davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1918-02-27

or course, we all know that the war
is no joke! A man who could find real
humor in this international insanity
could probably have the time of his
life, in morgue; but there is we'll
known fable of the frog which tried
to swell himself up to be as big as the
OK he wished to fight, and remember
ing his highly scattered fate, we ceas-
ed for, the time being, to try to at
tain in receptiveness at least, the di-
mensions of the cloud which hangs
over Europe and civilization, and
started out to find amusement; not
dining out Of a symphony concert or
lecture, but real live amusement
such as regular restless Americans
know.
The movies! The sign torches
tEe-Cinema," with it's insidious
promise, in the name, Of quench-
ING the fever which burned in our
veins, settled the question.
It was much more like home than
anything. All dark in there, and an
usher with an inadequate flashlight to
guide your stumbling footsteps, and a
five-piece orchestra saving away at
the latest musical comedy hits from
Broadway, Piccadilly, and the Eoule-
wards; the same. ineffable essence of
air which has never felt sunlight, and
the same big woman with the fat
knees, who makes no more room for
you when you pass when she stands
up than when she's sitting.
We finally found our praces; seats
in j dinky little pen for four, which
they called a loge. III the dense
blackness q stirring and stumbling!
Somehow, madame had been inserted
into one OF the two front seats, by q
Frenchman who, In his politeness
molly upheld the traditions of his
race and monsieur, finding himself in
two feet Of unocclpiel space, took 9
chance and sat. successfully Only
for, a moment, however! Ont Of the
darkness there came the voice Of the
fourth occupant Of the loge, lady
The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1918-02-27

ant buildings in Gackle. Some person
should find a profitable investment in;
building few neat cottages.
Miss Mayme Hammerstrom begaE
her duties as teacher in the Johnsteads.
school near town last Monday. She'
is completing a term of school begun
by. Ward Stanley of Cakes who re-
signed:
Trihnna want ADS bring results.
The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1918-02-27
CHESTNUT CHARLIE
By Blosser
IS FRANCE SAD? NOT WHEN
THE MOVIES FLICKER AND
THE JAZZ BAND is BLARING

The Chesters Visit Cinema Palace and Interrupt the
Hand-F Holding Of Poilu and His Girl-They
Watch the Joy That Music Gives to Three Veterans
Of Verdun-They Call Ii a "Sherbo" Over There.
The Columbus commercial., 1918-01-03
JUDGE HOWRY TO
MAKE TALK HERE
DISTINGUISHED JuRisT To DIS
cuss CAUSES AND rr q.
LENS or WAR.

Hon. Charles y. IIowry, formerly
Judge Of the United States court Of
cfaims has accepted an invitation "a
come TO Columbus and deliver AN
address on the causes and activities
Of the war The date Of his coming
has not yet been decided upon, bat
he has written friends here that he
will be in Columbus sometime with.
in the next few weeks.
Judge Howry, who is a native Of
this state. having been born at Ok.
ford, has been resident Of Wash
ington for number of years, hav-
ing only recently resigned from his
position as judge Of the court of
-iaims. He knows the life of the
.apitol thoroughly, and is therefore
in position to explain lucidly and
cogently the causes whieh led up to
the war and the activities of govern
ment officials since the United States
severed diplomatic relations with
yiermany,
The Columbus commercial., 1918-01-03
HANDSOME NEW STRucs
TURE IS PRACTICALLY
COMPLETED.
FINE EQUIP M ENT
Both Building and Appursen-
enccs are Thoroughly Mod
orn in Every Respect.

The Stephen d. Lee High School.
which has been in course of con-
struetion for nearly a year. ia pra|@
tically completed and It is formally
announced that the building will be
opened on Monday January 2s. The
school is built on property formerly
occupied by the late General
Stephen d. Lee as a place Of resi-
dence, and it is probable that his
son, Hon. Blewitt Lee, general eoun-
sci for the Illinois Central R. R.,
with headquarters in Chicago, win
come here to deliver an address
when the building is formally OPEN
ed.
The new building was eredted at
cost of S100, 900, and is one Of the
most complete ard best equipped
structures of its character in the
state. II is built Of pressed brick
with some trimmings, and the equip,
nent includes all appliances neces-
.ary for giving instruction in domes-
tic scienne, manual art and other
branches taught In the leading high
schools throughout the country
Plans for the building were drawn
by Mr.. r. J. Krouse, Of Meridian,
an architect who has made a special
IN If designing educational institu-
tions, and IL not only conveniently
arranged but presents an unusually
attractive appearance both as 70 ex-
r.or and interior.
The fH.s hat the building u soon
To Ae peng4i III source of salts
faction both to the teachers and pa
irons Or the public schools Of Co
lumbus. al Franklin Academy. In
which the high school is at present
located IA entirely unfit for the use
to which it has been put. Not only
are the children cramped for room,
hat the heating apparatus has been
working badly for several weeks and
during the re3ent cold weather oc-
cunants Of the building have found
it exceedingly difficult to keep
warm. It having been necessary on
one occasion to completely suspend
work on account Of the low tenn
peratures in the recitation rooms.
The Columbus commercial., 1918-01-03

Orders recently issued by the war
department have brought about ma
terial changes among the officers OF
the Columbus Riflemen, which now
constitutes Company Of the l55th
Infantry, formerly the old First
Mississippi Regiment, and only two
Columbians are retained in official
positions
The following is list Of the fom-
panys new officers: Captain John
C. Sheffield, on detached service in
France; Capain Roland r. Gaines,
On detached service In Jackson,
Miss: list Lieutenants Nj. l.. Guisen-
berger. John b. Lawley, Virgil a.
Epps, on detached service with pro-
yisional Company /, Camp Beaure-
gard, La. End Lieutenants George
s. Monzingo, Edgar L. Winston
The Columbus commercial., 1918-01-03
NO FESTIVITIES TO CELE.
BRATE THE PASSING
OF 1917.
HOLIDAY WAS QUIET
No Carousing of Any Charac-
ter in Columbus During
Christmas Week.

No Bacchanalian reveals or mid
night merrymaking marked the ad-
vent Of the New Year in Columbus,
there having been no festivities Of
any kind, either public or private,
and the only unusual noises having
been made by the bells and whistles
which sounded loud blasts as the re-
quinn of 1917 and the welcome Of
1918.
The Yuletide season was, in fact,
the dullest, most prosaif and most
uneventful eve experienced in CO.
lumbus. The holiday trade was away
above the average, and up to the ad-
vent Of Christmas the crowds which
filled the streets and stores in the
business district made the town
seem quite lively. The coming Of
the great anniversary, however,
marked sudden cessation of activi-
ties, and since that time a regular
midsummer quietude has prevailed
here.
The lact Of merriment is perhaps
due more to the absence of booze
than to any thing else; for while
some liquor was flowing the quanti-
ty consumed by local imbibers was
nothing like as great as in former
years. The federal bone-dry law has
made it exceedingly difficult to OBJ
tain intoxicants of any character,
and only those who are sufficiently
fortunate to possess certificates
from physicians can get shipments
through the local express Office. II
il said that the number Of holiday
packages delivered totaled less than
q sore, and as consequence hun
dreds Of people who in former years
have had their holiday libations ex-
perlenced palnIuily nry Ihfist'
mas.
There can be no doubt Of the fact
that the bone-dry law has had a
most salutary effect upon the morals
of the community, as Christmas
week passed without bringing any
Of the fights or fracases hich usually
mark the holiday season. That local
citizens have, as whole, walked the
straight and narrow path which duty
leads and have obeyed the laws OF
both God and man is evinred that
there are only three prisoners in the
Lowndes county Jail, while the city
lookup is without a single occupant
The Columbus commercial., 1918-01-03
CLOSED WITH RALLY At
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH
SUNDAY NIGHT.
Distinguished Aberdecnian
Makes Strong Appeal to the
People of County.

An address by Hon. d. W Hous-
ton, prominent member Of the
Aberdeen bar, was the principal fea-
ture Of rally which was held at the
First Baptist church last Sunday
night in behalf Of Che American Red
Cross Society and which brought to
formal end the local drive for
money and members for that splen-
did eleemosynary organization. Mr..
Houston, who is generally recog-
nized as one of the states brainiest
men and most for1eful orators, be-
gan his address by paying a glowing
tribute to the people of Columbus
and Lowndes, having praised them
most highly for the generosity which
they had displayed in responding to
previous calls made upon them in
behalf of war work of various char
acter and urged them to exercise
equal generosity in aiding the Red
Cross work. Mr.. Houston was at
tentively listened to and his address
made a foreible impression upon all
who heard it.
The meeting was participated in
by Rev. T. l.. Holcomb, pastor of
the First Baptist church, Rev. 8.
L. Pope, pastor OF the First
Methodist church, and no.
table feature of the o1'casion was
the music. The regular choir Of
the First Baptist church was aug
mented by vocalists from other
choirs. and the musical program was
an exceedingly delightful one
Mr.. J. P. Woodward, who direct
ed the lo~al drive, had arranged TO
have meetings at Caledonia, Craw-
ford, Artesia and other towns
throughout the county Sunday, and
several of the most eloquent speak
ers in Columbus had consented to
address the people in the different
towns: but the severely cold wealth
or made it necessary to call these
meetings off All the speakers
stood ready to fill their engage
ments; but on Sunday morning Mr.
Woodward received telephone mess
ages from prominent citizens OF
every community in which meetings
had been planned stating that y
would be useless for the workers to
come. as there would be no audi
enees to talk to. II seems tnat
some of the buildings in when
meetings were to be held had no
stoves in them, and the "old weather
therefore made the meetings I'M
possible.
! The cold weather, in fact, initiated
very seriously against the local
drive, which was by no means a.
successful as it would have been hsc
conditions been more favorable.
The Columbus commercial., 1918-01-03
ODD FELLOWS
ELECT OFFICERS
THE OLDER MEMBERS.
ELECTION PRECEDED BY EN-.
TERTAINMENT IN HONOR OF

The hall Of Union Lodge No. 35,
/. O. 0. F., was the scene of unique
festivities Monday night, when the
younger members entertained in
honor Of their elder brethern. Ad-
dresses were delivered by former
Lieutenant-Gover James T. Har-
rison, Col. c. l. Lincoln anJ Hon.
j. |. Sturdivant, and the occasion
was altogether a mos. enjoyable one.
The entertainer. was followed
by the election Of officers for the en-
suing term, wh'sh resulted as fol-
lows: h. E. Horne.ster, noble
grand; J. A. Loeb, vice-grand; A. E.
Love, secretary; .. T CASTOR, treas
urer; W. M. Cox, Brooks Mctowan,
ID T. CASTOR, Walter Breland, ceme-
terry trustees; w. s. Lindamood, V.
B. lines, A. E. Love, hall trustees; J.
l.. Walker, J. A. Goree, W. E.
Frazee, trustees widows and or
phans' fund; Irby Leech, ]. 5. Cook,
]. B. Love, grand lodge representa-
tives.
The Columbus commercial., 1918-01-03
Popular Science Monthly, $3.50,
Mack Senter. Phone i84 or 222.
Mr.. Mary L. Hood Dies.

Friends Of Mr. and Mrs. John R.
Laws win sympathize with them in
learning of the death last Tuesday
night Of Mrs. Laws sister, Mrs
Mary L. Hood, widow of the late
Mr.. Arch Hood, Of Alieeyille, Ala,
whose death preceded hers by sew
eral years. The death occurred at
the home Of her mother, Mrs. II. b.
Latham, at Carrollton, Ala, and
the burial this morning will take
place al Oak Grove, near Aliceville-
Other relatives who mourn her loss
Are Mr.. and Mrs Corwin, Of Alice
vile, Mr.. and Mrs. Geo. Howell, Of
Reform, Mr. and Mrs, Loftin. of
Carrollton, besides several children.
Her dauehter, Miss Annie Hood, is
pleasantly recalled here as an |. !.
and c. girl, and now has charge OF
the Pickens county school.
The Columbus commercial., 1918-01-03

Hon. Isaac X. Hinton,a well
known attorney Of Carrollton, Ala
died suddenly at his home in that
town last Sunday night. While his
health had not been robust for sew
eral months past, he had not beer
confined to his bed and was sitting n
a chair at his home reading when
he was seized with stroke of ap.
polexy, which proved almost instant
ly fatal
Col. Hinton was well known r
Columbus, and up to the time biz
health began to fail short time age
was frequent visitor TO the City
He was about 81 years old and u
survived by his widow and severa
children, two Of his sons being mem
bers Of the famous Rainbow division
of the United States army, which J.
now with the American expedition
airy forces in France.
The Columbus commercial., 1918-01-03
ITEMS OF INTEREST
OVER THE COUNTRY
GIST OF THE NEWS GATHERED
HERE AND THERE AND PRE-
SENTED IN BRIEF FORM.

Estimates show the Government
Printing Office win use 100,000,000
pounds of paper, costing about S4,-
100000, this year
Men working in many coal mines
throughout the country voluntarily
cut down the Christmas holiday to
keep factory fires burning and
houses warm.
The heaviest food contracts in
the history of the world have been
let recently to Ia of the great pack
ing houses Of the United States.
The War Trade Board is granting
no licenses for the export Of COM
modities containing wool which are
necessary for the military or naVa
uses of the United States
The Post Office Department has
established eoastwise parcel post
water routes to facilitate service Tor
the cantonments, which viii oper-
ate to relieve wartime railroad con-
gestion.
The working hours Of clerks II
the Interior Department Building az
Washington have been changed TO
run from 8;45 to 4I5 instead Of 2
10 4:30, to relieve congestion P
street railway cars Of the over,
crowded capital.
The Columbus commercial., 1918-01-03
W. 7. YOUNG Is
CAPTURED HERE
MAN WHO SHOT TOM ROBERT
SON LAST FALL IS TAKEN
INTO CUSTODY.

w. z. Young, who several months
ago shot and painfully wounded
Thomas Robertson in this city and
who Immediately thereafter made
his escape, was recently arrested,
having returned to Columbus to
spend the holidays and having been
taken into custody by Constables j.
T. Robertson and w. H. Foreman.
Robertson married Young's d.
vorced wife, and was shot by her
former husband at his home in
North Columbus. When Young re-
turned to the city he again visited
the Robertson home, and Y was
there that he was arrested. He was
indicted by the grand jury at the
September term of circuit curt, ard
after his arrest made bond IN -he
sum Of 5000 before Sheriff ]. 3.
Williams for his appearance at the
next term Of court.
The Columbus commercial., 1918-01-03
HENRY SUBMITS
INSURANCE DATA
COMMISSIONER PREPARES A
MASS OF INTERESTING FIG.
uREs FOR LEGISLATURE.

Jackson, Miss, Jan. AIN his bi.
ennial report to the governor and
the legislature, T. M. Henry, in
surance commissioner, submits q
mass of interesting data together
with comments on the operations
ard recommendations of thedepart-
ment. The report shows a steady
increase in the amounts collected in
the way Of premium tax and other
fees authorized, a total sum aggre-
eating $72s,6 ,693.19 for the biennial
period, from March /, 1916, to 0c-
tober l, 1917
The yearly growth during the
period covered is as follows:
Year ending March /, 1916, $222,-
33S.57.
Year ending March 1, 1917, 1885,
534.00
March /, 1917, to October /, 1917
$272,24O.14.
Prior to 1916 the average yearly
receipts covering the years since the
insurance department, amounted to
less than $150,OO0. Explaining this
increase Mr.. Henry says:
"The increase shown above for
the year 1916 and seven months OF
1917, is due to the amendment pro-
posed by this department to the pre-
MUM tax law on life insurance COM
panies, and passed by the legislature
Of 1916, requiring life insurance
companies to pay not less than ! 3-4
per cent on their gross premium col
lections in the state. Any increase
up to 2 Id per cent, after making
the deductions allowed by law, is
still collected from them.
"The amendment of 1915 was to
cure a serious defect in the old law
Prior to the passage of the amend.
ment, the law required all life COM
panies to pay tax Of 2 Ia per cent
on gross premiums, less death claims,
matured endowments and dividends
paid in cash to poll li'yholders."
Commissioner Henry commends
the legislature for the wise policy
followed in 1915, anu makes goase
timely suggestions as to legislation
deemed necessary at the ensuing
session.
The Columbus commercial., 1918-01-03

Another local soldier took unto
himself a wife Monday afternoon,
when Mr.. Charles Ellis Rhett, who
several months ago entered into
training at Camp Pike and who came
home to spend the Christmas holi-
days, was married to Miss Elizabeth
johnson, the ceremony having been
performed by DR.. 0. B. Sears, pastor
Of the First Church Of Christ.
The bride, who is the daughter OF
Mr.. Gano Johnson, stock breeder
Of national reputation, is teaching in
Selua, Ala, this winter, and like
Mr.. Rhett, was here to spend the
holidays. She returned to the Dali
las county capital Immediately after
the ceremony, having been accom-
panied as far Tuscaloosa by the
groom, who will 90 thence to Camp
Pike to reioin his command.
The Columbus commercial., 1918-01-03
GERMANS ARE DRIVEN BACK.

Another reverse for the Teutonic
allied arms, following that effected
by the French troops in their initial
drive in the northern front in Italy,
has been brought about by the
Italians in a sharp attack in the ia
nous Zenson loop on the lower
reaches of the Piave river.
Here the enemy has been driven
to the eastern bank of the stream
from positions he had held since the
Italians in their retrograde move
ment from the Isonzo made their
stand along the western shore of the
Piave. Thus the entire right bank
of the Piave has been cleared Of the
invaders, except far to the north,
where the battle line runs westward
from the stream through the hill re-
gion.
The fighting for the Zenson bridge
head had been In progress since last
Thursday, the Italians keeping ener-
getically after tbe foe in ordsr to
regain the position, which always
has been considered menace to
Venice. Heavy casualties were in
flicted onethe enemy by the artillery
and rifle fire of the Italians before
he was forced to recross the stream.
On the northern front the infan-
try again is idle for the moment, but
the big guns of both sides are keep
ing up intensive duels on various
sectors, particularly around Monte
Tomba and on the Asiago pleateau
The enemy is continuing his air raids
byer important towns on the plain
his latest attack having been direct
ed against Viscenza, Bassano, Castle
Franco and Treviso. Thirteen per-
sons were killed and four Others
| wounded, the majority Of them civil
ians. Only small material damage
resulted from the new raids.
Likewise the operations on the
fronts in France and Belgium are
being confined almost exclusively
| to bombardments, although the Ger
man war office claims further gair
of ground by the army Of Grown
| Prince Ruppre-ht of Bavaria over
the British south Of Marcoing in tbs
| Cambria sector.---Birmingham Age
Herald, January z.
The Columbus commercial., 1918-01-03
Postmasters Salaries.

The salaries Of postmasters for a
year amount to something more than
$50, ,O00,0 900, while the cost of trans
porting the mails is little more
than $100, 100000 a year. Add to
the aggregate of the postmasters'
salaries the salaries of the letter
carriers--including rural mail car
riers-postal clerks and officials OF
various kinds, the interest on the
cost of postofice buildings, the cost
of maintenance, and the other large
expenses of the Postoffice Depart
ment and it will be found that the
amount paid to the railroads for
transporting the mails on which most
Of the congressional estimates OF
the cost of the postal service are
based, is comparatively insignificant
The Columbus commercial., 1918-01-03
GREAT HOLOCAUST
VISITS NORFOLK
iURFB
.OPERTY
fhSfROYED

Norfolk, Va, jan 2 Ncrrlf two
blocks IN the heart Of NUrfolka bu.L
ness district, including the MONT
cello hotel, were destroyed. one man
was killed and q score more injured
in series Of explosions and free
Tuesday, which both the police aaa
naval authorities believed we're n.
ieniiary The fire had been check
ed Tuesday night, but was still burn.
Ing hereely In the ruins The loss
is roughly estimated at more than
O00,00o,o00
Three distinct explosions iR aR
many buildings, one after the fire
once virtually had been brought un.
der control. led to the general be-.
lief that enemy agents were at work
Mayor Mayo practically placed
the city under martial law by turn.
ing the situation over 20 naval Of
ficers, and some $500 marines and
bluejackets from nearby naval sta
tons assisted the police and home
guards in maintaining order and pre-
venting vandalism.
Naval patrols rounded up sus
pi-ious persons throughout the af.
ternoon, while five men were arrest
ed az suspects Two of these, Hugo
Schmidt and II. X. Lessig, said tc
be Germans, were turned over tc
the department Of justice agents
Tuesday night there were reports
that two Germans had been shot b.
sailors during the day but neither
the police nor naval authorize
would confirm them.
The fire started before dawn n
the old CRANKY theater on Ganbv
street and gained rapid headway az
the firemen were handicapped bE
frozen fire hydrants, low water pres
sure and near zero weather. H
quickly spread to the Monticello
hotel and other nearby buildings IN
the block. 1t was brought under
control late in the day, but broke
out anew early atnight, leaped across
CRANKY street and leveled half 4
olock sasrr before being checked
The Columbus commercial., 1918-01-03
Bank Declare. Dividend.

At q meeting Of the directors OF
the Merchants and Farmers Bank
held Monday morning semi-annual
dividend Of 5 per cent was declared.
This bank has enjoyed an unusually
prosperous business the past twelve
months under the efficient manage
ment of its officers and directors.
The Columbus commercial., 1918-01-03

The government cotton report OF
Lowndes county recently sent in by
Mr.. G. B. Stinson, the crop statisti-
clan shows that 6,0lo bales of cot
ton were ginned in Lowndes county
to December Is. compared to 2,273
bales ginned to December l5 in
1916.
The Columbus commercial., 1918-01-03
Two Fires Sunday.

The fire department was called
out twice Sunday. The first alarm
at $50 a. m. was from the home OF
Charley Carter, negro, in North
east Columbus. The kitchen roof
was burned, the loss being covered
by insurance.
The second call was sent in Sun
day evening from the home Of Cir
cult Clerk J. T. Stephenson, on Col
lege street The fire destroyed a
part of the kithen roof, the loss be-
ing covered by insurance.
The Columbus commercial., 1918-01-03
l.. /. AND c. STUDENTS
RESUME STUDIES TODAY

The Christmas holiday at the Mis-
sissippi Industrial Institute and Col
lege, which began Friday, December
81 ends today when studies will be
resumed. A vast majority of the
students spent the Yuletide at their
home in different sections Of the
state, but about 25 young ladies re-
NAMED al the aoiiege and ample en-
terainment was provided for them
during the holiday season.
The Columbus commercial., 1918-01-03
Thompson---Wade.

Mr.. Ernest Thompson and Miss
Flora Wade, both Of Tuscumbia,
Ala, were married here Monday,
the ceremony having been said by
Or. 0. b. Sears, pastor of the First
Church Of Christ, and having taken
place at his home on College street
Mr.. and Mrs. Thompson returned
Immediately thereafter to Tuscum-
bia.
The Columbus commercial., 1918-01-03

Mr.. and Ernest Locke entertain
ed with beautiful dinner party last
Thursday evening in compliment to
Mr.. and Mrs. Edwin Kennedy.
Covers were laid for twelve end the
affair was a beautiful as well as en-
joyable one.