davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-08-01

At this time, there was some talk
of sending telephone operators who
knew French over there" With
six months half-hearted start in the
language, the girl now began to
study in earnest. On the street cars,
early in the morning, late at night
she plugged away at her grammar,
and every evening there was the old
lady on hand to correct her pronun-
citation and inspire her afresh.
At the end of six months hard
study, or year in all, she was able
to take the examination that secured
for her the coveted overseas job.
She did very we'll in France and,
being intelligent she improved her
French and did not let the situation
run away with her head-this highly
valuable quality in a business woman
was duly taken not of by important
people.
n Broader Outlook on Life
And by the time she was ready to
come home last January this girl
had evolved to the point where she
determined to make something of
herself. In addition to her French,
she had picked up quite a little
Spanish from a South American girl
with whom she lodged, and the
rooming house where they had had
the privilege" of making coffee on
the gas range was miles behind.
A few weeks ago l had another
letter from this girl, who now pro-
poses to go to South America for
an American business concern at a
salary of S2,3G0 a year And there
seems to be other delightful pros
poets in view for Cinderella, who
was not too busy or too tired or too
selfish to make cup of coffee for
poor, friendless old woman who
turned out to be Il fairy godmother
in disguise. So if you are lonely
don't make it any worse by feeling
hopeless as we'll Perhaps your
fairy godmother is just around the
corner, or she may be beside Won in
the street car on your way home.
And some little unimportant act of
kindness will bring her fairylike
qualities to the surface. Not that l
wish to be understood as saying:
BE kind to people for the possible
good that may come back to YOU"
Nothing could be more contempt
lble than such scheme and moth
ing would be more apt to meet with
signal failure as scheme. that in
cluded apparent friendliness and
generosity as part of a selfish mis-
sion.
But if you are young and desper-
ately lonesome and making your
way IN a strange city, things hurt
less If you cultivate d little unset
tishness In the long run one gets
just about what he has put into it
and if one puts in selfishness and
lets it accumulate, by a system of
compound interest, he does not get
back much more than the sordid
side of people and things.
Take the case we have just been
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-08-01
Little Talks by
Beatr ice FdIfdr

Sometimes fairy story actually
happens in real life and is worth
telling about if only to prove that
pessimists are not right all the time.
BE good and you'll be lonesome"
as a famous humorist once said
jocularly. Since which time, people
with no humor at all, but with a
strong bias toward the line OF least
resistance, have quoted him and gone
their wabbling pace rejoicing.
About eighteen months ago we
had some discussion in this column
on the BE good and you'll be lone
some" theory, and scores of girls
took part in t. discussion. Some
of their letters We're too confidential
to print, but they brought out Il
good many pitiful stories of girls
going back to hall bedrooms at night
after long bleak days in shops and
offices, and never a friendly voice
to greet them.
Among these letters, I got one
from a girl asking me if l thought
it worth her while to continue some
French lessons that were being
given to her without cost. l urged
her to continue, especially as the
lessons were no expense. And final
ly the story of the free French les
sons came out through another girl
living in the same house.
If I'd only been smart enough to
be less selfish" this second girl
wrote, Il might have been getting
free French lessons, too"
And this was the tale. Both girls
were telephone operators, and lived
in a dreary lodging house that con-
ferred the privilege" of light house
keeping. And light it must have
been, practically featherweight, to
judge by my correspondents ac-
count.
The girls were all in shops and
offices, and they used to make coffee
or some hot drink for themselves on
the gas stove in the kitchen every
morning before they went to work,
and that is about, what the "privi-
lege" consisted of.
Among the dodgers was an old
French lady who became i'll and
was unable to make her morning
coffee for several days. Now, the
situation of the old French lady was
nobody's business in particular.
They the rest of the dodgers. sup
posed the landlady looked after her
and they went their several ways.
That is, all but one girl; she took
tliG Olu ItlCu Iduy Il cup OF coffee
every morning and went to her room
when she returned at night to in
quire if she could do anything for
her.
offered to Teach Her French
Finally the old lady got better
and feeling kindly toward the young
girl offered to give her French les
sons. The girl took a few, but did
not fnd French particularly inter-
esting. Being young she very
naturally wanted to so out to the
movies and other places of amuse-
ment during the evenings. At this
stage of her indecision she wrote
to me and l urged her to keep on
with the French, even if she had to
miss little fun now and then.
So she kept on and finally began
to take an interest in the language,
particularly as the papers were full
of French names and battles, and it
interested her to try to pronounce
'hem correctly.
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-08-01
Advice to the Lovelorn
TOLD A WHITE LIE
Dear Miss Fairfax:

About year and half ago
met an officer in the navy who has
been to see me every time his ship
docked in New York. The last time
he was in he wanted to see me a
certain evening, but as l was going
to a party with another young man
told him had another engagement
for that evening with my mother Ga
white lie.) We parted the best of
friends as far as l can remember.
Instead of his ship coming in at
New York as it usually does, it went
to Boston. He has been in Boston
for about a week and a half and
have not heard from him.
Do you think l ought TO write to
him and find out the reason why he
has not written to me? l like this
young man very much and feel hurt
that 1 do not hear from him.
p. G. d.
1t will be quite proper for you to
write to the young officer a jolly let
ter saying you were sorry his ship
did not dock in New York, as usual,
and you will be glad to see him.
Personally 1 do not think the white
lie had anything to do with his non
appearance, as he is probably in
ignorance of your peccadillo.
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-08-01
Life's Problems
Are Discussed
BY Mrs. WILSON WOODROW

Are all girls vain and selfish,
greedy for admiration and ruthless
in their pursuit of it, as we'll as
unscrupulous in their demands on
the other sex?
That about sums up the opinion
of a young man who has apparent
ly suffered from ''vamps." He
writes me:
II think it would be good
idea if you would write one of your
valued articles on the girls who are
always looking for a man to spend
money upon them.
After a fellow has been relieved
of all the contents of his pocket
book a few times by these dear,
innocent little darlings' he thinks
twice before he spends on them a
large part of the weekly salary
which he works hard to earn.
The average girl never stops to
We're placed in the position of a
man. Everything in the way of
amusements would cost double the
price she has to pay when she goes
alone. A girl never has to scratch
her head in vain, trying to figure
out how she is going to buy a suit,
hat and shoes and still have enough
left over to take a friend to a show.
She doesn't have to go without
lunches, as some fellows do, be-
cause she has a date for some
night during the week.
It's rather a hard question to
decide, whether your girl likes you
or the money you spend on her.
EXPERIENCE"
My sympathies were so stirred by
hn v1in AF n11 -
doing without their lunches to
waste in all in one evening taking
some girl to a show that 1 immedl-
ately began to write an indictment
OF all selfish. frivolous girls. My
pen positively flowed into words of
stern admonition-when cold rea-
son asserted itself.
l began TO ask myself why the
young men endured, even encour-
aged these sacrifices. 1 reflected
that I would not go without my
luncheon one day, not to speak of
a whole week, to take anybody
my twenties, and am probably ma
terial-minded.
And also remembered the
mournful condolences which a girl
breathed into my ear. She said
that she had very good salary
and no particular home expenses.
Consequently, when a young man
invited her to go anywhere with
him she always reciprocated within
a short time by asking him to go
to a play or the movies or some
place of amusement with her. Or
else she said:
II am earning as much money
as you are"-in some cases it was
r11nra-''Sn If or fnJafhA, Ief
us go halves on the expenses in
volved."
She was a girl with a conscience.
and she thought that this method
was only fair. The results, how
ever, were not what she had cx-
pected. On the contrary. the num-
ber of her admirers dwindled and
her invitations decreased.
OF course, hers is one isolated
instance; but the fact remains that
you can't apply sober, everyday,
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-08-01

common sense to youth and ro-
nance.
Even you, Experience" who
have written me so bitterly, know
quite well that you would not go
without your lunches for a week
II that one radiant evening did not
repay you.
All the glamor and enchantment
would have evaporated if you and
she had decided beforehand Just
how much you would spend and
how little you could manage on
and the two of you have solemnly
pooled your change before starting
You know perfectly we'll that for
that one evening you wanted to
play the part of the prince. You
wanted to forget the workaday
world. You wanted a pretty girl
in a pretty frock sitting opposite to
you and watching you with admira-
ton as you paid the bill and tipped
the waiter. You wanted for that
one colorful evening to feel rich
and generous and romantic; and in
spite of yourNpresent cynicism you
will probably Fbe actuated by the
same impulse again.
This dosen't excuse selfish, un-
appreciative mercenary girls. But
it seems to me that the young men
have the game in their own hands.
They could unite to give the girls
the cold shoulder. They could re-
fuse to invite them anywhere. and
instead bestow their attentions on
their less eXacting and more ne
elected sisters. Think of all the
appreciation and gratitude they
would garner.
But if you will continue to try
to gain the interest of the girl that
all the other young men of your
acquaintance are pursuing, why
then. you must accept the terms of
the competition.
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-08-01
QUESTION OF JEALOUSY
Dear Miss Fairfax:

Through business I met a young
man and we became friends. He
extended numerous invitations to
me which 1 accepted. Suddenly and
without apparent reason there seem
ed to be a misunderstanding. 1t so
happened that 1 had an opportunity
to better myself in business and
l accepted it. l had decided to try
and find the cause of the trouble,
and after a plain talk with him dis
covered it to be jealousy on his part.
After all explanations he said every
thing was cleared up. But it SEEM
ed to me that he was not yet con-
vinced he had no cause to be jealous.
Now, Miss Fairfax, 1 have learned to
love this man dearly. Is there any
way of getting ~ touch with him
without cheapening myself in his
eyes? He has my address, but I
have never heard from him. I will
appreciate any advice you may have
to give. G. c. f.
Apart from the assumption on
your part that nothing is the mat
ter, and you are as good friends as
ever, it is difficult to offer a sug-
gestion. Young men frequently in
dulge in fits of pique of this kind,
and one has to let these little
tantrums wear themselves out before
getting back on the old friendly foot
ing. AS he is evidently harboring
some sort of grievance, 1 think that
without loss of dignity you might
write him a letter and ask him to
come to see you.
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-08-01
CHAPTER CCLXIL
Copyright, 1919. King Feature Syn
dicate Incl

Copyright, 1919. King Feature Syn
dictate, IncD
The license to drive my little
car came the day after my luncheon
with Dick West and Tom Mason.
1t seemed an official climax to
pleasant series of triumphs. As
once l decided TO go for the car,
practice driving for an hour or so,
and when I was timber and self
confident, to surprise Jim by call
ing for him at his office to motor
him up the road for dinner.
1 was in particularly happy mood
because of the unforgettable words
Jim said to me when l reported the
meeting with Dick West and Tom.
Anne. you're the wonder of the
world. First you put Envy and Val
in their neat little places. Then
you win Lanes confidence. And now
you have such confidence in my girl
and such poise that you are able to
handle Tom-who, if l mistake not,
used to give you a lot of trouble.
I've never seen lilac lady flower
into a charming, clever woman be-
fore. But, by Heck, it's a. pretty
sight"
So when I drove neatly through
the citys traffic and parked my car
OAA4N S4-N Al4N4AtS AlOAAA NAAC NNAA NSNNA4S'
l felt at once an approved chauf-
feuse and a successful wife. Up to
Jim's office I hurried in such glad
some mood that I hardly blamed
Fate for playing a little joke on me
and melting out to me the mes
age that my boy was out for the
rest of the afternoon.
Long, disappointed hours of lovely
daylight stretched ahead and l felt
peevish and balked for a minute.
Then l had an inspiration.
Nears office is in the same build
ing. Why shouldn't I call for my
brother and take him for ride?
Perhaps this was just my chance
to. have a real chat with Neal. out
in the cosy intimacy of the country
roads we would be free from inter-
ruption, and the whole influence of
the out-of-doors would be to bring
us close and to make US simple and
honest with each other.
l sped to Meals office, I found
him 'phoning, debating and flutter-
ing through a card catalogue sys-
tenn all at once, with a nerve
wracking air of business. A smil-
ing nod of welcome, a sentence or
two in conclusion, a nod of dismissal
to the stenographer and then l had
Neal to myself. I gave him a hug
that was most unsuited to the office
environment, and then I preferred
my invitation:
Come for a ride, lad-will you?"
asked. You're second choice, 1
confess-but I'm almost blessing
the Fate that took Jim out this
afternoon if it gives me a visit with
my brother
"Babbsie, you're a temptreSS.
laughed Neal. And how cleverly
you forestall having me ask how
YOU dare think I'll be a traitor to
work and go when Jim wouldn't.
But I can't make it, old girl. I've
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-08-01

talking about, of all the young peo-
pie in that wretchedly dreary lodg-
ing house there was just one who
had time to stop and consider the
plight of an utterly friendless old
woman. AID the girl who took the
time to do that is the sole instance
of success among group of young
people.
Perhaps none of them will get
very far, perhaps if those French
lessons had been offered to them
they would not have thought them
worth while. For success consists
largely in recognizing the stone that
will help you climb up the steep
wall that keeps you from better
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-08-01
CHINESE WISDOM

Banker Earl c. Dodge, of Boston.
who has lived some years in China.
said in an afternoon speech:
Anybody who doubts the wisdom
OF the Chinese should read their pro-
verbs. The Chinese have a book of
10000 proverbs. and they're all as
wise and true as the first line in the
volume, which says:
1T is safer to pull a tigers tail
than to call a lady's attention to her
first gray hair.'-Detroit Free Press.
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-08-01

things. 1t is a safe rule to make use
of any stone that is labelled "knowl-
edge" You can't slip If you take
that and you won't be far out of your
calculations if you take one marked
blindness" "unselfishness" or
''neighborliness."
But, alas, most of us pick out the
stone marked ease" "self-indul-
gencc" and the lines of least resist
ance and then we blame something
we call fate" There isn't any such
thing as fate. Don't believe in it for
a moment. Omar, the tent maker.
was right when he sang thousands OF
years ago, II myself am heaven and
hell"
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-08-01
FACE D|SFIGURED
WITH PIltIpLES
Also On Neck Were Very Hard.
CouIdNot Sleep, Cuticura Heals.

Il saw smallrcd spots on my face
that were Pirnpics, and my face and
neck were full after a couple of days.
The pimples were very hard, and l
could .4ot sleep at all. My face was
very dishguTed.
Il saw an advertisement for Cuti-
cura and sent for a free sample. I
bought more, and l used three cakes
of Soap ard two boxes Of Ointment
when Twas healed" (Signed) Miss
Mary Sosso, SAL Paulson Ave,
Pittsburgh, Pa, March II, 1919.
Cuticura Soap daily and Cuticura
Ointment occasionally, prevent pim-
pic or other erupsions. They are a
= asure to use as is also Cuticura
alcum, fascinating fragrance for
9erfuming the skin.
Seap 25e, Ointment IS and soc. Taleum
use. Sold throughout the world. For
sample each free address: "cuticura Lab
oratories, Dept. H. Maiden. Mass"
49, Cutieura Soap shaves without mug.
The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1919-12-10
MARLBORO.

There will be the regular service in
the church next Sunday morning.
Erving Akley has moved to the farm
of George Hughes for the winter.
W. II. Gibbs has moved TO the Peter
Plant place, which he bought recently.
Ray Mather has moved from Brattle-
boro to assist his father. Herbert Mather.
in the home work.
The hunting season was moro than
usually successful this year, eight or
nine deer being taken in the town.
George Hughes has gone to the Mel
rose hospital for medical treatment, and
Miss Nary Hughes is with friends in
Brattleboro.
Guy Prentiss moved his family to
Belehertown, Mass, recently. Mrs
White is with Mr. and Mrs. Robert
Prentiss in Brattleboro for the present
The Winchester school began its win
ter term last week with Miss Lois
Whitney as teacher. Miss Whitney is
a graduate of the North Adams higl
school.
The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1919-12-10
WEST TOWNSHEND.

Joseph Cook of Brattleboro was in town
last week.
Miss Mildred Dompier of Brattleboro is
visiting her grandmother.
Mrs. George Gale is spending a few days
with relatives in Brattleboro.
Mrs. Thomas Patterson, who has been
working in Dover, is at Mrs. George Buck
ley's
Wesley B. Howard, who has been in
feeble health for some time, is confined to
his bed
George Pierce and Mr.. and Mrs c. W
Prescott spent the week at Miss Marcia
Howe's, during the deer season.
Percy Burlington and Arthur Martmel
of South Vernon were at VI. r. Burning
tons during the hunting season.
II. F. Post invited party Of young
people to spend the evening Saturday al
his home. Al report a pleasant time.
Herbert Post, George Hopper and Mis-
Kathryn Bishop were appointed by The
Sunday school to make arrangements fol
the Christmas exercises
| The Congregational church has decided
10 hold its Wednesday night prayer meet
ings in the houses during the winter
This week 1t was at G. W. Dunbar's.
The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1919-12-10
SOUTH WINDHAM.
rs. y. f. Howe is i'll.

-. y n
Miss Coronic Carleton is at work in
Brattleboro.
A. G.. Burbee and L. L. Harris ie-
turned home from Springfield, Mass,
Sunday.
Miss katherine Howe was at the
home of her uncle, Hubert Franklin, IN
Townshend Monday
Mrs. 3. Fl. Curtis has returned home.
after spending some time at the homo OF
her parents, Mr.. and Mrs Sias, in Sut.
ton.
Miss Ella d. Howe was called home
from her work in Brattleboro Monday
by the illness Of her mother, Mrs. Nell
Howe
Mrs. Harry Jenisou. Leon Gibbs, For
rest Jenison, Frank ". Smith and Rev
B. II. Curtis were among the lucky deel
hunters the last of the week.
Mrs Emma Clark, after several weeks
spent at the home of her daughter. Mrs
A. l.. Howe, went to the home of Mrs
Herbert Franklin, another daughter, IL
Townshend Monday for visit
i The many friends of this town of Dir
i. L. Gilbert, formerly of Grafton, wer,
sorry to have him move away. Many
had come to look upon the doctor not
only as medical adviser, but as a very
close friend All wish him much success
in his new home.
The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1919-12-10
LONDONDERRY.

Miss Verna Wade IS i'll with tonsil-
tits.
Miss Louise Abbott of Springfield is
visiting her cousin. Mrs. Eta Payne.
Mrs. Kate Childs has gone to New
port, n. H., to spend the winter with
her children.
Peder Peterson has bought a power
bone grinder and put in his machine
shop to grind green bone for hens.
Arthur Wade was at home from
Springfield last week deer hunting. lie
was accompanied by Mr.. Little. Jack
Cleary of Bellows Falls also was q
guest there.
Harry cudworth of New York city
was at home last week Tuesday to at
tend his step-mother's funeral Mrs.
Eugene Cudworth of Townshend also
was there and remained the rest of the
week.
The following hunters from this part
of the town Were successful in getting
deer last week: Guy Peck, Frank
Slade, Fred Spaulding, Carroll Doane
Guy Wvman, Jay Graves. f. A. Wilder
and son, Gordon, Fred, Herbert and
Raymond Williams, Ellery Boynton
Roy Garfield, Lake Wilkins, and Clar-
ence Marden. Lake Wilkins and Tai
bert DRYDEN also killed large blacI
bear.
The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1919-12-10
ToWNSHEND.
Re Snow was in town Monday.

Joe SNOW was III IOWH MoHuaN.
Mrs. S. S. Snow and Mrs. Inez
Moore were in Brattleboro Monday.
r. L. Fitch has returned to his work,
after spending the deer season at home.
DR. Hair. after the deer season, re-
turned to his home in Bridgeport,
Conn.
Mrs Anna Phelps of Newfane is
spending few days with Miss Blanche
Brigham.
Miss Myra Hobart went TO Green
field, Mass, Tuesday TO spend the win
ter with her sister, Mrs. Ward.
R. B. Russell of Bridgeport (Vt.)
has returned to his work, after spend
ing a few days with r. L. Fitch
Welcome Blood after spending few
days with his father and other rela-
tives, has returned to Dorchester, Mass.
Mrs. R. L. Fitch's brother, Gordon
Lake. has returned to Springfield, and
River.
John Atkinson of Brattleboro has
been visiting Raymond Philips. Mr.
| Atkinson and Mr.. Philips were in camp
and went overseas together.
| Mrs. Leslie Lowe and daughter, Mrs
| Thomas Rice of Brattleboro, after
spending week here at Mrs. Lowe &
home, have returned TO Brattleboro.
! Mr.. and Mrs. Amos Fife, who have
been living upstairs at Haynes San,
ders s, are moving their goods TO Wal
ter Eddy's, where they are planning tt
live. Mr.. and Mrs. Eddy will go this
week to Athol. Mass, to spend the win
Liter
The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1919-12-10
WANTED TO BE KIDNAPPED.
Mexican Newspaper Makes Charges
Against Jenkins

SAN ANTONIO, Texas. Dec l0-El
Democratic. newspaper of Mexico City,
copy of which was received here today,
prints what purports to be letter
signed by Rebelde' Cordova. the man who
captured J. o. Jenkins, American consu>
lar agent at Puebla, in which it is as
serted that Jenkins desired to be kid
Mapped
The letter says that Jenkins wanted
to be Kidnapped Tor the purpose of prov
ing that President Carranza was unable
to afford personal protection to for.
eigners The letter says: There was
no kidnapping in the case of Consul Jen
kins and he volunteered to come with
me. We would not accept the money
which someone sent to Us. This will
prove that it was not case Of kidnap-
ping and holding for reward on my part.
protest all that the consul said to me
because it was not legal