davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The courier-index., 1918-04-12
AN OFFICE

(From the American Lumberman)
An office is a funny thing: Each
morning certain men
And certain girls and certain boys
come into 1t again
And hang their coats on certain
pegs and hats on certain hooks,
And sit them down at certain desks
in front OF certain books
They all have certain work to do in
Just certain time,
Concerning certain dollars for GER
tain fixed per diem;
And then at just certain hour. in
sunshine or in rain,
They close their desks and hurry out
to catch a certain train.
An office Is tragic thing when that
is all there is,
When each one has his certain work
and certain way of his
And wallows in certain rut and
never seems to see
That there are certain other ones
in life as well as he.
For we would find a certain fun in
certain other ways,
If we would give a word of cheer on
certain busy days
When problems vex. when certain
things redpire helping hand
Would give "a certain sympathy that
mortals understand.
An office is pleasant place-at
least certain kind
That has certain brotherhood that
day by day you find
Some neighbor with a new idea he's
glad to pass along,
A certain sort of friendliness, a
certain sort of song.
There is certain duty that we owe
to other men
To help them when they need lift,
to steady them again.
An office can become in time, to man
and girl and boy,
A certain kind of fellowship, and
work a certain joy.
Douglas Malloch.
The courier-index., 1918-04-12
GERMAN PoTATo-BuGs

THE way Germany prepared FOR
a generation OF this war was posi-
lively uncanny." said Congressman.
.Yes, Germany's forty years OF mi
mute war preparation is as uneanny
as the story OF the potato bugs
ION an autumn evening group
of Minnesota farmers sat around the
fire in the general store and com
plained of the potato bugs ravages-
1.-The pests ate my whole potato
crop in two weeks, said one farmer,
"They ate my whole crop IN TWO
davis, said another farmer, and tnen
they roasted on the trees to see II
I'd plant more
"A drummer for a seed house clear.
ed his throat.
"'Gents, he said, all that's very
remarkable. Let me ten you, though
what saw in our own store, ! saw
a couple OF potato bugs examining
the books about week before plant
ing time to see who had pought
seed. Star.
The courier-index., 1918-04-12
GOT ANY IN YOUR POCKET?

The wife of Dorchester man who
had the traditional failing~-he for
got to mail letters-has cured him.
The mail is delivered at their home
before the breakfast hour-which is
comparatively late. One morning she
said to her husband:
Ibid you have any mail this morn
ing, dear?"
"Only a circular" he answered. as
he bit into a fine brown piece OF
toast.
Huh" said the wife. by the way
did you mail the letters | gave you
yesterday
Sure did, was the righteously
indignant reply.
well" answered the wife. with an
eloquent smile, Its funny, then, you
had no letters this morning. because
one OF those ! gave you to mail was
addressed to you-just as sort or
Boston Herald.
The courier-index., 1918-04-12
A MATRIMONIAL PRIZE

A young man who, during his brief
career, had never been required 10
do very much labor at home, enlist
ed for the present war, and Is now
in a training camp somewhere IN
America A few days ago his
mother received letter from him In
which he said that he had never
worked so hard in his life, that ne
had been doing kitchen work, max
ing beds, washing and drying dishes,
etc. and that when he returned from
the war he would make some feiiow
in California the very best wife there
ever was.--Los Angeles Times.
The courier-index., 1918-04-12
FOREWARNED

The other day a man walked into
barber shop and deposited on a
table a number of articles which he
took from a satchel This is pom
ade," he said
q am well supplied" said the
barber
This is shaving cream
81 see it is"
Here is some fine bay rum"
Il don't doubt it, but / make my
own"
Here is some patent cosmetic for
the mustache."
Il know it is for the mustache,
also for whiskers, but I'm thoroughly
stocked"
Here is an electric brush, duplex
elliptic hair dye, lavender water and
a patent face powder"
81 don't want any of Them
81 know you don't"
"Then why did you ask me to buy
them?''
Il did not ask you to buy them
Did | say anything about you buying
them?''
"Now that ! come to think of it,
you didn't"
81 did not come here to sell any
thing only wish to let you know
that posses all the toilet articles
that man has any business with.
Don't you try to sell me anything or
praise your wares. | am stocked!
Stocked! Now. give me an easy
shave without asking me to buy
ANYTHING"
The courier-index., 1918-04-12
RATHER DAMP JOB

While in London on a holiday a
visitor went to have look at tue
Thames. There was steam shoVei
at work out in the river and he was
standing watching it. Suddenly felt
a tap on his shoulder, and turned
around to find son Of Erin standing
there.
SAY" said he. isn't London a
wonderful place? BY CORY. now Just
look at that thing going down there.
Now look at IL. isn't that wonderful
But say, old man. ! wouldn't want
to be the cove at the bottom filiing
that thing up. would ye?''-Topeka
State Journal.
The courier-index., 1918-04-12
ALL WE KNOW

War is rotten. But it is all we
know.
What grinds the soul is that the
nations continue to live under a
system OF rivalry( hate and jealousy
which breaks out every so often in
murder fest.
And the trouble is that even the
nations that don't want to do this,
the nations that detest war and re-
gard it as the ultimate folly. can't
keep themselves clear of the dirty
business. For If any one nation per-
sists in a military program we've all
cot to have the same. lest the one
turn burglar and rob the world.-Dr'
Crane.
The courier-index., 1918-04-12
NOTES ON THE WAR

90 -o--o---o- o-o--o
The annual pay of the army now
exceeds $5O0,0o0,o0O
Production of 10000 new auto
mobile trucks is in progress for the
army,
The navy ration in 1917 cost
$o4Ss as against s0.376s4 in 1916
Our IA inch guns weigh nearly So
tons and are over So feet long, cost
ing $11s,O00.
Our $4,000 ton cruiser, capable of
35 knots an hour, will be the fastest
in the world.
! About 10000 officers and men are
engaged in coast patrol work of the
navy.
American troops permanently took
over part of the firing line as an
American sector in January, 1918.
$500
The navy now has in its possession
stock of supplies sufficient for
average requirements for one year.
1883
More than 10000 acres OF land in
this country have been planted in
castor beans to produce castor oil
for aircraft
During IL months the army hos
pitfalls increased from to SO In num-
Der and from 5000 to $500 beds.
30, 900 more beds are being added.
$500
The disbursements and outstanding
obligations of the navy during the
first year of the war are estimated
at 81, 1881, 900, 600 The total naval ap-
preparations, real and pending, are
1898, III ,665.
There are now four times as many
vessels in naval service as year
ago. The estimated pay of officers
and men in the navy for the first
year of war was $125,000,00O.
The air personnel in the first year
OF war was increased from 65 officers
and 1,120 men to 100 times that num-
Der. Eleven kinds of schools have
been installed
Several hundred submarine chasers
built since the war have been de-
livered to the navy by 81 private con-
Germs and 6 navy yards, many OF
which have crossed the Atlantic.
some in severe weather.
Through a card catalog system
1O9. 487 men have been transferred
out of army divisions into technical
units to function according to indi-
vidual educational, occupational and
military qualifications.
During the first year of the war
the army paid ss0,000.000 for horse
drawn, vehicles and harness; more
than $5O,O00,000 for horses. mules
and harness. Expenditures for the
fiscal year ending Jnue 30, 1918, for
fuel and forage are estimated at
more than $500, 100000.
$500
To February 20 the director gen.
eraI of military railways had placed
orders for railway supplies valued at
SAP. 900 900 and with an aggregate
weight of $4,000 long tons; the gen.
eral engineer depot. to February J.,
issued $500 orders for material val
ued at $202. 100000.
Among the purchases of the quart
ermaster's department are 61.000.0o0
pounds of prunes and dried beans;
273. 900 900 cans OF tomatoes, con-
densed milk and baked beans; 40-
600, 900 yards of MOSQUITO bar; 75,-
0OO. 900 yards of olive drab: 100000
600 wooden blankets; 31.000.0O0 pairs
of wooden drawers 50000,o00 pairs
of heavy stockings; 100000 wool
coats. The ordnance program in
cludes the purchase OF 32,oeo,0oS
hand grenades, 725.000 automatic PTS
tots. $50 900 revolvers, 23000.00O pro-
iectiIes for heavy artillery, 427.246-
600 pounds of explosives. 24o,OOo
machine guns, and 2,484,0OO rifles.
The courier-index., 1918-04-12
THE kAlsER's REGRET

The kaiser las he faced the final
fundamentally one regret is that
! didn't have another million lives 70
offer for my country. "--Life.
The courier-index., 1918-04-12

>e>e>>e-~~.~>~~~~s~~~
the apples at Hot Springs to be
given away to the visitors. But the
local Biennial Board had made their
plans without considering the ext
gencies of the public service.
The apples were to be bought by
the women. but at first they had as
surances that they would be trans
ported free by the express companies
The superintendent of the company,
however, has notified the state presi-
cannot be done.
Now the women of Arkansas, who
are raising the funds for the enter
tainment of the federation are hoping
that some public spirited booster
among the apple growers, or other
citizens, will devise some plan where.
by the apples to advertise Arkansas
may be sent to Hot Springs without
additional cost to the Biennial Board.
There is no cause for immediate
alarm. SO we are Informed by the
State Plant Board. that there is
any imminent danger from the i'm
portation of the pink boil worm from
Texas or elsewhere.
The very uncertainty of the situa-
ton, however. and the insiduous
character of the pest, make precau-
ton all the more imperative. This
is why the state plant board is call
ing to it's assistance the active inter
est of the planters who have orga-
nized the Pink Boil Worm Associa-
ton. to prevent the infestation pri'
marily, and to combat the EVIL
should it in any manner get through
the rigid federal quarantine.
Sould the worm appear at any
point-and when the squares begin
to form in May is the time when u
might be expected-the most drastic
steps would be necessary to prevent
the spread. In Texas thousands OF
acres of cotton were deliberately de-
stroyed and every vestige OF growth
piled and burned. AS a further pre-
caution, a free zone covering i've
counties has been established ABOUT
Houston and Galveston in winch no
cotton at all is to be grown for three
years.
Every shipment of seed and huiis,
in which the worm may lie dormant
through the winter, is being carefuiiy
watched and traced, and destroyeu
wherever possible. The fields IN inc
vicinity where such shipments are
received will also be secuted ny eN
pert entomologists who VIII give 'ho
alarm when the first sign OF ihies'@
ton is discovered.
n is not considered necessary 10
quarantine against the Importation u
saad from Texas. Some unnecessary
alarm has been caused by an uii-
authorized report that cotton seeu -
not to be brought from Texas' pu'
tho plant Board says that the area
- ,nfastation is so small, ana SO
thoroughly quarantined, that tnere y
No danger. at least, only remote
danger. of importing the worm ny
seed shipments.
The state is to be divided INTO
distr;cts for the purpose OF scoulihs'
and vice president is to be appoint
cd for each of the cotton growing
counties These men are expected
to keep constantly on the ioohou'
for the appearance OF the worm -
that immediate measures Of reiiei
NAV be taken upon its first appear
ance. In this way it is believed the
nest may be kept out OF the state.
The courier-index., 1918-04-12
THEY STILL JOKE IN ENGLAND

"Just ask DR.. Jones to run around
to my place right away. Our cooks
fallen down stairs, broke her leg:
the house maids got chicken pox,
and my two boys have been knocked
down by taxi
I'm sorry, sir, but the doctor was
blown up in yesterdays air raid and
he won't be down for week. =
Punch.
The courier-index., 1918-04-12

IN ~ people Of the north hear much
ana org red apples" of Arkansas,
a a.. 'uls luscious fruit is held out
|eo0s MY 81 the attractions for national
ID nsaa ''ons' Incidentally, too much
|jus,,s e' SAID of them. for hey are
Country. 'eo throughout the
|affee,ass zen the big red apple" is
ansas u oy the great war. The Ark
ID - women who will be hostesses
nenA General Federation of Wo-
plane.a eiuos early in May had
10y % have a large quantity of
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1918-01-04

Frederick was favorably impressed
with the suggestion. He ordered that
the nobility mortgage their property,
so the financial stringency might be
relieved. Whether of borrowing turn
or not, the owners of great landed
estates were compelled to organize an
association which they called the
Landschaft Gland society, in Silesia,
in ITO. 1t was cooperative Organi-
zation, the individual members guar
anteeing the obligations of the body,
and mortgages made the security for
debenture bonds. The experiment was
a great success. Other states Of what
is now the German empire followed
the lead of Prussia. Thus was started
the famous Landschaften of Germany.
Applied at first to only the property Of
the nobility, the idea was made avail
able, later, to the peasants.
Today, the Landschaften in improv-
ed and modified form are the basis Of
similar societies In almost every civil
lized country on the globe. In France,
the Credit Foncier and its subsidiaries
enjoy practically a monopoly in land
financing. Russia, Italy, Roumania,
Austria Hungary, Ireland, Japan, Can
ada, Egypt and other countries have
similar societies. These societies not
only finance the agriculturist, but
also city buildings, and even irrigation
projects.
An important feature which was
added to the plan shortly after it's in
auguration was amortization of the
principal. This means "to kill off," and
provides for the payment each year of
an amount which is used to reduce the
loan. The size of this payment de-
ponds upon the length of the mortgage,
for 1t is intended eventually to eXtin-
quite low, and the borrowers principal
and interest payments usually will not
aggregate more than the usual interest
rate alone in this country.
Notwithstanding their moderate re-
turn, the bonds are very popular with
investors in Europe, and billions of dol
lars in them are outstanding at the
present time. Foreclosures are al
most negligible. So safe is this form
of investment that in critical times the
land credit has been more stable than
that of the state. In 1S0S-1SO9 Prussia
called upon the East Prussian Land
schaften to raise part of its military
funds by an issue Of mortgages on its
forests and domain.
And here is, peculiar fact: While
the rest of.the world has long ago dis
carded the straight mortgage as being
obsolete and cumbersome, the United
States began to realize the advantage
of mortgage bond issues only about 20
years ago.
In a subsequent article 1 shall de-
scribe the introduction of mortgage
bonds in America.
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1918-01-04

In all the years that interviewed since
the mortgage was first used in ancient
Babylon, practically but one change
has been made in mortgage financing.
That change was made by Prussian!
Frederick the Great, who founded
Prussian miIitarism, gave the first
mortgage bond it's start. While the
world holds much against this man for
sowing the seeds of the present world
conflict, we must give him credit for
his astutenesS in recognizing the adj
SantageS of first mortgage bonds. Here
Is how it happened:
In 1863, Frederick, after his seven
year war with Hungary, France, Rus
sia and SaXOny, found himself and his
country in financial embarrassment.
Indeed, previous to the war, the finan-
cial system had proven inadequate for
even ordinary needs, and the strain
caused by the seven years of fighting
made the situation extremely serious.
German agricultural conditions in par
ticular were deplorable. insufficient
funds and outrageous interest rates on
the part of money lenders greatly ham,
pered the proper filling of the soil.
Frederick realized that the future OF
Germany was at stake and that fur
Their progress with existing conditions
was impossible.
In the necessity, a Berlin merchant
by the name of Buhring conceived the
idea of mortgaging the agricultural do
main. Mortgages, Of course, were
nothing new, having been originated
by the Babylonians more than two
thousand years previous. But mort
gage financing to this extent had never
before been practicable, because Of
the impossibility of finding investors
able or willing to absorb mortgages Of
such gigantic size. Buhring said, "Why
not divide the mortgages into frac-
tional parts, and call these parts
bonds? Then, if the bonds are issued
in comparatively small denominations,
large numbers of investors will parti-
cipate, and in addition, the bonds
themselves can be used in payment of
debts during the emergency, in lieu of
cash."
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1918-01-04

Copyright. 1917, Western Newspaper Union.)
The subscribers to one of the first
government bond issues ever put out
were not SO fortunate as Liberty bond
Investors. Notwithstanding the fact
that bonds were new and probably I'M
tried at that time, the loan bore no in
terest. The success with which the
loan met under these conditions should
be an inspiration to us in our present
war financing.
1t happened in Venice, in 1160. The
Ooge Michieli found himself that year
in acute financial embarrassment. 1t
was necessary to raise a large sum of
money Immediately, and the state hit
upon the plan of borrowing in its name
from number of prosperous Venetian
merchants. One hundred and fifty
thousand marks of silver was the
amount of the loan and the DOge Mich
leli himself was one of the subscrib-
ers. The loan was secured by mort
gage on the RialtO and all the reven-
ues arising from 1t. During its life
eleven years, the loan bore no interest.
In 1173 the public treasury was again
nearly empty, it having been found
that the revenues derived from the
first loan were not sufficient. Accord
tngly, the Doge Ziani foated a loan
amounting to one per cent of the val
uation of the aggregate property in ev-
cry household. This paid interest at
per cent, payable half yearly, as in
most of our modern bond issues. 1t
was to be repaid in more prosperous
times.
There was no paper or other mate
rial available for distributing evidences
of the Indebtedness. So the state en-
tered the records into books and three
commissioners were appointed to levy
and collect the loan. They were called
Public Chamberlains and the bureau
where the business was transacted,
The Chamber of ImpOSts. The citi-
gems soon began to sell the credits
among one another. This was done in
the Chamber of ImpOstS, where the
claims were transferred. 1t is stated
that the trading was the beginning of
the modern stock exchange. At any
rate, 400 years later the Chamber of
lmposts became the Bank of Venice,
which is generally supposed to be the
first modern bank.
Another interesting public loan, even
earlier, was proposed by Xenophon, in
Athens. His plan was to establish a
Joint stock bank to which all Athenian
people were invited to subscribe. The
proceeds were to be expended in i'm
proving the ports of Athens, erecting
halls, warehouses, docks, exchanges,
market houses, etc.
Italy is also distinguished for origi-
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1918-01-04
MOST IMPORTANT
NEWS OF WORLD
elG HAPPENINGS OF THE WEEK
CUT TO LAST ANALYSIS.
DOMESTIC AND FOREIGN ITEMS
Kernels CulIed From Events Of Mo-
ment in All Parts Of the World-
OF Interest to All the
People Everywhere.
Washington

Mai. Gen. Edwin st. J Greble, COM
mander at Camp Bowie, Tex, told the
senate military affairs committee at
Washington that shortages at that
camp ranged from 50 per cent in rifles
to 90 per cent in artillery harness.
Although all the men at Camp Doni-
phan, Okla, are now well-clothed, he
said, the command is still short for
overseas service.
Washington announced that the par
Gel post convention between the Unit
ed States and Chile has been terminal
ed because Chile refused request
that she indemnify exporters whose
packages are rified.
The senate military committee at
Washington sent to the war depart
ment a resolution urging that immedi-
ate steps be taken without regard to
departmental routine TO supply def
ciencies of winter clothing to men in
the camps.
Gen. Tasker II. Bliss will be re-
tanned on active service as chief of
staff of the army after he reaches the
retirement age, next Monday, Decem-
Der 81. Secretary Baker announced at
Washington that this had been decid-
ed upon by President Wilson.
Fuel Administrator Doctor Garfield
told the senate committee on manufac-
lures at Washington that if the war
continued very long the government
would be compelled to pool coal and
sell it at reasonable prices.
Food Administrator Hoover's state
ment on the sugar situation was made
public by the White House at Wash
ington. 1t attributes the shortage
here to the heavy movement Of sugar
from the western hemisphere to Eu-
rope and asserts that without the fix
ing Of prices by agreement sugar
would be selling for % to 80 cents a
pound.
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1918-01-04

mating the term "bsnk." 1t is sup
posed to be derived from "banco,"
meaning bench. The Lombards in Italy
exchanged money and bills in the mar
ket place over bench. When bank
er failed the bench was destroyed by
the people and he was called "bank-
rupt." Some authorities claim this de-
rivation of bank is wrong. 1t is stated
by them that "banco" is a heap or
mound and that the resemblance it
bore to a common fund formed by the
contributions of many persons led to
the term bank.
Which of these is the true derivation
does not matter. The word bank un-
doubtedly comes to us from Venice, at
one time the center of the worlds
financial activities.
The same Lombards later settled in
London and led to the naming of Lom-
bard street. Subsequently they gave
way to the goldSmithS, who finally de-
veloped into the modern English bank.
At first the goldsmiths, owing to
their superior facilities for safekeep-
ing, were intrusted with gold and 9TH
er valuables by, the people, for fee.
The receipts the goldsmiths gave
acknowledging delivery of the gold, es-
pecially in the case Of well-known and
responsible goldsmiths, began to be
traded.
An idea occurred to the goldsmiths
that the money in their vaults could
be loaned out. They reasoned that If
they were allowed to do this depositors
might not only be relieved of the fee
they paid, but be paid interest. OF
course, the goldsmiths did not loan all
of the gold in their possession. A GER
tain amount only of it was used. Sup
pose safe proportion of deposits to
loans is % per cent; the goldsmith, for
every $1,000 in his Golfers, could issue
$4,000 in notes Gas the receipts be-
came known). AS long as there was a
continual inflow as well as outflow Of
gold, all demands for return of depos-
it's were easily met. Besides, the Sc
curity required of borrowers made the
'bank" perfectly solvent. AS will read
lily be seen, the procedure was essen
TALLY the same as in modern banking.
This practice was kept up until 1871,
when checkboOks came into use. They
were substituted for the notes which
the goldsmiths used. Thus, when a
borrower desired loan and furnished
the proper security, he would be given
checkboOk and authorized to issue
checks to the amount Of his loan.