davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1918-08-13
SELECT PULLETS
FOR next WINTER
CuIIing Out Poor Layers and
Backward Fowls Saves Feed,
Room, Time and Labor.
MORE EGGS WITH LESS COST
Problem lS 70 Select Hens That MAJ
Reasonably Be Expected to Pro-
duee We'll for Remainder Of
Year and After Melting.

The coming Of July means to the
poultry raiser that II is time to count
the layers for next winter and to be.
gin to give them the preferential treat
ment that will make them ready for
good work In the season of high
prices.
Selecting According 70 Age.
Hens Of the small breeds may be
given a higher age limit than those Of
the medium and large breeds. Late
pullets should BE- cullcd much more
severely than early pUllcts.
The ordinary laying tloc, is made up
t this season Of yearll7gS and older
ms In about equal numbers. Most Of
he older hens are two-year-0Ids,
hough often there are a few hens
;hrec, four or more years old, which
have been kept because they are IA
yprites with the owner or he was in
error about their age.
Separate Good and Poor Layers.
All hens over the age limit having
been discarded, the problem is TO Sc
lect from the remainder those that
may reasonably be expected to pro-
duce well for the remainder Of this
year and through quite long period
after melting. The points to be con-
sidered in judging hens for this pup
pose are:
% How well they have laid.
(2) Whether they are laying.
(3) Their general physical condl-
ton and its relation to future egg pro-
duction.
The owner Of a small flock who
knows the hens individually and
watches them closely will usually
know from daily observation that GER
tain hens are good layers. To identify
the rest, some principles Of selection
based upon appearance or structure
must be used.~ There are several such
principles, each Of which lndepend-
emily is servlceable for the purpose,
though not infallible. II judgments Of
a hen by these different principles
agree rs to her probable performance
as a layer their common verdict may
be taken as in all probability rect.
When they disagree the case ONES
doubtful and the relative values Of the
several conclusions on the different
points must be weighed according 20
circumstances which might affect
them.
Strictly, culllng is the removing Of
the culls, or as they are sometimes
Called-the wastOrs. When these have
been eliminated those which remain
are presumably profitable producers.
Where there has not been culling
throughout the season 10 discard hens
not In good laying copdl.
tIon, carefully culllng az this time will
usually leave not more than half Of
the yearllng hens Ia be reserved for
another year.
Identifying the Poor Layers.
A hen that at this season has smooth
bright piumAge, and shanks and beak
Of deep yellow, CT q rosy flesh color,
or frcsh.looking black or slate--as the
case may be-thereby certlnes that
she has not been a profitable lnys'.
The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1918-08-13
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS..
GULL GROWING PULLETS

A flock Of growing pullets
nearly always contains n consld-
cradle proportion Of birds very
much under size or in other
ways poorly developed. Most
poultry keepers are inclined TO
keep these until the flock IL
culled at maturity. II Is much
better to Gull them out as soon
as they are marked as consplcu.
Ously backward.
In war time, with feed scarce,
press Of other more important
work is the only excuse for let.
ting them remain. They will
never make a profit, and the
sooner they are eaten the less
will be the loss. Even where
foraging is good 1t does not pay
to keep them. II Is much better
TO let the good pullets have all
the feed.
The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1918-08-13
SOME Family!
359,7O9,4s2 Young
On Three Years

This startling number, according to
theTecent Governmental census, would
Be the total, In three years ting, Of q
pair Of rats and their descendants breed
ing unintefruptedlywithout deaths. This
would include IL generations, for . rat
breeds from 6 to 10 times year with an
average OF 10 young at a litter. The
need Of suppFeSSing the rat menace is
self evident-particularly when you take
into consideration that, on the average,
. single rat destroys S. worth Of food
ltufS annually. The total loss in . year
from rats Is 500, 900, 10000.
A new rat poison has recently been
discovered that will greatly aid the ma
ton ia saving the food which is 50 badly
needed by ourselves and our allies. Il IS
called Rat Mum, and destroys without
odoT. Dogs and eats will not eat il. Il
Is not spread on bread, so you do not
run this risk Of having humans eat il by
mistake. Rat Mum comes IN q cake.
You simply crumble il and put il where
the rats will get il, and you can soon rid
your place Of every one OF these waste.
Iul, diSeaSe.spFeading pests. In this way
you may save yourself hundreds Of dol.
lars yearly. And besides, you are per-
forming patriotic service, every rat you
kill. Rat Mum IS sold in Is cent pack.
ages q druggists and gT0cerO.
The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1918-08-13
UNCLE JOE IS OUT
FOR THE RECORD
His Election This Fall Will
Be His Twenty.
Second.
(pY Associated Pressl

WASHINGTON, Aug. -. 49, II the
voters Of the eighteenth Illinois dis
tGict elect uncle Joe" Cannon for a
tWenty-second term in Congress next
November, he will have equaled a rec
ord achieved by only one other in
point % congressional service. Al
ready The former speaker has out
served ell other present and former
members Of the House for long ser
vice in that body. The late William
Boyd Allison. former representative
and later senator from Iowa, held a
record IN Congress with forty-four
yeafb service in both Houses.
Mr.. CannOn'S record is for service
n The House alone. One more term
would complete q service Of forty-four
PEARS. Were Il not for an affair in
1890, when the Democrats took con.
lIol Of the House, following passage
d tie Mckinley tariff law, and anoth.
ef Incident Of 1912, when the Progress.
lives split the Republican vote, Mr..
Cannon's service would have been for
IHtnty.lour terms continuous, (forty.
eight yeafBl. As Il Is he began his
service ln 1879 and has served since
with The exception Of the two terms
mentioned.
Besides Mr. Cannon and the late
Senator Allison. Justin Morrill,, OF Yer.
mont late representative and senator,
A among the former members who
saw long service in Congress. Mr..
Morrill, served fOTty.three years con.
tnu1n8ly aS q representative and Ia.
lef 10 q senator.
NIf C4nnOn'S first term was in the
IoIiy.ihird Congress. He was first
elected speaker IN the fiity-eighth
Co15It1s and reelected in the fifty.
nnla. slEileth ana siXty.first sessions.
The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1918-08-13

There 10 more SataTrh IN this section OF th'
country than all other diseases put together, hn'
until the last few yeaFs was supposed TO b
incufable. For . great many years DOCTOR
remedies and By constantly falling 10 cure viii
local treatment, pronounced Il incunble. Science
has proven CAtnPTh 10 BE- q constitutional disease
and therefore requires constitutional treatment
Halle CataEEh Cure, Manufactured By 3. J
tiOnal cure on the market. u e taken internally
IN doses from 10 drops 90 q teasp0onful. Il aeti
directly on the blood and mucous surfaces Of
the system. TAey oRsF one hundred dollars "a
any case e fails 20 cure, Hshd for circulars Gnt
Testimonials.
Address; ?. J. CHENEY Z CO., TOleGO Ollie.
Sold b. Druggists. 7Se.
Take Hairs Family PiIlS ~ SosStipaHOa.
The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1918-08-13

Bartlett-Jchn A. Ford, Columbus
o.; c. A. Arnold, Zanesville. o.; Il. F
Neptune, Cameron; J. B. Hutchinson
Cameron; Jas. Mcpherson, A. Z. New
by, Pittsburgh.
Wells-J. X. Brown, Geneva, o.;
Jesse Taylor and wife, Clarksburg; J
NJ. Taylor. Carlson, Pa; c. F. Bland
Taylor COnklin, Hundred; j. William
son. Clarksburg; Rex p, Milliken
Moundsvllle; Garrett Campbell, Ry
mer.
The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1918-08-13
Stnn for Nlait.

DR.. and Mrs. c. 8. CochRane, Of
Martins Ferry. Ohio. were guests OF
the latteT's mother, Mrs. M9rgaet A.
Beatty, in Pleasant steet for the past
few days en- route home from Noun.
tain Lake Park, Nd.
The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1918-08-13
LITTLG SON DIES.

Louis nlehard Shaver. son OF Mr..
and Mrs. w. A. Shaver. Of Bentons
oIIN died yesterday morning shortly
before noon 1t the home Of his par.
rull amer Q days illness. He was
||1I two years. Funeral services
were he'd this morning and interment
"19 made 90 the cemetery at ColfaX.
The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1918-08-13
Guests in erookside.

Mr. and Mrs Clyde Pitzer, of Pitts.
burEh, Pa. and Mr.. and Mrs. Nichols.
Of MorsantowL have arrived by auto
for a visit with the formers parents,
Mr.. and Mrs. Charles f. Pitzer, in
BroOkside.
The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1918-08-13
To White SULPHUR.

DR.. and Mrs. +. W. Vance and chill.
dren, Eugenia and John left today by
auto for White Sulphur Springs ana
other points in the Alleghenies. They
will spend several weeks.
The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1918-08-13
From Preston.

Mr.. and Mrs. A. r. Conway and
sons motored TO Evansville, Preston
county, spending Sunday with rela
tives. The Misses Kimball, nieces Of
Mrs. Conway, accompanied them
home for a visit.
The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1918-08-13
Return 70 Charleston.

Mrs. Elizabeth Haislop and grand.
children, Edward and Miss Helen.
have returned to their homes in
Charleston after spending the sum.
mer with the formers daughters, Mrs.
Ach Flick and Mrs r. H. Wagner.
The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1918-08-13
CANNING Trip.

Mr.. and Mrs y b. Warder and chill.
dren, Mr.. and Mrs. c. NJ Chaddock,
and the latter's mother, Mrs. Lake,
have gone to Upshur county on a mo.
tor camping trip.
The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1918-08-13
WARRINGTON
AZ peleuate.

Mrs. Joseph Leigh left today FOR
Mountain Lake Park. Nd. as a dele.
gate 10 the Bible Conference tOD the
local Westminster Guild
The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1918-08-13
Called BY Illness.

Mrs. Thomas McNicholas has gone
TO Cameron for a visit with her moth.
er, Mrs. D. NJ. MackeY who Is quite
III.
The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1918-08-13
ldentIiYlnH &c Poor LaYera.

A hen that at this season has smooth
bright piumAge, and shanks and beak
Of a deep yellow, CT q rosy flesh color,
or frcshlooking black or slate--as the
case may be-thereby certlfes that
she has not been a profitable lnya'.
The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1918-08-13

Women's long sleeve, button
front, embroidery trimmed, soft
finished bleached muslin night
gowns, sizes lG and II. With cou-
BON Sis (V.
Nord stern. [volume] (La Crosse, Wis.) 1856-1921, 1918-04-12
Rnidlinen. @arn

Rerrid's bcIte2 & Sooen-R aihi.
ncugaru. 200 9orbs oui Der
Roue. Spejinl per SpuIc. &c
Nord stern. [volume] (La Crosse, Wis.) 1856-1921, 1918-04-12
1br fanf1is Collar fieiheitsbond.

dIate service. supplied by Bureau
l'ubltrlty. Treasury department.
Ad~shinEioH. ~ e.. uf which transla-
I"h has ~tvcn MED with the Fost-
Efa~t"r st cleveland. o., April IL
l"i IS required 10y the Act 81 oct
Er piyo tonieun Soto7te por ben
slo'ttru uno observation-disclosures
st5Jl Dor I0pbu9 bepabren. lFr
plyo Die Steering pou hunrertueun
iuoorejril oeyuVno;ttu So.oaten le
ltu Neuititartt, oe,en Reme i'm
2t!atihen &ootu ihparmW ltpdbr
lett en-.
6r Miro glerhmctrt Cperatjouen
'hmty}lo2 Qelid,ttn, @a0oaatn III
&dult Q 'lrtj N,tiIcu llticut &c
uu} un iJnibmotrtijn'unoiiuiiil
2&anoeu }u >tybMom.
Hr pura. in Ntitdlt ron .Hoihi.f
p1tttcn' hunotr;itf}la 8erlebun3tu
Die eg't Niirioyec w.e,l psJoen Ioi
len.
81 Nib 0enu1 u.itgfloItsr uuo
&tyoauo3, &c ltieyn. an :ouitnotu
oego4uoticr Srlont.a sam Aubsn gu
lttut1u.
$eeer 91U'sr s;Gts 1rtibeitebcno.
eriUIlt tiGtu 1tillmnteu Gin5dojtnit
ilir un'ey Houo UHn unitrt in 75garl
ctih !lmritHnm %un,sn.
Nord stern. [volume] (La Crosse, Wis.) 1856-1921, 1918-04-12

IN GoniQre;f 6annorer Sat
ten Die gsatiINunen Der blr9trlld}sn
RIoFtsy Cber en- uuo Die Der aoliQen
8eneyalmaIoysrdng
u abrsnr Scr GntpttlunQ ii,
mes Nubndltus I'm 81 miro s.lua 10
p:sI Narms sHt!ptte,t lpjt bel ser
@trby,nnuna pon orsi 6rnmm Sttln.
tohIt.
TtrtItir Its Stern, Der bisber
fsitatitslt pRyoe. t1t tinsn Durhs
mshsr pom botittrs 3 Silomster.
Er aehpvt Su Der @ruppt Der Ssfte.
roioen.
Wdhrsuo Der 9syooerung ron
VarjS psTishrts eis 'tone. uielbes
rpuuoeyts GGduipititrin GrIeue
0cuHane ale &apaQeitr oes 3ooloo;.
ittu G1rtsns.
Ta4 &Gtuum Der @llbldmpsn
in uitt pouiiucjQ. Rat hdptn IL
cine Sgauuua9 ron 0.Ol Wjljmstsr.
Die rcdhreno He5 9y;uutns oai Q05
Qiiui.nttsr ittjQt.
Nord stern. [volume] (La Crosse, Wis.) 1856-1921, 1918-04-12
Ans Antinha.
Slcine Retbereier suiitcn oci. Wcica.
dldi%tStinIer.

Sn einsm Bute uber Gurlano, oas
9ono Ger 80Itsn. iutt Der Y~srfnIs
Ter Nuoptq Arunier, Elm Dor peuIs
gen Slbren peritorbeuer Sdriftlteuer.
n1bSuptIien. o0b lif IN aurlauo
Die oerlhteoeueu Stdnoe geieQlhatts
lid ndber lteben, uno p0B bort odber
audi Der llieosre Dem 9obtt9eitelllsn
nlh; le!ttH enc rspt iddrle autiport
e~rtCtIt. Ter 9ettatsr btlpeIlt pes
ourd) DIE ItltttlIuls Ser naGfolaens
Cen ortl antt0olsn. Der U~tdtquis
oon Y0utullt. Der Uener1IQoupstntuI
pet Grltcpyopln5en, Sup siult III R;9u
eth 9robea Guse. "a Dam sr ,enr
pitte Ale.l4e. GIl,5iere Sedlnte. ret
DE E0ul,Ut;e Gtiaosn bdtie. Ille lrs
Jsnoiptt 0n&ai;ptaen petloNliUtsuen
idn0en ltu otrldmmelt. Ia osmerti
Der YtdrGuls. DOB einet ltiner gans,
nuy sm tuNfadtt Sstyetdr, btlm Gtl.
idtnieH zen Surguuoerlptm etnen
9r0Btn tolt1 Sled aat Dos GIlntut
9en,1ti tat. R0ulAtct. ppn StOuCt
StlIlcnu uuo It,H. e~srtebGIen 2sns
ptv1msnts. utg9lBt. oIB Ger Sstssilr
lsin U0lt lit. uno ruli tbm in Iels
mem lt.tt;,a ltllltntihsn Gcu; 4
81: -@tyy Sstrstdl, lassn SIt oot.
IN ipos fUy tu 9LUs purosu Sis
Bonn gregg aGtr aussn gtdbtsftn
lit, 'U Is NIT Spctt, I'll Is NIT zsil,
Hoomt 1ui 0en augmriiisrsu. Der.
I'D ilt' otgas,Qtno. URtrortet: .Gr'
@jtlitnj, IN tiatm 9nuis no Nor e.
ZEN xds I'M friiGes Sjidtun uuls
eed'e. Qtr 4sntrlggoaosyutlT
|dllrt3; a ,.,;s ianta Shaun sctuns
DEN. II: juetit 0sititts 5lnotIt
yen statm !15us.tbrsr. IND Ser aLier
cts &arer a}sjut. ooR Hublduo DIS
Nctd>o ety Staysr uno Vouptrndn,
ZEN iHit'55n III. dis IL nit olt,sr
3-thct no SupoSl0mmenastt bee
2a">SH C4sot7, .pt2pl,5 nh os
.t3"iEis.t'%;U 9e.ioutu ItIn, 81
Nord stern. [volume] (La Crosse, Wis.) 1856-1921, 1918-04-12
Dir 3, frribritGanlribr
Nus rtncr 9ic0c ntS Sdntnmtsietrc.
tnrs " u MirNlnnn-


ulate Service supplied ny bureau
q PueIictty Treasury Department
W~aFhtnEton u. G.. Of which transla-
ton has been fled with the rost-
master at Cleveland o.. Npril II
6. 1919
~Nondle 2entc hotcn mir Qcioof
oob Sic 3ln@rnte an, observation-disclosures
81 n,cora it,. nno mir ms Nnhty
nld't oui ocn Edtrlotl2umrs See
0ntr'IduI'd,cu Collie p|crloiicl,
fouutcl ooii C Nitic Ncuo= Gllit
Nan III N wit QrNumNcn Sic
3in&rotr hohcr ouiu'ctcn rauut BIC
No1N@ lld 'dmt.Icr uuN lcld'tcr ncr.
fOa'tcu. I'd, Qlonbc mdlt mtlac
Hrcuu0c. N0G 6 urtrcnnm lii. Sen
3ruaiuH oct AoHNa ~ rrhohcu nm
ne iD rc%tt0ultu ,%h 0loupc uIdt.
ouG Scr E0tri2f,Nuua NutgrlFa> nd
"a otiu .,tu5'uB cues Nta,cum0@
bou0H auaorNft ,<d 0llutr uld,t
>0G ocr amcittun'd'c 2pHdr ctu
NIllh'tur1 ~ NM nau Aohtu }iu"-
rotsli 3cfoat ntyNcu nuns. menu Der
"',,}l etf N'"'''hho ooH'''rt li'It
"'''' f.@s tP'''' ''Nj ,>'rr hd''
II '@l' Of o't''''W 'oHdI'' nh ~
.'''' h19'5t H't0''r N~t'ieNt0y'. n'li
'r'' a.~iffHfaatNtr' %''i' ni1'i> jit
'''NI'4'3'lt #iN'''ia'td 'oHil o'E
''i.l "'' 1'1'' ale ''ti ri'tt N''
'nih.''otii ''Np''i'i N''Hn'''i aEi
if't'o'''''ia a }'H"'n'''s ~
''.''''t+'''. ,H''' W ga V'''ni
f't'''l''.'' '''A '''.''N MN oa''it
Nord stern. [volume] (La Crosse, Wis.) 1856-1921, 1918-04-12

WiBsn unO OreiItiqteiten perleiten
Iaiien. Sin Gebrer nunlens unbebas
gen begriBte emit einen Gut oes
Suites. auf benz er ais 9auslsbrer
tdti9 mar, einen Baron Don Rummel,
Der fsbr ipdt e%introf, nit ben QBors
ten: rRun, 6err Baron, Sic fnb
pobl aud nur 10 berssrummelt?!"
Der Baron erDioerte fdlaefertia:
rSprshen Sic mir nitt pon Der
f6redltden 6abrt! Sd Tam nur
nit benz steIboftsftsn unbeba9en oa.
BON rsosn." War aud bier be, 9ss
isuihoftlih Undergraduate Der 4in>
~ein9sfnlens, Der fir cine 2~otnoiigteit
cine tIeine 3uhtI9unq perblente 10
3eigts Die 8eidlhts bob, ooB man
Dem 9auslebrer 9sieI,hoftlia Die
9leihbsretti9te Steuun9 nit Dem
8oits sinrdumte." Sn Der oritten
Bsididte it Der 9siel16dttlit)e 4bz
Itauo 5ipllten BEN 9etslIigten nod
9roEsy. Die erIte Psrion Der Stoot
@oIoInaen mar betOnnt ourh ie6r
9uten Appsttt dber 6arh isbr germ
&c Arbeit5frFuoisteit. Run betam
oieitr piei eHenoe. Ipertg 0rbeitsnOe
9str lpsiBs Q1oIe in leinen goden7
hnrt. pobrsno oIs 5topfbldr oopon
perifont bIieb. Gr tsira9te barber
leinsn Barrier. uHo otelsr, iid nitt
l1nqe %bsiinnsno, msinii; Dos tommt
ooher. neil Sic nit Sem Wunoe 10
rist. nit Dem &opfe Iu neniS arbsi.
'en,'
Nord stern. [volume] (La Crosse, Wis.) 1856-1921, 1918-04-12

fam cmcu 9jeaicumNabon0 foufcn
oocr n~cttnuien. luenn cr Is mUmldlt.
IS 1T NclctnIo6INC3 @on0tln mo
mcntonO min ~gelcgmdBlQca Nnn0eIn
bccntroftiQru SD nlod'te ,Sbncu ic.
0odl Dos enc flor MAIDEN. mclitc
NitbilrNcr: menu Sic mirflid, 30
trioten llnb mcnu Sic mlrtIid) al
hcl'cn. mcru &c mtrtIld) oeu SIRE.
Olt &hrcr McNlerun9 III beitiibcn.
i'm ltnrt gu MADDEN Sore Hcd)tc uro
,Sbrc N%rclhcltcu III bcluubrcu min.
ldsn. bann maTm Sir Die R,giss
rnnQsbonos beboItsn. Die Sis %tlufsn.
ocm ho@ MT Mas b0dltc otbot 0Ct
StluNr"
Nord stern. [volume] (La Crosse, Wis.) 1856-1921, 1918-04-12

penn tptr gum 8dller 1dQen tonnten.
onB Hiht neun Wiaionen ieh36uroert
t%Nuieno omerItdnjite 8ijrger. ME ,ti
Der Is3ten 9nIej5e. le3eihnct bu6en.
Ionoeru . t oleie Nuagube non flint
itbu Y}illonen ooer 1ronn3i9 Wiaio
zen omerjtamiifen 9irgern lsnom
zen muroe2 Wenu oa5 geihGbe. 10
oiiroe es Elm 9roButti9es &lement be,
5tQrJe in Der Iinan2ielsn StelIun1
ots 2unoes uno ron peitreihenoer
NirtunF aui Die ulI1sne'1t Yuse in
oit;i6;uitllsr 6inFyht fem
Nord stern. [volume] (La Crosse, Wis.) 1856-1921, 1918-04-12
Die dri,ts frsitsitsazIsits.


suS uHtr S0c sE snasamtstttTuals
4 ~ &CShsa
.tilate SeFNtct >aVuti~d bN BErrAN
q Publicity TtrtSutN department
N7SnuAtou. y. e.. ut which trauSla
t1on has beer flied With the Iost
tAaSttf AZ 'IvNti,8d. a. Anil ~
1915. sS required uy the Act - Oct
= ist1N
-It ms5y 2t1tt N%Iufsiaooa5y
ScuoS una Nunotytc3uay Waucs
mo fuu'sunotrt>ca.. 8oGcS tla
len. oeito ceFer III Is IA, amtgii.
uRo eti!c tH:nutistnos. lii uni;.t
Jtjnoe N,iitu Sic mart. oab e
ZEN 5toS'tu G.ne:ad mattH ipJlN;
New-York tribune., 1918-03-31
Mah0met TT Owned the First
BIG Gun

N%HE first great gun IN history was
cast for Mahomet II for use at
the siege of Constantinople by
Urban, Dane or Hungarian WI hav-
ing been almost starved in the Greek ser
vice, deserted to the Moslems. Mahomet,
according to Gibbon, ''studied with pecu-
liar care the recent and stupendous dis
covery of the Latins; and his artillery
surpassed whatever yet had appeared IN
the world" He asked Urban if he could
construct cannon large enough to batter
the walls of the city, and received sat-
isfactory reply. To quote Gibbon:
con this assurance, foundry was estab-
lshed at Hadrianople; the metal was pre-
pared, and at the end of three months,
Urban produced s. piece Of brass ordnance
of stupendous and almost incredible mag
nitude; measure of twelve palms IS as
signed to the bore, and the stone bullet
weighed above six hundred pounds.
vacant place before the palace was
chosen for the first experiment, but, 70
prevent the sudden and mischievous effects
of astonishment and fear, proclamation
was issued to the effect that the cannon
would be discharged the ensuing day. The
explosion was felt or heard ir the circuit
of 100 furongs, the ball by the force Of
gunpowder, was driven above a mile, and
on the spot where it fell it buried it.
self a fathom deep in the ground. For
the conveyance of this destructive engine,
a frame or carriage of thirty wagons
linked together and drawn along by
team of sixty oxen; two hundred men on
both sides were stationed to poise and
support the rolling weight; two hun
dred and fifty workmen marched before
to smooth the way and repair the bridges,
and near two months were employed IN
laborous journey of one hundred and fifty
miles. A lively philosopher derides on this
occasion the credulity of the Greeks, and
observes with much reason that we should
always distrust the exaggerations of a van
quished people. He calculates that bail
even of one hundred pounds, would require
a charge of one hundred and fifty pounds
of powder, and that the stroke would be
feeble and impotent, since not fifteenth
part Of the mass could be infamed at the
same moment. A stranger as | am to the
art of destruction, can discern that the
modern improvements of artillery prefer the
number of pieces to the weight of metal
the ouickness of fire to the sound or even
the consequences Of single explosion. Yet
l dare not re ject the positive and unanimous
evidence of contemporary writers, nor can
1t seem improbable that the first artists in
their rude and ambitious efforts, should
have transgressed the standard of modera-
ton. Turkish cannon, more enormous
than that of Mahomet still guards the en-
trance to the Dardanelles, and if the use be
Aasanvenent. it has been found on late
New-York tribune., 1918-03-31

probably both the propelling force and
of the shell.
General Leonard Wood, as quoted in
The New York Herald" of Monday,
held that "a very intense aeroplane
bombardment has resulted in the mis-
leading report of the great German in
strument of war"
Experts at Washington were equally
skeptical According to "The Herald":
"Major Charles f Armstrong, Ordnance
Department, L. S. A., at Washington, gave
figures to prove that gun with a range
of seventy miles would be impossible. He
said the shell would have to have an in
itial velocity OF 4,4OO feet second, which
would burn up the she'll by friction with
the air He also said the gun would have
to have a length of 10 feet, which would
be impossible as it would curve under the
fire and weight after few shells were
fred. He suggested that the shells might
be aerial torpedoes or that they were fired
from q gun concealed within twenty miles
of Paris
Colonel Grin B. Mitcham, chief ord
nance officer for the Department of the
East, said there might be such gun,
but that it was theoretically impossi-
ble."
Experts at the Aero Club were equally
difficult to convince
There is no doubt, however, as to the
large part played by big guns both in
history and in fiction. A few examples
New-York tribune., 1918-03-31

the gun. This crowning example of the
human minds destructive ingenuity had
cost the German government five million
marks and had required three years for its
construction, and by no means the least Of
its devilsh capacities was that Of auto
matically reloading and firing itself at the
interval Of every ten seconds, its ,nuzzle
rising. falling or veering slightly from side
to side with each discharge thus Causing
the shells to fall at wide distances. The
poisonous nature Of the immense volumes
of gas poured out by the mastodon when in
action necessitated the withdrawal of it's
crew to d safe distance But once set in
motion it needed no attendant
The gun just described, so much more
formidable than the instrument of de-
struction really aimed at Paris by the
Germans, is described in THE Man Who
Rocked the Earth" by Arthur Train,
published in 1915. 1t went too far wide
of the mark to damage Paris in the
story, and soon blew up, utterly destroy
ing the German camp in its neighbor-
hood. 1t must not be assumed that Mr..
Train was a prophet, or that the actual
weapon used against Paris was a relay
gun" In fact, the first lines of Mr..
Trains book assert:
"By July /, 1916, the war had involved
every civilized nation upon the globe except
the United States of North and South Amer
ica, which had, up to that time, succeeded
in maintaining their neutrality. Belgium,
Holland, Denmark, Switzerland. Poland,
Austria Hungary, Lombardy and Serbia had
been q vastated."