davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1918-06-06
FIERCE WAR OVER elephant
People Of Siam and Pegu contended
for Generation to Secure Pos
session of the Animal.

Believing that Buddha lived again
In the body Of a white elephant, de-
vastating war was fought in the six
teenth century between Siam and Pegu
for possession Of the unhandsome an
imal For a generation the struggle
continued, and in it five kings came to
the throne, only to die together with
thousands of their subjects. A white
elephant is exceedingly rare, but Is SIM
ply an albino and by no means snow
colored. In 1888 Barnum, not from re-
ligious motive, brought one from ST.
am at cost Of 100000.
Frequent mention Is made Of ele-
plants in the history Of ancient wars.
The Roman armies fed at their first APP
pearance in their early conflicts with
the Carthaginians, bat by the use Of
torches soon learned to break up a
charge Of the huge beasts. Alexan-
der encountered them in his conquest
of, Asia. "-'t..-i.ggs5 '"-,-.
The elephant looks stupid and his
brain is small for his size, only as
large as mans, but it is highly de-
veloped. and few animals are more in
tellgent. They are used as beasts CT
burden in India, where they are regard
ed with superstitious awe by their
drivers.
The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1918-06-06
Proper Locomotive sianals.

Experiments conducted by the
Southern Pacific railroad to find the
most efficient means Of handling the
locomotive whistle show the average
motorist or pedestrian is familiar with
the standard crossing signal-two long
and two short blasts-and that, I'M
less the signal is given just so, he is
apt to dispute priority right to cross
ing. Superintendent 7. Ahern, in a.
letter to engineers, says: Extensive
tests show that whistle call for a
station signal should never be less
than five seconds, the long blasts Of
the crossing signal, two and half
seconds, and the short ones, one Sec
ond. Particular care should be ex-
ercised to cut off the blasts sharply
and not to slur them. 1t is Of the ut
most Importance in causing sound to
travel that these instructions be car
ried out"
The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1918-06-06
First Naval Battle,

The first naval battle recorded in
the worlds history was that between
the Corinthians and the COrcyrans,
fought 2,572 years ago. Corcyra, the
island off the coast of Epirus, now
called Corfu, had been settled by Cor
1nthians, and for centuries owed al
legiance to the mother city. In 664 B.
G. the Corcyrans declared their indie
pendence, and the Corinthians imme-
diately prepared fleet to reclaim
their colony. The Corcyrans sent out
a squadron to meet their foes. After a
furious contest the Corcyrans emerged
as victors. From that time on sea
battles were frequent, and all of the
petty states Of GREECE built navies.
The enmities engendered by that first
sea struggles resulted over two CEN
lures later in the Peleoponnesian war.
The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1918-06-06
PROSPERITY BUILT ON VICE
Portuguese City Of Macao Has lena
Been Known as the Monte Carlo
Of the Orient.

Macao Is said to be the most pros.
porous bit of Portuguese territory in
the world. 1t Is the famous Monte
Carlo of the Orient" where gambling
and considerable opium traffic have
their headquarters. Both these vices
are ones to which the Chinese are par.
ticularly addicted, and Macao has be-
come great resort for the weather.
Chinese natives.
1t lies on sandy peninsula. half
way on the trip between Hongkong
and Canton. The Portuguese acquired
1t In the olden time when they were
the most daring explorers and traders
in the world. Their descendants live
there still, but they have mingled and
intermarried with the Chinese until
what amounts to new race has been
produced in the natIve-born Portuguese
colony in Macao.
Macao Is a prosperous city, as most
capitals Of the god of chance are wont
to be. Various gambling games are
played, but the favorite is fan-tan, over
which the Chinaman can develop an
apparently disproportionate amount Of
excitement. In fan-tan, number Of
coins or counters are hidden under q
bowl, and the players bet on how many
will be left when the coins have been
counted off in tours. Simplicity can go
no farther, but it is possible to lose
as much money over this primitive
form Of gambling as over the most
complicated variety known to the
West.
Chinese are the greatest gamblers
in the world. They will bet on any
thing from the weather to the weight
Of horse, whether they can afford
to lose or not. A wealthy Chinese
merchant will win and lose fortunes
with an air of philosophic nonchal.
ance, while the poorest coolies will
drop a weeks pay in ten minutes with.
out permitting the impressive gravity
Of his cOuntenance to be married by
anything more than panied frown.
The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1918-06-06
MUCH ExTRAVAGANCE IN PENS
Dat oliver Wendell Holmes 10 Said -
Have Written Twelve Million
Words With One.

"For two years." announces one OF
those eccentric persons who make
business Of collecting strange and star
Ting facts, "Thackeray did all his writ
Ing with one pen, which also served
him for writing two novels. Oliver
Wendell Holmes used gold pen for
more than thirty years, during which
he wrote 100000 words"
That, we may consider, Is genuine
pen conservation, and 1t may be typical
of a general economy that was far
more prevalent in the days of Thack-
cray and Holmes than it Is today, OBJ
serves a writer In the Providence
Journal. Pens in the last quarter CEN
fury have come to be rather lightly es-
teemed by most persons who find
continual use for them. One throws
away an old pen and puts new one
in the perfholder with little thought Of
the potential waste. A gold pen, of
course, is exceptionally durable, as
rule, but the one that performed serv-
Ice for Doctor Holmes for more than
thirty years must have been marvel.
Anyway, 1t was obviously far better
one than the one that served Thack-
cray for only two years. His was prob
ably an old-time quill pen, but even
then quill pen that would last
through the writing Of two novels as
extensive as those Produced by Thack-
cray must be regarded with profound
respect.
This economy in the use Of writing
utensils seems awe-inspiring today. In
the past ten years we personally have
knocked out two typewriters and have
started on our third and in that time
have probably turned out less than
half the number of words that Doctor
Holmes produced with his little old
gold pen. And when you come to think
Of the comparative values Of the words
the reflection becomes positively hu-
initiating.
The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1918-06-06
Eastern Folklore Character.

A character in folklore with whom
the Occidental world has only, slightly
familiarized itself is Nasr-ed-din-
Hodja, the Turkish Till Eulenspiegel.
Lineally the Hodja, holy man, as he is
known, draws his descent from Aesop;
but during the course Of centuries his
nature became somewhat changed.
From the wise man he was transform
ed, gradually, into the simple bucolic
fool, who, In spite Of his folly, has
certain very winning traits. AS rule,
however, poor Nasr-ed-din gets the
worst Of every deal he Is mixed up in,
a. has his unfortunate and muddling
race. Only every now and then does
tradition allow him to come off victor
IN an intellectual encounter.
The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1918-06-06
NORWICH

Mrs. Filkins is very i'll this week.
Mr.. and Mrs. George Adams of
Eckmore, accompanied by Mrs. Smith
Minnie Norsby and Pauline Reilly Wis
tied at the O'Brien home Sunday.
Mr.. and Mrs. A. J. Spach autoed
to Minot Saturday.
The Commonmeal Club met at the
Ed Duckett home Saturday after
noon. The time was taken up by
sewing for the Red Cross.
The Junior Club met at the Alfred
Lee home Saturday. The children and
their mothers were all present. They
gave surprise party on their leader,
Miss Gertrude Lennertz and they pre-
scented a jewelry case to her.
Sydney Olson of Minot visited this
burg Thursday. ...-.
Mrs. Mary Weir, daughter Of Mr..
and Mrs. Harry Duffy and children
are visiting her parents, this week.
Misses jeanette and Edna Bolstad
who have been attending the high
school at Red Wing, Mimi, returned
home Saturday.
The J. S. Reilly family have NOV
ed to Minot this week.
Mrs. Albert Shoultz is the Nor
wich operator now.
Mrs. E. A. Callahan and Mrs. Mark
Wolaner spent a few days at the
Harry O'Brien home of Logan.
Mr.. and Mrs. E. w. Stubbins autoed
to Minot Wednesday.
A pleasing program was given on
Memorial Day under the supervision
of Miss Lennertz and Miss Middleton.
A Red Cross sale and lunch was given
by the Ladies and Melted the neat sum
of 100000.
The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1918-06-06
Blind to Joy,

Life is always worth living, If one
have responsive sensibilities. But we
Of the highly educated classes $50
called) have most Of US got far, far
away from nature. We are trained to
seek the choice, the rare, the exquisite
exclusively, and to overlook the COM
mon. We are stuffed with abstract
conceptions and glib with verbalitics
and verbosities; and in the culture Of
these higher functions the peculiar
sources of Joy connected with our
simpler functions often dry up, and we
grow stone blind and insensible to
life's more elementary and general
goods and joys.-William James.
The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1918-06-06
LAST WORDS Of GREAT MEN
NeeAs's Uttsraness That Have Bees
Accepted BY the World a. Mere
Or Less Authentic.

lrst words of human beings every.
where are as much alike in their sig,ii.
ncance as are in the essentials of de-
pendence and trustfulness the infants
who stammer them. Last words diff.
ter 40 greatly in purport as do their
ueSerers In age, experience, environ.
ment, intellect and character. OF the
many dying sentences that have
passed into the category Of familiar
quotations 1t is, Of course, impossible
always to separate the apocryphal
from the real. TO attempt such di.
vision would not be worth the pains
1t y better to take on trust the plaus-
Ms and the fairly authentic. Some of
these are the deliberate speeches of
those In full possession OF bodily
strength but about to suffer execution.
Such are Sir Thomas M0re's adjura-
don as he faced the scaffold, "See me
safe up-for my coming down I can
ahift for myself" Sir Walter Raleigh's
reelection on the axe, "'Tis a sharp
remedy but sure one for all ills"
Madame Roland's 20 Liberty, what
crimes are committed in thy name !"
ana Nathan Hale's II only regret that
have but one life to give for my coun-
try" Other "last words" embody
dying effort at conference or are mere
" the murmurs Of delirium. Two ia.
nous farewells are attributed to Rabe-
lals-"Draw the curtain, the farce is
ended" and II am going to seek a great
pefhaps." Goethe's plea, which the
world has refused to take as spoken
literally, for Light! more light" has
q more modern counterpart in Tenny-
sons enigmatic II have opened it." per-
haps referring to the volume of
shakespeare at his side but susceptible
DO OF esOteric Interpretation.
The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1918-06-06
Startind Traditions.

In ages which we call heroic, the
saint works miracles, the warrior per-
forms exploits beyond the strength OF
natural man. In ages less visionary,
which are given to ease and enjoy
ment, the tendency is to bring the
great man down to the common level
and to discover or invent faults which
shall show that he Is or was but q
little man after all. The alb
surdity Of calumny may be as evil
dent as the absurdity Of miracle, the
ground for belief may be no more than
lightness Of mind and less par
donable wish that it may be true. But
the idle tale floats In society, and by
and by is written down in books and
passes into the region Of established
realities.-Froude.
The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1918-06-06
Coffee and sleeplessness.

That coffee drunk in the evening
tends to cause sleeplessness is well
known. Doctor Sajous analyses the
many effects Of caffeine on the nervous
and circulatory systems and shows
that it's sleep-preventing effect is due
to dilation Of the blood vessels Of the
brain, stimulation of the heart action,
increased blood pressure and a prob
able tendency directly to impede the
flow Of blood from the brain to the
skin and other peripheral structures,
which seems to play an important role
in inducing sleep. And the brain tends
to remain overcharged with blood even
after the effect Of the coffee on the
blood pressure has subsidized.
The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1918-06-06
To Prevent MlIdew.

The careful housekeeper is often
greatly troubled and perplexed by rust
and mildew formations caused by
damp closets. This state of affairs
can be easily remedied if an earthen-
ware bowl or deep plate full Of
quicklime be placed in the closet. The
lime absorbs the moisture, sweetening
and disinfecting the damp corners.
Rodents and insects that are likely to
congregate in such places greatly dis
like the odor Of the lime. When tho
lime becomes slaked it should be
thrown away and a fresh supply sub
stituted.- Popular Science Monthly.
The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1918-06-06
Aged Man Died at Ross, N. d.

Ludwig Texel, who is employed by
the Minot Tailoring Co., received word
that his grandfather, George Texel,
had passed away at his home in Ross,
N. D. on June 4. The funeral was
held today. .
Mr.. Texel was born in Austria in
1881 and was 81 years Of age. He
took part in the revolution in Austria
in 1848. HIS VIE died 10 years ago.
Mr.. Texel had been a resident of Ross
for the past Is years. He was one
of the pioneers of Butler county, Neb.
The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1918-06-06
Appreciated British Oysters.

AS early as 30 B. @. the fame Of the
British oyster had extended as far
as Rome, and Sallust seems to have
been more impressed by the oyster
than by any other feature Of the coun-
Try, for he wrote: '"The poor Britons-
there is some good in them, after all
they produce an oyster" In 80
A. D. oysters were exported from the
Thames estuary to Rome, and ever
since that time England has had an
oyster industry of respectable proper
lions, although for many years the
supply has been inadequate to I'LL
London's gigantic demands, and I'M
portations from the United States,
Holland and France have been ueces'
saSy.
The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1918-06-06
Gard nf Thanks

We desire to thank our many friends
and neighbors and the members Of the
Bohemian Lodge for their many acts
of kindness during the last illness and
following the death of our beloved son,
George.
Mr.. and Mrs. Jos. Sys.
The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1918-06-06

Money to loan ON farm land aas
dty property. Current rates. NJ
delay. c. Aurlaad, Minst, N. d. t
Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1918-09-26
Harry Baker Is Doing Mans Part.

The Washington Post OF few days
ago has the following interesting article
concerning a former Shepherdstown
boy:
Henry S. Baker has just received a
letter from his son, Henry S. Jr., who
is in the U. S. ambulance service now
Somewhere in France" Young
Baker has just been decorated with
the war cross for exemplary actionover-
seas. His letter is as follows:
We received quite bunch OF mail
last night, your letters including dates
to July IS. Thanks for the clippings
and the Washington Post. Have en-
joyed all of them very much.
Have had a little lull in the stren-
uous life for a day or two, feel some
what rested up. Drove night and day
for awhile, with only wink OF sleep
here and there. Am glad you and
mother went to Richmond 10 see Sam,
and am especially pleased to hear that
he received his commission. We are
quite safe, although one OF the boys had
a slight shrapnel scratch on the arm.
Not much danger, but pretty hard work.
Drive good bit at night, and OF course,
without lights and over bad roads torn
by shells, one had to be very cautious.
The worst is over for US for awhile.
This is a peculiar war. | am down in
a cellar now writing by the light OF a
good lamp-(from a shelled house)-
and someone is upstairs playing a piano
vet there are dead out on the fields with
in a stones throw OF us. Rather in
congruous, yet typical. One can pass
through house that looks like the judg-
ment day and come across tennis rack
ct or a child's toy. Things are never
so torn up or ancient that among them
one cannot find a Singer sewing ma
chine or a Mccormick mower.
| am glad to hear that the crops IN
the Valley Of Virginia are good. The
U. S. keeps us pretty we'll supplied, but
it's good to have plenty back for the
rainy day. These French folks are very
kind to us, and are very patient as we
struggle along with the language.
attended services short while age
and the minister preached in French
| think he hattered US a little and we
caught the most OF it. Don't know wher
I'll get to mail this note. Must close
with lots OF love TO Mother.
Agectionately,
HENRY
Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1918-09-26
Judge Dayton Imposes Heavy Fines.

Entering pleas OF guilty TO indict-
ments charging them with the viola
ting the United States espionage law,
Rev. L. J. Heatwohl, OF Dale Enterprise,
Va, Bishop OF the Mennonite
Church, and Rev. Ralph w. Benner, a
minister OF the same faith, were fined
1000 each by Judge Dayton in the
Federal Court in Martinsburg last week.
Attorney George N. Conrad, OF Harris
onburg, Va, represented the Mennon-
ties, and explained that the violations
OF the law was only technical on their
part and not intentional, and that the
men would pledge themselves not to re-
peat the offense. 1t was stated that Mr.
Benner, who was pastor OF Mennon-
ite Missionary Church, near Elkins, w.
Va, had been asked by members OF
congregation whether they should buy
War SavingsStamps, and had referred
the matter to Bishop Heatwohl. The
Bishop pointed out to Mr.. Benner that
the general conference OF the church
three years ago had passed resolutions
against aiding war activities in any
manner, and the pastor communicated
the substance OF the bishops letter I,
his congregation.
In Judge Dayton's court on Thursday
Paul W. Lange, prominent business
man OF Fairmont, W. Va, plead guilty
to having made seditious remarks
about our country, and fine OF $500
and costs was imposed upon him.
Lange is a Cerman-born naturalized
citizen. Seven witnesses testified that
he had defended Cermany's invasion
Of Belgium on the ground that Belgium
was garrisoned by French troops; that
he justified the sinking OF the Lusitania
on the ground that she was munition
ship and deserved to be sunk; that he
declared that reports OF German bru-
tality toward Belgians, especially the
violation OF women and the murder Of
children, were untrue, and that he
said German soldiers were as humane
as American soldiers and committed TO
crimes that were not also committed by
Americans. Ii was alleged that these
remarks were reiterated upon several
occasions by Lange. The grand jury
indicted him and he entered a plea OF
guilty. In his statement TO the court
before sentence was passed, District
Attorney Walker said he believed
Lange's remarks were more indiscreet
than disloyaL Lange is president Of
the Fairmont Rotary Club, a member Of
his county council Of defense, a member
OF the Liberty Loan, Red Cross, Young
Mems Christian Association, War Saw
ings Stamps and other patriotic commit
tees.
Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1918-09-26
Baker Showed Them Through.

How Secretary Of War Newton D. Ba-
ker-incog-ran a personally conducted
tour OF the War Department at mid
night few nights since, with two
rockies as his guests, leaked out recent
y.
Baker got a comprehensive view OF
what the ordinary private thinks OF
the Baker Army when he speaks out In
meeting; and he sent the men away re-
;oicing with two Of the pipes from the
Baker collection.
II was II O'Clock az night. Baker
had been working since 9 a. m. Before
the somber war building he waited fos
his car that didn't come.
Two rockies from Camp Meade saunt-
cred up.
"Say mister, that's the war building.
amt it?" they Queried with an easy
familiarity,
ayes" replied the little man, waiting
for the automobile.
"well, you see, mister, we're from
way out West, and We wanted to see
what the War Department looks like,
now that we're in the army" said the
two rockies. "But the guard up there
told us nothing doing at this time OF
| night. Pretty tough luck don't you
think ?"
The little man, waiting for the auto
mobile, agreed.
"But think ! can take you around
bit. 70. work in there" he added.
So the tour started. Two rockies
thought Il was a bit strange how the
guards let this man through without any
questions, and even saluted as he pass.
| ed.
The little man, who hadn't introduced
himself TO the two friends from out
West. took them all over the endless
corridors, showing them the adjutant-
generals Office, the chief OF staf's OF
Ace. the hundred and one other places
in the granite structure.
At last they passed before the Sec
retarial Office.
This is the Secretary Of Wars OF
fce," he said.
The rockies were impressed.
would you like TO sec tT'
"You bet we would"
The Secretary opened the door. took
them through the outer onices, showed
them the Gag that had draped Lineo.n's
casket, explained to them about the
solemn pictures OF the ex-seeretarles,
and then ushered them into the Sec
retary's private ONCE.
"This man Baker" said the Secretary.
"has regular mania for pipes. ] guess
il is all right to open up his desk ana
show you the collection"
The rockies looked on almost In ave
at his paraded meershaums, briafs,
corncobs, and clays.
The little man asked II they wouldn't
sit down and chat awhile. What did they
think about the army? And what did
they think OF Baker.
They told him, fully, and without
reservation. They allowed army LIE
was great, and guessed "this man Ba-
ker" must be all right, for he certainly
had things running all right"
| They chatted until 1890 a. m.
"I'm Mr.. Baker" said the Secretary
| in parting. 81 wish you'd take these two
pipes as a souvenir"
"well, I'll be darned," gasped one,
as the party ended.
Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1918-09-26
Clocks To Be Moved Back Oct. II.

The hour which dropped from the
life Of every man, woman and child In
this country at o'clock on the morning
of March 81 last, will be handed haSk
by the United States Government al
o'clock on the morning OF Sunday, Octo-
Der 27 next, when the "daylight-saying
plan comes to its Official and p.scI
demise.
The plan has been success. There
vas much and diverse objection to II
when II was first suggested Even az.
ter IL became a legal actuality, there
were some folks, living in outlying sec
tons, who refused TO get in line with
the new order Of things and who mani
Tested their contempt for that new order
Of things by keeping two clocks in their
homes-one set up an hour, as per Cow
ernmental orders, and the other giving
the old or solar time.
Now that the outdoor veatheris about
on the wane, the return to the old sched-
ule OF things will not be any more Of an
inconvenience than was the adoption
Of the new one. At 1 O'Clock on the
morning Of October 27 all the Official
clocks in the country will be turned back
to midnight, and thus the hour. which
was lost on March 81 vii be restored.
No revision Of working schedules, meal
schedules, train schedules, etc, viii be
necessary. The whole time-scheduIe
system viii merely be showed back an
hour, and solar rather than government.
al time again will reign.