davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington herald., 1918-02-10

back TO 'the light of other days''-oil
and candles. What is the reason that
gas can not be furnished to people
who have contracted for It?
Oft repeated promises such as 'it
will be all right tomorrow" Just
wait a day or two," are tiresoms.
They do not bring heat or light to the
sufferers.
The patience and long suffering Of
Washington people in this matter are
astonishing! The gas pipes are alto
gether to blame for the defects, is
one claim set forth
: Those pipes ought to be arrested
and imprisoned in some junk shop.
They go on a general strike every
time the zero mark is nearly reached
and all over the city, except in a few
favored spots where it seems they do
not dare to strike.
They are behaving outrageously. as
pipes never did before. in this city,
nor in any other since time began.
But let the pipes tell their own
story. They cannot defend themselves.
they cannot repair themselves, and,
what is more to the point, they can
not distribute a tablespoonful $50 to
spea6 of gas all over a house Of say
eight, ten, or twelve oooms and give
that comfort which the occupants
have, as a rule, paid for.
NO, they cannot" say many peo-
ple;! the trouble is in lack of COM
petition, two or three gas companies
in this city would remedy the present
evil" All, that is better logic, breth-
rem,
A patron of the gas company-one
OF the men who dared to complain at
Northumberland this question from
one of the officials-as doubtless many
others do: 'If the supply is so poor
why don't you shut OF the gas en-
tirely?"
The reply was: 1--WE would IL there
was another gas company. as there
should be. Indeed, il there were one
or two you would not have 10 per cent
Of your patrons left after twenty-four
hours"
The gas official, of course, did not
relish that statement of fact. Many
tenants and roomers here at present
have comfortable homes elsewhere,
and are amply able TO buy here; but
their experience here during this win
ter prevent all desire to locate here.
A few people give as a reason for
the gas trouble here: ''It is a lack of
materials to make the gas" Well. If
that is so, then the whole trouble is
included in this fact:/
If, for any reason, an individual or
company cannot furnish the COM
modify they contract to furnish, why
not step down and out and leave the
field to others who can and will fur
nish sufficient supply of what the
people need. what they suffer for lack
of, what they contract for and are
willing TO pay for? AN INQUIRER.
The Washington herald., 1918-02-10
"GenHemen Of the Sea-

Describing the American destroyer
as the finest little thing afioat."
Cartoons Magazine" proceeds TO emu
nierate in simple terms its outstanding
good points:
1t can make forty miles an hour
that is, the best ones can and IL
can turn around on q nickle. Il Is
armed almost as heavily as our old
time cruisers. and when IL is going
head-on toward a diver the latter has
just as much chance of hitting it with
a torpedo as IL would have Of hitting
the sharp edge OF a razor blade The
submarines have already learned, to
their sorrow, that It doesn't pay to
exchange blows with the little Ameri-
can gentleman OF the sea, and that
he'only thing to do when he is sighted
is TO submerge as quickly and deep
~ as possible. And even then thu
little fellow Is likely to blow the sub
out of the water with a depth bomb
IL he gets a good chance at II before
IL dives"
The Washington herald., 1918-02-10
Help the Farmers!

Food will win the war;" says Mr.. Hoover;
Great Britain and France have made urgent repre-
sentations to the American government to their
food requirements; the whole world waits to see
what the harvests~ and the granaries of America
Will bring forth in this critical year of 1913
Let therefore face the conditions confront
ing the farmers without extravagant hopes or
idle optimism, and what chance the nation has
OF acquitting itself properly OF the mighty agricu-
,tural burden it has taken upon itself
The Federal Board of Farm Organizations has
sEbnitfed a memorial to President Wilson saying
shsr chief and gravest difficulties are these:
sEoftage offsrm labor;
ssshossse of seed iced fertilizers and other sup
pliesss
Lack cf reasonable edit, despite the estab-
Eshment OF tae farm loan banking system;
Inadequate prices;
The justified be1ief of the farmer that he is not
regarded a partner in the great enterprise of
winning the war.
The government should act Immediately to re-
move these obstacles. The selective draft should
be so employed as to rob the farmers of labor,
which already is scarce enough without further
depletion. Some means of diverting workers to
the farmers must be established without delay.
Seed shortage, credit troubles, price controversy
should be adjusted without cavi under the con-
ditions.
What Of the final plant OF the farmer-that he
is mot regarded as partner in the war;"
The agriculturists point out that not single
farmer has been called into the councils of
the administration which dominated exclusively
by business men, lawyers labor leaders, professional
men of all sorts and sizes. Not single farmer,
representing the greatest single business in the
country and the most vital, is in a position of
power and authority in Washington today. Messrs.
Houston and Hoover are their nominal spokesmen
and neither of them is or has been farmer.
The farmers urge the President to appoint a
farm commission, to consist preferably of nine
farmers actually engaged in the business, selected
from representative of and satisfactory to the
great farm organizations of America, and to report
directly to him on all questions that affect the in
crease of agricultural production and distribution
"Sucha commission is needed first OF all to give
the farmers of America a sense of partnership in
the conduct of the war, to which they have a
right. The occasional consultation with farmers
called to Washington does not amount to fitting
participation in the conduct OF the the part
Of onethird of the population of the United States
and all the when that third produces the one
torm of supplies which is the most essential"
This is what the Federal Board of Farm Or
CARNATIONS says. We think it sound doctrine. The
farmer has lacked recognition hitherto because he
mas nor asked for it; because everybody seemed
20 take him for granted. Now that he is demanding
MS proper place, he will get it. His power is the
-hiei power OF America.
The Washington herald., 1918-02-10
RAPS GAS COMPANY.
Correspondent Believes Competition
Would Bring Better Conditions.

WOulQ DrlnS Detter Son0ltlOnS.
To the Editor of The Herald: Will
YOU kindly allow a little space in
your much valued paper for consider
alton of the above question? The daily
papers are a blessing in many ways
and in no way are they more useful
than in serving as a forum for the
discussion of questions of common in
terest to the public.
We beg pardon for asking that
old, old question above. but 1t never
had more force in 1t than it has to-
day. 1t lies at the base of all the
new questions that throng our day.
Equal justice to all should be the
aim of all. BY your leave we will
ask a few more questions and enter
into some details.
Shall the people of washington-our
capital city of which we Americans
are so justly proud, continue to suffer
in cold and darkness without even an
effort at public remonstrance?
The coal shortage and other evils
have been properly discussed and eff
forts, at least, have been made to
remedy each.
But the gas question: Shall people
who a few months since invested in
gas stoves, when face to face with a
famine of other fuel, now sell those
stoves for old junk, they being use
lessless because there is no gas, in
most places?
Shall householders now provide a
supply of hGosene lamps or candles
for light? Yeu they have already done
So in many parts ef this city,; but
still pay their gas bills as usual.
The Washington herald., 1918-02-10
THE RIDER IN THE NIGHT.

Out of the vault of frigid mist,
When daylight yields
To marching shadows, purple-kist,
A rider wheels
And gallops DER the endless list
Of battlefields.
He stops awhile where Life abides
On shell-torn ground;
Then on the trail of Death he rides
Without sound,
And in the hooks where anguish hides
He may be found.
The stalwart smile when he appears,
The stricken sigh,
The dead lie quieter on their biers
When he is nigh,
For one and all his presence cheers
They know not why.
Oft as he views them at some task
And hovers near,
When will you conner" the soldiers ask,
again to cheer"
And he replies behind his mask,
When l appearp
From camp to camp he gallops on
Until the gray
Breaks in the east and stars grow wan,
Bespeaking day;
Then with his lace toward the dawn,
he rides away.
The Washington herald., 1918-02-10
"0ver the Top" Every Day.

We wish to turn our thoughts to brave lot
of little soldiers as ever "went the top"
We want to lay sincere tribute of high regard
at the feet of the little merchants of the street.
the newsboys.
For several weeks this city has been held firmly
in the bitter blast of a most severe winter Thou
sands of persons scarcely left their homes at all
Those who were compelled to be the streets
never tarred moment longer than necessary.
With a temperature standing at zero frequently
and with biting winds chilling to the very mar
row, there was mo place like home" And even
home was often uncomfortable with coal scarce and
coal cellars nearly empty.
And during all this weather, through streets
often knee-deep in snow with ice underfoot and the
wind often blowing blizzard, street newsboys and
carriers stuck bravey to their task OF serving
jointly the newspapers and the reading public.
Every morning, long before 90 per cent of the
people had left their beds, the newsboy began his
long trudge through the winter darkness. And
every evening, while other people were looking
forward to long hours OF cozy comfort m front of
the home ires the newsboy went brayely on his
way doing patiently and conscientiously his part IN
the worlds work Never faltering, never complain
ing these manly boys went through with what they
had set themselves to do
1t is of such boys that the successful men of the
future made 1t is just as true today as 1t was
in the day it first spoken: He that is faithful
in that which is least is faithful also in much"
Thus the little Soldiers" who valiantly dehed
the hardships of their work during this terrible
winter and so successfully performed their impor-
tant duty have builded for themselves character
of faithful dependence which will stand them in
good stead in that not far distant day when they
lay aside their boyhood and come into mans estate
This paper takes off its hat to the newsboys and
carriers-in and out of the city.
The Washington herald., 1918-02-10
QUESTIONS BILLY'S FIGURES.
Jack Pott Says 1904 Drinking
Story Is Too Strong"

To Editor Washington Herald: In
a recent issue of your paper. jan
uary 2s, there appeared an expert
ence related by the evangelist, Billy"
Sunday, while in Chicago, about the
time of his conversion. He states
that he stood in front of a saloon
and in sixty-two minutes counted
1,OO4 who entered the saloon.
Evidently Billy wanted to create
the impression that he had kept an
exact tally and was speaking the
exact truth. If this is true. then
customers entered that bar room at
an average rate, for an hour and
two minutes, of sixteen per minute,
with twelve thrown in for good meas
ure." Then, unless they were also
coming out at the same rate they
were going in, there must have been
considerably over 1000 people in that
saloon during that hour and two min
utes. This would have kept an av-
erage forces of bartenders pretty busy
serving drinks il the crowd was at
all thirsty. and yet. Billy tells us
that at this time shabby and seedS
old "down-and-outer' ambled UP to
the bar and asked the bartender
for a drink. which was given him,
and he shuffled out into the street.
Now, Billy, to use your own lam
guage, let's get down to brass tacks."
Do you really expect US to accept
that as the truth?
We will not say to you, as you
would say to those who differ with
you, that you are a dirty, nasty.
stinking old 'liar." No. Billy, We will
only say that we are afraid that
you handle the truth a little care
lessly at times probably due to a de-
sire to keep men from hell-fire where
a fiend called Satan, dressed in a
close-fitting red flannel suit, with an
arrowhead on the end of his tail,
toasts them over a slow fire on the
prong of a pitchfork. We were also
taught in our boyhood days that we
must reverence our Creator and not
even take His name in vain," but
when you use such expressions as
Say, God, what are you going to
do with these old slobs, anyway
or words in similar language, we can
not but feel that We have got the
wrong idea, some way. How about
it, Billy? We ask for information.
JACK POTT.
The Washington herald., 1918-02-10
NEWSIE NOTES.

Marie Coreli has been fined in Eng
land for boarding sugar. She said
the Judge was all wrong. Now she
understands why the Kaiser hates me
British-they simply will no admit
they are wrong.
Final scenes for the big production,
My Four Years in Germany" which
is being filmed from Ambassador Ger
ards famous book. are rapidly being
completed.
The Los Angeles Public Library has
locked up all German books. and all
books in English which attempt to
Justify Germany's actions. One of the
first works so interned was Ger
many Embattled," by Oswald Willard.
kitty Canary" a new novel BY
Kate Langley Bosher, is published
this week by Harper & Brothers.
Plans for an aeroplane trip from
London to New York in a day are
being made according to an inter
view published in a recent issue of
the London Daily Sketch. The
plane. which is now being built at
a Middlesex factory, will be pilOted
The Washington herald., 1918-02-10
THE OPEN FORUM

standing on the pavement, unable to
get on the car at all. when really there
Is room inside. This is simply be-
cause those who come in ahead of
those unfortunates insist on sticking
around the entrance, in stead Of NOV
ing forward.
Then again. people go half way up
the aisle and stand there. Imagining
that because there is no one in front
of them the car is not crowded. Thus
they block the path of those who
might come forward, and the jam
grows tighter all the way back to the
entrance.
Fellow citizens, let US all make room
for others, who want to ride as much
as We do. After some have moved up
let us also move up.
W q
The Washington herald., 1918-02-10
PRAISES EDITORIAL.
President of Employees Union Ap-
proves Comment on Rorland.

Editor of The Washington Herald:
Please accept my thanks for your
splendid editorial in Monday mornings S
paper entitled "BOrland and Patriot
ism;" also for the prominent place
given in the news columns TO the re-
port of the action taken by our ad-
visory committee i'm reference TO The
so-called Borland amendment.
1t is indeed gratifying TO know that
We have the support of the local press
in our fight for simple justice.
JOHN S. BEACH. President.
The Washington herald., 1918-02-10
NEW BOOKS RECEIVED.

Apron Strings, by Eleanor Gates.
author OF The Poor Little Rich
Girl" New York: Sully a Klein
teich. Price. S1.35 net.
Booth TarkinEtOn. by Robert c. HeI-
ndsy. A newsy and interesting
biography OF this popular author
by one who well knows him. Car
den City: Doubleday. Page 4 Co.
illustrated. Price, s1.25 net
A short History Of Rome, by Gag
llelmo Ferrero and COrrndO Bar
bagAlIO. The Monarchy and the
Republic. New York: G. p. Put
nam's Sons. Price, $3.50 net.
Germany I'm War Time, by Mary
Ethel McAuley. Personal expert
ences OF an American woman in
Germany. Copiously illustrated.
Chicago: The Open Court Publish
ing Company. Price. SL6O net
The Washington herald., 1918-02-10
aUEsTIoNERs ANSWERED.

Q. What English poet held the
post OF Poet Laureate OF England
for the longest term?
A. Alfred Tennyson. He served
from IS5O-lSs2.
q. Can you suggest two or three
good newspapers stories.
A 'Gallegher." by Richard
Harding Davis. The Stolen Story,
by Jessie Lynch Williams and
-Queed' by Henry Sydnor Harrison
are three excellent ones.
O. Which is our American novel;
lists is particularly famous for his
pictures Of Creole life in New Or
leans?
A George Washington Gable.
Q. Who was the author off PIGS
is Pigs"
A Ellis Parker Butler
Q. Who wrote the most authori-
tatiye life OF Abraham LincOln7
A John Hay. afterward Secre-
tary of State. and John G. Nic0lay
wrote the most authoritative life OF
Abraham Lincoln.
The Washington herald., 1918-02-10
BOOKDOM
By Lonjac

Over the Top" by Arthur Guy Empey holds the proud distinction
of being the besemg book America Ii topped BY far every
book during 1917 perusa Of the number of The Bookseller
Nwsa and Statoner proves still heads the monthly list of best
sellers in IoIS
Many Herald readers doubt have helped swell the sale Of
this worthy book They have enjoyed There houssnds
however who have yet enjoyed this widely read and kef
volume These busy people, who rely the newspapers for their
dictionary entertainment. -
Realzant of this The Herald WILL BEGINNING TOMORROW,
nament of Over the Top each day. have
not yet read it, here royal opportunity have recommend
the following Of this peerless story friends. They will
enioy
The Washington herald., 1918-02-10
APPROVES 'MOVE-UP" RULE.
W. c. L. Urges Street Car Passen-

To the Editor of The Herald: There
is SO much complaint of the difficulty
Of getting rides on the street cars;
but part Of this difficulty is the fault
Of the passengers themselves.
One thing which hinders the street
cars from doing their best is the way
in which passenger hang around the
back doors. This is selfish. After they
are on themselves. peple ought not to
forget that others also want to ride.
oftenfines those others are left
The Washington herald., 1918-02-10
STREET CAR TRAFFIC.
Abolition of Restrictions on Auto
Transit Suggested.


To the Editor of the Herald: When
there Is such demand for transport
tation that the street cars are un-
able to meet it, why should there be
restraints put upon other means of
meeting the need2
For instance, why should not the
commissioners remove the regulations
that stand in the way of every auto
owner carrying passengers and charg-
ing 5 cents? This would be no wrong
to the street car Companies, since they
are unable to take care of SO many
passengers anyway, and people have
to walk. 1t would help considerably
In relieving the pressure.
Furthermore, this would enable the
sightseeing autos to carry local pas
sengers in this bad weather when
tourists are few. Those big cars could
help a large number of Washington
people get down town.
w q T.
The Washington herald., 1918-02-10
PRAISES POSITION.
Writer Is Gratihed Over Prominence
Given Soldiers.


Given Soldiers.
Editor of The Washington Herald:
In your Herald OF today you printed
on the front page the names of our
boys, our fighting men. in vile Boche
camps, and the names Of our boys,
our fighting boys, dead from disease
over there in France.
You are printing a real American
newspaper, knowing that We AmeI1-
can readers want the names, and
wherefrom in the u. S. A, of our
boys that are dying and enduring for
us all, and that their names should
be on the front page, not only as
news, but for their honor and our own
honor.
The Herald placed their names on
the front page, the Times on the sec
~ Z
The Washington herald., 1918-02-10

battle is over. The climbing is mechanical-yet
remember mechanics must be true-the routine of
climbing after the ladder is in place is the most
natural thing in the world but at any stage of the
game sliding down the sides is easier than climbing
up the rungs
The Washington herald., 1918-02-10

by Herbert Sykes. the famous air
man. and the navigator viii be 3D.
gar Middleton. the author OF AIR
fare OF today and OF the future
just published in this country by
Scribners.
The best seller Of 1913 was Folly
anna" with a message of tnsistence
that "all's right with the world" The
best seller Of 1917 was "Over the Top"
with the message: 'It n necessary
to use a bayonet in order TO make
things right In the world.
In Our First Year of War; By
President Wilson, will be published
by the Harpers this week
George Western. whose Apple
Tree Girl" a lively romance with q
new plot. will be published by the
J. 3. Lippincott Company. has sold
the motion picture rights of his "Oh,
Mary, Be Carefulr" Dippincotts)
and it will be released shortly.
Travelling Under Orders- Is the
title OF Maj. william K. Dunn's
book published this week by Harper
and Brothers. 1t Is a guide book
for troops travelling to France and
gives all the details OF preparation.
orders and notification, proper
clothing and equipment for of1cers
and men.
The Washington herald., 1918-02-10
..rhe Big Little Person.

"The Big Little Person" by Re
becca Hooper Eastman, recently pub
lished by me Harpers, is something
more than a love story handled in
the modern manner. The paradoxical
title has a tittillating quality that
pervades the tale itself, and the
course of true love not only fails
In the proverbial way to run smooth.
but it dives underground. so to speak,
and takes various twists and turns.
Taken all in all, It is a very Iowa
BILE and charming book. The threads
of mystery are neatly woven to-
gether and their design artfully with
held until the end. But the hold
upon the readers affections which the
story makes to an unusual degree
is largely that OF the big little per
son" herself.
The Washington herald., 1918-02-10
Bruce Barton,s Editorials.

Admirers of Bruce Barton will be
happy TO learn that the live Double
day, PagS and Company has brought
out fifty u his best editorials in book
form.
Wise advice to the young men and
women of America are expressed in
the terse. vivid style of this we'll
known magazine editor It would be
well if every high school student read
them.
In witty, epigrsmmatic phrases the
editor Of Every Week nails down
home truths. Among the chapters
are: DO You Bore YOURSELF About
Marking Money" Perhaps You Don't
Dream Enough" Some Poor Blind
Folks Have Never Seen a Miricle. 8"
etc, etc.
The Washington herald., 1918-02-10
Books and Persons.

Books and Persons" by Arnold
Bennett, and from the press Of the
George II. Doran Company. Is a
series of studies and comments on
modern literature, the brilliance OF
which is only equalled by their caus-
tic quality Mr.. Benefits thoughts
are served like food administration
coffee. without sugar.
While this volume is essentially a
writer's book. having a most vivid
interest for those who are well ac-
quainted with the technique of writ
ing, the casual reader cannot fail
to appreciate its abundance OF epi-
gram and keen personal touch
Mr.. Benefits description of the
writings of young Russian authors.
as yet little known to the world,
are interesting as a prophecy. Com
ment on every modern writer is in
cluded in the volume. Mr.. Bennett
ruthlessly tumbles such idols as
Henry James and Rudyard Kipling
from their pedestaIs.
The Washington herald., 1918-02-10

U. S. has 100000 women successfully engaged
in agriculture, 100000 of them colored Maybe
the other 10000 of them wear sun-bonnets.
The Washington herald., 1918-02-10
send in Your query.

Have you a literary query up your
sleeve? Send it in. Address your
communication to: Lonjec, Literary
Editor. The Washington Herald.
The Washington herald., 1918-02-10

There are fewer hogs than ever before in farm
ers' smokehouses, says alert contemp But as
many as ever in the street cars.
The Washington herald., 1918-02-10

"By next April" says old man Won Hindenburg
81 shall be in Paris" If he's in Paris next April
he'll be in Jail there.
The Washington herald., 1918-02-10

The champion knitter of Cleveland is Mrs. K
Needle. You may try to guess what the stands
for.