davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Laclede blade. (Laclede, Mo.) 1890-1945, 1918-07-05
ON LOCAL SUBJECTS
Local Items and Interesting Bits Of
News Of All Sorts

Since the late rains prospects for
a big corn crop in this locality
could not be better. Ground is in
fine condition, clean of weeds and
all fields have been cultivated from
three to five times and with the
right amount of moisture during
this and next month bumper
crop will be harvested this fall.
Mr.. and Mrs. Lafe Heath Of st.
Louis, were among the old time
citizens who returned to spend the
day Thursday. Mr.. Heath is now
with the Frisco out of St. Louis
but not in active train service,
being chairman Of the grievance
committee of trainmen. Their
many old time friends were glad to
see them.
.....
It was a timely and magnificent
rain that fell last Monday about
noon and again that night. The
wind and hail that accompanied
the first shower did some damage
in the way of breaking down
shade tree about town and destroy
ing some garden stuff. The
electric light and telephone wires
were broken down in a number
of places and service interferred
with for several hours. However,
no great damage was done to
property but the moisture was
just what growing crops needed.
Circuit Clerk Fl. H. Lamb was
IN Laclede on business last Friday
and incidentally informing his
friends that he was a candidate
for reelection by way of the
democratic primary to be held next
month. So far as we have heard
Mr.. Lamb has been a good official
and will naturally be a strong
candidate. Being former citizen
of this township, leading demo-
crat tells US that the party in JEFF
ferson proposes to stand by Mr..
Lamb and give him practically a
solid vote at the August primary.
2
Frank Porter of Excelsior
Springs, son of the late Capt. and
Mrs. j. w. Porter and who spent
his boyhood days in Laclede, re.
turned to the old home town yes
terday to help ratify the work of
his former class mate in the
Laclede schools, General John j.
Pershing. is doing in leading the
American forces in Europe.
Frank is intensely patriotic and
has great confidence in the leader
ship and ultimate victory of his
old time friend and boyhoOd
associate and was glad to be here
and participate in the celebration.
Among the former Laclede
people returning from a distance
for the day we noticed P. F. Felt
and daughter, Miss Lula, of
Quincy; Mrs c. L. Moulton,
Burlington, Iowa; Geo. Lomax,
Denison, Texas; Mr.. and Mrs. A.
q, Wigle, Temple, Texas; Lantz
Cotter, wife and sister, Kansas
City; Marcus Englehart, Cameron:
Mrs. Ray anValkenburg, Trenton;
Mrs. Boswolth, Kansas City: We
Goodwin, Centerville, Iowa; Mr..
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1918-02-01
Olive Morrow-Says t'Save,
Save To Win This
Great War.

We can all help to win the war. A
victorious end does not depend entirely
upon our gallant soldier boys. neither
does it depend wholly upon us. It de-
Ponds upon us all. Our soldiers in
France depend upon US for their food,
and we depend upon them for the
fighting. OF course it would be out Of
fight In the trenches. but we can do our
bit here at home. Our allies also de-
pend upon us for most Of their food, es-
pecially meat and sugar. Their food
animals have decreased greatly since
the war begun, while the soldiers need
has increased. Therefore we must
economist in order to feed our soldiers
and allies. Use more beans, fish and
poultry instead of meat 1 do not mean
to do without meat entirely, but do on
less than usual. do. Use milk freely
known as the perfect food" and it
should be used freely by growing
child. Feat cereals. do Do not make
many cakes and pies for they contain
butter and lard Especially cut out
making candy. It is an unnecessary
way Of using sugar. am helping to
win the war by doing without any
candy eating less meat, and more
beans, nuts, and poultry. also eat
lots Of vegetables, especially potatoes.
Save is the word which is ringing far
and wide over this great nation Of ours
II is wonderful the meaning which
that little word contains. Save! save!
save is what we are all asked to do.
So let us all join together in saving and
help to win this great conflict which
our great nation is now facing.
Olive Morrow, age 10,
Bloomfield, Iowa.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1918-02-01
Leta Evans-Abraham Lin
coin.

Dear Juniors:
Abraham Lincoln was born February
II, 1909 and died April IL, 1865. When
he was about IL years old his fathers
family moved from Kentucky to Ind
lana There they lived in log cabin
surrounded by forest trees. Some kinds
OF trees were oak. birch. walnut and
elms. The woods We're Inhabited by
bears, deers and wild turkeys. Young
Lincoln was tall and slender for a boy
OF his age. His mother taught him TO
cipher. read and write. He attended
school only about one year. but he
studied faithfully at school and also
at home evenings. He did not have
many books to read but what he did
have he read them thoughtfully.
AS he grew older he had to work
harder of day time but he studied at
night. and became a successful lawyer.
He was made president of the United
States March 4th, 1861.
Leta Evans, age u,
Keosauqua, la.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1918-02-01
Viola SlOan-George WASH
ingtOn and the Hatchet.
George

Dear Juniors:
l am writing a story Of George
Washington ard his Ratchet.
When George Washington was quite
a little boy his father gave him a
Ratchet 1t was bright and new and
George took great delight in going
about and chopring things with it.
He ran into the garden and there
he saw tree which seemed to say to
him Come and cut me down."
George had often seen his father 8
men chop down the great trees in the
forest and he thought that it would be
fine sport to see this tree fall with
crash to the ground. SO he set to work
with his little Ratchet and as the tree
was very small one. it did not take
long to lay it low.
Soon after that his father came home
"Who has been cutting my fine young
cherry tree" he cried.
1T was the only tree Of its kind in
the country, and it cost me great
deal Of money"
He was very angry when he came
into the house.
IF I only knew who killed that
cherry tree" he cried, Il would, yes /
would"
Father" cried little George. II will
tell you the truth about it. l chopped
the tree down with my little Ratchet"
His father forgot his anger. George
no said, and took the little fellow in
his arms George, I am glad that
you told me about 1t. / would rather
lose dozen cherry trees than that you
should tell one falsehood."
Viola Sloan. ago 10,
1928 w. Main ST.. Ottumwa, Iowa.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1918-02-01
Marie Harding-Pet Dog,
Buster, With Gen
eral Pershing.

Dear Editor:
AS this is my second time to write tn
the Courier Junior l will write about
my pet dog Buster.
When Buster was just pup he was
given to me by friend who did not
want him. We kept him until he was
about one year and half old.
When Pershing's troops came
through Eldon. where we lived then,
1--WE live in Abba now, they took Bus
in our play very much.
Later when nv aunt was at Ottum-
wa she went to picture show and 1t
happened to be pictures of Pershing's
troops and Buster was running along
by the side of an officer. So we have a
soldier over in France.
Marie Harding. age 10,
ZIG A Avenue East, Abba, Iowa.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1918-02-01
Francis Ryan-Book Review
-"CustOms OF Brazil

Dear Editor:
am writing a book review. Customs
Of Brazil, in which I am very much in
terested. The author is Anna Marie
Barnes.
When they hear a goat sneeze they
will say That's fair weather" And Il
they have been in doubt as to whether
to start for a walk. to a picnic, or
anything else that will carry them out
OF doors they will make ready to go at
once.
Most Of the washing is done at the
rivers. or smaller streams. The women
stand in the water, generally up 10
their ankles and beat the clothes on
pile Of stones before them.
A Brazilian wagner never bothers to
grease the wheels. The more noise they
make the more he seems to like it. .
missionary, travelling through the
country met man with great lum-
boring cart which was squeaking dis
mally.
why don't you grease your wheels J"
the missionary said.
why, that's the very thing the oxen
need to spur them along he said.
In Brazil when butter is wanted,
cream is put into a bottle and shaken.
The milkmen do not ride in wagons
but they drive the cows from house 10
house and milk them at the doros. Each
cow has a bell on her neck and her
calf is tied to her tail.
1t must really be delightful to go
shopping in Brazil, though the shops
themselves do not present very in
viting appearance. One reason why
they do not look more inviting is be-
cause there is no display Of goods IN
the windows as in this country.
Everything is securely put away in
boxes and receptacles on the inside.
The object Of this is to protect the
articles from the sun and insects. But
when you once go into store and ask
for what you want, a delightful
variety is shown you by an obliging
clerk.
Thus the shops Of Brazil give very
forcible expression of the proverbs III
is not best to judge by outside appear
ances."
Francis Ryan, age II.
345 n. Mclean St. Ottumwa, la.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1918-02-01
Jessie Cleola Pool-Hcpes
Her Papa Will Continue
Taking Paper.
Dear Juniors:

Dear Juniors:
want to write few lines to tell the
Juniors how I want to improve my
time during vacation. Our school is
out until the last Of April. I do not
want to miss any more than possibly
can help and after school is out I want
to have a garden of my own. have all
kinds Of garden seeds that I saved
last summer. l also have many differ
ent kinds of flower seeds that I want
to plant in my garden and mamma says
that l can try and raise some chick
ems and have them for my own SO II
have good luck can have some to sen
next fall and then can help buy my
own winter clothes, as clothing is so
high it takes so much. love to work
in garden and take care Of chickens.
This is the way want to improve my
time and as our subscription for the
Ottumwa Courier soon expires hope
my papa will take the paper for anoth-
er year for I love to read the Juniors
letters. I see my little friend Hazel
Brown got the prize last week
Jessie Cleola Pool, age u.
Birmingham. Ia, r. No. /.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1918-02-01
Lillian Shankle, Whose Pct
Dog, Vice.. Is 8
Years Old.

Lear juniors:
I am eleven years old and am in the
sixth grade at school. I am going to
tell you about my pet dog
One time when / was in Carrollton,
No, visiting my aunt, she had little
black puppy six months old. I asked
her for him and she gave him to me.
We brought him home in a deep cigar
box with a hole in the top for him to
breathe through
We hadn't had him long when my
mother went to town one day. He got
mp on the couch and dragged the pill
lows OF the couch and tore the feathers
out Of them. Then tore up a pasteboard
box into about a hundred pieces
When mother came home we found
feathers and bits Of pasteboard all over
the room.
Mother didn't whip him because she
thought 1t was a cute trick
There were several people who want
ed to buy him. But we would not sell
him.
He is about a foot high. His BODY j.,
black and his feet are brown His name
is Trixie, but we sometimes call him
Wee because he is 50 small. He is :?
years old.
Lillian Shankle. age H.
325 South Ward ST, Ottumwa.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1918-02-01
William Briggs, Grand
Tusk and Nimble.'

Dear Juniors:
AS have never written to the Junior
I thought I would write story about
Grand Tusk and Nimble.
Once there was an elephant whose
name was Grand Tusk and a monkey
whose name was Nimble.
Once they had a quarrel. Grand Tusk
said "See how big and strong am"
Nimble said, See how quick and
clever / am" So they had quarrel.
Grand Tusk said II can cross the big.
wide lakes" and Nimble said that he
could climb the big trees. Grand TusH
said Let us go to Dark Sage to settle
the quarrel"
So they went to Dark Sage and asked
him which one was right. Then Dark
Sage said Each thing is best in its
place"
William Briggs,
IibertyYille IatR No l.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1918-02-01
Freda Smith-Tells of Trip
to Agency-Sees Sar-
gent Home.

Dear Juniors:
AS have not written to you for so
long I thought I would tell you about
my visit to Agency. We went to Agency
with a horse and buggy, with my
brother, to a farm.
Ny brother has baby boy who Is
rot quite year old yet, but VIII be the
third Of March.
Well, as I am to tell about my visit,
I will start. On my way I saw very
beautiful farm houses on the Peavine
road. I asked my brother If it was
Sargent's summer home and he said
it was. / thought it was pretty one.
That Is the most interesting and only
thing / can think Of to write about on
the way.
helped my sister in law to do the
work and to take care Of the baby boy.
did not get to have as good a time
as would Of if it hadn't rained almost
all OF the time. I did not get to go out
on the farm any farther than to the
garden because OF the awful bad
storms which broke my enjoyment.
did not get to stay very long be-
cause my sister law had to come
back to Ottumwa-
Freda Smith, age II.
427 N. Miner ST, Ottumwa, Ia.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1918-02-01
Lorraine Oatcs-A Trip To
Southern Mississippi.

Dear Juniors:
will write letter describing trip
! took to the southern part OF Mis-
suori.
We started from Ottumwa at mid
night and changed trains at Kansas
City. The depot here was a big beauti-
full building, almost 4 business district
itself.
From there we went to Joplin, Mo,
and stayed there a short time, taking
motor TO Stark City, which was our
destination, and it Sras about o'clock
in the evening when we came there.
We were there a week. There was "A
lead mine very close, but we never Wis
tied it. Then when we came home we
saw the Dark mountains.
When we got in Pittsburg, Missouri,
there we saw the tile factory. and the
big greenhouse. It was very pretty.
! like Missouri very much and had
very enjoyable trip.
Lorraine Oates. age II.
OttumW2. Ia. R No. s.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1918-02-01
Murle Baker-SchOOl Com
EositiOn--A Nickel.
Dear Juniors:

Dear Juniors:
AS have not written for long
time | will write a short story about
nickel that | wrote a school.
One day l was sent from the mint to
a big bank in the city and was won
dering what would happen to me. Soon
! was handed with lot Of other money
to nice looking old gentleman. and
was crowded into his pocketbock
where it was nice and dark.
I was not in his pocket long when he
took me out and gave me to poor
little boy who was crying. l wondered
what he was crying about. ! soon found
out He took me to a bakery and laid
me on the counter for five large brown
sugar cookies and I was put into 4
drawer. Soon was given to little girl.
! was carelessly put into a pocket that
had a hole in II. When she was cross
ing the street ! crept out Of her pocket
and rolled down the street under pile
of stones. / had been wondering II
some one would ever come along and
pick me UP, as it seemed years since
l had laid there.
one day l was swept up by an old
man who had on a nice white cap ana
white jacket and l wondered If re
would see me. but no. he threw me into
a large heap of rubbish by the river
side and. heard him say tomorrow
the rubbish will be dumped into the
river" so | suppose my life will end
then
Murle Baker, age ~,
o<tMdGa, IA, r. No. /
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1918-02-01
Maxine Wiegand-War Saw
ings Stamps and Why.
Dear Juniors:

Dear Juniors:
want to acknowledge my book that
got as a prize for my last story I
am enclosing school composition on
why / should buy war savings stamps.
/ ought to buy War Savings Stamps
to help win this war. Our fathers,
brothers. uncles and cousins have gone
to fight for us and I think all the
school children and Of course their par
ents ought to do their bit to help win
the war. Our khaki clad boys are do
ing their bit on the battlefield. Our
brave women are doing their bit in
hospitals as Red Cross nurses and the
women at home are sewing for the SOL
diers which we all know they enjoy.
So think the school children ought to
DO their bit by buying War Savings
Stamps. In the revolutionary war tho
boys from twelve to fourteen were
drummer boys in battle and the girls
loaded their fathers muskets when the
(he boys and girls Of today do not have
% be drummer boys or to load mus
kets, but they can buy War Savings
stamps to be patriotic. Money is very
necessary to win this war. Indeed we
can hardly realize how much is need
ed
Il is not just helping to win the war
bat Is teaching you to save. Every
War Savings Stamp is blow at the
kaiser. l think that country worth
fighting for is 4 country worth saving
Tor.
Maxine Wiegand, age H.
918 n. Court St. Ottumwa Iowa.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1918-02-01
Lady Alice, Police
Mascot

There is pet cat in practically
every police station house, but the
Forty-second Precinct station, which
occupies an old inn on the Hudson
at the foot of West 177th street, is
the first, so far as known, to adopt a
speckled hen for q mascot and pet.
The policemen there called their pet
Lady Alice. She was brought to the
station some time ago by young
woman living in a fashionable apart
ment house in the neighborhood. Lady
Alice was turned loose among a dozen
of her kind in broad field back of the
police station. She soon showed, how
ionship of policemen than that of her
sister hens.
Today Lady Alice is never so happy
as when she is eating out Of the hand
of a policeman or roosting on his
shoulder. One day she hoped upon
the station desk and mischievously
upset the ink bottle and the lieu
tenant, a gruff fellow who is known
for his strong language, merely smiled
and said, 'Too bad, Alice, old girl, but
accidents will happen"
Lady Alice and Sir Tom, the station
cat, have become fast friends. They
drink out of the same water bowl and
on cold nights sit side by side in the
warmth of the station stove. Last
summer, in order to conserve the food
supply, the men of the precinct plant
ed truck garden. Lady Alice was
the only hen from the station barn
yard permitted in the garden. "She
was so intelligent" according to the
official gardener, that she never
pecked at the ripening vegetables, but
dug only for worms.-New York
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1918-02-01
William Briggs,
Libertyville. Ia r No. l.
Irene Education
In $780,"

Dear Editor:
As have not written to the Junior
page for a long time l thought I would
write a story about Education in
1890"
The schools Of 1890 were crude and
poorly furnished. They were very few
books and they most always belonged
to the teacher The only studies were
spelling, reading and little arithme-
tic. They wrote with quill pens. and
read stories from the bible. Nearly all
their lessons had to be learned "by
heart. The Ounce could expect no
mercy and was made to stand on the
stool with a paper hat for hours at n
time The teacher had a birch rod
which he used on the pupils.
Irene Walters, age 49,
Bidwell, Iowa
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1918-02-01
Ralph Fugale - The First
Voyage of Columbus.

Dear Juniors:
thought would write. This is the
first time I have written to the Junior.
The first voyage Of Columbus.
For years Columbus endeavored to
persuade some European government
to send him on a voyage Of discovery
Queen Isabelle decided to fit out the
expedition at the expense of her king
dom.
In three months the expedition was
ready to sail But sailors were unwill-
ing to go. and Columbus had to drive
some of them into the service. There
were three ships. the Santa Maria, the
Pinta and the Nina. They sailed August
3, 1892.
It took them a month to reach the
Canady Islands, but after they had
passed those and found themselves on
the lonely ocean, at night many OF the
sailors wept. and declared they never
should return. Columbus quoted them
and they sailed on, day by day, some
times hopeful and sometimes mutinous.
once the sailors plotted to throw Co
lumbus overheard. Often they thought
they saw signs of land. Once they were
sure Of it. but it proved the be only a
cloud. At last land birds were seen and
floating twigs with red berries and a
piece Of wood rudely carved and drift
ing sea weed too. to which live crabs
were clinging. Finally one evening at
10 O'Clock Columbus saw a light gllm-
mering across the water, and the next
morning a gun was fired from one OF
the smaller vessels. as the signal agreed
upon for making land. 1t was very
welcome sound. for they had been
seventy-one days crossing the ocean,
which is now crossed by steamers in
less than nine days.
Ralph Fugate, age 10,
1875 South Willard ST., Ottumwa.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1918-02-01
Edna Bowling-Strange De-
lusiOn--Witchcraft.

Many years ago a strange delusion
called witchcraft arose in Europe:
America and many other nations OF
the world. 1t was general BELIEF among
the people that men and women SOLD
their souls to the devil and did all sorts
Of unreasonable things. such as teas
ing their enemies and beWitching chill
dren. If a mans daughter died OF
lingering disease or If he awoke in the
morning and found one OF his cattle
dead. he at once declared they were be-
witched and started out to find out who
had bewtiched them. Any queer look
ing old woman or perhaps his worst
enemy were in great danger OF being
accused and burned or cruelty tortur-
ed
Any women supposed to have sold
their souls to the devil were called
witches and the men were called wiz
yards.
Witchcraft was first started in
Salem by a minister whose children
played such queer pranks and were so
unmanageable that they were be-
witched and at once started out to find
who had bewitched them. At last an
Indian girl was beaten until she ad-
mitted that she had betwitched them.
Others were soon affected and the
mania spread rapidly. Even the most
enlightened judges of the day tried AMI
condemned persons accused. II any one
expressed n doubt OF witchcraft, ne
was at once accused OF being In
league with the evil spirit and WAS
therefore in danger of being punish
ed.
At last after seventy persons IN
Salem had been accused fifty burnti
to death and twenty of them tortured,
the people awoke to their folly and Bit
terly repented of the terrible crimes
they had committed.
This is school composition
Gina Bowling keon
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1918-02-01

MSTERDAMA publishes
estng which the
realistic
Bu children Elizabeth
Countess the Inflated Of the
late
The children spend Christmas their fathers country
seat Poschkow walking
with and plying her With questions where their father
She explained to them would
see them again when the Satisfied they ahead of
her along the road and short time
find them after brief the fled back the
the
children but twentyour hours be
gamekeepr finally
estate locked anothes
when the gamekeeper awakened
They gone to daddy.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1918-02-01
Bessie Baker Tells of Hersclf
and Her Brother and
Sisters.

Dear Juniors:
AS this is the first time | ever wrota
to you ! will write letter.
I am little girl. / have light hair
and blue eyes. have four sisters and
one brother. My sisters names are;
Clara, Marjorie. Mary, Murle, and my
brothers name is Millard. My name is
Bessie. am nine years old. ! 60 to
Walnut Grove school. I am in the 4th
grade. There are twelve scholars in our
school, eight girls and four boys. My.
teachers name is Esther Edmund.
I live a mile from school.
Bessei Baker, age ..
Ottumwa, Ia, r. 3, Box 4S.