davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-03-25
THIS IS LADY DAY

Today is Lady Day. the feast Of the
Annunciation, one of the oldest and most
sacred festivals in the Christian calendar
And not only is the 25th of March the date
traditionally set as that of the annuncas
ton of the Virgin Mary, but in the middle
ages it was regarded as the beginning Of
the New Year. March rs was New Years
Day until 1752. In England 1t is still quar-.
ter day. when rents are payable. 4eiAT
There are many and obvious reasons for
considering this season the beginning Of the
year rather than bleak and bitter January
ON every hand one sees the signs Of bur-
geoning life, of the mystic and marvellous
reincarnation of the visible world. Grass is.
springlng, bulbs coming up under the cool
sweet rains of spring, and one who wakes
with wide-open windows at 8 o'clock In the
morning has only to ask the birds They
know far more about II than any almanac
maker. For our part, Lady Day will always
be the first of the year.
The sacred solemnity of the day 10 the Dc.
vout soul makes March 20 q date of peculiar
beauty and magic. One thinks again OF that
old story. which, however commentator
have mythologiZed II. still remains the most
beautiful In human annals. And at this time
of year, with all life magcaly renewing
itself about us, the annunciation takes on
deeper meanings.
II is a day peculiarly and intimately
sacred to the lov.Iest associations OF
womanhood, and 1t would be well II. on this
of all days, each man would try In some
way to show the reverence we all feel for The
sex
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-03-25
Lost: A Humorist

The rich rewards and emoIuments that
make the profession of burglary In Phia-
delphia SO slluring to men of dash and en-
ergy have diverted from the literature of
American humor at least one spirit strangely
original and singularly blithe. Yelled in mys-
terry this man remains. leaving only an oc-
casonal jewel of achievement in his trail
to gladden. passing hour for the unhumor-
GUS multitudes chained to clock-made rou-
tine.
II must have been this anonymous humor.
ist who recently robbed a jewelry shop on
Market street half block away from the
headquarters of the Department of Public
Safety. This feat loses its appeal alto
gether when you stop to contemplate the
things that have just happened to Police
man John Cassidy, who lives UP Fairmount
avenue way Policeman Cassidy was sleep-
ing soundly in his bed. In the night a thief
entered his house and took among other
things. his incest and most expensive pair of
rubber~soled shoes and his extremely fe-
rocious-by reputation--watchdog
Diversion Is good for the health. c;ood
Jokers are rare. II might be well, there.
FORE, to Keep an eager eye for a lively look,
ing man with pair of rubber-soled shoes
and a bulldog It is almost certain that hc
would say funny things. Surrey he must
be thinking them
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-03-25
A VOICE OF THE PEOPLE

TT is said of Archbishop Cosmo Gordon
- Lang that he has found his greatest
happiness in long association with the
very poor. And it might be said that the
poor have shared their peculiar riches with
him without stint. He is wise and patient
man. And patience and wisdom are the
treasures of the humble.
1t is refreshing, therefore, to observe
that the air of formslity and exclusiveness
that has attended the visits of the Primate
of England in other American cities re.
Gently is to be mitlgated in Philadelphia
Tomorrow afternoon the Archbishop will
address an open meeting in the University
gymnasium. This is one of the few meet
ings in America at which the distinguished
Episcopalian. sent more or less officially as
a spokesman for the English masses, will
be permitted TO appear without the hin.
drance of cards of admission.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-03-25
Slang Heard in CdntOn,,,ents

The following vocabulary of army slang
has been compiled by the wadsworth Gas
Attack and Rio Grande Rather
Beans-The commissary sergeant
ean-Shooter--A commissary officer
Black-Strap-Liquid coffee.
Blind--Sentenced by court-martial to for
feiture of pay without confinement
Bob-Tail-A dishonorable discharge or a.
discharge without honor
Bone--To study, or mistake
Bootlck-To flatter
Bow-Legs-Cavalryman
Buck-Private---A term sometimes used In
referred to private.
Buckng for Orderly-Giving clothing and
accouterments extra cleaning so as to COM
pete for orderly
Bunkie--A soldier who shares the shelter
of a .comrade.
Bust-To reduce noncommissioned off,
Ger to the grade of private.
Butcher-The company barber.
Canned Horse-Canned beef
Chief-Name by which the chief musician
of the band is usually called by the enlisted
men.
. Cit--a civilian.
Cits--Civlian clothes
C. O--Commanding officer,
Coffee Cooler--one who seeks soft" de-
tail
Craw-To admonsb
Doughboy-Infantrymsn
Duf-Any sweet edible
Fogy-Ten per cent increase of officers
nay for each flve years service
Found-To be deficient or wanting In any,
thing. especially an exam.
Gold Fish--Salmon
Goat-Junior officer In post, regiment. etc
Goaty-Awkward ignorant.
Guard House Lawyer--A soldier with a
smattering knowledge of regulations and
military law; quite loquacious and liberal
with advice and counsel TO men in the guard
house or other trouble
Hive-To discover, to catch
Hobo---The provost sergeant
Holy Joe-The chaplain
]. C.-Is condemned by an inspector.
Jaw-Bone-Credit Ito get things on law
bone" to buy things on credit)
Jump-To admonish.
Major-Name by which the sergeant
major is usually called by the enlisted men,
Mule Sltinner--A teamster
o. D-oficer of the day; or olive drab
On Official Terms--Not to be on speaking
terms except officially
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-03-25
Rack SWINGS THE PENDULUM

IN THE recent announcement that tho
= railroad administration will spend $780,
100000 Immediately for new equipment
there is an illuminating illustration of the
: variety Of attitudes which Federal agencies
have experienced in relation to the corpo.
rations. Tho Government heckled and
hindered the railroads Congress forced
the roads to low point of efficiency by
the sort of incurable suspicion with which
the bush leaguers infected Washington for
q long period 1t was the Government
which made it difficult for the railroads
to renew their equipment, as all the great
shops were put at war work. Congress
3gain denounced the railroads and now the
Federal Government finds its own au-
thority necessary to get the roads out of
the tangle for which Government agencies
have been blaming them.
It will be interesting to observe how the
anti-corporation hysteria survives the war.
Ford, the Baldwin plant, the Bell TeIe-
phone Company and other big corporations
have added tremendously to the efficiency
Of the Government Voluntarily and with
out much noise they have shown how
great an asset big business can be
when 1t Ia intelligently and decentIy man.
aged--as most big businesses in America
actually are.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-03-25
Conkling Vas the ''Ne Too"
IIIARNER MILLER. who died few DAYS
WV ago in New Nnrl. a the aza Of so,.ant,-

JTTARNER MILLER, who died few days
w ago in New York at the age of seventy
nine years, would not have been known out
side of his State If United states Senator's
Roscoe Conking and Thomas C. Plat had
not had a quarrel with President Garfield
and resigned their seats.
The issue came over the appointment of a
collector for the port of New York Presi.
dent Garfield had assured the New York
Senators that he would respect their wishes
In the distribution of patronage in their
state Not long afterward he nominated for
the collectorship bitter political enemy of
these two men, Senator Plat was an expert
political manpulator He was determined
that his faction of the party should control
New York patronage and when the President
had turned him down he was indignant.
As soon as the President sent the name of
hunted up Senator Conkling and said to
him:
II do not know what you intend to do but
7 shall resign my seat
Senator Conkling agreed that no other
course was open to him and decided TO fol-
low his example. Accordingly they wrote
out their designations and forwarded them to
the Governor of New York. They expected
TO be reelected at once as a rebuke to the
President. But their opponents in the State
were determined that they should receive no
such vindication. There was q deadlock in
the Legislature It met day after day for
weeks, balloted and adjourned. Finally a
compromise was reached which resulted In
the election of Warner Miller and Elbridge
G. Latham. two secondratc and virtually
unknown men, TO the seats held by Plat and
Conklng. Neither of the men made any
reputation in the Senate. Latham died years
ago and now Miller has followed him to the
grave, having previously sunk into the OBJ
scurity from which he had accidentally
arisen.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-03-25
HERE'S YOUR CHANCE.

A LII the men and women. boys and
"A girls who have felt the pang of lone
liness that comes with the consciousness
Of Inability to serve cause which so many
are serving in matchless gallantry have
their opportunity today.
II The committee for the third Liberty
Loan needs an army of 100000 organized
to carry an imperative message OF need
to ever home and to every industrial, re-
ligious, fraterna, commercial and theat-
rical organization in Philadelphia. The
task is Of supreme Importance. Any vol
unteer can feel that he renders a service
quite as important as If he were enlisted
directly with. the military service TO handle
ordnance transport details. medical sup
plles-or a gun.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-03-25
Dynamite at Hog Island

To the Editor Of the Euening Public Ledger
Sir--I could not help but take note of this
one of the many explanations" given by the
American International Shipbuilding Cor
poration officials for the awful wastes of
money at Hog Island contained in the
EVENING PUBLIC LEDGER recently. Mr..
Kennedy asserts In explaining an item for
the pay of guards. I'VE have uncovered n
total of 2i5 pounds of dynamite tprobably
some in use for blasting there). and then
goes on TO say. sufficient to destroy the
greater part of the plant"
| am somewhat experienced in the use Of
dynamite and I am unable to figure out
how 245 pounds of dynamite could blow up
! per cent of the Hog Island plant. Such
exaggeration Is just an example of their "ex-
plantations all through the investigation.
think when the laboring men are assured of
efficiency higher up" they will do their part
even better than they are now doing It,
WILLARD r. KELLY.
Carneys Point. N. j., March 90.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-03-25
RENTS AND POLITICS

REHIND the drive for exorbitsn'
= profits which some owners of dwell.
ing houses in West Philadelphia appear
to be making upon their tenants is the
shadow of an ancient principle. What
you sow you reap. There are landlords
| still surviving, Of course, who have
inherited all the qualities that made their
term of designation hated one in the
naive and passionate literature of an
earlier day. A hymn Of hate for the
entire tribe is hardly TO be justified, how
ever, in time when everybody's prob
lens have been complicated by new cir
cumstances on the one hand and trium-
phantly inefficient municipal administra-
tion on the other.
Men who vote thoughtlessly, who do
not vote at all or who succumb to the
pleas of the ward and division leaders on
election day might profit by closer
scrutiny of the formal notification of an
upward fight in house rates. In many
cases that notification is merely the ghost
of vote returning to haunt an unfor-
tunate doorstep. For inefficient city gov
ernment is an amazingly expensive
indulgence--for those on the outside,
among house owners in various parts of
the city, there are signs to prove con
spicuously that innumerable landlords
are doing little more than passing
the burden of increased general expense
along to the ultimate consumer. This is
the ancient custom. And it has grim
justification in the present instance,
since the burden of an exorbitant tax
rate fell upon real estate owners largely
because of the persistent carelessness of
majorities at the polls.
The commonest error of the average
man is to assume that wasteful, corrupt
or inefficient municipal government
affects only the other fellow. Yet every
dollar added to the sum of Mr.. Vare's
contracts, every cent of moral or immoral
claims, comes inevitably from the pock-
cts of people least able to bear the bur-
den, since the curse passes down auto
matically along the line of least resist
ance until it lies at last on the man who,
for one reason or another, cannot fight
it off.
Current figures in the general discus
sion serve to indicate that most real
estate owners have asked for increases
merely adequate to meet the increased
costs of labor, materials and general
upkeep and the new tax rate.
So a great many tenants of dwelling
houses who have proper right to kick
a few profiteering landlords out into the
light of day should not forget to look
little deeper. In the background. serene
and unmoved are Mr.. Ware and his pros
porous clans. They are doubtful
luxury which, having been bought, must
be paid for by those who made the bar
gain.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-03-25
THE TRUE ANSWER

ALMOST imperceptibly the casualty lists
q grow a little longer. All the nationali.
ties that have thrown in their lots with
America are answering the doubts and sus.
picions of these uncertain days with the
names of their dead
The Gorowskis and the Schmidts, the
o'Sullivans and the Israels, the Hansens
and tho Morrises are all there as usual
among the killed and wounded. They were
as Car removed from fear, these men. as
they were from the skulkers at home who
have done their puerile best to dlshonor
their common tradition.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-03-25
Moral VS.. Military Victories

To the Editor Of the Eueuirg Public Ledger
Sir--We can assume that the opponents on
the western front are evenly matched--now.
II is unlikely that the leaders on either side
VIII sacrifice a million men on an offensive
unless they are sure that IL will win the war,
There has not been a one-sded victory during
the whole war. A military victory for one
side has meant moral victory for the other,
Although military victory heartens one side,
II takes that self-satisfied feeling out of the
other and renews the almost dead resolve to
last" II nothing more
Both sides have announced their intention,
from time to time. to "puverize" their oppo-
nents soon. Things in that line are very def
mite now.
we will be in Paris April 1"-Hinden-
burg
IF we can hold the line until April 1 we
win" "--Pershing
The presumption is Germany knows she
must get somewhere" to win. The Allies
know they must stop Germany from getting
somewhere to win
Whether or not IL Is easier to get some
where than to stop some one else from get
ting there Is the difference between victory
and defeat.
Germany Is apparently rushing her often
sive. The Allies are apparently rushing their
defensive. If they both succeed Germany
will politely announce that she never In
tended offensive, but expecting an Allied
offensive prepared for It, and prepared so well
that the Allies did not dare to even try to
break the line. We will shout "camoufiage"
and claim victory. SO will Germany.
This has been going on, more or less, dur
ing tho whole war, and Will continue until
the German Government. either on its own
accord or by request snaps out of it. and
admits that Woodrow Wilson's peace terms
favor Germany quite as much as the Allies,
and that his "theories'' on government are no
longer dreams, but are going to be applied,
by force If necessary, 10 our opponents, Allies
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-03-25
THE CARBON EMPIRE is DOOMED

DRUSSIAN Hunocracy makes its last
l. fling in the present onslaught. The
Carrion Empire Of the Hohenzollerns
digged its foundations in the grave of the
old Germany that the world loYed--the
Germany, as some one has said, that died
in 1s4s and was buried In 1871. It's
structure was reared of lies and ruthless
ness; its splendid achievements in science
and commerce were biackened and stained
by blood and horror.
The world that lives and moves by a
moral principle will not long tolerate a
monster Of so hideous mien. There are
yet millions Of men In civil life. all over
the world. who will discipline themselves
through painful nights and days to carry
on the fearful struggle For the sake OF
honor. pity and the right of men to live
their own lives millions are still ready to
pay the last measure of devotion. The
Hohenzollern empire was dethroned years
ago in the hearts Of every truethinking
man on this globe.
Prussian Hunocracy makes Its last ding.
Under the eyes of William the Damned
and his attendant yultures hundreds Of
thousands OF pitiful human units fiing
themselves despairins into the sssthing Of
death and flame. But let US cease saying
that this y the Huns last schancs." It IL
- chancs at All. Even Il Hindsnbure
m 4 FrTie ~ kpril = = prsdteted,
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-03-25
The Orphan Poem

A poet said. "I'll write a song that every \
one will sing, tl
verse with just the human note thaii
carries fast and far
l shall be known forever as the man who
wrote that thing; 44t
The papers will reprint it from here %
Zanzibar xSs
He wrote the piece, Those Old Blue Jeanss 4
1t made ready hit,
And in the mazes of the press the sons
began TO range; 33'
But some ones hasty scissors shipped tns
authors name from 1t, IA
And everywhere he saw II. II was crso
tied "Exchange" aa.
almanacs A
Reprinted 1t; and humorists reyampss
II for their turns; tf
He found II in his clippings. which we's
piling up in stacks,
Attributed to Riley. Eugene Field ano
Robby Burns
He tried TO catch the orphan: he scusn'
In his distress
To salt its tail and make the poem ~
the name 1t ought;
The derelict kept wandering on the ocssp
Of tie press
II he nailed 1t down in Fortland' s:
popped up in Terre Iaute'
He wrote to all the editors of all the mass',
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-03-25
WAR AND THINGS
Evening Ledger Readers Write of Hndenburg and
Hog Island and Affairs Generally

of 61 did we will he 100000, 100000 in
debt and with not many more men under
arms than we had In the Civil War. We have
n great and good country, but IT has got
into very bungling hands, and we would bet
ter all be praying that England, France and
italy may he able to hold out and keep fight
ing. II they fail the Huns will yet come over
here and clean us out. college professors and
an, and they will make us pay s1oo,oOO,ooo'-
600 indemnity,
IF at the beginning refused 100000
volunteers and at the end of year after our
declaration of war had only up to that
time drafted 500, 900 men, and the last of these
had only arrived at the cantonments, and
we have only got started at making machine
guns and building ships. when in the name
.of all that is good and bad are we going to
have in France the 5,000.o00 men that we
ought to have had there before now? We
better keep praying and keep working. 1t Is
going to take It," j. S.
Philadelphia, March %.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-03-25

London by midsummer. would be the war
be wos? II he were battering Long Island
with death, would tho war be won7 No,
for as long as there is liberty.loving man
alive Prussiansm Ia doomed.
Prussan Hunocracy makes its last fling
II may be that years more OF anguish and
calamity are before us. but as surely as
the Great Bear swings round the polar
star tho Prussian ambition to dominate
mankind with death is doomed to a death
far more terrible.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-03-25
Lancaster Appreciates

To the Editor Of the Eventng Public Ledger;
Sir-Your recent editorial article praising
Lancaster County and some of its illustrious
sons was we'll deserved. Lancaster County
has long been the leading agricultural
county of the United States. The late
President James Buchanan and the late
Thaddeus Stevens surely added to the renown
of the county. but neither of them was born
within its borders, James Buchanan was
born at Stony Batter. Franklin County, Pa.
and Thaddeus Stevens was born at Danville,
VT GEO. H. MAPES.
philadelphia. March 23.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-03-25

The New Republic asks navely whether
the draperies of the Victory of Samothrace
are composed with more art than the folds
of John p. Rockefellers trousers in the Sar-
gent portrait Well. the Victory from Some
where in Ssmothrace may stand In the pan.
theon, but it doesn't wear-ahem, trousers
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-03-25

One of the storm
futting the Curse ceiters Of the German
ON Ls Fere. offensive Is la Fere.
f%fsf on tho Disc River
Lovers OF Stevenson will remember that r.
L. s. In his finland Voyage" visited La
Fsrs and found Il unoongsnial. So much 20
that ne called II Ia ysrs Of cursed memory"
Perhaps The Hun. IN trying TO break the
~ echo that phrAss Of ~ u 3. Theirs is
'xtlle ~ fhex ne19 = ,pmrop vtth hlp.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-03-25
Answers to Saturdays Quiz

Answers 10 saturdays Quiz
I. Dolce far niente"; italian phrase meaning
Pheasant idleness"i corresponds 10 our
2. silo; an alrtisht. chamber or large tank. for
the Geeas"s ensets o ar 'ssnn sss molsturs lrsm
q. General GsIwitt. tho greatest German
command ef the, German army facing the
sector In France occupied BY the American
t Al: o,sIost ~ n The ,s, p,errip. q Easter Sun.
the pnlted States VIII he moved forward
8. LANCASTER Pa, has just been eelebratins It's
200th blrthdsy and al.o the hundredth
anniversary OF Its becoming a city.
.. ehsyron is q bent bar Of inverted Y shape
officer 70 indieate rank (fhrss s0ier cneyrcns fer
active service. are. also entitled to wear
IL this war and wound cnevrensSr ;Ssrtics fcs
each serious wound sustained.
7. amethyst" IN .deriv,d from, the tireek
, metn9 mean,ns Minei the ancients. SUP
.. To commute, y literally g sbanss. with
sas q pfsssts ssss rFsiS risa aiSana,S iss
.s = . s'' Esa: asS g SsS:s SssSss. II pr
ticket h . "commuter." :"
.. To- mse4 ths eSgpsfs,. 4. e name all the
r. :ss2' Z issia 4. S;iiig':: ;si ;:
z 4 S; ~; n; .'s'';iI I; i|;|;|
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-03-25
The Eternal Contrary

Mark Twain, so the story goes, was walk
Ing on a street In Hannibal. Mo. when %
met a woman with her youthful family. "So
this is the little girl, eh?' Mark said to hef
as she displayed her children. And tnig
sturdy little urchin in the bib belongs J
suppose. to the contrary sex?' "Yassah. tne
woman replied, "yassah, dat's girl, too"
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-03-25

Brand Whitlock says that the German
troops marched into Brussels in September,
1914, whistling Every Little Movement Has
a Meaning All It's Own" Yes but what will
they sibilate when they march out again?
We Suggest The Rift in the Loot"
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-03-25

Students of the little epigrams printed
on the Thrift Cards are agreed to put Mr.
McAdoo among the worlds greatest aphorists,
including him with Epictetus and Garberlno
and Garabed Garagossan.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-03-25

These are parlous days for commuters
overcoats. Almost every evening we see a
deserted surtout that has been left in the
rack in the smoking car by some SPRING
harassed suburbanite.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-03-25

The more ], w. w. sabotage control of
labor In the spruce forests of the northwest
the less American control of the air on their
nghttng sr6nt through warplanes.