davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1919-01-14
400, 900 YANkS ARE
Y. w. G. A. VISITORS

Four hundred thousand persons and
more served In the cafeteria in one
year Is the record Of the Y. w. c. A.
Hostess House at Camp Lewis, Amer
lean Lake, Wash.
The majority Of the 100000 diners
were mothers, wives. sweethearts and
friends who went to the camp to visit
their soldiers. The remainder were
soldiers themselves who broke the mo-
notony of "chow" with home cooked
meals. In addition to all these guests,
$4,000 little children were cared for In
the nursery and the rest room served
10000 tired wives and mothers.
The workers at the Information
desk received and answered $1,000
questions varying from how to gef the
best connections to a destination clear
across the continent, the rates OF SOL
diers insurance and the kind Of Gre
tonne a girl bride should have In her
living room now that Private John Is
coming home from France. Eleven
thousand of these queries required, tel
ephone conversations with various
company commanders relative to hunt.
Ing up soldier whose parents had ar.
rived Unexpectedly.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1919-01-14
RUSSIAN PRINCESSES
LEARN TO TRIM HATS
Y. w. c. A. Saves Wife Of General
From Becoming charwoman.

Y. w. c. A. Saves Wife Of General
From Becoming charwoman.
When the war work Of the Y. W. G.
A. In Russia has oil been told one Of
the most interesting stories will lie In
the establishment of the FIRST Women's
Cooperative Association at Moscow.
There day after day princesses work
side by side with peasant girls, wives
Of high Russian officials make dresses
or trim hats at long tnbles with simple,
unlcttered women, and the money Is
used for self support of these prin-
cesses and notable women as well as
for the peasant classes.
The need and suffering throughout
all Russia was so great at the time
the Association was established that
II was problem to find where the
money would help the greatest num-
Der Of people. It was thought best to
expend It to help capitalize organiza.
.tions for giving work and permanent
opportunities to families and individu-
ais to earn their own living.
The women bring their handiwork
to the Association for sale or take or.
ders to do dressmaking. millinery. ETC..
in the rooms Of the society or at home.
Suitable work was found just In time
not long ago to keep the wife Of one OF
Fussia's greatest generals from going
,ut as chnrwoinan to earn bread for
nr hrSi.;r,,!. whu WAS Ill
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1919-01-14
Farm products viii Be In Demand.


IL is generally held by those we'll in,
formed upon the agricultural conditions
of the world that there Is going TO be .
good demand for farm products of all
Kinds. There is some conflict OF state
ments as to the amount OF wheat In the
world. Some hold that there are several
hundred million bushels in Australia
and others, that there are less than 100,
600. 600 bushels and that some OF this
will not be ft for human food. Some
claim India has more than hundred
million bushels of wheat ready for ex-
port and others claim less than 5O,OOO,:
600. 1t would seem there must Do
reasonable supply of wheat In the worio
or the Food Administration would not
have restored the white loaf so soon, fol
most people were quite content with Us
ing 20 per cent substitute.
IL ts certain that there is going to be
splendid demand for dairy products o.
ali Kinds. Effort is already being made
TO secure q greater amount OF butter fol
Europe. The present prices OF 6uttel
are more nearly In keeping with tn'
advanced prices of other farm producti
than they have been since the war startet
and We believe this will be factor II
stimulating larger production-in what y
commonly termed the home diaries
without doubt, the creamery pasroI
win feed his cows and care TOR tnem pet
ter. thus ipcreAsing their production
IL Ia not difficult matter through ltoera
feeding and good care to increase m
PRODUCTION Of our herds at least ~ Pc
cent. Even II this is done, there will o
NO surplus of dairy products. We ar
advised that milk consumption In Ocso
Der was larger in some cities than ct an.
tothsr time Ia our history. II 10 oa
topinion that people are beginning to sp
preciats, the Importance and food vsiu
Of dairy products. This, together s wiz
the world shortage, is going 70 make
splendid marked for years TO come
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1919-01-14
INSIGNIA, CURTAINS,
MADE FROM SKIRTS

Blue broadcloth skirts used for or
ganization insignia and plaid summer
dresses reconstructed into window cur
Gains are after war economies Of the
nine Y. W. @. A. secretaries In Arch
angel, Russia.
These secretaries have just succeed
ed. in the face Of food and cloth short
ages, in opening Y. w. @. A. Hostess
House for American troops stationed
In Archangel, q town behind the allied
lines. It was necessary to hunt up q
volle summer dress which one Of the
secretaries had discarded for heavy
winter clothes In order to have cur.
tains at the windows. They live on
regulation army rations.
Archangel Is the fourth city In Rus
sia where the Y. w. G. A. has estab-
lIshed work. Centers were opened
first In Petrograd and Moscow and
then In Samara, 900 miles eastward
from Moscow.
Miss Elizabeth Boies, head Of Rus
sian work and one Of the few Amerl-
cans who remained In that country
throughout the revolution. is en- route
to America by way of England to re-
cruit workers for Russia
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1919-01-14
PREFACE.

There is a common idea that the age
of miracles Is past. Perhaps 1t is, but
If so, the change must have come about
within the past few weeks-after es-
capped into Holland. For If anything is
certain In this life 1t Is this: this book
never would have been written but for
the succession Of miracles set forth In
these pages.
Miracles, luck, coincidence, Provi-
dence-it doesn't matter much what
you call it-certainly. played an impor-
tant part In the series Of hair-breadth
escapes in which / figured during my
short, but eventful appearance In the
great drama now being enacted across
the seas. Without 1t, all my efforts and
sufterings would have been quite un.
ayailing.
No one realizes this better than I do
and want to repeat 1t right here be-
cause elsewhere in these pages l may
appear occasionally to overlook or
minimize It: without the help Of Provi-
dence / would not be here today.
But this same Providence which
brought me home safely, despite all
the dangers which beset me, may work
similar miracles for others, and 1t is In
the hope Of encouraging other poor
devils who may find themselves In situ-
ations as hopeless apparently as mine
oftentimes were that this book Is writ
ten.
When this cruel war Is over-which
trust may be sooner than expect 1t
to bel hope I shall have an oppor-
tunity to revisit the scenes of my ad-
ventures and to thank In person In an
adequate manner every one who ex-
tended helping hand to me when
was wretched fugitive. All Of them
took great risks in befriending an es-
capped prisoner and they did 1t without
the slightest hope Of reward. At the
same time hope / shall have chance
to pay my compliments to those who
endeavored to take advantage OF my
distress.
III Tie ho"S'Sh' >o>
only express my thanks in this ineffec-
tive manner, trusting that in some
mysterious way a copy Of this book
may fall into the hands Of every one
who befriended me. hope particular
ly that every good Hollander who
played the part Of the Good Samari-
tan to me so bountifully aftersmy es-
cape from Belgium will see these pages
and feel that / am absolutely sincere
when I say that words cannot begin to
express my sense of gratitude to the
Dutch people.
It is needless for me to say how
deeply I feel for my fellow-prfsoners
in Germany who were less fortunate
than I. Poor, poor fellows-they are
the real victims of the war. I hope that
every one Of them may soon be re-
stored to that freedom whose value l
never fully realized until after l had
had to fight 80 hard to regain 1t.
PAT O'BRIEN.
Momence. Ill. January IA. 1918
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1919-01-14
NURSES PRODUCE WILD
WEST PICTURE SHOW

Entertain RoumanIsn Countess at
American Show In France.
Picture shows are being put on In
France without cameras, scenery or
any of the necessary properties, ac-
cording to reports reaching the Ma
tional Y. w. G. A. from Y. w. @. A.
nurses hut in Base Hospital.
Having no flm or camera, the
nurses at Base decided to put on Q
living picture show and invited q
group of nurses from a nearby hos
pitul to be the audience. 1t was
real thriller, one Of the wild and wool
ly west variety, with bucking bron-
choes and wild rides on broom and
mop horses.
Imagination supplied the scenery,
with the exception of placards, which
announced "the sun" when 1t was sup
posed to be shining or "cacti" when
the COW punchers rode across the
desert.
Countess vacaresca Of Roumania.
who had been talking to the nurses on
conditions in the German courts at the
time she was lady-in-waiting to the
Queen of Roumania, was the most ap-
preciative Of all the guests.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1919-01-14
Y. w. G.. A. CAFETERIA
IN PORTO RICO

Porto Rico has a cafeteria. 1t is the
first one established on the Island. and
when It was opened In the Y. w. G. A.
Hostess House at Camp Las Casas the
natives crowded around, much amused
at the innovation. They insisted upoL
having American dishes.
The house became very well known
in q short time, and group Of women
from San Juan volunteered to 60 out
every week to mend socks and sew on
buttons for the soldiers.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1919-01-14
CHAPTER u.
I Became a EIohtlnu Scout.

] became a fIontiho oCouI
I started flying in Chicago In 1912. I
was then eighteen years DID,, but I had
had hankering for the air ever since
I can remember.
As youngster I followed the ex-
ploits Of the Wrights with the greatest
interest, although I must confess I
sometimes hoped that they wouldn't
really conquer the air until had had
a whack at 1t myself. got more
whacks than I was looking for later
on s-t
Needless to say, my parents were
very much opposed to my risking my
life ct what was undoubtedly at That
time one Of the most hazardous "pas-
timesp.a young fellow could select, and
every time I had smashup or some
otherrmishapI was ordered never to 90
near an aviation field again. ,,,r !
SO I went out to- California. There
another fellow and I built our own
machine. which we few in various
parts Of the state. L : - p
In the early part Of 1915. when trou-
BILE was brewing in Mexico, I Joined the
American flying corps. II was sent to
San Diego, where the army flying
school is located. and spent about eight
months there, but as was anxious to
get into active service and there didn't
seem much chance Of America qever
getting Into the war, I resigned and
crossing over to Canada Joined the
ROYAL Flying corps at Victoria. B. c.
Twas sent 70. Camp Bon Ger, Toronto
first to receive instruction aud later tc
instruct. while a cadet made the
first loop ever made by q cadet In Can
ada, and after I had performed the
stunt half expected to be kicked out
Of the service for It. Apparently, how
ever, they considered the source and
let It go at that. Later on ! had ths
satisfaction of introducing the sloor
as part Of, the regular course Of In
struction for cadets In the r. IT. Q.
and I want to say right here that CamI
Borden has turned out some OF thu
bestoInlers that have ever gone t
J Francs.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1919-01-14
CHAPTER !.
The Folly Of Despair.


Less than nine months ago eighteen
officers of the Royal flying corps.
which had been training in Canada.
left for England on the Meganic.
II any of them was over twenty-five
years of age, he had successfully con-
cealed the fact, because they don't ac-
cept older men for the r. F. G.
Nine of the squadron were British
subjects; the. other nine were Ameri-
ems, who. tired of. waiting for their
own country to take her place with
the allies, had joined the British colors
in Canada. was one Of the latter.
We were going to England to earn
our "wings"-a qualification which
must be won before member Of the
n. F. G. is allowed to hunt the Huns
on the western front.
This was in May, 1917.
BY August 1, most Of US were full
fedged pilots, actively engaged at vari-
Gus parts Of the line In daily conflict
with the enemy. -.
BY December Is. every man jack Of
US who had met the enemy in France,
with one exception, had appeared on
the casualty list. The exception was
II. K. Boysen, an American, who at
last report was fighting on the Italian
front still unscathed. Whether his
good fortune has stood him up to this
time don't know, but If it has I would
be very much surprised. f[
OF the others, five were killed In &C
tion-three Americans, one Canadian,
and one Englishman. Three more were
In all probability killed in action al
though officially. they are listed merely
as missing" One Of these was an
American, one q Canadian, and the
third q Scotchman. Three more, two
of them Americans, were seriously
wounded. Another, Canadian, lis q
prisoner In Germany. ] know nothing
Of the others.
What happened to me IS narrated, In
these pages. wish, instead, 1 could
tell the story Of each Of my brave com
rades, for not one Of them was downed'
I am sure, without upholding the best
lStraditions of the r. F. G. Unfortunate
ly. however, Of the 9 eighteen who
sailed on the Meganic last May ]
| happened to be the first to fall Into
the, hands Of the Huns, and what befell
r,v acomrat,es after that, with one ex'
cention. know only second hand,
The exception was the case OF poor
tbraye Paul Raney-my closest chnm-
whose last battle i witnessed from my
German prison-but that is q STORY
shall tell In its proper place.
In one way, however. / think tne
story Of nay, own ':hig adventure" and
/ my miraculous escape may, perhaps
serve a purpose as useful as fnat @ 9
Y the heroic fate Of my less fortunate
comrades. Their stofySit is true. mish'
| inspire Others to. deeds Of heroism
but mine; I hope, will convey I'M
equally valuahla lesson OF the foii'
Of despair. ,,,
| slNlany were the times in the ccurs'
of my struggles when 1t seemed aDso
Eiutely useless to continue. In q hostile
country where discovery meant death
wounded. eisk. :fa@isaa4 Alen@e1l
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1919-01-14
t*tt&*ttt+kt&ttt =
MESSAGE TOY. w. c. A. FROM
FRANCE.

X must express to you the
K very great satisfaction and most
4 sincere gratitude Of the French
X Government for the service rem
K dered to the women working In
+ Government factories through
K the establishment Of Y. w. c. A.
K Foyers des AllIees (clubrooms
4 for munitionettes).
X These foyers have been an e1-
X cellent means for betterinS the
+ physical conditions and the mo-
4 rale Of our workers. They have
4 been constantly used by the wo-
4 men workers, who have found
K there new elements Of dignity
X and social education.
4 must thank you for bringing
X this to pass, and hope that
X Y. w. G. A. work will not disap-
X pear with the war, but will be
K carried on in order to develop
4 the principles Of social solidar-
K ity which 1t has inspired.
4 (Signed) NJ. LOUCHER,
4 Minister Of Arms and Num-
4 tions Manufacture.
r r + + 4 / Il 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 r 4 4
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1919-01-14
speaklna Of Jawbreakers.

Speaking OF JaWpreakers'
One Is reminded by the word whose
death is celebrated by Democritus (and
which. By the way, In civilized lam
Ruage Is called 'slese majeste") OF an
other sesddipedaIian term which has
gone out Of style. Canonicus tells Us
that sterminologicaf. inexacttudinar-
ian" is the longer and prettier phrase
that has been supplanted by shorter
|, and uglier word. f-.,e 30,
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1919-01-14

scure corner Of 1.-THE little town OF
Momence, ILL.,, where was born-not
very much the worse for wear after all
I've been through, and, as write these
words not eight months have passed
since my seventeen comrades and l
sailed from Canada on the Meganic.
Can 1t be possible that I was spared
to convey message Of hope to others
who are destined for similar trials? /
am afraid there will be many Of them.
Years ago I heard Of the epitaph
which is said to have been found on q
child's grave:
'If was 80 soon to be done for
What, o Lord. was ! ever begun forf
The way 1t has come to me since 1
returned from Europe Is:
IF, o Lord, was to be done for.
What were my sufferings e'er begun
forY'
Perhaps the answer lies in the sug-
gestion I have made.
At any rate, If this record Of my ad-
ventures should prove instrumental In
sustaining others who need encourage
ment, I shall feel that my sufferings
were not In vain.
It is hardly likely that anyone Will
quite duplicate my experiences, but l
haven't the slightest doubt that many
will have to 90 through trials equally
nerve-racking and suffer disappoint-
ments just as disheartening.
It would be very far from the mark
to imagine that the optimism which l
am preaching now SO glibly sustained
me through all my troubles. On the
contrary, am free to confess that l
frequently gave way to despair and
often, for hours at time, felt so de-
jected and discouraged that l really
didn't care what happened to me. In
deed, I rather hoped that something
would happen to put an end to my
misery.
But despite all my despondency and
hopelessness, the worst never hap
pened, and I can't help thinking that
nv sa,vation must have been designed
to show the way to others.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1919-01-14
Lono.Llved Clock.

The life Of a clock is much longer
than that Of any other machinery. The
city Of Rouen has a great clock, built
in the year 1889 and still keeping good
time. Except for cleaning and few
necessary repairs 1t has never stopped
during a period Of more than five CEN
turtles. It strikes the hours and chimes
the equarters. @ .,s-.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1919-01-14

A second Y. w. g. A. Hostess House,
for wives and children Of soldiers, Is
soon to be opened at Castner. Cahu.
Hawaiian Island, to care for the over
flow of women and children from the
first house, which opened some months
ago In answer to call from the COM
mandIng officer Of the camp.
During Is days In November 2,152
visitors were entertained at the house,
including women and children, Of the
following nationalitles Philippine, Ha-
waiian, Portuguese. Spanish. Russian,
Porto RIcan. Korean, japanese and
American.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1919-01-14
Crop Rotation.

Suppose you grow corn, wheat, clover
And grass in q rotation. The clover 10
nitrogen gath hsring crop; 1t furnishes NOT
only hsy bat snriches the soil. Wneas
and corn are money crops, but IN sadir
dion they admit tiliage and cultivation'
hence they improve the physiesl uondt
sion OF the soil and give opportunity 70
KIN weeds. The grass and clovers are also
ussd for Yasturags and bay. There are
many reasons why crops should 90
rotated. ~ a.--..a...s-zss.-.s.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1919-01-14
New Verb In Language.

Burton warmly advocated generosity
provided he was the recipient Of II,
but he generally managed to appropri.
ate his own things and large share
of little brothers as well. One day
the brother had large. luscious apple.
which he was consuming with great
relish, when along came Burton and
said: "Glve me half" "Nope, moth
Ing doing" was the unexpected reply,
'.you never divide anything good with
me-" II win next tme." giibly prom.
ised Burton. Little brother calmly
continued enjoying his apple and tart
ly remarked. "Say, Burt quit Jour
kaisering"
80 Gold once Little Valued.
Rev. DR.. w. q. Grifis says that 1t u
historically true that in early Japan
there were houses rooted with gold.
For centuries, he says, gold had little
more value in japan than In South
America when Balboa sought the Pa.
;cific. Even until 1859 gold was worth
only four times as much as silver.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1919-01-14

hundreds OF miles from the nearest
neutral territory the frontier Of which
was so closely guarded that even If l
got there 1t seemed too much to hope
that I could ever get through. what
was the use Of enduring further
agonyl
And yet here I am, In the land OF
liberty-although in q somewhat OBJ
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1919-01-14
When the Boy Came Home.
Some of the first things he did:
Looked the new barn over from top

bottom. ...-.----.-- -.-.--
Said "howdy" to the herd.
Had a;good squipt at the calves.e
Drank q quart OF fresh buttermilk.
Spread butter mighty thick on bis
Begged to be allowed to. operate the
c.eam separator. ~ siii' 8, I
Snow or no snow, walked over to the
meadow.
Got into his working clothes and
made bee line for the dairy. Ss's
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1919-01-14

Ats sale where herd Of dairy COWS
"a dIsperssd, eight cows Of unkpown
hresdips sold az an average Frice OF ?61.
ali ten grade Guernsey cove ana heifsrs
sc;d "a a average price Of sas0. The
| .,~s.sn grades were sired BY son OF
~. - ~ ,se famous bulls Of the breed.
IN. IN Is sxtrs cost OF the pure-bred sire was was
rsturued many timeA IN tne eyTa ~
,sss , vss received for each OF bis on.
sprips. 70 cay nothing Of the increased
psodnetipn.I sd-
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1919-01-14

"If this war had accomplished one
thing only" said Uncle Millett Of Glover
dale Farm, at was well worth while
the bringing Of sll peoples everywhere
to understand how necessary farms and
farmers are to the progress .of the
world"
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1919-01-14

:. sp5 Outdoor Exerolse. Z So
Z Outdoor exercise is better for health
and complexion than almost any medi-
cine.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1919-01-14
AMONG THE FARMERS.
" SPEED THE PLow."

Correspondence on practical Agricultural topic
- sorcited- Address all communication In.
senoeo Tor this department 90 HHNBr d
ocrat. Paris. Ne.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1919-01-14

Plenty of fresh air is essential to health
and insnres a dry and healtbful interior.
The open front house provides US with
fresh air and no drsughts and supplies
the birds with sn abundance OF oxygen
which makes them strong, active and
resistant to disease. There Is no greater
menace to the birds than draughts strik-
ing on them from cracks and crevices be-
hind the roosts. Be sure such cracks
are tightly closed il you wish to avoid
colds.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1919-01-14
CONDITIONS.
CRowDING ON BOOSTS,

Pullets often crowd on the roosts aud
iu the corners during the fall and winter.
CrOwding of this kind produces what Is
called 'sweating" Birds jumping from
the roosts to the cold floor of the house
in this swesty condition take cold very
quickly. 1t is important then to see
that all OF your birds are roosting and
have plenty of room on the roOst. Ii
they persist in budding on one part Of
the roost and leaving part Of the roost
vacant, look for a draft.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1919-01-14

Continued next week
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1919-01-14
DRY LIrTER.
BIRDS OF Low VITALITY.

Small, immature, inactive, crow head
ed. dumpIsh individuals are always the
first to have the fall and winter colds be-
cause Of their poor vitality. They are a
menace to the rest Of the flock IS carriers
of disease and as they are non-producers
had better be disposed OF as table birds.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1919-01-14
PREVENT COLDS.

Lice: Hens that are covered with lice
are low in vitality because of their heavy
infeststiOn, and for this reason are espe-
cislly susceptible in their devitsliEed
condition to infection from colds. Pre-
vent the ravages of lice by applying a
piece of "Blue Ointment" the size of q
pea, just below the vent of the infected
bird. Don't wait until your hens have
contracted colds before "Blus Butter
ing" them. 1t is, however, better late
than never.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1919-01-14

tkk h r. ~ ,