davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-02-02

Miss Mary NJ. Prout, teacher at
Lowman Hill school, has taken her
sixth grade pupils in hand and taught
them the proper welding of the dead
~ knitting needle. Even the boys in
the sixth grade at Lowman school are
expert knitters.
Already the youthful knitters have
completed one hospital blanket con-
tanning SIS square inches of knitting.
The blanket was knitted in pieces, to
be sure, 125 five-inch squares of knit
And the big Red Cross in the center
stands out we'll in its surroundings of
dull gray.
Besides this big blanket the students
have made a number of smaller baby
blankets from odds and ends of yarn
Nat the mothers of the children have
thrown away as useless. This is the
true spirit of conservation, to save
what no one else wants and make
Some of the work of the children, es-
pecially of the boys, is parti-colored:
a few pieces being of the familiar red,
white and blue stripe pattern.
Along with their knitting the pupils
IN the Lowman sixth have found time
to go over the top in the Red Cross
campaign and in the thrift stamp
campaign: have set themselves to the
making of original posters for use in
the Red Cross and baby bond cam
paigns. and to plan to go deeper into
the war work of the Red Cross. The
students have sold papers for the Red
Cross and take an interest in every
thing connected with the war Most
of the children have brothers or rela-
tfves enlisted in some one of the
branches of Uncle Sans fighters.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-02-02
JAN. COLD MONTH
Low Temperature Record for
Thirty Years Broken.
Sixteen Below Was the Lowest
Mark Reached.

January, 1918, was the coolest
month experienced at Topeka in thirty
years time. and with the single ex-
ception of January, 1888, it was the
coolest of all the months on the local
record, according to the summary of
the weather bureau. which covers con-
ditions in detail. Temperatures were
below freezing at some time during
on nine days. There were twenty
three days when the mercury failed
to reach the 32e mark. and two when
it was below zero for the entire
twcnty-four hours, which is also a
near record breaker.
The highest temperature of the
month was $50 on the Gath, and the
lowest 16o below zero on the 18th.
Combined with December, proceed
ing, this makes the present winter the
coolest on the local record. with more
below zero weather to its credit than
has occurred during the entire period
of any other winter, except two,
1878 and 1904-'05. s
The total precipitation, nearly all of
which was melted snow, was 0.51 inch,
or 0.42 inch below normal, and makes
November. December and January the
driest three-month period that has oc-
CURED at any time of the year since
the local record was begun in 1887.
The total snowfall for the month,
"a inches, was the most that has
fallen in any month for almost three
years, but was unusually dry and
made so little moisture that when the
4.5-inch snowfall of the 10th disap-
peared on the 22d the ground was
scarcely damp on top. However, it
benefited wheat by protecting it from
the most severe weather of the month.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-02-02
TOPEKAN is SHOCKED
Tom Doran Was Told to $50 To" by
Local Preacher.

It will be some days before Tom
Doran, we'll known Topeka lawyer,
calls another preacher. Doran. who
is attorney for several corporations
and public utilities, recently told a
Topeka minister what he thought OF
a recent sermon in which several of
Dort-n's clients were attacked But
the reply which the minister sent
back was quite equal to the occasion
even THO a bit worldly.
The preacher hadn't juggled words
in expressing his opinion of some OF
Doran's clients. He heard of the SER
mon. So he called the preacher on
the phone He talked ten minutes
without slowing down. The preacher
didn't say a word.
Hello" shouted Doran, thinking
the preacher had left the line.
Hello" said the preacher.
Ibid you hear what 1 said?"
yes"
well, what do you say?"
s7You go to hell"
1t was Doran who hung up the
receiver.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-02-02

week not once has there been a re-
port of what was going on printed
under a Berlin date line. The Ger
man censor is not passing any news
dispatches from the strike centers.
Practically all that reaches the out
side world IS the rumorS and round
about reports that leak out of Ger
many into the neutral countries ad-
cabled to this country by the news
agencies. These rumors may greatly
exaggerate the gravity of the situa-
, ton, or the leakage of news may be
so successfully suppressed by the Ger
man government that we are getting
only a small part of what is actually
happening.
However that may be, at least there
Is plenty of real trouble on hand for
the kaiser's government. The peace
negotiations begun with the BolSheviki
in the hope of securing a separate
peace that would add vast territories
to Germany and make the food sup
plies and other resources of Russia
available and thus relieve the eco
nomic cdiSis in Germany, so far, has
failed to achieve its purpose. The
Bolsheviki entered into the negotia-
tions for the double purpose of salts
flying the demand for peace among the
masses of their own people and in
order to spread revolutionary doc
trine and discomfort in Germany and
AuSlTld. 90 lar the BOlSneV1k1 seem
to have rather the best of it. It has
become a sort of race in which the
Bolsheviki are seeking to stir up
revolutionary forces in Germany be-
fore they are compelled by sentiment
at home to sign separate peace The
Russian delegates to the peace confer
ence know that sooner or later they
will have to accept the German gov
ernments terms. They are prolonging
the negotiations upon every possible
pretext in the hope that in the mean
time they may arouse the people of
Austria and Germany to such an ex-
tent that internal pressure will com
pei modification of the terms de-
manded
Finally let me remind the reader
that the present disturbances in Ger
many may be settled at any time by
some sort of compromise that will not
materially affect the progress of the
war during the present year, that Ger
many may be successful in concluding
a favorable separate peace with Russia.
thus partially at least solving her food
problem for next winter, and that
while Germany may be b1uffing about
an offensive against the allied lines,
it is much moro probable that she
means to attack somewhere on one or
another of the far flung fronts. If the
Intelligence. bureaus of the allied gov
ernments are not deceived that attack
will fall somewhere in France or Bel
GUM and will be the most tremen-
dous drive so far launched by either
side in the great war.
Meanwhile the leaven of revolt is
working among the masses in Aus
tria and Germany and no man knows
when some decisive internal crisis may
come to a head
Neither does any man know when
Italy or even France may break under
the strain of sacrifice and growing
war WEAKNESS and leave Great Britain
and America to battle the wild boar of
Prussia alone
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-02-02

could not go out they brought him
berries and other fruits to eat, and
water to drink. In this way he lived
for a long time, but he was lonely
and longed for the company of other
fairies, and the fairy banquet and the
fairy dance. He had but one constant
ompanion, a small blue flower that
grew beside the entrance to his cave.
These two talked together every day
and told each other all they had
learned in their different lives. The
friendship of this sweet flower made
him as happy as he could we'll be
away from all his own people. So he
grew to love her very much. and she
loved him He had been away SO long
that he thought the fairies must have
forgotten him. But this was not so,
for when the fairy queen found that
he was missing, she sent out search
ers in all directions. After a long
time. by questioning the birds and
butterflies and the bees, they found
him. Such a joyous meeting they had
when they found him in his little cave
far up in the mountains. He was glad
to see them, glad to think of going
home again. And yet he did not wish
to leave the little blue flower he
to stay there, nor could he take her
away with him-fo she would fade
away before he could reach his home.
They had long talk and both agreed
that he must go away. When he was
about to start he kissed the sweet blue
flower She sighed and kissed him in
return and said .Forget-me-not"
And SO forever afterward that was her
name
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-02-02
AEUER5 uv'D aH,.e5
leysE6cn.4,Tz

readt der bapers. Und anoder thing,
Heine- Vot ISIS der use criticising der
head off efery Var Department und
telling der publick dot he ISIS nodt
doing der chob der right way. PuS
Goily, how ISIS fdt dot dey can expect
a man to holdt hiss chob und gife 100
per cent efficiency iff he hass to stay
oop nights thinking oop answers to :
lot off tamfool questions vich will b
asked him der next day before a Sken-
ate infestigationing committee. Some
peoples Will make mistakes some off
der time, oders will make mistakes
part off der time, but dere ISIS nodt q
Skenator lifting dot nefer makes mis-
takes any off der time, und a few Off
der noisiest vuns shouldt be gifen der
chob off preparing der country for
var NIT der same obstacles to over
come dot der present incumbents haff
und see den how fits idt der shoe
Heine, / can't but hellup but think
dot efery American iss patriatic, but
some of dem ISIS so self conferred dot
public notice und looking glasses haff
blinded a few off dem to der main
issue. und idt will take maybe shrap-
mel gun to waken dem oop. Yum
thing. however, NIT all der geknock-
ing. all der grumbling und sour grape
chewing, der soldchers are chust der
same pouring into France. der boats
are still being buildt, der training
camps are still training. Liberty Bonds
und Red Cross are nodt a drug on der
market, und We will make der Kaiser
think Judgmendt Day hass came re-
CARELESS OFF his wishes. efen in der
face off der opposition off der WASH
ington, ID. c., Bolsheviki. Well, Heine,
will close now before I say somedinG-
yich makes me think. Hiene. der coal
bin ISIS again empty -.
Hoping you are der same.
Your fader,
? LOUIE SCHNITZ.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-02-02

Mein dear son Heine.
II der President efer reads any off
your letters, den Secretary McAdoo
will loose hiss chob, und you will be
You haff sooeh a convincing way off
asking for money. Hermit ISIS der
check
Veil, Heine, der greadt var iss still
venting ahead as oosual. / see how
efer dot der center off activity ISIS
transferred from der western front to
Washington, D. c., where der prin-
cipal fighting ISIS now being conducted.
don't know whether idt ISIS chust
plain foolishment in der head, or
whether some peoples can't stand to
be outside off der limelight, but idt
der skenators adj Washington shouldt
be given ten days notice und requested
to stop adj der cashiers windows as
dey pass ouidt. I can't understood
der philosophy off der idea off wrot-
ing home to der constituents und tell
ing them to stood puy der flag, to eat
less, drink more-water-haff a meat
less day und sleepless night und so
forth, und NIT der next breath occupy
two columns in der daily press
geknocking der policy off der gofern-
mendt in its method off conducting
der var, und all chust because der
present administration ISIS Democratic.
Idt does seem to me, Heine, dot right
now ISIS der time for der skenators to
pull together nit each oder der same
way like Americans, und nodt pull
apart like Republicans und Demo-
Gratis. 1 can't see how idt ISIS going
to do anybody any goodt adt der next
election to wave a flag nit vun handt
und a club nit der oder
We don't haff to haff experience,
Heine, We can readt der bapers und
see vot happened to Russia, but idt
seems dot some politicioners don't
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-02-02
n FOR TIE TOPEKA STATE JOURNAL
BY lN7i ZU1WAH

Germany's forces have been concen-
trated in northern France and Bel
GUM, the bulk of them will have to
do their fighting there if anywhere
for some time to come. 1t is barely
possible that Germany may have
enough men, now that there is no
Russian from, to macs great forces IN
the west and, at the some time. to
concentrate in Italy, Macedonia or
Turkey sufficient troops for a power
full offensive there. If such be the
case the war offices of the allies are
of G erman reserves available for Of
fensive operations.
If the massing of troops in the west
is bluff, but not feint to cover an
offensive elsewhere, then what is it :?
Two possible motives suggest them
selves. In the first place Germany
would like to conclude a victorious
peace before America can make her
power felt in a military way. The
principal season for peace maneuvers
is during the winter months while the
armies are more or less inactive. The
season ordinarily closes with the open
ing of general fighting in the spring.
Germany began her peace drive early
in the winter and preceded it with
the concentration Of troops in France
and the announcement of a coming
grand offensive in the spring. With
negotiations under way for a separate
peace that would eliminate Russia en-
tirely as a military factor and open
her natural resources to Germany. it
would not be unreasonable on the
part of the German government to
expect that the threat of a tremendous
assault on the French front might
modify materially the attitude of the
allies toward Germany's peace terms.
If such was the motive the German
bluff failed. The threat of a great
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-02-02

CITY to Topeka to 'cop" a car. Re-
turning, its sale is engineered either
by the man himself, or thru cheap
garage men, or others.
Engine Number a Worry.
Once, sold, say a $4,000 car for $500,
he has sufficient money for a big time
and enough left to get to another city.
As this class becomes more experience
ed it becomes more rowing in d1Sposi-
ton, stealing and disposing of an auto
mobile in one city and going to anoth-
er to avoid danger of Identification by
the person to whom the car is finally
sold.
the flesh of cattle thieves The engine
number and other marks, possible on
automobiles, are proving to be the I'M
doing of many automobile thieves.
Legislatures are taking cognizance
of the increase in this modern brand
of crime. Laws are on the statute
books in many states making it neces-
sary for the sale of an automobile to
he reported to the chief of police in
a city, the sheriff and to the state
automobile department before the pur-
chaser escapes the liability of receiv-
ing stolen property A minute exam
nation, of all cars by these officials
before their transfer to the purchaser
is rapidly becoming a crime detection
method.
They're Bank Robbers, Too.
In many instances, the ease IN
stealing automobiles and the rapid
transit possible in these cars has
caused a diversion from straight auto
mobile robberies to bank robber1es,
aided and abetted by the theft of an
automobile The Overlook robbery
and murder is an instance. A like
robbery in Leavenworth county year
often, the perpetrators are a part
of an organized gang. The folks
charged with participation in the
Leayenworth county crime had much
money at their command from
mysterious source. The best criminal
lawyers in Leavenworth and Kansas
CITY defended them.
Automobile associations are raising
money to aid in prosecution of motor
car thieves. Various other forms to
guard against auto robbery are being
adopted by the modern automobile
associations the same as cattlemen and
others formed vigilance committees in
the plains of Kansas and further west
in the old days.
Romance exists today, the same as
Yesterday if one will only look for it.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-02-02

offensive has served only to solidify
the allies and strengthen their deter
mination to fight the war thru to a
full and final decision.
If it is a game of bluff, in addition
to bluffing the enemy, the German
government doubtless sought also to
inspire the German people and the
German army, for the time being at
least, with new hope of victory. The
massing of troops on the western front
and the advertising of a coming grand
offensive would naturally tend to
during the cold. dreary winter
months when fighting on any large
scale is impossible. Winter cold and
gloom, coupled with military idleness
have a powerful tendency to discour-
age a hungry and war worn people.
Talk of and preparation for big Of
fensive might easily play an important
part in keeping up the courage of the
nation until sunshine and warm days
should return to cheer the discour-
aged and downhearted, and active OPP
erations along the battle front should
again arouse the fighting spirit that
slumbers while the armies lie inactive.
In any case it is evident that in
ternal conditions have been causing
the powers that be in Germany grave
alarm Last summer, when the
reichstag put on it's little revolt against
the government. it was done with a
blast of trumpets, and dispatches
direc. from Berlin telling of the
reichstag performances were passed
freely by the German censor. That
performance was camouflage. Ger
many wanted to 1ull the allies to sleep
in their war preparations and to de-
ceive them into believing that Ger
many had reformed, thus removing
one of the obstacles to a peace favor
able to the central powers.
This time, it will be observed. that
during all the disturbances of the past
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-02-02

Lieut.. o. N. Hall is the son of Mr..
and Mrs. N. L. Hall, of Kensington.
He secured his commission at Fort
Sheridan training camp. and left
Christmas week for New York. en-
route for the fighting front in France.
His parents have received a cable
gram telling of his safe arrival on the
other side. Lieutenant Hall is Ken
sington's first army officer. Before
going to the training camp he was a
successful school teacher in the east
ern part of the state for several years.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-02-02
WAR PICTURES
To Readers of State Journal:

To Readers of State Journal:
You may obtain a Photographic
print of any official war photo
graph appearing in this paper that
bears the copyright line of the
Committee on Public Information
by sending 10 cents for each print
desired to the Division of Pictures,
Committee on Public Information,
Washington. D. c.
Bear in mind that this offer ap-
plies only to photographs that bear
the official copyright line
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-02-02
Woman Philanthropist Dead.

Kansas City, Feb. Mrs. Thomas
NJ Spofford, of Kansas City, active in
philanthropic work for orphan and
homeless children died Wednesday in
Washington, according to a telegram
received here. In 1916 she had her
large home here remodelled into an
orphanage. The orphanage valued at
100000, was dedicated by Bishop E.
r. Hendrix, of the Methodist Episcopal
church Mrs. Spofford had no chill
dren of her own.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-02-02
Ship Fireman a Hero.

Washington, Feb. e. Secretary
Daniels today commended Fireman
John P. Smith. of a receiving ship at
Norfolk, Va. for bravery in rescuing a
shipmate from drowning January IL.
Smiths home is at University Park,
Denver Colo
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-02-02
Two Burn to Death in Hotel.

Martinez, Cal, Feb. 1.-Two persons
were burned to death and five in
jured, several probably fatally, in a
fire which destroyed the Fairview
hotel Friday. The injured were hurt
when they jumped from upper win
dOWs.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-02-02
Q. S. Aviator Dies of Injuries.

London. Feb. Roy. o. Carver, q
young American cadet attached to the
Royal Flying corps has died in a hos
pital of injuries, according to the Cen
trail News. He was hurt in a. fall OF
$50 feet while flying on the south
coast of England
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-02-02

The children have done exceptional
work in other lines, too,' said Miss
Prout this morning. zone of them
has WI Itten a pageant in which all of
the countries of the world appear in
the person of an actor before the bar
or Justice and Liberty to tell the story
or Germany's wrongs to the race of
men They have made a new set of
Mother Goose rhymes on war facts and
incidents, and they have rewritten the
story OF Cinderella to make that tabled
lady go to a knitting party and lose
her needles, rather than to a mere
ball and drop her slipper for the
prince to find"
In speaking of one of the principal
after school hour activities of her
sixth graders. Miss Prout says: They
are especially enthusiastic over the
shoveling of snow for the old people,
the Widows and the others who are
unable physically to shovel for them
selves or are unable to hire it done
from financial reasons. One of the
cardinal rules of the game is to ac-
cept no pay and to do the work we'll -
The thirty-five students who make
up the sixth grade knitting class at
10
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-02-02
THE GRAVE ON THE PRAIRIE

BY IMRI ZUMWALT.
In the land of the daisies and goldenrod,
Under the wide arching skies,
A low lying mound Of the prairie sod
Marks where my little one lies.
Good news. [volume] (Boomer, N.C.) 1917-1919, 1918-06-01
NUMBER II

see these ten toes sticking out at
the peace conference, you may
safely say they have already pass
ed and the $50 years Of Gentle
Times have ended. In that case
you may look for the new Israel
Government to come into great
prominence right away. And I
shall not be surprised if we OF
America turn out to be a part Of
Israel.
In either case, the Stone that
smote the Image on the feet is
not far away. It is only ques
ton of whether we have already
passed through the toes, or
whether they are still to come.
We shall soon see.
Good news. [volume] (Boomer, N.C.) 1917-1919, 1918-06-01
The Jewish Army.

Elsewhere in this paper am
nrinting a very interesting edito-
rial from the Wilmington (N.C.)
Dispatch on the subject of J Jewish
Soldiers. Don't fail to read it.
After being without a national
army for thousands of years, it
isa very impressive fact to see
the Jews gathering up an army
again. What does it mean? 1t
means that the Jews are going to
have their Promised Land re-
stored to them and build up their
national life again, just IS the
prophecies declare.
You see the different allied ma
tons, among whom the Jews are
scattered, giving them permission
to form a separate army of their
own and that army will be sent
to Palestine to help Gen. Allenby
drive out the Turks; but you may
bet your brogans that Germany
is not making any such offer.
Germany has taken Turkey for
an ally, and Turkey is against the
Jews; so Germany doesn't want
the Jews to have an army.
If there was no other evide nee
as to which side is right, this is e.
nough. Germany wants to keer
the Jews scattered and homeless
The allies want to give them then
ancient home. 1t is just as plain as
the nose on your face that Germa
ny is on the wrong side.
Good news. [volume] (Boomer, N.C.) 1917-1919, 1918-06-01
transfer 10 Jewish young men al

transfer TO Jewish young men al
ready in the service.
The Canadian military authori
ties were moved to grant this u
nique privilege by the fact that
Great Britain has pledged itself
to aid the Zionists in establishing
a Jewish national homeland in
Palestine, and that the Jewish ad-
ministrative commission is al
ready established in Jerusalem. A
Jewish regiment recruited in Lon
don. is reported as having partici-
pated in the Turkish rout at FL
Salt recently. The enthusiasm
evoked by that declaration and
by the prospect that they will have
the opportunity of striking d.
rect blow for the liberation of
their ancestral home has already
caused more than 1000 young A.
merican Jews to enlist in the
Jewish Battalion. /" The Zionist
organization of America is con ii.
dent that the act of the Canadi.
an government will speedily raise
the numb er of Jewish units from
a battalion to a division.