was filth "be-
hind the ears and between the toes
And a week later conditions generally
were as bad as ever.
1t remained for Allen w. Clark, pub.
Usher of a st. Louis trade paper, to
turn the s'spring cleanup" interests
Into permanent and constructive chan.
nels. Years ago Mr.. Clark made UP
his mind that this could be done that
real campaigns, working toward def
mite ideals and accomplishing real re,
suits, could be organized everywhere
to take the place of the old hit-or-miss
cleanup" methods.
In May, 1912. he founded a "clean-
up and "paint-up" organization. He
hoped that a thorough-going movement
national in it's scope and practical in
it's principles, might take the place
Of the annual bath" idea as ex
pressed in the old-time cleanup day
or uweeko
The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1917-04-20
Movement GROWING.

For four years the scope of this move
ment has been rapidly extended until
this rear 1t is cooperating with more
than 5000 local communities in the
organization and direction of real
cleanup and paint-up' campaigns, not
s'days'' or weeks"
Continuous campaigns for homes and
home towns beautiful, sanitary and
safe, conducted by permanent commit
tees, and involving the cooperation of
city and town officials, clubwomen,
commercial organizations, the school
| children, fire prevention interests, all
business men and property and
the press, and the goal aimed at by all
of the ~"clean-np'' propaganda. And
this solid success is being achieved in
thousands of cities and towns through.
out the country today. In fact, requests
for cleanup" assistance have come
from South America, the Philippines
Australia, India, Canada, England ant
France. The slogan, "Clean up ant
paint up has indeed become the bat
tie cry Of earnest and practical civil
workers round the world.
Such magazines as Outlook. Pretoria
Review, Every Week, Associated Sun
day Magazine, the american City, Kan
sas Municipalities, Journal of Mich
gan Municipalities have printed ex
tensive editorials and feature article
On tba nractical value of the work.
The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1917-04-20

tcopyright. 1sls. by international Press Bureau)
The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1917-04-20

The ball is the oldest toy.
The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1917-02-02
ATTEMPTS TO
INCREASE SUGAR CROP
Growers and Refiners Fail To Get
J.. j.. Price Raises Asked :

, BERLIN, January 1.-The Federal
Council has adopted measures designed
to increase the sugar crop of 1917. II
has fixed the price of sugar beets at
two marks per hundredweight (of no
pounds), has ordered that the growers
shall receive back from the factories a
lsrger PERCENTAGE Of sliced beets after
the sugar has been extracted, has as
signed them larger proportion of the
available supply of commercial fertil-
izers, and has taken measures to in
crease THAR labor supply, especially of
prisoners of war. ;.
The growers did not get as big an
advance in beet prices as they asked
fUr. Instead of getting the present
price of $50 marks doubled, they get
an increase of only fifty pfennigs
The raw sugar factories also get only
a small part of the advance that they
expected. They wanted the present
price of fifteen marks raised to twenty
five marks, but the Council conceded
only eighteen marks. This compares
with a price of nine marks for the first
year of the war. The advances are, il
is believed, quite ample for securing a
considerable increase in the best acre,
age next year. LIZ ..-..
Similar adyices are reported from
New York by Willett & Gray under
date of January Is as follows:
1.-THE request of the beet growers in
Germany to have the price Of beetroots
for l917-1S advanced TO three marks
per fifty kilos was not fully realized,
as the official price was fixed at two
marks per fifty kilOs, or say 1852 per
ton. The raw sugar price is fixed at
eighteen marks per fifty kilos $3.50
cents per Pound) instead of twenty
five marks asked, .als ~.
. Advices state that these lower
prices are not entirely satisfactory to
the best growers and that no material
increase in sowings can be expected. I"
The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1917-02-02
Possibilities Of.
Philippine Sugar
Attract Attention

Keen interest is developing on the
malnlsnd in the possibilities of invest
mont in the sugar industry in the Phil
ippine Islands according 10 accounts in
trade journals and daily papers. Henry
Parker Willis, secretary of the Federal
Reserve Board, who recently returned
to Washington after six months in the
Philippines is largely responsible for
the Increased interest, .i.
Willis Is endeavoring 10 arouse
American capital to the opportunity
for Investment in the Philippine sugar
industry. In published articles he re.
ferred to- the philippines as the
largest undeyeloped cane sugar country
in the world y and reported that
European capitalists were about to UNI
dertake investment and development
on large scale when the war inter
vened.t ....-.... .
, Planters of the islands are seeking
definite proposals from investors and
recently twenty-five planters from
SHAY and Saravia convened and dis.
cussed the construction Of centrals in
Negroes. Tentative contracts were
considered and the contract of the San
Carlos Milling Company, owned by
Hawaiian capital, was held up as an
example and reported as most satisfaG.
tory to both planters and company. II
is reported that undoubtedly sugar
central win be established in the Ne
gros district l@
The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1917-02-02
Comparative Tests Show That
n Creosoted Lumber Is Weaker

The following conclusions were drawn,
moisture may be successfully remoV,
ed by boiling under vacuum. Moisture
determinations show that on an aver
age, thirty-dye per cent of the total
moisture was removed by the process.
The removal Of moisture by boiling un-
der vacuum, preliminary TO creosoting,
decreases the physical strength of tine
material. The weight of creosote per
unit or volume for treated materisl is
dependent ON the structure of the speei
men. Spring wood offers greater re:
sistance to treatment than summer
wood. ' -. veg. r D.
Heating Does 1t ,...s.,. =. Mt y
Especial tests of treated stringers
indicate that the decrease in physical
strength due TO the treatment is not
confined TO the area penetrated by ere,
osota. The entire structure is affected
The eorhpressive strength parallel 70
the grain was decreased six per cent.
The compressive strength pefpendieu-
lar to the grain was decreased twenty
six per cent.
''Altheugh the average strength of
the treated material is appreciably de-
creased, its stiffness as measured by the
modulus Of elasticity is not affected.
In general, the average strength of
Douglas fir bridge stringers, subjected,
to the boiling-underv vacuum process of
creosoting was fve.sixth of its. original
strength. +" 10, a s.#..-l
A Timely Report r.. ....t
The use of creosoted lumber is yearly
increasing on the plantations for it has
been long since proved that its sub
stitution for green lumber in all Sx-
posed situations, is a business proposi-
ton. .E,..lt .
The rapidity with which untreattd
lumber rots when exposed to the wea'
Their is. an item of considerable import.
anee, considering the amount of capt
tai that must be charged against crop,
or added 20 profit and loss from this
source. Information such as is given in
this bulletin is timely as it gives plan
tation men exact calculations on which
70 decide whether to use creosoted or
untreated lumber.