davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New Britain herald., 1918-08-09
MONDAY NIGHT CLOSING
 SLAID ON TABLE
Merchantile Bureau of Cham Der of Commerce Takes
 No Decisive Action.

The question as to whether the To- cal merchants should close their places of business on Monday nights and keep open on Wednesday after moons, or vice versa, was the topic of discussion at the meeting of the board of directors of the mercantile bureau held yesterday afternoon at 4:3O o'clock, in Chamber of Commerce rooms. The meeting was called for this special purpose, and every mem- Der of the board was present to ex- press his preference as to what action should be taken. w. W. Leland, chairman of the board, presided. Aft CT a lively discussion pro and con, the board voted 10 to in favor of laying the motion on the table until the first Wednesday, in October, when the annual meeting of the mercantile bureau will be held for election of officers and all other business inci- dental to that meeting. It was the feeling on the part of the majority of members that no provisions for def1- mite closing ought to- be made until after the government has made known it's ruling regarding heatless days this coming winter as was done last winter.
 It was decided to allow business establishments to continue with their present schedule of keeping open on Mondays until o'clock and closing on Wednesdays at noon.
 Action was first taken in this mat ter about five weeks ago, when the di- rectors met to discuss the Monday night closing, resulting in vote of to 7 in favor Of keeping open until 3 o'clock Monday evenings as had been done in the past. There was strong opposition to Monday night closing and the matter was allowed to rest without further question until the rul- ing regarding lightless nights went into effect, providing that store win dow lights be extinuished on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday nights. There was considerable talk among the merchants regarding the advisa bility of closing at o'clock Monday nights, and when the clerks heard of this, they imm cdiately cir culated petition asking that the stores remain open on Monday nights and close on Wednesday afternoons the year round.
 Considering the fact that heatless days will undoubtedly be put into ef- feet again this coming winter the dl- rectQrs felt that the present schedule should stand until October. During the discussion, it is said, 1t was ad- mitted by some who voted in favor of Monday night cIosings at the hrst meeting that it would have been better if all had agreed to let the matter rest until fall allowing the present sched- ule to remain as it is. The majority felt that they were not in position to vote intelligently in the matter at this particular time, because or exist ing conditions. and conditions which may come up later in connection with the war The directors voted Eestet- day to extend the "Wednesday halt hol-
 (C'ontinued on Eleventh Page)
New Britain herald., 1918-08-09

received at the Walter Reed hospital in Washington are many boys from New England and especially Connec- ticut.
 Three Connecticut boys, all friends and from the same division, were found by the writer on the veranda of the "Ovcr-s ward. Having, re- ceived permission from the com mander of the hospital to go to any ward (except the contagious) l sat down by this group of three and began to chat. To be sociable ] asked one of the boys for an interesting bit of observation from lover there"
 And that is how I happened to meet Fred Becker, of 60 Prospect street, New Britain, who came to the { hospital more than a week ago. His pals were F. W. Barrows, of 1S4 New Britain avenue, Hartford, Conn, and Henry Granucci of Wallingford onn.; also Donald U. Hildreth, of 167 Main street, Reading. Mass.
 Fred Becker has had one leg a1n- putated, but that misfortune does not seem to have chilled his warm genial smile, and sociability. His bit of ob- servatiOn was not a funny joke, or personal "triumph", but the story Of the death of his old chun, Frank Coyie of Waterbury. He said:
 There are q lot of things that happen in the war across the ocean that you won't believe over here. What I'm going to tell you about Frank Coyle may be questioned: all right, but it's tWle nevertheless
 Just as my bunch was going in the trenches one day I saw Frank ed severely, later, and his condition made it necessary for the French sur geon to amputate his arm the next morning. He was so banged up' that ether could not be administered
 '"They said he was talking when the doctor was getting ready to amputate his arm. He asked for a cigarette just before the surgeon began He smoked, and even smiled during the operation
 The operation was not in time, for the poor fellow died soon after from his wounds. He was given the Dis tinguished Service Medal. It was sent to his sister in Waterbury,
 Becker looked in the pink of con- dition, and talked cheerfully. He did not like to talk about himself, but in France a good boost. Like many other soldiers who made fun of them when they sang on the street
 (Cowinued on EleyN1tA Page)
New Britain herald., 1918-08-09
VOLUNTEER INVESTMENTS END.

Hartford, Aug 9.-Volunteer enlist ment for service in any branch of the United States army or navy was clos cd at the recruiting stations in this c@y today pursuant to orders from the adjutant general of the army and the central naval recruiting station at New Haven Men already accepted for en- listment in the army are to be for warded for completion of their enlist ment without delay. Men passed by he navy station physician up to and in cludingf Thursday, August 8, must present themselves for forwarding to the central staton not later than Tuesday, August i3.
 s PARIS UNDER FIRE AGAIN.
 Paris, Aug. 9.-The Paris region mM@sAiA Ygas under bonah ha sdment today &om tN Gerpaan loag Hnge gun
New Britain herald., 1918-08-09
CLARI<IN DECLINES FRANCHISE
 IN INTERNATTONAL LEAGUE

Hartford, Aug. 9.-James II. Clark "A, owner of the Hartford Eastern league baseball team, announced to- day that he had declined an offer con- tained in a telegram from President J. H. Farrell, of the International league, to operate one of the fran chises of the latter organizations in this city until Labor Day. One trans fer was made in the International circuit during the week, the Syracuse, E. Y, club moving to Hamilton. Ont.
New Britain herald., 1918-08-09
BAKER WANTS DRAFT
 BILL ENACTED NOW
Invasion of Deferred Classes Ncccs- sary Unless Immediate Action
 is Taken, He Claims.

Washington, Aug, 9--Prompt enact ment of the draft extension bin so that September } may be fixed as reg istration day as suggested by Provost Marshal Gen. Crowder, was urged to- day by Secretary Baker. Without the extension, he told the senate mil itary commite, it would be necessary to invade the deferred classes.
New Britain herald., 1918-08-09
SOLDIER REPORTED KILLED.

Fred H. Fickox, who until recently lived at the Hotel Bronson and is em- ployed as a teamster, is reported to have received word today that his son, Private Robert J. HickoX of Com pany M. 102d United States infantry, died in France. Private Hickox was reported July as severely wounded. The soldier was living at Pine Mead ow, New Hartford, when he enlisted.
New Britain herald., 1918-08-09
LIGHTNING CAUSES FIRE.

During the electrical storm this aft ernoon q bolt of lightMng struck the house owned by A, r. Nelson on Cor bin avenue. Considerable damage was done. The people in the house were slightly shocked.
New Britain herald., 1918-08-09
Advance Eleven Miles.

fighting between Chipilly and Mor- lanCOurt.
 Advance Eleven Miles.
 The Franco-British advance on the battlefront oath of the Soume has reached a maximum depth of Il miles, according to news received here shortly after noon today.
 The cavalry. tanks and armored cars, it is indicated, have gone ahead to the line running from Framer- vile to Lihons. From Lihons the line runs southWard to Meharicourt, southeast of Rosieres. This repre- sents a total maximum advance of 1 miles.
 It will be impossible for the Ger mans to hold their Montdidier posi- tions, it is believed here. It also is believed the advance on the Picardy front makes Amiens secure against an enemy attack and has removed the threat against Paris.
New Britain herald., 1918-08-09
BRITISH CLEA RAIR or : FOE BEFORE OFFENSIVE

London, Aug. 9.--In aerial fighting Wednesday proceeding the offensive in Picardy, British airmeI accounted for 2A~Gernan machines, 5 of which were destroyed, says the official state nent on aerial operations last night.
New Britain herald., 1918-08-09

also was captured. The advance was carried out with extremely light losses.
 The French front runs from the Avre north to a point just south of the Amiens- Rove road where it joins up with the British.
 The attention of the Germans was fixed on the Vesle attack when the new offensive was opened There was no reply to the French artillery prep aratiOn which lasted 45 minutes.
 German soldiers were captured while harvesting grain in the fields so complete was the surprise Moreuil and Morisel were carried by assault. The difficulties of crossing the Avre were overcome rapidly, the French using hastily constructed footbridges. After taking Braches, the French captured La Melville and the series of hills dominating the plain beyond.
 It is reported that a, German divi- sional general has been captured in the drive.
New Britain herald., 1918-08-09
SPAIN AGAIN WRITES
 ON U-BOAT ACTIVITY
Minister DatO Announces Inquiry
 Concerning Destruction of .... Spanish Shipping.

Madrid, Thursday, Aug. s. (By the Associated Press.) Spain has ad- dressed a new note to Germany con- -Gerning the torpedoing of Spanish ships
 Foreign Minister aDto made this an- nouncement late today after the cabi- net had held an extraordinary session.
New Britain herald., 1918-08-09
French Capture 5000.

On the French Front in France, Aug. 9 (Havas,) )-French troops on a front of six miles northwest of Montdidier have advanced to a depth of four miles and captured nearly 5000 prisoners. Important material
New Britain herald., 1918-08-09
EXPLOSION ON WARSHIP
Two Killed and Three Injured On U. S. >. Nopatin in Foreign Waters Navy Department Is Informed.

Washington, Aug. 9-Two men were killed and three injured in a, boiler explosion on the U. S. & Nopa-, tin. in foreign waters, it was an, nounced today by the navy depart, ment.
New Britain herald., 1918-08-09
TO COMMAND ALLIED
 ARMIES IN SIBERIA
Gen. killuzo Otani Appointed to Leads Troops in the Drive from
 the Pacific.

Washington, Aug. 9.-Gen. Kikuzo Otani, one of Japan's most distin guished soldiers has been chosen to command the Japanese section and will be the ranking officer of the American and allied expedition in Si- beria
New Britain herald., 1918-08-09
We Arc Smashing Through"
 Belief of Lloyd George.

London, Aug. S.-As he was leaving London late today for Meath to attend the Welsh ma tional Eisteddfodd, Premier Lloyd George expressed great satisfaction with the news from the front, remarkiug:
 We ara smashing through"
New Britain herald., 1918-08-09
WEATHER.

Hartford, Aug. 9.--iorccast for New Britain and vicinity; Partly cloudy tonight and saturday, aooier tsnissS'
New Britain herald., 1918-08-09

Canadians Make Big Haul.
 London, Aug. 9. via Montreal-Ca- nadian horse troops, cooperating with French cavalry. cut off a, large force of the enemy in todays operations on the Somme front
New Britain herald., 1918-08-09

(Continued on Eleventh Page)
New Britain herald., 1918-08-09
ReverSeS RetiN
 Haig Q
 OpeIlini

been badly broksl A''''f A wedge hay
 today to ny'fS fhe af29E BrtislS lSs ]l
 railway, which runs
 didier sector of the fron1 ous to Grt0f %ention" aq3fanee5 bane bean sss
 Amens front Thursday rp6rni
 obtained by the Germans or going forward almost without serious opp5s'aiel
 71ve Te Frsnc qSt e their M stronghod there
 a taded lat at numerous points but the towns officially Tpoa
 ve rEs Pssn Sss net rsahsd ass4 are oen ss that the
 Au From , disPafhes % from the battlefield appears General ns boT 0 % grand scale that adopted b fany followed and then through gaps the enemy line prsing dacments and throwing the whole dense Hard had ' 'f6 t6e eeg ergan mt0 feTa o@os ,o the Rofd DOT ed. than dispatches began to tell of German Lesart little Villages on the extreme western m f no +nS M ed e4 M M h5rf & bee" r 19aGdons & by the and of German withdrawal from the Lys has been
 Tery % snd oyo by % sa Ad y tn9 ey aad a retirement there has been expected. d1nr oGnsues M very serious threat to the German line The ward toward Arras enemy finds himself in an embar assing position around Mondidier and from town south
 the Allies Pcardy would whole German lne as far the Disc and probably positions which can be linked with the Aisne line
 Penetration the o the Somm to Pessiers This directly of Eramrvie the farthe reached by British I'D to late
 thursday, miles the the Somne the British have fight their gainsand the has been of advance across fhe Av Once across the Avre, however the moved forward rapidly, ~
 The PeonneRoye road parallel line of railroad rims north and outh of the advancing Allied which seced by the
 uncat1on ne With this ill Allied under short artillery German and east almost to Rheims would be great danger Nontdder me pillar o1 the German positions where the battle swings towards the east is surrounded on three sides.
 Should MOntdidier fall the Peronne he German situation between Arras cult military observers believe The e NlthqIaWal rom MOntdder to Rheims of
 Se ana the NSne perhaps of the
New Britain herald., 1918-08-09

fighting between Chipilly and Mor- , iancOurt
New Britain herald., 1918-08-09

Continued on Eleventh Page)
New Britain herald., 1918-08-09

(Cowlnued on ElevsptA Page)
New Britain herald., 1918-08-09

German lins been badly brokef armies.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-06-04
MULES VERSUS MUSIC

From the Philadelphia Public Ledger.
 A little while ago it was reputed that the army mule in France, invaluable for transport, was making himself ob- noxious by his propensity to bray when ir close proximity to the enemy. And now, according to adviees received by the National Piano Manufacturers as- dispose of their mules to us and to ob- tain in return pianos and other musical instruments. Evidently what Words worth calls "the hard, dry see-saw of his horrible bray' is no better relished by the esthetic consciousness of the Iber- ians than by the valorous gentlemen Of France It is doubtful whether even aa implacabie futurist in music like Leo Ornstein of Arnold Schoenberg derives genuine satisfaction from the strident mule Some cynics have detected a ra. semblance between the voice of the bag pipes and the mules spontaneous lyric ism but this is a libel. With patience, one can detect definite melody in the Scotch ribrocks and strathspreys, where- as mule music, like the world in ths making, is without form and void. As long as Spain is not at war she can afford to dance the fandango and play the mandolin When by the logic ot events she is swept out of her neutrality into belligerency and has to haul cannon and wagons. she will wish she had the mule.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-06-04
Judge Grubb Improving

q went out tol see Judge Grubb Sun day afternoon" said Hale Tarrant, "and was delighted to find him doing so nicely after his operation for appen- dicitis
 There were quite a number of call flowers sent by his many friends. He occupies a high and distinguished po- sition with great credit, but you can't hide Billy Grubb even behind a fed eral judgeship. He is the same old natural fellow that he was in his strug- gling days when he was getting toe- hold in the early days"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-06-04
TOBACCO AS A RATION

From the New York World.
 There are many we'll meaning people who regard the tobacco habit as deadly vice, and it is possible that we shall hear from them. We are to remember, how ever, that with the first arrival of Amer ican troops in France, General Pershing authorized the use by them of light wines, as is the custom of the country. If our severe prohibitionists have not found it necessary to upset the entire war programme on this account per haps the hardly less abstemious anti tobacco propaganda will wink at the so- lace which fighting men may be able to derive daily from two-fifths of an ounce of plug-cut or four soul-destroying cigar cites.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-06-04
CHIVALRY

c. T. Davis in the Arkansas Gazette. In the dim chapel kneels the knight And high in the nave the feeble light Of lanthorne gleamS on his shield: Gliding the points of it's hlazoned star. Fiickering back from his golden spur As his prayer goes up to the Lord of War For the might of his arm in the field His charger frets in the stone flagged court
 And the new sun glids the dew Then the doors swing wide at the sally port
 And the good knight flashes through. For God and right
 God guide his lance
 Bonne chance, Sir Knight,
 Bonne chance, Bonpe chance. And who may say that ever dies Romance and valor and high emprise, That it perishes from the earth. A slender shape in the hangar swings With flazoned star on it's fragile wings And its taut guys hum like 8 harper's strings
 As the rider tests it's worth. Then the motor drums in the golden dawn.
 In the new suns crescent flare, And wide the hangar doors are drawn1D And the birdman takes the air.
 Sky cheyalier.
 Go.. guide your flight,
 God bring you clear
 Honne chance. Sir Knight X
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-06-04
pRIGANps r1Rsr ncHAuFFEuRs.

From the Popular Science Monthly.
 Here is a justification for bit of our American slang. It seems that the word chauffeur means ''scorcher."
 Over a century ago some particularly bi igandish brigands lived on the border lanG between France and Germany. To force ransoms from their captives, these desperadoes grilled the soles of their victims feet before a fierce fire. So the countryfolk referred to the band as sccrchers or, in French, chauffeurs.
 Not so many years back. when these same imaginative French were in need of descriptive name for motor-car driv- CTS. they hit upon the word chauffeur. Just how much "scorching" of a more modern kind these up-to-date brigands of the road indulge in is best divulged by police records of fines for speeding.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-06-04
"YEOETTE SWANK," IS LATEST

Edna Huber Church. in the Chicago
 Herald and Examiner.
 NH 7 AsHINGToN.-This wonderful MW old city is just brimful of dasn-
 ing, flashing, fetching uni forms. Of course, the people who fill the uniforms catch most of the feminine eyes. but there is one uniform that rather causes the male glance to wander. May be it isn't the uniform, but there is some- thing mighty attractive about the ''yeo- cite" even to a woman.
 With dueky little blue coats. double duck skirts, and a chic little white sailor hat, the yeoette certainly makes pretty picture as she mingles with the thousand and one ether uniforms on the streets of Washington.
 I wonder why some magazine cover ar tist hasn't immortalized her?
 But the yeoette has something more important to do to win the war than to look handsome. She is a mighty impor- tant cog in the machinery of Secretary Daniels organization which is fighting the undersea boats of the Kaiser.
 If the navy wins the war, and there are those in Washington who believe it will, all of the glory can't go to the brave men who were on board ship.
 Without the organization behind them they wouldn't have been able to accom- plish much, and without the yeoette the strength of the navy wouldn't be as great today as it is.
 Of course, it seems that the little yeo- ette is mighty unimportant, but she has filled a good many gaps in the navy de- partment and she has released hundreds of mon for ceruioa or caa
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-06-04
Farmer Davidson

T have been praying for 1t to rain, but not until Walter Moore haryests his wheat crop" said John Vincent, chief clerk to Secretary J. L. David. son. of the Alabama Coal Operators association, yesterday.
 T have a 35-acre farm at Huffman under cultivation and the outlook for a bumper yield is fine. I have 21 acres in corn; 1 F acres in soy beans; 3 in peanuts; in oats; ? in sweet potatoes; of butter beans and 1000 hills of water melons. I used 200 pounds of acid phos- phate and cotton seed meal to the acre. The potato vines are in full bloom and they are the prettiest things you ever saw"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-06-04

She is really nothing more than a frst-class stenographer and office sec retary; but in these days any sort of stenographer is a prize and the first class stenographers and typists who be- come yeoettes are jeweled prizes.
 They don't go near the water-Mr Dam iels won't let them-although a good many of them have applied for sea serv- ice. Some of them have been sent 10 navy yards where they can see the great warships in their battle paint steaminy out to sea, but they have to stay behind on shore and keep the wheels turning.
 Many of the yeoettes are picking up almost makes one gasp. I was rather astonishsd the other day to walk behind one perfectly nice looking little girl and hear her talk of her "overdressed gob."
 I thought it was rather unrefined talk of the catty kind that we so often hear when women get together, but the same evening I heard a line officer uEe tho phrase and I questioned him. found that it was merely sea talk for chief petty officer and was in per- fectly good usage among the navy men. And here is a little advanced tip to you girls. It's the newest stride, and it dis placed the Castle walk and all of the other swagger fads long ago. It's the yeoette swank. Jnst sort of roll down the avenue, with little nau- tical hitch now and thea, and you have it.
 Perhaps it doesn't sound very graceful but it can be done and is being done by F street helles are adopting it.
 Try 1.-the yeOetta Swank
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-06-04
LIKE M,LuKE SAYS

The reason l. w. W.-ism and other bunk of that kind flourishes is because lit is easy to convert a man to any theory that promises something for nothing.
 When a gadding wife gets the idea that she makes an interesting invalid, lit is going to cost her husband some coin for doctor bills. About the only gambling debt court will compel man to pay is ali : mony.
 The workman who turns out a poor job usually knows more about his bus mess than the critics who hold his ef- forts up to ridicule. And just what. if any, is the differ tence between a delicate situation and and an indelicate one? It is very easy to get a reputation as a pest. All you need to do it to talk all the time and expect the other fellow | to do the listening. If the Kaiser had won this war. he would have taken all the credit for it l But now that defeat looks certain we suppose that Gott will get all the blame.
 A female authority claims that a per. fectly stockinged leg looks too hard lit doesn't when the stocking is on a corn fed leg.
 ] There is hope for the man who says he won't do thing. But the man whe says he can't do thing is a goner There are about S477S,O0O cases ot rheumatism in this country. And there are about 34,77S,000 sure cures for rheu, matism in this country. l We never could understand why g grass widow puts in so much time pre-, tending that she is green. Nature is so thoughtful that she ofter arranges things so that a girl with
 homely face isn't homely where yol can't see it.
 You may have noticed that when
 man gets caught in trap it is usual,
 one of his own setting.
 1 It doesn't hurt a man half as mucl ! to stay up late because he has to as i
 does to stay up late because h.
 wants to.