davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Morris tribune., 1918-12-27

pooh-poohed the notion, and suggested
every name from Robertson Haig Jif-
f1es down to Jellicoe Marne ditto.
Jiffies at last proposed that each
should place name in hat and draw
for it. He fetched his second-best
headgear from the hall, allowed Aunt
Martha to shake the twenty-three slips,
and claimed the right to do the draw
ing.
"Now, then, first name out o. the hat
is the One," he said, turning his hand
to show there was no deception. Then
he reached into the hat and leisurely
drew out the slip.
"Hanged if it amt Johnl" he ex-
claimed. "Hooray!" And twenty-five
assorted relatives sighed disappointed
ly.
George" remarked Mrs. Jif1es,
when the last Of the guests had de.
parted, wasn't it funny that the name
you wanted should be the very one to
come out first?"
''It wouldn't have been, Eva" smiled
Jiff1es, 'if hadn't planted my slip un-
der the lining g."-Tit-Bits.
Morris tribune., 1918-12-27
BREEDING SHEEP FOR FUR
Production of "Persian Lamb" May
Be Added to the Industries of
the United States.

In far-away Bokhara, town and
district in Asiatic Russia that has
half-mystical sound to American ears,
''Persian" lambs have been grown for
ages for the tightly curled, lustrous-
black fleeces that constitute the warm
cover Of the natives. And so the fashion
Of wearing Persian lamb and astrak-
han has come down from the ages until
women in all civilized lands where
the winters are cold seek their warmth,
and fashions decree has made them so
popular that the cost of Persian lamb
has gone up 142 per cent in Is years.
1t must have been instinct-it could
not have been foreknOwledge that a
world war would curtail commerce.
that made an American decide few
years ago to try breeding the sort of
sheep that bear the highly priced
feeces, on his 1,9O0-acre ranch near
Cottonwood Falls, Kan. He reasoned
that if they could be bred in Asia,
they could be bred in Kansas, and so
thoroughly die he believe in the propo-
sition that he invested $50, 1000 in kara
kul sheep from Bokhara. These he
crossed with native Lincoln-bred sheep,
and the lambs of this cross bear the
valuable pelts that hitherto have been
imported almost exclusively from
Russia.-Robert H. Moulton in Popu-
lar Mechanics Magazine.
Morris tribune., 1918-12-27
Reichstad Has Little Power.

Of the 397 members of the reichstag,
Prussia sends 236. The body can be
dissolved at any time by the bundles
rat with the consent of the emperor.
This power has been used effectively
three times to break down the resist
ance of the reichstag-in 1878, when it
refused to pass the bill to suppress
the socialists; in 1887, when it would
not agree to fix the size of the army
for seven years, and in 1898, when it
declined to change the military sys-
TEN. In each case the new body did
what the government demanded.
Since the principal financial arrange
ments are matters of standing law, If
the reichstag refuses to pass a new
budget increasing allowances, or
passes one reducing them, the govern
ment can be carried on on the old basis
without any action on the part of par
lament.
Morris tribune., 1918-12-27
DEMOCRACY VS.. FINE WRITING
The Latter Is, Beyond All Question,
Dependent Upon the Respect
of the Former.

/ do not agree with the pessimists
who think that a democratic civiliza-
ton Is necessarily an enemy to fine
writing for the public, Henry Seidel
writes in the Century. Such critics
underrate the challenge which these
millions of minds to be reached and
souls to be touched must possess that
writers, like actors, are inspired by a
crowded house.
But the thought and the labor and
the pain that lie behind good writing
are doubly difficult in an atmosphere
Of easy tolerance and good natured
condescension on the part of the
readers of the completed work.
The novel is the test case for demo
cratic literature. We cannot afford to
pay its practitioners with cash merely,
for cash discriminates in quantity and
little more. Saul and David were
Judged by the numbers of their thou
sands slain; but the test was crude
one for them and cruder still in fiction.
We cannot afford to patronize these
nOvelists as our ancestors did before
us. Not prizes or endowments or
coterie worship or, certainly, more ad-
vertising is what the American novel
list requires, but a greater respect for
his craft.
The Elizabethan playwright was fire.
Quently despised of the learned world,
and If a favorite, not always a re-
spected one of the vulgar. Strange
that learned and vulgar alike should
repeat the fallacy in dispraising the
pre-eminently popular art of our own
times To Sir Francis Bacon Hamlet"
was presumably only a play actors
play. If the great American story
should arrive at last, would we not
call it "only novel"?
Morris tribune., 1918-12-27

who assigns home work for the stu
dents to do during vacation. And nat
urally, all the students who ever took
his course heartily wished that their
positions could be reversed for awhile.
Then along came the war, and sew
eral of the Case boys went to Fort Ben
and took the training necessary to be-
come officers. Of the number, three
were assigned to Chillicothe.
In the meantime, there came the
draft-and caught our professor.
When he got to Chillicothe, he found
that the officers Of his company were
his former pupils.
Now the professor does his regular
drill work, and as much extra duty as
anyone can think of in the way Of
peeling spuds and all that sort of thing.
The news has gone back to Case.
Morris tribune., 1918-12-27
SeauuIIs Saved a Ship.

A remarkable story of how ship
was saved from being mined was told
by a pilot who landed at a southeast
coast port recently. "While in the
channel" he said, II noticed some sea-
gulls sitting upon a floating object.
Upon closer investigation I saw it was
a mine with five prongs. On top Of each
prong was perched a seagull. just
had time to alter the ships course
slightly and thus averted disaster."-
From the European Edition Of the
New York Herald.
Morris tribune., 1918-12-27
Educated Finland.

The new republic of Finland starts
it's career with one invaluable asset
a highly efficient system of education.
Finnish elementary schools are models
of excellence, and in an international
competition some few years since Fin
land won the coveted distinction Of
having the highest educational stand
ard of any country in the world, beat
ing even the United States and Ger
many. Particular attention is given to
the teaching of languages. The two
state languages, Finnish and Swedish,
are taught in the elementary stand
ards, and until recently Russian also.
A knowledge of five or six languages is
reckoned nothing exceptional among
even middle-class folk in Finland.
Morris tribune., 1918-12-27
Everybody is happy, there, and Cons
vinced that Eternal Justice Is verify.
Cleveland Plain Dealer.
Kill Seals to Protect Salmon.

Tn an effort to protect the salmon
run and probably enhance the pack
the British Columbia authorities are
reported. in advices from the Pacinc
coast. to be making war on the nalr
seals which are charged with eating
immense quantities of salmon at the
mouth of the Fraser river. A Van
couver report states that, after observ-
ing the haunts Of the seals on the
Fraser sandheads, one Of these shoals
was recently mined, high explosives
and charges of metal being placed III
cans below the surface Of the SAND,
which the next high tide smoothed
over. At low tide seals returned to
their place in the sun and were not
disturbed. The next day nearly 200
seals gathered on the sands, and the
explosive was touched off by battery
from which wires led to the seal ground.
The explosion killed every seal, tear
ing the animals into small fragments.
Other blasts will be set off, for this
is the big sockeye salmon year and
protection of the run is vital.
Morris tribune., 1918-12-27
DESTINED TO BECOME DESERT
Great French Colonial Territory In
North Africa Seems to Hold Out
Little Promise.

Wadai was the last point Of colonial
expansion of the French before the Eu-
ropean struggle drew their energies
and attention homeward. The great
African territory was added to the
French Kongo only short time before
the war broke out.
Very few white people have actually
visited Wadai, but tales of the region
are numerous both in upper Egypt and
in Tripoli. Occasionally some Of the in
habitants of the little-known region
can be seen in the bazaars of Khartum
or Algiers. Wadai lies at the
head of caravan routes that cross the
desert both from the Mediterranean
and the Nile. 1t bears a bad reputa-
ton, even for North Africa.
It is known as one of the last strong
holds and sources of supply of the
slave trade. It's people are divided
into conquerors and conquered-the
former belonging to a powerful ma
tive tribe that holds the Mohammed-
an faith and the latter including all
manner of very primitive savages. up
to very recent times these savage peo-
pie are known to have been captured
and sold as slaves along the Barbary
coast. The French only established
protectorate in 1912, so that they had
little opportunity to break up the
trade before the European war.
In physical appearance Wadai is de-
scribed by the caravan men as a vast,
low-lying plain. Great tracts Of it have
never been explored. 1t seems to have
once formed the bed of great inland
sea, of which Lake Chad, in the south
west, is the shriveled remnant. In
fact, the Sahara is steadily encroach-
ing on it from the northward. 1t Is
crossed by the old channels Of several
rivers, but without a single flowing
stream. At no very remote geologic
epoch of the future Wadai will appar-
emily become a part Of the great des-
ert to the north.
Morris tribune., 1918-12-27
OUTSIDE PALE OF HUMANITY
That German Spies Can Be classed
Only as Dangerous Reptiles, Is
Opinion of One Writer.

It Is not dishonorabIe to be spy,
says the Santa Fe New Mexican. One
Of the Americans we, most revere,
whose only regret was that he had but
one life to give to his country, was
shot as a spy. The spy must be most
daring and courageous, must face ex-
traordinary perils, must have remark
able nerve and resourcefulness.
That, at least, Is the conception or
the spy which we had until the Ger
man spy got into the game and made
the word synonymous with all that Is
most execrable in treachery and cum
ming, dishonor and all forms of evil. A
spy has come to mean an incend1ary
and murderer, an assassin Of women
and babies, a poisoner of food and
water, dynamiter and train wrecker,
coward and a human reptile.
The fate which made Capt. Nathan
Hale immortal Is much too good for
the men whom America has sucked
and who have become vipers at the
bosom of their adopted mother. The
sooner government valves charity and
leniency and drops hesitation and half
way measures the better for all con-
cerned.
The German who breathes word Of
disloyalty should be interned, no mat
ter WHO he is; the one who conspires
against the government or its work
should be promptly put to death. We
are at war. The traitor at home helps
kill our boys at the front. Why should
the government parley with him?
Morris tribune., 1918-12-27
Women's Hair Commandeered.

Switches and other aids to the coif-
feur without which some women be-
lieve they could not get along, have
been placed in the "verboten" class by
the German military authorities. Or
ders have been issued to all maids and
matrons to collect their combings and
take them to the central hair depart
ment. The hair will be made into
driving straps and other industrial re-
quisites. It's another effect of the
blockade of Germany by British and
American navies.
Morris tribune., 1918-12-27
THE HOUSE OF SUCCESS.

There are no Gifts in the House of Sue
cess,
And the stairs are long and steep,
And the man who would climb
To the top in his time,
Before he dare walk, must creep.
Success,
But the floors are hard and bare.
And you're likely to trip
And slide and slip
In the pitfalls here and there.
There are no lounges or easy chairs,
Nor places to rest your spine,
But after you've won
To the roof-there's the sun,
And, ah, but the view of it is fine.
The Optimist.
Morris tribune., 1918-12-27
HookWorm.

This desease is so common in warm
countries that probably today several
hundred millions of people are it's vic
tins. In some parts of China so per
cent Of the population are afflicted by
it, while among farmers and gardeners
the proportion Is sometimes so or 80
per cent. Northern Siam has just as
much hookworm, while certain parts
of India, Java, the Malay States, Japan
and Korea are similarly afflicted. 1t
is widespread in some of our own
Morris tribune., 1918-12-27
Truth Will Out

In the schoolroom the teacher was
trying to illustrate a phrase found in
the reading lesson, "a debt of graft.
tude."
Jimmie, think of the care your par.
ents have given you and all that they
have done for you. Don't you think
you owe them something?"
"Well," said honest Jimmie, 81 don't
knew about that, but l do know that
my dad owes me SO cents"
Morris tribune., 1918-12-27

late In arriving +;
but it needs the
light Of publicity,
so we don't apollo
gize for it. Re-
member, it hap
pened.
Once on a time
there was a pro-
fessor at Case
school, who was
entirely impos-
sible. He was the
kind of person
Morris tribune., 1918-12-27

1ulduI were gaCu-
cred to admire
the little stranger
and to indulge in
the usual wrangle
regarding tn g
name to be be-
slowed upon it.
JifHes, the ba-
by's proud papa,
declared for plain
John, but the rest
~ 4HO -
Morris tribune., 1918-12-27

Southern states and in Central and
South America. The International
Health board Of the Rockefeller
foundation, working with the United
States government and the govern
ments of fifteen foreign countries, is
accomplishing miraculous results in the
relief and control of this scourge.-
World Outlook.
Morris tribune., 1918-12-27
Crude Booths Take Place OF Diners

Dining cars being unknown on GER
tain railroads along the west coast Of
Mexico, crude booths are provided on
various station platforms, where food
is served. They consist Of loose
pieces Of canvas supported by poles,
beneath which are tables and chairs.
The trains wait while the passengers
eat the none-too-appetizing fare.-Pop-
uaar Mechanics Magaxine. -..
Morris tribune., 1918-12-27

Let us not be deceived by politi-
clans or self conceit. Farmers are
not perfect. Nor have they a monop-
oily upon honesty and integrity. AS a
class we have the unfaithful as well
as the faithful, the deserving as well
as the slothful, the dishonest as well
as the honest. Men are not perfect
In any ccupation.-Exchange
Morris tribune., 1918-12-27
No Credit to Them,

'Blithers seems to think a lot of his
ancestors
$50 he does. I guess it's just as
well for his peace of mind that his an
cestors are dead"
"Why so?"
"They probably wouldn't recipro-
cate"
Morris tribune., 1918-12-27
Surpasses Words.

ssDoes your grocer attempt to ex-
plain high prices?"
"He did at first. Now he merely
shudders as he accepts the money, and
I groan."-Louisville Courier-Journal.
Morris tribune., 1918-12-27
+.
AND THEY SHOWED NO MERCY
Former Students Under Strict Profes'
sor Given, by Fortune OF War,
UnIooked-for Opportunity.

This true story, related substan-
TALLY as below by Gee ELL is little
Morris tribune., 1918-12-27
" The
Scrap Book
HADN'T LEFT 1T TO CHANCE
Proof That MIR. JiffIes Knew thing
or Two When 1t Came to Nam.
ing the Baby.

The cousins, aunts, and still more
distant relatives of the newly arrived
The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1918-10-26
CONDITIONS OF MONEY
LEADING INFLUENCE

NEW YORK, Oct. ss.AMohey condl
Tons far outweighed all other consid
erations In this weeks very active stock
market, even the significant develops
ments in the wal situation being sub
originated to that situation.
Measures adopted by the local money
committed to restrict speculation ard
otnerWlse conserve credits for the pres
eht I'M future requirements OF the Sow
eT1ment were regarded as a step IN the
right direction, the enormous expansion
ton.
The financial community was almost
UNANIMOUS. however, in asserting that
much OF the recent demand for secufi-
TIES enanated from substantial sources
foreign and domestic.
Persistent peace talk, heightened by
events OF the week, has undoubtedly
stimulated a distinct revival Of invest.
ment purchases, applying with especIai
tofce to Fils and industrials OF the
class not identified with the war sxoup'
The inquiry for rails had its e Is
largely in the further satisfactory
statements o. earnings and their more
priced transportations that foreign in
teIest has been most evident.
.Cpnqittons In the more important lines
OF Industry have received a temporary
setback as a result of theI Influenza
epidemic, but next weeks quarterly re-
port of the United States Steel corr
poration is expected to show earnings
In keeping with the first half of the
year. ~
Operations in foreign exchange have
become so nominal as to lose much of
their former value as peace indites,
but the rates OF neutral European coun.
tries again favored this market, M
The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1918-10-26
BRITISH FORCES ARE ON
OUTSKIRTS OF LIZ QUESNOY

WITH THE BRITISH ARMY IN
FRANCE AND FLANDERS, Oct. "a.
by the Associated Press, THE British
troops last night were on the outskirts
OF lie Qtiesnoy, having driven forward
across the lie Quesnoy- Valenciennes
railway after heavy fighting. The enemy
appears to have reiterated from a con
siderable portion Of the ground In this
zone. .
British patrols late yesterday we're
operating in the lie Quesnoy region,
while British infantry had reached the
nigh ground north OF Maresches and
We're attacking the German positions
there.
Thursdays advance greatly increases
the menace TO the Germans holding
IalenGiennes, which Is rapidly being
4 a line were drawn through the no.
sltions now held by Gen, Horne's army
in the north and Gen. riyngs forces
on the south, Il would pass we'll TO
the east of Nalenciennes. Should the
British continue their forward pressure
as II has been pressed for the past
three DAYS the enemy will he forced
10 evacuate Valeueiennes very shortly,
When the British attacked Yesterday
morning they held Vendegies and the
high ground east OF that place. From
these points they drove off before dav.
light into the ridge country north and
east, Details Of the fighting here ara
not Eet. available, but II Is known that
tne brltlsh pushed through early In the
day. and are still going ahead.
The British second army, attackIns
IN conjunction with the French on Tia
northern battle front. fought its wa y
steadily forward in the face OF hem :
artillery fire and captured Moen, in
FLANDERS The French are reported n
pc making good progress ON the British
The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1918-10-26
.
AT ANY PRICE"
POPULAR AT VIENNA

PARIS. Oct. 26.-In we'll informed cir,
cles It Is said that the nomination Of
Count julius Andrassy, as successor OF
Baron Burian, Austro-H Hungarian for
eign minister Is, above all. important
from the viewpoint Of a conclusion of
peace and an application Of the safety
first" principle of Austria. 1t is said
that peace at any price now is popular
at Vienna and Budapest.
The Zurich correspondent of the
Journal says that the new foreign min
lister Is understood to be a partisan Of
direct peace negotiations with the en-
tente without recourse to the offices
Of President Wilson. He says that the
Situation In Austria Hungary IL such
that the monarchy will soon c~apitulate
and throw itself on the mercy OF the
allies.
The Czechs are now masters of the
situation at Prague, The Slovaks have
decided to change the narne OF Press
burg to Wilsonville. The Ruthenians
Of Galicia have declared for a separate
ukranian state comprising regions Of
Austria Hungary inhabited by Ruthen-
ians, It is repoted that anarchy reiens
in the ancient Danubian monarchy OF
Hungary. The correspondent says that
In Austria nj notice is being taken OF
decisions arrived at by Berlin.
The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1918-10-26
SOLF ATTEMPTS TO
SHOW HUNS MERCY

AMSTERDAM. Oct, 2s.-speakIns In
the feichstag Thursday Dr. W. S. solf,
foreign secretary, said that Spanish,
Minister .Villalobar, representing Brit
lsh ana Belgian citizens, and Commits
slo zone Van Bree, Of the Beleian re-
llei organization, visited Journal, Vel
enclennes and Domain Oct. iS and re-
ported that the German military au-
thorittes had done everything in their
power to alleviate the condition of I'll
towns.
Or. Solf also said that II had been
reported to him that German authori.
YES had tried to protect the people
o. those cities against nlInderIng and
that efforts had been made 10 safe
guard FOOD supplies and save art treas
ufes.
Only men OF military age had been
removed foreibly, Or, Solf asserted. and
even then exceptions had been made
IN the cases OF physicians, clergymen,
fireinen, policemen and those employed
m supplying food. Referring to cues
tons asked on the previous dsy, the
foreign secretary said the government
emphatically repudiated any doubt Of
its Intention. honestly to carry out the
principles laid down by President will
son He added.
Having In reply to the president
taken its stand on his messages, the
government Is resolved to act accord
ingly,"
The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1918-10-26
FRENCH REFUGEES
TR|CKL|NG INTO
DUTCH VILLAGES

AMSTERDAM, Oct. 26.-Weather-
beaten refugees, mostly from the north
OF France, are trickllns into the Dutch
provinces of Brabant and Limburg.
Some 1000 now are accommodated IN
towns In these provinces, About five
per cent are Ill from over-fatiEue or
influenza, aud are being cared for In
hospitals ana converts.
Distressing stories are told about
the old people and babies who died
from exposure on the way and were
buried where they met their end. Far
Their westward no exodus has yet taken
place,
In view of the German disclaimers Of
pilfermg by the r%etreatinE troops, 1t
N significant that Dutch correspond
ents at q half dozen different points on
the frontier, should tell the same story,
obtained from refugees. THE Germans
stole everything they could lay their
hands on a citizen OF Bruges said TO
the Rosendaal correspondent OF the
Maasbode.
In the last few DAYS the Germans
have looted stores indiserlminately, One
officer demanded that a city official
surrender his carriage, Being asked
later for a voucher. the officer pointed
n revolver at the head of the owner
and aaid; This is my voucher"
Cartoons appeared In Bruges depict
ing the German Admiral Schroeder,
whom Emperor William decorated for
the brilliant repulse" OF the British
attack on ZeehruBge, az fast asleep in
a safe place far from the coast. o.
The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1918-10-26

nan have fotmidably strengthened tbs
natural defenses by artificial floods
from the region s0f Guise southwark 10
Ia fere. Dams prepared long ago for
use m the eventuality Of a retreat bavs
enabled the Germans to divert TIC
waters OF the Disc and spread tbsr,
through the valley, They also have an
other water line in the valley of Tie
1erre' TO protect their present posi-
In spite OF the formidable obs,.c,os
encountered and almost constant servs
zee IN the fighting line for the pssf
three months. the forces of Gen bes
behy continue TO forge ahead, and win
soon have driven the enemy back mon
the old battletlelds OF the retreat from
Charlefot IN 1914. The Germans ara
expected to make a stand around Cnise
where the French held them IN far a
Marine, '"e
The tactics Of the Germans appesr to
be to hold as long as they ran on their
chosen positions, retiring to one after
another as circumstances require. and
Forcing the French troops to deliver an
attack 70 drive them from each hating
place. This plan aided by the nafure
Of the ground over which they are re-
firing, obliges the Germans to make
great sacrifices az IL shown by the in
creased number Of dead found on the
battle field.