davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-08-21
MR.. PEPPER PERFORMS AGAIN

4 ILO1NNb " I1Ahl yin Jh hOCS
some excellent shooting at shadows
in the League of Nations Primer, which
carries his name on its title page. The
book is far more modest in appearance
than in the subtler pretensions of the
text. 1t is written frankly to let light
into unenlightened minds and to bring
wisdom to the unwise who, without it,
might be led to support the covenant.
The self-appointed guardians of Ameri-
can honor who constitute the League for
the Preservation of American Independ-
ence are the publishers and distributors
of the work.
Statesmen and diplomats" says Mr..
Pepper sternly, bring on wars"
Do they, indeed? At whose behest?
Under what sort of pressure? The au-
thor of the primer does not say.
The fact is that statesmen and diplo-
mats also bring on peace and, as usual
thing, do their utmost to make peace per-
manent.
That is what they are trying to do now.
But there are in every country independ-
ent groups which have always insisted on
the right to exploit weaker nations and
undevelbped areas elsewhere. They are
the real warmakers. When there is
peace they take the profits. When they
get into trouble they call their people to
war "for the national interest"
The first purpose of the league of ma
.tions is to protect weak peoples and
nationally to administer undeveloped ter
ritory in order that these basic causes of
war may disappear. Mr.. Pepper knows
as well as any one that without the
league of nations the fundamental causes
of war will always remain unchanged to
trouble mankind.
Now, why didn't he put that informa-
ton in his book?
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-08-21
MOVIES ON BROAD STREET

ONCE again, with the report that the
- old South Broad Street Theatre is to
be used as movie palace" conserva-
tive folk will shake their heads and trv
helplessly to explain the cumulative
triumphs of the film and the filmers.
Any one who isn't an artist or a phi-
losopher or a critic with a critics limi-
tations might explain the phenomenon.
While the stage was groping with prob
lem plays and losing its way among
doubtful subtleties in the name of high
art the movies stuck to simple themes.
They appealed to fundamental emotions.
In the movies the william never escapes.
On the stage he often gets, as thew
say, by.
People like old songs, old stories.
They like art. But they like life better.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-08-21
nitely determines the whole character of
the ensuing political battle.

nitely determines the whole character of
the ensuing political battle.
The primaries are a weeding-out
process. When they are over the hon.
orabe and well-meaning citizen to whom
we have alluded, assuming that he has
registered, has a restricted choice of can
ddates for office.
Frequently he cries, "A plague on both
your houses" and sulks at home upon
election day. Under the delusion that he
is from the outset helpless he consigns
his city to the bosses and bewails Bit
ter fate.
Such tears are utterly silly and un-
worthy of any member of a democrat
ically organized community. If the right
sort of Philadelphians were properly and
actively interested in politics, especially
in the origins of its movements, any ina
chine" could be broken in pieces and
swept into the ash heap with soul-satis
flying swftness. A vital opportunity to
begin the operation has been passed
amid the public Indifference to the coun-
clmanic situation and naturally the un-
checked politicians have played their ac-
customed hand.
If the disappointment over the coun-
cilmanic candidates named is deep enough
to Danish lethargy, it is possible, after
the primaries, to put in the field new
slate. An undertaking so belated is,
however, beset with difficulties. The most
fitting time to select men of the needed
caliber for the Council of twenty-one has
slipped by.
The present dismal event should serve
as a warning. The charter will work
beautifully if the right sort of office
holders serve under it. 1t will be no
more advantageous to the public than the
Bullitt act if the best elements in the city
continue to neglect their duties.
Begin at the bottom" is a profitable
maxim in politics. By observing it all
the bosses, whose power could be so
readily punctured if the electorate were
alert, eventually learned how to go over
the top.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-08-21

areas with high voting potentiality
argued that the daylight-saving rule dis
organized the routine of the henhouse
and the barnyard. Their representatives
swung the whip more openly in Washing
ton than any old-fashioned lobby ever
did. They browbeat and they threat
ened.
So the law, which stands in every other
civilized country as one sure means to
better health and better economic order,
was wiped from the statute books of the
United States after the President had
done everything within his power to
save it,
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-08-21
SPORTSMEN IN PARADISE

THEY left the fury of the fight,
l. And they were very tired.
The gates Of Heaven were opened quite.
Unguarded and unwired.
There was no sound of any gun,
The land was still and green;
Wide hills lay silent in the sun, ~
Blue valleys slept between.
THEY saw far off little wood
l. Stand up against the sky. ~ 4
Knee deep in grass a great tree stood.
Some lazy cows went by.
There were some rocks sailed overhead,
And once a church bell pealed.
"God! but it's England" some one said.
And there's a cricket field!'
CAPT. CAMERON WILSON, B. q. r.
(Killed in action, 1879.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-08-21
OVERCOMING THE LIGHT

MO LOBBY that ever operated in
1 y Washington was so frankly ruthless
as the farmers bund, which succeeded in
having the daylight-saving bill repealed
virtually by force.
When the Senate bowed under the lash
and put through the repeater over the
Presidents second veto the long summer
days that have made life happier for all
the millions who work indoors vanished
@oF good. The farmers had their lobby.
Ihe public had none.
fhs Niddle West and the agricultural
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-08-21

looked uncomprehendingly at the signs on the
doors-Court of Common Pleas, Court Of
Oyer and Terminer, Orphans Court, Delin-
quent Tax Bureau, Inspector Of Nuisances.
All this complex machinery that keeps the
city in order makes the layman marvel at its
efficiency and its apparent kindliness. lie
wants to do something horrible in order to
see how the wheels go round. He feels a
little guilty not to have committed some
crime. y =
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-08-21

owe eat sirloins and porterhouse steak
where once we consumed the entire beef"
says Governor Sproul. There may be some
justification for his assertion that the people
have fallen into unthrifty ways, but his
particular illustration is unfortunate. Any
butcher on South street can disprove it..
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-08-21

Little Mr.. Fixit is going to have sweet
times after he has fixed food prices. He
will have to fix the prices of labor that pro
duces food of the machinery needed ia its
production, and of the labor that produces
the machinery. And that is only the be-
ginning. -
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-08-21
The UselessneSs
Of Money

The new billonaires in
The Uselessness New York are learning
Of Money lot these days about
the limitations of
money. A steam yacht. for example, is a
pretty nice thing to have around. But it
won't take you down Broadway to work in
the morning, it cant sing or play Hamlet
like any of the striking actors, and, worst
of all, it isn't good to drink.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-08-21
Answers to Yesterdays ouIz

Answers to Yesterdays Quiz
1. French troops are occupying the Rhine
area now being vacated by the Amer
leans.
.. Voltaire in "Candide" wrote that in
England it was necessary to execute
an admiral now and then ito encour
age the others. He YVES referring
to the fate of the unfortunate Admiral
Byng.
8. Augustin Iturbide, the dictator. was
called the Napoleon of Mexico.p He
died in 1924.
4. The word jingo is said to be derived
from the Basque ''Jsiuko," the Su- 3
preme Being.
8. Superior is the deepest Of Che Great
Lakes.
g, Alfred Austin succeeded Lord Tenny
son as poet laureate of England. M
7. Louis XVIII was ruler of France one
hundred years ago.
s. There are four standard times in the
United States-Eastern, Central,
Mountain and Pacific.
o. Meyerbeer wrote the music Of the
grand opera, '"The Huguenots."
10. Two Presidents OF the United States
died natural death 10 Office. Theys
are William Henry Harrison. and
Zachary Taylor.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-08-21

Chicago residents are cutting down on
dogs. Ten thousand fewer dog licenses have
been taken out this year than last. The
higher cost of living is sending Carlo to
the demnition bow vows.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-08-21

An old and cherished
The New Version maxim obviously has
been changed to suit
the beliefs of food gamblers, hole in the wall
auctioneers and all others whose aim in life
is easy money. Every crowd" they seem
to say. "has silver lining
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-08-21

Gloucester is waging war on piggeries.
Here we have a realization of the fact TINT
there are some Objectionable ways of bringing
home the bacon.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-08-21

Director of Supplies
Completing the Circle MacLaughlin used to
be Penrose follower
Then he switched to Ware. Now he is run
ming for the mRyOralty nomination profess
edly as the supporter Of himself.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-08-21

A bill has been submitted to the Prus-
sian cabinet which provides that 10, 900 900
marks be given to the ex kaiser. Well,
several millions fought for him. Easy marks
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-08-21

Judge Patterson is claiming credit be-
cause he sentenced some of the Fifth Ward
thugs. But he had no option after they
were convicted on the evidence.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-08-21

Attorney General Palmer suggests an
anti -prohteering law with a penalty of
500, 900. 1t night be worth that much TO de-
termine just when profit ends and profteer-
ing begins.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-08-21

1t is well the point has been settled
for some of us had come to believe that Yap
was in the Capitol.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-08-21

Adverse winds of the law are interfer-
ing with the volplaning of North Penn high
fiers whose engines are dead.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-08-21

The White House conference has in NO
way disturbed the Presidents view that il
is pretty good treaty any way you take il.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-08-21

u. S. cavalry IS securing the Mexican hills
for the bandits. We hope they'll make a
cleanup.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-08-21

The opinion is being forced upon the
more conservative members OF the railroad
unions that the thumb plan is out Of plumb
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-08-21

Warming Up

w Q n Congressman
Warming Up Moores photographs
were rudely destroyed
by Ware adherents in South Philadelphia.
Joseph C. Trainer, who complained of what
he called strong arm methods, missed beau
tfuI opportunity. He said nothing Of Huns
and forgot utterly to characterize the Incl
dent as an atrocity.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-08-21

The way TO make votes for Moore Is to
try to bilidozc business men who put his pie
tug IN heir shop windows 4
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-08-21
IRA AVELIS IN PHIL ELPHIA
BY Christopher Morley

over the fat bare roofs of skyscrapers it
seems curious that so few of them are put
to any use. Only on one of the cliffs of
offices could ! see any attempt at beauty.
This was on the roof of the Finance Build
ing, where there are three tiny grass plots
and little white bench.
TT is possible to climb up through William
Penn's left leg by a narrow ladder, dodg-
ing among beams and girders and through
a trap door, and so up to the brim of his
beaver. | was keen to essay it, but Mr..
Kellett discouraged me by saying a suit
of overalls was necessary. l am no respecter
of garments, but l did not press the point,
as | feared that my friendly guide might
still think | had n grenade about my per-
son, and was yearni ing for Immortality by
blowing Williams head off. So we COM
promised by going down to see the inside
of the huge clock dials, and the ingenious
compressed air devices by which the hands
are moved every thirty seconds. A minute
space on each clock face is an arc of about
fourteen inches, so the minute hand jumps
about seven inches every half minute. In a
quiet room at the base of the tower are
the two master clocks that control the whole
mechanism. They are very beautiful to
watch, and it is interesting to see that they
were made in Germany, by Strasser and
Rohde, Glasshutte, Saxony. Exact noon is
telegraphed from Washington every day so
that these clocks can be kept strictly on
the tick.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-08-21

If in his zeal to eject
Good Sort burglar from our
but Peculiar premises kindly
neighbor upsets our
dining room table and smashes a few of our
dishes the chances are our gratitude for his
help will be so great that we will not dream
of sending him a bill for damages Which
is one reason why we will settle our bill
with France with some mental reservations.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-08-21
What Do You Kno,u?
QUIZ

QUIZ
1. Who owns the famous Kohinoor dia y
mond? u
.. What is the Norwegian name of Ne<'
way?
3. What is a kobold?
4. Who was Grace Darling?
5. What is nimbus?
@. Who is the American special commits,
sioner to Armenia? "
Z. What is n salvo? '..
s. What is the family name of the English
royal house?
o. Who is the President Of Cuba?
10. What are gimbals?
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-08-21

IF WE were city of mystics. instead of
city of hustling and perturbed business
men, We would elect a soothsayer to dwell
on the little gallery below William Penn.
The pleasantest job in the world has always
been that of an oracle. This soothsayer
would be wholly aloof from the passion OF
the streets. passion, said William Penn,
is sort of fever in the mind, which always
leaves us weaker than it found us). He
would spend his time reading the Fruits
of Solitude" and would occasionally scrib-
BILE messages on slips of paper, which he
would weight with marbles and throw over
board. Those who found these precious say
ings would read them reverently, and go on
about their folly undismayed. Baskets of
victuals and raiment would occasionally be
conveyed. to this lofty dreamer by humble
admirers. On his windy perch he would
brood lovingly upon the great city of his
choice. When election time came round be
would throw down slips telling people whom
to vote for. If he thought mot mincing
words) that none of the proposed candidates
was worth a damn, he would frown down
forbiddingly, and the balloting would have
to be postponed until candidates satisfac-
tory to his vision had been put forward.
When they told him that John Jones had
hosts of friends, scraps of paper would be
found in the City Hall courtyard saying
''It is the friends of mayors who make all
the trouble" And the people would marvel
greatly. He would be the only completely
blissful prophet in the world, as the only
way for an oracle to be happy is to put him
so far away from the market place that he
can't see that the people pay no attention
10 his utterances. What William Penn used
to call his natural candle" that is the
light of his spirit, would burn with a cheer :,
full and unguttered radiance. Just inside
the door that leads to the tower gallery
there is a comfortable meditative armchair
of the kind usually found in police stations.
SO perhaps they are planning to have just
such an oracle.
r WANDERED for some time in the broad
l. corridors Of the City Hall, which smell
faint5y of musky disinfectant. l. peered into
the district attorneys Indictment depart
mens, where number of people were gath
cred. Occasionally a clerk would call out
names, and some would disappear into inner
rooms Whether they were plaintiffs or de-
fendants ! could not conjecture. In the
calf lined alcOyes Of the Law librers,. learsed
irqa were reading undef green, iapps.
Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1919-09-25

Inc wedding was of Anfbersonian
magnificence, even to the floating oy-
sters: and the Majors colossal pres
ent was a set Of architects designs
for a house almost as elaborate and
impressive as the Mansion, the house
to be built in Anderson addition by
the Major.
At midnight the bride was still be-
ing toasted in champagne, though she
had departed upon her wedding jour-
ney at ten. -Four days later the pair
had returned to town, which prompt
ness seemed fairly to demonstrate,
that Wilbur had indeed taken Isabel
upon the carefulest little trip he could
manage. According to every report
she was from the start "a good wife
to him." but here in q final detail the
prophecy proved inaccurate. Wilbur
and Isabel did not have children; they
had only one.
"Only one" Mrs. Henry franklin
Foster admitted. "But I'd like to
know if he isn't spoiled enough for
a whole carload!"
Again she found none to challenge
CONTINUED next weekly
Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1919-09-25

dollars for the woodwork alone! Yes,
sir, and hardwood floors all over the
house! Turkish rugs and no carpets
at all, except a Brussels carpet in the
front parlor-I hear they call it the
reception ROOM Hot and cold water
upstairs and down, and stationary
w~ashstands in every bedroom in the
place! Their sideboard's built right
into the house and goes all the way
across n end of the dining room. It
isn't walnut, it's solid mahogany !
Not veneering-solid mahogany! Well,
sir, I presume the president Of the
United States would be tickled to
swap the White House for the new
Anderson mansion, if the Major'd
give him the chance-but by the AL.
mighty Dollar, you bet your sweet
life the Major w%ouldn't!"
The visitor to the town was certain
to receive further enlightenment, for
there was one form of entertainment
never omitted: he was always patri,
otically taken for "a little drive round
our city," even if his host had to hire
a hack, and the climax of the display
was the Anderson mansion. "Look
at that greenhouse they've put up
there in the side yard" the escort
would continue. -"And look at that
brick stable! Most folks would think
that stable plenty big enough and
good enough to live in; it's got run
ming water and four rooms upstairs
for two hired men and n Of ems
family to live in. They keep n hired
man loatin' in the house, and they got
a married hired man out in the stable,
and his wife does the washing. This
town never did see so much style as
Ambersons are putting on these days;
and l guess it's going to be expensive,
because a lot of other folks'l try to
keep up with 'em. The Majors wife
and the daughters been to Europe.
and my wife tells mt since they got
back they make ten there every after
noon about five o'clock and drink It.
Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1919-09-25

enDueh-they left traces Of that fear
in their sons and grandsons. In the
minds Of most of these, indeed their
thrift was next to their religion: to
save, ven for the sake of saving, was
their earliest lesson and discipline. No
matter how prosperous they were they
could not spend money either upon
"art," or upon mere luxury and enter
tainment, without a sense of sin.
Against so homespun a background
the magnificence Of the Ambersons was
as conspicuous as a brass band at a
funeral. Major Anderson bought two
hundred acres Of land at the end Of
National avenue; and through this
tract he built broad streets and cross
streets paved them with cedar block,
and curbed them with stone. He set up
fountains, here and there, where the
streets intersected, and at symmetri-
cal intervals placed cast-iron statues,
painted white, with their titles clear
upon the pe%destals; Minerva, Mer-
curry, Hercules, Venus, Gladiator, EN-
peror Augustus, Fisher Boy, Stag
hound, Mastiff, Greyhound, Fawn,
Lion. Most Of the forest trees had
been left to flourish still, and, at some
distance, or by moonlight, the place
was in truth beautiful; but the ardent
citizen, loving to see his city grow,
wanted neither distance nor moon
Erhf IIn hod not coor Varcoi11nS
but, standing before the fountain of
Neptune in ANDERSON addition, at
bright noon, and quoting the %favorite
comparison of the local newspapers
he declared Versailles outdone. All
this Art showed a profit from the
start, for the lots sold we'll and there
was something like a rush to build
in the new Addition. It's main thor
oughfare, an oblique continuation of
National avenue, was called Amber
son boulevard, and here, at the juno
ture of the new boulevard and the
avenue, Major Anderson reserved
four acres for himself and built his
new house-the Anderson mansion, of
course.
This house was the pride Of the
town. Faced with stone as far back
as the dining-room windows, it was a
house of arches and turrets and CIR.
ding stone porches: it had the first
porte cochere seen in that town
There was a central "front hall' with
a great black-walnut stairway, and
open to a green glass Skylight called
the "dome," three stories above the
ground floor. A ballroom occupied
most of the third story, and at one
end of it was carved a walnut gallery
for the musicians. Citizens told stran
gers that the cost of all this blacl
walnut and wood carving was sixty
Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1919-09-25
.queerest thing I ever heard! To thinA

queerest thing I eve heard! To thinA
IF her taking Wilbur Minafe~, just
because a man any woman would like
a thousand times better was a little
wild n night at a serenade!"
"NO, that wasn't her reason said
wise Mrs. Henry Franklin Foster. eff
men only knew it-and it's a good
thing they don't-a woman doesn't
really care much about whether a
mans wild or not, if it doesn't affect
herself, and Isabel Anderson doesn't
care a thing!"
"Mrs. Foster!"
"No, she doesn't. What she minds
is his making a clown of himself in
her front yard! 1t made her think he
DIDN'T care much about her. She's
probably mistaken, but that's what
she thinks, and it's too late for her
to think anything else now, because
she's going to be married right away
the invitations will be out next
week. It'll be a big Amberson-style
thing, raw oysters floating in scooped-
out blocks Of ice and a band from out
of town-champagne, snowy presents ;
a colossal present from the Major.
Then Wilbur will take Isabel on the
c%arefulest little wedding trip he can
manage, and she'll be a good wife to
him, but they'll have the worst spoiled
lot of children this town will ever
see."
"How on earth do you make that
out, Mrs. Foster?"
"She couldn't love Wilbur, could
she?" Mrs. Foster demanded, with no
~challengers. "Well, it will all go to
her children, and she'll ruin 'em"
The prophecies proved to be mis-
taken in a single detail merely: except
for that her foresight was accurate.