davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-03-06
FIRST U. S. BALLOON UNIT.
Observation as u a G" Protected
AGAINST German Air Raiders.

With the American Army in France,
March 6.-This has been quiet day
in the American sector northwest of
Toul. The artillery on both sides
seemed content to fire a few destruc-
tive shots. The shells were infre-
uuent until late in the afternoon when
the American artillery livened things
up bit, firing on town in the enemy
ines, where troops had been seen.
Altho the weather was bright and
clear for the first time in several days,
a mist arose from the snow and OBJ
fservation was obscured by the ground
haze.
Aerial forces took advantage of the
improved weather and operated free
ly. Groups of enemy planes came
over for Photographic work, but were
kept high in the air by the American
anti-alrcraft guns Planes from the
American lines also were out in force.
In the trenches the men divided their
time between watching the aerial
operations and drying themselves in
the dugouts.
Observation balloons were up for
the first time in several days, being
stationed at intervals along the front
as far as the eye could see in both
directions. For the-first time in the
war an American observation bal
loon, fully manned and protected by
Americans went up. This is the first
complete unit of the American air
service to appear in the field For
two days it had been ready to ascend.
the observers having been up in a
French balloon several days previ-
ously.
Remained Up Several Hours.
I Today an American balloon COM
| pany was working where the French
hitherto have been. The balloon was
hauled from its hidden nest and sent
up, remaining in the air several hours.
1t rose higher than either the French
or the German in an attempt to
reach an altitude specially favorable
for observation. While it was at the
| highest point the watchers saw two
| airplanes with the black cross of the
enemy on their wings headed in their
direction. The balloon was hauled
down so that it might be grounded
quickly if necessary. American gun
ners were on duty at many places
nearby, for the balloon was protected
heavily. They stood by their guns
but the enemy planes, sailing across
the sky with shrapnel puffs streaming
out behind them like the tail of a
comet, suddenly changed their course
and headed for home. The appear
ance of a squadron of planes from be
hind the American lines bearing the
insignia of the French on their wings
prob bly, was the cause.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-03-06
HE'S KAISER'S NEPHEW
Gets Beating and Is Put Under Bond
on Strength of kinship.

Detroit. Mich. March 6.-Johann
Hohenzollern, who admits he is a
nephew of the kaiser, is under $1,000
bond here today as a pledge that he
will be a good American citizen.
Herr Johann Wilhelm was brought
before the United States marshal after
having been beaten up by a group
of demonstrative Detroiters who
learned of his family connections.
Johann is also author of a book en-
titled ForebodingS and Forebear-
ances." Officers who had to read the
volume found it harmless, however.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-03-06
MISSOURI BANK
Mismanagement of Ex-OfficiaI Puts
Siblcy Institution on Rocks.

Kansas City March 6.-The Bank
of Sibley. at Sibley. Mo-. this county,
was closed today by P. W. Henry,
state bank examiner. Mismanage-
ment of the affairs of the institution
was given by the state examiner as
the reason. According to Mr.. Henry
the bank lost heavily two years ago
thru an official not now connected
with the bank, which was opened five
years ago with capital stock of s1O,-
000.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-03-06
KANSAN DIES In X. C.
Body of Judge James III. Reeder TAX.
en- to Hays City for Burial.

Kansas City, March 6.-Prepara-
tions were being made today to take
the hody of Judge James Harlan
Peader of Kansas City to Hays City,
kan. Judge Reeder's former home.
for burial. Judge Reeder died at his
home here last night. He was widely
known in Kansas as a jurist and leg
islator. Judge Reeder was 6S years
old.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-03-06
U-Boats Sink 10000 Tons a Week

London. Tuesday, March 5.-Com-
mander Carlyon Bellaires, unionist
member of Maidstone in the house of
commons today gave submarine sink
ings of merchantmen as averaging TO-
600 tons weekly in January and S0,-
600 tons weekly in February.
The sun., 1918-11-03

British public have not solemnly con-
ferred diplomas of immortality" They
are remembering this work, his Critic
and Artist" his wonderful Poems In
Prose-" his essays and his plays. They
are recognizing Oscar Wilde as the
literary ancestor Of Bernard Shaw,
Gilbert Chesterton, Somerset Vaughan
and the best writer's of English come
dies to-day. On the Continent his in
fiuence Ia even greater; his works have
gone into French, German and Rus
sian. New. finer and fuller editions OF
his works come out frequently in this
country. the only tragic pity Of which
is that the remnants Of the Wilde fam
lily are in no way the gamers even
from this renewed public interest in the
works Of him who was but yesterday
the public outcast.
But the most remarkable of all signs
Of the rehabilitation Of Oscar Wilde's
name and fame that Is coming through
the mercy OF time occurred in London
two summers ago. The single sterling
success of that theatrical. season was
revival of Oscar Wilde's brilliant
comedy-that superbly serious COM
edy for trivial people-"An Ideal Hus-
band" 1t was the first public per-
formance of an Oscar Wilde play in
London since May 25, 1895, when the
man was suddenly branded as a thing
tainted, banished beyond human sight,
his works conf1scated. managers and
publishers publicly renouncing all
their rights to the products Of him
whose very name, when spoken. was
an offence against right taste.
The performance was an instant
success. The play ran over a year
and inspired George Alexander, who
produced II. with thoughts OF reviv-
ing two other pieces in the Wilde trim
ity OF comedies-''written to teach the
world to understand what ails it,
Lady Windermeres Fan" and "A
Woman OF No Importance" For the
first time in its history IAN Ideal
Husband" with its text rearranged by
the late Sir George Alexander. is done
in America. This time when It is done
in New York Oscar Wilde's name is
on the play bill; but during the season
George Alexander reproduced the
comedy in London, crediting it to
Oscar Wilde called for a little more
courage than Sir George had in stock.
The sun., 1918-11-03
OSCAR WILDE NINETEEN YEARS AFTER

the stone that has become head OF the
corner In the jerry built temple Of our
superficial, self-assertive civilization.
And whatsoever shall fall on this stone
shall be broken; but on whomsoever 1t
shall fall 1t will grind him to powder"
Still does 1t stand, however. that
people remember the last thing a man
does. not the last thing man Is. with
the passing years kindly oblivion
enfolds all ugly memory OF the man
an oblivion that is as strong in its
forgetfulness, II not its forgiveness.
as the great strength Of popular appeal
that exists In his own works. The
creature of his times, his times did not
understand him. It could not differen-
tiate between a mans moral character
and his books. In a community that
could do no more than admire the
beauty of personal cleanliness--the
beauty OF soap and cold water--Wilde
sang OF the beauty OF silks and marbles
and rare stones-beauty for it's own
sake. And under the pressure Of the
most prosaic of surroundings he pro-
duced works of transcendent beauty.
But It has taken England-and still
the lesson Is not entirely learned
nineteen years to realize, as Wilde said
Of Wainwright in pen. Pencil and
Poison" that "the fact OF a man being
a prisoner Is nothing against his
prose" In spite OF the unfortunate,
abject but easily condoned and readily
understood humility OF DE Profundis,"
the beauty of the artist Is rising more
md clear raenlpnHant and
comprehensive from the ashes OF the
man. The trying poseur. that start
ling fiction of himself that Wilde in
dustriously and studiously built up by
years Of attitudinizing-wlth such fix
lures as blue china, sunflowers. knee
breeches. @stheticism. green carna-
tons and the like-has passed away,
and what remains Is constantly
growing realization and appreciation
OF our one flawless English artist of
words. The truth OF the words that
Sebastian Melmoth spoke in bitter
ness in the little village in France is in
full process. not to the hurt but to the
help OF his name and fame, like a
balm of Gilead to his many wounds
the public is getting to know the man
by the last thing he did, not the last
thing he was.
People have forgotten that strange
fiamboyant, startling eSotist that burst
upon the world like a comet. sig
mailing his arrival. though in penury
with his famous pun on Henry irving
legs - that "one is a poem and the
other a symphony'-and they are re-
membering rather the author OF The
Soul OF Man Under Socialism," with its
singularly apt saying that "a work OF
art is the unique result OF unique
temperament. Its beauty comes from
the fact that the author Is what he is.
II has nothing to do with the fact that
other people want what they want" or
its other equally sentient saying that
there is not a single real poet or prose
writer Of this century on whom the
The sun., 1918-11-03

rebellions, the vef principle OF which
10 the disdain OF n laws, the despise-
ment OF any system or proportion. he
was inevitably strangled by the ex-
ercise OF his own individualism.
Life. until It. took him rudely by
the shoulders, was a tedious, ugly,
course fibred creature that 1t was the
duty of the artist to refine to the ends
OF art. THE proper school to learn
art In II not life, but art" he said
Art begins with abstract decoration,
with purely imaginative and pleasur-
able work dealing with what is un-
real and non-existent. This IL the
first stage. Then life becomes fas-
cinated with this new wonder. and
asks to be admitted into the charmed
circle. Art takes life as part OF her
rough material. recreates II, and re-
fashions II In fresh forms; IL abso-
lutely Indifferent 20 fact; invents,
lmagines. dreams and keeps between
herself and reality the impenetrable
barrier Of beautiful style. Of decora-
tive or ideal treatment. The third
stage Is when life gets the upper hand
and drives art out into the wilderness.
This is the true decadence, and It is
from this that we are now suffering"
Thus this radiant, honey worded,
unanswerable despiser Of life con-
tinued, irrespective OF life's laws, the
worldwide pursuit OF that beauty which
Is not truth and that truth which is not
beauty--a golden tongued mailman in
pursuit OF a miragc--and the end was
the Dead Sea. He knew better than
anybody what the end had to be.
In the very hour that he thought to
defeat life and the world he stopped
to pay tribute to It's victories over all
those rebels. like Wainwright and
Paul Verlsine. who had gone before.
as II in presentiment that he too would
30 down beneath Its inexorably grind
ing wheels. The world Is very stern
with those that thwart her." he said
She lays down her precepts. and woe
to those who dare to think for them
selves. who venture to exercise their
own discretion as to whether they shall
allow their individuality and natural
characteristics to be stamped out, to
be obliterated under the leaden fingers
or conventions. Truly. convention Is
The sun., 1918-11-03

came that Oscar wilde's name had
been stricken from the list OF the liv-
ing, that the man had fallen from the
topmost heights to unthinkable depths,
that English cant had found fresh
victim and that a typical English mob
was dancing for Joy in front OF the
court house in which Wilde had been
condemned.
Instantly the theatre was closed, the
actors dismissed, a hasty conference
held and search made for a new play
that could at once be put into re-
hearsal. Meantime all England was
gloating over a taste OF the king OF
sportsman hunting. The wrath Of
the Philistines was at fever heat; the
newspapers famed It into an organ
lied crusade. When he might easily
have fed, Wilde continued on the
scene. with head erect, without utter
Ing a word Of reproach to his enemies,
he remained to meet the nameless
fate which speedily followed. High and
low turned against him in common
hatred. 1t seemed as II all London
had rallied itself into a mob that
fairly thirsted for him. Two hotels
closed their doors against him: one
because a mob was raging before 1t,
threatening to storm the house. Many
Of that mob the night before had sat
In delight before the finely polished
wit of him whom they would obliterate.
Everybody knows the rest Of the
tragic story. They took him away
The sun., 1918-11-03

into good. On the morning OF a single
day he occupied a postum OF topmost
eminence in the world of art, dazzling
and delighting two worlds, eagerly lis
tened to by delighted public for the
Incompatible saying that was sure to
fall from his lips-triumphantly en-
tertaining a hos. of readers with the
talent that he expended on his books
and charming enemies into the posi-
ton Of friends by genius that he ex-
efcised In conversation and on the
night of the same day he stood a
manacled prisoner on the platform Of
Chaplain Junction depot, laughed at.
jeered at and spat upon by the very
people who twenty-four hours earlier
had acknowledged him a monarch Of
the mind. His career Is the most
tragic in modern literature or life II
is full of contrasts. contradictions. an
amazingly gro.eslue arabesque o. the
sublime and the ridiculous; II y were
not real 1t would be laughable.
He was a Midas possessed of an un-
told wealth OF wondrous words In
which he loved to thrust his fingers,
scattering his finely minted coins to the
four corners of the earth, identifying
Whatever OBJECT they touched-subli-
mating to the ideal that which had
seemed common and popularizing as
poets OF art that had hitherto been the
exclusive enjoyment of the few with a
charm and beauty of exposition that
brought them within the reach of the
many. He was such a magical artist
at fishioniny exquisite mosiacs OF ex-
actly placed words that he excelled
easily and gracefully at whatever form
of literature he attempted.
But life to him was, except at the
very last, merely an aspect Of art.
In the end he got to know that life
Is very real and that art 10 an aspect
OF life. But he came the nearest to
being successful rebel against life
and its conventions that the world has
ever seen. Had he succeeded he might
now be known as the champion of in
dividualism over stultifying conven-
tionality-but that one thing. the sim
gle fly In his wonderfully, beautifully
lambert amber. wrecked him-like all
individualis.s, like all leaders of new
The sun., 1918-11-03

He left the authors name off the pro-
gramme and off the printed bills.
Then occurred n singular common
tary on the public. Scores of letters
were written to the press protesting
against the cruel neglect that had been
done Oscar Wilde by the anonymous
performance Of his comedy, which had
suddenly became as great a vogue
as in the days of its first performance.
Sir George Alexander read these let
tiers unmoved. He had good reason to
be timid. Finally Steps were taken to
call a public meeting in justice TO the
memory of Wilde, whom these very
advocates Of posthumous justice had
once driven into unthinkable misery.
perhaps deservedly but without a
hearing To this genuine show of
real desire that Wilde be given credit
for his work Sir George Alexander
obediently bowed and had the name of
Oscar Wilde again printed on the pro-
gramme OF the st. James Theatre. just
as it had appeared on that terrible
May 25, 1895.
For II was on the stage of the St.
James Theatre nineteen years earlier
that The Importance of Being Ear
nest" was being acted when its author,
Oscar Wilde, furnished the proof--if
proof was wantinS-that 1t is but
step. or less than a step, from the ia
nous to the infamous. 1t was on the
stage of this very St. James Theatre
that Sir George Alexander was acting
in AN Ideal Husband" when the news
The sun., 1918-11-03
by JOHN d. WILLIAMS.

A T Berneval. a quiet little village
n near Dieppe, France, Sebastian
Melmoth, an ex-convict Just
discharged from sentence OF two
years at hard labor in the most relent-
.ess of English penitentiaries. sat
chatting with Andre eide, the only
living being with heart enough to
seek out the man whom all the world
still declared a criminal and who still
felt himself such.
II was in the winter Of 1897. A tor
rife storm was raging along the sea-
coast near by. Melmoti and Glide were
comfortably placed in the best rooms
of the only hotel in the village. eide
watched and listened while his COM
ranion affected a smile and fcebly ex-
erted the shadow of his former won
derful charm. What Glide saw was
the face Of a dandy grown rid and
common looking; the hands OF a poet
swollen and red and SCARED with
wounds got by terrible prison labor.
What Glide heard was a sorrowful
man. at first family jocund, finally
kNo up the pIettuCe Oh BOO0 Cneef,
acknowledge himself utterly crushed.
and lament the stony heartedness Of q
world that only knows a man by the
last thing he has done.
Two years later Sebastian Melmoth
died in a shabby little hotel In the Rue
des Beaux Arts in Paris. Seven per-
sons followed the hearse. On the coffin
was an artificial wreath-an uninten-
tional but poignantly true as we'll as
cruel shaft of irony at one who. as
King OF Dandies. lived a life that was
the very quintessence Of artifciality.
Motley was his name from Toe hour
OF his birth. They christened him
Oscar Finga1 O'Flahertie Wills Wilde.
He was the most exquisite artificer of
epigrams. aphorisms and paradoxes
the nineteenth century produced; and
Vet no paradox ever leaped from his
lips half as paradoxical as himself
His own biography is the story Of one
who turned that which was good in his
life into evil and that which was evil
The sun., 1918-11-03
Vaudeville and Burlesque.

The Palace bill is signalized
by a strong dancing feature in
which Bessie Clayton and the
Cansinos take part. Charles Sale
returns to the two a day, as does
also Blossom Seeley, and Frisco
and Loretta McDermott remain
for a third week.
Belle Baker, who last year
made $50 appearances in New
York, will be at the Riverside,
and also Muriel Worth with her
MUSES. of. the Violin" Charley
Grapewin and Anna Chance,
Artie Melilinger and George w.
Meyer, and Frank Dobson with
q cast of fifteen in a musical
comedy.
Charles Sale shares headline
honors at the Colonial with Bert
Kalmar and Jessie Brown. Other
features include Lois Josephine
and Tyler Brooke and a patriotic
novelty entitled Art"
At the Alhambra Blanche Ring
will present Topics and Tunes
of the Times" Helen Ware will
appear as the only character in
1.-THE Eternal Barrier" dra-
matte playlet, and the Avon Com
edy Four will give THE New
Teacher"
At the Royal will be Eddie
Leonard, Valerie Bergere, Harry
Langdon with Rose and Cecil, AL
and Fanny Stedman, Hallen and
Fuller, Chic & Co. and the Glad
iators.
THE Best Show in Town" is
the title of the new burlesoue
that will be presented at the Co.
lumbia Theatre.
The sun., 1918-11-03

Clubs are trumps and leads. Y and
z want hve tricks.
The solution is for z to lead the ten
Of diamo IDS. Y plays the Ave. IL A
leads IN trump, the solution is easy.
as Y kills one of BIS trumps. puts in
with the small diamond and gets an
other trump lead through.
AS better defence Is the heart lead.
This Y trumps with the four OF clubs
and T. under-trumps with the trey,
then lc"hs the deuce Of trumps and u
wins whatever B plays. The small d!a-
mond puts Y back into the lead to start
the spades and BIS two trumps are lost.
Several failed through overlooking
the play OF the nine OF trumps on the
first trick. while others, who are APP
parently keeping a sharp lookout for
duals, missed their three points by Civ
ing a second solution, starting with the
spade. This will solve II b discards
a heart, but II he let's go a diamond
A and 3 get three tricks instead OF
one
Those having a full score to date,
points are: Alene. Henry Andersen.
Frederick Bergen. B. d. Blair. q. i.
Bowen. Candidate, Gee Tee. Martin
Dbhle. w. y. HNl, C. F. Johnson, $. s.
Milford, r. g. OBrien. Winsor Palmer
Jay Reed Chas. VI. Root. L. w. White,
.. \. W., w. p. w.
Those with S points are: Chas. An
,-ws, F.. T. Greenwood. II. d. SIN
lair. Those with are y. Mcintyre,
RI. w. Walker, Those with are: Ros-
coe c. Harris. y. Monkey, J. w Wortz
and NJ. VI. O'Roorke. ]. c. Curtis has S,
and NJ, L. W. starts with 3.
BRIDGE PROBLEM no. sos.
The sun., 1918-11-03
By r. F. FOSTER.

There are many ways in which the
average auction player might improve
his bidding methods. especially in maxi
ing It clear to his partner what he il
assisting on. or. II he Is the original
bidder, concealing his supporting suit
from his opponents.
1t is an axiom among good players
that II there Is a sound bid in a major
suit, that suit should be bid as far
as the strength OF the hand will go. A
mistake made by the beginner is In quit
ting the major suit to show the minor
suit that supports It, This at once be-
trays to the adversaries that there Is
nothing else in the hand. Here Is an
example OF this fault:
The sun., 1918-11-03
HIPPODROME.

Everything" entered the
fourth month of its career at the
Hippodrome last week. A new
episode called THE Rainbow
Ballet" will be added this week
to the Beginning of the World"
Desiree Lubovska, the premiere
danseuse, will be assisted by
Marion Saki, Inez Bauer, Helen
Greenleaf Patterson, Nellie
Breen, Katie Breen. Cissie Hay
den and 900 coryphees of the
Hippodrome ballet.
The sun., 1918-11-03

and put him in kind Of rabbit cage,
with roof OF wire netting. They
gave him bags to sew and left him to
be forgotten. That Is the way of the
mob. The very essence Of Philistinism
that part Of a mans being not IL
lumined by. ina gination"-is the mob
spirit In the prison cell, whose door
was always closed TO his friends but
open 10 his enemies. they killed the
man; he upon whom fell the stone OF
the worlds disapproval was ground
into powder, but the artist lives.
The sun., 1918-11-03
Brooklyn Vaudeville.

Lillian Russell will be the SUI
preme feature at the Orpheum.
Nan Halperin will remain for a
second week, and the bill in
cludes William Worsley, Harri-
son Greene and Katie crime
Parker and Charlie Chaplin's
film. Shoulder Arms"
The Morton Family will meet
at the Busfwick, where other at
fractions will be the Chaplin
film, Shoulder Arms; THE
Twin Wedding Party of Vaude-
VILE" and Billie Montgomery
and George Perry will present
The Newlyweds."
The Frolics of the Mite" will
be the attraction at the Star,
with a large cast of principals
and elaborate scenery and cos
tunes. Good wrestling bouts are
promised for Tuesday.
The sun., 1918-11-03
Mistakes by Beginners in Bidding

bled. This made II clear to that his
partner had some heart strength. and
that some Of his outside strength was a
sure trick in spades. When A went
to three spades over rs return to three
hearts, Y doubled again.
This encouraged to go ahead TO four
hearts. which he made. as the only
tricks he lost were three diamonds, get
ting one diamond discard on the second
round OF spades.