davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-05-05

ership of properly or income and those
among those required to register"
man. sssis.ane to say A.tonney e
Richie. speaks for itself. It is the
first attempt to wake the idle rich up
to the necessity Of putting their Shout
ders to the wheel and helping to pro-
try in time of national emergency"
The requirement in Maryland is that
every able-bodied male between the
ages Of eighteen and fifty. schoolboys
larly and continuously employed at
some job that will help the nation win
the war. And idle men, the authorities
say. are being fined and sent to- jail.
port themselves or are supported by
their relatives.
New Jersey passed it's compulsory
h lanor law putting society idless he
last. It closely follows the law Of
Maryland. A proclamation by Gov.
Edge. issued early in March. ordered
the police and other officers to exercise
a sharp vigilance for those voorhees,
individuals whose lack of ambition and
fondness for idleness constitute not
merely a financial burden to every
community nm but also a genuine menace
under arms and their safety on the
battle front"
So far, state war laws dealing with
idleness specifically cover resident loaf
gather up the hoboes, if any should
appear. All states possibly can deal
with itinerant buns by means OF the
statutes now on their books.
hoboes are abroad in the land. Tkey
move. in long struggling lines. from
east to west and back again and from
north to south and from the gulf to the
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-05-05

Glad 1t amuses you" says I. startin'
to move of.
lowin' along. Don't get crabby.
What-what is 1t, anyway9"ts
Its a baby" says l. quite a young
one. Now. go laugh your fat head off.
you human hyena." -. !.
With that shot dashes through the
traffic and catches a downtown car.
leavin' him there with his silly face
unhinged. And did no more announcin'
to anybody. / was through advertiser.
When some of the commuters on the
1903 heard, the news and started springin'
their comic cracks on me pretended
didn't understand.
I don't know what they thought I
didn't give whoop, either. I wasn't
demandin' that anybody should pass
solemn resolutions thankin' me for
what I'd done for my country. or stand
with their hats of as went by. But
I was overstocked on this joke-book
junk.
Maybe didn't look like father, or
act like one. but I was dom my best
on the short notice I'd had.
I will say for Wee that she stood by
me noble. She seemed to think-what-
ever did was all right, even when I
SHE'D at holdin' the youngster for the
first time.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-05-05
BUCKIN BRONCHO ACT
WHEN THERE A DOORWAY"

to be in a case like that made more
breaks than ever. I'd forget about the
youngster bein' asleep and cut loose
with something noisy at the wrong
time. Or I'd jolt her some other way.
But she held in until. one night after
dinner, when the baby had INDUCED in
too much day s1eepin' and was carryin'
on a bit, takes notion to soothe
him with a few humorous antics while
Auntie is safe downstairs. You see, I'd
never been able to get him to take any
notice Of me before; but this time. after
I'd done a swell imitation Of a Fred
Stone dance. had him cooin' approvin.
the nurse smotherin' q smile and Wee
snickerin'.'
Naturally has to follow it up with
something else. I was down on my
hands and knees dom buckin' bronco
act across the floor, when there comes
this gasp from the doorway. 1t seems
Auntie was passfn' by, and peeked in.
Her eyebrows go up. her mouth. corners
come down. and she sstfffens like she'd
grabbed high-yoltage feed wire. :. I
saw 1t comm, but the best ] can do Is
steady myself on my fingers and toes
and wish had cotton In my ears.
Really" says she. Are you never to
realize. young man. that you are now
supposed to be husband and a
father?'
And, before can shoot back word,
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-05-05

Then ] runs across my newspaper
friend, Whitley Weeks, who used to
know me when was a cub Office boy
on the Sunday editors door.
well, Torchy," says he, what you
got on your mind"
Nothing you cosld make copy out
Of" says 1, but it's whale Of an event
for me-
body died and left you the business?'
lust the opposite" says I.
II don't get you." says he.
"Ah, what's usually in the next col
umn?" says I. ITS a case of somebody
bein' born"
"Why-why." says he. openin' his
mouth, you don't mean that
'Uh-huh." says I. tryin' to look mod
est.
"Haw-hawr roars Whitley. usin' the
steam siren effect. And, as it's right on
the corner Of 42d and Broadway,
he comes near collectin' crowd.
Four or hve people turn around to see
what the merriment is all about, and a
couple Of 'em stops short in their
tracks. One guy spotted for vaude-
vile artist lookin' for stun that
might fat up his act.
Say" Whitley goes on, poundin' me
on the back, jovia1, that's rich, that
isl"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-05-05

"I'm afraid I'll bend him IN the
wrong place. protests: 40. ..,,-.. ,.,,
won't"
YOU can't II you take him, just as
g: :ho so you ; that s ssss your ss
eether, and we'n just put the little
precious right In your There! Why.
you're doing II spiendidly-
might nave half believed her II I
hadn't caught a glimpse OF myself In
the glass. Say; was s II S.s there .a as
OF structural iron on reinforced con.
crete. Stiff! Them stone lions In front
Of the Public Lib'ry was frolicsome
..asn tns sse to h. P i no
face az II I was havin' a tooth plugged.
Course. that had to be Just the time
whom Mr.. Robert Eiiins happened IN
had towed him down special: He's a
reg'lar friend, though, Mr.. Robert Is.
I can't say how much OF a struggle ne
had to keep his face straight: but after
the first spasm has worn on he don
show any more signs Of wantin to
cackle. And he don't pun any end-man
stun: -. m
and heir. oh? / salute YOU
"Same to you and many Of EN-" says 1.
GRIMM simple.
It was the first thing that came into my
head, but I guess I'd better, hot have let
ers, and they both hurries Ia to the next
room.
'.Thank you. Torchy." says Mr.. Robert.
within certain limitations. TRUST your
wish comes true. But say-ho W does it
feel. being a father"
Just plain foolish" says I.
'Eh?' says he.
Honest, Mr.. Robert" says I. 81 never
felt SO much like a ham sandwich at a
Chamber Of Commerce banquet aa' DO
been miscast for the part"
NONSENSE" says he. soothin'. s"You
appear to be getting along swimmih sly
1:mesure wouldn't know how to hold
baby at ALL
you couldn't know less'n I do abou t
1t at present writing" says I. Il DOM;
dare move. and both my legs are asleep
from the knees down. Do me favor
and call for help Up won w1nt ~; you .r,. .t.-
board watch wants to be relieved"
So Wee comes back and prizes the baby
out Of my grip.
will soon learn. All men are like that
Hear that. Mr.. Robert?" says I.
That" That what I call sun-cured -dispo-
She'd make a good animal-trainer.
Wee: she's persistent and patient. After
dinner she jollies me into tryin' it
you needn't sit so rigid. you know"
and let l1is>1ittle head rest easy In the
have.to grab him With the other hand.
SEE, he Is; looking ap, At You! Yes; /
believe he Is. Do you see daddy? Do
Must be some sight," murmurs.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-05-05
BY SEWELL FORD

''what am I supposed to do newr
''Oh. you may rock him gently, % -
IKE, IKE says wee; .. and h Sens suppose
Wouldn't that be takin' mean 80
vantage" says l.
Wee laughs and goes ofIsso can pf0oa
tice alone, which was thoughtful OF hen
didn't find It so bad this time. dis.
ly without lettin' him crash onto the
floor. And I begun to get used e
looktn' at him at close range too. HIS
did. / shouldn't wonder but what hs'd
grow regular nose there In time. Ana
their little ears are cute: Amt theyf
But: say. It was them big blue syss
sort of wandered around the room. Aim
less: but after a while they steadiss
down into gain at me sort Of curious
How about it. snookums!" says L
What do you think OF your amateur
daddy? Or are you wonderin' IL your
hairll be as red as mine? Don't you
bein' bright on top. En- Think you'd
like to get your fingers in II? Might
burny-burn. Well. try It once. II you
like" And I ducks my head 30 he can
"Googly-goo:" remarks Sonny. inds-
catin' most anything you're a mind 70
call 1t.
Anyway. he seems to be entertained.
We was gettin' acquainted fast. Pretty
soon he pulls smile on me. Say. it's
confidential and chummy. I has 10
smile back
THAT'S the trick. Buster" says I
Friendly face motions Is what wins"
"Goo-oogly-goo!" says he.
True words: says l. I believe you"
We must have kept that up for near
half an hour, until he shows signs OF
gettin' sleepy. Just before he drops on.
though. he was wavin' onesof his hands
around. and the first thing know them
soft little pink fingers have circled
about my thumb.
Say. that turned~the trick-jSt that
Ever had a baby grip you that way9
Your own. 1 mean? II you have. expect
you'll know what Tn drivin' at. And II
comm to you. It's thing couldn't tell
you about. It's gentle sort @ thrill
that spreads and spreads until 1t gets
way inside Of you-under your vest, ON
the left side.
" are gettin' along he's snoozin' calm
a, Il peaceful, with a sketchy smile kind
of 3ickerin' on and of Of that rosebud
mo, TIL of his. like he was indulgin' In
finga rs was still wrapped around my
IVA ii. II you aren't a picture. you
two"' says Wee. bendin' over and whis-
This, amt a pose" says L. IT'S the
real thit tg."
.sYou IA cam begins Wee.
'"I mean I've qualified" says 1. Maybe
I didn't sh ow up so strong durin' the
Initiation, nut I squeaked through. I'm
a regular da ddy now. See! He's givih'
me the ins de brother grip-on my
thumb. You can call auntie in, IL you
like"
Copyright. '1sls. by seven Ford, II
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-05-05

dulged in any such family clinch? Not
up to date. Why? Was it because was
q failure as a daddy? Looked So And
here was Auntie taxin' me with 1t.
Would other folks find out, too?
1 begun thinkin' over the way DIFF
ferent ones had taken the news. Old
Hickory, for instance. I was wearin'
wide grin and still feelin' sort of ches-
ty when I broke into his private office
and handed him the bulletin.
"Eh?" he grunts. squintin' at me from
under them b,lshy eyebrows. "A father!
why not? says I. ITS still being
done. amt it?'
"Oh. ] suppose so. Yes. yes" he goes
on starin' at me. But somehow. young
man. can hardly think of you as-as
Wei. congratulations. Torchy. You
have frequently surprised me by rising
to thej occasion. Perhaps you will in
this also"
Thanks. Mr.. Ellins." says I. IT'S
nice Of you to cheer me up that way
Piddie. of course, said the right and
elegant thing. just as II he'd learned it
out of book. He always does. you
know. Makes a regular little speech,
and finishes by givin' me the fraternal
handclasp and a pat op the shoulder.
But minute after I caught him
gain at me wonderful, and he goes
off shakin' his head.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-05-05

~ EXPECT q lot of people thought 1t
Ill about me; but the one who really
registered the idea was Auntie.
- Trust her. For, of course. with an
,Avent of this kind staged in the house,
yy couldn't expect to dodge visit
from the old girl. She came clear up
frpm Mlami-although. with SO much
trouble about through sleepers and
everything. 1 kept tellin' Wee l was
Afraid she wouldn't think it worth
while maxim the trip.
How absurd, Torchy" says Wee.
...Not want to see baby? To be sure. she
WILL
49, You see, Wee had the right bunch
from the very first-about the i'm
portance of this new member of the
family, I mean. She took it as mat
ter of course that everybody who'd
ever known or heard of US would be
anxious to rush in and gaze awe-struck
and reverent at this remarkable addi-
tion we'd made to the population OF
Long Island. Something like that. She
uon't have to work up to it. Seems
To. come natural Why. say. shed. SIT
by and listen without crackin' smile
to these regular gushers who laid 1T
u
youn sster himself would have turned
over and run his tongue out at ems
oh, the dear. darling little cherub:
they'd squeal. isn't he simply the
= And Wee would never blin:. an eye:
Tn fact. she'd beam on 'em grateful
and repeat to me afterward what they'd
said. like it was just a case of the vote
eein' made unanimous as she knew 1t
was bound to be all along.
(which wasn't a bit like any of the
foFty-seven varieties of Wee thought
Twas SO we'll acquainted with. No.
streaks now and then. and maybe
fault or SO; but nothing that had any
thing to do with any tendency of the
ego to stick its elbows out. Yet. when
u comes to listenin' to flatterin' re-
marks about our son and heir-well, no
Broadway star rea,lin' over what his
press agent had Struggled into the
dramatic notes had anything on herr
She couldn't have it handed to her too
strong.
:. As for me, guess l was in sort Of
daze there for a week or so. Gettin' to
besa parent had been sprung on me SO
sudden that it was sort Of confusin. l
couldn't let on to be a judge of babies
myself. I don't know as I'd ever ex-
&mined one real near to before, anyway
mot such new one as this.
And, between me and you. when did
get a chance to size him up real close
and left me standin' by the crib was
hind of disappointed. Uh-huh. No use
kiddin' yourself. couldn't see a thing
wonderful about him. or where he was
much different from others I'd glanced
at casual. Such small party to have
ID much fuss made over! Why, one of
his hands wasn't much bigger'n a cats
pAw. And his face was SO red and little
and the nose so sketchy that it didn't
eAem likely he'd ever amount to much.
Here he'd had more'n a week to grow
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-05-05

in, and I couldn't notice any change at
Not that I was nutty enough to re-
port any such thoughts. Hardly.
felt kind of guilty at just havtn EN-
in my head. How was 1t, i asked my
self, that couldn't stand around with
my hands clasped and my eyes dimmed
up. as perfectly. good parent should
chee-ild? Wasn't human?
All the alibt can put up is that
wasn't used to bein' father. Amt
there something in that? Just think,
married. Here, only a little over
year ago. / was floatin' around free and
careless. And then, first thing know,
without any special coachin' In the act.
I finds myself pushed out into the CEN
ter of the stage with the spotlight on
me. and I'm introduced as 8. daddy.
The only thing / could do was try to
make noise like one. 1 didn't feel 1t.
any more'n l felt like a stained-glass
saint in a church window. And didn't
was everybody watching-Vee, and the
nurse. and Nine. Battou and occasional
callers-so l proceeds to bluff it through
the best I could.
miliar with the youngster. treat him as
II he'd been member of the family for
long time. and hide any embarrassin
feelin's l might have by addressin' him
loud and joshin'. l expect 1t was lad
Of poor performance. at that. But
seemed to be gettin' away with it. so
I stuck to that line. Wee appears to
take it all right. and. as nobody else
gave me the call, 1 almost got to be-
lieve it was the real thing myself.
So this particular afternoon, when
came breezin' in from town. I chases
right up to the nursery, where I knew
I'd find Wee, gives her the usual hail
just behind the ear. and then turns
hasty to the crib to show I haven't
forgot who's there:
Hello; old sport" says I. ticklin' him
in the ribs. How you hittin' 'em, hey?
Well. we'll! Look at the f1stses doubled
up! Who you goin' to hand wallop
to now? oh. tryin' to punch yourself
grouchy stun and speak some kind
words to your daddy. You won't, nh?
Coin to kick little with the footsies!
That's 1t. Mix in with all fours, you
And just then I hears suppressed
Elances around panicky. and gets the
full benefit Of a Disguised glare from
set Of chilled steel eyes, and discovers
that there's some one besides Wee and
the nurse present. Yep. It's Auntie.
May I ask" says she. eff this is your
usual manner of greeting your OFF,
spring."
why" says I, I'll expect it is"
known" -.
Now. Auntie." protests, Wee, you
know very well that Torchy nieans--''
Whatever he means or doesn't mean"
breaks In Auntie, Il am sure he has an
astonishing way of showing parental
affection. Calling the child an old scout
a young rough-houser'! It's shocking"
Sorry" says L: but amt takin' any
lessons in polite baby talk yet. Maybe
in time could learn this ittums-
tweetums stuff. but 1 doubt it. Always
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-05-05

is. in fact much easier than umpiring
in base ball.
These are only a few points about
the great national game Of the Basques.
1t excited the admiration of Gen. Wood
when he was military commander In
Cuba. and he and some of his military
aids used to try practice games of an
amateurish sort. but they were too
Bashful to let anybody but other anna
teurs witness their efforts. Col. Roose-
Welt once had an exhibition game given
for his benefit, and 1t is said that he
declared it to be quite strenuous
enough. =
These circumstances may be triflinx,
viewed by themselves. but when pe1ota
the characteristics Of the Basques. and
when it is known that Gen. Foch. ts
Of BASQUE blood, the aualiti OF skFl
and endurance. strength and strategy.
which are the essentials of pc ota. may
he understood ii tn. great war game
in France and Flanders.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-05-05
Remarkable Gleaninqs.

NHAJ. FREDERICK PALMER. the var
sV3 correspondent. was talking In New
York about his profession.
Strange as it may SEEM" he said. stnil.
ing. my work. like other work. requires
experience. You wouldn't think SO. from
the war correspondents you meet In the
battle zone.
These green correspondents CLEAN
many remarkable items OF Information. II
saw a beardless correspondent Of nineteen
go up eagerly to a bandaged American
soldier one day and say. unsheathing his
How did you get hurtr y
Well. You see, mister.s the soldier
answered. I was leaning mp against tho
fell into q shell hoas and bpks my isass"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-05-05
The Y. NJ. c. A. Program.

1T ERBERT L. PRATT. vice president
~ of the Standard Oil Company.
who Is to go to France to take charge
of the army canteens. said in New York
the other day:
II go to France as a member of the
Y. NJ. c. A., but I go to work rather
than to preach. Work. not sermons
that is the Y. NJ. c. A. program.
The Y. NJ. c. A. keeps preaching In
the background. 1t knows that to act
otherwise would be stupid--like the
cook.
"Are you good COOKE a, lady asked
an applicant.
And the applicant answered mod
estly: .. ..-..
"'Wel. ma am. go to church twice
on Sunday and to prayer meeting every
Wednesday night"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-05-05
Basque Blood Of Gen. Foeh 7yp6es Strength and Endurance

naturally be recruited from the south
ern ports. from which the expeditions
sailed.
There were many BasQues in the ex-
petition. in the sixteenth century. which
settled the southern peninsula. The
sturdy character of the Chilean people
today is largely due to the Basque
origin of many of their progenitors
Some of the BasQues also settled in the
country which is now known as the Ar
gentine Republic. Ambassador Naon.
who represents that progressive nation
in Washington: Is Of Basque blood on
his mothers side.
The Basques had a part in settling
Central America, and Costa Rica in par
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-05-05

hold it, since there is no such means of
cohesion as when the hand itself closes
around a ball. Yet the wicker hand
does hold 1t, or so manipulates that 1t
rises gently in the air and falls back
as gently. there to remain.
In these plays there are. of course,
muffs and fumbles, just as in base ball,
but they do not appear to be SO fire.
Quent. There is also an umpire IN
pelota, who sometimes gives decisions
spectators, but the rules of the game
are so clear and the playing is SO we'll
mapped out that doubtful decisions
are not frequent. Umpiring in pelota
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-05-05

with cotton thread and rubber and COW
cred with sheepskin. It is very elastic.
The play was sometimes described as
similar to basket ball, but basket ball
is a game for.the nursery as compared
with pelota- There is a wicker basket,
like a horn or beak, unusually elongated,
which Is fastened to the wrist and hand.
This is known as the chistera. The great
length Of the chistera enables the ball to
be thrown a long distance, but in doing
this strength has to be combined with
skill in a high degree. The players are
divided into partidos, or quartets. The
play Is by two on each side. and there is
always a double quartet, since the game
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-05-05

to fight. why shouldn't men be draft
ed to work" When Mr.. Wilson. Sec
rotary of Labor. declared that II me-
chanics. miners and SO on were draft
ed. then the places wherein they were
employed should be taken over by the
government and run without profit to
their owners. the movement to con
script workingmen collapsed. Possibly
r res act Of the o forrS S 81 agitation"
But tramps are still tramplng ana
living off. the country" the interviewer
asserted =
And most of them work when they
answered >. ION the fringe of tramp
dom, wiz be found beggars and GRIM
inals, hut.sthe great body OF men who
travel in, one fashion or another over
our. highways and railroads. are .,; sea a.
found harvesting wheat in Texas: They
move northward and by the middle OF
July will be seen in the grain nelds
of Dakota and Minnesota. Not one
employment in that part of the coun-
try and so they travel on and wait
for the logging season In the forests
and for the ice season along western
lakes and rivers.
-.-,. - s1qe-xf*
.'But Tor. them much grain would
spoil in the fields and a great deal less
lumber would come out of the saw
mills. They have an important place
I'm the industrial mechanics of the ma
ton. When going to the wheat coun-
try they usually ride on freight trains.
In empty, cars, on the bumpers or the
brake rods The railroads do not dis
courage that method of travelling.
Grain is to be cut. you see, and then
transported to mills and elevators.
l,n 10 fFor n0
they are called, are expected to ride
on the plush.-that is, in passenger
cars-when they return to st. Louis,
Chicago orrMinneapolis. Thus the rail-
amounts to half fare both ways.
There are many thousands OF migra-
tory workers and they are organised,
after q loose manner. Their president
called on me the other day. He said
that he was making tour Of inspection
and proudly; confessed that he. chief Of
the hoboes was travelling without any
expense to himself.
IA hobo. strictly described. is not q
tramp He works but he wanders The
my youth were printers. Many printers,
of course, had permanent homes and
were settled men of substance. Ben
Franklin was printer; SO was Horace
Greeley.
''Trampdom is Invisible. Words are
used. therefore, with little understand
ing as to their actual meaning. We see
a man walking in the road or riding on
the bumpers between two freight cars
and call him q tramp, whereas he may
be a hobo, -vagrant !br yeggman.
There Is the same confusion with
language In respect to business men.
/, 1.-THE person who manipulates public
utilities IL not a man. Of business. What
does he know about running a trolley
line or . gas company Little worth
mentioning. HIS Speciality Is getting
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-05-05

made me sick. that did; and one of tho
things Wee and I agreed on was
that
"Oh, very WE'LL" says Auntie. I do
not intend to interfere in any way
AS II she could help It! Why, say,
she'd give st. Peter advice on gate
keepin. But for the time bein', each
of us havin' had our say. we calls 1t
draw and gets back to what looks like
peace footin'. But from then on
knew she had her eye out at me. Every
move I made was liable to get her
breathin' short or set her squirmin' in
her chair. And you know how it's apt