davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune., 1918-02-10
Pointing Their
Own Kind Of Truth

But, perhaps. after all. he did not
write this fine poetry, or "doggerel," as
a North Englishman impatiently called
it. when ! showed the poem to him.
The book in which it appears is called
the 'History Of England" and it was
written by two authors in collaboration.
Perhaps the other writer is responsible
for this particular bit. Had this poem
appeared in the year 1911. mmediately
prior to the outbreak of the second
war between England and America. ono
could more easily understand the ami
mus,~-but it was published one hun
dred years later in 1911. by the Clarcr-
don Press, in England, and by Double
day. in America. and is dedicated to the
youth Of the British Empire. The fer
vid collaborators proceed to tell their
kind Of Historical" truth as follows:
There was born in all our colon
lists ii spirit OF resistance to govern
ment in general. and the quite fool
ish notion that all government is op-
pressive. (Note: For fifty years after
the establishment of the Massachu-
setts Bay Colony in 1880 it was gov
erned BY American English as a re-
public in every sense of the word.
IL. F. Such spirit might easily
lead to rebellion. The colonisfs
knew that all around them there
were Frenchmen. Dutchmen and
Spaniards, casting greedy eyes on
their riches, and that against these
fees only the British fleet could pro.
New-York tribune., 1918-02-10
'And So They Kept Christmas.
By WILLIAM u. HINES
Y N Christmas Eve, at about Christ
mas tree time in MANY tho,1sardc

~ N Christmas Eve, at about Christ
mas tree time in many thousands
OF homes in America, there gath
cred III several dmly lighted barrack
buildings on an isolated, wind swept
spot in France several hundred Amcri-
can boys, clad in the khaki uniform of
Uncle Sans air service.
AS they stood in line waiting for
their squadron commander to appear
and explain his reason for calling them
together, they laughed and jokcd a
llttlc-but not much. There was a far
away look in many eyes.
Yet not even the kccncst observer
could detect any sign of discomfort.
Here was a set determination to "see
the thing through" no matter what the
cost. Homcsick- perhaps. But dis
couraGed
AS the officers entered, the low hum
or eonvsrsation cor: ceased abruptly; I'M
medlatcly thc men came to "attcn-
tlon.' The lieutenant in command Of
one Of the squadrons walked SLOWLY
down the line until he reached the cen
tire Of the big barracks. The remain
ing group Of officers paused at the
doorway where several women i'm the
uniform of American Red Cross can
teen workers were also gathered.
This is Christmas Eve, men," began
the lieutenant. "All Of YOU have prob
ably spent many Christmas Ewes which
have proved more enjoyable. but none
or you has ever been engaged upon a
greater, more humanitarian task than
you have started upon at this Yulctidc.
OF all other Christmases | am sure
ory and no other will bring greater
PRIDE TO you in future years than the
memory Of this one
you all know the shipping condi
tions that exist, so you will not be
surprised to learn that very few pres
cnts direct from the ones who love Won
across the sea have been received
But that doesn't mean that you have
been forgotten. There is an American
organization in France to-day that has
remembered each and every one of YOU.
1t is the American R.d Cross, and their
representatives. here the representa-
tive women of America have come to
make these gifts in person."
There was a moment of tense silence.
Not man stirred. Into the eyes of
Some-the more mprcssionabe, perhaps
there came a suspicious mist. But
all remained at attention until the
command cat ease was given. Then a
murmur of talk broke out. which in
creased in volume as the men saw the
big pile of Red Cross Christmas bags
being brought into the barracks
Merry Christmas" said the Red
Cross women as they handed a bag to
each man: Thank you, same to YOU
was the hearty reply, and bcamine
smile went with it, The murmur Of
conversation became a rumble. inter
rupted here and there by shout as
the men began opening the bags.
New-York tribune., 1918-02-10
Many Nationalities
in Hospital City.

The six months over, he found him.
self in Mauthausen. new and decent
community. From the pictures it looks
like - pasteboard city of wooden build.
ings, a sort Of Concy Island. loN'-lying
and sandy. or mostly of gentle rise and
fell of hills in the Danube. 1t is a
concentration camp, comprising all
arms and men OF divers nationalities-
Italians, Serbians, Rumanians, Albs.
mans and Russians. Rows Of new
buildings were used as hospital,
which contained more than 5000 beds
for the reception of the sick and
wounded. They are we'll equipped save
III so far as some medicines and foods
are scarce. Here the Austrian officials
were pleasant to meet. narrow in their
interests, as m ght be expected, but wide
hearted. The chief surgeon, named
Steinmaurer, receives special praise.
That the Austrian is less mesmerized
by his own particular official impor-
tancc than the German cannot be
doubted by any one who knows him.
lie is free from the worst vices OF un'
imaginative drudgery and mental serf-
dom, and the super official atmosphere
that nc breathes daily less often MAKES
him forget that regulations were made
for man and not man for regulations
Prisons like Lubiana are becoming
rare, and the Italian officer noted that
rules were relaxed Immediately after
the death OF Francis Joseph.
New-York tribune., 1918-02-10

tcct them. SO some sort Of pre-
tence Of loyalty to their mother
country was almost a necessity to
them. The mother country usually
left them to themselves and never
taxed them. 1t sent them Governors
who took the lead in Society but
did little governing. On one thing
England insisted. that tho colonsts
were to buy their goods wholly from
English merchants and must send
theirs to England. Because Of the
power of our navy We were ablo to
crush the commerce Of any nation
that would not fight against France.
Soon only III Britain could any one
buy manufactured articles. This
control Of the worlds trade did not
come TO us at once, and not without
hard fighting. IN Canada we had
really little difficulty in making
friends with our French subjects. for
they hated aud feared the pushing
Americans, and knew VIC would de-
fend them against these men. In
Australia we had nothing but few
miserable blacks, in New Zealand
moro warlike brand. (sic)
Our American colonies, having no
French to fear any longer, wanted to
be free from our control altogether.
They utterly refused to pay a penny
Of the two hundred million pounds
that the war had cost us. They
equally refused to maintain Carri-
son of British soldiers they intend
cd to shake off all our restrictions
on their trade and to buy and sell il:
whatever market they could find.
When our Parliament proposed, in
17G1, to make them pay a small frac-
tion of the war cost they called it
oppression and prepared to rebel.
We failed to beat them. (sic) 1t was
hopeless business from the first.
We did not send enough men. We
did not have them to send. The
Americans sought French help; the
French were delighted at chance
Of avcnging their losses in a former
war. For few months the navics
of all the world were against us.
so when Corvallis, with 1000 men,
was obliged to surrender to a French
aud American (sic) force at York
town in 1881 VIC determined to with
Graw from America, after which,
having our hands free, VIC finished
the naval war victoriouslY in other
quarters. Rodney smashed tho
French in the West Indies. Ry the
treaty of 1888 VIC acknowledged the
independence Of America. France
had hoped for her help to receive
valuable trading privileges. but tho
Americans showed no moro graft
tude TO her than they had previously
shown to Us!
New-York tribune., 1918-02-10
Leaves in Darkness
About "Elenentals''

This matter of "elemcntals" is ono
OF the points on which we might wish
mr.. Clemens's spirit had been more
detailed. He mentions them FREQUENT
~ as lmpersonating all kinds of peo
pre-, or even things, such as wings for
those souls who desire to be angels.
but he gives no hint Of their sub
stance, origin or status. Apparently
they are the lower classes of heaven
KIND of slaves to the more fortunate
spirits.
Mr.. Clemens reports that there are
seven planes in each planet, the seventh
belng heaven: He has not arrived
there yet. The soul dies from each
plane into the next highest one. But
his knowledge of the different planes
is mostly hearsay. However, he gives
some details. writing under the head
OF astral Delusions."
Let us first take a man, garlic
chewing street laborer. He comes out
here with a firm belief that he will find
heaven, or what is to him heaven.
That is, place of eternal rest where
he can lie down in peace under a tree
and chew garlic to his hearts content
without worrying where Maria's next
meal IS to come from. Here he will
find that rest. He will not evolute
any higher than the astral plane-he
has not the intelligence to map out his
next life. He desires only rest from
toll and that he finds.
Next take churchgoer. one Of the
strictest type. He expects to find out
here a grand palace, too beautiful to
describe. AT the end of a large hall.
New-York tribune., 1918-02-10
He Describes
A Funny Sight

once also there is touch of what
might be called humor in the revela-
tons. This. perhaps, will be found the
most disappointing of all the cnlirht-
enments. Mark Twain writes:
"Say.
came on a funny sight this after
noon! | saw perfectly respectable
soul out here for only a couple of
weeks, gray and brown hair, punches
OF Whlskers each side of his chin hut
otherwlse smooth shaven. SLIGHT in
bul!d and with an average look of in
telllgence. He had a magnificent gold
en- crown on his head, all set in Jewels
Ihere was yellow plate (supposed
to he halo) floating around over
ms head. and two elementals had made
themselves into wings to please him
And ne was dancing around in most
rldlculous manner. singing 'Hallelu-
Jah. Hallelujah!' at the ton of III.
shrill lungs. Can you imagine any
respectable person, with a fair amount
OF intelligence, doing such thing )
fellow" o'u
Apparently some memory of Marx
Iwain's skepticsm regarding enlipht-
cnments has filtered through the nlanes
to his spirit Also other memor;oe
For his last note says:
Farewell to the world. to the skcn-
tical and unbelieving world! Fare.
well! May God show you the light,
| don't sec that anything short Of ?
miracle will make you believe that
am |, that ] am the true and cenuina a
Samuel Clemens, better known as Marl
Twain.
New-York tribune., 1918-02-10
Treatment Better Ths.
That Of the German
Camps
Food Shortage Real
Hunger Wearing Down R..
sistance of People, Who
Wish for Jail Ration.
By Paul Bartholow

In communication to the Req Cre,,
An Italian officer has just given vivid
account Of conditions in Austria To-
day.
Lieutenant Mauro, who tells III.
story, is a surgeon. and is about tn.
orily officer Of the Allied armies xho
has lived in an Austrian town And
written detailed description OF nj,
experiences and imprcssions. Ate,
two years in prison he has collected
large amount Of information, including
political and economic facts. Sir
months rnrc spent in the soualid
dungeon CT Lubiana, where he was in.
teryiewcd b. a corresp dent Of the
"T'rcmdcnblatt." A translation of .hj,
conversation vas subsequently pub
lshcd in the "Giornale d'Italia" The
complete narrative, which appeared in
October, Is notable for its fairness.
The general impression left is that
Austrian prison camps are governed
With much less severity than the Ger
r;an, and, thanks to the Red Cross, the
condition Of the prisoners is ;mproy.
ins rapidly This fact is species Of
comfort. For is it beyond the bound,
Of possibility that some of our own
men gh. be Austrian captivcs?
The Italian surgeon was included in
The sixth exchange of prisoners bo,
tween Austria and Italy and reached
l,omc ir july. Early in the war, while
attending the wounded, he was sur.
priscd and captured with his stretcher-
bearers and held. contrary to the rules
of the Geneva Convention. A few days
before, at Monte Nero, two Austrian
surgeons had been taken and promptly
released. DR.. Mauro protested aga!ns.
the breach of international law, but
vas told that his captivity was an act
OF rcprisal against the Russians, who
made practice of keeping medical
prisoners. 10 his great chagrin he was
ordered to march 20 the ncighboring
railway station at Selo, where he and
his men ontrained for Lubiana.
Here he found numbers of Italian sick
ard wounded, and he worked like a
Trojan at the multifarious tasks of
medicine. The life at Lubiana is fort
un4tely an exception In the early
months of the war it was not an exist
encc for mental or physical weaklings
Living as such prisoners did. in an
abominablc prison, worried to death by
Official wiles and tyranny. improperly
fed and segregated from tho wholesome
distractions OF their own country, it is
surprising that their views on Austrian
life in general are not more darkly
colored BY their experience.
New-York tribune., 1918-02-10

order to gather the unbiased truth.
Tho trouble is that young people do
not want to exert themselves to read
nature, wcighty histories They usu-
ally prefer lighter itcraturc
think the dangers that false chau
whistle and imperalistc doctrines
bring to the world are greater than any
other influences. Perhaps a Congress
OF Allies might not find this subject
beneath their dignity to discuss If
:.ational prcjudiccs could be eliminated
how would it he possible TO stir ma
tons into war? Californians do not
Sight Bostonians. Why should Euro
pcans. throughout history, have rushed
periodically at each others throats. if
uot for the reason that national pref u
diccs, intensified by difference in Ian
guagcs and customs, were designcdly
Aert alive by chauvinists?
The lIohcnzolcrns have struck this
national chord Of racial .animosity; they
have played upon it tclingly since Bis
marck's timc-and see the result! Who
would follow such q policy, even if it
were not certain to lead TO defeat and
RUM
Australians and Americans ought to
understand each other. if any two
peoples in the world should. Before
the war Australia, in area, was the
largest potential democracy in tho
world, and America the greatest in
population. (Wc can hardly count
China or Russia as yct)
Australia is likely, from present 10
dcations, to emerge from the war
fully as democratic as before. One
cannot sec how she can fail to grow
into one of the most populous and most
powerful nations in the due course OF
time her stock Of men and women.
and of children, numbering hardly
over ivc millions, is Of the best kird
of material for the future building Of
great people. America, in 1900, had
but five millions, Il great majority Of
whom were Of English blood, and
| these were no Sturdier nor more self
reliant than arc the Australians of to-
day, although I must admit that the
latter arc moro pleasure loving and
luxurious, for they are blessed with
more wealth and much easier economic
conditions than were our forefathers.
"Australia and Amcrica!" How neat
}y they blend in ones mouth. Would
they could do so in brotherly spirit!
Two great dcmocracics-on vast
commonwealth, the other stalWart re-
public!
If a Congress of Allies would only
consider the publication, through some
society or other, Of inexpensive official
handbooks of the histories of each of
the Allies, in various languages and
with many attractive illustrations and
circulate these to the ends of the earth,
then would narrow racial prejudiccs
gradually be swept from the minds OF
people, and the chauvinist be discred-
tied and defeated!
New-York tribune., 1918-02-10
Plurality Of Devils,
Some In the Air

Writing again on Demons of the
Air" he says:
Some people believe there is no
devil, but there is. Not one, in fact,
but several. They arc a sort Of wicke d
soul collectors and tcmpters. They
don t shovel coal, but they shovel the
souls into hell. They are always on
the watch. Look out for them DonE
let them get you! The only way to
escape them IS to Live pure, speak
true. right wrong, follow the God
Then there are evil thoughts. These
are thoughts sent out against some
ono too good and pure to receive them,
sent out by some one too clever to
have reaction. These evil thoughts
Will rebound against any one wicked
enough to receive them
"Besides these, there arc many,
many creatures too vile to become
human, who hang around in the air
and cause suffering just for the pleas
ure of it--who cause sins to be com
mlttcd for the pleasure of seeing the
souls punished afterward.
But fear them not"
Only once does Mr.. Clemens's life
long interest in philosophy crop
through. This is in brief note on "The
Roao to Happiness" 1t will disappoint
many besides "Azoth":
"No man is happy but the insane.
No man can realize the true earth and
its contents and dwell there in happi-
ness. What you know as happiness
what you strive after, is but a fleeting
passing, transient, adulterated imita-
ton. Seek not the happiness of wealth,
1t is. not there. Look for the happi-
ness of helping others. 1t is the only
other way to be happy. Help others OF
go crazy. You have your choice. Both
bring happiness. In the one you are
not truly happy, because you cannot
help feeling for the SORROWS of Others
IN the latter you are supremely happy
Even so, should not advise YOU to
try 1T. 1t is very easy to 80 crazy
But, though it makes you happy. il
worries others, and that does not heir
mankind. n, | fear that l am wandering
The fact is that the ioy of lir;uu ovoS
NhelmS me"
New-York tribune., 1918-02-10
Food Shortage
~ eakcning Resistance

The picture of the country at lals.
IS different and raises many intsres'in:s !.
Possibilities. The food shortage -, ;,
wearing down the resistance OF u. y.
sIejec. population. which desires pesss.
snd dcmsnds it. The government man ~
tc1c. But the most significant ue..,. ...
s. tho essential difference between ~.
L-Istrian Empire and the German. ms ms
difference is seen ir tie less vlgofou,
and hos.il" disposition Of the f.ustFla..
people. They are evidently TIE Ssn. s,;.
.l@k IL the chain. The tone OF pun,
opinion is changing rapidly, W.
wesr.ncss sits heavily on all classes. - :
= difficult 10 keep the country solss,
.vc...r able bodied man is mobillzcd ~
.he front, out the losses have been !.
great that the war spirit has fallen ). :
zero. Finally the spirit of rnildnsss,, =,
perhaps the peace spirit. is stes0al
growing.
New-York tribune., 1918-02-10
Americans Should
Support All Allies

Americans should, and they do, love
the French nation as a sister republic.
Likewise should we hold to stalwa rt
friendship and support for all our al
lies without entertaining the least
prejudice against their forms Of gov
crnment or their imperial aspirations.
We, too, have our own decided national
aspirations, and while these have not
reached the limits of worldwide i'm
peril domination they arc closely de-
fined at this moment, and they will be
tacitly and persistently carried on to
the end We were merely a big, over
grown nation ten or twenty years ago,
commanding world interest because of
our resources To-day we are the equal
of any world power, and We have an
established object, with a united people
behind that object The object, broadly,
is to make the United States safe for
all time in her heritage of ''lifc, liberty
and the pursuit of happiness"
Did not our own "Citizen'' George
Washington, whose farewell address
should now be engraved on every loyal
heart, say:
Against the insidious wllcs Of for
cign influence I conjure you to be-
lieve me, fellow citizens, The jealousy
of a free people ought to be constant
ly awake, since history and expert
cnce provo that foreign influence is
one of the most baleful foes of re-
publican government The
great rule of conduct for us in re-
gard to foreign nations is to have
with them as little political conncc-
tion as possible Europe has
set of primary interests which to US
have none, or a very remote, relation
Hence she must be engaged in frc-
quent controversies, the causes Of
which are essentially foreign to our
concerns. Our detached and
distant situation invites and enables
us to pursue a different course. If
we remain one people, under an
efficient government, the period is not
far off when we may defy material
injury from external annoyance
New-York tribune., 1918-02-10
Feeling Pity for
the Chauvinist

My quest for "thc other side Of the
story" ended right here! No wonder
that rank seeds of prejudice, sown in
the minds Of the young, should have
taken roots that spread through the
less intelligent majority of entire ma
tions! Here. arc some of the para
graphs I read. My teeth were set firm
trembling all through my body. Later,
when passion had subsided, feeling of
great pity for the chauvinist who had
brought his unique literary talents to
such degraded depths ovcrcamc me.
Please read these choice bits dispas-
sionately, if you can:
THE AMERICAN REBEl1lONl
Twas not while England's sword unshcathcd
Put half d world to fight,
Nor while their new-buit cities brcathcl
Secure behind her might,
Not while she poured from Pole to Line
-. Treasures and ships and men
These worshippcrs at Freedoms shrine.
They did not quit her then
Not till their foes were driven forth
BY England DER the main.
Not till the Frenchman from the North
Had gone. with shattered Spain;
Not till the clear-swept ocean showed
No hostile flag unrocd,
Did they remember what they owed
10 Freedom and were bold
shall leave it to the reader to dis
cover the authorship Of these lines.
He Is not an Englishman. He lived, as
| recall, for some years in New IIamp-
shire, among the descendants of those
"American rebels he so cruelty stig-
matizes as belated patriots, il not ar
rant towards. Those men, those Bos-
ton "rebels,' as George III called them,
were, unlike sthc -Four Georges" Of
English blood almost to man, the
kind Of Englishmen who for hundreds
Of years have braved tho dangers of
sea and wilderness to gain personal
liberty and to hold it against all ag-
grcssors. And this East Indian writer
whose name will live forever on ac-
count of earlier incompatible stories
and verses Of Indian life, has. through
exaggerated Imperialism, permitted
himself to mar his record in this man
ncr!
New-York tribune., 1918-02-10
u. S. Secure
For 100 Years

George Washington said these things,
and for over one hundred years after
the close Of Eng1and's second war with
us-1S14-we remained secure from
external annoyance" Except for the
Mexican and brief Spanish war) until
the decadent, inbred Hohenzollern
cgoist ran amuck against all mankind.
And we have taken our independent
stand not for any European ideals. but
for the United States Of America
against Germany and her accomplices
Our President stated in his war mes
sage: 1.-THE challenge (by Germany is
to all mankind Each nation must de-
eide for itself how it will meet it."
We must not permit prejudice
against any ally to weaken the gen
cral cause. Too often have | heard,
particularly in the Orient and in Aus.
tralasia. the most thoughtlcss and naY-
row remarks against those whose cause
is ours. Russia. filled with intrigue
and rent by disscnsions. has come In
for the most virulent criticism BY
those ignorant but dangerous people
who still visualize this torn. trodden
nation as "the bear that walks like Il
man.! Others, nominally Allies. but
chauvnistc and imperialistic in their
souls. stoop to belittle openly our
stanch Romantic friends, attributing
20 them inferior attainrnents and
qualities. In Australasia, ! deeply re-
grct to say, resident or visiting Amer
leans possessing any pride or patriot
ism have had for over three years TO
clench their teeth and either quietly