davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-02-16

struggling gait Right then and there !
admired the Germans for their system oil
universal military training. II England
had of had q little more of 1T, there never
would have been a war and right now we
would be in Blighty with our wives and
nippcrs, instead Of sitting here in these
bloody bitches waitin' for a shell to come
over with our name and number on IT.
After the Labor Battalion took over
billets, several of them came into the
estamnet and sat at q table near me.
They started TO discuss the war and voice
their opinions about the top hats at
home This bloke Pm a talkin' about WAS
the loudest of the bunch, he seemed to
have crouch an everything in general.
| listened to him few minutes chuckIng
his weight about until it bloody we'll got
on my nerves. Chucking up my game Of
housde-and | had paid half a franc for
my board tool leaned over TO him and
said:
You must be one of those bloomin'
conscientious objectors we reads about IN
the papers, one O. those blighters who
don't believe in fightin' but is willing OF
sit back in Blighty and let us blokes out
here do your bloody fghtin' for you, while
you gets blInkin good screw (sIary)
sitting on high stool IN some office.
''He turned TO me and answered: It's
the likes o you who volunteered for this
war what keeps 1T goin'. If YOU had all
refused to go at first, there wouldn't be
any war;
Il couldn't see it his way at all, and
went right back at him with. Yes, and If
it wasn't for us volunteering the bloody
German flag would now be flying over
buckingham Palace and King George
would be IN the Tower of London
'Hc thought minute or two and
answered: Well, what of it; one flags as
good as another and as for the bloomln
Hing what did he ever do for you but
make YOU pay taxes so he could bloomin
well sit around doing nothing
This was too much for me, that
hlinkin icllyfish a singing mud at our
King so | lost my temper, and taking my
glass Of Vim Rouge in my hand leaned
over close to him and said When you
mentions the Kings name it is customary
to drink his health. Perhaps he never did
anything special for me, but have never
done anything special for him, and even at
that I've done damned sight more than
YOU have for him. so take this wine and
drink his health, or II dent that napper OF
yours So YOU wont be able to wear that IN
hat of YOURS
He got kind of pale and answered:
Drink the Kings health, not likely It's
through him and his bloody top hats in
Parliament that I'm out here. Why IN the
blinking hell don't he do his own fighting
and let us poor blokcs alone.
Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-02-16
LITTLE BENNY'S NOTEBOOK
BY Lee Pape.
The Park Ave. News.


Spoarts. Ed Wernick and Lew Davis
have each got a new pair of 2nd hand
automobeel goggles, and last Satldday
aftirnoon they stood on the corner OF
Broad street a haf hour with them on,
watching awtomobeels go past and yell
ing, Hay, mister, give us q ride, IN VAIN.
Militerry News. Vile Compinny B
was drilling last Toozday after suppir
the Berks steeters quick ran Ground
the corner ware they was III ambush
and attacked Compinny b with snow
balls and yells. Compinny B retreeted
rapidly on account of having bin took by
serprize, but wen saw after the retreet,
Genrel Skinny Martin stated that the
Berks streeters had better not try 1t agen.
Pleasant Dreems
Pome by Skinny Martin.
I had little kittin named Kitty
Who Good go TO sleep in my fathers hat,
And the ony thing that interrupted him
Was my father wen he saw ware he was at
Sissiety. Miss Mary Watkins still
gets , eggs for frekhst every morning at
the present price of eggs.
Intristing Facks About Intristing Pee
pie. Sam Cross was reedIug a IXcitlng
book in the publick librerry after suppir
last Thersday, and he ddent have his
card with him to take 1t out with, and he
kepp on reeding it there till the hbrerry
closed at o'clock, and the man that
puts the books away told him 3 times
the librerry was going to close, and
Sam Cross sed All rite, each time and
kepp rite on reeding, and the 4th time
the man took the book rite away from
him without even leeving hun get 10 the
bottim of the page he wunted to get to the
bottim OF. and the next day wen Sam
Cross went to the hbrerry with his card he
coodent find the book, saying the man
must of hid it Tor spite.
Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-02-16

the best Of feeding and care You can
not be too careful about your stock
The market IS no risk. II will be
there when you come to dispose Of your
eggs and chickens, and from present in
dications, Il win be there strong On
your side Tho big questions arc those
Of intelligence and perseverance
Here IS your real risk Given an
intelligent, wide-awakc, persevcring. IN
vestigating man, and a flock of first
class throughbreds and SUCCESS is bound
to come Anything else would involve a
reversal of the law Of cause and effect
Given man Of the opposite disposition
careless, ignorant, IDLE. and the more he
invests, the deeper will his failure strike
Not the finest flock in the country nor
the best equipped buildings in the
country could save him from loss.
INTELLIGENCE AND EXPERIENCE
There are three factors to observe
under this head
will be proud Of Consider what you
want this flock to do; study the vari-
ous breeds and strains, and select for
your purpose. Are you after eggsy
Keen your eve on the leghorn 4 white
Iaver, but they don't do we'll on the
table. Are you after meat? Watch the
Brahmas, COchins, 0rpngtons. CaDons
from these breeds ought TO weigh twelve
TO fourteen pounds each, or even more.
Are you after good all-round fowl?
Plymouth Rocks. Reds. Wyandottes.
all are good. When you are selecting
YOUR flock, use your imagination. lmag-
hzr as.f
ward with your next door neIghbor
Think what you would like to be able
to say TO him about your flock. Then
choose a flock concerning which YOU can
say those things. A mongrel flock IS
the most efficient zeal-destrover in the
poultry business.
Your house-Four things to be con
sidered IN this regard: Heat. light. ven
tilatIon and cleanliness. These items
are easily dealt with in summer, when
the house can be thrown WIDE open. and
the flock remain outside all day. Clean
illness IS an absolute necessity at this
season. Lice and disease germs revel IN
a dirty hen-house. Summer Is their iav-
Orlte season. Starve them ny cleanlI-
ness. In winter there are real housing
problems. And they must be met. Tor
a frosted comb, wet floor, dratty
roost. will spoil a prize bird Tor life
Build YOUR house for winter conditions.
4 south or southeast exposure VIII en-
able YOU to take advantage OF the sun
light. This sun heats more than we
suspect, and through a window with al
panes solid will do much to keep tine
house comfortable and dry on other
wise unpleasant days Muslin IS good
for ventilation, shutting out cold, but
letting in air
Your feeding Reckon this from two
points Of view First. What viii
meet the needs Of my flock second
How can most economically provide
this? Always remember that the first
question is first in Importance Il Is
false economy to underfeed or TO IN
wisely feed, Just because some kind Of
grain Is cheaper than the best kipG
Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-02-16

VAIN and bright again, and out came
lhe flowers IN all their pretty colored
gowns
Just look at the pines" said one.
They are all wearing their winter
clothes and look very shabby beside us
IN our new clothes
''Yes, and there are the pussy vii
OWE, said another Just look al the
whole family all wearing their fur coats?
Poor things, ! suppose they have no new
frocks 10 show"
81 cannot understand how thev can
show themselves when they are dressed
50 out Of fashion. Why even the shrubs
that have no colored gowns are putting
on fresh green dress, said another
flower
Il do not see how we can associate
with those pussy willows this year"
said a big Towering bush. "They really
are so behind the fashion"
Better go back; better 20 back and
keep warm a little longer" sang the
Tall Pine, and all his brothers Joined
an the warning.
We shall not 70 back, " said a prickly
little bush nearby. you and the pussy
willows are trying 70 keep us out Of sight
because We are 50 pretty. | think my
yellow is prettier than ever this year, and
II you and the pussies had pretty gowns
you would be singing a different tune, old
winter pines
Tho poor little pllssy-wllows hugged
their fur coats closer as the Spring
Flowers gossiped about them, but not .
hunt did they give that they heard any Of
tle cruel things they said
Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-02-16

BY and by the singing pines grew
softer, and even the puSsy-wlliows be-
gan to think spring was very near. The
flowers grew bolder In the warm sun,
and some OF them put on all their hnery-
that means they opened al their buds.
Then suddenly came the voice of the
singing pines clearer and sharper as
the sun slowly went down behind the
hills Look OUT Look out! Winter Is
stiIl here, they sang.
The little Spring Flowers shivered
and shook with the cold, but IT WAS too
late to get inside their buds again. Old
winter caught them and nipped each
pretty flower.
When the sun came up next morn
ing there they lay on the ground quite
still, all their pretty clothes OF which
they had been so proud quite spoiled
''Oi the pretty, soft pussy-wlllows,
said the children who came through
the woods They kept on their fur coats
and they are safe We shall have no
spring flowers this year. The cold north
wind caught them.
When the spring days came the sing
ing pines sang soft and low, but only a
few spring flowers came out IN their
pretty spring clothes They were the
ones VINO did not make run OF tne pussy
willows and the Tall Pines III their winter
clothes.
They kept hidden in their buds and
waited for the singing pines to give
the springtime song, but after they
were out they did not gossip about
the pussy-willows in their fur coats.
They knew that the pussies were wiser
than they, because they lived all through
the winter days, and even If they did wear
their fur coats all summer they were so
soft and gray that one could not help but
admire them
Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-02-16

after two days in, Fritz got rough and
opened up with pretty stiff lombard
ment.
Watkins WAS in the fourth squad IN
dugout in the support trench when
Minnie registered direct hit on the
roof and caved her in. Everyone but
Watkins WAS killed How he escaped
was a marvel, the rest OF the squad being
smashed up something awful. We collect
ed the pieces and buried them the next
day. Watkins helped dig the graves
"For two days Watkins scarcely spoke
a word, just went round with far away
look on his face
"On the third night after the burial,
volunteers were called for bombing
raid, and | could scarcely believe my ears
when | heard that Watkins bad volun-
teered. II was the truth all right-he
went along
eve crawled out into No Mans land
under cover of our barrage and waited.
Watkins was next to me. Suddenly star
shell went up and we crouehed down in its
light. | WAS lying SO that | could see
Watkins me-he bad no rifle or
bayonet | whispered over To him Where 3
your rifle?' He answered Il threw it away
Before | had time to reply the signal TO
rush the German trench was gwen and
lost sight of him
ut WAS rough going In the German
trench and we had quite a little OF hand to
hand fighting Star shells were going up
all around us One of our blokes in front
OF me was just going around the corner OF
a traverse when big German got him
through the throat with his bayonet and
he went down Something sprang past
me like wild cat and closed with the
Fritz They both went down together.
Just then another German came at me
from the entrance of dugout and | was
busy | managed TO get him Then our
lieutenant and two men came round. gave
the order to get back To our trenches.
The lieutenant stumbled over the three
bodies in front of me One of them groan-
ed. 1t was Watkins all right. Inarmed he
had sprung at the German and with his
bare hands had choked him to death, but
he had nasty jagged bayonet wound in
his right side. We managed To get him
back to our trenches. but he died on the
firestcp. Before cashng IN he looked up
at the lieutenant and with grin on his
face said, Tell the bloornin' King and the
top hats at home that died for England,
and hope that like old Smith my nlppers
will be proud of their father. God save the
King = and then he died.
1--WE buried him next morning No, my
opinion of CONSCIENTIOUS obIectors and
pscitlsts has not changed They are either
towards or pro-tiermaus.
you see Watkins wasn't either, he
was a soldier of the King and damned
good one, too.
Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-02-16
THE GOssIPING SPRING FLOWERS

The Spring Flowers pecped out from
their soft bud coverings 10 see II Il really
was sprIngtime and feeling encouraged
hy the warm rays Of old Mr.. sun Man,
they peeped out little more and looked
about them.
The singing Pines saw them and gently
whispered. " Go back. my pretty Spring
Flowers, 20 back; winter has not yet
gone
The Tall Pines always know when
winter has left Tor his cold Northland
and the long cold moans which he sends
out all winter change 70 a gentle song Of
spring Of course. hc sings all winter. too
but II Is high, clear note he then sends
cut over the bare woods SO when he saw
the tender spring Flowers he gave them
warning
But the flowers were so warm and
comfortable they only laughed At the
warning OF the Tall Pine and said What
DO you know Of SPRING You are still
wearing your old winter clothes. You are
jealous ! am sure, Of our pretty new
clothes and want - keep Us out of sight
As long - possible The sun Is shining
bright and warm. and tomorrow We shall
bc oui IL all our punk and lavender and
y Wtltc dresses
Better q back 10 sleep. my tender
incud- warned tho Tall Pine and this
lua' hi- voice grew louder - hc sang
I'll, tts oi warning but the little flowers
piIN laughed
lhe next day old Mr.. sun Man shcne
Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-02-16

II saw red and WAS Just going to hit
him, when big Irishman out OF the Royal
Irish Rifles next TO me grabs the glass of
wine from my hand, and looking the
blighter in the face yells at him:
well, if the King aint done nothing for
you English, he's done less for us 1rish,
but l volunteered to come out here for
him, and here | am, and glad of it, too,
and hopes some day TO get into Berlin
with the Kings forces You wont drink
his health; well, you can bathc his health ;
With that he threw the wine into the
bhghter's face and smashed him in the
nose with his fist The fellow went over
like log with the Irishman still aEoin'
for him. If we hadn't of pulled him off, |
think he would have killed that con-
scientious objector. The military police
came In to see what all the row WAS about
| had clicked three days G. b. confined To
barracks) and didn't want To get arrested
so in the confusion | made tracks for my
billet
''The next time / met the bloke was
when we buried old Smith out of the 10th
Platoon in the cemetery at La Bassee
He was one of the grave diggers. All dur
ing the burial service he stood looking
at the Union Jack with queer look on his
face. When old Smith was lowered into the
ground and the dirt was thrown on him,
the conscientious objector Watkins WAS
his name, came over TO me and said:
i hear he pointing at old Smiths
grave) is forty-eight years old and has
left wife and three nippers back in
Bhghty. He was too old for the draft
wasn't he? Then he must have volun-
teered.
Il answered: OF course he volunteered
III wager qud his wife and kids will be
proud of him-and that's more than your
kids will be about you
He sneaked off without answering.
Three days later | nearly dropped dead
when our lance corporal came into our
billet with bloody pose and beauti-
fully trimmed lamp. When | asked him
how he got Knocked about, he told me
that fellow out of the Non -Combatant
Corps, named Watkins, had mrssed him
up Just because he had called him a
whlte-livered coward
Watkins ducked twenty-one days No
] on the wheel and when his sentence was
finished they transferred him to fighting
unit and bang into our platoon he comes.
Many a talk had with him about that
pacifist stuff-he hadn't changed a bit in
his ideas-but he kept his mouth shut
about the King and the Top Hats at
home
Then we went into the trenches and
knew his finish was near. A firing squad
or rest in peace was TO be his lot; they
ali get one of the other sooner or later.
Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-02-16
ROW ON A TROLLEY-CAR.

The "skip-stop" now in use by the Viii
mington and Philadelphia Traction Com
pany asst night caused trouble on car of
the Rising Sun Line Some Italians at
Seventh and Lincoln wanted TO board a
car at that place and it went past them
ment with the conductor one of them
drawing large knife and threatening the
nickel-collector. The motorInan of the
car ran to the assistance of his partner and
a tusslc took place, resulting in the con-
ductor being slightly injured The men
then jumped from the car and escaped.
Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-02-16
PATRIOTIC REDMEN.
Tribes and Councils of Delaware to
Observe WaShington's Birthday.

of the Great Council of Delaware, lmp'd
O. r. NJ, is sending letters to the tribes
and councils of the State urging them to
celebrate Washington Birthday on or
near the anniversary date with some
appropriate patriotic ceremony.
The letter also recommends the raising
of chiefs in public; also that the members
provide themselves with the new Red
Men, coin. AS a remembrance of the boys
who are serving under the flag. Official
visits have been interfcred with by bad
weather. but they will be made, though
some will be little later than usual
The various tribes and councils are urged
to increase the membership Tribute i,
paid TO the memory of chiefs who have
died recently
Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-02-16
Received by the publishers.
THE BOlsehviki and World Peace


By lie on Trotzky. Introduction by
Lincoln Steffens. New York City:
Boni d Liveright. Price, $50 net
No one will doubt, after reading this
book, that Trotzky has been actuated
by an inspiration that his mission in
Russia is almost divine, and that he be-
heves all that had been done by the Boil
sheviki up to the time of the completion
Of his work was in the direction of a grand
peace for all the world And then, in
the light of recent events, will come the
inevitable conclusion that TrOtzky was
sadly mistaken And the reader will
understand the quasi apology that the
book was written ''in extreme haste
Also, the book will serve TO emphasize
the remarkable rise of Trotzky from an
obscure figure in New York City-a res
taurant waiter and reporter for q class
newspaper a ruling power in Russia
or Russia outside Of the Ukraine But
his professions of love for the people
OF the world and for desire for the tn
umph of real democracy will be largely
neutralized by the knowledge of the rude
Bolsehyiki overthrow of the Constituent
Assembly because it failed to show q
TrOtzky-IHnine majority, and the fiend
ish war of the Bolsheviki against Fin
land And the recent surrender of
Trotzky and Lenine to Germany will but
add to the lack of sympathy with which
all declarations by Trotzky will be re-
ceived.
In his introduction, Mr.. Lincoln Stef-
fens makes the amazing declaration that
Trotzky 'is the foremost statesman in
Europe" He may be able to live this
down, but it is doubtful
However, it may be said that Trotzky $
book is interesting But that is about all
Received Of the publishers
Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-02-16
SILVER GRAY DORKINGS

One Of the oldest breeds Of fowls is
the Dorking, Of which we illustrate here
the Silver GRAY variety. The DOrking
is thought to have been brought into
England by the Romans, and in Eng
land it has reached it's highest state OF
perfection. 1t is peculiar in that IL has
five toes, which are found in few other
fowls The males weigh from seven -
eight pounds, and the females five and
n half to six and half pounds As a
table fowl IL has long bern the standard
Of England IL would probably be more
widely bred in this country, but for it's
light coIored legs and skin. Our mar
kets demand yellow, legged and yellow
skinned fowl Not that this actually
Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-02-16
Socialist Sunday Forum.

Charles Sehl, Philadelphia trade union
list and organizer, will speak at the
Socialist Sunday Forum at SIS Market
street tomorrow evening, on the subject,
Political History" Questions and dis
cussion will follow address The meeting
will be open to the public No admission
will be charged.
Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-02-16

affects the quality ~ the aesh for ~
fowl carres liner grained meat than thr
Dorking Thcy .ly large white rggs
and the chicks under .tvorihle rpnd
tions, make rapid growth The 'Yv'f
arr docile and e.lrls confined
The male is black and Whifc. mo whrfe
being pure wh.tc and hc ark yl0sey
and grrcnivh lis rrmb. while .argr
must be evenly -errated md CARED
upr iRht
The female has . -iiv-r White nerl
with a dark truc d0pn rach feather
Her breast s a rich -alrnon, fading mo
tho silver grav ~ tho halaner N fhc
Dlumage Her aOuh y fairly .srVr anf
droops slightly 20 ono side
Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-02-16
No Public Assembly.

Principal A. H Berlin of the High School
announces that because OF preparations
for patriotic day 10 be held next Wedn es-
day morning at 10 O'Clock, there will
be no regular public assembly of the
students of the high school on Monday
morning
Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-02-16
Furnace on Roof Starts Fire.

A furnace being used by some worbmen
is thought to have started a slight blaze
on the roof of the home of Charles Ed
wards. 1902 Van Buren street. The
Water Witch and Friendship Fire Com
panies responded TO still alarms and easily
extinguished the blaze.
Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-02-16

You will ose IN eggs far rDorp than rDi
will save In feed Hens lse nrrr'us
energy N produce rggs and 'he' nre'l
good nourfahinV reUiisr '0od ~ 'hev
will not havc his surplus energy terra
will not lay cggs -tifv the question III
feeding for rggs There r. fesf env
and that . 80 way san want ~ fard
Mix vour fcrd Tifh -rains tnd von erl
not have u mix them with Uuite ~ murh
money.
"A IN prRgFvrRa NcF
Three things - insist On
Care for your nickens Uhen yuu eef
Up ever dav including the Fourth a
July and Chrrstmas
Care FOR y0ur chickens at noon every
day before Won elf your dinner
Care ior vour chickens tn the evening
every dav before the ptn -ets
Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-02-16
REVIEWS OF NEW BOOKS.
Home Gardening Vegetables and

Home Gardening Vegetables and
Flowers" BY Benjamin f. Albaugh.
Illustrated New York City: Grosset
& Dunlap.
This Is most interesting book, de-
scriptive of the kind of gardening the
people OF this country arc just beginning
to practice, and told in a way which
creates on the part of the reader an ire
sistible desire TO go and do likewise
The author recounts simply his own ex-
periences in growing things in his little
backyard garden, and assumes a total
ignorance OF gardening on the part of
the beginner.
The information is SO classified that
the most hopelcssly city-bred individual
can become successful by folIowin the
instructions given. The author not only
tells how TO produce a phenomenal
amount of vegetables from a small plot
Of earth ,fbut also explains the secret of
producing them earlier than they gen
orally appear on the market, thus getting
better prices and finding a reader sale
for them
Received by the publishers.
Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-02-16
SANDMAN STORY.
By Mrs r. A. Walker.

Copyright 1913. by Mcclure Newspaper
Syndicate New York City.
Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-02-16

The average prce flr teams 0f vorS
horses al an auction Just held d. L.nkopiug
Sweden. vas 81 800.