davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Colorado statesman., 1919-03-08
First Penny Postage trial
Inaugurated in England in
1840-Long After in Canada

The first trial of cheap postage was
the system of penny postage inaugu-
rated in England january 10, 1910
The idea that letters could be for
warded to any part of England and
delivered for only a penny seemed
absurd to most Englishmen, md they
predicted speedy failure for the prof.
ect. 1t is Unnecessary To point out
that they proved to be poor prophets,
observes a writer in the New York
World.
On this side of the Atlantic the
much greater distances seemed to pre-
clude the adoption of any such meas
ure as a low, fiat rate for letters. At
the time Great Britain adopted penny
postage, the rates in the United States
were: For 80 miles and under, @
cents; 30 to 60 miles, 8 cents; 60 to
100 miles, 10 cents, and over 100
miles proportionate increase, so that
a letter dispatched distance of 450
miles cost % cents.
With the adoption of Rowland Hills
penny postage system, England also
adopted his suggestion that the diff
culties attending prepayment of post
age might be overcome by using
bit of paper large enough to bear the
stamp. and covering the back with a
glutinous wash, which by applying u
little moisture. might be attached TO
the back of the letter" Thus the
postage stamp was born, and there
came into existence those little scraps
of paper which are now collected by
millions of men and boys the world
over, and some of which, because of
their rarity, are worth thousands OF
dollars.
An approach to the penny postage
of Great Britain was made in 1851,
when 3-cent postage was adopted in
the United States. Adhesive postage
stamps had previously been introduced
on this side of the Atlantic in 1S47.
Later postage was reduced to . cents
in the United States in 1883, but it
was not until some years later that
Canada followed the example of her
mother country by instituting the
penny postage.
The Colorado statesman., 1919-03-08
His Suicide Frustrated,
Poet Wrote Famous Hymn

The origin of the well-known hymn,
"GOd moves in a mysterious way, his
wonders to perform" was a curious
incident in the life of its author, Will
liam Cowper, the English poet, notes
writer in the Peoples Home Journal.
Cowper, deeply religious man, was
subject to attacks of the blacklist mel
dncholy. During one of these attacks
he determined to end his life by throw
ing himself into the Thames river. He
hired cab to take him to the river,
but dense fog so confused the cab
man that, after driving about for an
hour, he admitted to his passenger
that he was lost Cowper, alightipg
from the cab in order to give the
driver more careful directions for
reaching the bridge, found that his
wanderings had brought him back to
his own door. Strongly affected by
what seemed to him almost a divine
interposition, Cowper dismissed the
cab, hurried to his room and wrote his
famous hymn.
The Colorado statesman., 1919-03-08
North Carolina Forests to
Be Tapped for a Supply of
Ties for Railroad Tracks

How many ties in railroad track?
Did you ever ask yourself that ques-
ton while riding on n train? North
Carolina forests are to be tapped for
new supply, says Crete Hutchinson.
who writes in American Forestry
Magazine of Washington, as follows:
"At the present time the railroad
administration is facing n shortage in
tie production. West of the MISSISSIPPI
pi 5O,OOO,000 cross ties are required
annually for replacement; east of the
Mississippi SO,O0OOOO with approx
mntely 100000 additional ties for
street railways and other Industrial
needs. 4 grand total of 150,000O00
cross ties or 4,5OO,0OO.0OO board feet
OF timber.
against a shortage of Go per cent
six months ago the present shortage
is only 40 per cent and probably will
be reduced to so per cent by the end
of the year, due to better understand
ing of specifications. Thirty-four per
cent of the timber used by the railroad
purchasing committee is white oak.
Large areas of the forested section of
North Carolina in Pennsylvania, jack
son, Graham and Clay counties con-
tain this timber and II road 40 miles
lcng is being put in to get this timber
out.
The Colorado statesman., 1919-03-08
Spiders Web Is One of
the Simplest Barometers

One of the simplest of natures
barometers is a spiders web. When
there is a prospect of wind or rain
the spider shorteRs the filaments by
which its web is sustained and leaves
it in this state as long as the weather
is variable. If it elongates its threads
1t is sign of fine, calm weather, the
duration of which may be judged by
the length to which the threads are
let out. If the spider remains inactive
it is sign of rain; if it keeps at work
during rain the downpour will not last
long, and will be followed by fine
weather, says an exchange. Cbserva-
ton has taught that the spider makes
changes in its web every twenty-four
hours, and that if such changes are
made In the evening just before sunset
the night will be clear and beautiful.
The Colorado statesman., 1919-03-08
THE UNKNOWN DEAD


They loved the English hedgerows
And scented English lanes:
They loved the sunlight on their downs
And the soft English rains.
And nOw-they sleep in Flanders
or where the sad Marine flows,
A bleak white cross above their heads;
Their names, ah. no one knows!
They loved the life of London.
With lights that cleaned like pearls.
And thcaters and taYerns
And rosy English girls.
Their youth was n brief glory
That sped too swiftly by:
They left their schools and cricket
And came out hereto die.
And some were shining poets,
And some We're simple boys
Who loved the Surrey fields and all
Substantial English joys.
From Elton and from oxford.
From many an English town.
They came to save world from shame
And lay their young lives down.
In some celestial garden
Perhaps they sit today
And laugh as once they used to laugh,
Play as they used to play.
TITS we who weep for young lads gone:
But they-they are not dead,
Though simple crosses stand above
Each brave young English head.
They loved and are contented
On windy wastes to sleep.
Yet when the English daisies
Begin to smile and creep,
Pluck them and take them over
To many a lonely grave:
For they loved English flowers.
These young, and bright, and brave.
Charles Hanson Towne, Saturday Eve
ming Post
The Colorado statesman., 1919-03-08
What Chevrons
Mean
Guide to Different Stripes Won
on Soldiers Sleeves

- -,
you can ten the pli!ers "i'iou'
arscore cara, the lhi'iiIl'lr CT! Ut ui'
pasepal parks' coulu utmost ne "p
plleu 10 S"ltlerS le'ui nimS
'"''L.' Ill ui,7 ,.,,',..'i,,,n ,,,on,s
w ~ .,,,,i .i,5 ,,ur,ror
-, e -. ~ - t,a fol1ov.irc has
W I'm. .'..'..,'h.
80 - ,,,.,,
wa. 'ot, 'I ~, NV, ,,. ,Dm - ,a,,o,. nnrt
pa Ni So - -, o,,+., o1,-
VI ie', go " - H.. W., eoId
~ ,,',.I ,.,,,a ho,,o
''ei No ''''' ~ a,, ,,a,o
~, r. W. w. ,,,,,,,t d,.,.,, An
o,Iditton,1 cheyron is allowed for cach
gi,, ,nontbs sarvice
H., ov-, .,,,,,o,
""u'u ~,
The Colorado statesman., 1919-03-08

pie have already forgotten that animal
shows how fleeing is publicity. Be-
fore the Grant administration the
White House maintained small dairy.
TOO matter-of-cotlrse to be advertised,
and the wife of President Andrew
jackson used to get up early in the
morning. put on a white apron and
skim the milk herself. Those were
simpler days, and there was more
space around the White House for live
stock. Land now occupied by the
treasury and war. state and navy build
ings. was part of the White House
The Colorado statesman., 1919-03-08
HaIf-lnch Spider Is Victor
Over Fish Two Inches Long

The amazing strength of spiders is
shown in number of Instances. Thus
we have m instance of half-inch
spider catching two-inch fish. 1t was
of the ground or wolf family. A sci
enlist came upon it struggling with a
fish on the edge of little pool. Its
claws were buried In the fish's tail;
It had the tail out of the water, but
the head still remained underneath.
The spider struggled to pull the fish
up the bank and the fish struggled des-
pcrately to pun the spider into the wa
ter. For ten minutes the scientist
watched this silent and deadly fight.
Then he hurried away for bottle in
which to put the combatants when he
captured them. He was gone about
half an hour. and on his return the end
had come. The fish was dead and the
spider was slowly dragging its victim
away.
The Colorado statesman., 1919-03-08

peoples who, almost
without exception, are antagonistic to
the ambitions and aspirations of the
| Czecho- Sloval<s.
Hungary. Austria and Germany Dor
| der on the south, west and partly on
the north. Poland forms the balance
of the northern boundary, while Blu
kovina and Pennsylvania adjoin on
the east. The inhabitants of the Mag
var and German states are bitter OPP
ponents of the peoples of Bohemia.
What attitude the Poles will assume
is difficult, at present, to predict.
Therefore, the only possible friend
ly neighbors are in the east, the Ru-
thenianS of BukOvina and the Rou-
manians of Pennsylvania, writes L. f.
Pratner in the New York Herald.
But even their policy is unsettled.
The Mid-European union, so auspici-
ously and so recently organized in his
toric Independence hall, Philadelphia,
is in danger of disintegration due to
/ the differences arising among the dele
gates of the numerous peoples repre-
| sented. The possibilities are that
what seem to be insurmountable OBJ
stacles will be satisfactorily adjusted,
and the Czecho-SlOvakS will enjoy at
least the friendship of these peoples.
Bohemia is an economically indie
pendent country. This sounds as ath-
err n bold assertion in the face of the
| enumerated handicaps. She is not de-
| pendent, economically, on her neigh
bors, but they, in turn, must draw up
hn hot
many shortcomings in agriculture and
industry.
If we give consideration to the i'm
preston made on the iron chancellor
of Germany Bismarck, the economic
position of Bohemia may be more read
| lily appreciated, for he once stated that
whoever is ''the master of Bohemia is
the master of Europe" Today these
words are not accepted or even put
forth rs truisms, but they have a ten
| dency to induce more comprehensive
estimate of Bohemia's commanding po-
sition in the commercial world.
The Czecho-Slovaks, or the other
Slavs of Europe, for that matter, have
not sought and have no intention of
seeking in the future the mastery of
| the European continent. Their only
desire Is that they be permitted to
freely develop alonC economic and cul-
tural lines in their own lands as free
peoples living under independent gov
ernments.
On East-to-West Routes.
During all the ages the commercial
routes from the west and east, as we'll
as from the north and south of Eli
rope led through Bohemia. Her po-
sltion has not been altered in the
slightest even in this day. The Ber-
lin-Bagdad railroad runs through b.
hemia. Two of its most important
stations are in Prague and Brno. With
| Bohemia a free state the German "su.
The Colorado statesman., 1919-03-08
VioIin's Latin cognomen.

Bill (reading the
paper) Do you
know what they
mean by n Stradl-
varius?
Bob-Goodness
you're ignorant !
A Stradivarius is
the Latin name
for n fiddle.
The Colorado statesman., 1919-03-08
WISE AND OTHERWISE

When it comes to saving pen
MES a woman will save dollar
before a man has saved ten
cents.
When you see a pretty maid
in home it's n sure sign that
the head of the house is not
henpecked.
Occasionally n barber combs
n mans hair the way he combs
1t himself. but n tonsorlal artist
never does.
A wise old tiller of the soil.
speaking of the relative value
of grains. says grains of COM
mon sense are the most valu-
able.
The Colorado statesman., 1919-03-08

Y examination of the
map of Europe, one on
which the outlines of
the new, or rather re-
vived, state of Bohemia
may be traced, Impress
es one with the apparent
conviction that the re-
public cannot long eco
nomically exist unless 1t
depends and draws on
the resources of her
neighboring peoples, the
The Colorado statesman., 1919-03-08
Once loo Often.

"Why have you quarreled with
JACKIE"
because he proposed to me last
night"
"Wel. there's no harm in that, is
there?"
but 1 had accepted him the night
before"
The Colorado statesman., 1919-03-08
Farming Is a Business"

Large numbers of farmers have
more money in their business than
the business men in their county seat
towns have invested in their stores.
Farmers are slowly coming to realize
the truth of this comparison and that
farming is a business, in connection
with which business methods must be
used.
The Colorado statesman., 1919-03-08
HAVE A LAUGH
Working Both Ways.

what is the object of these statis-
tics you are compiling?'
'They are for the purpose of prov
ing that the conclusions drawn from
statistics previously compiled on the
same subject are all wrong"
The Colorado statesman., 1919-03-08
WHITE HOUSE LIVE STOCK
In Simpler Days Domestic Animals
Were Common on the Grounds
Around Executive Mansion.

Inspired by the innocent, well-adver-
tized sheep that last summer grazed
on the White House lawn, an investi-
gator has been looking up the bucollc
history of the White House grounds
President Taft kept a COW, hardly less
we'll advertised than President Will
sons sheep, and the fact that most peo-
The Colorado statesman., 1919-03-08

grounds, and the time not far past
when the road leading to the front
door was, at times, so muddy that
guests had difficulty in getting from
thetr carriages into the executive man
sion without wetting their feet
The Colorado statesman., 1919-03-08
AS Men Do.

"Girls are more graceful with their
hands than men,"
"They have to learn to be-"
'What do you mean?
"They can't dodge the issue by keep
ing their hands in their pockets"
The Colorado statesman., 1919-03-08

Pat, here's the dollar ] borrowed of
We last wake"
"Bedad, Mike, I'd forgotten all about
It,"
"Och, why the divil didn't 70 say
soG"--Boston Transcript.
The Colorado statesman., 1919-03-08
She Knew.

"Men are such
bruteS.'
"Aren't t h Y :?
What was it your
husband refused
to buy for you to-
day."
The Colorado statesman., 1919-03-08
BEING Good for Nothing.

She-Doctor's bills? Oh, my fathers
a doctor, so can be i'll for nothing.
He-My fathers n parson, so L can
be good for nothing.
The Washington times., 1919-03-01
"CAMOUFLAGED"

Continued from Page Eleven.)
That was the quest that took
Knowles and KimbalI TO Hung Far
Low Restaurant, across the street
from the Gayety Theater that evening.
Major Knowles had begun to loathe
Cinnamon Of any kind, but was will
ing to undertake anything for Made
lines sake.
Him Sing, proprietor OF the restau-
rant, waddled up and shook hands
warmly with Captain Henderson as
the two men entered.
You know Him." said the naval Of
ficer, 'let US have the regular Chi
nese parlor and regular Chinese .serv-
ice. After we eat, want to talk
to you about something important,
savvy?"
The Chinaman nodded and led than
to a small compartment. Major
Knowles noted with a sigh of relief
that the opening had merely a portal
with Oriental hsngings, with no door.
To the army men it seemed that
when Him Sing had migrated to
America he had brought China with
him. The room was hung with rich
tapestries embossed with figures Of
golden thread. Instead of electric
lights queer shaped lanterns, in which
perfu.ned candles burned, hung about
the small room. The lanterns were
made Of oiled paper and painted with
all sorts of fantastic Chinese charac-
ters. Others were Of black teak wood,
carved in octagon shape with glass
sides upon which Chinese figures were
also painted.
The servants were dressed in long
Chinese coats, and on their heads
wore pyramidal shaped hats OF straw
topped by a mandarin button. A red
fringed covering fell from this button
to the brim OF the hat, from the front
of which hung an imitation pearl.
Their long queues hung down their
backs instead of being rolled tightly
upon their heads. indicating that the
servants were in the presence of their
superiors rather than their interiors
Major Knowles scrutinnized each one
closely, but could find in none Of their
faces a resemblance TO that of wu
Tsang. Again he sighed in relief
Then came the elaborate courses,
each one new to the taste of the army
man, who ate with greater or less
relish what was set before him. First
came the course of birds nest soup,
followed closely by shark fins. Then
ancient eggs were brought on. Be-
tween each course the servants passed
hot towels tightly rolled tc each man
with which to wipe his face and
hands. Rice and curried chicken were
next The rice was served in bowls
and accompanied by chopsticks. When
Henderson observed Knowles attempt
ing to manipulate these instruments
he forgot the seriousness of his err
rand and delighted himself with his
friends amazement.
With the rice was served chutney,
chopped hard-boiled eggs. roasted
peanuts, grated cocoanut, catsup,
small white onions, ripe tomatoes.
finely chopped, and Bombay duck, all
served from a round, red lacquer tray
having nine compartments. All went
together with the finely faked rice to
make one dish. The dinner was BE-
ing finished with lotus bulbs. when
suddenly Major Knowles foot under
The Washington times., 1919-03-01

black body when little brown mouse
scampered across the feet of Major
Knowles. For a moment it startled
him and in moving his feet he found
then entangled in something. Ike
reached down and then held up to the
dim light a woman's coat.
Great God" he shrieked. The
marine emblem. It's Madeline. They're
burning her alive"
In the next instant Major Knowles
and Captain Henderson were seized
from behind and soon found them
selves sprawling helplessly upon
their backs securely bound.
,Phe chanting ceased. The high
priest leaned forward TO touch the
oil-soaked form of Madeline with the
flaming taper, when suddenly
TO he continued tomorrow IN
chapter written By Lieut.. John Flynn
OF the United states navy,
The Washington times., 1919-03-01

the table accidentally touched a con-
ceaIed spring underneath the heavy
carpet. There was a soft buzzing
sound, and the entire room began to
ascend! Up-up it went; how many
stories high they did not know. Then
1t stopped and the buzzing ceased.
A-paneIed teakwood door, which
coincided with the portal OF the room,
was the only means OF egress. Hen
derson jumped for the knob and IL
tempted to push or pull it open. but
It did not budgH. He turned to the
army officer with despair written in
his face. Knowles tried the door,
and with no effort pushed it aside
like the door of an elevator.
1t made no sound. and the two ot-
fieers found themselves peering into
a small, square chamber, lighted only
by a hidden candle somewhere above.
They entered, this room together
Both wondered whether the elevato or
was merely an accident or whether
they had been trapped. When they
turned again they found that the door
of the elevator had closed behind
them, and heard it click in its lock.
There was no knob on thslr side
There was no other door to the
mysterious room. Strange, screech-
ing, discordant music assailed their
ears. 1t seems to come from the next
room, the lights of which filtered
through a narrow, horizontal crack
IN the farther. walk
Looking through this crack weird
sight met their eyes. The room into
which they were peering was a mag
nifcent temple whose lights were
eOnleal shaped candles set in brass
candeIabra OF dragonheads and which
gave OF q peculiar incense. Looming
Iife-1ike at the farther end of the
temple sat the idol Buddha- Chains
OF coral and green jade beads en-
circled his monster neck. a huge
rich pearl clung to the round shaven
spot above his forehead, and his eyes
seemed to CLEAN fire.
Before him was an oblong nat altar
of multl-coIored marble set in rich
ivory and having for its base solid
teak wood carved in a fantastic
frieze. A funnel shaped object Of
green hung from the roof over this
altar apparently for the purpose Of
conveying smoke.
The music grew softer. A score or
more Cinnamon clad IN spotless white
garments raised their foreheads from
the floor, rose from their knees be-
fore the idol and lined themselves
in a double row. Then the horriHed
eyes of Major Knowles and Captain
Henderson beheld two OrientaIs ad-
vance to the altar carrying between
them a black clad, human object laced
tightly about with strands Of hemp.
As they laid their burden upon the
altar the worshippers broke into a,
strange chant and each in turn pour
ed a tiny pitcher Of perfumed Oil
upon the motionless object.
Then there rose from behind the
altar one who appeared to be the
high priest. From a candle behind
i'm he lighted long taper.
They're offering up a human sacri-
fee" breathed Henderson to Knowles.
Don't utter a sound or we may be
lost. The high priest was waving his
torch in mystic circles above the
The Washington times., 1919-03-01
PERSHING TO SEE THAT
YANKS GET THEIR MAIL

General Pershing has personally
undertaken to revise the system of
handling mail for overseas soldiers
to insure it's delivery to them. The
central office, where searchers are
detailed to make inquiries as to miss
ing soldiers for whom there is mail.
is now prepared to handle 10000
pieces of mail daily.
No piece of mail is considered dead,
General Pershing has cabled the War
Department. until at least one
separate search through the central
office records is made and has failed
to locate the addressee.
The Washington times., 1919-03-01
FOLLOWING The TRAIL
OF "CAMOUFLAGED"
Rv GEORGE .H. poNoHUE.

There is no use in talking-The
washington Times has, during the
past few weeks discovered more real
literary talent, than was ever known
to exist in this city. This sober
sided declaration is made this morn
ing, after having. just read Major
General George Barnett's remarkable
version of "CAMoUFLAGBD" In
Chapter Twenty-six this morning.
You see I have a couple hours. start
\ over the other readers Of this story,
as it Is necessary, following newspa-
per custom. to read every word in a
story before it Is turned over to the
composing room-and now that ]
have thoroughly absorbed the recital
of Major General Barnett, 1 can re-
mark with considerable .eclat-Bravo!
over at the Army and Navy Club
the other day was compelled to
exercise all my persuasive powers in
the effort TO induce the very reluctant
commander of the United States ma
rfne corps, to permit The Washing
ton Times to make the announce
ment that Major General George Bar
nett would write a chapter OF
"cAMoUFLAGED."
AWhy, man alive" exclaimed Gem
eral Barnett. 81 know nothing Of
short story writing-wl1y. don't be-
lieve / could make the story even OF
passing interest" and then swinging
one leg over the other as we sat on
a luxurious divan in the coat room.
this story I am going to say some
thing about the marines-you can
count me in. I'll write the yarn" To-
day we have the answer-General
Barnett comes to bat, after Mr.. VIII
meth had slammed out a three
bagger, and with a slam-bang style
of literary fireworks, knocks out a
homer. and brings game to a three
to three tie in the last half OF the
eighth. With the first ball pitched
in the opener we find the marines
right on the job, and from that first
to the very last line in the last para
graph we are treated to a series of
thrills, which demonstrate vividly
that the writer Of today's chapter has
interviewer into his story strange
things which in his wonderful
career have actually come before his
attention.
WI has lost the Little Brown
Mouse, and Mr.. wilmeth's Hindu tells
us why. General Barnett picks up
the thread OF Chapter X1GV and in
Chapter XXYI carries the action and
swing of the serial along at a pace
which is simply remarkable. Now
We have Madeline, all oiled up and
ready to be sacrificed as a human
offering to Buddha-but wait-to-
morrow we will have the sequence
to this absorbing narrative from the
pen Of Lieut.. John Flynn, L. S. NJ,
who has also been in China, and
knows lots about the Oriental mys-
ticism-and we are all real anxious
right now as to how our naval Of
ficer is going TO save our heroine
However, we have hopes that all will
be well worth your while.