davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1918-05-23
F1[ DADC7'5 [yENINl1
k,Y GAIRY TALE
Ia 81 NAN GRAEAt1BQINeR
PETER eNoME's CLUB.

A great many of the new members
of Peter Gnome's club, which was call
ed the Every-Day-Is-Nice club, did not
know just how the club had been start
ed in the first place.
They all knew Peter Gnome and Bill
lie Brownie were the very best Of
friends, and that as soon as Peter had
started his club, the brownies had been
the first to join.
They knew that Peter Gnome hated
weather grumblers and since belonging
to the club they thought weather grum-
blers were very foolish. They had
found that there never was a day up
on which one could not enjoy some
thing.
And they had discovered how much
happier they always were to like every
day as 1t came along. Yes, they
thought the club was splendid and
they were happy to belong to it.
Still they were new members and
they did want to find out how the club
started in the very first place of all.
And so they asked Peter GnOme If he
would tell them.
He agreed and they called meeting
to make sure that all members would
hear Of the first days and of the start
ing of the club.
"You are right" said Peter, "when
you say that Billie Brownie and the
other brownies were the first members.
And 1 will tell you the story 1 told
them. 1t holds the reason for starting
the club"
Peter Gnome cleared his throat, put
on his spectacles and with one foot
upon low stump and the other on the
ground he began: 81 once had a talk
with the King Of the Clouds" he said.
sand this is what he told me:
Peter he said, as the rain drops
fell over me, for he can't talk unless
it rains-that is he can't talk outside
his home in the clouds. Peter he
said again, L feel very sad at times
"'Why, Cloud KingY 1 asked.
Because Peter he said, they don't
like me down on the earth. Now the
sun is popular. He's a jolly, warm
hearted old fellow and they like him
But they don't care much for me- And
Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1918-05-23
"oh, Cloud King" Said, "You Mustn'
Be Discouraged"

then I was frightened, for I thought
the King of the Clouds was going to
sob and only had my green rain coat
on which isn't so very heavy, you
know. The water has been known to
so through it.
"'Oh, Cloud King 1 said, You
mustn't be discouraged. And you
mustn't be unhappy. What would the
farmers do without you? Think how
you help the crops. And think too, how
the flowers love you. You make them
grow. You give them drinks of water.
And the grass, and the moss in the
woods, the shrubs and the trees-how
hot and dry and thirsty they would be
all summer long if it weren't for you.
"'How often too have heard the
birds chirp for water. Their little
mouths would be so dry and they
would open their beaks and beg you to
look after them. What would the
streams and lakes and ponds do with
out you! Lots of things love you,
Cloud King. Don't weep too much.
Weep tears Of Joy but not tears Of I'M
happiness
"For of course" Peter Gnome con-
tinued, at would not have been polite
of me if had asked him not to weep
at alll Then he would have felt far
sadder than ever.
"He felt better after this and said,
Peter Gnome, you have done my damp
heart good. am glad you think am
of use in the world and that 1 am
liked. For sometimes 1 feel no one
likes me at all. They complain of the
rainy days and they call it bad wealth
er. And oh, dear me, I'm not bad, and
1t hurts my feelings to hear them call
me badP
"'Dear Cloud King, you must cheer
up 1 told him. You must remember
that your work is appreciated even If
there are some folks who don't like
you. But they're the weather grum-
blers, Cloud King, and you simply
mustn't pay one scrap Of attention to
them
He really felt quite joyful after this
and battered down to the earth with
his army of raindrops and his grand
children, the Mist family, quite mer-
rily. But / thought would have a
club which would please the old
weather man, the sun, the moon, the
clouds, and it would make all Of us
happier If we went right ahead and
enjoyed each day as it came along-for
we must have weather of some kind
or other
$50 that is how the club started. All
the rules and regulations you know"
eyes, indeed" said all the members,
as they proudly patted their badges
which read, "Every-day-is-nics."
Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1918-05-23
Young Women of Red Cross
Make Fine Record.
Render Invaluable Service In Opening
of German Offensive In
France.

Washington.-Young women of a
Red Cross front line unit made fine
record in the opening German often
sive in France. At Roye they took
over the direction Of military traffic.
One girl In uniform standing at the
four corners directed columns of guns,
cavalry, supply wagons and troops.
thus preventing a traffic jam.
These women were the last to leave
several towns before the Germans en-
tered. They aided hundreds of refu-
gees and established temporary kitch-
ems, where, among others, $50 British
soldiers who had not eaten for many
hours were fed.
The girls also established an infor-
nation bureau at Montdidier until this
town was captured by the Germans.
They picked up wounded when they
were unable to make their way to
dressing stations, and brought food to
Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1918-05-23
Vigorous Enforcement of the
VagranCy Law Is a Pub
lie Necessity.
CUT OUT THE SENTIMENT
DUTY Of Every Citizen to Report
Neiahbor or Acquaintance Who
Won't Work and Demand
Sheriff Enforce Laws.

<Prepared by the United States Depart
ment of Agriculture)
Washington.-Most communities all
over the United States are enforcing,
or preparing to enforce the vagrancy
laws very vigorously. There is a ma
-tion-wide sentiment of utter detesta-
ton for the man so small Of spirit as
to be willing to do nothing during the
supreme hour of all human history.
There is a general determination all
over America that such men are GO
ing to be forced to work, without de-
day or ceremony.
However, in so vast a land there
may be a few communities, here and
there, where sentiment has not be-
come sufficiently aroused to echo this
general demand which resounds over
the country. If there is place where
farmers are looking for help, and, at
the same time, loafers are hanging
around the depot, the stores and the
pool rooms, those farmers themselves
are somewhat to blame-unless they
demand of the sheriff and local Off
GERS an absolute and unyielding ap-
plication of the vagrancy law.
A field man of the United States
department Of agriculture recently
wrote this from one of the important
agricultural states:
entirely too much labor, rural as
well as city, is Stacking. The COM
pulsory work law is not being en-
forced as well as it should. For
sentimental reasons some persons
hesitate to report a neighbor or ac-
Quaintance who is idle and won't
work. My idea is that the
first thing to do is to clean up the
aoafng habit"
"For Sentimental Reason!"
Maybe you feel that way. Perhaps
Bill Smith, whom you know well, and
rather like in a casual sort of fash
GOn, is a chronic loafer. He is q
harmless enough wretch, and you just
hate to make a complaint against
BIll-"for sentimental reasons!"
No doubt, "for sentimental reasons, /"
you hate to think of your son being
Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1918-05-23
"13" IN ACTS OF PRESIDENT
unIueky Number Plays an Important
Part In Transactions Of Chief
Executive.

NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. reason has
been discovered for the eerie air Of
mystery that always cloaks the mum.
Der IS.
In the latest report of the attorney
general concerning pardons granted
federal prisoners by the president
the fateful figures predominant. For
instance, "a persons were granted per-
mission, upon serving their sentences,
to enjoy civil rights again. The COM
bination of 8 and a makes 10. The
president also restored the rights Of
citizenship to Is deserters from the
army and navy. The total number OF
pardon applications granted by him
was 828, and these numbers If taken
separately and added combine into
the old and gloomy IS.
Now then, If one still has doubts
concerning the fatallstic features OF
the number, 1t might be added that
the president denied 81 applications,
Reverse that--and what have your
Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1918-05-23
HEARS MUSIC THROUGH FEET
Deaf Man Tells Of Sensations He Elk
perlenced at a Plano
Recital.

New York.-That a highly sensi-
tive deaf person is able to "hear"
music through his feet was demon
strated at the last piano recital given
recently by Josef Hoffman, here.
Jean Paul Gruet, a young deaf
man, gave this impression Of the re-
citaI: "The main emotion felt from
the floor and again In the unsupport-
ed lighter parts of the body, such as
the arms and finger tips. The mus
cles in the upper part Of the lower
leg also vibrated.
"The lower tones Of the piano, when
loudly and quickly played, may be
experienced inwardly, causing an ex-
citing sensation. Such feeling seems
to thrill one and cause q quickenins
of the circulation"
Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1918-05-23

sticking to hts old job--wnittling In
front Of the post office.
If your son dies in France-gives ais
life fighting for the freedom Of Amer
ica-fghting for the freedom of that
very Bill Smith, the loafer-how
much do you think your grief will be
assuaged by the reflection that even
If your boy did have to die your
sentimental reasons" have been sus-
tanned and Bill is still loaflng 20 his
hearts content. If your soldier son
makes the supreme sacrifice how
much consolation will you find in the
knowledge that II Bill Smith, the loaf
er, whom you shielded "for sentimen-
tai reasons" had been forced to
work on some war job more food and
supplies might have been sent to
France and your boy might have
lived.
Maybe your son isn't at the front
yet-but he is certain to be there
soon, and the longer you delay "for
sentimental reasons" In seeing that
your friend Bill Smith, the loafer, is
not sent to the chain gang or the
farm. the longer 1t will take your boy
and his companions to do their Job.
Maybe you have no sons. But your
neighbors have-and they are over
there. But don't allow your "senti-
mental reasons" to be directed to
theml Oh, moi Don't try to help
the noble boys from your county who
started out for hell with a smile just
because they are real Americans
Don't let your sentiment turn to them
but be sure and protect Bill Smith
who is not fighting, nor working, not
doing anything except encumbering the
face Of the earth with a useles car
cass. Be sure and refrain from COM
planning to the sheriff about him
"for sentimental reasons" Between
vagabonds and heroes let your 'senti-
mental reasons" flow to the first, of
coursel When the casualty lists
come out you won't be saddened
You can Danish all grief by saying
"Oh, well, these fine lads are dead,
but worthless Bill Smith Is safe
I lived up to my sentimental reasons
I kept him from having to work, even
If real men had to die while he
loafed."
Sentimental reasonsI See that
every idler in your county goes to the
rock pile or goes to work-"for senti-
mental reasons"
Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1918-05-23
TELLS OF BIG FIGHT

they neared we blew great holes In
that formation. But we didn't stop
them. They came on running and yell
ing like fiends of hell.
"Our ammunition was gone. We
grabbed parts of the guns and our
rifles, and retreated with the rest, stop
ping now and then to drop one or two
Of the enemy.
"The battery to our right didn't have
chance to use all their shells. The
Boche was upon them too quickly with
smoke shells that started great fires.
The boys there were burned alive.
eyes, they are fighting, the Ger
mans. But so are the British"
Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1918-05-23

killed-but 1t was the proudest day
of your life when you watched him
march away to fight in France. By
the way, Bill Smith, the loafer, must
have a different brand of sentiment
from your son and yourself-the
sentimental reasons" that impelled
your boy to rush to the colors at the
first call don't seem to have moved
Bill very much. For some reason
sentimental or otherwise-he is still
Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1918-05-23
HEROLNES IN BATTLE

canteens and kitchens to keep them
going.
At times the girls were only one day
ahead of the advancing Germans and
once crossed a bridge only few mo-
ments before 1t was blown up. For
eight days they worked without remov-
ing their clothes, sleeping on straw in
barns when they could sleep, and eat
ing irregularly.
All in all, the conduct of American
girls and women back of the lines is
calculated to inspire our soldiers to the
highest courage and exertions.
Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1918-05-23
Canadian Sergeant Describes
Third Battle of Ypres.
Man Who Participated Gives Thrilling
Account Of sanguinary
Conflict.

Chicago.-The thrilling eyewitness
story of the third battle Of Ypres was
told here by Sergt, Reginald Grant Of
tie First Canadian field artillery.
ave were in Sanctuary woods about
a mile southeast Of town. We were
the sacrifice battery and were to stay
behind If there should be retreat.
Well, our boys went out of the trench
and were met by the Germans in mass
formation.
"They were smothered--but not be-
fore they had wreaked frightful havoc.
They died to man. The Huns came
on yelling with all their lungs and as
Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1918-05-23
~Knows KaIser PersonaIIy.v

Carlisle. Pa.-Emil Young. who says
he is personally acquainted with the
kaiser, was detained by the federal
authorities because he could show no
naturalization papers. He asserted he
had served In the German army,
Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1918-05-23
OILERS MUST BE
FORCED TO WORK
WAR GARDENS DECORATE
RAILWAY RIGHT OF WAYS

Memphis, Tenn.-War gardens
are to be seen from the window
of almost any passenger train
in the South. In some sections
long strips of land paralleling
the right. of way are in cultiva-
ton. A field 80 feet wide, or
less, and a half-mile long, is not
uncommon. There are innumer-
able little gardens to be found
between the end of the cross
ties and the right-of-way fence.
Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1918-05-23

then was frightened, for I thought
the King of the Clouds was going to
sob and only had my green rain coat
on which isn't so very heavy, you
know. The water has been known to
Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1918-05-23
"W0UNDED 13 TIMES, BUT
DON'T WORRY" HE SAYS

Freeport, L. IT have been
hit by shrapnel and got thirteen
wOunds-the head, both arms,
body and right leg. Outside of
that am o. K, so don't worry"
Such is the word received here
from Corp. Arthur @. Trayer of
Company d, One Hundred and
Sixty-flfth infantry, Rainbow d.
vision, by his father.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-10-24

To Argus Subscribers

The price Of The Argus delivered by in Rock Is
land Moline. Moline
2 cents to 10 cents week beginning Monday Oct
- The retail price at stands and the street by
boys is
Greatly Increased costs In Of the
costs which have already forced in the
country to suspend publication made the
men imperative. There nothing Argus II it
wishes to continue in business
ee extraordinary conditions The Federal CSurt of Appeals
in New York has awarded manufacturers
crease in price OF SS2 $40 dating back Janu
" lst OF this and the manufacturers have peiORed
the Federal Trade Commission of SO
ton addition the $40 price the Federal Court
to the granted by the War Labor Board
mill employees which will also date back April 1st 1915
These will make the white print The
Argus reach SS5 ia delivered
increase of 2 normal times Increasing the sub
scripon price 15 delivered
increase whch
week before entry into the
The Argus boys will collect Is Saturday
Nov. j. W. POTTER CO. Publishers.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-10-24
CHIEFS DISCUSS
DEVASTATION OF
FRANCE BY HUNS

Paris, Oct. 24.-The question of
the devastation wrought by the Ger
mans in northern France was the
topic of a discussion in parliament
today.
In the senate Antonin Dubost
president, asked that victory should
give all its might TO chastisement
Of the offender and reparatiOn for
the crime
The enemy will be condemned
to restitution. for which we will
take guarantees, not being able 10
rely upon his word" said Stephen
Pinchon. foreign minister. We are
near the end of sacrifices imposed
by savage aggression for which its
author is trying to escape respOn-
sibiIity Their calculations have
been upset by President Wilson.
Senators from the liberated re-
gions flied a resolution asking that
commissions be sent to ascertain
the extent of the devastations
which were described as heart
breaking. The resolution was unan-
imOusIy adopted
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-10-24
REPORT ON ARMY
HEALTH BEST IN
SEVERAL WEEKS

Washington, Oct. 24.-For the
first time since the epidemic of in
fiuenza began spreading through
the army camps, the weekly health
report of the surgeon general shows
a decrease in both hospital admis-
sion rates and in deaths. The re-
port for the week ending Oct. IS.
given out today. shows a decrease
in the death rate from 206 per
thousand to 100 and in the admis-
sion rate for disease from 4,760 to
2,914
The report says the crest of the
epidemic has been definitely passed.
the number of influenza cases drop
ping one-half and the number of
pneumonia cases decreasing from
1882 to HOB The decline is
more marked in the cantonment
group Camps in the south and
southwest and on the Pacific coast
at the time the report was issued
were at the highest point of the
epidemic in only three camps
Lewis, Washington; Kearney. Cal
ifornia, and Mcclellan, Alabama.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-10-24
WAR SUMMARY

Crashing into the German de-
fensive system south of Valen-
ciennes. the British are tearing
away this barrier to the allied
pursuit Of the retreafing en-
envy.
The British have captured
more tha1 5000 prisoners and
many guns In their Eew attack
begun yesterday.
Progress made by the British
during the first II hours OF
their advance Indicates that the
line of the Scheidt- which has
held MP the advance Of the al
lied armies rfher north. may
be broken and Outflanked.
Just ahead of the British are
two important strategic points
Mons and Maabeuge. Ii is
reported that even now the
British heavy guns are within
range of these two towns. which
are the principal German sup
ply points along the Ardennes
front
Around V-llenciennes the Ger
mans have been flooding the
country by cutting the banks Of
the Sehcldt canal. Ii Is said
that lOwIandS to the east have
thus been turned into great
lakes which will probably in
terfere with the allied advance,
East Of lie & ieau the Amer
leans and + fifish are still fight
ing their way forward.
The United States casualty
list today contains 200 Ram%
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-10-24
Gigantic System
of Loot and Ruin
Practiced by Foe

With the French Army in Cham
payne, Oct. 23.-(By the Associated
Press) detachment of engineers
from General Gouraud's army have
discovered in many villages eVi-
dence OF the method by which the
destruction of dwellings, churches
and other public buildings was Or
ganiZed.
The region along the Retournc
abounds with indications of willful
devastation of villages that were
never within range of artillery, but
were found razed to the ground.
In others where houses were still
erect, they were minei for slow
destruction, while the purely mill
tary installations, such as barracks
built by the Germans for t&eir own
troops, were left intact. Orders for
the burning of Juniville, a large
village in the valley of the Retourne,
arrived on the day OF evacuation
The Germans had built comfortable
quarters, with casinos, officers
clubs. moving picture theatres, ho-
tells and rest houses for the soldiers
in the village. The people pleaded
Will INC OtHCGIS 10 spare lHS4E
homes, but the torch was put to
every house. The village was one
vast brazier when the French en-
tered it. Mont ST Remy shared the
same fate.
Chatelet, Alincourt. Bignicourt
and Ville-Sur- r-Retourne were par
| TALLY saved because the French
troops pressed the Germans there
so closely that the sappers left be-
hind to do the work were surprised.
Some of these men fed before they
could set off the mines which had
been prepared Others were cap
tured
1t has been necessary for French
sappers and miners TO explore the
cellar of every house remaining in
tact in this region. Under most OF
them mines have been found
Mouths of wells were so mined tina;
explosions would fill them with
rock and earth. At Aussonce mines
were discovered on which were
placed the class OF destruction for
which they were prepared They
were provided with glass tubes of
/ liquid to eat away the wire connec-
tiOn with the mine and cause its ex-
! plosion, with lapse OF time indi-
Gated on each tube
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-10-24
Kaiser Harangues
r Government Aids
Alone and In BODY

Paris, Oct 24-Emperor William
conferred Monday with all the
members of the government, talk
ing at length with each individual
and then harrangued them in a body,
says a dispatch from Zurich to the
Journal Thus far the German
newspapers have printed nothing
concerning the emperor's speech.
The war cabinet held anther long
meeting Tuesday. The address of
the chancellor to the reichstag is
criticized charply by a majority of
the newspapers. The extracts FROM
the speech circulated by the Wolff
bureau, the semi-official news ag-
ency. bear so little resemblance to
what Prince Macmillan said that
they appear to have been invented.
The Socialist newspapers, the
Zurich dispatch continues, are out
spoken The Fraenkische Tages OF
Nuremberg, Bavaria. says the en-
peror must not think the German
people are going to continue the
war for months to please him.
IF the emperor must go" it adds,
"let him go at once" The CORES
pondent says that the chancellor
and the pan-Germans are working
actively toward the formation OF a
national defense government He
says a proclamation to the people
exhorting them to carry on the war
to the utmost has been drafted with
the help of General LudendOrff. and
that he understands il will be pub
plished as soon as President VII
sons reply has been received.
1t is said in Berlin, the CORES
pondent adds, that the president
will not allow himself to be fiouted
and ridiculed by the existing Ger
man government