davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1918-11-06
CLYDE ROTH LETTER.

France, Sept. IS, 1918.

France, Sept. IS, 1918.
Dear Folks:-
Well we are out on the go again
up at the front and things are pop
ping right lively once more. 1t has
been raining on an average of 20
hours a day and the mud is surely
frightful. l haven't been troubled
with wet feet yet but if it keeps up
this pace am going to be forced to
hunt up pair of rubber boots !
guess Today we are busy keeping
under cover, so as not to be seen by
Aeroplanes out for observation purs
poses. They are plenty thick around
here too, believe me. One of the AL
lies planes was just over here and
they had a little machine gun scrap,
but nothing happened to either as far
as we could see. This is surely a
tough place in which to write. | am
lying down in my tent using a gas
mask for a table and of course it is
raining glOriously.
/ got that letter from Mrs. Wetmore
of Bloomington but don't know thing
about her son as he wasn't on our
ship at all, but was on one transport
ing some troops along the coast and
not to France at all. Il met Grant
BOhringer of Bloomington, here the
other day and had a good talk with
him. He has been over here a little
over a year.
l am glad to hear that the crops
are so good this year. 1t is going to
be great boost to the war as it will
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1918-11-06
LETTER FROM OTTO OFT.
France, Sept. 20, 1918.

o1lSO, sept. 1910.
Dear Mother and ALI
l received your letter, the one you
wrote when you were in Cassville
a few weeks ago, and have a little
time to answer it now. We have been
kept busy moving for the last two
weeks. l had trip to Paris but was
only there about SO hours / and
three other boys were sent there to
gel some trucks and auto supplies
1t sure is some city. l would like to
spend a month there if / could. All
the buildings are built of stone and
cement, about stories high, and the
streets are wider than in most of the
other cities of any size l have seen
in France. They have wonderful
underground rail system and the cars
are run by women. One can ride all
over the city for four cents; cheaper
than in New York There aren't
many Americans in Paris and the peo-
pie are all crazy about them when
they see one.
We are up in big drive again and
got the boche on the run again. The
weather has been bad for the past
two weeks, cloudy and rainy and aw-
fully chilly. We got overcoats the
other day and they aren't bit too
warm. l hope the war will end be-
fore it gets so cold At the rate the
boys are going now it can't last long
l had letter from Ira the other
day. We were only about so miles
apart at that time but I think we are
farther now. l am still driving the
trucks and it is some hell at night in
this part without any lights. We
can't use lights for then we would be
shelled so we have to do the best we
can. My pal and 1 had our pictures
taken but 1 haven't got them yet
When 1 do I will send one to you.
Adam got wounded in the arm the
other day and was taken to the hos
pital He was driving the car for our
major and shell exploded close by
and piece got him through the arm
and the major was wounded in the
hip. I hope they will be back with
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1918-11-06
ing. isn't it,

ing, isn't it?
Well l guess 1 will stop now Hope
this finds you people all O. K. as it
leaves me here in France"
With love,
Clvde
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1918-11-06
Otto OFT.

Miss Pearl Wetter left Friday for
Fennimore, where she will make her
home this winter.
Dr. Alba Edwards of Arcadia, has
been visiting his mother, Mrs. M. c..
Edwards.
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1918-11-06

us soon because l miss Adam. He and
l have been together long time.
Well mother / can't thing of any
thing else to write about only don't
worry about me for 1 will be all
right Good by for this time.
With love to all,
Your son,
The Washington herald., 1918-04-17
Two Platoons.

The bill providing for the twoplatoon system
in the District Fire Department has been favor
ably reported on and will no doubt soon be en-
acted into law.
The two-platoon system will give to Washing
ton firemen rights long denied them. We have
kept them as our servants cooped up in fire houses
so long that had almost forgotten the con-
ditions under which they existed The strange
part of it is that these never-seeps did not
end the intolerable conditions under which they
served us.
But ars well that ends well, and of the
factors in helping along the good cause The Wash
ington Herald congratuates the men on the pros
poets of chance to get better acquainted with
their families. If any is to be singled out for
special credit in what has far been accomplished
we think it would be Capt. OConnor. With the
consent of sympathetic chief and Board of Com
missioners more human than most boards, he has
worked increasingly for the two-platoon cause.
The Washington herald., 1918-04-17

and distinguished by the fact that.
unlike the others. which are left
substantially to the control of their
management, these are regulated
by an ever-increasing mass of
legislation. federal or State. and
as well by commissions, either fed
eral or State. serving as deputy
legislatures or a deputy-congress.
THE old quarrel pictured in fable
between the parts of the body as to
which was the most important need
! not be imported into this question to
Justify a discrimination among the
three groups nor Of the elements
comprising them. for in the light of
the world war, involving both the
principles and the character of our
government, the steam transportation
facilities become for the moment of
commanding Importance. 1t was
maxim of the great Napoleon that
''for one thought that a general gives
to his enemy, he casts a thousand
anxious glances to the rear" so i'm
portant to the existence of an army
| and the conduct of war are the lines
! Of communication. The steam rail-
roads of this country constitute at
| this time its first line of communica-
tion. The army on the battlefront
cannot be maintained there unless the
railroads are strong and vigorous and
! work at their highest efficiency. II
they fail the army fails. and he
| would he a bold man who would say
that with its failure the government
| itself could be maintained. The re-
sponsibility is now with the legisla-
/ lures and the commissions. Having
grasped these utilities, they and they
| alone can determine whether these
| utilities are to be strangled or ener-
gized."
The lawmakers have thought of
! some of these problems and their
ramifica tions-and some phases of the
problem they have hardly scratched
on the surface. For the present the
governmental control of the carriers
must prevail. The future will have
to be worked out slowly and with ex-
ceeding care. But the need of men
| with cool heads and high aims is seen
from some of the suggestions which
come to US from Mr.. Loree's article.
from which we quote the importan mt
part.
THE OBSERVER.
The Washington herald., 1918-04-17
Don't Cut Down; Cut 1t Out.

The present food situation makes it desirable
to change from the mild admonitions of good
English to the forceful slang of the small boy
don't cut down wheat-eatng; "cut it out"
Why reiterate in mild tones, Save wheat" ere
duce the wheat ration "use wheat substitutes?' p
Food cards in the windows and cornbread or po
tatoes the table day week
will wheat-"cut it out!'
The way save wheat is not to il. II
you cannot bread made without wheat, stop
eating bread. You have enough food without it.
y Cleveland woman advertised for a servant
the other day and the applicant asked if she could
have wheat bread ii she took the place. Answered
in the negatve-that no wheat was served in the
house-the Indignantly declined to accept
the work She should have been interned an
enemy alien.
Diners in restaurants and hotels who demand
wheat bread subject to suspicion pro-
Germans. if they nsuted the flag. The result
OF their disloyalty is damaging.
Millions OF men giving life in Europe that
may live in peace and safety. So far, civil
lians have been asked-not forced, to save wheat
and other foods to feed the fighters and their civil
ian helpers in France.
Don't finch at slang!
The English and American language use
today contains words which can express oul
shame and disgrace, if we fail supply mere food
to the fighters.
Don't save on wheat-cut it out
The Washington herald., 1918-04-17

"Can you speak the language OF the United
States" asks card carried by the members of
the American Protective Association We don't
know whether not, but we'll do our
best to reproduce conversation we heard on a
street yesterday:
Wheurjyego las night"
"Nownrs. Stay dnt home"
81 seen Mary Pickferd in a swell play. Jim
come overn picked me uppin the Lizzie"
"Heeza live ono, ainty?'
"Buhlievc me-"
"Goan out might"
"Huh-huh. Hean Coraz goantuh Gert's Jye wer
60 over there?"
'Uhuh. Slong Gotta gittoff nexttop."
"Slong"
The Washington herald., 1918-04-17
This Way Out.

His name was Alexander
And he was some Expandcr
Or SO I've heard folks tell
He tried with great effront'ry
To gobble every country,
And worked it rather we'll,
Yes, worked it very we'll.
But Alexander flew the coop
And no one seems to cake a whoop.
And then came guy called Caesar,
Who also was some geezer,
Or so I've heard folks tell.
He made the world his foeman
And thought he'd make it Roman
And did it somewhat well,
o, did it very well.
But Caesars gone--or, anyhow,
He's seldom in the headlines now.
Andthen Bony-party,
Who seemed to be quite hearty,
Or so I've heard folks tell,
He started out from Paris
To poster and to to harass,
and did it rather well,
o, really did it SWELL
But Bony-party quit the show
And where he is l do not know
(. And now comes Bill the kaiser
= Chock full of bad Budweiser
And krauty in his smell.
He has the funny notion
He's going to rule the ocean
And all the world as well.
But tut, tut, tut! think l know
just where the kaiser's going to 60
EDMUND VANCE COOKE.
(CoDyright 1917 20 -
The Washington herald., 1918-04-17
About November Elections.

In the current issue OF the North American
Reviews War Weekly, Col George Harvey re-
y ews the suggestion made by himself at the Lotus
Club dinner recently that the political parties
eliminate elections this fall as a expediency
Col Harvey begins with these impressive
words: The Hun is at tho gate; the Republic is
in peril; freedom is at stake; civilization and
humanity trcmbe in the balance" and proceeds
to ask this pertinent question, "can nothing be
done to avert the 6siamous effects of bitter pol
-itical contest throughout the Union?'
1t is incomprehensble The Washington Her
aid that party leaders either side should desire
aught save their countrys salvation. and least some
captious critic accuses of saying that at
tribute to them any other desire, let add that
in our humble opinion Republicans and Dem
ocrats without regard to party, are eager to
adopt some plan whereby the country unit
can be placed in better position before the
world.
Partisan elections lead inevitably to bitterness
and to STRIFE and the sad part of it is that each
partisan believes himself right and the other fel-
low wrong. Personal views become party prop
aganda and animosities engendered that sting
and leave life-hatreds in their trail 1t is there
fore deplorable that at time when ''The Hun is
at the gate and the Republic is in peril" we
should be divided among ourselves on questions
that harmful discussions and tend to lend
"aid and comfort to the enemy"
Col Harvey's suggestion becomes more i'm
pressive it is studied 1t applies only to the
Congressional elections of this fall, and has no
bearing whatever the Presidential election of
1870. The skepticaI and especially those afflicted
with the now malignant disease of "acute par
tisanship" affected to view the proposition with
alarm The at can't be dones" were early critics
but 1T can be done and indeed is being done"
a. Col Harvey tells u.s. .
The Democrats in the Ninth District OF Virginia.
The Washington herald., 1918-04-17
close constituency. passing the resolution. unani

close constituency. passing the resolution unani'
mously:
Whereas the minds and hearts of all
our people are and should be turned
toward the winning of the. war for de-
mocracy, and whereas we do not believe
their time and energy should be diverted
from patriotic activities into the require
ments of fierce partisan campaign, there
fore we recommend to the Democratic
party in the Ninth Virginia Congressional
District that no nomination for Congress
be made this year.
The Democrats have given notice that in the
Senatorial contests scheduled for the fall, the
election of Senator's Nelson and Kenyon will bs
unopposed and in Idaho, Senators Borah and
Nugent, it is understood will be returned by con
sent of both parties.
This very important contribution OF Col Har
vey's to the country is based on the highest form
of patriotism Its adoption will save money by the
millions of dollars will avert bitterness; signify
to the allies splendid unity of purpose and de
termination, and at would" Col Harvey adds
elevate patriotism, avert politics and rebound tc
the pride and glory of the nation"
There is ground for serious thought in the
whole proposition, and II the committees of Mr.
Mccormick and Mr.. Hays would meet in con
ference, the way might be opened for a very happ,
solution of impending troubles.
The Washington herald., 1918-04-17
A LINE O. CHEER
EACH DAY o. THE YEAR.
~ John Kendrick Bangs.

THE QUEST.
I'm on a quest for PRIDE
do not mean mere Social Side
Which shows me full OF petty, snoD-
bish airs,
Like some OF our half-hnished squil-
lionaires
Who think because they've got some
cash in hand
They're rulers of the land.
But that rich PRIDE that comes into
the heart
OF him who's done with all his
strength his part
To make the world a place
That thrills with loveliness, and a.
man grace,
And with full fiber of his force aud
Hath sought his Time and Fellowmar
to serve.
Copyright. 1881
The Washington herald., 1918-04-17

He not only takes a very practi-
cal view of the situation, but inti-
mates that a broader view Of it has
to be taken by the people IL we are
70 surmount some of the difficult
IS which are showing up from
4 line to time, and which may show
up in greater number in the future.
He says, for instance:
Roughly the investments Of po-
tential capital (by which mean
wealth productivity employed) di-
vide into three principal groups. of
which one-fourth (actually So per
cent? is invested in industries sub
ject to the legislative regulation of
prices Of rates:
"(A) Those devoted to agricul-
tural production:
"(B) Those devoted to manufac-
turing and mining; and.
,"(C)" Those devoted to steam
transportation. traction lines. elec-
trio light and power companies, gas
companies. water companies. tele-
graph and telephone companies, ex-
press companies. etc.-a group
loosely described as public. utilities
The Washington herald., 1918-04-17

A. s. Kreider. Pennsylvania Con-
gresham, made himself a very
practical aid to Uncle Sam when he
gave army officers the benefit of
his advice as Il shoe manufacturer.
Plans were being made to send all
half worn and delapidated shoes to
factories of the country for repair
from time to time. This Congress-
man heard of the plan and at once
suggested that with an abundance
of shoemakers and other skilled
workmen in the army it would be
well to have regular repair shops
established by the army.
He pointed out that il his sugges-
tion were followed ii would relieve
the railroads of considerable trans
portation. and would save the army
considerable money and would pro-
vide the men with quicker repairs
than they otherwise would have.
The officers in charge adopted
the suggestion and now. SO it is
said. it is acknowledged to have
been wise move. The work is
going on at a very satisfactory
rate.
Have you ever thought of the re-
sources of this great nation of ours
if you haven't Germany has, you
can safely wager-and have you
thought of what we are putting into
this war when we pledge all those
resources and our men to its prose-
cution?
Here are the figures reported sew
eral years ago by the government
and they must be enormously IN
creased on the basis of present-day
prices. Some Congressman insist the
total is not far below s205. 100000 at
the present time. The division in i9l2,
however, was on this basis:
Real estate and improve
ments .....................SI 81 sol 42S 55I
The Washington herald., 1918-04-17

Germany's last sauerkraut crop made of
turnps Anyway you have to admit that the Ger
ingenious They found way to spoil a
turnp. Next they'll be showing the world how
to spoil rotten egg. And we expect to hear
some day that they're making porterhouse steak
out OF pigs feet
The Washington herald., 1918-04-17

BY O. O. MCINTYRE.
Especial Correspondent Of The Wash
ington Herald)
New York. April IT,
Some little guy.
With a bulging forehead.
And tortoise glasses.
And camoufaged brain.
Has invented a new jas
Made out of coal tar
All you have to do.
Is smear a bunch of it.
Into a brazier.
Cook out dose of Joy juice.
Cuddle up in a little bunk.
Inhale the fumes.
And be translated.
Into the realms.
OF oriental houris.
And there are no.
Next morning" effects.
And it does away.
With spending a weeks pay.
Dining a chorus girl.
salving the garcon.
Bribing the maitre d'hotel.
Dodging the wife.
Buying your hat bal,: again.
From the count at the poricuI..s.
Scrapping with the taxi magnate.
And things like that.
The new jag is known.
As benzyle bezubus.
And benzyle boozertes.
Will soon spring DIP.
All over Broadway.
A man can go out.
And get enough of it.
To make him pay his rent
Or buy his wife a hat.
Or something else.
Equally foolish.
And all it costs.
Is two cents.
The price of a stamp.
Before the war.
I'm going to take.
Half of my days pay.
And buy a double dose.
And then go down.
And take a running jump.
At the fellow who sold me.
One Of those little.
Trick cigar lighters.
And kick him in the wishbone.
I've been laying for him.
For six months.
But nes lid.
Get up enough courage.
He looks rough.
The Washington herald., 1918-04-17
ADJUSTMENTS.

CONTINUED on PAGE EIGHT
The Washington herald., 1918-04-17
How | Work ss:s:, :s::s. J:

verify the expressions By actual con-
tact with the sources Whether my
characters are New Workers. of the
slums. or OF the upper scum. Irish
fnen. fiddish. Polish. Persian, Eng
lish. or Yankee. make a very seri-
Gus endeavor 10 learn the Idioms ana
the mannerisms at first hand.
~ReaI Life Material
You ask for the sources Of nv
material As far as possible 1 draw
upon the inexhaustible fountain s,f
real life az u flows. 1 read at least
six newspapers a day. most Of the
magazines. and I buy ell the books 4
can md on any theme which / happen
to be treating.
which are more or less chaoticsliv
classified. but / rely upon tbese more
for suggestions than for facts. When
the course Of the story takes me into
the realms Of medicine, law. science
foreign custom. or any special field
II Is my habit TO call upon some sp.
cislist for help and guidance, ana
for the final revision OF the manu-
script The story becomes 40 real
to me as its grows that It must con-
form 10 the calendar and 10 inc
geography Of the region. / have call
ed up the bureau of information of
various railroads sometimes NJ mid
night 70 ask about the arrival or dc-
partures Of trains in various cities
because II WAS impossible for me 10
transport character maeicaIly.
This. then. is a long and garrulo,,s
sketch OF NV methods Of work WThn..
must and do work very hard 10
produce the shameless amount of tex
That pours from my fountain-pen, vel
IN sense II is not work but a rest
less delight in wandering about the
world ana casting impressions OF iife
INTO the shape OF stories. II is gIori-
Gus 10 be alive in such gigantic times
IL Is a privilege to be permitted "a
make sketches OF bits Of life as IL
Is living today. IL is my solemn er-
fort TO make my sketches as faithful
portraits as I can
Biographical sketch.
Rupert Hughes was born in the
village OF Lancaster. Mo, on Ham
uary 81, 1879: he is the son OF Jean
Amelia CSummerlin) Hughes ana
Judge Felix Turner Hughes, a bril-
liant lawyer and for some wears
president Of the X e. W. Railroad
After a primary education in the
public schools at Lancaster and Ar
heokuk, Ia. he went. at the age OF
fourteen, 10 St Charles COLLEGE. fh,u
TO western Reserve Academy. On
tering Western Reserve Universi,~
al the age OF sixteen: he graduated
there with second honors and tho
degree Of A.BAin 1899; then spent q
year as a graduate student sp r.
lish and philology at Yale Tniy.r-
sity. taking the degree Of AN. In
1893 he settled in New York. sery-
ing as a reporter for six MONTH
after that working on the editorjs
stan of various magazines. For 3
time he acted as assistant editor ~
Godey's Magazine I'm the n1ornInR r
I and OF Current Literature in the
afternoons. with George W. CshIe
as his editor-in-chief in the later
office. From 1885 to 1901 he was
CONTINUED on PAGE EIGHT
The Washington herald., 1918-04-17

Although America is the home OF wood pulp" !"
says the London Mail, "the newspapers OF the
United States are limited to I6 pages" You don't
get all the news if you stay home, do you?
South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-03-17
NENMAN,S NEXT TALK

"OUr Hawaii is Newman's fourth
traveltalk % be given next Friday
evening at the oliver theater. The
tourist who has visited our Pacific
possessions will have an opportunity
20 compare notes" and once again
enjoy the pleasures of the trip under
ideal conditions and for those who
have never been to Hawaii, it is a
delightful travel record. All of the
beauty, quaintness and picturesque
ness of Honolulu, WAIKIKI, Mona Kea,
Molokai and Pearl Harbour will be
portrayed in an intensely interesting
manner. Expressions of wonder
throughout the country by those
who last season saw the wonderful
motion scenes of the active volcano
Kilauea, impelled Newman to af-
ford his fellow travellers another
opportunity Of witnessing this eighth
wonder of the world. For this pur-
pose. another trip has been made
and the full picture story put forth.
The group of motion scenes include
magnificent night pictures Of lava
fountains, a com pilation of the most
active moments in the history of the
volcano kilauea-remarkable eXhi-
bition of surf-board riding. Hawaiian
ustoms, pastimes and industries, how
the Hula is danced. lau or fishing
festival. May day in Honolulu, and
many unusual scenes gathered off
the beaten path. Hawaii an integral
part of the United States intimately
linked with the mainland and pro-
foundly loyal is literally the end of
the rainbow where everything is
painted in natures brightest colors.
In this fascinating traveltalk the
lover Of beauty is offered many new
thrills.