davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-03-28
DEBUSSY, TONE MASTER

A LTHOUGH his life span measured
"A f1fty-six years, Claude Achille Debussy,
whose death has been reported from Paris
lived long enough to see his musical radi-
calism almost legitimatized In this he e.
capped the fate of so many artistic pioneera
Blazing the way, however. involved many
difficulties. Debussy hurled his delicate. per-
fumed lance at the whole structure of modsrn-
music fashioned on the principles Of Wagnef
and Beethoven. Grandeur was the primal
quality of their art. Subtlety was DebussyA
In developing his concepts he even sought y
overthrow the whole prevailing system o.
harmony and reverted to the antique Grs'
gorian scale. His ideal was tone rather than
tune, and his refined intangible melodiel
have aptly been called Sound wraiths." nn
music purely cerebral rather than emotionals
Occasionally he made concessions, as tn the
highly effective cantata 1.-THE Prodigai Son.
with which, in 1884. he won the covetsd
"Prix de Rome."" But in the main his aura
subjectvity led him into other fields.
"Pelleas ct Melisande' is the most preten'
tlous exemplar Of his methods. Originaiv
condemned as cryptic and monotonous. tml
music play. based directly on MaeterhncA
mystical drama, eventually took rank -
masterpiece of exquisitely beautiful tones.
painting. The work puzzled New YORK
1908, and Philadelphia still more when 49,
Hammerstein first gave It here the follcw'
year. Subsequent performances carinea "
meaning and the composition found ~ w.
into the worlds great opera houses lsi
His purely instrumental writings pIvvS'
less baffiing and some Of them, notably "
prelude to 1.-THE Afternoon Of Faun, w
now rated as almost conventional cons|
numbers. ~
All modern French music and much o. ":
worlds has been influenced by DenuHy
musical palate. D'Indy and Ravel IN ~ IT,
native land have modified. but none the
adopted. his coloring. Pucclni employs y =;
"The Girl of the Golden West skrys
and the modern Russians have followeo ~
No composer has quite gone to Deour5
extremes, but the effect Of his art Is H.
to endure for many years, was nSsss. unSs.
tionably representative OF the nne spri
and intellectual potency which Frsncs
preserving for civilization. H. y ~
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-03-28
SPRING AND THE WAR BUSINESS

MTHEN the various and sundry birds OF
w spring drop out of the blue to sing
a concerted obbligato to reveille; when
thrushes or whatever others Of the species
happen to be the premier daylight savers
of their kind beat even the mess sergeant
into the yellow sunlight of days misted all
over with gold at each end, then life in
training camp must seem to involve the
peculiar fortunes of the blessed.
Who, in days like these, would choose
a flat-wheeled trolley astray in a disor-
ganized schedule to a pair of army shoes
and mics of fragrant road where there Is
neither job nor time clock iceman nor
baker landlord nor boss to confuse the
serenity Of his view? The little old birds,
so called by those who know them best,
summon the soldier up before the trum-
pets. They sing to him on his hikes and they
sway and shut their eyes and grow dizzy
in their own ecstacy Of sound-in dulcet
intimations of the wonders being prepared
for his eyes. SO, at least we are led to
believe by letters from nix and Meade.
And there is nothing to do but eat, listen,
walk and grow strong.
How many are there, these mornings,
who look up from dusty desks and wish a
big-jawcd general would come along and
whip Il en- away into the army?
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-03-28
JUSTICE TO THE MAIL MAN

TARDY Justice and tardy wisdom are
linked In the bill which has just passed
the House to provide better salaries for
the employees in all divisions of the postal
service. An increase ranging generally
from 10 to 20 per cent is contemplated
and will soon be In effect.
Increases granted to mechanics, labor.
ers, railway men and workers of all sorts
In private enterprises have left the men
OF the Government service at a great dis.
advantage. The remedy for the existing
conditions should be applied in the mints
and in the custom houses and generally
throughout all the branches of the Fed.
eral service. This is not merely a measure
OF economic justice under present condi-
tons. Better wages for Government EN-.
ployes are absolutely essential If the mail
system and other divisions of the public
service OF the greatest Importance to the
Industrial life Of the country are not to
be weakened in competition with private
industries.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-03-28
THE GREAT MINDS PAUSE

CURELY all the forces of political and
~ economic destiny will pause momen-
tarily and tremble and all minds con.
cerned with the more poignant considera-
tions Of human aspiration will experience
. thrill Of reinsurance at the news that
City Councils-Common and Select-are
thinking Of changing their august minds
and Of withdrawing from a prior deter.
mination to express no concerted opinion
for or against woman suffrage.
This is agreeable news. 1t would be
pleasant IL 1t might be received with all
its glamourous intimations of the better
day. without haunting thought of those
tendencies toward self-interest that some-
times may be observed in the personnel
OF the municipal government. We dislike
70 mention it. and yet it may be just pos
sible that Doctor Gleason wishes to permit
his colleagues an opportunity to atone for
the extraordinary exhibition of bad man.
ners and worse taste provided in the
chambers recently, when a committee of
representative women was received with
the sort Of courtesy that they might have
expected at prize fight
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-03-28
Fiction on the Disk

rTIHE bedtime stories" by a certain popu-
i lar author have been put on phonograph
records for the enjoyment of children and
the relief Of parents who have no genius for
tale-telling. This suggests a regret that the
marvels of voice reproduction have not been
generally applied to the great romancers of
the language. What fun 1t would have been
on a winter night, to turn on the disk record
ing one of the most thrilling chapters of
"The Principles of Political Economy" told
in the vibrant squeak of John Stuart Mill
Or, drifting in a canoe. on an August -drowsy
afternoon, how jolly to dream away the
hours listening to some pelucid little tale in
the start-and-stop accents of Henry James
But seriously. let us hope that this new
idea will be widely taken up by the voice.
reproducing companies. Think what II would
have meant to us to have Stevensoh's stories
or Riley's poems preserved in the very tones
of the authors Think. too. OF the fat record
royalties for writer's that lurk in the scheme.
II we were a photograph mogul we would
move heaven and earth to get the Jungle
Book stories recorded In Mr.. Kipllng's own
voice: and perhaps also Mr.. Chesterton's
rumbling bass in some of his deathIess
limericks. such as
There was a young girl of Lahore.
The same shape behind as before:
And as no one knew where
To offer a chair,
She had to sit down on the floor. \
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-03-28
SEND THEM "FAGS"

A MONG the minor wartime duties OF the
n trousered population there is nothing
that ought to be more constantly remem-
bered than the duty Of keeping our men
in France we'll supplied with tobacco. Let
ters from the other side lay constant stress
on the consollng virtues of the weed in
the trenches. The Virginian herb has con-
trbuted many gentle and philosophic in
fiuences to human life, and is by no means
the roaring devil Of sin some Of the pan.
hellenists have painted It. But never in
it's long history, since Sir Walter Ralelgh's
man turned the hose on his master, has
tobacco had SO high a mission as its pres
ent task in soothing the nerves of the
men who are facing death en- the field of
honor
And the smoke of the soldiers is the
humble flag" The cigar is too expensive;
there is no time for the pipe. A cigarette
can be smoked in a few whiffs and car
ries ita little blue fume of relaxation
where 1t is most urgently needed. viii
you not remember that, each time you
buy tobacco for yourself? Buy carton
of cigarettes once a week for your own
man over there and send IL to him.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-03-28
COMPLETE THE FRANKFORT
ELEVATED

MO MATTER what other public works
AN may be held up on account of the war
there should be no delay in the compile.
ton Of the Frankford elevated linz.
This extension of the rapid transit facill-
ties has become part of the preparation
for winning the war. Its purpose is to
make II easier for workmen to travel be-
tween Frankford anG their homes in other
parts Of the city and to improve the means
Of G. nmunlcation between that part Of
the city north of Market street and the
district around League Island.
The ew line is so near completion that
1t can be put into service in the near
future To delay it would be like delaying
the construction of roads between the
great ammunition dumps in France and
the artillery at the front. Communication
between the base and the front is vital to
success in battle. 1t is equally vital to
successful preparation for victory at home.
This will become evident to the war in
dustries board If 1t will give five minutes
thought to the matter.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-03-28
said with sarcasm, 'the war must have ended
about 1900 years ago."

about 1900 years ago"
CNTY DEAR Titania,' 1 said. "the ways
A'A of the Government may seem in
scrutable. but We have got to follow them
with faith. If Mr., McAdoo tells US to mur-
der 16a fine old men in elastic-sided boots
we must simply do 1t, that's all. War is a
dreadful thing. We have got 10 meet the
Germans on their own ground. They adopted
tn,s daylight-saving measure years ago They
can at ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS, 1
ueneVe' After all, it Is only a temporary
measure, because in the fall when the day-
light hours get shorter, we shall have 70
urn the clocks back a couple of hours I'm
vruer TO compensate the gas and electric
isnt companies for all the money they will
a.e .'a lost Jhat Will bring those 163 old gen.
; s.enien 10 lie again and double their remain
ing term of years to make up for their tom.
Porary eHacenent They are patriotic hos
tases TO Time for the summer only. You
.nust s remember that time is only a philo-
aUboai abstraction, with no real or tangible
existence, and We have a right to do what
ever We want with it,"
VIII remind you of that" she said. "at
gettng-up time on Sunday. morning stiII
thlhK that II we are going to monkey with
.,, .ne CLOCKS at all 1t would be better to turn
thein backward instead of forward Ger
tainly that would bring you home from, the
club little earlier" ' '"S
MY dear" said. I'VE are in Mr.. McAdoos
nands. a little later we may be put on time
rations, Just as we are on food ratIons, We
may have time cards to encourage thrift in
saving time. Every time We save an hour
we VIII get a little stamp to show for IL,
When we fill out whole card we will hs
entitled to call ourselves a month yo,,nger
than we are. Tell that to Mrs Boreia ~
will reconcile her." IL
A LUSTY uproar made itself hard 49,,
"A stairs. and Titana gave a little screan,
"Heavens" she cried. Here l am taIking
with you and Juniors bottle is half an hour
!a'e. aont care what Mr.. McAdoo does
junior. lie knows when it's time for meals
won't you call up Central and find out the
exact timer" '"' 'ho
Ultimately the Kaiser
There VIII BE Crow can eat his words, but
hardly be very satisfying to the story,ns
civilians. WIS
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-03-28
The Feminine Language
no .the Edit,r on the Epenina pnbno !. .a

o''"c H"'u'T oJ the Epenfn0 Public Ledger:
Sir--I have read with much pain Andrew
McGill's Grammar of the Feminine Ian.
guage." VIII you be kind enough 10 na..
on to Mr.. McGill the subjoined protest7
Dear Andrew McGill--Of course. Won ara
man and have never as q young lady
been summoned down to the front parlor ~
S:16 to take charge of entertaining one ~
your learned sex for the evening. Othar-
wise You would not have had such a ner-
fectly beautiful time describing the gram
mar OF the feminine language in TUESDAYS
EVENING PUBLIC LEDGER.
1t would be interesting to flaw vour
whole "durn" grammar. but I am going
to content myself with the pronoun. "The
pronoun is J." you say. / read and inme-
diately was reminded of the above
mentioned hour of S:15. wish you couId
have been behind the sofa In those davs
Andrew McGill. 1t was awful until / dis,
covered something. You can make a man
talk II you let him talk about himself Tb.
pronount belonging to women! Mr.. An
drew McGill. In the language of the poets
you don't know what you're talking about
I'll concede good bit Of your grammar.
But i can't swallow that. I never met
man in my life who didn't perl up and
stay an hour longer II you gave him half
chance to get stranglehold on that
pronoun ]. I've done my bit In listening
and want you to know about II.
These are, of course. the golden days.
when all for fifteen cents Mary Pickford
VIII while away the evening and jack up
the gentle art of conservation. But, any
way. Mr.. Mc0ill. some day when you're
going on long trip and have nothing to
do. Just listen 70 the young man In the seat
In front OF you talking to his Girl. Then
please Do make an amendmont 70 your
grammar q the feyulnina lanGpagei
6 = "A, 1. -. ~ & -
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-03-28
CLERGYMEN CANNOT STRIKE

CHILLED workmen. confronted by the
- increased cost of living, demand bet.
ter pay and IL they do not get it they
strike.
The laymen's committee on salaries for
the clergy In the Massachusetts diocese
q the Episcopal Church has prepared a
report for submission to the approaching
diocesan convention. in which it reminds
tho churches that the clergymen, con-
fronted BY the fpcrease in the cost of
hving, cannot secure better pay by threat
eping 70 throw up their jobs, even though
the pay they now receive Is lower in many
1psfancss than that enjoyed by skilled me-
1A9aics.
There Il no more heroic group in Amer.
- than the body Of educated and trained
men occupying the puipits OF the churches
- ~ denominations and spending them.
ctVoc - lead the people to higher spir.
k1r1 1ifs. while they themselves are re.
ff(nG barely enough TO keep body and
f4esthsr. They cannot buy the books
Qoed and they cannot educate their
~ The Massachusetts committee
11ese pertinent words to say on the
~ outx 70 s<e that all Of our
m upfe1tered With the petty
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-03-28

any court in Europe. Life on the trolleys
in the rush hours, wnen the green
motormen punish the machinery. becomes
merely long series OF COWS and apolo-
gies and polite supplications for pardon;
an endless course Of training in voice
modulation and temper, in posing and In
the high arts Of assembling embar-sss-
ments, woe. anger and the s.gis Of physi-
cal suffering. The green motormen are
doing us an unexpected service The p.
r. T. may wake UP one of these days and
charge extra for 1t.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-03-28
THEP. r. T.'s SCHOOL OF MANNERS

nIGNITY ,of manner is not quality
- easily acquired. Schools often teach It
and teach in vain. Dignity pay be in.
herited. and then. like money similarly OBJ
tained 1t must be lived up to. and it be-
comes in the course OF time a curse of
sorts. Lignity that isn't dignifed--voila!
That Is the ideal quality 1t is flexible and
easy and It makes everybody comfortable.
ss rule-the dignified and the undigaifed
alike.
We should be dignifod In Philadelphia
because the trolley ssrvies y 90 Ideally
ia, A fsK months q slxep hanging ON
y \ <iqr ayeape q ~ ehoald ms,s
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-03-28
What Do You Know?
QUIZ

QUIZ NJ
i. wns !: z: .,:,. ..it''h director general o.
9. WI: s!s;s used the phrase The A'.'''.
.. WITT 1S the present hattie?
xvrsrs and what Is the Bridge Of sish" ".
: Whe IL General Won Kushns7 -, =
8. what political .srty was once
/, what 10 meant By arGus-syss1 -,
= What IL the larsest cave In ths "s &
= what n the Koh-i-NssrS &
40. which psalm Is called the Ai'sFs'e' X
Answer to Yesterdays gus q.
l. fhiiip ii cf spain. -. A.. s.e1l1
=. m. wcrd- cigsr h derived from ~
.. fnSS SS.s~srre,T whirh u aupea.ee Y
yss.!." ,Ssps g sss ssussee:sssS se:ssSs a.: assis.ds
sA s!s:.'esss x. :: NV. .u,sfs y clesss. S:sssss
piies knowiedGe. ..,,,~.x ~
=. p,amonds are pure carbon eryssssnssr ~ -
- the. is,measursbis pressure -
nation. .,t,s ~
s. An a,,sans s fs,ssJEst0sh e esJ.s that e may ssst
epersts In any pesitien. =. -
a. Imsses Of IpalsnS wsrs ~ ~ ~ rsvese865
he isdlas fer bis tobacco p,pss -. W
!. As.ssIS = sAIS,I:,i:s. |: ':s.s most '''.s'''n' :.
:. s.Sss,;. 49,: n: { = !ss'isiis1;,
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-03-28

Sir Douglas Haig cannot be very much
worried as to the final outcome Of the pres
ent crisis, or he could hardly have found
time to send a flfty-six-word reply to Presl-
dent Wilson's message of encouragement
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-03-28

The Dickens Fellowship met last night at
the Adephia Hotel Applauders of the fitness
of things rejoiced to see the name OF Mrs.
Josephine Copperfeld on the program. And
yet people say that Charles didn't take his
names from real life.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-03-28
CONFESSIONS NO ONE BELIEVES
TILE BARBER

am a barber; that Is. one who shaves.
shampoos and cuts your hair in silence.
] am reticent and have no opinions on
the weather and the suburban train serv-
ice I have my own brands of scalpofoam
and nostril powder, but never press them
upon my clients. 1t Is beneath my dig
nifty to accept gratuities. The latest maga-
zines are always waiting for you In my
shop. You can get a hair cut with me IN
ten minutes. When l give you hot
towel" your skin will not be scalded for a
week afterward My towels are all steri-
lized and my operators are all natiVe-born
citizens. All my manicure girls are young,
slender, witty, sympathetic and Presby-
terans. / never say to my clients Your
hair Is coming out rather fast" You need
never wait for chair in my shop. Very
few of the leading politicians are shaved
here; only the respectable middle-class
citizens. / rarely inflict permanent injury
on a customer who trusts me- do not put
Geisha cream on your hair. l expect to
go to heaven when die.
We have received a telegram asking
whether the Chatting Dish accepts contribu-
tions.
Cigars and silk hosiery (size 1879. II for
warded to this office marked Socrates will
reach the proper destination, unless they
are handed to the elevator boy.
This seems to be poetry day. Henry
Plantagenet (flne old family the Plantage-
nets) sends us this, which can only mean
that the gardening season has begun; unless
it's a poem that Henry wrote last year and
wasn't able to sell:
MY FAvoRITE FLOWERS
The yellow orchid why discuss.
When you can eat asparagus!
What stained-glass window could repeat
The red-veined LEAKAGE of the beet?
What delicately mottled green
Is in the humble. honest bean.
And what a balm for sin and grief
The crisp and curly lettuce leaf!
The corn, in green, translucent files.
Shimmers like cathedral aisles;
The cabbage that the frost has touched
Is like pigeons throat unsmutched.
An onion, IL you hold your nose,
Is marvellous as any rose!
HENRY PLANTAGENET
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-03-28

1nconstant Constantine, the former mon
arch of Greece. has been denied his pension
of 500 900 drachmas by the Athens Parlia-
ment. Con will have to draw his pay en-
velope in marks instead of drachmas hence
forth.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-03-28

viii the gentleman who signs himself
S. V. kindly call at our office? Since his
article. entitled Sitting in the Barbers
Chair" appeared this page last Monday
thirteen male voices have called on the tele-
phone asking the name and address OF S. VS.
barber "who does not prattle." And one
gentleman, more sinned against than cynical.
left the following with us:
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-03-28

Come on now; be frank; haven't YOU
got some plans for hundred-mile gun con-
cealed somewhere In the old trunk In the
attic? Almost every one else seems to.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-03-28

1t seems that the British have begun a
counter-ofensve in several places. They
began with sally to Sally.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-03-28
THE CHAFFING DISH

Dove Dulcet Philadelphias own subcaliber
poet, sends In a free verse poem in what he
calls calormeter. He calls 1t:
EATING BY CALoRIES
Fate cannot harm me, have
Dined today
(Wheatless dav)
On Mock Mutton (254 calories).
Lentil Soup $3.50 calories)
And ice water 600 negative calories),
Making total of 514 calories.
Add 1t up and see for yourself
All the best restaurants tell you how many
Calories you eat nowadays 1t
Takes your mind off the food
DOVE DULCET.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-03-28

There s two cars in
this building. boss,
SO p ! e q 8 Q don't
crowd; fifteen per-
sons Is all by law
allowed; and deed
IL don't seem fair TO
me to work this coon
10 death; the folks
keeps showing In on
me, ] hardly can
draw breath; this
car II full from
morn TO night with
5ostltng. bpptling
folk; NJ otne
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-03-28

What an ordnance department we would
have II the inventors would only leave 1t
alone and give IL time to do some work!
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-03-28

The German armies
or NiGhtmsresf have been kept SO
r., sA..t busy for week that
they are living according to airuie Of sleep
less nights
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-03-28

Dr. William C. Farrabee. a South Ameri-
can explorer. spoke the other evening of a
snake he had met. He cut Its head off with
a machete and It ran a hundred feet before
n realized that II was dead. The rattlesnake
Of Prussian militarism may be in this case.
II cut its own head Off when It raped Bel
GUM, but the deuce Of It is. the serpent is
still rafting. SOCRATES.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-03-28

Why is 1t that young women mentioned
IN rich mems wills are always said to be
'coneiy"?
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-03-28

The German troops In the present drive
are said to have received two days iron
ration" when they were sent over the top
But Hais has now given them vittles of
steel (both cold and hot) for a week.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-03-28

A C-ruguayan commission, en- route to
France. was kidnapped by a U-boat, and
Unanimously protests
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-03-28
Field Marshal Hd
speaking In his
SAGE TO President Wlz
win Youf

son for the men who are willing 20
with their lives to hold the Germans 49, 49,
saws none of them win count the cost ~
might be written large as a suggesupn -.
those who are now asked to SUBSCRIBE ~
new Liberty Loan. W