davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Press., 1917-03-01
How Wood shrinks.

Students in the college of forestry at the University of Washington have proved by experiment that q cord Of full length wood when sawed and re piled in the ordinary stack shrinks on an average 24.76 per cent. As dealers buy wood in full lengths and usually measure 1t for delivery before saving it, they are often accused of giving short measure.
 4 cord is the standard measure ment of wood, and 1t Is defined as 12S cubic feet of wood, measured by pile four feet high and eight feet wide of logs four feet long.
 The discrepancy between the cord as bought by the dealer aud as delivered to the customer, according to Professor Hugo Winkenwerder, dean of the col lege, is not entirely explained by the sawdust. When wood is piled up in four foot lengths there are many spaces between sticks, caused by knots and curvatureS. These spaces are elim- mated when the wood Is cut up small.
The Press., 1917-03-01
Ariake Bays Mystic Fire.

Shiranubi. the mystic fire of Ariake bay, Kyushu, has been famous for the past 2,O0O years. the sight being con. sidered one of the great wonders of the Japan seas.
 In a recent issue uf thr Taiyo Maga- zine M. Kaneko, a teacher in the Shi- mabara middle school, reatrS his i'm pressions of the fire. According 10 Mir. KanekO. when he witnessed the spec tacle the first light appcarcl like star about five miles distant. Suddenly the volume of light increased until it soon covered an area of many miles. The light moved with the waves and re Sembled electric lights being lighted and then suddenly eXtm ,uiShcl. Mir. KanekO says that mtermittcn wave like movements arc the chief charac- teristicS of the mystic fire. TIc fails to find cause for the origin of the fire.
The Press., 1917-03-01
CURIOUS FRENCH DUEL.
When Man and Wife Tried to Settle a
 Dispute With Swords.

When Man and Wife Tried to Settle a
 Dispute With Swords.
 Charles Coypeau, Sieur d'AssOuci, Il French poet and musician of the sev- enteenth century. relates in one of his Adventures that his father and mother were one day engaged in q dis cussion upon questions of law when a dispute arose between them with regard to the precise signification and bearing of a provision in Justinian' s code with respect to the rights of brothers.
 Ultimately the quarrel waxed so furi- Ous that the dispurants lost all control of themselves. defied each other to single combat and proceeded to settle their difference and determine the mind of the ancient legislator by Il fight with swords.
 This singular duel took place in their sons presence. COypeau pere was all advocate by profession and a mem- Der of one of the French parliaments. Madame was exceedingly diminutivc and had to wear exceptionally high pattens to approach the ordinary stat ure Of women, but she was fierce and dOmineering in temper. The combat appears to have been a drawn battle. and the sense of Justinian remained as obscure and debatable as ever.
The Press., 1917-03-01
They lnsisted on Rraxitv.

The Spartans were distinguished for the brevity and cOnciseness of their speech. On one occasion during a ter rible famine the inhabitants of an is- land in the Aegean sea sent an am bassador to Sparta, who made q speech imploring it's aid. He had hardly finished before the Spartans sent him back these words, "We did not understand the end of your speech and have forgotten the beginning
 The poor, starving people chose an other spokesman and impressed upon him to make his request as brief as possible. He therefore took with him quantity of sacks, opened one be fore the assembly and said simply, ''It is empty; fill it.
 The sack was filled as well as the others, but the chief of the assembly said as he dismissed the amba$sador. loaded with meal:4 "It wasn't peces sary to inform us that the sack was empty, We saw it ourselves, Neither was it necessary to request Us to dll It. We should have done it on our own account. Be less long winded next time, nnfss
The Press., 1917-03-01
Worked inc Car Owners.

Quite recently patrons of a well known New York restaurant, who were in the habit of leaving their cars unattended outside. uncovered the methods of new kind of practical joker, new because he was practical.
 It appears that almost every day some one would have trouble in get ting his car started After he had tinkered for a few minutes an obligin% mechanic would stroll up. proffer his aid and have the engine running in no time. Two actors happened to com pare notes one day and found that this incident had occurred to both of them. They immediately became suspicious and on leaving the restaurant saw the man working at car short distance down the street. By quick action one of them bounced on him and caught him. He was the Obliging mechanic, and after his arrest it developed that he had deliberately disconnected DOT tiOns of the cars electrical systems and then had collected substantial re- wards from puzzled owners for serv ices rendered in starting the machines, Motor Life.
The Press., 1917-03-01
must EuoYant Wood.

The lightcSt wood known, H" far as any evidence attaimablc k 'om crned is balsa wood. which grows extensive ly in the Central American and north ern South Am 'liran states. It is com posed cf very thin walled cells, which are barrel SAapCl. mtCr,atc with each other and are aimCSt devoid of woody fiber. These cells arc filled with air, making q natural structure well adapt cd to prevent the transmission of heat because of the particles of air impris- oned in the material without intc.c meeting iibcrs. Various tests of the in sulating properties for resisting the flow of heat have been made. Balsa wood has been used quite extensively in the past aS d buOyancy product for life preScrverS and in connection with the lenders of lifebOatS anl rafts. It's life Is short. under ordinary conditions unless treatc;l with ant.Srl tie or pre- servative material.
The Press., 1917-03-01
COLLECTORS NOTICE.

All persons liable by law to pay taxes in the Town of Somers are hereby noti- fled that have received bill and war rant to collect town tax of Eighteen Mills on a dollar on list of 1916, and that said tax is due Tuesday, March 20, 1917, and that for the purpose of receiving the same 1 will be at Fuller Bugbee O.. store in SomeIs Street, Tuesday, March 20, from 10 a. m. until D. m., and at Kibbe's store in North Somers, Wednes- day, March 2l, from 10 a. m. until D. m., and at the postofiice in Somersville, Thursday, March P, from 10 a. m. until 1 p. m.
 All persons having taxes unpaid May 1, 1917, will be charged nine per cent. in. terest from April 1, 1917, together with collectors fees. according to law.
 Every male person residing in the town of Somers between the ages of 21 and 60 years, shall, except as otherwise especial ly provided by law, be liable to pay q personal tax of two dollars for town and state taxes in lieu of a poll and commu- tation tax.
 All persons liable for the payment of a Personal Tax, must make payment not later than May 1, 1917, or be subject to the penalty contained in Section 2Sg5 of the General Statutes.
 E. P. RUSSELL, Collector.
 Dated at Somers, February 24, 1917.
The Press., 1917-03-01

falls. the occasional glimpse of a wild goat or the solitary figure of a shep- herd of tbe hills driving his ragged flock to greener pastures.
 On the morning of the fourth day Dick carefully put away d completed picture and ate a nasty luncheon 0 fresh dates and milk.
 Where are we now, Alschid?" he asked his guide.
 The dragOman arose from his seat beside his coffee cup And bowed hum bly,.
 "Effendi, we are near Fl DrOgOr.'
 "El DrOgOr? An. the place of Shawls?"
 "There are shawls made tl"re. Ef- fendi."
 "The most beautiful in the ', orld?" insisted Dick.
 The man shook his head. .''One must go to Pitln" for tho 2, EfCndi."
 Have yhI ever hear,I Of the silver shawl, Alschi1:" as' el F i,,;i e sly.
 The man uttered ShriIi cry. lifted his hands above his head and fled down the steep s.Qne--tied without an other word, apparently without thought of his master, the laden p.t k animai, his own donkey, even his wages.
 The last Dick saw of his servant was a slim white shadow streaking across the plain far below. It disappeared in a grove of tamarinds. Over in the far. east lay the blue haze that~was Con- stantinople. Beyond that was the Bos- porus.
 ''The silver shawl!' Dick laughed oddly and looked over at the scattered group of houses called El Drogor. What was there in the mention of the silver shawl that had sent Alschid fly. ing in such blind, unreasoning terror? Was 1t some native superstition? He resolved to keep his own counsel about the silver shawl until he came face to face with Achmed HarOun, whom Brown had mentioned as the keeper of the shawl.
 A bright eyed lad poked an inquisi- tive head around 9 bush, aud Dick
The Press., 1917-03-01
Girls Friends All Notice Great
 Change In Her
Miss Chapin, of Hartford, Says That She Tells Same
 Story to All.

Mss Madeline Chapin, the popular and pretty ticket taker of the Palace Theater, in Hartford, and who resides at S5 Barker street, in that city, says :-
 "When I first started using Tanlae l believe was on the verge of nervous breakdown.
 ssI was so restless and fidgety that 1t was impossible for me to get any real rest at night. I would roll and toss and wake up often.
 My digestion was very bad and my appetite uncertain most of the time. l felt restless and too tired to do anything.
 "Then became interested in Tanlae and began using 1t. I have obtained won derful results from it's use. It has im- proved my health so much that feel like . new woman. Mynerves are steady and I can sleep like a top. have good sP- petite, splendid digestion and feel well and strong all the time.
 ssSo much have I improved that my friends have all noticed the change in me and they are eommentipgon 1t. To every one gladly tell the same story, 'Tanlae did is. '"
 Tanlac may be obtained at MeCOrmick's Drug Store
The Press., 1917-03-01
As Blind aa Love.

As the German army approached Brussels in August, 1914, 1t was re- ported that the invaders might shell the city. In high state of alarm the Chinese minister went to see our min ister, Brand WhitlOck, to see what WhitlOck meant to do in the event. of bOmbardment.
 Il do not believe there will be any assault" said Whitlock. My infor- nation Is that the authorities will sur render Brussels to avoid any possibil- ity of damage. But if there should be an engagement, and the Germans should use their heavy guns, l shall hoist the flag of my country over this building, and l shall call upon my fel- low cOuntrymen to come here for safe ty and protection. 1 advise you to do the same thing with regard to your people"
 But. Mir WhitlOck," murmured the Chinaman in his polite but labored English. the cannOn-he has no eyesr' Saturday Evening Post.
The Press., 1917-03-01
Ancestry of Modern poas.

According to Charles R. Eastman, writing in the Museum Journal, our modern dogs have a varied ancestry, some being descended from Asiatic and some from African species. The spitz in all its varieties Is a dOmeSti- cated jackal The mastiff and St. Der hard and their kind are descended through the molOssus of the Romans from a huge, wolfike creature that was already domesticated by tie AssyrO- Babylonians 5000 years before our era.
 The Russian borzoi and the Sicilian hound had ttieir origin in the Cretan hound. which is still common in Crete, and it and its cousin, the Ibaza hound of the Balearic islands, came from the ancient Ethiopian hound, which was a domesticated wolf. The collie or shep- herd dog seems to come down direct from a small wild dog of the paleolith- lc period
The Press., 1917-03-01
RoME's GREAT COLOSSEUM.
A Grim Theater of Death That Wa
 Drenehed With Blood.

A Grim Theater of Death That Wa
 Drenehed With Blood.
 The most imposing theatrr ever erected by mortal hands, grim house of death. cOnsecrated by blood and tears, the Colosseum stands today a stupendOuS monument to Roman pride and degradation. Almost a third of a mile in circumference, it towers 157 feet up into the air, the original and monumental play to the gallery" of popular approval, Tn S0 X. D. Elm peror Titus opened its history with a tremendous inaugural of a hundred days of games" in which men fought with other men and with wild animals, a1d no one knows the exact tale of the lives snuffed out on it's bIoodied sands ito make Roman holiday"
 In the construction of the Colosseum it's builders adhered to the then new note of superimpOsing the three orders -DOrlc, Ionic and COrinthian- an idea that has eNerted greater influence upon the design of monumental works than any other Roman innovation.
 But who thinks of that standing be- fore 1t today with the golden Italian sunshine glOrifying every scar and con. turing back from the dead past vivid spectacles of Roman holidays. full of noise and color, laughter and bloody agonies, or when liquid moonlight transfigures the classic ruin into magic fabric. where stalk the thin ghosts of saint and vestal, slave and emperor?-NatiOnal Geographic Maga- zine.
The Press., 1917-03-01
The Silver Shawl Queer Adventure of an American In the
 Turkish Hills
By CLARISSA MACKIE
1-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-c

It was in COnstantinOple on the steps of the Mosque of St. Sophia that Dick Moreland ran into the arms of his ancient enemy, Pliny Brown.
 Hello, Morelandy' drowned the sin ister older man.
 "Ah-er-why it's Pliny Brownv' calculated Dick. with a sudden vivid recollection of a lonely country road. q girls frightened scream and his own strong right arm sending plinys evil face to the dust with a we'll directed blow.
 Of course Pliny had never forgiven smiling, with outstretched hand.
 Dick shook hands gingerly. You're long way from home," he said stittiy.
 'Tm collecting for the Butfincton museum" explained Pliny. Been ID back in the Beurad district-God for saken hole, too! Lived on bean curd and goats milk and melons. Whew!
 I'm off that way myself tomorrow, ." remarked Dick. i've heard the seen cry is magnificent"
 "Got your painting kit, I see" re joined Brown.
 Dick shifted his easel and paint box to the other hand. Paying for my bread and butter as l go along" he grinned. "Wen, gOodby. Brown"
 "GoOdby," said the other; then he stopped and called sharply, "Oh, say, Moreland!
 "Yes?" Dick turned around.
 If you're up in the Beurad district be sure to stop at Fl DrOgOr, a scrap of a village on the mountain where they make the most wonderful shawls in the world. Ask for Achmed Haroun and say I sent word he was to show you the silver shawl"
 'The silver shawl? Sounds rather interesting"
 "It is interesting" Browns dry cackling laugh echoed down the empty street.
 Dick stared after him with curling lip.
 Poor old dufferv he muttered. His efforts to be agreeable sound like the evil cachinnatiOns of the villain iu the play"
 Dick Moreland thought little more of Pliny Brown, so unexpectedly met in this farOff corner of the world. Thero were plenty of American tourists in COnstantinOple in these days before the great war, and he had run across several acquaintances in his wander ings. Now his mind was engaged in planning for the trip he was taking into the Beurad hills. He had en- gagged a horse, donkey to carry his pack and Alschid, a sleepy eyed dragn- man, as guide.
 The next morning they started, while the Bosporus shimmered with the first rays of the sun. From hundred min arets came the queer chanting call of Muezzins summOning the world to prayer. Birds sang ill the thorn bush2 }- beside the road, and the smell of jas mine and roses was painfully sweet.
 Dick whistled with the very joy of living, while his eyes roved. ever searching for some subject for his brush. He passed by many pictur- esque villa, wayside well smothered in flowers and dusty caravan vending its way across the desert. No matter how he longed to stop and paint these alluring things, he had set himself task-tO paint the wild ruggednesS of tue Beurad hills, their fierce fantasy of crag and peak and crinkling water
The Press., 1917-03-01
THE PRESS.
THURSDAY, MARCH I, 1917.
LEWIS MCLAUGHLIN, PUBLISHER

sl.5o 6 year in advance. When not paid in advance, at the rate of ITS year.
 Resolutions, obituaries or cards of thanks in- serted at one-half advertising rates. Births, marriages and deaths inserted free.
 We are not responsible for, nor do weby pub fishing, endorse the opinions of our correspond ens.
 This paper Is mailed regularly to It's subscrib- CTS until definite order to discontinue is re- ceived and all arrears are paid in full.
 We are always glad to have netos items sent in, but request that they reach us by Wednesday morning or earlier, if possible. It is often nec- essary to Rbridgs items that are received after Wednesday noon. Forms closed Thursday at a. 10.
 Communications received without signatures always committed to the waste basket without attention
 Advertisers desiring change should have copy at office by Wednesday at 10 a. m otherwise we cannot guarantee change.
The Press., 1917-03-01
WHEN PETROLEUM WAS FREE.
That Was Very Early In the History
 of This Country.

That Was Very Early ln the History
 of This Country.
 The first reference to the discovery of petroleum in America was contain. ed in q letter written in 1929 by Joseph de la Roche dAIlion, a French mis. siOnaly working among the Indians. He had crossed the Niagara river and made his way southward through western New York into northern Penn. sylvania, where he found spring from which oil flowed. This oil waa highly esteemed by the Indians for medicinal uses
 The letter of the priest was publish ed in 1882 in Sagard's "Histoire du Canada" This oil spring was prOba. bly, identical with the one describe l by the Massachusetts Magazine iI 17S9:
 'In the northern part of PCnnSyiv;r mia there is a creek called Oil creek. which empties into the Allegheny riv. CT. It issues from a sprin" on the top of which floats an oil similar to that called Barbados tar. and from which one may gather several gallons a day. The troops sent to guard the western posts halted at the same spring, col. lected some of the oil and bathed their joints with it. This gave them great relief from the rheumatism with which they were afflicted. New York World
The Press., 1917-03-01
Castln GarcInn-

Castle Garden was built by the Unit ed States in 1897 from the plans of Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan Williams, c. F., and was called Fort Clinton. In 1922 1t was ceded to New York city; in 1S24 it became a place of amuse- ment and about 1926 got it's present name; in lS4J there were Ethiopian minstrels there; in 1S47-9 theatrical companies played there; in 1850 Jenny Lind sang there; in 1855 it was closed as place of amusement. and the com missioner of emigration took it as an emigrant depot; in 1870 it suffered from fire. and on July Q, 1876. it was burned to the grounI. It was rebuilt at once. In 1892 the depot was moved to Ellis island. and Castle Garden re- verted to the city. which in 1896 open ed an aquarium there.
The Press., 1917-03-01
Cheapinu.

In parts of Switzerland the bakers of hamper, and she has not fixed, i'm mutable char2c, but chaiIerS for a price with the customers. The old English word for tbiS process was "Chcaping." which in InHuy places in EnTland has been corrultcd iItu chipping. Chipping Norton, for instance. k really Cheap. ing Norton, or the place where goods were chcapencI that is, sold by chaf. fer. London stan lard.
The Press., 1917-03-01
The "OnIv ChiId,T

When parents have an 'Only child" it seems to get as much attention us six or eight children in q large family. Some statistic $ show that out of n hull dred "Only children" eighty-seven were nervous, the girls suffering worse than the boys. And then the statisticianS say the only child lacks self reliance, Is precOciOus, vain and unsOcinble. Is often extremely timiI, being afraid of dark rooms and of sleeping alone EYnhnnUn
The Press., 1917-03-01
WrinkIed PrunaR.

Personally we'd rather remain fat than to fall off suddenly and look wrinkly like a stewed prune.- Kansas City Star.
 It is the unstewed prune that is wrinkly. Stewed prunes are plump. Where do you bOard?-St. Louis Globe Democrat.
 Darn it, the landlady assured us twice. very positively, that they had been stewed.-Kansas City Star.
 Stewed twice, perhaps. - St. Louis Obe-Democrat.
The Press., 1917-03-01
Our Eirst RattleshIp.

The first American battleship was the old Texas of Spanish-Ameriran war fame. She was authorized by con gress in 1888 and was completed six years later. The original battleship was little over 300 feet long and had a of 6.315 tons. The pres. ent day Texas is 554 feet long and has a tonnage of 27.O0O tons. The old Tex. as ended her days as a target for navy pFactice.-Exchange.
The Press., 1917-03-01
Heres a Tip About Hotel Guests. In the American Magazine writer

neToS A up AoouC TJoISI SuSSIa'
 In the American Magazine writer says:
 Here's a funny thing, by the way, that I've noticed about hotel guests: You leave n soiled towel in a room and the guest will probably complain, but you can leave a bucket of paint and a paper hangers scaffoll in the hallway and compel the guest to crawl under a stepladder to get to his room and he will put up with 1t cheerfully, because he knows you are painting or papering by way of making an i'm provement and he Is in sympathy with that. It doesn't cost much to make over a carpet so that bare spot In front of the dresser will be eliminated, but such little details are vast help in making a hotel prosper"
The Press., 1917-03-01
"Effendi.' "YoS" chOI<pd Dick fpehlV

EHcnO1.
 "Ycs." chOked Dick feebly.
 Alschid dropped down into the hole and five minutes later assisted Dick through the hole in the ceiling. The silver shawl was a bruised and shat tered and. let Us hope, a harmless rem nant of its former self
 When Dick MOreland returned to New York he took with him a new valet Alschid, sOlemnly important. his red fez atop his sleek black head.
 On the steamer he saw Pliny Brown. That scoundreI smiled blandIy and eS- saved conversation. He nodded to- ward AlSchid. Your servant. "h:" he sneered.
 Dick stiffencd. "NTy friend. since he saved my life, and have conferred a title on him Guardian of the Silver Shawl"
 And Pliny Brown slunk out of sight.
The Press., 1917-03-01
ConoressionaI "Pairs. D

The custom of legislative pairing is the practice of members of legisla tive bodies by which two members of opposing arlic% a rCC lo refrain from voting on a prescribed Suh,rct OF to br absent during a certain time. lt was first uyel in the United States house of representatives in tS:tg.
The Press., 1917-03-01
Reqrets Inevitable,

He had proposed and. been rejected, .''Very we'll he said coldly; "there will come a time when your treatment of me will be regretted
 q shall never regret It." she replied.
 "Oh, I don't mean you," he returned, II refer to the man whom you will finally accept."-New York Times.
The Press., 1917-03-01
''''''0 0''- MARCUS Ia. FISK, CIerk.
A T Court of Probate holden at Staff " fnrd within a nd fnr fhn niatricf nf Sin frnrd

on the 22d day or February, D. lel9.
 Present, ROBERT H. FISK, Judge.
 on motion Of Catherine N. Desmond, adminis- tratrix on The estate Of John D, smond, late Of StatTo'd. within said district. deceHRed
 This court doth decree that six months be ale lowed and limited for the creditors Of said estate to exhibit their claims against the same to the administTatrix, and directs that public notice be said district, and by posting copy thercof on the public sign-post in said town Of StaTord, nearest the place where the deceased last dwett. Certified from Record.
 MARCnA R. FISK CInrk
The Press., 1917-03-01
Prenarinu For RaAchna

When making kitchen aprons leave the strings longer and wider than is necessary. then when patch is needed cut off piece of the apron string for this purpose. This is better than using a new piece. as the string has faded with the apron.-Mothers' Magazine.
The Press., 1917-03-01
 Nothinq Like.

'Is yOur physician a hOmeOpath or an allOpath. Mrs. Snooks?"
 'l don't think he Is either one of those. At any rate. those names do not sound in the least like what my husband called him when the bill came in."-Exchnnge.